cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parasitic infections in a closed community: Results of a 10-year survey in Willowbrook State School

Abstract A study designed to elucidate the causes of mass morbidity and widespread intestinal disorders in Willowbrook State School has revealed the role of parasitic agents in the aetiology of the diseases. Strongyloides stercoralis, Hymenolepis nana and Giardia lamblia were the predominant pathogenic agents. Their spread was limited, however, to the children's buildings and to the severely mentally retarded. 522 patients with S. stercoralis and 322 with H. nana were detected during the period 1962–1970. Annual stool surveys served to trace symptomless carriers, to determine levels of endemicity and to assess the effects of treatment and control. Factors which influence the spread of parasitic infections are discussed in the light of findings of the survey and preventive measures for custodial institutions are outlined.
[3H]5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine binds to both Ra and Ri adenosine receptors in rat striatum.

Adenosine analogs such as 5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine and N6-cyclohexyladenosine stimulate or inhibit adenosine cyclase activity in preparations of rat striatum depending on the assay conditions. N6-cyclohexyladenosine inhibits but does not stimulate adenosine cyclase activity in preparations of hippocampus. These findings suggest that the striatum contains both R a (stimulatory) and R i (inhibitory) adenosine receptors while the hippocampus contains only R i receptors. We have previously shown that [3H]N6-cyclohexyladenosine binds to R i receptors in rat hippocampus (Yeung and Green 1983). Comparisons of the characteristics of [3H]5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine and [3H]N6-cyclohexyladenosine binding to hippocampus show that [3H]5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine also binds to R i receptors with high affinity. [3H]5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine binds to R i receptors in the striatum and to a second site that is present in striatum but not hippocampus. High affinity binding of both ligands to R i receptors can be blocked by treatments with N-ethylmaleimide that do not markedly affect [3H]5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine binding to the second site in the striatum. The pharmacological characteristics of the second site indicate that it is the R a adenosine receptor.
Arc Length Contest

The student must compute the arc length for each of her three functions, and the winner of the contest is the one who has the function with the smallest arc length on the unit interval. This is an interesting open-ended problem for most students since they do not have much experience in constructing functions that satisfy required conditions. I am often surprised by some of the ingenuity students use in coming up with their contest entries. The contest requires evaluation of two integrals for each function, one for the area and one for the arc length. Moreover, it is important for the students to recognize when one of their functions gives rise to an improper integral for the arc length since such an integral may be difficult to approximate accurately. Thus the contest provides an opportunity to combine several topics from the typical calculus syllabus. The shortest closed curve enclosing an area of 1 is a circle of radius 1/ √ π. Its arc length is 2 √ π. Since a unit area is bounded by any curve in our contest together with the interval [0, 1], the length of a contest curve cannot be less than 2 √ π − 1 = 2. 5449. If one imagines an ideal inextensible string of length L > 1 nailed down at the points (0, 0) and (1, 0), and pushed outward by a uniform pressure, then the equilibrium curve (where the force due to the pressure is balanced by the tension in the string in each small arc) has constant curvature in any portion where it is smooth, so it is a circular arc. This suggests that an arc of a circle joining the points (0, 0) and (1, 0) will yield the smallest arc length for a curve satisfying the three conditions, as illustrated in figure 1. To achieve the area of 1, we would need
System-wide associations between DNA-methylation, gene expression, and humoral immune response to influenza vaccination

Failure to achieve a protected state after influenza vaccination is poorly understood but occurs commonly among aged populations experiencing greater immunosenescence. In order to better understand immune response in the elderly, we studied epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles and humoral immune response outcomes in 50-74 year old healthy participants. Associations between DNA methylation and gene expression reveal a system-wide regulation of immune-relevant functions, likely playing a role in regulating a participant's propensity to respond to vaccination. Our findings show that sites of methylation regulation associated with humoral response to vaccination impact known cellular differentiation signaling and antigen presentation pathways. We performed our analysis using per-site and regionally average methylation levels, in addition to continuous or dichotomized outcome measures. The genes and molecular functions implicated by each analysis were compared, highlighting different aspects of the biologic mechanisms of immune response affected by differential methylation. Both cis-acting (within the gene or promoter) and trans-acting (enhancers and transcription factor binding sites) sites show significant associations with measures of humoral immunity. Specifically, we identified a group of CpGs that, when coordinately hypo-methylated, are associated with lower humoral immune response, and methylated with higher response. Additionally, CpGs that individually predict humoral immune responses are enriched for polycomb-group and FOXP2 transcription factor binding sites. The most robust associations implicate differential methylation affecting gene expression levels of genes with known roles in immunity (e.g. HLA-B and HLA-DQB2) and immunosenescence. We believe our data and analysis strategy highlight new and interesting epigenetic trends affecting humoral response to vaccination against influenza; one of the most common and impactful viral pathogens.
Response of secondary bloom of ‘Bartlett’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) to pruning

SummaryType V secondary bloom of pear (Pyrus communis L.) is associated with pruning and is frequently infected by fire blight (Southwick et al., 2000). The goal of this research was to determine which pruning practices would most likely be associated with subsequent Type V secondary bloom. Pruning date, shoot age, type of pruning cut and shoot orientation were varied and effect on Type V secondary bloom assessed. In both 1998 and 1999, dormant pruning was more likely to result in Type Vs than summer pruning or pruning one month after harvest. Pruning one week after harvest in 1998 was as likely to lead to Type Vs as dormant pruning, but was less likely in 1999. The likelihood that Type Vs would occur was lowest from 49 to 89.d from full bloom (DFB) and at 175 DFB in 1998. The lowest likelihood of Type Vs in 1999 was found on shoots pruned at 83 or 185 DFB. The likelihood for Type Vs rose with increasing shoot age from one to four years, but there was no difference between three- and four-year old shoots....
Simultaneous Monitoring of Wafer- and Environment-States During Molecular Beam Epitaxy

We report the simultaneous monitoring of the environment-state and wafer-state during epitaxial crystal growth using a single real-time measurement. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is used to monitor the incident molecular beam flux while UV reflectance (UVR) at 396 nm with an incident angle of 78° is used to monitor growth on the wafer. We have studied the utility of AAS/UVR monitoring of AlxGa1-xAs deposition: AlAs growing on GaAs, GaAs on AlAs, and superlattice growth. Additionally, optical multichannel spectroscopy (OMS) data were acquired throughout the growth of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). The relationship of the structure of the real-time OMS data to absorption, optical path length variation, and differential layer thickness variations is also discussed. Numerical simulations of the real-time wafer-state monitors using pseudodielectric constants, appropriate at a growth temperature of 579 °C, show good agreement with measured spectra.
Guiding the Public Sector: Assessing the Use of Recommended Practices in the Budgeting Process

ABSTRACTPublic administration is a field defined by principles, best practices, and recommended guidelines. According to advocates, these guidelines have the potential to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public organizations. However, this potential is predicated on the degree to which they are actually followed in practice. Using an original survey of local budgeting officials across the United States, this study examines the correlation between current budgeting practices and established, recommended practices. While a significant number of current practices closely match those that have been recommended, notable variations were present. The trends and their implications conclude the assessment.
Converging prefrontal pathways support associative and perceptual features of conditioned stimuli

Perceptually similar stimuli often predict vastly different outcomes, requiring the brain to maintain specific associations in the face of potential ambiguity. This could be achieved either through local changes in stimulus representations, or through modulation of functional connections between stimulus-coding and outcome-coding regions. Here we test these competing hypotheses using classical conditioning of perceptually similar odours in the context of human fMRI. Pattern-based analyses of odour-evoked fMRI activity reveal that odour category, identity and value are coded in piriform (PC), orbitofrontal (OFC) and ventromedial prefrontal (vmPFC) cortices, respectively. However, we observe no learning-related reorganization of category or identity representations. Instead, changes in connectivity between vmPFC and OFC are correlated with learning-related changes in value, whereas connectivity changes between vmPFC and PC predict changes in perceived odour similarity. These results demonstrate that dissociable neural pathways support associative and perceptual representations of sensory stimuli.
310 ALBUMINURIA IN PRIMARY HYPERTENSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH TUBULOINTERSTITIAL INJURY EVEN IN SUBJECTS WITH NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION.

Purpose Macroalbuminuria defined as urine albumin (mg) to creatinine (g) ratio (alb/cr) > 200 predicts subsequent GFR decline in primary hypertensives despite blood pressure reduction. Because hypertension-associated nephropathy consists of both glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury, we tested the hypothesis that primary hypertensives with macroalbuminuria but with normal GFR have renal tubulointerstitial injury. Methods We recruited 281 subjects with primary hypertension and calculated GFR (Cockcroft Gault) > 90 mL/min but without diabetes mellitus or clinical evidence of vascular disease and compared them to 10 healthy, nonhypertensive, nondiabetic, controls with GFR > 90. Tubulointerstitial injury was determined as increased urine excretion of N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), an enzyme released into urine in response to renal tubule epithelial injury. Results Among recruited hypertensives were 218 subjects with normoalbuminuria (alb/cr 200). Urine NAGase excretion (mean 6 SE) expressed as units per g creatinine in an am spot specimen were not different between hypertensive subjects with normoalbuminuria and healthy controls (1.59 6 0.03 vs 1.58 6 0.27 U/g Cr, respectively, p = .97). By contrast, urine NAGase in hypertensives with microalbuminuria (1.83 6 0.086 U g/Cr) was higher than that for those with normoalbuminuria (p Conclusions These data support the hypothesis that primary hypertensives with increased urine albumin excretion have renal tubulointerstitial injury compared to hypertensives with normal urine albumin excretion, even with normal GFR. These data suggest that hypertensives with macroalbuminuria have the greatest renal tubulointerstitial injury that might contribute to their greater risk for subsequent GFR decline.
Endocrine factors as effectors of integumental pigmentation.

Normal and malignant pigment cells are known targets for many hormones. Besides a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and the steroidal hormones estrogen, testosterone, and glucocorticoids, factors produced by other epidermal cells can affect melanization and proliferation of pigment cells. Among those factors are the prostaglandins, vitamin D3, ETAF, and interleukin-1.
Thrombosis of a St. Jude Medical tricuspid prosthesis: Case report

Thrombosis of both valve leaflets of a St. Jude Medical tricuspid cardiac prosthesis, resulting in valvular dysfunction, was detected by systolic and diastolic tricuspid murmurs and confirmed by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms. Thrombus formation at both hinge points of the bileaflet valve caused one leaflet to stick in the nearly closed position and the other to have severely impeded motion. Thrombotic involvement of both valve leaflets, not previously reported, occurred in a 17-year-old boy who has undergone six prosthetic cardiac valvular replacements in the past 2 years. Failure to achieve adequate anticoagulation in the early postoperative period appears to be related to the thrombosis in this case.
Surgical management of posttraumatic elbow arthrofibrosis.

BACKGROUND:Functional loss of motion is a frequent complication after elbow trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of open elbow release in restoring functional elbow motion.METHODS:A retrospective chart review of 177 adult patients who underwent open elbow release at o
Tears of the glenoid labrum.

Glenoid labral tears without capsular or ligamentous detachment are being reported with increasing frequency. Yet, the significance and need for treatment of these injuries remain controversial. Labral tears often occur with other glenohumeral pathology making the diagnosis difficult. The current preferred treatment method is arthroscopic labral debridement, and this has a seemingly good initial outcome. Recent long-term follow-up studies, however, have shown that this treatment has only moderately good results at more than 2-year follow up. Labral tears may occur from instability, and labral debridement in these shoulders has disappointing results unless surgical stabilization is also performed.
Win, lose, or draw in the fog of civil war

Civil war outcome studies have used expected utility logic to identify factors that affect actors’ estimates of the probability of victory, the payoffs from victory vs defeat, and the accumulated c...
Natural fibres: types and properties

Publisher Summary Natural fibre is defined as fibrous plant material produced as a result of photosynthesis. These fibres are sometimes referred to as vegetable, biomass, photomass, phytomass, agromass, solarmass or photosynthetic fibres. In terms of utilization, there are two general classifications of plants producing natural fibres: primary and secondary. Primary plants are those grown for their fibre content while secondary plants are those where the fibres come as a by-product from some other primary utilization. Jute, hemp, kenaf, sisal and cotton are examples of primary plants while pineapple, cereal stalks, agave, oil palm and coir are examples of secondary plants. The most common classification for natural fibres is by botanical type. Using this system, there are six basic types of natural fibres: bast fibres; leaf fibres; seed fibres; core fibres; grass and reed; and all other types such as wood and roots. There are many reports in the scientific literature on the mechanical properties of natural fibres. Many factors influence mechanical properties of natural fibres. The density data represents the apparent density, which is the density of the whole fibre, not the fibre cell wall. All of the natural fibres have a cell wall density of approximately 1.5 g/m3. There is a very wide range of physical properties depending on the fibre type. In general, bast fibres are the strongest.
Purification of Plasmid and BAC Transgenic DNA Constructs

Pronuclear microinjection is the most used method for generating transgenic mice. The quality of DNA to be microinjected is a key determinant of the success rate of this method. DNA purity is a critical factor because trace amounts of many substances, when microinjected into the pronucleus of the fertilized egg, can kill or prevent the further development of the embryo. Avoiding all contaminants is not a trivial issue, because most transgenic fragments need to be purified from agarose gels. Small particles and viscous materials in the DNA solution can also dramatically reduce the efficiency of microinjection because they tend to clog the injection needles. DNA shearing or breakage during purification and microinjection is also a potential problem, particularly when linearized bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) DNAs are used. The overall quantity and the final DNA concentration are also important considerations, because egg -pronuclei are very sensitive to the amount of foreign DNA. In this chapter, we first discuss the general guidelines and cautions for preparing microinjection-quality DNA, and then describe in detail two -protocols, one for gel purification of transgenic fragments from plasmid vectors and the other for isolating high-quality BAC DNA from bacteria.
Predictors of induction onto extended-release naltrexone among unemployed heroin-dependent adults

Abstract Background and aim Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) blocks the effects of opioids for 4weeks; however, starting treatment can be challenging because it requires 7 to 10days of abstinence from all opioids. In the present study we identified patient and treatment characteristics that were associated with successful induction onto XR-NTX. Methods 144 unemployed heroin-dependent adults who had recently undergone opioid detoxification completed self-report measures and behavioral tasks before starting an outpatient XR-NTX induction procedure. Employment-based reinforcement was used to promote opioid abstinence and adherence to oral naltrexone during the induction. Participants were invited to attend a therapeutic workplace where they earned wages for completing jobs skills training. Participants who had used opioids recently were initially invited to attend the workplace for a 7-day washout period. Then those participants were required to provide opioid-negative urine samples and then take scheduled doses of oral naltrexone to work and earn wages. Participants who had not recently used opioids could begin oral naltrexone immediately. After stabilization on oral naltrexone, participants were eligible to receive XR-NTX and were randomized into one of four treatment groups, two of which were offered XR-NTX. Binary and multiple logistic regressions were used to identify characteristics at intake that were associated with successfully completing the XR-NTX induction. Results 58.3% of participants completed the XR-NTX induction. Those who could begin oral naltrexone immediately were more likely to complete the induction than those who could not (79.5% vs. 25.0%). Of 15 characteristics, 2 were independently associated with XR-NTX induction success: legal status and recent opioid detoxification type. Participants who were not on parole or probation (vs. on parole or probation) were more likely to complete the induction (OR [95% CI]=2.5 [1.1–5.7], p =0.034), as were those who had come from a longer-term detoxification program (≥21days) (vs. a shorter-term [ p Conclusions Our analyses suggest that individuals recently leaving longer-term opioid detoxification programs are more likely to complete XR-NTX induction. Individuals on parole or probation are less likely to complete XR-NTX induction and may need additional supports or modifications to induction procedures to be successful.
Fire exclusion and climate change interact to affect long‐term changes in the functional composition of plant communities

Aim Plant functional traits allow us to mechanistically link changes in species composition to changes in ecosystem functions. Understanding how and why changes occur in functional composition of plant communities can thus help us better conserve and restore biodiversity. We aim to examine long-term effects of fire exclusion and climate change on the functional composition of fire-maintained pine barrens in central Wisconsin. Location Central Wisconsin, USA. Methods Using a database that included vegetation data of surveys (1958) and resurveys (2012) of 30 sites, we quantified functional composition (α and β functional diversity, community-weighted means) of each site at both time periods. We then applied linear regression and linear mixed models to study effects of fire exclusion and climate change on changes in functional composition. Results We observed shifts towards larger specific leaf area, greater seed mass and other traits related to shade tolerance. These communities thus appear to be undergoing ecological succession, favouring plant adaptions to better harvest light and carbon in darker, warmer and wetter habitats. Functional alpha diversity increased, while functional beta diversity decreased even after controlling for changes in taxonomic diversity. Fire exclusion and climate change both contributed to these increases in local functional diversity but neither is related to the functional homogenization observed. Fire exclusion and climate change also interacted negatively to affect local functional diversity, suggesting that future climate change and succession may soon reduce alpha functional diversity. Main conclusions Our study provides a rare record of long-term functional dynamics and demonstrates that fire exclusion and climate change can interact to affect the functional composition of plant communities. Thus, we should consider changes in local ecological conditions as we seek to predict how climate change will affect the functional composition of plant communities.
A Theater Intervention to Promote Communication and Disclosure of Suicidal Ideation.

ABSTRACTYoung adults from Montana have a higher rate of suicide than their national counterparts. There is a clear need for targeted interventions to address this disparity. The authors evaluate a community-based, narrative theater project designed to increase awareness and use of suicide-prevention resources among eastern Montana youth. As a first step, seven group interviews with Montana young adults (n = 27) were conducted to identify current perceptions about suicide and suicide prevention. Interviews were conducted before and after subjects were exposed to a community-based theater production about suicide. Emergent thematic categories were organized using the four main constructs of the extended parallel process model. After the performance, participants expressed increased awareness of prevention resources; perceived susceptibility to the threat of suicide and depression; and self-efficacy for accessing help and assisting others. There were mixed results for perceived response efficacy. Implication...
Optically Discriminating Carrier-Induced Quasiparticle Band Gap and Exciton Energy Renormalization in Monolayer MoS 2

Optoelectronic excitations in monolayer ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ manifest from a hierarchy of electrically tunable, Coulombic free-carrier and excitonic many-body phenomena. Investigating the fundamental interactions underpinning these phenomena---critical to both many-body physics exploration and device applications---presents challenges, however, due to a complex balance of competing optoelectronic effects and interdependent properties. Here, optical detection of bound- and free-carrier photoexcitations is used to directly quantify carrier-induced changes of the quasiparticle band gap and exciton binding energies. The results explicitly disentangle the competing effects and highlight longstanding theoretical predictions of large carrier-induced band gap and exciton renormalization in two-dimensional semiconductors.
Modeling electrical stimulation of mammalian nerve fibers: A mechanistic versus probabilistic approach

Electrical neurostimulation is increasingly used over neuropharmacology to treat various diseases. Despite efforts to model the effects of electrical stimulation, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This is because current mechanistic models just quantify the effects that the electrical field produces near the fiber and do not capture interactions between stimulus-initiated action potentials (APs) and underlying physiological activity initiated APs. In this study, we aim to quantify and compare these interactions. We construct two computational models of a nerve fiber of varying degrees of complexity (probabilistic versus mechanistic) each receiving two inputs: the underlying physiological activity at one end of the fiber, and the external stimulus applied to the middle of the fiber. We then define reliability, R, as the percentage of physiological APs that make it to the other end of the nerve fiber. We apply the two inputs to the fiber at various frequencies and analyze reliability. We find that the probabilistic model captures relay properties for low input frequencies (< 10 Hz) but then differs from the mechanistic model if either input has a larger frequency. This is because the probabilistic model only accounts for only (i) inter signal loss of excitability and (ii) collisions between stimulus-initiated action potentials (APs) and underlying physiological activity initiated APs. This first step towards modeling the interactions in a nerve fiber opens up opportunities towards understanding mechanisms of electrical stimulation therapies.
Open Access and the Future of Scholarly Communication: Implementation, edited by Kevin L. Smith and Katherine A. Dickson: Lanham, MD, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2016, 329 pp., Print ISBN: 978-1-4422-7503-4, $45.00, E-book ISBN: 978-1-4422-7504-1, $42.00

As efforts to advance open access (OA) and develop scholarly communication programs become increasingly pervasive in academic libraries, there is a pressing need for scholarship on the diverse ways...
The Pitfalls and Promise of Increasing Racial Diversity: Threat, Contact, and Race Relations in the 21st Century:

A decades-long trend toward greater racial and ethnic diversity in the United States is expected to continue, with White Americans projected to constitute less than 50% of the national population by mid century. The present review integrates recent empirical research on the effects of making this population change salient with research on how actual diversity affects Whites Americans’ intergroup attitudes and behavior. Specifically, we offer a framework for understanding and predicting the effects of anticipated increases in racial diversity that highlights the competing influences of intergroup concerns, such as relative group status and power, and more interpersonal experiences, such as positive contact, on intergroup relations. We close with a discussion of the likely moderators of the effects of the increasing national racial diversity and consider implications of this societal change for racial equity in the 21st century.
Sexual Freedom: The Right to Say No:

Married women have been sexually oppressed by being denied the choice not to have sex. Social work contributes to this oppression. Several issues regarding the functions of sexual behavior are exam...
Land use decision-making in the wake of state property rights legislation: Examining the institutional response to Florida’s Harris Act

Abstract Land use scholars hypothesize that state property rights legislation—adopted by more than half of U.S. states as a way to buttress the protections of landowners against uncompensated regulatory takings—negatively impacts the ability of local governments to regulate land use. This theorized impact can happen in two ways. First, compensation provisions may “chill” land use regulation due to increased risk of liability from adverse adjudication. Second, settlement and dispute resolution processes may limit public participation and abrogate decisions made in the public interest. However, there is little empirical or theoretical treatment of these concerns. To address this gap, we examine local land use decision-making in Florida in the more than two decades since the 1995 enactment of the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Rights Act [Act], one of the strongest state property rights laws in the United States. We use the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to understand the system of rules and norms that operate within and between institutional actors in Florida’s land use arena and animate decisions related to the Act. Drawing on key informant interviews and public documents, we show how contextual conditions and institutions mediate the impact of state private property laws. In Florida, institutions and transactions costs limit litigation under the Act—and consequently mitigate the Act’s chilling effect—although unevenly depending on local context. The Act’s compensation provision does little to reconfigure institutional arrangements and outcomes in property rights disputes; however, settlement and dispute resolution processes triggered by the Act effectively resolve local process and political challenges. Our findings suggest that dispute resolution is a more impactful and socially optimal approach to state property rights laws compared to compensation, and can enhance land use decision-making and outcomes for planning, the public interest, and landowners.
Rater Performance Standards for Classroom Observation Instruments

Raters must score accurately and consistently for classroom observation scores to be valid. This requires (a) a standard defining when scoring is accurate and consistent enough and (b) measuring an...
The effect of desferrithiocin, an oral iron chelator, on T-cell function.

Desferrithiocin is a new, potent, orally available iron chelator. To determine whether this drug might be useful not only for iron-overload but also for immunosuppression, we studied the in vitro effects of desferrithiocin on T-lymphocyte function. Like deferoxamine, desferrithiocin inhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, mitogen- and lectin-induced proliferation of both human and murine T cells. It was active at a concentration of 10 micrograms/mL. The inhibition of proliferation was reversed by ferrous chloride, but not by other metal salts, recombinant IL-2, or conditioned medium. Desferrithiocin also inhibited proliferation of constitutively dividing, and factor- independent EBV-transformed B cell and leukemic T-cell lines. Although desferrithiocin inhibited the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, it did not inhibit CTL- or natural killer-induced cytotoxicity. The agent did not inhibit the expression of activation antigens such as the IL-2 receptor on T cells, nor early measures of T- cell activation such as the influx of intracellular calcium. Thus, desferrithiocin, like deferoxamine, is a potent and reversible inhibitor of T-cell proliferation. This anti-proliferative effect inhibits T-cell function. Bioavailability after oral administration is a unique property of desferrithiocin, and would make it an attractive alternative to deferoxamine. Its immunomodulating properties may therefore be exploited in vivo to inhibit graft rejection or autoreactive T cells.
Events data and policy analysis

In the 1960s and 1970s the creation and analysis of coded international events data became a major tool for the analysis of international relations and crises. Unlike other quantitative projects developed by the academic community, the events data approach was transformed to applied research and used by various national security bureaucracies in the U.S. government. The approach was eventually rejected due to an aversion by bureaucrats to quantitative analysis systems and procedures which did not incorporate their expertise, organizational objectives and need for user-friendly and timely presentation. The lessons learned from this case can be used to inform current efforts by academics to transfer basic research to the foreign policy making community.
Non-catalytic ethane cracking using concentrated solar energy

Abstract Non-catalytic ethane cracking – a highly endothermic process – was carried out using simulated, concentrated sunlight. A mesoscale reactor suitable for the direct utilization of solar thermal energy for the purpose of ethane cracking was designed, built and tested. The effect of different process conditions (temperatures of 800–1000 °C, steam-to-ethane ratios of 0–3.3, and mean residence times of 0.14–0.44 s) on the system performance was investigated using a dilute mixture of ethane (3%) in nitrogen. Single-pass, ethane conversions as high as 69% were observed with high selectivity towards ethylene. The efficiency of chemical conversion was calculated to be within 1–2%. The reported efficiency is low due to the dilute system used and the relatively low temperature of the inlet gas; however, efficiency can be greatly improved through use of a more concentrated feed stream and enhanced gas recuperation. This work demonstrates a new and promising approach to effective utilization of solar thermal energy for value added chemical production.
Cardiac Surgical Challenges in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

This chapter will review the issues that go through a surgeon’s mind when preparing and carefully planning either a primary or repeat operation for adult patients with congenital heart disease. The importance of collaboration between surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, critical care specialists, radiologists, other physician subspecialists, and other allied healthcare personnel cannot be overemphasized.
How can scholarly work be meaningful in an era of lost causes

ABSTRACTThis personal essay is an attempt to position our work as scholars and teachers within the conditions we currently live. I consider what kind of guidance the environmental humanities might offer to promote an ethic of advocacy and persistence which endures without the expectation of victory. Using literary references, critical sources, and examples from my own classroom, I propose how we might do this in two ways. The first has to do with language: we are well-situated to intervene in lexicons of bureaucracy by promoting words and stories that articulate intimate, creative relationships with nature, and ways of reading which enhance the public’s ability to perceive environmental justice issues. The second concerns community action: we can teach ‘activism’ as daily ceremonies of local involvement, and re-frame hope as a form of work – inter-generational, perpetual work we are committed to practicing even if it fails to prevent the consequences of global warming.
Impact of team configuration and team stability on primary care quality.

The science of effective teams is well documented; far less is known, however, about how specific team configurations may impact primary care team effectiveness. Further, teams experiencing frequent personnel changes (perhaps as a consequence of poor implementation) may have difficulty delivering effective, continuous, well-coordinated care. This study aims to examine the extent to which primary care clinics in the Veterans Health Administration have implemented team configurations consistent with recommendations based on the Patient-Centered Medical Home model and the extent to which adherence to said recommendations, team stability, and role stability impact healthcare quality. Specifically, we expect to find better clinical outcomes in teams that adhere to recommended team configurations, teams whose membership and configuration are more stable over time, and teams whose clinical manager role is more stable over time. We will employ a combination of social network analysis and multilevel modeling to conduct a database review of variables extracted from the Veterans Health Administration’s Team Assignments Report (TAR) (one of the largest, most diverse existing national samples of primary care teams (nteams > 7000)), as well as other employee and clinical data sources. To ensure the examination of appropriate clinical outcomes, we will enlist a team of subject matter experts to select a concise set of clear, prioritized primary care performance metrics. We will accomplish this using the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System, an evidence-based methodology for developing and implementing performance measurement. We are unaware of other studies of healthcare teams that consider team size, composition, and configuration longitudinally or with sample sizes of this magnitude. Results from this study can inform primary care team implementation policy and practice in both private- and public-sector clinics, such that teams are configured optimally, with adequate staffing, and the right mix of roles within the team. Not applicable—this study does not involve interventions on human participants.
The Behaviors, Benefits, and Barriers of Humanitarian Aid Leader Humility:

This study explores how humility is contextualized in the culture of faith-based humanitarian aid leadership. Consensual Qualitative Research was used to synthesize the personal and observational e...
Beyond preference reversal: Distinguishing justifiability from evaluability in joint versus single evaluations

Abstract Extensive existing research has studied how decisions differ between joint evaluation (JE) and single evaluation (SE), but most of the research aims to demonstrate preference reversals between two alternatives that vary on two attributes simultaneously. Thus, extant research cannot tell whether the reversal occurs because one of the attributes has a greater effect in JE than in SE, or the other attribute has a greater effect in SE than in JE, or both. Going beyond preference reversals, this research examines options that vary on only one attribute and studies whether the single attribute has a greater effect in JE or SE. We posit that any single attribute has two underlying characteristics—evaluability (i.e., whether people can evaluate a given value of the attribute without having to compare it with other values) and justifiability (i.e., whether people believe they should base their decisions on the attribute). Whether the single attribute has a greater effect in JE or SE depends on both the attribute’s evaluability and justifiability. Specifically, (a) a high-justifiability/low-evaluability attribute (e.g., whether a candidate for a programming job has written 100 or 200 programs) has a greater effect in JE than in SE, and (b) a low-justifiability/high-evaluability attribute (e.g., whether the candidate belongs to a discriminated-against minority group) has a greater effect in SE than in JE. While the first proposition has been tested in prior research on evaluability, the second has not. Four experiments, including one in a naturally-occurring setting and another with orthogonal manipulation of evaluability and justifiability, tested and supported these propositions, especially the second.
Making Four Days in May: Bearing Witness to State Violence through Film

In this essay I discuss a collaborative process of creating a series of visual representations of the 2010 State of Emergency in Kingston, when Jamaican security forces, supported by the United Sta...
Impact of unoperated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in adulthood: a 10-year analysis.

Retrospective, cross-sectional. To evaluate the impact of unoperated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in adulthood on pain, quality of life, and need for operative management. Long-term studies of AIS in adulthood demonstrate most patients function well, though some have increased disability. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and SRS-22r are validated questionnaires for assessing back disability and quality of life. Correlation of these questionnaires to patient outcomes and necessity for surgery have not been fully defined. Unoperated adults with AIS seen in a tertiary deformity clinic from 2008–2018 were identified. Variables included demographics, comorbidities, family history, curve size/location, pain score, ODI, SRS-22r, and previous treatment. ODI and SRS-22r scores were analyzed across three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, and ≥ 60. 275 eligible patients were identified and 255 (93%) patients had an ODI and/or SRS-22r score. ODI scores (220 patients) had a positive correlation with age, BMI, and curve size (p < .001). SRS-22r (204 patients) pain score was worse in all age–gender-matched domains (p < .05). Of the 255 patients in the study, 10% underwent surgery after presentation. In 118 patients with surgical-size curves (thoracic ≥ 50°; thoracolumbar ≥ 40°), no difference was seen in age or curve size between surgical and non-surgical patients; however, ODI and SRS-22r scores (excluding mental health) were significantly worse in surgical patients (p ≤ .01). Patients with AIS have SRS-22r scores that are lower than age–gender-matched controls in most domains. ODI had a positive linear correlation with age, body mass index, and curve size. Only 10% of adults with surgical-size curves evaluated for scoliosis elected to undergo surgery. Patients treated surgically reported worse preoperative quality-of-life scores than their non-surgical counterparts. These results can help healthcare providers when counseling patients and families concerning management options. III
A Sum-of-Squares Optimization Method for Learning and Controlling Photovoltaic Systems

This paper outlines a combination of two data-driven approaches leveraging sum-of-squares (SoS) optimization to: i) learn the power-voltage (p - v) characteristic of photovoltaic (PV) arrays, and ii) rapidly regulate operation of the companion PV inverter to a desired power setpoint. Estimation of available headroom in PV systems is critical to the task of providing ancillary services, and the proposed method puts forth a computationally tractable solution with minimal data needs for the same. In addition to providing this key contribution to application, from an algorithmic vantage point, we present an interior-point method to solve a linear regression reformulation of the original polynomial fitting problem with SoS constraints. We validate the proposed algorithms through time-domain numerical simulations (incorporating the PV source and a 15-th order inverter model) for a variety of large-signal disturbances (step changes in real-power demand, rapid changes in irradiance) and demonstrate that the method provides an effective strategy to concomitantly discover the p - v curve and seamlessly regulate operation to a desired setpoint.
The Value of Surgical Data—Impact on the Future of the Surgical Field:

The combination of computing power, connectivity, and big data has been touted as the future of innovation in many fields, including medicine. There has been a groundswell of companies developing tools for improving patient care utilizing healthcare data, but procedural specialties, like surgery, have lagged behind in benefitting from data-based innovations, given the lack of data that is well structured. While many companies are attempting to innovate in the surgical field, some have encountered difficulties around collecting surgical data, given its complex nature. As there is no standardized way in which to interact with healthcare systems to purchase these data, the authors attempt to characterize the various ways in which surgical data are collected and shared. By surveying and conducting interviews with various surgical technology companies, at least 3 different methods to collect surgical data were identified. From this information, the authors conclude that an attempt to outline best practices should be undertaken that benefits all stakeholders.
IMPROVING MASTERY OF PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING CONCEPTS THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING AND INTEGRATED BUSINESS PROJECTS

As marketing educators, we face a challenge to provide innovative and challenging learning environments that respond to student needs. The Integrated Core Program is an innovative approach to enhan...
Hyperoxia-activated circulating extracellular vesicles induce lung and brain injury in neonatal rats

Hyperoxia-induced lung injury plays a key role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), characterized by inflammatory injury and impaired lung development in preterm infants. Although BPD is a predictor of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, currently it is uncertain how lung injury contributes to brain injury in preterm infants. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of cell-derived membranous structures that regulate intercellular and inter-organ communications. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) has emerged as a key executor of inflammasome-mediated cell death and inflammation. In this study, we utilized a neonatal rat model of BPD to assess if hyperoxia stimulates lung release of circulating EVs and if these EVs induce lung and brain injury. We found that hyperoxia-exposed rats had elevated numbers of plasma-derived EVs compared to rats maintained in room air. These EVs also had increased cargos of surfactant protein C, a marker of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC), and the active (p30) form of GSDMD. When these EVs were adoptively transferred into normal newborn rats via intravenous injection, they were taken up both by lung and brain tissues. Moreover, EVs from hyperoxic animals induced not only the pathological hallmarks of BPD, but also brain inflammatory injury in recipient rats, as well as inducing cell death in cultured pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and neural stem cells (NSC). Similarly, hyperoxia-exposed cultured AEC-like cells released EVs that also contained increased GSDMD-p30 and these EVs induced pyroptotic cell death in NSC. Overall, these data indicate that hyperoxia-activated circulating EVs mediate a lung to brain crosstalk resulting in brain injury and suggest a mechanism that links lung injury and neurodevelopmental impairment in BPD infants.
Abstract 15218: Structural and Functional Alterations in a Premature Ventricular Contractions-induced Cardiomyopathy Model

Introduction: Previous studies of premature ventricular contractions (PVC)-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CM) in canines have showed reduction in L-type Ca2+ current and Ca2+ transient amplitude in is...
What are the social benefits of homeownership? Experimental evidence for low-income households

Abstract We estimate the social benefits of homeownership using an exogenous instrument based on randomly assigned treatment status from a field experiment that subsidized saving for home purchase for low-income renters through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). This approach attempts to eliminate the potential correlation present in previous analyses between unobserved individual characteristics leading to homeownership and traits leading to provision of social capital or local amenities. Consistent with previous work, we show that homeownership positively affects political engagement in simple probits. Instrumental variable probits, however, show no impact of homeownership on political involvement. IV results for other social outcomes are less conclusive. The analysis suggests that with the use of an exogenous instrument, it is possible to generate results that are different from the previous literature. Our results also suggest that being eligible to open an IDA did not spur households to provide more social capital or local amenities.