cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retroviral inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibits myelination but not Schwann cell mitosis stimulated by interaction with neurons.

Schwann cells are the myelinating glia of the peripheral nervous system. Neuron–Schwann cell contact profoundly affects several aspects of Schwann cell phenotype, including stimulation of mitosis and myelin formation. Many reports suggest that neuronal contact exerts this influence on Schwann cells by elevating Schwann cell cAMP and activating cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). To elucidate the importance of Schwann cell PKA in neuronal stimulation of Schwann cell mitosis and myelination, the gene encoding the PKA inhibitory protein RIαAB or PKIEGFP was delivered to Schwann cells using retroviral vectors. PKA inhibitory retroviral vectors effectively blocked forskolin-stimulated Schwann cell mitosis and morphological change, demonstrating the ability of the vectors to inhibit PKA in infected Schwann cells. Treatment of dorsal root ganglia neuron–Schwann cell cocultures with H-89 (10 μm) or KT5720 (1–10 μm), chemical inhibitors selective for PKA, significantly inhibited neuronal stimulation of Schwann cell mitosis. In contrast, retrovirus-mediated inhibition of Schwann cell PKA had no effect on the ability of neurons to stimulate Schwann cell mitosis. However, markedly fewer myelin segments were formed by Schwann cells expressing PKA inhibitory proteins compared with controls. These results suggest that activation of Schwann cell PKA is required for myelin formation but not for Schwann cell mitosis stimulated by interaction with neurons.
Development of teacher beliefs through online instruction: A one-year study of middle school science and mathematics teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning

Understanding teachers’ beliefs is important because beliefs influence teacher decisions. In science, teacher beliefs impacts how science curriculum is interpreted and implemented in the classroom. With the push for STEM education in the United States, it is also critical to examine teacher beliefs of those that integrate science in the classroom. This study of N=21 middle school science and mathematics teachers’ beliefs in the United States found one year of a graduate online program that emphasized inquiry-based instruction and student-centered frames-of-mind influenced participants’ beliefs. Overall, all participants veered toward more student-centered beliefs. When types of beliefs were disaggregated, participants’ beliefs about teaching and beliefs about learning both veered towards more student-centered position. It was also found that teachers’ beliefs significantly changed regardless of years of experience. One surprising find was science teachers’ beliefs changed significantly while mathematics teachers’ beliefs did not. Findings from this study support the notion that formal knowledge impacts teacher beliefs.
Principles of Functional MRI

The idea that regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) could reflect neuronal ­activity began with experiments of Roy and Sherrington in 1890.1 This concept is the basis for all hemodynamic-based brain imaging techniques being used today. The focal increase in CBF can be considered to relate directly to neuronal activity because the glucose metabolism and CBF changes are coupled closely.2 Thus, the measurement of CBF change induced by stimulation has been used for mapping brain functions. Because cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu) and CBF changes are coupled, it is assumed that cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and CBF changes also are coupled. However, based on positron emission tomographic measurements of CBF and CMRO2 in humans during somatosensory and visual stimulation, Fox and colleagues reported that an increase in CBF surpassed an increase in CMRO2.3,4 Consequently, a mismatch between CBF and CMRO2 changes results in an increase in the capillary and venous oxygenation level, opening a new physiological parameter (in addition to CBF change) for brain mapping. In 1990, based on rat brain studies during global stimulation at 7 Tesla (T), Ogawa and colleagues at AT&T Bell Laboratories reported that functional brain mapping is possible by using the venous blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast.5–7 The BOLD contrast relies on changes in deoxyhemoglobin (dHb), which acts as an endogenous paramagnetic contrast agent.5,8, Therefore, changes in the local dHb concentration in the brain lead to alterations in the signal intensity of magnetic resonance images.5–7,9
The role of aspiration level in risky choice: a comparison of cumulative prospect theory and SP/A theory

In recent years, descriptive models of risky choice have incorporated features that reflect the importance of particular outcome values in choice. Cumulative prospect theory (CPT) does this by inserting a reference point in the utility function. SP/A (security-potential/aspiration) theory uses aspiration level as a second criterion in the choice process. Experiment 1 compares the ability of the CPT and SP/A models to account for the same within-subjects data set and finds in favor of SP/A. Experiment 2 replicates the main finding of Experiment 1 in a between-subjects design. The final discussion brackets the SP/A result by showing the impact on fit of both decreasing and increasing the number of free parameters. We also suggest how the SP/A approach might be useful in modeling investment decision making in a descriptively more valid way and conclude with comments on the relation between descriptive and normative theories of risky choice. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Conservation of prairie dog ecosystem engineering may support arthropod beta and gamma diversity

Ecosystem engineering by animals can create new habitats and increase the heterogeneity of the habitat mosaic that in turn can increase plant and animal diversity. Prairie dogs in North America alter both the above- and below-ground structure of the landscape and create novel habitats in grassland ecosystems. The ground-dwelling arthropod community associated with Gunnison's prairie dog modified habitats is compositionally different from that found in the surrounding grassland. Individual arthropod families and species have different distributions in both active prairie dog towns and inactive towns, compared to unmodified grasslands. These different responses to ecosystem engineering increase beta (between-habitat) and gamma (regional) diversity. This study suggests that simple measures of alpha diversity (species richness) may not adequately quantify overall diversity and that measures of beta diversity may be necessary to assess the role of prairie dogs as keystone engineers. Thus, conservation of prairie dogs and the engineering process may have positive effects for numerous species both locally and regionally.
Student Explanations of Answers to Concept Questions as a Window into Prior Misconceptions

Learning is closely tied to effective assessment, which can expose student thinking and facilitate more effective instruction. Various means of assessing knowledge, in particular, conceptual knowledge are being devised. In this paper, student explanations for their answers to multiple choice conceptual questions were studied, both to expose misconceptions and to determine whether the questions themselves indeed evoke thinking about relevant concepts. Explanations were generated by individual students at the beginning of the Statics course, prior to significant instruction. Means of categorizing explanations (a coding scheme) were devised based on responses obtained during a prior term. The coding scheme was then applied independently by the authors to responses of students in the current term. The results of the protocol analysis showed that certain misconceptions were particularly common. In addition, certain misconceptions tended to be more evident among students who selected certain answers.
Alternate Day Prednisone Therapy in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Adrenal Androgen Suppression and Normal Growth

ABSTRACT Daily glucocorticoid therapy of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) frequently results in a suboptimal mature height. In contrast, pharmacological doses of prednisone given on alternate days generally allow normal growth in children with autoimmune, hematological, and renal disorders. Moreover, alternate day prednisone therapy suppresses adrenal androgen secretion on both the day on and the day off therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We hypothesized that alternate day prednisone therapy might be efficacious in the treatment of CAH. To evaluate this hypothesis, we studied an 11-yr-old girl with salt-losing 21-hydroxylase deficiency and severe asthma treated with alternate day prednisone therapy (20 mg every other day) for over 3 yr. During this period her linear growth was along the 65th percentile, and her bone age paralleled her chronological age. Pubertal development was normal, and she had no signs of androgen or glucocorticoid excess. In keeping with her clin...
A radial filtering scheme applied to intracoronary ultrasound images

Intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) is a new method to quantify the degree and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The accurate, precise, and preferably automated detection of lumen-intimal and medial-adventitial boundaries is desirable. However, because of the poor quality of ICUS images, determining accurate boundary estimates is often difficult. Low contrast, artifacts, and low signal-to-noise ratios affect both the quality of the image and the accuracy of boundary defection. Using synthetic image data, the accuracy of two different implementations of a radially oriented edge detection operator were evaluated. The results demonstrate that the application of a radially oriented directional derivative operator in conjunction with a Gaussian blurring function can be used to generate accurate lumen-intimal and medial-adventitial boundary estimates in ICUS images. >
Voriconazole: A New Triazole Antifungal

OBJECTIVE:To review the currently available information on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, and dosage guidelines of voriconazole. Comparative data for voriconazole and other azole antifungal agents are described where available.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search restricted to English-language articles (1966 to September 1999) was conducted, and an extensive review of journals and meeting abstracts was performed. MeSH headings included itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, UK-109,496, and amphotericin B.DATA EXTRACTION:The data on pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and drug interactions were obtained from open-label and controlled studies and case reports. Controlled studies and case reports were evaluated to demonstrate the efficacy of voriconazole in treatment of various fungal infections.DATA SYNTHESIS:Voriconazole is a derivative of fluconazole that demonstrates enhanced in vitro activity against existent and emerging fungal pathogens. Limited data have r...
Changing Perspectives in Gynecologic Oncology and Treatment

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/23-1-15227 Gynecologic oncology has a unique status in the field of oncology. Due to easy accessibility, early detection by cytology and first successful radiotherapy were achieved in cancer of the cervix. In addition, the first successful radical surgery and the first successful chemotherapy were in the field of gynecologic oncology. Gynecologic oncology is always in evolution and our aim in this article is to review the new approaches to diagnosis, staging, and treatment.
A Tale of Requirements Computation in Two Projects: A Distributed Cognition View

For decades, the identification and management of design requirements have been recurring challenges for software development projects. As development practices have proliferated, research on requirements engineering has struggled to keep pace. In this study, we analyze requirements engineering as a socio-technical computational task in which individuals and artifacts collaboratively “compute” the design requirements for a software solution. Using distributed cognition theory, we analyze the requirementsoriented activities of two successful systems development organizations, each representing a distinct pattern of requirements computation. Our analysis of the computational structures employed in these organizations reveals that they are heavily influenced by their distinct environmental conditions which are associated with divergent requirements knowledge characteristics. Building upon these findings, we develop a cognition-oriented contingency model of RE practices. We conclude with implications for the future theorizing of requirements computation.
Anti-VEGF and anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in the first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

e15012 Background: Anti-VEGF (VEGFi) and anti-EGFR (EGFRi) Mabs have increased options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC). The optimal class of antibody to combine with chemotherapy (Ctx) in the first-line treatment for mCRC remains less well defined. Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are variable. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on the basis of previously released RCTs results. We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane registry, proceedings from ASCO, ECCO, ESMO until 12/ 2008 for RCTs of Mabs in first-line mCRC. Summary statistics were pooled hazard ratio (HR) of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and odds ratio (OR) of Response rate (RR) and 60 day mortality (60d-M). Effect of k-ras wild type and mutation were stratified in trials involving EGFRi. Results: 7 trials with complete data were identified, including 3 Ctx ± VEGFi (AVF2107g, NO16966, JCO2005.05.122), n=2422; 2 Ctx±EGFRi (CRYSTAL, OPUS), n=1554; 2 Ctx/VEGFi ± EGFRi (PAC...
Ig VH gene expression among human follicular lymphomas

Thirty-six randomly selected cases of low grade follicular lymphoma (FL) were analyzed for Ig heavy chain variable region (VH) gene expression. Assignment to one of the six human VH gene families (VH1 to VH6) was made with a polymerase chain reaction-based technique using family-specific leader primers. The frequency of VH family use in FL was found to be similar to that reported for normal peripheral blood lymphocytes and is therefore also roughly proportional to VH family size. To evaluate expression within an individual family, all of the lymphoma VH genes from the middle size VH4 family were sequenced and compared with previously published sequences. Of these eight lymphoma VH sequences, six were most closely related to just two of the 10 known functional VH4 germline genes. Nonrandom usage by FL of the JH3, JH4, and JH5 joining segments was also observed. Nucleotide sequences were also determined for 10 randomly selected lymphoma VH genes from the large VH3 family. With one possible exception, none of these lymphoma VH sequences appear to represent any of the VH3 genes that may be preferentially used in the fetal repertoire.
Adverse Perinatal Outcomes & Preventing Common Accidents☆

To minimize patient harm and injury, it's important that perinatal nurses, and those who care for women in the perinatal setting, be familiar with themes commonly associated with patient harm and accidents. These five cases will help determine whether an accident framework would be useful for a better understanding of causation, and using such a framework, strategies designed to decrease the probability of recurrence will be discussed, thereby increasing patient safety as well as minimizing adverse consequences to providers.
Automatic factories

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems include product design, actual manufacturing of the product, shipping, and even customer product support. The drive toward CIM has three key technical thrusts: flexible automation, information integration, and online optimization. How these three thrusts relate to a manufacturing facility's generic activities is detailed. The authors define manufacturing control as the actuation of a manufacturing plant to make products, using the present and past observed state of the manufacturing plant, and demand from the market. Three basic types of algorithms that are used to control factories are described. These are dispatching algorithms, scheduling algorithms, and re-order point algorithms. Manufacturing computer-control architectures and research issues are addressed. >
Comparative Potentiating Effects of Certain Therapeutic Agents on Sodium Evipal Hypnosis

SummaryThe hypnotic effect of sodium evipal, administered intravenously, may be markedly potentiated by acetylsalicylic acid, amidopyrine, demerol (D-140) and morphine. The synergistic effectiveness is in the order named.
Abdominal Stomas and their Skin Disorders, 2nd ed.

There are excellent textbooks for dermatologists, surgeons and wound/ostomy nurses, but a single source with valuable information for all of these specialists is a true gem. The authors of Abdomina...
Influence of preliminary heating of the lime during torch guniting of the thermal balance of a converter heat and the specific consumption of molten iron

Etude theorique. Determination de la capacite calorifique et de l'enthalpie des oxydes de calcium
Motor Memory Deficits Contribute to Motor Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sensorimotor abnormalities are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the processes underlying these deficits remain unclear. This study examined force production with and without visual feedback to determine if individuals with ASD can utilize internal representations to guide sustained force. Individuals with ASD showed a faster rate of force decay in the absence of visual feedback. Comparison of force output and tests of social and verbal abilities demonstrated a link between motor memory impairment and social and verbal deficits in individuals with ASD. This finding suggests that deficits in storage or retrieval of motor memories contribute to sensorimotor deficits and implicates frontoparietal networks involved in short-term consolidation of action dynamics used to optimize ongoing motor output.
Budget Feasible Mechanisms for Dealers

We consider the problem of designing budget feasible mechanisms for a dealer, who aims to maximize revenue by buying items from a seller market and selling them to a buyer market that consists of unit-demand buyers. Different from the related literature, the dealer's ``value'' for a set of items that he purchased from the seller market is not directly given as a number but it is defined to be the maximum revenue the dealer can obtain from selling the items to the buyers.We aim to design mechanisms that are dominant-strategy truthful for the sellers to report their costs and envy-free for the buyers to purchase their most preferred items (given their prices) in the final outcome, such that the total payment to the sellers does not exceed the dealer's budget and the dealer's revenue is (approximately) maximized.First, to understand the structure of the optimal mechanisms, we show that the maximum (envy-free) revenue obtainable by the dealer as a function of the set of purchased items is monotone and subadditive. Thus, existing results on subadditive optimization problems are potentially applicable in solving the mechanism design problem for the dealer.However, a crucial assumption adopted by all previous studies on subadditive functions is that the mechanism or algorithm has access to the value oracle and/or the demand oracle. In the dealer's problem, instead, we show that (1) the demand oracle can be efficiently simulated by the value oracle and (2) both have efficient O(log n)-approximation algorithms, where n is the number of buyers. This is particularly interesting given the literature, since, in general, the demand oracle can always efficiently simulate the value oracle, and there are cases where the demand oracle is strictly more powerful. Our results show that, for the dealer's problem, the two oracles are as powerful as each other.Finally, using the results above, we provide a polynomial-time budget feasible mechanism for the dealer that doesn't use any oracle and provides an O((log2n)(log2m))-approximation of the optimal revenue, where m is the number of sellers.
External financing in emerging markets: an analysis of market responses

This chapter examines the response of stock prices in emerging capital markets to the announcement of events highlighting the opening of capital markets. The announcements analyzed in this research are the private corporate Eurobond offerings and launching of emerging-market country mutual funds. Corporate Eurobond issues in emerging markets are associated with positive abnormal returns to the underlying stock around the successful offering. In addition, the launching of an emerging-market closed-end country fund is preceded by sharp increases in the underlying stock market index as well as an equally weighted portfolio of the top firm holdings of the country fund. There are sharp increases in the month of the fund launching but stock prices decline in the months following the offering. There is a marked reduction in volatility of stock returns following the introduction of the country fund, implying that better and more critical monitoring by fund managers and analysts results in the emerging markets becoming less speculative and more disciplined.
Crystal structure of 2-cyano-1-methyl-pyridinium perchlorate.

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C7H7N2+·ClO4−, comprises two independent formula units. The solid-state structure comprises corrugated layers of cations and of anions, approximately parallel to (010). The supra­molecular layers are stabilized and connected by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding to consolidate a three-dimensional architecture. A close pyridin­ium–perchlorate N⋯O contact [2.867 (5) A] is noted. The crystal was refined as an inversion twin.
Assessing the Feasibility of an Automated Suggestion System for Communicating Critical Findings from Chest Radiology Reports to Referring Physicians

Time-sensitive communication of critical imaging findings like pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism to referring physicians is important for patient safety. However, radiology findings are recorded in free-text format, relying on verbal communication that is not always successful. Natural language processing can provide automated suggestions to radiologists that new critical findings be added to a followup list. We present a pilot assessment of the feasibility of an automated critical finding suggestion system for radiology reporting by assessing suggestions made by the pyConTextNLP algorithm. Our evaluation focused on the false alarm rate to determine feasibility of deployment without increasing alert fatigue. pyConTextNLP identified 77 critical findings from 1,370 chest exams. Review of the suggested findings demonstrated a 7.8% false alarm rate. We discuss the errors, which would be challenging to address, and compare pyConTextNLP’s false alarm rate to false alarm rates of similar systems from the literature.
An atom probe study on Nb solute partitioning and nanocrystalline grain stabilization in mechanically alloyed Cu-Nb

Abstract Nb solute behavior and its effect on grain size stabilization in Cu-Nb alloys was studied using a combination of Vickers hardness testing, x-ray diffraction measurements, transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography (APT). Cu-Nb alloys with concentrations in the range of 1 to 10 at.% Nb were studied after annealing at 400 °C and 800 °C. The grain growth resistance at both temperatures increased with an increase in Nb solute content. For instance, after annealing at 800 °C (0.74 Tm), Cu-1Nb, Cu-5Nb and Cu-10Nb have a grain size that is ∼8, ∼14 and ∼14 times respectively smaller than that of unalloyed Cu. This resistance is attributed to the formation of Nb-oxide-based clusters, elemental Nb segregation zones and large elemental (Nb)-based precipitates as observed by APT. The Nb-oxide-based clusters are the precursors of phase separation and form due to a reaction with oxygen, which is a contaminant from the milling process. Once the oxygen is consumed, the process continues and the grain boundaries accumulate more solute and begin to thicken into elemental Nb segregation zones. Eventually, Nb solute phase separates and forms Nb-based precipitates. After annealing at 400 °C and 800 °C, Cu-5Nb has a hardness which is approximately 2.5 times and 3 times respectively that of the hardness of unalloyed Cu after an equivalent anneal. This increase has been attributed to Hall-Petch strengthening and precipitation strengthening.
The Cumulative Probability of Arrest by Age 28 Years in the United States by Disability Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender.

Objectives. To estimate the cumulative probability (c) of arrest by age 28 years in the United States by disability status, race/ethnicity, and gender.Methods. I estimated cumulative probabilities through birth cohort life tables with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997.Results. Estimates demonstrated that those with disabilities have a higher cumulative probability of arrest (c = 42.65) than those without (c = 29.68). The risk was disproportionately spread across races/ethnicities, with Blacks with disabilities experiencing the highest cumulative probability of arrest (c = 55.17) and Whites without disabilities experiencing the lowest (c = 27.55). Racial/ethnic differences existed by gender as well. There was a similar distribution of disability types across race/ethnicity, suggesting that the racial/ethnic differences in arrest may stem from racial/ethnic inequalities as opposed to differential distribution of disability types.Conclusions. The experience of arrest for those with di...
Model Selection for Random Functions with Bounded Range: Applications in Science and Engineering

Differential, integral, algebraic, and other equations can be used to describe the many types of systems encountered in applied science and engineering. Because of uncertainty, the specification of these equations often requires probabilistic models to describe the uncertainty in input and/or system properties. Since the available information on input and system properties is typically limited, there may be more than one model that is consistent with the available information. The collection of these models is referred to as the collection of candidate models \(\mathcal{C}\). A main objective in model selection is the identification of the member of \(\mathcal{C}\) which is optimal in some sense. Methods are developed for finding optimal models for random functions under limited information. The available information consists of: (a) one or more samples of the function and (b) knowledge that the function takes values in a bounded set, but whose actual boundary may or may not be known. In the latter case, the boundary of the set must be estimated from the available samples. The methods are developed and applied to the special case of non-Gaussian random functions referred to as translation random functions. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the utility of the proposed approach for model selection, including optimal continuous time stochastic processes for structural reliability, and optimal random fields for representing material properties for applications in mechanical engineering.
The Parent–Child Relationship and Sport Parents’ Experiences of Burnout and Engagement

Burnout and engagement are important psychological outcomes in sport with potential to impact athletes as well as sport parents. The present study examined associations among markers of the sport-based parent child-relationship (warmth and conflict) and parent burnout and engagement in organized youth sport. Youth sport parents (N = 214) aged 26–66 years (M = 43.2, SD = 6.2) completed valid and reliable self-report assessments of study variables. Study results showcased warmth, but not conflict, in the parent–child relationship as a significant negative contributor to global burnout and a significant positive contributor to global engagement in sport parents. Results offer preliminary insight into the impact of parent–child warmth in sport on parents’ experiences of burnout and engagement. Findings have implications for future research and practice designed to promote positive psychosocial experiences for sport families.
A Critical Review of Spiritual Well-Being Scales: Implications for Research, Practice, and Education in Rehabilitation Counseling:

The primary goal of rehabilitation counseling services is to holistically enhance quality of life (QOL) of persons with disabilities. However, the spiritual dimension of QOL may be the area least a...
What does an abnormal pancreatogram mean

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) is a frequently used tool in the evaluation of patients with chronic abdominal pain and possible chronic pancreatitis. Though this is an accurate diagnostic test in advanced disease, other noninvasive tests are also accurate in severe disease and much safer. Pancreatography is much less accurate in patients with less advanced disease, and is not infrequently normal in these patients despite clear-cut chronic pancreatitis. In addition, the pancreatographic findings of chronic pancreatitis can be indistinguishable from the changes seen with aging and after episodes of acute pancreatitis. Tests of pancreatic function can be used to differentiate patients with true chronic pancreatitis from those with similar abnormalities on pancreatography but without chronic pancreatitis and improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with “minimal-change” chronic pancreatitis.
Peer assessment of CS doctoral programs shows strong correlation with faculty citations

Strong correlation indicates notable research productivity of individual faculty members in turn boosts the standing of their programs.
Macrophage FABP4 is required for neutrophil recruitment and bacterial clearance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), an intracellular lipid chaperone and adipokine, is expressed by lung macrophages, but the function of macrophage-FABP4 remains elusive. We investigated the role of FABP4 in host defense in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, FABP4-deficient (FABP4-/-) mice exhibited decreased bacterial clearance and increased mortality when challenged intranasally with P. aeruginosa. These findings in FABP4-/- mice were associated with a delayed neutrophil recruitment into the lungs and were followed by greater acute lung injury and inflammation. Among leukocytes, only macrophages expressed FABP4 in WT mice with P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Chimeric FABP4-/- mice with WT bone marrow were protected from increased mortality seen in chimeric WT mice with FABP4-/- bone marrow during P. aeruginosa pneumonia, thus confirming the role of macrophages as the main source of protective FABP4 against that infection. There was less production of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) in FABP4-/- alveolar macrophages and lower airway CXCL1 levels in FABP4-/- mice. Delivering recombinant CXCL1 to the airways protected FABP4-/- mice from increased susceptibility to P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Thus, macrophage-FABP4 has a novel role in pulmonary host defense against P. aeruginosa infection by facilitating crosstalk between macrophages and neutrophils via regulation of macrophage CXCL1 production.-Liang, X., Gupta, K., Rojas Quintero, J., Cernadas, M., Kobzik, L., Christou, H., Pier, G. B., Owen, C. A., Cataltepe, S. Macrophage FABP4 is required for neutrophil recruitment and bacterial clearance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.
The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present

The Yoruba are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, with significant populations in Nigeria, Benin and Togo, as well as a sizeable diasporic community around the world. By considering the art, religion, economics and political systems of the Yoruba, Aribidesi Usman and Toyin Falola chart the history of the Yoruba through the lens of the group's diverse and dynamic cultural and social practices. Using archaeological data, oral, and archival sources alongside rarely-discussed local histories Usman and Falola form a rich and detailed picture of the Yoruba from a period of early occupation and agriculture, the growth of complex societies and empires, the turbulent colonial period to the present day, constructing a comprehensive account of Yoruba history brought together in a single volume.
Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) Crop Performance, Insect Pollinators, and Pollen Dispersal in the Northeastern US

Abstract Camelina sativa (camelina) is an oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae that has been genetically engineered for the production of biofuels, dietary supplements, and other industrial compounds. Cultivation in North America is both recent and limited, so there are gaps in knowledge regarding yield, weed competition, and pollen-mediated gene flow. For these experiments, camelina ‘SO-40’ was grown for three years without weed control. Spring-sown camelina was harvested at 80-88 days with ∼1200 growing degree days (GDD) with yields of 425-508 kg/hectare. Camelina yields were the same with or without weeds, showing competitive ability in low-management conditions. Crop failure in 2015 was associated with delayed rainfall and above-average temperatures after seeding. Camelina flowers attracted pollinating insects from the Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera. Hymenoptera included honey bees (Apis melifera), mining bees (Andrenidae), sweat bees (Halictidae), bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and leaf cutter bees (Megachilidae). Insect visitation on camelina flowers was associated with modest increases in seed yield. Honey bees comprised 28-33% of all pollinators and were shown to carry camelina pollen on their legs. Air sampling showed that wind-blown pollen was present at low concentrations at 9 m beyond the edges of the field. These experiments demonstrated for the first time that camelina pollen dispersal could occur through honey bees or wind, although bee activity would likely be more significant for long-distance gene flow.
A Dynamic Modeling and Validation Framework for the Market Direction Prediction

There are many research papers talking about building various machine learning models to predict the market index. However, very few attention has been paid to effectively validating or calibrating the prediction results. The focus of this paper is to present a dynamic modeling and validation framework for the market direction prediction. The central idea is to calibrate the probabilistic prediction by estimating two conditional probabilities of correct forecast from the dynamic validation data set. The calibration method can be combined with any predictive model that generates probabilistic prediction of the market direction.
Gasdermin-D-dependent IL-1α release from microglia promotes protective immunity during chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection

Abstract Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain parenchyma, are thought to be first-line defenders against CNS infections. We sought to identify specific roles of microglia in the control of the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic infection that can cause severe neurological disease. In order to identify the specific function of microglia in the brain during infection, we sorted microglia and infiltrating myeloid cells from infected microglia reporter mice. Using RNA-sequencing, we find strong NF-κB and inflammatory cytokine signatures overrepresented in blood-derived macrophages versus microglia. Interestingly, we also find that IL-1α is enriched in microglia and IL-1β in macrophages, which was also evident at the protein level. We find that mice lacking IL-1R1 or IL-1α, but not IL-1β, have impaired parasite control and immune cell infiltration specifically within the brain. Further, by sorting purified populations from infected brains, we show that microglia, not peripheral myeloid cells, release IL-1α ex vivo. Finally, using knockout mice as well as chemical inhibition, we show that ex vivo IL-1α release is gasdermin-D dependent, and that gasdermin-D and caspase-1/11 deficient mice show deficits in immune infiltration into the brain and parasite control. These results demonstrate that microglia and macrophages are differently equipped to propagate inflammation, and that in chronic T. gondii infection, microglia specifically can release the alarmin IL-1α, a cytokine that promotes neuroinflammation and parasite control.
Ascitic Fluid Drainage After Repair of Congenital Heart Defects in Infancy

Objective To assess the effect of ascitic fluid drainage after congenital heart disease (CHD) repair operation in infants.Methods Twenty infants with congenital heart defects underwent corrective surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized into study group (n= 10) and control group (n=10).In the study group,the patients had a drainage tube in abdominal cavity for forty-eight hours operatively.The plasma IL-6 (IL-6),IL-10,troponin I (cTnI),C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and whole blood white blood cell count (WBC) at pre-operative,and 0 h,12 h,24 h,48 h post-operatively were measured in both groups.The volume of ascites as well as IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the ascites at post-operative 0 h,12 h,24 h. 48 h were assessed.Results Clinical indicators of the study group were better than the control group.The post-op serum levels of all markers were higher than prep-op period (P<0. 05).Ascites IL-6 levels in the study group were significantly higher than plasma and IL-10 were lower than that of plasma.Compared to the control group,the decline of the plasma IL-6. CRP,cTnI,WBC of the study group was sooner and more pronounced. Conclusions In the management of the congenital heart disease,early postoperative ascites drainage can reduce the cy-tokine levels and may reduce the systemic inflammatory response. Key words: Extracorporeal circulation; Heart diseases,congenital; Ascitest DrainageDOI:10.3760/cma.j.jssn.0253-3006.2009.04.012
Ultrawide Bandgap β-Ga2O3: Material Epitaxy, Doping, Heterostructures and Devices

β-Ga2O3 represents an emerging ultrawide bandgap semiconductor for power electronics. This talk focuses on discussing the development of β-Ga2O3 and (AlxGa1-x)2O3 materials epitaxy, doping, heterostructure and device demonstration.
New ICEMAN Project Seeks Answers to Fighter Pilot Disorientation [Health Matters]

Reports on the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Impact of Cockpit Electro-Magnetics on Aircrew Neurology (ICEMAN) project.
Periostin loss-of-function protects mice from post-traumatic and age-related osteoarthritis

Elevated levels of periostin (Postn) in the cartilage and bone are associated with osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether Postn loss-of-function can delay or prevent the development of OA. In this study, we sought to better understand the role of Postn in OA development and assessed the functional impact of Postn deficiency on post-traumatic and age-related OA in mice. The effects of Postn deficiency were studied in two murine experimental OA models using Postn−/− (n = 32) and littermate wild-type (wt) mice (n = 36). Post-traumatic OA was induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in 10-week-old mice (n = 20); age-related OA was analyzed in 24-month-old mice (n = 13). Cartilage degeneration was assessed histologically using the OARSI scoring system, and synovitis was evaluated by measuring the synovial lining cell layer and the cells density in the synovial stroma. Bone changes were measured by μCT analysis. Serum levels of Postn were determined by ELISA. Expression of Postn and collagenase-3 (MMP-13) was measured by immunostaining. RNA-seq was performed on chondrocytes isolated from 21-day old Postn−/− (n = 3) and wt mice (n = 3) to discover genes and pathways altered by Postn knockout. Postn−/− mice exhibited significantly reduced cartilage degeneration and OARSI score relative to wt mice in post-traumatic OA after 8 weeks (maximum: 2.37 ± 0.74 vs. 4.00 ± 1.20, P = 0.011; summed: 9.31 ± 2.52 vs. 21.44 ± 6.01, P = 0.0002) and spontaneous OA (maximum: 1.93 ± 0.45 vs. 3.58 ± 1.16, P = 0.014; summed: 6.14 ± 1.57 vs. 11.50 ± 3.02, P = 0.003). Synovitis was significantly lower in Postn−/− mice than wt only in the DMM model (1.88 ± 1.01 vs. 3.17 ± 0.63; P = 0.039). Postn−/− mice also showed lower trabecular bone parameters such as BV/TV, vBMD, Tb.Th, and Tb.N and high Tb. Sp in both models. Postn−/− mice had negligible levels of serum Postn compared with wt. Immunofluorescent studies of cartilage indicated that Postn−/− mice expressed lower MMP-13 levels than wt mice. RNA-seq revealed that cell-cell-adhesion and cell-differentiation processes were enriched in Postn−/− mice, while those related to cell-cycle and DNA-repair were enriched in wt mice. Postn deficiency protects against DMM-induced post-traumatic and age-related spontaneous OA. RNA-seq findings warrant further investigations to better understand the mechanistic role of Postn and its potential as a therapeutic target in OA.
Undergraduate STEM Majors on and off the Pre-Med/Health Track: A STEM Identity Perspective.

The purpose of this study was to explore the STEM identity of undergraduate STEM majors pursuing medical or health graduate education (i.e., pre-med/health students). It was found that pre-med/heal...
Collision Free Dynamic Stability of Formations Using Projection Based Estimators

Transient instability is a phenomenon where interagent collisions can occur in dynamically stable formations of autonomous agents. Therefore, the necessity to manage and mitigate transient instabilities is essential for successfully deploying formation structures. This paper develops a novel control architecture that augments the baseline formation maintenance controller to mitigate transient instabilities. At its heart, the proposed architecture consists of a projection operator based estimator disguised as a reference model that generates collision-free trajectories for the agents to follow. This paper's main theoretical result shows that the proposed control architecture can simultaneously mitigate transient instabilities and guarantee asymptotic convergence of the formation dynamics. Also, an illustrative example demonstrates the theoretical developments presented in this paper.
Screening for Hypertension in Adults.

A 23-year-old patient, M.C., comes to your office for a wellness visit with no concerns. On reviewing the patient's medical record, you note that M.C. has a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg from a visit one year ago, and a body mass index of 28.2 kg per m2.
Experiential Teaching Techniques in Quality Management: The Roman Catapult

Teaching management students the basic principles of process variation is a challenging task. Likewise, the ability to recognize and distinguish between common and special cause process variation is a crucial skill required of managers. That is, success..
Systemic Effects of a Prolonged Continuous Infusion of Ketamine in Healthy Horses

Background: Ketamine as continuous rate infusion (CRI) provides analgesia in hospitalized horses. Objective: Determine effects of prolonged CRI of ketamine on gastrointestinal transit time, fecal weight, vital parameters, gastrointestinal borborygmi, and behavior scores in healthy adult horses. Animals: Seven adult Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred cross horses, with permanently implanted gastric cannulae. Methods: Nonblinded trial. Random assignment to 1 of 2 crossover designed treatments. Ketamine (0.55 mg/kg IV over 15 minutes followed by 1.2 mg/kg/h) or lactated Ringer's solution (50 mL IV over 15 minutes followed by 0.15 mL/kg/h) treatments. Two hundred 3 × 5 mm plastic beads administered by nasogastric tube before drug administration. Every 2 hours vital parameters, behavior scores recorded, feces collected and weighed, and beads retrieved. Every 6 hours gastrointestinal borborygmi scores recorded. Study terminated upon retrieval of 180 beads (minimum 34 hours) or maximum 96 hours. Nontransit time data analyzed between hours 0 and 34. Results: No significant (P < .05) differences detected between treatments in vital signs or gastrointestinal borborygmi. Significant (P = .002) increase in behavior score during ketamine infusion (0.381) from hours 24–34 compared with placebo (0). Ketamine caused significant delay in passage of 25, 50, and 75% of beads (ketamine = 30.6 ± 5.3, 41.4 ± 8.4, 65.3 ± 13.5 hours versus placebo = 26.8 ± 7.9, 34.3 ± 11.1, 45.8 ± 19.4 hours), and significant (P < .05) decrease in fecal weight from hours 22 (12.6 ± 3.2 versus 14.5 ± 3.8 kg) through 34 (18.5 ± 3.9 versus 12.8 ± 6.4 kg) of infusion. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Ketamine CRI delayed gastrointestinal transit time in healthy horses without effect on vital parameters.
Resistance of Healthcare Information Technologies; Literature Review, Analysis, and Gaps

The Implementing of Health Information Technology (HIT) in the healthcare industry is rapidly increasing, yet it is still argued that HIT is being resisted by both practitioners and patients. The hurdles of HIT adoption in this critical area is still considered as under-researched in the IS/IT literature. Research has mainly focused on the adoption aspect of the technology with limited effort towards explaining IT resistance especially in the healthcare setting. HIT investments are costly and expectations of getting better performance, after its implementation, are high. HIT and their applications, if widely spread and meaningfully used, are likely to change the way of applying healthcare services to benefit both patient care and organizational performance. The benefits of HIT in terms of its effect on the healthcare organization performance and patient care cannot be measured if the technology was resisted. This paper provides an extensive review of the literature to uncover the current status of the research in this area, to highlight the main research gaps that need to be addressed, and to reveal how relatively little attention has been paid to understand HIT resistance. Aiming to provide a research agenda that would encourage scholars to conduct research in this area.
Clinical evaluation of equine gonadotropin

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of the pregnant mare's serum hormone in the form of “gonadogen” has been studied in 83 cases in the past three years. 2. 2. In 16 patients with secondary amenorrhea, treated from one to nineteen months, 12 menstruated and 2 were refractory after nine and twelve months of continuous treatment. In the 12 who had cyclic menstruation under treatment, 6 showed a secretory and 4 a nonsecretory endometrium. In these 6 cases, 12 cycles were secretory and 24 anovulatory. One case was followed immediately after one secretory biopsy by normal pregnancy. 3. 3. In 8 patients with endometrial hyperplasia, 4 showed some clinical improvement, although 3 relapsed. The endometrial hyperplasia remained the same in 7, while one developed premenstrual endometrium. 4. 4. In nineteen other patients with metrorrhagia, 10 showed clinical improvement, although somewhat equivocal. Four of 7 patients with anovulatory endometrium had varying degree of secretion in the endometrium during treatment. This suggests some active effect from the hormone. 5. 5. In 30 patients with supposedly primary dysmenorrhea, 21 were improved (9 marked, 8 moderate, 4 slight). Of the 9 failures, secondary factors entered practically every case. Four patients became pregnant during or shortly after treatment. 6. 6. Temporary painful cysts of the ovary occurred in 5 women: they disappeared with the following cycle. Further treatment was accompanied by recurrence of the cyst in one case. 7. 7. In 10 men with relative sterility, 5 were improved and 3 remained unimproved. One full-term normal pregnancy and one miscarriage were obtained in these couples. 8. 8. No serious sensitivity reactions occurred in any case.