cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On a Recent Cliometric Attempt to Resurrect the Myth of Antebellum Egalitarianism

In his recent essay in this journal on my writings on the “egalitarian myth,” Robert E. Gallman is kind enough to express admiration for “the scope of Pessen’s empirical undertaking, the skill and ingenuity with which he carried it out, his learning, and his grasp of his materials.” If praise from any source is sweet, praise from so admired a scholar as Professor Gallman is doubly sweet. Yet, “one may doubt,” he continues, that I have “in fact dealt a death blow to the egalitarian hypothesis.” Criticism, while not nearly so pleasing, alas, is to be expected, particularly for work such as mine that challenges a most influential, durable, and still popular thesis and challenges it on the basis of admittedly partial data. Scholarly disagreement on important issues is of course inevitable. For, as Peter M. Blau and Otis D. Duncan have observed, even collaborators in a joint study will interpret their data differently. I have taken pen in hand and availed myself of the opportunity graciously afforded me by a managing editor of Social Science History to publish my “observations on Gallman’s essay,” not because that essay criticizes my work but because a number of its references to my work are misleading and inaccurate.
Powder diffraction data for the three-layer Aurivillius ceramics Bi2Sr2−xAxNb2TiO12(A=Ca,Ba,x=0,0.5,1)

Powder diffraction data for five three-layer Aurivillius ceramics of the form Bi2Sr2−xAxNb2TiO12 (A=Ca,Ba,x=0,0.5,1) have been determined from specimens that were characterized using both X-ray and neutron diffraction. Full Rietveld analysis demonstrated that the crystals were all tetragonal (space group I4∕mmm, #139), with highly aniostropic layered structures with lattice parameters on the order of a=3.9 A and c=33 A, and densities on the order of 7 g∕cm3
Legacies of craft and the centrality of failure in a mother-operated hackerspace

Popular portraits of hacking have often relied on histories of hobbyist engineering culture rooted in tales of middle-class, college-educated, and often male technologists. Since 2012, members of a mother-operated hackerspace in the East Bay of San Francisco, California, have countered these narratives, revealing hackerspaces as sites with which to refigure masculine claims to innovation and progress. Drawing on critical craft studies and studies of therapeutic culture, this article examines the workings of Mothership HackerMoms and its series of workshops called Failure Club, a project motivated by a desire to support women’s creative pursuits with the onset of motherhood. By integrating feminist legacies of craftwork with the centrality of failure — exposing personal failures and failures to transform hacker cultures — members not only energize new modes of hacking activity but also hack the very ontology of hacking.
Subclinical Vascular Disease and Subsequent Erectile Dysfunction: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Author(s): Feldman, David I; Cainzos-Achirica, Miguel; Billups, Kevin L; DeFilippis, Andrew P; Chitaley, Kanchan; Greenland, Philip; Stein, James H; Budoff, Matthew J; Dardari, Zeina; Miner, Martin; Blumenthal, Roger S; Nasir, Khurram; Blaha, Michael J | Abstract: BackgroundThe association between subclinical cardiovascular disease and subsequent development of erectile dysfunction (ED) remains poorly described.HypothesisAmong multiple subclinical atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction measurements, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score best predicts ED.MethodsAfter excluding participants taking ED medications at baseline, we studied 1862 men age 45 to 84 years free of known cardiovascular disease from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with comprehensive baseline subclinical vascular disease phenotyping and ED status assessed at MESA visit 5 (9.4 ± 0.5 years after baseline) using a standardized question on ED symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between baseline measures of vascular disease (atherosclerosis domain: CAC, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque, ankle-brachial index; vascular stiffness/function domain: aortic stiffness, carotid stiffness, brachial flow-mediated dilation) and ED symptoms at follow-up.ResultsMean baseline age was 59.5 ± 9 years, and 839 participants (45%) reported ED symptoms at follow-up. Compared with symptom-free individuals, participants with ED had higher baseline prevalence of CAC score g100 (36.4% vs 17.2%), carotid intima-media thickness Z score g75th percentile (35.3% vs 16.6%), carotid plaque score ≥2 (39% vs 21.1%), carotid distensibility l25th percentile (34.6% vs 17.1%), aortic distensibility l25th percentile (34.2% vs 18.7%), and brachial flow-mediated dilation l25th percentile (28.4% vs 21.3%); all P l 0.01. Only CAC g100 (odds ratio: 1.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.88) and carotid plaque score ≥2 (odds ratio: 1.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.73) were significantly associated with ED.ConclusionsSubclinical vascular disease is common in men who later self-report ED. Early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, particularly advanced CAC and carotid plaque, may provide opportunities for predicting the onset of subsequent vascular ED.
Multidisciplinary approach for the management of complex hepatic injuries AAST-OIS grades IV-V: a prospective study.

Background:Complex hepatic injuries grades IV—V are highly lethal. The objective of this study is to assess the multidisciplinary approach for their management and to evaluate if survival could be ...
Solubilization of receptors for pancreatic polypeptide from rat liver membranes

We have previously identified, on rat liver microsomes and plasma membranes, proteins that bind pancreatic polypeptide (PP) with high affinity and specificity and that may serve as receptors for a hepatic effect of PP (J. Biol. Chem. 267: 9416-9421, 1992). Further characterization of these proteins requires the solubilization of receptors with conserved ability to bind PP selectively and efficiently. In this report, using 6 mM of the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), we solubilized, from liver microsomes, receptors that bound PP with high affinity (dissociation constant 6.15 +/- 1.6 nM) and specificity (no interaction with the homologous peptides neuropeptide Y and peptide YY). Gel filtration chromatography showed different degrees of receptor aggregation related to different concentrations of CHAPS in the eluent. To characterize the structure of these solubilized receptors, the chemical cross-linker N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxy)succinimide was used to covalently bind these receptors to radiolabeled PP, and the resulting PP-receptor complexes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A radioactive band with an apparent molecular weight (M(r)) of 46,000 was detected that was inhibited by unlabeled PP with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of approximately 10(-8) M. It most likely reflected a PP receptor with an estimated M(r) of 42,000, excluding the molecular weight of PP. The migration of this complex was not affected by the reducing agent dithiothreitol, suggesting the absence of disulfide bonding. The solubilization and identification of a bioactive hepatic PP receptor will allow further characterization and purification of this receptor and will lead to the clarification of the interaction between PP and the digestive system.
Observations on the Growth of YBa2Cu307-δ Thin Films by Transmission Electron Microscopy

A major research effort in high-temperature oxide superconductors is the growth of high-quality thin films. The physical properties of polycrystalline thin films are controlled by their microstructure which is influenced by the early stages of film growth and the establishment of epitaxy. In this article, the nucleation and heteroepitactic growth of YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films is reviewed. In particular, the role of transmission electron microscopy in these studies is highlighted.
Polysaccharides and Carbohydrate Derivatives

: Important glucose polymers to animals are glycogen, starch, and cellulose. The b-1,4 glycosidic linkages of cellulose prevent it from being digested by constitutive enzymes. Glucuronic acid, which is derived from UDP-glucose in the liver, is used to conjugate bilirubin, steroid hormones, and several xenobiotics. Vitamin C is derived from carbohydrate. Glycosaminoglycans consist of chains of complex carbohydrates, and are found in the extracellular matrix. Proteoglycans are glycosaminoglycans attached to protein. Inulin, a fructose polymer of plants, can be used to determine the glomerular filtration rate.
Clarifying translanguaging and deconstructing named languages: A perspective from linguistics

The concept of translanguaging is clarified, establishing it as a particular conception of the mental grammars and linguistic practices of bilinguals. Translanguaging is different from code switching. Under translanguaging, the mental grammars of bilinguals are structured but unitary collections of features, and the practices of bilinguals are acts of feature selection, not of grammar switch. A proper understanding of translanguaging requires a return to the well known but often forgotten idea that named languages are social, not linguistic, objects. Whereas the idiolect of a particular individual is a linguistic object defined in terms of lexical and structural features, the named language of a nation or social group is not; its boundaries and membership cannot be established on the basis of lexical and structural features. The two named languages of the bilingual exist only in the outsider's view. From the insider's perspective of the speaker, there is only his or her full idiolect or repertoire, which belongs only to the speaker, not to any named language. Translanguaging is the deployment of a speaker' sf ull linguistic repertoire without regard for watchful adherence to the socially and politically defined boundaries of named (and usually national and state) languages. In schools, the translanguaging of bilinguals tends to be severely restricted. In addition, schools confuse the assessment of general linguistic proficiency, which is best manifested in bilinguals while translanguaging, with the testing of profi- ciency in a named language, which insists on inhibiting translanguaging. The concept of translanguaging is of special relevance to schools interested in the linguistic and intellectual growth of bilingual students as well as to minoritized communities involved in language maintenance and revitalization efforts.
Embolic Protection Device for Saphenous Vein Graft Intervention Too Early to Take Off the Seat Belt

Saphenous vein graft (SVG) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is considered a high-risk procedure because of the degeneration of the graft, which is associated with a high rate of distal embolization and no-reflow phenomenon. This results in an increased rate of periprocedural myocardial infarction and death.1 As a result, PCI of the native artery is preferred for SVG intervention.2 Prevalence of PCI of a failed SVG is ≈6% of all PCI procedures. SVGs, nevertheless, are still frequently used in bypass surgeries, and given their high failure rate, which averages ≈50% to 60% at 10-year follow-up,3 we are destined to encounter them in future coronary interventions.4 See Article by Brennan et al Embolic protection devices (EPDs) were introduced to mitigate the distal embolization rate and prevent the no-reflow phenomenon during PCI of the SVG. The US Food and Drug Administration—approved EPD are categorized by mechanism of action: an occlusion balloon followed by aspiration with or without rinsing, or with a filter-based design to capture the plaque debris during the intervention. The efficacy and use of balloon occluder with aspiration devices (GuardWire) were first studied in the Saphenous vein graft Angioplasty Free of Emboli Randomized (SAFER) trial.5 SAFER was the only randomized trial powered to test the effectiveness of PCI with EPD against PCI alone. The trial demonstrated a reduction in 30-day major adverse cardiac events in the GuardWire-treated patients versus control (9.6% versus 16.5%; P =0.004), mainly driven by reduction in periprocedural myocardial infarction and no-reflow. On the basis of these results, the American College of Cardiology guidelines granted a class I recommendation for EPD use in PCI of failed SVG.6 These guidelines have led to a myriad of devices, including different filters, proximal occluders, a combination of rinse …
Substrate Trapping in Crystals of the Thiolase OleA Identifies Three Channels That Enable Long Chain Olefin Biosynthesis.

Phylogenetically diverse microbes that produce long chain, olefinic hydrocarbons have received much attention as possible sources of renewable energy biocatalysts. One enzyme that is critical for this process is OleA, a thiolase superfamily enzyme that condenses two fatty acyl-CoA substrates to produce a β-ketoacid product and initiates the biosynthesis of long chain olefins in bacteria. Thiolases typically utilize a ping-pong mechanism centered on an active site cysteine residue. Reaction with the first substrate produces a covalent cysteine-thioester tethered acyl group that is transferred to the second substrate through formation of a carbon-carbon bond. Although the basics of thiolase chemistry are precedented, the mechanism by which OleA accommodates two substrates with extended carbon chains and a coenzyme moiety—unusual for a thiolase—are unknown. Gaining insights into this process could enable manipulation of the system for large scale olefin production with hydrocarbon chains lengths equivalent to those of fossil fuels. In this study, mutagenesis of the active site cysteine in Xanthomonas campestris OleA (Cys143) enabled trapping of two catalytically relevant species in crystals. In the resulting structures, long chain alkyl groups (C12 and C14) and phosphopantetheinate define three substrate channels in a T-shaped configuration, explaining how OleA coordinates its two substrates and product. The C143A OleA co-crystal structure possesses a single bound acyl-CoA representing the Michaelis complex with the first substrate, whereas the C143S co-crystal structure contains both acyl-CoA and fatty acid, defining how a second substrate binds to the acyl-enzyme intermediate. An active site glutamate (Gluβ117) is positioned to deprotonate bound acyl-CoA and initiate carbon-carbon bond formation.
Robot Tasks in a Metal-Working Cell

An automated metal working cell is the focus of the present study, and the examples chosen to illustrate basic gripping and manipulation concerns are drawn exclusively from the metal working environment. However, similar concerns appear in many other robot applications.
Themes and variations in gene regulation by extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors

The ECF sigma family was identified 23 years ago as a distinct group of σ70-like factors. ECF sigma factors have since emerged as a major form of bacterial signal transduction that can be grouped into over 50 phylogenetically distinct subfamilies. Advances in our understanding of these sigma factors and the signaling pathways governing their activity have elucidated conserved features as well as aspects that have evolved over time. All ECF sigma factors are predicted to share a common streamlined domain structure and mode of promoter interaction. The activity of most ECF sigma factors is controlled by an anti-sigma factor. The nature of the anti-sigma factor and the activating signaling pathways appear to be conserved within ECF families, while considerable diversity exists between different families.
uBot-7: A dynamically balancing mobile manipulator with series elastic actuators

We present the next generation of the uBot series: the uBot-7 mobile manipulator with 14 degrees of freedom, 95 cm tall, weighing about 27 kg. The robot is a new, unique mobile manipulator with great versatility to solve tasks in mobility and manipulation. The design is based on experiences from previous uBot generations. We detail the mechanical and electrical layout and highlight the improvements with regards to its predecessor uBot-6. All arm and torso joints are driven by series elastic actuators (SEAs) for better sensing and safer interaction around humans. This makes it the first wheeled dynamic balancer with SEAs. Upgrades to stronger brushless DC motors improve the strength of the robot more than twofold. The head has been extended with two additional motors and now offers independent viewpoint control of the RGB-D camera for all postural configurations of the robot. Finally, a new drive train removes backlash from the base wheels while providing more torque and speed. The design of the robot will be released as open-source.
Surgical Resection and Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Skull Base Chordomas.

Objective Chordomas are rare tumors of notochordal origin that are known to be locally aggressive and are often treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). The accepted standard of treatment for chordomas of the mobile spine, which includes en-bloc resection with wide margins, cannot be easily applied to the chordomas of the skull base because of their proximity to critical neurovascular structures. We describe our experience with the role of surgery and adjuvant RT in the treatment of chordomas over 16 years. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review on patients with diagnoses of clival chordoma between the years 2000 and 2015 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We reviewed presenting symptoms, tumor location and size, extent of resection, complications, recurrence, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up duration. Results A total of 20 patients underwent 32 surgeries. Of the 20 initial surgeries, 80% underwent gross total resection, and 20% had subtotal resection. The mean follow-up time was 60.75 months. Mean tumor volume was 23.07 cm3. Most common presenting signs and symptoms were headaches (70%), cranial nerve palsies (45%), and diplopia (55%). Diplopia was defined as complaints of double vision without any objective evidence of a cranial nerve palsy. Median time to progression was 57 months, and median overall survival was 136 months. Initial tumor volume and the need for a second dose of RT either as sole or as adjuvant treatment of a recurrence had a statistically significant effect on progression-free survival (P = 0.009, 0.009). None of the factors studied had a statistically significant effect on overall survival. Conclusions The treatment of chordomas remain challenging and requires multimodal treatment strategies spanning different specialties. Initial tumor size and need for second dose of RT for recurrence appear to play a significant role in progression-free survival. Adjuvant RT after gross total resection may play a role in improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with clival chordomas.
THERMAL EFFECTS ON ULTRASONIC WAVES IN THE PRESENCE OF STRESS

It has been shown previously [1] that there is a sound theoretical basis for believing that stress in metals can be detected and quantified by observing its effects on ultrasonic velocity when time-varying thermal gradients are made to occur within the same region as the stress. Experiments have verified the existence of the effect but as yet, deficiencies in instrumentation have precluded close quantitative comparison between theory and experiment. Modifications to correct these deficiencies are in progress and indicate that the improvements required are well within reach.
Epidemiology of Suicide in the United States

An American dies by his or her own hand on the average of every 17 minutes (1986, data calculated from figures in National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS]; 1988a) or approximately 85 self-inflicted deaths per day. The more than 30,000 suicides in 1986 (30,904) represent a rate of 12.8 per 100,000 population. In other words, if a representative sample of 100,000 Americans had been chosen on January 1 of 1986 and followed through the year, by the end of the day on December 31 about 12 or 13 would have died by suicide. This number of deaths places suicide currently as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. The present chapter will focus on the epidemiological factors associated with these 30,000 annual suicide deaths.
600.05 3D Computational Model to Predict Risk of Coronary Obstruction During TAVR

Current prediction of coronary obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) based on coronary ostium height (h) and sinus of Valsalva diameter (SOVd) is unspecific and overly conservative, leading patients to be excluded even if they could potentially benefit from TAVR. In this
The Wavelet Transform

The concept of a transform was introduced in Section 24.1 and the rest of Chapter 24 discusses orthogonal transforms. The transforms dealt with in this chapter are different and are referred to as subband transforms, because they partition an image into various bands or regions that contain different features of the image.
Discharge Fault Simulation System for High Voltage SF6 Gas Insulated Switch-gear and Its Intelligent Pattern Recognition

In this paper, the defect simulator for high voltage sulfur hexafluoride gas insulated composite electrical apparatus is developed. The device consists of four parts: sulfur hexafluoride gas chamber, solid insulator, defect simulator, observation and measurement device. The defect simulator can effectively simulate free metal particle discharge, tip discharge, suspension discharge and air gap discharge. A real-type integrated defect simulator based on GIS is developed, and the partial discharge signal is tested on the simulator, the change trend of decomposed gas with time is detected. Based on this, an artificial intelligence classification method combining fuzzy ISODATA algorithm and ant colony algorithm is proposed, and the structure parameters of the two algorithms are optimized by PSO algorithm. The field application results of HV combined electrical appliances show that the proposed method is effective. The fault type diagnosis method can effectively judge the fault mode intelligently according to time series of SF6 micro-decomposition gas and typical micro-decomposition gas. This paper not only collects the original classification data from the hardware platform of the defect simulator, but also develops an artificial intelligence classification algorithm software system which is easy to be programmed. It can be directly and effectively used to diagnose and evaluate the type of insulation defect in the field practical engineering of GIS. It has certain theoretical guidance value for GIS equipment fault diagnosis and pattern recognition.
Systems Analysis Frameworks for Biorefineries

Abstract Underlying drivers for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and moving to bioeconomy such as diminishing new sources of petroleum, increasing costs for extraction of these new resources, increasing demands, need to address global climate change, and minimize ecological footprint for a more sustainable future of people and planet will only strengthen in future. In this context, biorefineries in a circular economy will play a critical role in achieving this transition from fossil fuel-based economy to a more renewable biobased economy. The concept of waste biorefinery is inherent to the circular economy concept which is based on the 4R principle: reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle. Systematic classification is an important step for the analysis of various biorefinery technologies and platforms separately or in combination. Biorefinery classification system and biorefinery complexity indicator based on IEA Task 42 was discussed in this chapter. Importance of conducting systems analysis for biorefinery systems in bioeconomy was discussed. Several frameworks aimed at an individual biorefinery plant and a biorefinery system was discussed. It is imperative to develop technologies and analysis framework for enabling this transition from fossil fuel-based economy to a circular bioeconomy with an emphasis on 4R principles. There is need for developing multifeedstock biorefineries and new integrated systems analysis frameworks developed for the analysis of biorefineries. Nontechnical barriers to biorefineries can be addressed by multidisciplinary teams taking a systems view of biorefineries in a bioeconomy. With cautious optimism, one can conclude that biorefineries will play an important role in the future bioeconomy.
Mandibular rescue: Application of the ALT fascia free flap to arrest osteoradionecrosis of the mandible

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the use of the anterolateral thigh fascia free flap for use in neovascularization of mandibular bone in moderate osteoradionecrosis (ORN). All patients had ORN secondary to prior radiation therapy that was not severe enough to warrant segmental resection and reconstruction. Study design Case series. Setting Tertiary medical center. Methods IRB approval was obtained, and a retrospective chart review performed of all mandibular rescue procedures performed from 2011 to 2014. Patients with a minimum of two years of follow-up were included in the study. Results All surgeries were performed by the senior surgeon (MF). Eight patients underwent the mandibular rescue procedure with resolution of pain and return to oral feeding in all patients, and no evidence of ORN progression on follow-up imaging. A total of 9 ALT free flaps were performed (one patient had 2 surgeries). Gender was distributed evenly (4 female/4 male). The average age was 66 (58-78), average length of hospitalization was 2.8 days (1–7), and average follow-up was 46.5 months (25–63). Conclusions The mandibular rescue procedure is a novel technique using the ALT fascia lata free flap to provide coverage and nutrient blood flow to mandible devascularized secondary to radiation therapy. The flap provides the advantages of low morbidity, ease of harvest, two-team approach to ablation and reconstruction, and quick recovery resulting in ‘short-stay’ free flap surgery. Although conclusions must be tempered in this small case series, our early clinical experience shows the ALT fascia lata flap holds promise in halting the destructive progression of ORN that is not yet advanced enough to require a segmental resection and reconstruction.
GHz Broadband SH0 Mode Lithium Niobate Acoustic Delay Lines

We present the first group of GHz broadband SH0 mode acoustic delay lines (ADLs). The implemented ADLs adopt unidirectional transducer designs in a suspended X-cut lithium niobate thin film. The design space of the SH0 mode ADLs at GHz is first theoretically investigated, showing that the large coupling and sufficient spectral clearance to adjacent modes collectively enable the broadband performance of SH0 delay lines. The fabricated devices show 3-dB fractional bandwidth ranging from 4% to 34.3% insertion loss between 3.4 and 11.3 dB. Multiple delay lines have been demonstrated with center frequencies from 0.7 to 1.2 GHz, showing great frequency scalability. The propagation characteristics of SH0 in lithium niobate thin film are experimentally extracted. The demonstrated ADLs can potentially facilitate broadband signal processing applications.
Long-term effects of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents on peer leaders’ healthcare utilization

Background: Asthma affects nearly 3 million adolescents in the US alone. Attaining optimal asthma control in adolescent remains elusive, primarily due to poor disease self-management. Capitalizing on peer dynamics particularly relevant to adolescence, a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents (PLASMA) was developed and evaluated in three urban communities in the US. The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term effects of PLASMA on peer leaders’ healthcare utilization. Methods: Peer leaders (ages16-20 years) with physician-diagnosed asthma and nominated by clinicians or teachers for their quality as a leader completed an intense 12 hour training session and delivered a maualized PLASMA program to their adolescent peers at a camp setting. A self-report healthcare utilization form was completed at baseline and every three months after the intervention for 15 months. Generalized linear mixed-effect-model was conducted to test for significant changes in the number of times each type of healthcare service was used over time. Results: Of 42 completed the peer leader training session, 35 implemented the PLASMA program at the camp. We found significant reduction in the numbers of healthcare service use reported over the course of 15 months after the PLASMA program, specifically in asthma-related routine office visits (p=0.01), acute office visits (p Conclusion: PLASMA is a compelling alternative to conventional asthma education led by healthcare professionals, given its demonstrated effects on reducing acute office visits and school absenteeism in peer leaders.
Fidelity of implementation in a randomized controlled trial study: The effect of virtual professional development on bilingual teachers

Using a low-inference observation instrument, we investigated the effect of an ongoing, intensive, and structured virtual professional development (VPD) based on the fidelity of implementation (FOI...
Acquired factor VIII deficiency in prostate adenocarcinoma presenting as multiple hematomas and hemarthrosis.

Acquired hemophilia A or acquired factor VIII deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder due to the presence of autoantibodies to factor VIII. It has been associated with autoimmune conditions, certain...
Genetics of age-related clonal hematopoiesis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of review While advanced age is the major risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), we have a poor understanding of how aging promotes the progression of this disease. Recent evidence suggests that the age-dependent accumulation of somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells may represent a new causal risk factor for ASCVD. Recent findings A hallmark of aging is the accumulation of somatic DNA mutations in all tissues of the body. Accordingly, evidence shows that hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells accumulate somatic mutations as a function of age in nonsymptomatic individuals. When these mutations occur in driver genes that provide a selective advantage to the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, they undergo a clonal expansion and progressively give rise to blood leukocytes that harbor these mutations. This phenomenon, referred to as clonal hematopoiesis, has been associated with the increased risk of mortality, hematologic malignancy, ASCVD, and related diseases. Notably, many individuals exhibiting clonal hematopoiesis carry single 'driver' mutations in preleukemic genes including DNA methyltransferase 3a, ten-eleven translocation 2, additional sex combs like 1, and Janus kinase 2. Experimental studies show that these mutations in some of these genes can alter the inflammatory properties of the leukocyte and contribute to the pathogenesis of ASCVD. Summary We review recent epidemiological and experimental findings on the association between age-related clonal hematopoiesis and ASCVD by focusing on prevalent driver gene mutations.
A quadratic growth learning trajectory

Abstract This paper introduces a quadratic growth learning trajectory, a series of transitions in students’ ways of thinking (WoT) and ways of understanding (WoU) quadratic growth in response to instructional supports emphasizing change in linked quantities. We studied middle grade (ages 12–13) students’ conceptions during a small-scale teaching experiment aimed at fostering an understanding of quadratic growth as phenomenon of constantly-changing rate of change. We elaborate the duality, necessity, repeated reasoning framework, and methods of creating learning trajectories. We report five WoT: Variation, Early Coordinated Change, Explicitly Quantified Coordinated Change, Dependency Relations of Change, and Correspondence. We also articulate instructional supports that engendered transitions across these WoT: teacher moves, norms, and task design features. Our integration of instructional supports and transitions in students’ WoT extend current research on quadratic function. A visual metaphor is leveraged to discuss the role of learning trajectories research in unifying research on teaching and learning.
Type I interferon antagonists in clinical development for lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe chronic and incurable autoimmune disease. Treatment includes glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants which typically result in partial responses, and h...
Adjuvant pharmacological and surgical therapy for testicular torsion: Current state of the art.

Summary Introduction Although the consequences of testicular torsion (TT) have been recognized for centuries, little progress has been made to improve outcomes beyond those seen with timely scrotal exploration. Even with testicular salvage, ischemia/reperfusion injury cause significant atrophy and functional impairment. Recent efforts have sought to identify adjuvant pharmacological or surgical interventions that may attenuate these consequences. In this review, we assess the evidence supporting clinical use of these nascent interventions. Methods We conducted a review of the literature published from 2000 to 2020, using the search terms “torsion”, “testicular”, “reperfusion”, “ischemia”, and “injury”. Clinical and laboratory research focused on adjuvant pharmacological and surgical techniques mitigating torsion-associated injury in animal models and humans were identified. We recorded intervention timing/dose/route, and outcome timing/category through biomarkers of reperfusion injury, histology, and hormonal/reproductive function. Results Fifty-four FDA-approved agents, plus 52 herbal/investigational drugs, were reported in animal TT models. In every study, the investigated agents showed beneficial effects on measured endpoints compared to controls. Despite these universally promising animal findings, no pharmacological trials in humans were reported. Surgical techniques studied in animal models included decompression (tunica albuginea incision, TAI), “ischemic conditioning”, and hypothermia. Only three human studies on surgical adjuvant maneuvers have been reported, all involving TAI; these showed potential benefit, but the level of evidence is low. Conclusion There is preliminary evidence that adjuvant treatments may mitigate the effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the pool of investigated pharmacological agents is wide, yet remarkably shallow; most compounds have been reported in a single animal study. To advance this field, a mechanism-based approach should be used to select promising agents that can be tested systematically. This will determine treatment parameters that maximize safety, efficacy, and tolerability. Only then is it possible to move toward human trials. Adjuvant surgical methods such as TAI show promise in humans but require more robust clinical evaluation.
Utility-specific projections of electricity sector greenhouse gas emissions: a committed emissions model-based case study of California through 2050

The environmental profile of electricity is changing rapidly, motivating a need for provider- and time-specific estimates for accurate environmental assessment. This work shows that defensible, provider- and time-specific emissions projections can be derived from two major factors: committed emissions from existing power plants and policy restrictions on future system characteristics. This letter introduces a bottom-up, power plant-based model that projects utility-specific annual average greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of electricity in the U.S. state of California for 2018-2050, believed to be the first openly available GHG emissions model with utility-specific projections. California is a useful case study for testing in part because of its strict regulatory GHG targets and the complexity of its electricity system, including limited asset ownership by utilities and substantial reliance on imported electricity. This plant-based approach to emissions projections bounds uncertainty in a way that less infrastructurally grounded approaches cannot. For example, emissions from unspecified sources of power can be estimated based on available plants. Based on historical power plant lifetimes, existing policy, and default model assumptions, the CO2 intensity of Californian electricity is projected to drop from 175 kg CO2 / MWh (sales + losses, 2020) to 95 kg CO2 / MWh by 2030, operationally decarbonizing by 2047. Upstream methane leakage increases GHG intensity of natural gas-fired power plants by about 30%, assuming a 100 year time horizon and national average estimates for leakage (which likely underestimate leakage for California). Although drivers like market conditions also affect future outcomes, California's current policy targets do not appear to require early retirement for utility generation assets, though up to about two gigawatts of extant in-state merchant capacity might be affected. Under current policy, new generating assets must either comply with the 100% clean electricity standard by 2045 or stop selling in California before the end of their expected useful life.
Overcoming the limitations of 'accident' as a manner of death for drug overdose mortality: case for a death certificate checkbox.

Collectively, the epidemic increases in the United States of opioid-related deaths and suicides during the first two decades of the 21st century have exposed shortcomings in current forensic and epidemiological approaches for determining and codifying manner of death—a vital function fulfilled by medical examiners, coroners and nosologists—the foundation for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), an incident-based surveillance system providing individual-level information on decedent characteristics, manner, cause and circumstances of suicide, homicide and other violent injury deaths. Drug intoxication deaths are generally classified as ‘accidents’ or unintentional, a fundamental mischaracterisation; most arose from repetitive self-harm behaviours related to substance acquisition and misuse. Moreover, given the burden of affirmative evidence required to determine suicide, many of these ‘accidents’ likely reflected unrecognised intentional acts—that is, suicides. Addition of a simple checkbox for self-injury mortality on the death certificate would enrich the National Death Index and NVDRS, and in turn, inform prevention and clinical research, and enhance the evaluation of prevention programmes and therapeutic regimens.
Presentation Slides for 'Decision Fatigue and Heuristic Analyst Forecasts'

Psychological evidence indicates that decision quality declines after an extensive session of decision-making, a phenomenon known as decision fatigue. We study whether decision fatigue affects analysts’ judgments. Analysts cover multiple firms and often issue several forecasts in a single day. We find that forecast accuracy declines over the course of a day as the number of forecasts the analyst has already issued increases. Also consistent with decision fatigue, we find that the more forecasts an analyst issues, the higher the likelihood the analyst resorts to more heuristic decisions by herding more closely with the consensus forecast, self-herding (i.e., reissuing their own previous outstanding forecasts), and issuing a rounded forecast. Finally, we find that the stock market understands these effects and discounts for analyst decision fatigue.
Some economic costs of corruption in LDCs

It has often been argued that bribery creates auction‐like conditions and, hence, improves the allocative efficiency of bureaucratic decisions. This article shows that these auction‐like conditions are not likely to exist because officials will restrict access to bribery in order to reduce the risks of detection. Alternatively, officials may engage in supply‐stretching whose long‐term costs are likely to outweigh any gains in allocative efficiency. It is also shown that bribery may impose other costs resulting from the efforts of officials to create or augment the opportunities for receiving bribes.
Age-based gaps between awareness of photoaging and photoprotective practices among African American adults.

Photoaging, or extrinsic aging, is a common dermatologic condition caused by chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Clinical observation has shown that photoaging presents differently across skin types; light skinned patients present with increased atrophy and prominent wrinkling whereas dark skinned patients present with increased pigmentation changes and skin laxity.1,2.
Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Rasping of sharp enamel points (SEPs) is the most common procedure performed at routine dental examinations; however, there is little evidence to prove the true clinical significance of SEPs [1]. Maxillary SEPs are thought to cause buccal ulceration and pain on external palpation of the cheeks. Mandibular SEPs are thought to cause lingual ulceration. OBJECTIVES To examine associations between the presence of SEPs on the cheek teeth rows and the presence of pain on palpation of the cheeks and buccal and/or lingual ulceration. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective clinical case series. METHODS Clinical records of routine dental examination performed by 8 veterinary surgeons in a single first opinion practice were examined. Presence of SEPs, buccal and/or lingual ulceration and pain on palpation of the cheeks (externally) were recorded. Chi squared tests were used to examine whether horses exhibiting pain on palpation or oral ulceration were significantly more likely to have SEPs present. RESULTS Prevalence of buccal SEPs was 84.8% and prevalence of lingual SEPs was 84.3%. Five hundred and forty-eight horses (6.0%) had signs of pain on palpation. Prevalence of buccal ulceration was 5.9%. In contrast, only 0.2% of horses had visible lingual ulceration. Buccal ulceration and pain on palpation were significantly associated with presence of buccal SEPs (P<0.001 for both). Lingual ulceration was not significantly associated with lingual SEPs (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Buccal SEPs are common and often result in pain and buccal ulceration. Routine rasping would appear to be justified. Lingual SEPs are common but rarely cause lingual ulceration. The value of routine rasping of lingual SEPs is therefore questionable. Ethical animal research: Research ethics committee oversight not currently required by this conference: retrospective study of clinical records. Explicit owner informed consent for inclusion of animals in this study was not stated. SOURCE OF FUNDING None. Competing interests: None declared.
Revealing mechanisms of algal astaxanthin production and bioengineering potential using multiomics

Abstract The ketocarotenoid astaxanthin (Ax) harvested from microalgae has high industrial potential and is a promising compound for improving human health. Several algal species accumulate astaxanthin as an acclimation response to environmental conditions such as high light, nitrogen deprivation, and glucose, but certain bottlenecks make biologically derived astaxanthin not cost-competitive with synthetic astaxanthin. In this review, we provide an overview on the evolution and distribution of astaxanthin accumulation in algae; regulation of carotenoid pathway for astaxanthin accumulation; and algal astaxanthin biosynthesis, packaging, and storage. We focus on the two most-studied, astaxanthin-producing green algae Haematococcus pluvialis and Chromochloris zofingiensis, use multiomics datasets to offer new insights, and present three strategies for increasing microalgal astaxanthin accumulation. A multiomics understanding of the system-wide transformation of a cell accumulating astaxanthin uncovers bioengineering prospects for increasing astaxanthin productivity to improve feasibility of biologically derived astaxanthin for industry and in particular for human health.
The Huhugam Heritage Center: An Administrative History and Case Study in Tribal Museum Issues

THE HUHUGAM HERITAGE CENTER: AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY AND CASE STUDY IN TRIBAL MUSEUM ISSUES By Christina Esposito, B.A. A thesis submitted in partial llfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Director: Dr. Margaret A. Lindauer Associate Professor and Museum Studies Coordinator The Museum Studies thesis project represented by this document entailed the compilation of a board of directors orientation packet for the Gila River Indian Community's recently established Huhugam Heritage Center (HHC) in Chandler, Arizona. The packet, including an administrative history of the institution and an annotated bibliography of museological resources on issues relevant to tribal museums, provides current and future members of the HHC Board of Directors with information needed to effectively carry out their duties. Research and preparation of the administrative history constituted a case study of Native American tribal museum vi development. The history supplies members of the HHC Board of Directors with information critical to their understanding and oversight of the institution. The annotated bibliography reviews and serves as a guide to a body of literature addressing practical, ethical and theoretical issues relevant to persons working for, with or on behalf of tribal museums.
The application of inverse filters to 3D microscanning of LADAR imagery

Microscanning is an effective technique for reducing aliasing and increasing resolution in 2D images produced by non-coherent imaging systems. Both the aliasing reduction and resolution enhancement are accomplished by increasing the effective spatial sampling interval through sub-pixel movements of the field of view on the detector array. In this paper the authors examine (using both simulated and real data) the application of microscanning on 3D coherent imagery (with application to 2D coherent imagery). The application of inverse filtering techniques are also examined to resolve difficulties associated with blurring by the detector and optical systems. The effects of blurring by the detector and optical system decrease image resolution when microscanning is attempted at sub-pixel movements of less than half the detector width. A discrete filter is designed using the MTF of the imaging system. This filter is then applied to images collected with a 128/spl times/128/spl times/20 FLASH 3D LADAR system. The authors also investigate the difficulties that arise when the MTF of the system is not well characterized and when image registration errors and a low signal to noise ratio are present in the system.