cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of BMP and of TGFβ receptors downregulates expression of XIAP and TAK1 leading to lung cancer cell death

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are embryonic proteins that are part of the transforming growth factor (TGFβ) superfamily, which are aberrantly expressed in many carcinomas. Inhibition of BMP receptors with small molecule inhibitors decreases growth and induces death of lung cancer cells, which involves the downregulation of Id1 and Id3 by a Smad dependent mechanism. Developmentally, BMP and TGFβ signaling utilizes Smad-1/5 independent mechanisms to stabilize the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and activate TGFβ activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which are known to be potent inhibitors of apoptosis. The role of BMP signaling in regulating XIAP and TAK1 in cancer cells is poorly understood. Furthermore, the interaction between the BMP and TGFβ signaling cascades in regulating the activation of TAK1 in cancer cells has not been elucidated. Feedback regulation between the BMP and TGFβ signaling pathways and their regulation of XIAP, TAK1, and Id1 were examined in lung cancer cells utilizing siRNA and inhibitors targeting BMP type I receptors, inhibitors of BMP and TGFβ type I receptors, and an inhibitor of BMP and TGFβ type I and type II receptors. We show that upon inhibition of BMP signaling in lung cancer cells, the TGFβ signaling cascade is activated. Both the BMP and TGFβ pathways activate TAK1, which then increases the expression of Id1. Inhibition of TGFβ signaling increased Id1 expression except when BMP signaling is suppressed, which then causes a dose-related decrease in the expression of Id1. Inhibition of both BMP and TGFβ signaling enhances the downregulation of TAK1. Our data also suggests that the blockade of the BMP type II receptor enhances the downregulation XIAP, which is important in decreasing the activity of TAK1. Knockdown studies demonstrate that both XIAP and TAK1 regulate the survival of lung cancer cells. This paper highlights that targeting the BMP and TGFβ type I and type II receptors causes a downregulation of XIAP, TAK1, and Id1 leading to cell death of lung cancer cells. Small molecule inhibitors targeting the BMP and TGFβ receptors represents a potential novel means to treat cancer patients.
Central B Cell Tolerance

Central B cell tolerance regulates the development and survival of immature B cells in the adult bone marrow or fetal liver. At this stage, B cells assemble their antigen receptor genes by a process of DNA recombination, which generates diverse, productive antibody genes. As a result, B cell–antigen receptor specificity is clonally distributed, unpredictable, and often autoreactive. In the process of central tolerance, cells carrying autoreactive receptors are corrected by receptor editing or eliminated by developmental arrest and apoptosis in situ . Autoantigen encounter triggers BCR signaling, which promotes continued light chain recombination. Ongoing recombination can lead to the replacement of one light chain variable region with another, altering specificity and editing the receptor. Some evidence has linked defective central tolerance with autoimmunity.
Baseline arterial pressure affects sympathoexcitatory responses to ventricular premature beats

The seconds to minutes before sudden cardiac death are characterized by fluctuations of arterial pressure, cardiac rhythm, and probably sympathetic nerve activity. We explored the interrelations among these factors in seven patients undergoing clinical electrophysiological testing. We measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and arterial pressure responses to ventricular premature beats induced throughout the cardiac cycle under three conditions: 1) lowered arterial pressure and elevated SNA produced by intravenous nitroprusside, 2) baseline arterial pressure and SNA during saline infusion, and 3) elevated arterial pressure and decreased SNA activity produced by intravenous phenylephrine. Sympathetic responses to premature beats were inversely related to diastolic pressure. The magnitude of the sympathetic response was directly related to the prevailing arterial pressure and inversely related to baseline SNA. These data demonstrate that sympathoexcitation evoked by ventricular dysrhythmias is determined importantly by the prevailing arterial pressure and possibly by the background R-R interval and level of sympathetic activity. This effect may influence hemodynamic and electrophysiological stability during dysrhythmias.
Lin28b Regulates Fetal Regulatory T Cell Differentiation through Modulation of TGF-β Signaling

Immune tolerance between the fetus and mother represents an active process by which the developing fetus must not mount immune responses to noninherited Ags on chimeric maternal cells that reside in fetal tissue. This is, in part, mediated by the suppressive influence of CD4+FOXP3+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Fetal secondary lymphoid organs have an increased frequency of Tregs and, as compared with adult T cells, fetal naive CD4+ T cells exhibit a strong predisposition to differentiate into Tregs when stimulated. This effect is mediated by the TCR and TGF-β pathways, and fetal T cells show significantly increased Treg differentiation in response to anti-CD3 and TGF-β stimulation. Naive fetal T cells also exhibit increased signaling through the TGF-β pathway, with these cells demonstrating increased expression of the signaling mediators TGF-βRI, TGF-βRIII, and SMAD2, and higher levels of SMAD2/SMAD3 phosphorylation. Increased fetal Treg differentiation is mediated by the RNA-binding protein Lin28b, which is overexpressed in fetal T cells as compared with adult cells. When Lin28b expression is decreased in naive fetal T cells, they exhibit decreased Treg differentiation that is associated with decreased TGF-β signaling and lowered expression of TGF-βRI, TGF-βRIII, and SMAD2. Lin28b regulates the maturation of let-7 microRNAs, and these TGF-β signaling mediators are let-7 targets. We hypothesize that loss of Lin28b expression in fetal T cells leads to increased mature let-7, which causes decreased expression of TGF-βRI, TGF-βRIII, and SMAD2 proteins. A reduction in TGF-β signaling leads to reduced Treg numbers.
Reassessing the relationship between general intelligence and self-control in childhood

Abstract Intelligence has consistently been recognized as a robust correlate of health, life success, and behavior. Evidence also suggests that intelligence may contribute to another key correlate of behavior: self-control. The current study builds on recent work in this area by examining the association between intelligence and self-control across multiple raters and when accounting for potential confounding influences not accounted for in prior research. Results based on a national sample of U.S. children indicates that higher scores for intelligence are associated with more self-control in both cross-sectional and longitudinal models, even when accounting for prior self-control, child executive functioning, maternal intelligence, and maternal self-control. Moreover, the association persisted across both teacher and mother ratings of child self-control. As such, these findings support and extend prior work examining the nexus between intelligence and self-control, and may explain why both traits are important for understanding success across a host of life outcomes in humans.
Symmetry for Flavor-Kinematics Duality from an Action

We propose a new representation of the nonlinear sigma model that exhibits a manifest duality between flavor and kinematics. The fields couple exclusively through cubic Feynman vertices which define the structure constants of an underlying kinematic algebra. The action is invariant under a combination of internal and spacetime symmetries whose conservation equations imply flavor-kinematics duality, ensuring that all Feynman diagrams satisfy kinematic Jacobi identities. Substituting flavor for kinematics, we derive a new cubic action for the special Galileon theory. In this picture, the vanishing soft behavior of amplitudes is a by-product of the Weinberg soft theorem.
Utilization of the NSQIP-Pediatric Database in Development and Validation of a New Predictive Model of Pediatric Postoperative Wound Complications.

Background Surgical wound classification, introduced in 1964, stratifies the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) based on a clinical estimate of the inoculum of bacteria encountered during the procedure. Recent literature has questioned the accuracy of predicting SSI risk based on wound classification. We hypothesized that a more specific model founded on specific patient and perioperative factors would more accurately predict the risk of SSI. Study Design Using all observations from the 2012 to 2014 pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) Participant Use File, patients were randomized into model creation and model validation datasets. Potential perioperative predictive factors were assessed with univariate analysis for each of 4 outcomes: wound dehiscence, superficial wound infection, deep wound infection, and organ space infection. A multiple logistic regression model with a step-wise backwards elimination was performed. A receiver operating characteristic curve with c-statistic was generated to assess the model discrimination for each outcome. Results A total of 183,233 patients were included. All perioperative NSQIP factors were evaluated for clinical pertinence. Of the original 43 perioperative predictive factors selected, 6 to 9 predictors for each outcome were significantly associated with postoperative SSI. The predictive accuracy level of our model compared favorably with the traditional wound classification in each outcome of interest. Conclusions The proposed model from NSQIP-P demonstrated a significantly improved predictive ability for postoperative SSIs than the current wound classification system. This model will allow providers to more effectively counsel families and patients of these risks, and more accurately reflect true risks for individual surgical patients to hospitals and payers.
Origins and Beginnings: On The Blind Side

This chapter reinterprets John Lee Hancock’s The Blind Side (2009) as an indictment of the black family. Misread as a feel-good story extolling the value of organized sports, in which the sad fate of a poor black urban youth is redirected by the intervention of a professional white woman, this work represents something more than an example of the patronage motif. Here the figure of the black male athlete is conflated with the figure of the black female welfare recipient and the question of reproductive justice raised by her predicament. This not only interrupts the redemptive fantasy of racial capitalism promoted by Michael Oher’s unlikely story, but also productively undermines the quest for hegemonic gender differentiation, even within the confines of mainstream narrative cinema.
A Computational Framework for Influence Networks: Application to Clergy Influence in HIV/AIDS Outreach

Strong social networks can encourage healthy behaviors. In this paper, we introduce a sociology-based computational framework for influence networks. The model construct is generic and is applicable to diverse social network analysis. We demonstrate its usage in calibrating the positive influence of church clergy in spreading HIV/AIDs information in a large metropolitan city. Five experiments are designed to contrast influence with respect to the interaction style between clergy and churchgoers. Competitive and non-competitive knowledge dissemination are also analyzed. The results show that when only one set of information exists, the spreading scope is directly proportional to the product of population size and the disease infection rate. When competing information is present, the importance of clergy in spreading the information decreases when the original propagation sources are ample. However, if sufficient interaction and trust are present among the clergy and the participants, the clergy's positive influence remains significant despite pre-existing knowledge. The generalized framework requires minimal regional data to establish the influence network. It provides useful policy insights for decision makers to determine effective avenues for information dissemination through community influencers.
Cancer Vaccines for HPV Malignancies

On a global scale, approximately one in six new cancer diagnoses is attributable to a specific infectious pathogen. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause approximately 30% of infection-associated cancers, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, and oropharynx, and nearly 5% of all cancers worldwide. In women, the majority of HPV-induced cancers are cervical cancers; in men, most HPV-associated malignancies are oropharyngeal. Despite the availability of preventive HPV vaccines, and screening methods to detect HPV in the lower genital tract, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women in low-resource settings.
Traditional and Hybrid Derivative-Free Optimization Approaches for Black Box Functions

Picking a suitable optimization solver for any optimization problem is quite challenging and has been the subject of many studies and much debate. This is due in part to each solver having its own inherent strengths and weaknesses. For example, one approach may be global but have slow local convergence properties, while another may have fast local convergence but is unable to globally search the entire feasible region. In order to take advantage of the benefits of more than one solver and to overcome any shortcomings, two or more methods may be combined, forming a hybrid. Hybrid optimization is a popular approach in the combinatorial optimization community, where metaheuristics (such as genetic algorithms, tabu search, ant colony, variable neighborhood search, etc.) are combined to improve robustness and blend the distinct strengths of different approaches. More recently, metaheuristics have been combined with deterministic methods to form hybrids that simultaneously perform global and local searches. In this Chapter, we will examine the hybridization of derivative-free methods to address black box, simulation-based optimization problems. In these applications, the optimization is guided solely by function values (i.e. not by derivative information), and the function values require the output of a computational model. Specifically, we will focus on improving derivative-free sampling methods through hybridization.We will review derivative-free optimization methods, discuss possible hybrids, describe intelligent hybrid approaches that properly utilize both methods, and give an examples of the successful application of hybrid optimization to a problem from the hydrological sciences.
Case 57: Total IV Anesthesia

Today you are anesthetizing a 49-year-old female (48 kg, 5 ft 6 in.) for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Her past history is significant for a cardiac arrest under general anesthesia 25 years before. No other information is available, but she tells you that there is a family history of malignant hyperthermia. She has undergone more than ten surgical procedures under general anesthesia without any problems. The last one was for a knee replacement 8 months ago. There is no information available as to the anesthetic techniques used in all these case. She has no allergies and is otherwise healthy. Her laboratory values are within normal limits. With the history of malignant hyperthermia, you decide on a nontriggering anesthetic using a total intravenous anesthetic technique.
Duplex-Guided Interventions

This chapter describes the approach and technique of ultrasound (US)-guided peripheral vascular interventions. It illustrates a stepwise approach to an US-guided percutaneous intervention of superficial femoral artery chronic total occlusion.
AudioWorklet: the future of web audio

This paper presents a newly introduced extension to the Web Audio API that enables developers to author custom audio processing on the web. AudioWorklet brings JavaScript-based audio processing that is fast, reliable and secure while addressing numerous problems found in the earlier ScriptProcessorNode. AudioWorklet's design is discussed, followed by technical aspects, usage examples, and what the new functionality offers to the computer music community.
Maternal antibody inhibition of recombinant Newcastle disease virus vectored vaccine in a primary or booster avian influenza vaccination program of broiler chickens

Abstract Maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) provide early protection from disease, but may interfere with active immunity in young chicks. In highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV)-enzootic countries, broiler chickens typically have MDA to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and H5 HPAIV, and their impact on active immunity from recombinant vectored vaccines is unclear. We assessed the effectiveness of a spray-applied recombinant NDV vaccine with H5 AIV insert (rNDV-H5) and a recombinant turkey herpesvirus (HVT) vaccine with H5 AIV insert (rHVT-H5) in commercial broilers with MDA to NDV alone (MDA:AIV−NDV+) or to NDV plus AIV (MDA:AIV+NDV+) to provide protection against homologous HPAIV challenge. In Experiment 1, chicks were spray-vaccinated with rNDV-H5 at 3 weeks (3w) and challenged at 5 weeks (5w). All sham-vaccinated progeny lacked AIV antibodies and died following challenge. In rNDV-H5 vaccine groups, AIV and NDV MDA had completely declined to non-detectable levels by vaccination, enabling rNDV-H5 spray vaccine to elicit a protective AIV antibody response by 5w, with 70–78% survival and significant reduction of virus shedding compared to shams. In Experiment 2, progeny were vaccinated with rHVT-H5 and rNDV-H5 at 1 day (1d) or 3w and challenged at 5w. All sham-vaccinated progeny lacked AIV antibodies and died following challenge. In rHVT-H5(1d) vaccine groups, irrespective of rNDV-H5(3w) boost, AIV antibodies reached protective levels pre-challenge, as all progeny survived and virus shedding significantly decreased compared to shams. In contrast, rNDV-H5-vaccinated progeny had AIV and/or NDV MDA at the time of vaccination (1d and/or 3w) and failed to develop a protective immune response by 5w, resulting in 100% mortality after challenge. Our results demonstrate that MDA to AIV had minimal impact on the effectiveness of rHVT-H5, but MDA to AIV and/or NDV at the time of vaccination can prevent development of protective immunity from a primary or booster rNDV-H5 vaccine.
Considerations in the Use of Codon Optimization for Recombinant Protein Expression

Codon optimization is a gene engineering approach that is commonly used for enhancing recombinant protein expression. This approach is possible because (1) degeneracy of the genetic code enables most amino acids to be encoded by multiple codons and (2) different mRNAs encoding the same protein can vary dramatically in the amount of protein expressed. However, because codon optimization potentially disrupts overlapping information encoded in mRNA coding regions, protein structure and function may be altered. This chapter discusses the use of codon optimization for various applications in mammalian cells as well as potential consequences, so that informed decisions can be made on the appropriateness of using this approach in each case.
Developing High Performance GaP/Si Heterojunction Solar Cells

To improve the efficiency of Si-based solar cells beyond their Shockley-Queisser limit, the optimal path is to integrate them with III-V-based solar cells. In this work, we present high performance GaP/Si heterojunction solar cells with a high Si minority-carrier lifetime and high crystal quality of epitaxial GaP layers. It is shown that by applying phosphorus (P)-diffusion layers into the Si substrate and a SiNx layer, the Si minority-carrier lifetime can be well-maintained during the GaP growth in the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). By controlling the growth conditions, the high crystal quality of GaP was grown on the P-rich Si surface. The film quality is characterized by atomic force microscopy and high-resolution x-ray diffraction. In addition, MoOx was implemented as a hole-selective contact that led to a significant increase in the short-circuit current density. The achieved high device performance of the GaP/Si heterojunction solar cells establishes a path for further enhancement of the performance of Si-based photovoltaic devices.
Enhancing P-Type Doping in Polycrystalline CdTe Films

An in-situ non-equilibrium method to increase acceptor doping in polycrystalline CdTe thin films to 1016cm−3level using group V substitution is presented. Single phase CdTe films doped with P, As, and Sb were deposited at 550°C at 100–200 nm/s onto moving CdS/HRT/TCO/Glass superstrates by vapor transport deposition (VTD) in Cd overpressure from high purity compound sources. Doping levels before and after activation were determined by capacitance-voltage (CV) analysis of devices with no additional treatments. Dopant incorporation levels of 1017_1018 atoms/cm3were obtained based on SIMS depth profiling. Electronic activation was carried out by post deposition annealing and quenching, increasing acceptor concentrations to >1015cm−3for P and >1016cm−3for As and Sb, compared with mid-1014 cm−3 acceptor levels for un-doped CdTe films. The acceptor concentration increase by substitutional defect As Te formation was validated for As-doping by cathodoluminsence spectroscopy.
Patient-Centered and Specialty-Specific Case Work-Up: An Effective Method for Teaching Appropriateness of Imaging to Medical Students.

Rationale and Objectives Our institution has developed a mini-course program within the diagnostic radiology elective curriculum that promotes active learning, using patient cases specifically tailored to students’ future specialties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this mini-course on medical student knowledge of imaging appropriateness and attitude toward radiologist consultation. Materials and Methods During each month-long radiology elective course, students were divided into teams of up to four students based on their specialty interest and assigned recent patient cases with imaging findings relevant to their specialties. The students researched their customized patient cases, integrated pertinent clinical and imaging findings, and presented their findings in a final preceptor-led session. A five-point Likert-type item preprogram and postprogram survey assessing knowledge of imaging appropriateness and attitude toward radiologist consultation was sent to the enrolled medical students. Results Out of 36 medical students, 33 (92%) completed the preprogram survey and 31 (86%) completed the postprogram survey. Students reported improved confidence in knowledge of imaging appropriateness, such as indications for intravenous contrast (p Conclusion Assigning customized patient cases to medical students on diagnostic radiology elective, tailored to their future specialties, is an effective and active way to teach imaging appropriateness and to improve attitudes toward radiologist consultation.
(238) Sex Differences in Providers’ Pain Treatment Recommendations: The Role of Perceived Exaggeration

Sex differences are well-documented in chronic pain care. The reasons for these differences are multi-faceted and include provider-level factors, such as their perceptions of and treatment decisions for patients. To better understand provider factors, we recruited 400 medical residents and fellows who viewed 12 text vignettes and videos of computer-simulated male and female patients with chronic low back pain. Providers rated their likelihood of recommending different treatments for pain (opioid medications, physical therapy, pain specialist referrals) and the extent to which they perceived the patients to be exaggerating their pain. Paired samples t-tests indicated that providers were significantly more likely to recommend opioids (t(399)=-2.59, p=.01, d=.13) for male patients, but were more likely to recommend physical therapy (t(399)=2.53, p=.01, d=.13) and pain specialist referrals (t(399)=3.03, p
Stochastic Ising Models

Stochastic Ising models can be thought of loosely as reversible spin systems with strictly positive rates. (For a more precise version of this statement, see Theorem 2.13.) The measures with respect to which they are reversible are the Gibbs states of classical statistical mechanics. Thus stochastic Ising models can be viewed as models for nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. These were among the first spin systems to be studied, because of their close connections with physics. While no prior knowledge of statistical mechanics will be assumed in this chapter, the reader may find it useful to refer occasionally to more comprehensive treatments of that subject. Recommended for this purpose are Ruelle (1969, 1978), Griffiths (1972), Preston (1974b), Sinai (1982), and Simon (1985).
1839-P: GLP-1 Receptor Antagonism Using Exendin-9,39 in the Fasting State Modulates a-Cell Function in Humans with Type 2 Diabetes

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) potentiates insulin secretion in response to an oral challenge. Exendin-(9,39) a competitive antagonist of GLP-1, has been used to quantify the contribution of endogenous GLP-1 to glucose tolerance. In nondiabetic subjects, Exendin-(9,39) infused for three hours altered the subsequent β-cell response to an i.v. glucose challenge. Similar results were observed using perifused human islets from nondiabetic donors. We hypothesized that the effects of fasting GLP-1 secretion on β-cell response would be similar in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We studied 9 subjects with T2D in random order. Glucose containing [3- 3 H]-glucose was infused to mimic the systemic appearance of glucose after a meal. On one occasion, saline, was infused for 3 hours prior (-180 to 0 minutes) to the I.V. challenge, while on the other Exendin-(9,39) was infused at 750pmol/kg/minutes. Exendin-(9,39) infusion prior to the i.v. challenge increased fasting (8.7 ± 0.6 vs. 7.8 ± 0.5 mmol/l, p Disclosure M.D. Hurtado: None. A.M. Egan: None. M.C. Laurenti: Employee; Self; GlySens Incorporated. J. Adams: None. R.A. Rizza: Advisory Panel; Self; Lilly Diabetes, Metavention, Novo Nordisk A/S, vTv Therapeutics. C. Cobelli: None. A. Matveyenko: None. C. Dalla Man: None. A. Vella: Advisory Panel; Self; vTv Therapeutics. Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. Funding Endocrine Fellows Foundation; National Institutes of Health
Design of Feedback Systems with Uncertainties, Based on Equivalent Control

Sliding mode is considered as the efficient tool to control high order nonlinear dynamic plants operating under uncertainty conditions. The reason is twofold: decoupling the design problem into two independent subproblems of lower dimension and low sensitivity with respect to unknown time varying parameters and disturbances. Assuming that the range of variations is known only the discontinuous control is selected such that sliding mode is enforced for all possible values from this range. The discontinuous control should be replaced by the equivalent control, depending on uncertainties, to write down the sliding mode equations. This function can be easily obtained by a low pass filter with discontinuous control as an input. As a result, additional information can be obtained about plant dynamics and utilized for improving control processes, to design adaptive control and state observers, to control switching frequency in power converters for reducing heat losses, to minimize chattering amplitude. The set of these problems is discussed in the paper.
Management of facial burns.

Burns to the face affect a part of the body that cannot be hidden and thus exposes potentially major changes in appearance to society. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the caregiver to optimize healing and minimize scarring. The goal for partial-thickness burns is to have them heal within 2-3 weeks to minimize healing time. For full-thickness burns there needs to be strategies to optimize the outcomes for skin grafting and minimize scarring. The goal of this review is to discuss the best way to improve the outcomes of these devastating injuries.
Together we are better

In recent years, many educators have turned to professional learning networks (PLNs) to grow in their craft with peers who are more accessible online because of reduced temporal and spatial constraints. While educators have cultivated PLNs, there is a dearth of research about the effects of PLNs. This manuscript reports the findings of a qualitative study that investigated PLN experiences through the analysis of survey data from 732źP-12 teachers. Data analysis suggests that the anytime, anywhere availability of expansive PLNs, and their capacity to respond to educators' diverse interests and needs, appear to offer possibilities for supporting the professional growth of whole teachers. These findings have implications for defining the present and future of teacher learning in a digital age. Ninety percent of respondents defined PLNs as multifaceted systems.PLNs support affective, social, cognitive, and identity aspects of teacher growth.Almost all participants reported modifying teaching practices as a result of PLNs.Quarter of respondents credited PLNs as changing thinking about teaching.Respondents described PLNs' positive impact on student learning.
Plastic response to early shade avoidance cues has season-long effect on Beta vulgaris growth and development

Early-emerging weeds are known to negatively affect crop growth but the mechanisms by which weeds reduce crop yield are not fully understood. In a 4-year study, we evaluated the effect of duration of weed-reflected light on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) growth and development. The study included an early-season weed removal series and a late-season weed addition series of treatments arranged in a randomized complete block, and the study design minimized direct resource competition. If weeds were present from emergence until the two true-leaf sugar beet stage, sugar beet leaf area was reduced 22%, leaf biomass reduced 25%, and root biomass reduced 32% compared to sugar beet grown season-long without surrounding weeds. Leaf area, leaf biomass, and root biomass was similar whether weeds were removed at the two true-leaf stage (approximately 330 GDD after planting) or allowed to remain until sugar beet harvest (approximately 1,240 GDD after planting). Adding weeds at the two true-leaf stage and leaving them until harvest (~1,240 GDD) reduced sugar beet leaf and root biomass by 18% and 23%, respectively. This work suggests sugar beet responds early and near-irreversibly to weed presence and has implications for crop management genetic improvement.
Data-mining methods predict chlorine residuals in premise plumbing using low-cost sensors

Variable water quality within buildings is of increasing concern due to public health impacts (e.g., lead, Legionella pneumophila, Naegleria fowleri, disinfection byproducts). Advances in data acquisition and analytics provide the opportunity to monitor real‐time building‐wide water quality variability. Accordingly, the goal of this research was to create a water quality sensor platform including data acquisition, storage, and mining methods able to monitor, and ultimately improve, water quality within buildings. The platform was used to monitor water temperature, pH, conductivity, oxidation–reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, and chlorine using sensors only. Other building data infrastructure, specifically Wi‐Fi logins by occupants, were used to approximate activity rates and associated water use. An advanced machine‐learning technique, gradient boosting machines, predicted the chlorine residuals throughout the building plumbing network better than multivariate linear regression models. Finally, the implications of water quality monitoring on costs, scalability, reliability, human dimensions, regulatory compliance, and future green building designs are considered.
Imageless robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty leads to similar 24-month WOMAC scores as compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study

Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) was introduced to improve limb alignment, component positioning, soft-tissue balance and to minimize surgical outliers. This study investigates perioperative outcomes, complications, and early patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of one imageless RA-TKA system compared to conventional method TKA (CM-TKA) at 24-month follow-up. This multi-surgeon retrospective cohort analysis compared 111 imageless RA-TKA patients to 110 CM-TKA patients (n = 221). Basic demographic information, intraoperative and postoperative data, and PROMs, including the functional score of the Knee Society Score (KSS-FS), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Short Form 12 Mental and Physical scores (SF-12M and P), were collected and recorded preoperatively, at 3-, 12- and 24-months postoperatively. Range of motion (ROM), estimated blood loss (EBL), surgical duration, and complications were also collected. There were no baseline patient demographic differences between groups. EBL (240 vs. 190 mL, p < 0.001) and surgical duration (123 vs. 107 min, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in RA-TKA. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications, ROM, length of stay (LOS), and PROMs between cohorts at 3-, 12-, 24-months postoperatively. Imageless RA-TKA is associated with greater EBL and surgical duration compared to CM-TKA. However, at 24-month follow-up, there were no significant differences in ROM, LOS, complications and PROMs between cohorts. Imageless robotic surgery leads to similar 24-month clinical outcomes as compared to CM-TKA. III
Trends in General Surgery Operative Experience Obtained by Integrated Vascular Surgery Residents

OBJECTIVE When the integrated vascular surgery training pathway was introduced, training was comprised of nearly equal amounts of core general surgery and vascular surgery experience. However, specific requirements for case numbers or types were not defined. Over time, the time spent on core general surgery requirements has been reduced, most recently in 2018, from 24 to 18 months. We sought to determine trends in general surgery case volume and type over the past 10 years for vascular surgery residents. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case log data for integrated vascular surgery graduates from 2012-2018. We evaluated trends in mean numbers of cases, categorized as general surgery open (GS-open), general surgery laparoscopic (GS-laparoscopic), vascular surgery open (VS-open), and vascular surgery endovascular (VS-endo). Cases were also categorized by anatomic region as head/neck, thoracic, or abdominal. RESULTS The mean number of total head/neck, thoracic, or abdominal cases logged by graduating integrated vascular surgery trainees was 263.5. This total, as well as the proportion of general surgery cases (35%-38%, p = 0.99) has remained constant over time. The type of general surgery cases has changed significantly, with an upward trend in the mean number of GS-open cases and downward trend in mean GS-laparoscopic cases (GS-open p = 0.006, GS-laparoscopic p = 0.048). Among head/neck and thoracic subgroups, no significant changes were observed, while in the abdominal subgroup, there has been a significant increase in GS-open over time (p = 0.005). Additionally, the number of open vascular abdominal aortic cases has remained stable, with an average of 36.82 per graduating trainee per year. CONCLUSIONS In the 10 years since the introduction of integrated vascular surgery programs, total case volume and proportion of general surgery cases have remained remarkably stable. The type of general surgery cases has shifted though, with a decrease in GS-laparoscopic cases, replaced primarily by open abdominal cases. These changes likely reflect integrated vascular residents actively seeking out these opportunities during their core rotations and a willingness by general surgery partners to provide these opportunities. At the program level, these data may help guide program directors’ choices about the specific core rotations they incorporate into their curriculum. At the national level, this information may contribute to future discussions regarding the optimal number of core general surgery rotation requirements.
Predictive Validity of the GRE and GPAs for a Doctoral Program Focusing on Educational Leadership.

Leadership in the public school setting is a topic of interest in the professional literature for a variety of stakeholders. One particular stakeholder group is those responsible for preparing educational leaders, i.e. faculty administering preparation programs. Research addressing the preparation of educational administrators has followed separate but related research streams. One stream focuses on why practicing educators seek administrative positions. To illustrate, some studies address the decisions of teachers to become school administrators (Newton, Giesen, Freeman, Bishop, & Zeitoun, 2003; Newton, Keedy, & Winter, 2000; Winter, Keedy, & Newton, 2001), while other studies explore the decisions of practicing administrators to pursue advance level positions within the public school setting (Pounder & Merril, 2001; 2002; Winter, Keedy, & Newton, 2001; Winter & Morganthal, 2002). In general, these studies use tight experimental designs, manipulate experimentally certain contextual variables purported to influence the attraction of applicants, and advance current knowledge about why qualified job candidates choose either to remain in their current assignment or to seek leadership positions. However, less attention is afforded to how individuals acquire the necessary qualifications/certifications to be considered as a viable candidate for a leadership position. One avenue for acquiring the necessary qualifications/certifications is a doctoral degree in
Uterine perforation: A complication of continuous fetal monitoring

Abstract A case of intrapartum perforation of the uterus secondary to transvaginal insertion of an intrauterine catheter for continuous fetal monitoring is reported. The perforation resulted in an intraperitoneal abscess. A new, soft, Teflon cannula is described as a possible safer method of introducing the intrauterine catheter.
An hierarchical approach to clock routing in high performance systems

In this paper, we present an hierarchical clock routing scheme, which minimizes the longest source to sink path, and obtains a path balanced clock tree with minimal total wirelength. Our scheme takes into consideration, the hierarchical design of a circuit. Our approach is applicable to large VLSI circuits and MCM's. The algorithm has been implemented and experimental results are encouraging. >
Phonocardiography: I. General principles and problems of standardization∗

Abstract The general laws of auscultation and the basic principles and scope of phonocardiography are analyzed and discussed with particular reference to instrumentation. The characteristics and responses of the various types of transducers (microphones), equalizer or filter circuits, amplifiers, and recording oscillographs are presented; they must be known for proper clinical application of phonocardiography.
Graphic introduction to programming

The Problem-solving Model of Design Brief History of Computer-aided Design BASIC CONCEPTS: Programming Names Values CONTROL: Repetition Branching Partitioning DATA STRUCTURES: Scalars Arrays Records Pointers Lists TEXT: Annotations Storage CONCLUSION: Summary Epilogue.
Dihydrofolate reductase from a resistant subline of the L1210 lymphoma. Purification and properties.

Abstract Dihydrofolate reductase has been purified 1000-fold from a methotrexate-resistant subline of the L1210 lymphoma with 49% yield and purity up to 100%. The procedure involves ammonium sulfate and acid precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and chromatography on hydroxylapatite. Purity has been determined by titrating enzymic activity and protein fluorescence with a stoichiometric inhibitor, methotrexate, and confirmed by electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. The isoelectric point in phosphate buffer is approximately pH 6.0, but in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer, the isoelectric point is above pH 8.5. The protein contains one reactive sulfhydryl group and is stabilized to heat and to urea denaturarion by each of its substrates.
New Families of Periodic Orbits in the General Planar Problem of Three Bodies

This paper contains a preliminary report of recent results showing new periodic orbits in the two-dimensional general problem of three bodies. These periodic orbits may form families when the mass of one of the three bodies is changed. The conjecture is presented according to which these orbits may be generated from a special solution of the restricted problem of three bodies. Several numerical examples are described. These examples are based on the author’s previously published results on the Pythagorean problem of three bodies.
A Moral and Legal Analysis of Security Technologies: Drones and Precision Guided Munitions

This paper begins to provide a unified moral reckoning with the way in which ideas concerning technological progress have altered the rules of military engagement and the implementation of homeland security. It will address both military technologies and technologies that secure the homeland, since the development and use of these technologies are vulnerable to the same ethical pitfalls. It attempts to present the central ethical dilemmas in modern asymmetric warfare, dilemmas that will be addressed in greater detail in subsequent chapters. First, this chapter employs Just War theory as a theoretical frame in which to situate the discussion and argues that the technology associated with precision guided munitions (PGM) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) only open the possibility of ethical discrimination and proportionality, but in no way insures that these possibilities will be actualized. Second, it begins to expose the relationship between the increasing popularity of PGM and UAV technologies and the rhetoric that is used to describe contemporary military conflict. If precision weaponry is assumed to be inherently ethical, it may grant policymakers and strategists the chance to conflate the description of tactics with the prescription of normative judgments. This continues to be a danger in the years of the Obama administration, as we witness a spike in the use of drone technologies and PGM. Several case studies are employed to demonstrate the ethical and legal dangers that accompany these technologies. The second half of the chapter asks if the technological progress that has come to define counterinsurgency efforts may lead to similar ethical difficulties in the fields of intelligence and law enforcement on the U.S. home front. It explores the way in which military technology and rhetoric might be redeployed in the domestic sphere.
Treatment of adenovirus hepatitis with cidofovir in a pediatric liver transplant recipient

AdV hepatitis is a rarely reported complication after pediatric liver transplantation that is associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality and graft failure. Successful treatment of AdV relies on early diagnosis of disease by quantitative PCR measurement of adenoviral DNA in blood and histological evidence in tissue biopsy. Pharmacologic treatment largely consists of antiviral therapy with CDV, an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analog and reduction in immunosuppression. This report describes a case of AdV hepatitis in a pediatric liver transplant recipient successfully treated with a modified, renal sparing dosing of CDV.
Outcomes After Operations for Unicuspid Aortic Valve With or Without Ascending Repair in Adults

Background Unicuspid aortic valve is an important subset of bicuspid aortic valve, and knowledge regarding its aortopathy pattern and surgical outcomes is limited. Our objectives were to characterize unicuspid aortic valve patients, associated aortopathy, and surgical outcomes. Methods From January 1990 to May 2013, 149 adult unicuspid aortic valve patients underwent aortic valve replacement or repair for aortic stenosis (n = 13), regurgitation (n = 13), or both (n = 123), and in 91 (61%) the aortic valve operation was combined with aortic repair. Data were obtained from the Cardiovascular Information Registry and medical record review. Three-dimensional imaging analysis was performed from preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Results Patients had a mean maximum aortic diameter of 44 ± 8 mm and variably involved the aortic root, ascending, or arch, or both. Patients with valve operations alone were more likely to be hypertensive ( p = 0.01) and to have severe aortic stenosis ( p = 0.07) than those who underwent concurrent aortic operations. There were no operative deaths, strokes, or myocardial infarctions. Patients undergoing aortic repair had better long-term survival. Estimated survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 100%, 100%, and 100% after combined operations and was 100%, 88%, and 88% after valve operations alone ( p = 0.01). Conclusions Patients with a dysfunctional unicuspid aortic valve frequently present with an ascending aneurysm that requires repair. Combined aortic valve operations and aortic repair was associated with significantly better long-term survival than a valve operation alone. Further study of this association may direct decisions about timing of surgical intervention.
Reduction of distress vocalization in chicks by opiate-like peptides.

Abstract PANKSEPP, J., T. VILBERG, N. J. BEAN, D. H. COY AND A. J. KASTIN. Reduction of distress vocalization in chicks by opiate-like peptides . BRAIN RES. BULL. 3 (6) 663–667, 1978.—All the opiate-like peptides we tested (Met-enkephalin, (D-Ala 2 )-Met-enkaphalin-NH 2 , β-endorphin, (D-Ala 2 )-β-endorphin, (D-Ala 2 )-α-endorphin, (D-Ala 2 )-γ-endorphin) were capable of reducing distress vocalizations (DV's) in socially-isolated chicks when injected into the vicinity of the fourth ventricle in doses as low as 100 picomoles. All of these substances were at least as potent as equimolar doses of morphine sulfate. In general, DV's were a more sensitive measure of opiate-like peptide effects than reductions in body temperature. In a more limited study using peripheral injections, it was determined that (D-Ala 2 )-Met-enkephalin at doses of 400 nanomoles/kg, like morphine sulfate, was more effective in reducing DV's, than an equimolar dose of β-endorphin. β-endorphin was not as effective via a peripheral route as it was via central administration.
Council and Hierarchy: The Political Thought of William Durant the Younger

Acknowledgments List of abbreviations List of manuscript sigla Introduction Part I. The Formation of Interest: 1. The bishops of Mende 2. The state of the church 3. The twilight of autonomy Part II. The Assertion of Justice: 4. The theory of reform 5. 'Magnus ordo differentie' 6. 'Res publica' 7. The perversion of order Part III. The Incidence of Power: 8. The sublimation of reform 9. The advent of the prince Conclusion Appendix Bibliography Concordance Index Figures.
Evaporative water loss from birds: Effects of artificial radiation

Abstract 1. 1. Metabolism ( V o 2 ) and evaporative water loss ( m we ) were measured in black, male Lark Buntings ( Calamospiza melanocorys ) at 10, 30 and 35°C with and without supplemental radiation (simulating sunlight). 2. 2. V o 2 was reduced by radiation at 10°C but not 30° or 35°C. 3. 3. m we was unaffected by radiation at 10°C, however; it was increased 36% at 30°C and 150% at 35°C. 4. 4. I suggest caution should be used in arguing the selective advantages of black pigmentation in environments with incident radiation, for although there may be an energy saving at low ambient temperatures, there is a considerable increase in water loss at high ambient temperatures.
Heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise testing as a predictor of mortality in a cardiovascularly healthy cohort.

Abnormal heart rate recovery after symptom-limited exercise is an important prognostic factor. This study found that even after submaximal exercise in patients in good cardiovascular health, abnorm...