cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of tri-axial accelerometer for the calculation of elevation angles

Abstract One of the main issues in occupational studies focusing on musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity is how to best quantify workers' exposures to risk factors during a workday. Direct measurement is preferred because it is objective and provides precise measurements. To measure elevation angle exposure of the upper extremity, accelerometers are commonly used. The main problem with the use of accelerometers is the fact that they are sensitive to linear acceleration and can only assess two axes of rotation. In the present study the Virtual Corset, a pager-sized, battery powered, tri-axial linear accelerometer with an integrated data logger, was validated in vitro for the reconstruction of elevation angles under static conditions and angle error prediction under dynamic conditions. For static conditions, the RMS angle error was less than 1°. Under dynamic conditions the elevation angle error was influenced by the radius and angular acceleration. However, the angle error was predicted well with an RMS difference of 3°. It was concluded that the Virtual Corset can be used to accurately predict arm elevation angles under static conditions. Under dynamic conditions, an understanding of the motion being studied and the placement of the Virtual Corset relative to the joint are necessary. Relevance to industry A device is tested that could capture posture exposure of the shoulder at the workplace during a workday. Such exposure measurement can be used to test interventions and to develop preventive guidelines to reduce risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries of the upper extremity.
Improved Electromagnetics Optimization: The covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategy.

The covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategy (CMA-ES) is explored here as an improved alternative to well-established algorithms used in electromagnetic (EM) optimization. In the past, methods such as the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution (DE) have commonly been used for EM design. In this article, we examine and compare the performance of CMA-ES, PSO, and DE when applied to test functions and several challenging EM design problems. Of particular interest is demonstrating the ability of the relatively new CMA-ES to more quickly and more reliably find acceptable solutions compared with those of the more classical optimization strategies. In addition, it will be shown that due to its self-adaptive scheme, CMA-ES is a more user-friendly algorithm that requires less knowledge of the problem for preoptimization configuration.
Robust stabilizer synthesis for interval plants using H-infinity methods

This paper deals with the synthesis of robustly stabilizing compensators for interval plants, i.e., plants whose parameters vary within prescribed ranges. Well-known H/sup /spl infin// methods are used to establish robust stabilizability conditions for a family of plants and also to synthesise controllers that would stabilize the whole family. Though conservative, these methods give a very simple way to come up with a family of robust stabilizers for an interval plant. >
Evolving frontlines in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases.

In this issue of Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, we present the second installment of proceedings and complementary articles from the Houston Lung Symposium, which took place on April 28 and 29, 2012, at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston, Texas. The symposium combined the Spring Seminar of the Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists with the Advances in Lung Cancer Seminar of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine of The Methodist Hospital. Twenty internationally renowned experts from North America, Europe, and Asia participated, and in this issue of the ARCHIVES, we continue the series of articles based on their lectures, augmented by supplementary articles on topics relevant to the symposium. The pace and breadth of developments in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases, both neoplastic and nonneoplastic, are exhilarating and provide a template for understanding the revolutionary changes impacting all areas of pathology and medicine. I wish to recognize the following supporters and special guests who participated in the symposium:
CIRCLE CELL ® FT-IR Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents in Aqueous Solutions

The qualitative and quantitative FT-IR analyses of dilute aqueous solutions of the chemical warfare threat agents tabun (GA), sarin (GB), and soman (GD) were evaluated with the use of the CIRCLE CELL®. Infrared spectra were recorded with a Nicolet 60SXB FT-IR spectrometer fitted with a liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT-A detector. The CIRCLE CELL® used a modified micro, high-pressure, flow-through sampling accessory fitted with a ZnSe internal reflection element. Peak heights were evaluated with the Nicolet SUPER QUANT program after spectral subtraction of the solvent. The P=O stretching absorption band, centered around 1240 cm−1, produced good quantification in the concentration range 0.5 to 2.0 mg/mL. In this concentration range the intra-daily precision had a percent coefficient of variation (% CV) of less than 3.0%, while the inter-daily precision yielded a % CV of less than 6.0%. The detection limit was observed to be 0.3 mg/mL for GA and 0.2 mg/mL for GB and GD.
The Staphylococcus aureus scdA gene: a novel locus that affects cell division and morphogenesis.

Summary: A new Staphylococcus aureus gene termed scdA was found upstream of the autolysis regulatory genes, lytS and lytR, and was shown to potentially encode a hydrophilic 25 kDa protein. Analysis of scdA transcription revealed that it is transcribed as a monocistronic message and is lytSR-independent. A role in cell wall metabolism was indicated by examination of the scdA mutant S. aureus KB323, which had a grossly aberrant cellular morphology and formed large cell clusters when grown in liquid culture medium. Furthermore, KB323 exhibited a reduced rate of autolysis and had increased peptidoglycan cross-linking compared to the parental strain, NCTC 8325-4. These data suggest that scdA plays an important role in staphylococcal cell division.
A single-layer peptide nanofiber for enhancing the cytotoxicity of trastuzumab (anti-HER)

A multivalent system is often employed to enhance the effectiveness of a targeted therapy. In the present study, we report a single-layer peptide nanofiber (NFP) as a multivalent targeting platform to improve the cytotoxicity of trastuzumab (anti-HER), a monoclonal antibody targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) in approximately 20 % of breast cancer patients. The trastuzumab-conjugated nanofiber (anti-HER/NFP) was 100 × 4 nm in size and was assembled from multiple peptide units (mPEG-BK(FITC)SGASNRA-kldlkldlkldl-CONH2). The optimized preparation was attached with approximately 10 antibodies at the surface. Because of an increase in the multivalency, anti-HER/NFP was able to truncate more cell surface HER-2 and, thus, showed an enhanced cytotoxicity toward HER-2 positive SKBr-3 human breast cancer as compared to the free anti-HER. Western blot analysis and fluorescence microscopic studies confirmed that there was a significant downregulation of the HER-2 level and also inhibition of the cell survival cell signaling pathways including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Our data suggested that NFP can be useful as a multivalent platform for immunotherapy, especially in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the future.
Acute effects of passive muscle stretching on sprint performance

The results of previous research have shown that passive muscle stretching can diminish the peak force output of subsequent maximal isometric, concentric and stretch-shortening contractions. The aim of this study was to establish whether the deleterious effects of passive stretching seen in laboratory settings would be manifest in a performance setting. Sixteen members (11 males, 5 females) of a Division I NCAA track athletics team performed electronically timed 20 m sprints with and without prior stretching of the legs. The experiment was done as part of each athlete's Monday work-out programme. Four different stretch protocols were used, with each protocol completed on a different day. Hence, the test period lasted 4 weeks. The four stretching protocols were no-stretch of either leg (NS), both legs stretched (BS), forward leg in the starting position stretched (FS) and rear leg in the starting position stretched (RS). Three stretching exercises (hamstring stretch, quadriceps stretch, calf stretch) were ...
Phylogenetic simulation of promoter evolution: estimation and modeling of binding site turnover events and assessment of their impact on alignment tools

Background: The phenomenon of functional site turnover has important implications for the study of regulatory region evolution, such as for promoter sequence alignments and transcription factor binding site (TFBS) identification. At present, it remains difficult to estimate TFBS turnover rates on real genomic sequences, as reliable mappings of functional sites across related species are often not available. As an alternative, we introduce a flexible new simulation system, Phylogenetic Simulation of Promoter Evolution (PSPE), designed to study functional site turnovers in regulatory sequences. Results: Using PSPE, we study replacement turnover rates of different individual TFBSs and simple modules of two sites under neutral evolutionary functional constraints. We find that TFBS replacement turnover can happen rapidly in promoters, and turnover rates vary significantly among different TFBSs and modules. We assess the influence of different constraints such as insertion/ deletion rate and translocation distances. Complementing the simulations, we give simple but effective mathematical models for TFBS turnover rate prediction. As one important application of PSPE, we also present a first systematic evaluation of multiple sequence aligners regarding their capability of detecting TFBSs in promoters with site turnovers. Conclusion: PSPE allows researchers for the first time to investigate TFBS replacement turnovers in promoters systematically. The assessment of alignment tools points out the limitations of current approaches to identify TFBSs in non-coding sequences, where turnover events of functional sites may happen frequently, and where we are interested in assessing the similarity on the functional level. PSPE is freely available at the authors' website.
A Strategy for Success: How the Weak Defeat the Strong

How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict. By Ivan Arreguin-Toft. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 274 pp., $75.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-521-83976-9), $29.99 (ISBN: 0-521-54869-1). How do the weak prevail in conflicts with significantly stronger opponents? This is the central question in Ivan Arreguin-Toft's How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict . According to Arreguin-Toft, the basic presumption that power trumps all other factors in determining who is victorious in battle is historically untenable. With increasing frequency, the weak have been defeating the strong. As Arreguin-Toft notes (pp. 5–6, 20), the field of international relations has failed to produce any systematic explanation for this empirical puzzle. How the Weak Win Wars is an attempt to fill this lacuna in the security studies literature, while providing policymakers and political analysts some insights into the conditions that make asymmetric conflicts tremendously costly in terms of political legitimacy and human life. Arreguin-Toft begins by building upon Andrew J. R. Mack's (1975) seminal discussion of small wars, in which Mack argued that relative interest is the deciding factor in wars between the strong and weak. Because weak actors are fighting for survival, they are systematically more motivated to absorb the costs of long wars than their stronger adversaries. In turn, the combination of low interests and high costs puts a strong actor's ruling elite in a position of political vulnerability, and eventually they succumb to domestic pressures to end the war short of victory. Although Arreguin-Toft agrees that the proximate cause of strong actor defeat is political vulnerability, he cites (pp. 14–15) three critical shortcomings in Mack's interest-asymmetry argument. First, power is a poor predictor of resolve. Because of alliance commitments or the prevalence of domino rationales, a strong actor may view a materially insignificant conflict as a matter of life and death and, thus, will be highly motivated to win. Second, to operationalize political vulnerability, Mack assumes that wars between the strong and weak are …
Stroke Literature Synopses: Clinical Science

Paradoxical embolism via a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common cause of cryptogenic stroke. Because PFO is a common anatomic variant seen in 25% of the general population, clinicians are faced with the dilemma of whether a PFO is an incidental finding or stroke related. Recent clinical trials of PFO closure failed to show a benefit of closure compared with medical therapy in reducing composite primary end points. Yet, these trials may have enrolled individuals with incidental PFO. To derive a prediction instrument to stratify patients by attributable fraction (probability that the index event was related to PFO), Kent et al performed a patient-level meta-analysis of observational cohorts of patients with cryptogenic stroke investigated for PFO by transesophageal echocardiogram or transcranial Doppler (n=3023). The patients with cryptogenic stroke with PFO were younger, less likely to have conventional risk factors or a history of transient ischemic stroke (TIA)/stroke and more likely to have large superficial infarcts than those without PFO. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that the odds of PFO presence was lower …
Biology of Tiphia pygidialis (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae), a Parasitoid of Masked Chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Grubs, with Notes on the Seasonal Occurrence of Tiphia vernalis in Kentucky

Abstract We investigated the biology of Tiphia pygidialis Allen, a previously unstudied native parasitoid of masked chafer, Cyclocephala spp. grubs, in central Kentucky and the seasonal dynamics of Tiphia vernalis Rohwer, an introduced parasitoid of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman. T. pygidialis was active from mid-August to early October, parasitizing third-instar masked chafers, whereas T. vernalis attacked overwintered third-instar P. japonica from mid-April to early June. Adult T. vernalis were attracted to modified Japanese beetle traps and yellow pan traps and to 10% sugar water sprayed on tree foliage. Spraying sugar water directly on turf most effectively monitored T. pygidialis wasps. Parasitism rates as high as 33 and 58% were observed for T. pygidialis and T. vernalis, respectively. In the laboratory, T. pygidialis larvae progressed through five instars to cocoon formation in ≈22 d. They overwinter as prepupae. Field-collected female wasps lived 32 ± 4 d, parasitizing 22 ± 6 grubs. In...
Visualizing the tunnel in tryptophan synthase with crystallography: Insights into a selective filter for accommodating indole and rejecting water

Abstract Four new X-ray structures of tryptophan synthase (TS) crystallized with varying numbers of the amphipathic N-(4′-trifluoromethoxybenzoyl)-2-aminoethyl phosphate (F6) molecule are presented. These structures show one of the F6 ligands threaded into the tunnel from the β-site and reveal a distinct hydrophobic region. Over this expanse, the interactions between F6 and the tunnel are primarily nonpolar, while the F6 phosphoryl group fits into a polar pocket of the β-subunit active site. Further examination of TS structures reveals that one portion of the tunnel (T1) binds clusters of water molecules, whereas waters are not observed in the nonpolar F6 binding region of the tunnel (T2). MD simulation of another TS structure with an unobstructed tunnel also indicates the T2 region of the tunnel excludes water, consistent with a dewetted state that presents a significant barrier to the transfer of water into the closed β-site. We conclude that hydrophobic molecules can freely diffuse between the α- and β-sites via the tunnel, while water does not. We propose that exclusion of water serves to inhibit reaction of water with the α-aminoacrylate intermediate to form ammonium ion and pyruvate, a deleterious side reaction in the αβ-catalytic cycle. Finally, while most TS structures show βPhe280 partially blocking the tunnel between the α- and β-sites, new structures show an open tunnel, suggesting the flexibility of the βPhe280 side chain. Flexible docking studies and MD simulations confirm that the dynamic behavior of βPhe280 allows unhindered transfer of indole through the tunnel, therefore excluding a gating role for this residue.
Differences in Women's Use of Medical Help for Becoming Pregnant by the Level of Urbanization of County of Residence in Georgia.

Purpose Our goal was to determine if there are differences by place of residence in visiting a doctor for help getting pregnant in a population-based study. Methods Using data from the Furthering Understanding of Cancer, Health, and Survivorship in Adult (FUCHSIA) Women's Study, a cohort study of fertility outcomes in reproductive-aged women in Georgia, we fit models to estimate the association between geographic type of residence and seeking help for becoming pregnant. Findings The prevalence of visiting a doctor for help getting pregnant ranged from 13% to 17% across geographic groups. Women living in suburban counties were most likely to seek medical care for help getting pregnant compared with women living in urbanized counties (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.74-1.75); among women who reported infertility this difference was more pronounced (aPR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.00-2.53). Women living in rural counties were equally likely to seek fertility care compared with women in urbanized counties in the full sample and among women who experienced infertility. Conclusions Women living in urban and rural counties were least likely to seek infertility care, suggesting that factors including but not limited to physical proximity to providers are influencing utilization of this type of care. Increased communication about reproductive goals and infertility care available to meet these goals by providers who women see for regular care may help address these barriers.
The Modular Multidisciplinary Major: An Alternative to Traditional Majors

Currently, most undergraduates major in a single academic discipline. For students whose intellectual interests or career objectives are more appropriately satisfied by crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries, the authors discuss the feasibility of multidisciplinary majors. Three models are studied: a fully integrated interdisciplinary major; a conventional major with an additional module (i.e., a minor) in a second field; and a modular multidisciplinary major comprising two (or more) modules. The option of a modular multidisciplinary major expands the number of majors available to students, and encourages students to broaden their academic and career horizons. Two pilot studies are discussed.
Visualization of Innovation in Global Supply Chain Networks

This methodological note identifies and describes a data-driven visualization approach to study innovations in supply chain networks (ISCN). We demonstrate its value and applicability with illustrative examples to pertinent structure-related ISCN research questions in the global electronics industry. Our visualization approach can be used to reveal and understand important clusters, patterns, trends, and outliers of ISCN not necessarily identified with traditional methods. The broader aim of this note is to demonstrate the complementary value of emerging visual analytic approaches in managerial decision-making contexts and describe how actionable insights can be achieved.
Small sample properties for estimators of cytonuclear disequilibria

Unbiased and maximum likelihood estimators for the cytonuclear disequilibrium measures D1, D2, and D3 are given, and their exact variances are determined with the use of indicator variables. Conditions under which the exact variances should be used include when the geno-typic disequilibria or the cytoplasmic allele frequency are extreme. These unbiased estimators are shown to have high efficiency by comparison to the Cramer-Rao lower bound on variances of unbiased estimators of the disequilibria. The maximum likelihood estimators are recommended on the basis of small sample properties.
Growth factor independence and BCR/ABL transformation : promise and pitfalls of murine model systems and assays

The expression of the BCR-ABL fusion oncoprotein in primitive hematopoietic cells results in chronic myeloid leukemia. Over the past decade studies of several in vitro and in vivo cell systems revealed multiple signal transduction pathways activated by BCR-ABL. However, the precise function of BCR-ABL in the pathogenesis of CML is still unclear. The goal of this review is to synthesize data on intracellular signaling in the context of the diverse murine assay systems employed. We emphasize the importance of in vivo assays and assays using primary cells in understanding the biology of CML and the molecular mechanisms by which BCR-ABL exerts its effects.
Control of Shape and Size of Nanopillar Assembly by Adhesion-Mediated Elastocapillary Interaction

Control of self-organization of nanofibers into regular clusters upon evaporation-induced assembly is receiving increasing attention due to the potential importance of this process in a range of applications including particle trapping, adhesives, and structural color. Here we present a comprehensive study of this phenomenon using a periodic array of polymeric nanopillars with tunable parameters as a model system to study how geometry, mechanical properties, as well as surface properties influence capillary-induced self-organization. In particular, we show that varying the parameters of the building blocks of self-assembly provides us with a simple means of controlling the size, chirality, and anisotropy of complex structures. We observe that chiral assemblies can be generated within a narrow window for each parameter even in the absence of chiral building blocks or a chiral environment. Furthermore, introducing anisotropy in the building blocks provides a way to control both the chirality and the size of...
Microbial Community Dynamics during Acetate Biostimulation of RDX-Contaminated Groundwater

Biostimulation of groundwater microbial communities (e.g., with carbon sources) is a common approach to achieving in situ bioremediation of organic pollutants (e.g., explosives). We monitored a fie...
The Price of Praise in the Market for Virtue: A Paradox of Rating and Recognizing Responsibility

In this article, I investigate the performance effects of positive ratings. Building upon theoretical insights from behavioral and performance feedback theory, I hypothesize that ratings that recognize and reward past superior performance can paradoxically lead high-performing firms to reduce their subsequent performance. I test this hypothesis, as well as several moderating effects, by examining how firms responded to a social responsibility rating that evaluated their prior philanthropic efforts. My findings suggest that firms recognized for their generosity were, under certain conditions, more likely to reduce their subsequent philanthropic contributions. I call this effect the paradox of recognizing responsibility. From a practical perspective, these results highlight the unintended consequences of social ratings and provide further insight for stakeholders interested in motivating improvements in corporate social performance.
Fuzzy-PID Controtrol for Diesel Engine

A new Fuzzy-PID control theory which is used to control the speed of diesel engine is introduced .The experiment with PLC shows that the governor with Fuzzy-PID control has such advantages as wide adaptability and good reliability.
People Analytics and the Regulation of Information Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

People analytics — the use of big data and computer algorithms to make personnel decisions — has been drawing increasing public and scholarly scrutiny. Concerns have been raised that the data collection intrudes on individual privacy, and that algorithms can produce unfair or discriminatory results. This symposium contribution considers whether the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s regulation of consumer information used for employment purposes can respond these concerns. The FCRA establishes certain procedural requirements, and these can sometimes help individual workers challenge inaccurate information about them. However, the statute does little to curb intrusive data collection practices or to address the risks of unfair or discriminatory algorithms, revealing the limitations of a purely procedural approach to regulating the use of big data in employment.
The New Technologies: How the Parties Have Adapted

Twenty to thirty years ago scholars were decrying the decline of parties and linking it to the arrival of new technologies, or the new “style” in campaigns, and the powerful new media by which candidates could communicate directly with the voter. In the early eighties, technology presumably relegated parties to the sidelines. Thus in 1984, Rosenstone advanced his theory of major party failure, that technological innovations have permitted candidates to be increasingly free of political parties. Independent-minded politicians who were once unwilling to embark on third party campaigns without the help of an already existing locally based party can now take the plunge more readily.1
Matrix composition and landscape heterogeneity structure multiple dimensions of biodiversity in temperate forest birds

Quantifying how human-modified landscapes shape the distribution of biodiversity is critical for developing effective conservation strategies. To address this, we evaluated three hypotheses (habitat area, habitat configuration and matrix heterogeneity hypotheses) that predict responses of biodiversity to landscape structure in human-modified landscapes. We compared characteristics of landscape structure that influence taxonomic (TD), functional (FD), and phylogenetic (PD) dimensions of biodiversity of breeding birds in temperate forests. Relationships between biodiversity and landscape structure were assessed at multiple spatial scales for 20 forest interior sites in northeastern USA. We assessed if relationships with landscape structure were consistent among dimensions and assemblages of different groups (residents, migrants and all birds). Relationships between dimensions of biodiversity and landscape structure were more prevalent for FD and PD than for TD. Forest amount and configuration were rarely associated with any dimensions of biodiversity. In contrast, the identity of the matrix and heterogeneity of the landscape were frequently associated with biodiversity, but relationships differed among groups of birds. For example, FD of all birds was associated positively with landscape diversity but FD of residents was associated negatively with landscape diversity, suggesting that landscape diversity surrounding forests may increase overall FD of birds but that not all groups of species respond similarly. Indeed, biodiversity of migrants was only weakly related to landscape structure. Differences among relationships to landscape structure for bird groups and spatial scales suggests that management plans should consider local decisions within a regional framework to balance potentially conflicting needs of species groups in human-dominated landscapes.
Optical interconnects in exascale supercomputers

Today's petascale supercomputers make substantial use of optical interconnects. For the exascale, optics will become pervasive, but must meet challenging technological and economic requirements. The optics technologies that can meet these requirements are reviewed.
Role of APOE ε4 Allele and Incident Stroke on Cognitive Decline and Mortality.

BACKGROUND The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele and stroke increase the risk of cognitive decline. However, the association of the APOE e4 allele before and after stroke is not well understood. METHODS Using a prospective sample of 3444 (66% African Americans, 61% females, mean age=71.9 y) participants, we examined cognitive decline relative to stroke among those with and without the APOE e4 allele. RESULTS In our sample, 505 (15%) had incident stroke. Among participants without stroke, the e4 allele was associated with increased cognitive decline compared to noncarriers (0.080 vs. 0.036 units/year; P<0.0001). Among participants without the e4 allele, cognitive decline increased significantly after stroke compared to before stroke (0.115 vs. 0.039 units/year; P<0.0001). Interestingly, cognitive decline before and after stroke was not significantly different among those with the e4 allele (0.091 vs. 0.102 units/year; P=0.32). Poor cognitive function was associated with higher risk of stroke (hazard ratio=1.41, 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.58), but the APOE e4 allele was not (P=0.66). The APOE e4 allele, cognitive function, and incident stroke were associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS The association of stroke with cognitive decline appears to differ by the presence of the APOE e4 allele, but no such interaction was observed for mortality.
Recent Studies on the Effects of Oil

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has stimulated a surge in new research into the effects of oil. Although this new work has largely focused on species, oils, and conditions common to the Gulf of Mexico, many of the lessons can be reasonably extrapolated and applied to other situations and exposure scenarios. A synthesis of the large body of impact studies performed under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment has suggested that many of the effects determined across many levels of biological organization are conserved and common to many different taxa.
Boundless Partnership: 19th‐Century Literature and Dance

Dancing bodies and scenes of dance appear throughout the 19th-century literature. Bringing the dance historical perspective to literary studies helps to situate texts within important social and cultural contexts and also raises questions about the presence of moving bodies within texts and how those bodies might have been deployed by the 19th-century writers. Recently, scholars have attempted to bridge the gap between dancing bodies and textual bodies by bringing dance history and criticism into conversation with the article of the 19th-century literary texts, creating the field of dance and literature studies. This field has rich potential for interdisciplinary studies and also much to offer both literary studies and dance history.
Removal of an Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty: Risk Factors for Repeat Debridement, Long-term Spacer Retention, and Mortality

Abstract Background Two-stage exchange arthroplasty remains the preferred approach to treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The objective of the present study is to investigate the fate of antibiotic spacers placed for periprosthetic joint infection after THA and evaluate risk factors for outcomes other than reimplantation. Methods A national database was queried for Medicare patients who underwent removal of an infected hip prosthesis and placement of an antibiotic spacer. Patients with a study end point within 1 year postoperatively were included: (1) in-hospital mortality, (2) repeat debridement without reimplantation within 1 year, (3) resection arthroplasty, and (4) reimplantation of a hip arthroplasty. Independent patient-related risk factors for these end points were evaluated with a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 7146 patients met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Within 1 year postoperatively, 464 patients (6.5%) died in a hospital setting, 775 patients (10.8%) had a repeat debridement procedure, 404 patients (5.7%) had a resection arthroplasty, 1202 patients (16.8%) retained their spacers, and the remaining 4301 patients (60.2%) were reimplanted at an average of 124.4 ± 39.3 days. Numerous independent patient-related risk factors for these were identified. Conclusion At 1 year only 60% of patients undergo reimplantation. One-sixth of patients retain their spacer and approximately 10% require repeat debridement. Death occurred in at least 6% of the population. Several independent patient-related risk factors exist for repeat debridement, no reimplantation or death within 1 year following index THA removal.
Electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite part II: Morphological characterization by atomic force microscopy

Abstract Platinum nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited onto highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) from H 2 PtCl 6 solutions and observed by tapping mode atomic force microscopy. Spontaneous Pt deposition, which resulted in a wide particle size distribution, would occur on HOPG at open-circuit potential but could be suppressed by using anodic bias of the substrate before and after deposition. Nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution could be obtained when spontaneous reduction was avoided. Pt nucleated both at step edges and on terraces, with a preference for the former. The density of Pt nanoparticles on HOPG was 10 9 –10 10 cm −2 . Increasing the deposition overpotential or adding HCl as supporting electrolyte resulted in more uniform particles and less aggregation. These findings confirm previous results obtained by our group using only electrochemical methods [G. Lu, G. Zangari, J. Phys. Chem. B 109 (2005) 7998].
The real epistemic significance of perceptual learning

In ‘The Epistemic Significance of Perceptual Learning’ (this issue) Elijah Chudnoff argues that cases from perceptual learning show that perception not only generates reasons for beliefs but also p...
Aided diagnosis methods of breast cancer based on machine learning

In the field of medicine, quickly and accurately determining whether the patient is malignant or benign is the key to treatment. In this paper, K-Nearest Neighbor, Linear Discriminant Analysis, Logistic Regression were applied to predict the classification of thyroid,Her-2,PR,ER,Ki67,metastasis and lymph nodes in breast cancer, in order to recognize the benign and malignant breast tumors and achieve the purpose of aided diagnosis of breast cancer. The results showed that the highest classification accuracy of LDA was 88.56%, while the classification effect of KNN and Logistic Regression were better than that of LDA, the best accuracy reached 96.30%.
Emerging adult psychological problems and parenting style: Moderation by parent-child relationship quality

Abstract Current research supports a relationship between parenting style and children's mental health, yet this has been understudied in emerging adults. Moreover, even less research has included the role of parent-child relationship quality on these existing relationships, which has been demonstrated to be an important moderator. Thus, the current study examined the moderating effect of parent-child relationship quality on parenting style and emerging adult internalizing and externalizing problems. It was expected that higher parent-child relationship quality would buffer against negative effects of less adaptive parenting styles on emerging adult psychological problems. Participants included 2732 emerging adults attending college who reported on their own psychological problems, perceived parenting style, and parent-child relationship quality for both mothers and fathers. Results indicated that the lowest rates of emerging adult internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with higher parent-child relationship quality in same-sex parent-child dyads within the context of authoritative parenting. Higher quality father-daughter relationship was protective against the negative effects of permissive parenting style as evidenced by lower reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Results emphasize the continuing influence of parenting style and parent-child relationship quality on emerging adult mental health, particularly for daughters.
Chiral Gas Chromatography

Abstract Over the last decade, chiral gas chromatography (GC) has made advances in synthetic chiral stationary phases and applications in advanced GC techniques. These developments have been beneficial to many scientific disciplines especially in the analysis and separation of complex samples. In this chapter, we review commercial and non-commercial chiral GC stationary phases with an emphasis on separation mechanisms and current applications. Chiral GC stationary phases discussed include amino acid, cyclodextrin, cyclofructan, metal organic framework, porous organic cage, and ionic liquid based phases. Topics covered include chiral multi-dimensional GC and the separation of chiral components in essential oils, hydrocarbons, flavors, and fragrances.
Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Epidural B-Cell Lymphoma: Report of Two Cases

Background/Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) caused by cancer is increasing in incidence as the mean age of our patient population increases. Understanding the prognosis and functional outcome requires knowledge of diseases of the spinal column. This paper presents the unusual presentation of epidural B-cell lymphoma.
Secondary Orbital Tumors Extending from Ocular or Periorbital Structures

Secondary orbital tumors are those that extend into the orbit from contiguous structures, such as the globe, eyelids, lacrimal sac, bone, sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain. They account for approximately one-quarter of orbital neoplasia. A computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan is used to investigate suspicious lesions, and biopsy is typically undertaken to establish a tissue diagnosis and help construct a treatment plan. Prognosis is often poor owing to significant extension of the tumor at presentation.
Critical roles of Noxa and Mcl-1 in the signaling mechanisms of bortezomib in TRAF3-deficient mouse B lymphoma and human multiple myeloma cells

Bortezomib, a clinical drug for multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma, exhibits complex signaling mechanisms, which vary depending on the cancer cell type and the critical genetic alterations of each cancer. In the present study, we investigated the signaling mechanisms of bortezomib in mouse B lymphoma and human MM cells deficient in a new tumor suppressor gene, TRAF3. We found that bortezomib robustly induced up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Noxa, cleavage of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, and accumulation of the oncoprotein c-Myc. Interestingly, bortezomib exhibited contrasting roles on canonical versus non-canonical NF-kB pathways. Overexpression of Noxa was sufficient to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in human MM cells by inducing cleavage of Mcl-1 and caspase 3. Furthermore, we demonstrated that oridonin (an inhibitor of NF-kB1 and NF-kB2) or AD 198 (a drug targeting c-Myc) drastically potentiated the anti-cancer effects of bortezomib in TRAF3-deficient malignant B cells. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the signaling mechanisms of bortezomib, which would aid the design of novel bortezomib-based combination therapies. Our results also provide a rationale for clinical evaluation of the combinations of bortezomib and oridonin (or other inhibitors of NF-kB1/2) or AD 198 (or other drugs targeting c-Myc) in the treatment of lymphoma and MM, especially in patients containing TRAF3 deletions or relevant mutations.
Committees, “Comment Pollutions,” and the Governance of Universities

Committees are an integral part of the internal governance of colleges and universities. They are typically delegated major responsibilities such as determining admissions standards, developing curricula, handing out awards, and making policy recommendations on such important matters as internal resources allocation, grading systems, tenure, and other faculty and student welfare measures. Although one may like to think of the committee process as one in which learned men and women, through an in-depth evaluation of a problem area, make sound judgments, faculty members and administrators commonly characterize their committee meetings as dull, boring, and a monumental waste of time. They are also prone to suggest that what may appear to be informed judgments are often (though not always) nothing more than the personal expressions of members who throughout the committee sessions made little or no attempt to come to grips with the issues at hand (and it should be noted that, generally speaking, the larger the committee, the more common the complaints). If these criticisms are correct, not only may the university be employing its resources inefficiently through direct support of the committees themselves, but may be operating on the basis of very poor judgments.
Metabolic acidosis: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management

Derangements in the intermediate metabolism of nutrients can lead to organic acid acidoses, which in turn can have severe clinical consequences that include even the patient's death. Lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis represent the most relevant clinical forms of this type of metabolic acidosis. Assessment and proper management of the organic acid acidoses require the intervention of a skillful clinician that balances the potential benefits and risks of the prescribed measures to the specific needs of the individual patient. To this aim, knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy of the various forms of acidoses including alkali administration, represent essential requirements.
Self-reinoculation With Fecal Flora Changes Microbiota Density and Composition Leading to an Altered Bile-Acid Profile in the Mouse Small Intestine

The upper gastrointestinal tract plays a prominent role in human physiology as the primary site for enzymatic digestion and nutrient absorption, immune sampling, and drug uptake. Alterations to the small intestine microbiome have been implicated in various human diseases, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and inflammatory bowel conditions. Yet, the physiological and functional roles of the small intestine microbiota in humans remain poorly characterized because of the complexities associated with its sampling. Rodent models are used extensively in microbiome research and enable the spatial, temporal, compositional, and functional interrogation of the gastrointestinal microbiota and its effects on the host physiology and disease phenotype. Classical, culture-based studies have documented that fecal microbial self-reinoculation (via coprophagy) affects the composition and abundance of microbes in the murine proximal gastrointestinal tract. This pervasive self-reinoculation behavior could be a particularly relevant study factor when investigating small intestine microbiota. Modern microbiome studies either do not take self-reinoculation into account, or assume that approaches such as single housing mice or housing on wire mesh floors eliminate it. These assumptions have not been rigorously tested with modern tools. Here, we used quantitative 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, quantitative microbial functional gene content inference, and metabolomic analyses of bile acids to evaluate the effects of self-reinoculation on microbial loads, composition, and function in the murine upper gastrointestinal tract. In coprophagic mice, continuous self-exposure to the fecal flora had substantial quantitative and qualitative effects on the upper gastrointestinal microbiome. These differences in microbial abundance and community composition were associated with an altered profile of the small intestine bile acid pool, and, importantly, could not be inferred from analyzing large intestine or stool samples. Overall, the patterns observed in the small intestine of non-coprophagic mice (reduced total microbial load, low abundance of anaerobic microbiota, and bile acids predominantly in the conjugated form) resemble those typically seen in the human small intestine. Future studies need to take self-reinoculation into account when using mouse models to evaluate gastrointestinal microbial colonization and function in relation to xenobiotic transformation and pharmacokinetics or in the context of physiological states and diseases linked to small intestine microbiome and to small intestine dysbiosis.
Chapter 37 – Gluconeogenesis

: Gluconeogenesis occurs in the liver and kidneys. Gluconeogenesis supplies the needs for plasma glucose between meals. Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by the diabetogenic hormones (glucagon, growth hormone, epinephrine, and cortisol). Gluconeogenic substrates include glycerol, lactate, propionate, and certain amino acids. PEP carboxykinase catalyzes the rate-limiting reaction in gluconeogenesis. The dicarboxylic acid shuttle moves hydrocarbons from pyruvate to PEP in gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is a continual process in carnivores and ruminant animals, therefore they have little need to store glycogen in their liver cells. Of the amino acids transported to liver from muscle during exercise and starvation, Ala predominates. b-Aminoisobutyrate, generated from pyrimidine degradation, is a (minor) gluconeogenic substrate.
Effect of Non-natural Hydrophobic Amino Acids on the Efficacy and Properties of the Antimicrobial Peptide C18G

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been an area of great interest, due to the high selectivity of these molecules toward bacterial targets over host cells and the limited development of bacterial resistance to these molecules through evolution. The peptides are known to selectively bind to bacterial cell surfaces through electrostatic interactions, and subsequently, the peptides insert into the cell membrane and cause local disruptions of membrane integrity leading to cell death. Previous experiments showed that replacing the Leu residues in the AMP C18G with other naturally occurring hydrophobic residues resulted in side-chain-dependent activities. This work extends the investigation to non-natural hydrophobic amino acids and the effect on peptide activity. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) results demonstrated that amino acid substitutions containing long flexible carbon chains maintained or increased antimicrobial activity compared to natural analogues. In solution, the peptide showed aggregation only with the most hydrophobic non-natural amino acid substitutions. Binding assays using Trp fluorescence confirm a binding preference for anionic lipids while quenching experiments demonstrated that the more hydrophobic peptides are more deeply buried in the anionic lipid bilayers compared to the zwitterionic bilayers. The most effective peptides at killing bacteria were also those which showed some level of disruption of bacterial membranes; however, one peptide sequence exhibited very strong activity and very low levels of red blood cell hemolysis, yielding a promising target for future development.
The refugee crisis and peer relationships during childhood and adolescence

Abstract This paper is a call for empirical research, and theory development, that focuses on the peer relationships of children and adolescents who experience forced displacement. During the last decade, an escalating humanitarian crisis has developed with historic levels of involuntary migration occurring across the world. The extant research on youth who become refugees or internally displaced has primarily targeted issues related to mental health and basic survival needs. Less attention has been devoted to normative developmental processes including peer relationships. Nonetheless, peers can play a critical role in facilitating the adjustment of displaced children and adolescents. Friends can help these vulnerable youth through the transitions associated with resettlement. From a less adaptive perspective, interactions in the peer group will potentially contribute to intensification of risk and can accelerate trajectories toward negative outcomes. Resettlement and relocation efforts will need to be informed by a focus on social adjustment in the peer group.