cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurotrophin Mediation of Allergic Airways Responses to Inhaled Diesel Particles in Mice

Neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF), partially mediate many features of allergic airways disease including airway hyperresponsiveness. Diesel exhaust particulates (DEP) associated with the combustion of diesel fuel exacerbate many of these allergic airways responses in humans. We tested the hypothesis that DEP-induced enhancement of allergic airways disease in a murine model is dependent on normal function of the low affinity pan-neurotrophin receptor p75 NTR , or tyrosine kinase A (trkA), the primary receptor for NGF. Ovalbumin (OVA)‐ sensitized and nonallergic BALB/c mice were intranasally instilled with anti-p75 NTR , anti-trkA, or vehicle, 1 h before OVA aerosol challenge, and then exposed nose-only to the particulate matter fraction that was less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter fraction of Standard Reference Material 2975 DEP (2.0 mg/m 3 )o r filtered air for 5 h. One day later, DEP-exposed OVA-allergic mice had significantly greater increases in ventilatory responses to methacholine (Mch), but not increased lung resistance, suggesting that the airflow changes may have originated in the nasal passages. DEP-exposed OVA-allergic mice also had increased lung IL-4 levels relative to all other groups. The instillation of anti-p75 NTR or anti-trkA completely reversed the DEP-induced increases in ventilatory responses and lung IL-4 protein to levels similar to control mice. OVA-allergic DEP-exposed mice treated with anti-p75 NTR had significantly less lung resistance in response to Mch relative to OVA-allergic DEP-exposed mice treated with anti-trkA. The results of this study demonstrate that the enhancement of allergic airways responses by DEP exposure is partly dependent on neurotrophins in mice. In addition, neurotrophins that bind p75 NTR , but not trkA, may mediate pulmonary central
Exploration and confirmation of the latent variable structure of the Jefferson scale of empathy.

Objectives: To reaffirm the underlying components of the JSE by using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and to confirm its latent variable structure by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Methods: Research participants included 2,612 medical students who entered Jefferson Medical College between 2002 and 2012. This sample was divided into two groups: Matriculants between 2002 and 2007 (n=1,380) and between 2008 and 2012 (n=1,232). Data for 2002-2007 matriculants were subjected to EFA (principal component factor extraction), and data for matriculants of 2008-2012 were used for CFA (structural equation modeling, and root mean square error for approximation). Results: The EFA resulted in three factors: “perspectivetaking,” “compassionate care” and “walking in patient’s shoes” replicating the 3-factor model reported in most of the previous studies. The CFA showed that the 3-factor model was an acceptable fit, thus confirming the latent variable structure emerged in the EFA. Corrected item-total score correlations for the total sample were all positive and statistically significant, ranging from 0.13 to 0.61 with a median of 0.44 (p<0.01). The item discrimination effect size indices (contrasting item mean scores for the top-third versus bottom-third JSE scorers) ranged from 0.50 to 1.4 indicating that the differences in item mean scores between top and bottom scorers on the JSE were of practical importance. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the JSE for the total sample was 0.80, ranging from 0.75 to 0.84 for matriculatnts of different years. Conclusions: Findings provided further support for underlying constructs of the JSE, adding to its credibility.
Periorbital hematoma secondary to sinusitis in a child.

• Periorbital abscess secondary to sinusitis is a well-recognized entity in children. However, subperiosteal hematoma is extremely rare and has been reported in only four adult patients. This article presents the case of a 4-year-old girl with sinusitis, proptosis, and decreased visual acuity. Surgical exploration of the orbit revealed the presence of a large organizing subperiosteal hematoma that was drained. The presence of a periorbital hematoma should be suspected in patients with acute onset of proptosis and findings of a periorbital mass and sinusitis on computed tomographic scan. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg . 1991;117:557-559)
Subchronic Studies of Thenyldiamine in B6C3F1 Mice

Thenyldiamine was administered as an admixture in the feed to male and female B6C3F, mice for 14 days or for 90 days. Dose levels of 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm thenyldiamine were administered in both studies. There was little toxicity observed in the 14-day study. Male and female mice in the 4000 ppm dose groups gained less weight in the first week but appeared to recover and weighed essentially the same as controls at the end of the second week. No significant abnormal clinical observations were made during the study and no treatment-related lesions were observed at necropsy. Microscopic lesions were confined to focal necrosis of the liver with associated inflammatory cell infiltration. In the 90-day study, a more pronounced reduction of weight gain was seen in both males and females of the 4000 ppm dose group. Clinical observations were unremarkable. No abnormal lesions were observed at necropsy. Treatment-related microscopic lesions were confined to the liver of males and parotid salivary gl...
Globally optimal tumor segmentation in PET-CT images: a graph-based co-segmentation method

Tumor segmentation in PET and CT images is notoriously challenging due to the low spatial resolution in PET and low contrast in CT images. In this paper, we have proposed a general framework to use both PET and CT images simultaneously for tumor segmentation. Our method utilizes the strength of each imaging modality: the superior contrast of PET and the superior spatial resolution of CT. We formulate this problem as a Markov Random Field (MRF) based segmentation of the image pair with a regularized term that penalizes the segmentation difference between PET and CT. Our method simulates the clinical practice of delineating tumor simultaneously using both PET and CT, and is able to concurrently segment tumor from both modalities, achieving globally optimal solutions in low-order polynomial time by a single maximum flow computation. The method was evaluated on clinically relevant tumor segmentation problems. The results showed that our method can effectively make use of both PET and CT image information, yielding segmentation accuracy of 0.85 in Dice similarity coefficient and the average median hausdorff distance (HD) of 6.4 mm, which is 10 % (resp., 16 %) improvement compared to the graph cuts method solely using the PET (resp., CT) images.
Airfoil Design by an All-at-once Method*

Abstract The all-at-once approach is implemented to solve an optimum airfoil design problem. The airfoil design problem is formulated as a constrained optimization problem in which flow variables and design variables arc viewed as independent and the coupling steady state Euler equation is included as a constraint, along with geometry and other constraints. In this formulation, the optimizer computes a sequence of points which tend toward feasibility and optimalily at the same lime (all-at-once). This decoupling of variables typically makes the problem less non-linear and can lead to more efficient solutions. In this paper an existing optimization algorithm is combined with an existing flow code. The problem formulation, its discretization, and the underlying solvers arc described. Implementation issues arc presented and numerical results are given which indicate that the cost of solving the design problem is appropriately six times the cost of solving a single analysis problem.
Highly tolerated amino acid substitutions increase the fidelity of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I

Fidelity of DNA synthesis, catalyzed by DNA polymerases, is critical for the maintenance of the integrity of the genome. Mutant polymerases with elevated accuracy (antimutators) have been observed, but these mainly involve increased exonuclease proofreading or large decreases in polymerase activity. We have determined the tolerance of DNA polymerase for amino acid substitutions in the active site and in different segments of E. coli DNA polymerase I and have determined the effects of these substitutions on the fidelity of DNA synthesis. We established a DNA polymerase I mutant library, with random substitutions throughout the polymerase domain. This random library was first selected for activity. The essentiality of DNA polymerases and their sequence and structural conservation suggests that few amino acid substitutions would be tolerated. However, we report that two-thirds of single base substitutions were tolerated without loss of activity, and plasticity often occurs at evolutionarily conserved regions. We screened 408 members of the active library for alterations in fidelity of DNA synthesis in Escherichia coli expressing the mutant polymerases and carrying a second plasmid containing a beta-lactamase reporter. Mutation frequencies varied from 1/1000- to 1000-fold greater compared with wild type. Mutations that produced an antimutator phenotype were distributed throughout the polymerase domain, with 12% clustered in the M-helix. We confirmed that a single mutation in this segment results in increased base discrimination. Thus, this work identifies the M-helix as a determinant of fidelity and suggests that polymerases can tolerate many substitutions that alter fidelity without incurring major changes in activity.
ON AXISYMMETRIC TRAVELING WAVES AND RADIAL SOLUTIONS OF SEMI-LINEAR ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS

Combining analytical techniques from per- turbation methods and dynamical systems theory, we present an elementaryapproach to the detailed construction of ax- isymmetric diffusive interfaces in semi-linear elliptic equa- tions. Solutions of the resulting non-autonomous radial differ- ential equations can be expressed in terms of a slowlyvary ing phase plane system. Special analytical results for the phase plane system are used to produce closed-form solutions for the asymptotic forms of the curved front solutions. These axisym- metric solutions are fundamental examples of more general curved fronts that arise in a wide varietyof scientific fields, and we extensivelydiscuss a number of them, with a par- ticular emphasis on connections to geometric models for the motion of interfaces. Related classical results for traveling waves in one-dimensional problems are also reviewed briefly. Manyof the results contained in this article are known, and in presenting known results, it is intended that this article be expositoryin nature, providing elementarydemonstrations of some of the central dynamical phenomena and mathematical techniques. It is hoped that the article serves as one possi- ble avenue of entree to the literature on radiallysy mmetric solutions of semilinear elliptic problems, especiallyto those articles in which more advanced mathematical theoryis de- veloped.
Maspin: The New Frontier

Maspin (mammary serine protease inhibitor) was identified in 1994 by subtractive hybridization analysis of normal mammary tissue and breast cancer cell lines. Subsequently, emerging evidence portrays maspin as a multifaceted protein, interacting with diverse group of intercellular and extracellular proteins, regulating cell adhesion, motility, apoptosis, and angiogenesis and critically involved in mammary gland development. The tissue-specific expression of maspin is epigenetically controlled, and aberrant methylation of maspin promoter is closely associated with maspin gene silencing. Identification of new tissue sites expressing maspin and novel maspin-binding partners has expanded the horizon for maspin research and promises maspin-based therapeutic approaches for combating cancer. This perspective briefly outlines the past and present strides in deciphering this unique molecule and speculates on new frontiers in maspin research and prospects of maspin as a diagnostic/prognostic indicator in cancer.
Moving Toward Communities of Interest in 2011

A s we begin a new year, an opportunity to reflect on where we have been and where we are going is in order. Our past president, Deborah Fillman, wrote in last month’s Message From the President that one of AADE’s most significant accomplishments this past year has been the launching of a new membership model: My AADE Network. Chapters are moving forward with transitioning processes, and members are taking advantage of forming local networking groups. Such a membership model builds and connects members locally and across states, whereby individual members are fully engaged with one another, without administrative constraints of maintaining bylaws, recruiting officers, submitting reports, and collecting dues. During 2011, AADE will transition the current Specialty Practice Group (SPG) model to a Communities of Interest (CoI) model. The CoI is patterned on a Community of Practice (CoP) model, allowing members to engage in a process of sharing resources, responding to requests for information, problem solving, and mapping areas of knowledge. CoIs are groups of AADE members sharing a common interest or professional practice area, where there is passion about a given topic as members regularly interact. Each CoI will work from a Web-based home page on AADE’s My AADE Network. Members will network with one another, share information, provide valuable resources, and communicate different events/activities. One of the major goals associated with each CoI is to focus on learning through reflection on practice. As diabetes educators, we all approach patients/clients with a different set of skills/expertise based on past experiences, stories, and ways of addressing recurring problems—in essence, a shared practice. Let the idea of learning through reflection and shared practice be the center of this supportive, vibrant community. Initial efforts at managing knowledge with SPG focused on specific products (eg, newsletter, conference). CoI will provide a new approach, focusing on knowledge management: sharing, creating, and recording. Like the My AADE Network model, members in a given CoI will not be responsible for submission of quarterly reports, budgets, or even the need to conduct a business meeting. CoI is a member benefit. Members will not be asked to pay any fees to join any/all CoI. Access to CoI is free with the benfit going into effect with 2011 membership renewal. Over the next several months, more information will be forthcoming regarding the leadership structure associated with CoI. 2011 promises to offer many new opportunities and possibilities for diabetes education and educators. Take the time to discover the many ways AADE operationalizes its mission and strategic plan. Finally, we look forward to your comments and possible topics you would like to see covered in future issues of The Diabetes Educator (TDE). Feel free to contact me at jfain@umassd.edu. We appreciate your observations and suggestions.
Intracavernosal administration of sodium nitrite as an erectile pharmacotherapy.

It has been reported that sodium nitrite (NaNO2) can act as a storage form of nitric oxide (NO) that can have beneficial pharmacologic actions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of NaNO2 on erectile function in the rat. The intracavernosal (i.c.) injection of NaNO2 produced dose-related increases in i.c. pressure and decreases in systemic arterial pressure. NaNO2 was 1000-fold less potent than sodium nitroprusside in increasing i.c. pressure. Increases in i.c. pressure in response to NaNO2 were attenuated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). The increases in i.c. pressure in response to NaNO2 were not altered by the xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor allopurinol. The decreases in systemic arterial pressure in response to i.c. injections of NaNO2 were attenuated by allopurinol and were either unchanged or increased by l-NAME. These data suggest that NaNO2 is converted to vasoactive NO in the corpora cavernosum and systemic vascular ...
A Directed Approach for Engineering Conditional Protein Stability Using Biologically Silent Small Molecules

The ability to regulate the function of specific proteins using cell-permeable molecules can be a powerful method for interrogating biological systems. To bring this type of "chemical genetic" control to a wide range of proteins, we recently developed an experimental system in which the stability of a small protein domain expressed in mammalian cells depends on the presence of a high affinity ligand. This ligand-dependent stability is conferred to any fused partner protein. The FK506- and rapamycin-binding protein (FKBP12) has been the subject of extensive biophysical analyses, including both kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the wild-type protein as well as dozens of mutants. The goal of this study was to determine if the thermodynamic stabilities (DeltaDeltaG(U-F)) of various amino acid substitutions within a given protein are predictive for engineering additional ligand-dependent destabilizing domains. We used FKBP12 as a model system and found that in vitro thermodynamic stability correlates weakly with intracellular degradation rates of the mutants and that the ability of a given mutation to destabilize the protein is context-dependent. We evaluated several new FKBP12 ligands for their ability to stabilize these mutants and found that a cell-permeable molecule called Shield-1 is the most effective stabilizing ligand. We then performed an unbiased microarray analysis of NIH3T3 cells treated with various concentrations of Shield-1. These studies show that Shield-1 does not elicit appreciable cellular responses.
ON THE SOLUTION OF STEINHAUS FUNCTIONAL EQUATION USING WEAKLY PICARD OPERATORS

In this paper we obtain existence results regarding the solutions g of a Steinhaus type functional equation of the form g(x) + g(f(x)) = F(x), under the signiflcantly weaker assumption that f is a weakly Picard operator. The solutions are given in terms of sums of either convergent series or divergent series but summable by some method of summability.
Temperature Dependent Characteristics of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon thin film Transistors

The characteristics of inverted staggered hydrogenated amorphous silicon/silicon nitride (a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H) thin film transistors (TFTs) are reported between 80 K and 420 K. The TFTs are found to have three distinct transport regimes. Between 80 K to approximately 260 K, the transport in the TFT channel is dominated by electrons hopping between localized gap states of a-Si:H and is analyzed using Mott's theory of variable- range hopping. As the tem-perature is increased above ∼260 K the current becomes thermally activated with an activation energy which depends on the gate voltage. The effective field effect mobility, as determined from the TFT characteristics in saturation, is activated in this regime, with an activation energy 0.10 to 0.15 eV. The various activation energies are found to be sensitive to annealing which can be explained by a reduction in deep and shallow states in the a-Si:H active layer. When operated above ∼360 K the TFTs become unstable due to rapid changes in threshold voltage under the applied gate field. The behavior of the threshold voltage is described over the entire temperature range and possible mechanisms are discussed.
The Project Emissions Estimator (PE-2): A Tool to Aid Contractors and Agencies Benchmark Carbon Emissions for Highway Construction Projects.

Motivated by the need to address challenges of global climate change, this study develops and implements a project-based life cycle framework that can be used to estimate the carbon footprint for typical construction work-items found in reconstruction, rehabilitation and Capital Preventive Maintenance (CPM) projects. The framework applies existing life cycle assessment methods and inventories. The proposed framework considers the life cycle emissions of products and processes involved in the raw material acquisition and manufacturing phase, and the pavement construction phase. It also accounts for emissions due to vehicular use and maintenance operations during the service life of the pavements. An implementation of the framework is a web-based tool, the Project Emission Estimator (PE-2) that can be used to benchmark the CO2 footprint of highway construction projects. The research suggests ways of implementing PE-2 tool by contractors and state transportation agencies to benchmark and help reduce the CO2 footprint of highway construction projects.
Techniques of intraoperative monitoring for spinal cord function: their past, present, and future directions.

Abstract Purpose: The authors discuss the use of intraoperative monitoring of spinal cord function as an essential part of operations in which the spinal cord is at risk. Although early documented cases of intraoperative monitoring were during operations to correct spinal deformities such as scoliosis, intraoperative monitoring has also increased safety during other operations, such as tumor resection and arteriovenous malformation ablation. Methods: The authors highlight details involved in monitoring spinal cord function intraoperatively and discuss historical, current, and future perspectives on the use of these monitoring techniques as an essential part of operations in which the spinal cord is at risk. Results: Intraoperative monitoring techniques mitigate the risk of post-operative deficits to the spinal cord by detecting injuries before they become permanent and while they can be reversed. Conclusions: Intraoperative spinal cord monitoring is safe, cost-effective, and valuable in reducing post-oper...
Minding Mice at the Crossroads: Managing Curriculum

Accounts that detail the variability and complexity of the actions of administrators and teachers in relation to curriculum policies, be they established or reformed, are sorely absent in the publi...
Saccade-vergence trajectories under free- and instrument-space environments

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to examine in detail the binocular fixation top-view trajectories of saccade-vergence responses to asymmetrical targets, and to compare latency difference between saccade and vergence, under the free- and instrument-space viewing environments. METHODS. Binocular eye movements were recorded using the infrared reflection technique in five visually-normal subjects. Responses were obtained for various asymmetrical target positions under both free- and instrument-space environments. RESULTS. Four types of top-view trajectories that represented normal variations in saccade and vergence control were found: straight, overshoot, undershoot, and saccade-vergence. Also, it was found that under the instrument-space environment, there was a predominance of saccade-vergence trajectories and a scarcity of overshoot trajectories, whereas under the free-space environment, there was a predominance of overshoot trajectories, and a scarcity of saccade-vergence trajectories. Further, und...
The Importance of Selective Federal Preemption in the U.S. Securities Regulatory Framework: A Lesson from Canada, Our Neighbor to the North

INTRODUCTION 394 I.THE GLOBAL SECURITIES MARKET 398 A. U.S. Recognition of the Global Securities Market..399 1. The Global Securities Market and the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. 399 2. The Global Securities Market and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) 400 B. Canada’s Recognition of the Global Securities Market 401 C. Recognition of the Global Securities Market Beyond North America 402 D. The Importance of Domestic Stock Markets 403 E. Regulatory Response to the Global Securities Market 404
Chromatographic studies of rat kidney lysozyme.

SummaryChromatography of rat kidney lysozyme with Amberlite XE-64 ion-exchange resin by direct and gradient elution procedures have been described. Three peaks of enzyme activity have been resolved by either procedure. Separate rechromatography of each peak by direct elution substantiated that none of the peaks was an artifact. The central peak contains the major portion of enzyme activity and after rechromatography the enzyme is spectrophotometrically free of cytochrome c. Cytochrome c appeared, after direct elution, as 4 peaks closely associated with the enzyme due to similar physical-chemical properties. Two peaks of reduced and oxidized cytochrome were found by gradient elution. Total purification of the specific enzyme activity was about 100-fold over the original supernatant.
Nanofabrication Using Self-Assembled Alumina Templates

A new approach for the use of porous alumina films as a template for nanofabrication is presented. In this process the porous films are prepared on silicon substrates, simplifying both the template fabrication and subsequent processing, and improving the quality of the films and their surfaces. Structural analysis of the film was carried out. Bismuth and bismuth telluride nanowires were prepared by pressure injection and electrochemical deposition, respectively, in alumina films 5-10 µ thick with parallel ordered pores 40 nm in diameter. The films were also patterned by lithography, offering new opportunities for area-selective anodization of non-planar structures. The new approach offers a straightforward method for the fabrication of arrays of nanostructures and their incorporation into electronic and optical devices.
On Hypothalamic Control of Ovulation in the Turkey

Abstract Small bilateral lesions of the ventromedial preoptic hypothalamus consistently blocked ovulation. Lesions that completely cut the supraoptico-hypophyseal tract or that were placed throughout the tuberal hypothalamus and median eminence had no effect on ovulation. Lesions placed in the posterodorsal, medial, and ventral parts of the infundibular nuclear complex and in the medial and posteria divisions of the median eminence resulted in slight to moderate atresia of rapidly growing follicles within 38 to 40 hr after surgery.
Argumentasi Seputar Ineffability (Kualitas Tak Tertuliskannya Pengalaman Mistis)

Penulis mencoba menganalisis beberapa argumentasi tentang tidak dapat diungkapkannya pengalaman mistis. Dari satu periode ke periode, abad dan tradisi yang berbeda, para mistikus atau sufi (arif) telah mengemukakan hal yang sama, yaitu kualitas tak terekspresikan atau tidak dapat diungkapkannya (ineffability) pengalaman penyaksian atau visi mistis (syuhud). Teori ini pertama kali dikemukakan oleh William James. Kajian dan analisis atas argumentasi-argumentasi tersebut akan penulis mulai dengan terlebih dahulu membincangkan bagaimana James menganalisis gagasan tentang kualitas tidak terlukiskannya (ineffability) pengalaman mistis.
Aeroelastic Modeling and Adaptive Control of GTM

This paper involves modeling and adaptive control of the Generic Transport Model (GTM), which is a notional twin-engine transport aircraft introduced by the NASA Langley Research Center. The aircraft components, namely fuselage, wing, and horizontal and vertical stabilizers are modeled as hollow beams with constant thicknesses. The mass and stiffness distributions of the components are approximated using crosssectional properties, such as geometric center, cross-sectional area, area moments of inertia etc., at some finite number of stations on the respective components. Each beam is assumed to have one bending and one torsional displacements. The aerodynamic forces and moments are generated using a quasi-steady theory. The equations of motion are derived using Lagrange’s Equations in quasi-coordinates. The partial differential equations are discretized by means of the Galerkin method. The resulting equations are a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations of relatively high order. An optimal control modification adaptive law produces is used to control the longitudinal dynamics of the aircraft under uncertainties.
Thalamocortical Structural and Functional Connectivity in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Researchers at King’s College, Institute of Psychiatry, London and other centers in the UK, US, and Germany discovered changes in an anterior thalamo-cortical bundle during tests of structural connectivity, as measured by diffusion tensor imaging, in a cohort of 28 subjects with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Evolutionary game theoretic analysis of distributed denial of service attacks in a wireless network

We consider a wireless network of M users connected to an access point in the presence of N jammers whose purpose is to deny or degrade the performance of the users by injecting interference. Using the achieved signal to inference plus noise ratio (SINR) as the performance metric, we study the dynamics of such a distributed denial of service attack (DDoA) by using Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT). Specifically, we consider a cooperative network model, where the M users (and N jammers) can collectively enhance their achieved SINR (degrade the user SINR). We model the strategic transmission decisions of the users (and the jammers) using simple random access techniques where the users (and jammers) decide to transmit or not with a transmission probability, taking into account their energy costs. Using the replicator dynamics (RD), we characterize the evolutionary stable strategies (ESS's) of the game and observe that the resulting transmission probabilities turn out to be either 0 or 1. Further, given a network (channel) setting, we show using a phase portrait of the replicator dynamics how the ESS strategies evolve for different cooperation levels of the users and jammers populations. We also provide insights into resulting ESS strategies as a function of the number of users and jammers, and their channel qualities.
One Hundred Ways to Use a Coconut

A seed floats for hundreds of miles and finally germinates and grows when it reaches dry land, often in nutrient-poor sands and soils. The coconut has been a source of sustenance and raw materials for many cultures around the globe. It is a plant that I connect with on many levels. Not only was I called a “coconut” in school, because of my Caribbean heritage, but the coconut is also a staple ingredient for several dishes that are commonly consumed in my home today. I remember my instructions on picking out a good coconut from my mother: “To pick out a good coconut, look at the eyes, make sure they are dry. Shake the coconut; it should sound hollow yet juicy.” Whenever I travel and have to pick out a good coconut, I recall these instructions and I seem to always manage to get the perfect nut.
Pensando a história fora da nação: a historiografia da América Latina e o viés transnacional

Este ensaio examina a emergencia da “virada transnacional” dentro da profissao de historiador a partir dos anos 1990. Defendo que os historiadores da America Latina desempenharam um papel central na mudanca para abordagens transnacionais. Ansiosos para contestar as interpretacoes historicas que tratam da historia da America Latina como uma ramificacao economica, iniciativas politicas e culturais norte-americanas, os latino-americanistas tem procurado elaborar perguntas que transcendam as fronteiras nacionais e demonstrem a circulacao de mercadorias, ideias e instituicoes, tais como a formacao global da classe media. A virada transnacional permitiu que historiadores da America Latina, com base na academia norte-americana, demonstrassem que os historiadores dos Estados Unidos precisam prestar atencao a producao de conhecimento sobre a America Latina. Diferente da historia internacional, que incide sobre a interacao entre as nacoes, a historia transnacional enfatiza questoes para as quais o pais nao e a principal arena de interacao ou conflito. A historia transnacional tambem tem iluminado os problemas da historia comparativa, com sua tendencia a comparar dois casos nacionais estaveis separadamente e a ignorar a circulacao e a interacao. No entanto, a intencao da historia transnacional nao e apagar a historia nacional, mas complica-la. E os intelectuais que adotam o vies transnacional precisam considerar as desvantagens de uma abordagem historica que atenue as conexoes nos estudos da America Latina, cuja principal referencia analitica ainda e o contexto nacional.
Parallel Nanoshaping of Brittle Semiconductor Nanowires for Strained Electronics.

Semiconductor nanowires (SCNWs) provide a unique tunability of electro-optical property than their bulk counterparts (e.g., polycrystalline thin films) due to size effects. Nanoscale straining of SCNWs is desirable to enable new ways to tune the properties of SCNWs, such as electronic transport, band structure, and quantum properties. However, there are two bottlenecks to prevent the real applications of straining engineering of SCNWs: strainability and scalability. Unlike metallic nanowires which are highly flexible and mechanically robust for parallel shaping, SCNWs are brittle in nature and could easily break at strains slightly higher than their elastic limits. In addition, the ability to generate nanoshaping in large scale is limited with the current technologies, such as the straining of nanowires with sophisticated manipulators, nanocombing NWs with U-shaped trenches, or buckling NWs with prestretched elastic substrates, which are incompatible with semiconductor technology. Here we present a top-do...
End-to-end data management services for access and discovery of NOAA's research data

In response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Plan for Increasing Public Access to Research Results (PARR), the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) have created tools for data managers to submit environmental research data generated through the use of federal funds to the national archives. These straightforward tools promote use and metadata creation to ensure that data submitted can be discovered, accessed, and understood by the public. Collaborations between NCEI and other programs in NOAA, such as the National Ocean Service's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), have been forged to establish best practices for implementation of the PARR Plan.
Collective Leadership and Context in Public Administration: Bridging Public Leadership Research and Leadership Studies

This article challenges the view that public leadership research should maintain a separate perspective in the study of public leadership. It discusses the benefits of further embedding the public leadership research domain within leadership studies, constructing a cross-fertilization that contributes to advance both. The article maps key concerns in relational leadership theories, contrasting them with current work in the public leadership research domain and offering suggestions to close the gap. It highlights public leadership scholarship's competitive advantage to contribute to theorizing about leadership, given the importance of context for building contemporary theories of relational leadership.
Establishing and Validating an Ichthyosis Severity Index

We designed and validated a Visual Index for Ichthyosis Severity for scale and erythema that provides (1) written descriptions of the features characteristic of each level of severity, (2) visual standards for four body sites, and (3) two distinct standards to account for different types of scale. We tested the Visual Index for Ichthyosis Severity for reliability and reproducibility using two different settings: one that utilized scoring of 60 test photographs by 10 dermatologists, and one with in-person evaluations on 85 subjects by 12 dermatologists at the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types conference. The validation process revealed high reliability and reproducibility for both scale and erythema. The interrater and intrarater intraclass correlation coefficients for scale were consistently near or greater than 0.7 in both settings. By contrast, the interrater reliability for erythema was higher during in-person validation compared with validation on test photographs. Our analysis indicates that the Visual Index for Ichthyosis Severity performs better in person than with photographs, an important consideration in the design of clinical trials. Power analysis predicts that a 1-point difference on this 5-step scale would be detectable with 12 subjects in each of two defined groups. This index provides a tool for clinical phenotyping and assessment of therapeutic response for many disorders of keratinization.
Changes in androgen deprivation therapy overuse: Reimbursement response and characteristics of persistent overusers.

5044 Background: Reimbursement cuts driven by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 are associated with declining androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) overuse in prostate cancer; yet, 25.7% of men for whom ADT was not recommended still received it in 2005. We examined physician-level prescribing changes and characteristics of persistent overusers among urologists. Understanding characteristics of urologists who persistently overuse ADT can improve quality of care and inform current efforts to limit reimbursement. Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective study of 2,138 urologists treating 12,943 men with early stage and lower grade prostate cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2007. SEER-Medicare data was matched to American Medical Association physician data. Mixed effects regression modeling controlled for patient and provider characteristics. Results: We observed 3 distinct patterns of overuse. Static users (69%) had low levels of ADT overuse in 2000 and maintained infrequent overuse. Decreas...
Reorganization of finger coordination patterns through motor exploration in individuals after stroke

Impairment of hand and finger function after stroke is common and affects the ability to perform activities of daily living. Even though many of these coordination deficits such as finger individuation have been well characterized, it is critical to understand how stroke survivors learn to explore and reorganize their finger coordination patterns for optimizing rehabilitation. In this study, I examine the use of a body-machine interface to assess how participants explore their movement repertoire, and how this changes with continued practice. Ten participants with chronic stroke wore a data glove and the finger joint angles were mapped on to the position of a cursor on a screen. The task of the participants was to move the cursor back and forth between two specified targets on a screen. Critically, the map between the finger movements and cursor motion was altered so that participants sometimes had to generate coordination patterns that required finger individuation. There were two phases to the experiment – an initial assessment phase on day 1, followed by a learning phase (days 2–5) where participants trained to reorganize their coordination patterns. Participants showed difficulty in performing tasks which had maps that required finger individuation, and the degree to which they explored their movement repertoire was directly related to clinical tests of hand function. However, over four sessions of practice, participants were able to learn to reorganize their finger movement coordination pattern and improve their performance. Moreover, training also resulted in improvements in movement repertoire outside of the context of the specific task during free exploration. Stroke survivors show deficits in movement repertoire in their paretic hand, but facilitating movement exploration during training can increase the movement repertoire. This suggests that exploration may be an important element of rehabilitation to regain optimal function.
Progressive reticulate skin pigmentation and anonychia in a patient with bone marrow failure.

Key teaching points •DC is a TBD associated with bone marrow failure and the classic clinical triad of reticulate hyperpigmentation, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. Patients may not manifest all features of the triad, or they may present with other mucocutaneous findings, including epiphora, loss of dermatoglyphics, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, early graying and/or hair loss, and hyperhidrosis. •HH syndrome is a severe variant of DC characterized by additional findings of IUGR, microcephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, developmental delay, and immunodeficiency. •DC may be suggested by detection of very short telomeres and confirmed by genetic testing when positive. Early diagnosis aids in the initiation of lifestyle interventions, treatment of bone marrow failure, screening for malignancies, HCT donor selection, and genetic counseling for family members.
QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LATERAL DISTRIBUTION OF MEMBRANE PROTEINS WITHIN THE LIPID BILAYER

The dependence of the lateral distribution of membrane proteins on the size, protein/lipoid molar ratio, and the magnitude of the interaction potentials has been investigated by computer modeling protein-lipid distributions with Monte Carlo calculations. These results have allowed us to develop a quantitative characterization of the distribution of membrane proteins and to correlate these distributions with experimental observables. The topological arrangement of protein domains, protein plus annular lipid domains, and free lipid domains is described in terms of radial distribution, pair connectedness, and cluster distribution functions. The radial distribution functions are used to measure the distribution of intermolecular distances between protein molecules, whereas the pair connectedness functions are used to estimate the physical extension of compositional domains. It is shown that, at characteristic protein/lipid molar ratios, previously isolated domains become connected, forming domain networks that extend over the entire membrane surface. These changes in the lateral connectivity of compositional domains are paralleled by changes in the calculated lateral diffusion coefficients and might have important implications for the regulation of diffusion controlled processes within the membrane.
Epidemiological Patterns of Alternative Racquet-Sport Injuries in the United States, 1997-2016.

Background:Racquet sports have increased in popularity over the past decade. Although research is available regarding the epidemiological characteristics of tennis injuries, little is known about t...
Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children

Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition that is often misdiagnosed and can be challenging to treat. This review aims to (1) review definitions, presentation, complications, and management of CRS in children, and (2) highlight the paucity of evidence in the management of pediatric CRS. There are few studies supporting the usual recommended medical therapy for pediatric CRS (antibiotics, nasal saline irrigations, intranasal steroid). Adenoidectomy remains a mainstay of surgical treatment, but recent evidence demonstrates the utility of balloon sinuplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for patients who fail adenoidectomy alone. Pediatric CRS is distinct from ARS and adult CRS. It is a common problem that is poorly studied, in part because of significant symptomatic overlap with related conditions. Recent evidence supports the use of surgical treatment in children who fail medical management. However, further outcome studies are needed to better evaluate the effectiveness of current medical and surgical management protocols.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Investigation of Two-Dimensional Polymorphism of Structural Isomers

Monolayers of two pairs of structural isomers were deposited on Au(111) and observed via scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. We observe exclusively cyclic pentamers of isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione), whereas its structural isomer, phthalimide (isoindole-1,3-dione), self-assembles primarily into close-packed arrays, with alternate structures that include kinetically locked disordered clusters and tetramer networks. Removal of the phthalimide NH group and its replacement with a CH2 group produces 1,3-indandione, which, despite the loss of the hydrogen-bond donor site, self-assembles into similar structures: close-packed areas and tetramer networks. The equivalent analog for isatin, 1,2-indandione, does not form pentamers and instead forms only close-packed areas and disordered regions. By iteratively altering the chemical structure, we demonstrate the influence that the chemical structure has on the resulting two-dimensional self-assembly.
Early Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Noonan Syndrome

There is a paucity of cardiac surgery outcomes data for patients with Noonan syndrome (NS). Our objective was to evaluate early results in these patients. Between January 1999 and December 2015, 29 patients (18 males, 62%) with NS underwent cardiac surgery at our institution. Mean age was 23 ± 17.9 years; 12 (41%) were under 18 years of age. Fourteen patients (48%) had prior sternotomies. The primary operations for the main diagnosis were pulmonary valve/conduit replacement/repair (n = 14, 48%), septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 7, 24%), aortic valve replacement/repair (n = 4, 14%), atrial septal defect (ASD) repair (n = 2, 7%), and cardiac transplantation (n = 2, 7%). Concomitant procedures were performed in 24 patients (83%), most commonly right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (n = 13, 45%), mitral valve repair/replacement (n = 7, 24%), and ASD repair (n = 6, 21%). Mean bypass and cross-clamp times were 88.8 ± 51 minutes and 54.7 ± 67 minutes, respectively. There was 1 early death (3%). Postoperative morbidity occurred in 18 patients (62%), most commonly arrhythmias (n = 14, 48%) or respiratory insufficiency/pneumonia (n = 6, 21%). There were 2 early reoperations and 4 early readmissions. Univariate factors associated with morbidity included male gender (P = 0.03) and longer cross-clamp time (P = 0.02). Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (interquartile range 5–10.5 days). Patients with NS frequently have multiple cardiac lesions requiring a broad spectrum of operations. Early mortality is low despite procedure complexity. Although early postoperative morbidity is common, patients overall do well with reasonable hospital lengths of stay. Additional studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and quality of life.
Engineering for sustainable communities: Epistemic tools in support of equitable and consequential middle school engineering

This study is focused on engineering for sustainable communities (EfSC) in three middle school classrooms. Three in-depth case studies are presented that explore how two related EfSC epistemic toolsets—(a) community engineering and ethnography tools for defining problems, and (b) integrating perspectives in design specification and optimization through iterative design sketch-up and prototyping—work to support the following: (a) Students' recruitment of multiple epistemologies; (b) Navigation of multiple epistemologies; and (c) students' onto-epistemological developments in engineering. Using a theoretical framework grounded in justice-oriented notions of equity intersecting with multiple epistemologies, we investigated the impact of the related epistemic toolsets on students' engineering engagement. Specifically, the study focused on how the tools worked when they were taken up in particular ways by teacher and students, and how the nature of their iterative engagement with the tools led to outcomes in ways that were equitable and consequential, both to students' engineering experiences and their engineering onto-epistemological developments, and also in responding to the community injustices prototypes were designed to address. Tensions that emerged are discussed with further reflection on what the EfSC epistemic toolsets suggest about the affordances of a productive epistemic space and the concomitant risks related to larger institutional norms, which constrain the extent of students' justice-oriented engineering goals.