cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intubation in children after 0.3 mg/kg of mivacurium☆

Abstract Study Objective: To distinguish among potential predictors of early, easy intubation in children, including apnea, neuromuscular block at two sites, and time, after administration of 0.3 mg/kg of mivacurium. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Setting: Operating rooms of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Patients: 60 ASA physical status I and II children aged 2 through 7 years, scheduled for elective surgical procedures requiring endotracheal intubation. Interventions and Measurements: After premedication with midazolam, general anesthesia was induced with halothane and nitrous oxide, and patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Mivacurium 0.3 mg/kg was given and tracheal intubation was begun 45 seconds after its injection, or when apnea, block of the orbicularis oculi, (OO) or block of the adductor pollicis (AP) was noted. Intubation conditions were evaluated by an experienced endoscopist. Main Results: The first clinical event after administration of mivacurium 0.3 mg/kg was apnea at 43 seconds (median) (average 48 seconds, SEM 2 seconds) after injection. The difference in the time at which neuromuscular block occurred at the AP (median 75 seconds) (average 77 seconds, SEM 2 seconds) and the OO (median 63 seconds) (average 68 seconds, SEM 4 seconds) was statistically, but not clinically, significantly different. All nine intubations that were begun at least 90 seconds after administration of mivacurium resulted in good or excellent intubation conditions, as did 30 of the 51 intubations started earlier. Conclusions: In children, there is no advantage to monitoring neuromuscular function at the OO rather than the AP. After administration of 0.3 mg/kg of mivacurium, a 90-second interval before the start of intubation was a better predictor of good intubation conditions during halothane anesthesia (1% inspired) than were changes in evoked neuromuscular function.
A reproducible, high throughput method for fabricating fibrin gels

Fibrin gels are a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering. However, current fabrication methods are time intensive with inherent variation. There is a pressing need to develop new and consistent approaches for producing fibrin-based hydrogels for examination. We developed a high throughput method for creating fibrin gels using molds fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Fibrin gels were produced by adding solutions of fibrinogen and thrombin to cylindrical defects in a PDMS sheet. Undisturbed gels were collected by removing the sheet, and fibrin gels were characterized. The characteristics of resulting gels were compared to published data by measuring compressive stiffness and osteogenic response of entrapped human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Gels exhibited compressive moduli nearly identical to our previously reported fabrication method. Trends in alkaline phosphatase activity, an early marker of osteogenic differentiation in MSCs, were also consistent with previous data. These findings demonstrate a streamlined approach to fibrin gel production that drastically reduces the time required to make fibrin gels, while also reducing variability between gel batches. This fabrication technique provides a valuable tool for generating large numbers of gels in a cost-effective manner.
Crystal Symmetry Dependence of the Polarization of Brillouin Scattered Light

The Brillouin scattering is the light scattering by the phonons in the solid. It is very useful for studying the structural phase transition in the crystal and measuring the elastic and photoelastic constants of the materials. To accomplish these goals, one has to be able to determine the linkage between the polarization of the scattered light and the phonon modes which can also provide insight into the origin of the phase transition. In our paper, we calculated the scattering factors using elastic equations, photoelastic relation and radiation equations for an orthorhombic crystal. The results are summerized in the Chart. From the Chart provided below one can easily find the correspondence of the phonon mode to the polarization of the scattered light.
LT-HSC Methylcellulose Assay

Hematopoietic differentiation is a highly complex process originating from an extraordinary population of cells called long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs). The unique feature of all stem cells, including HSCs, is their exceptional ability to divide asymmetrically giving rise to two different kinds of offspring. One daughter cell becomes an LT-HSC itself (self-renews) to maintain the LT-HSC pool, whereas the second daughter cell pursues a differentiation fate to ultimately give rise to terminally differentiated mature blood cells (Orkin and Zon, 2008). Quantification of phenotypic LT-HSCs can be performed by multi-color flow cytometry and the gold standard for assessment of LT-HSC self-renewal and function is competitive bone marrow transplantation (Miller et al., 2008). Although these methods are irreplaceable to determine LT-HSC abundance and functionality, they have their disadvantages and limitations. For example, competitive bone marrow transplantation is typically monitored as a function of peripheral blood donor contribution over 12-16 weeks. While reduced peripheral blood donor contribution by itself signifies impairment in the stem/progenitor cells compartment, it cannot unambiguously discriminate between reduced LT-HSC self-renewal, impaired LT-HSC differentiation or compromised progenitor cell differentiation. Here we describe an LT-HSCs methylcellulose colony-forming assay, as a fast complementary in vitro method to directly assess LT-HSC differentiation capacity. As described in Kerenyi et al. (2013), this technique acts as a powerful tool to differentiate between LT-HSC or progenitor cell differentiation defects.
Is Perceived Parental Monitoring Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviors of Young Black Males

This study determined whether perceived parental monitoring is associated with any of twelve selected outcomes related to sexual risk behaviors of young Black males. Recruitment occurred in clinics diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections. Young Black males living with a parent or guardian (N = 324) were administered a 9-item scale assessing level of perceived parental monitoring. The obtained range was 10–45, with higher scores representing more frequent monitoring. The mean was 29.3 (sd = 7.0). Eight of the twelve outcomes had significant associations with perceived parental monitoring (all in a direction indicating a protective effect). Of these eight, five retained significance in age-adjusted models were ever causing a pregnancy, discussing pregnancy prevention, safer sex, and condom use with sex partners, and using a condom during the last act of penile–vaginal sex. Monitoring by a parent figure may be partly protective against conceiving a pregnancy for Black males 15–23 years of age.
Self-Focused Attention and Symptoms Across Menstrual Cycle Phases in Women With and Without Premenstrual Disorders

Premenstrual disorders, which include premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome involve cyclically occurring affective, behavioral, and physical symptoms. Despite high comorbidity rates and symptom overlap with mood and anxiety disorders, there has been a lack of research investigating psychological constructs that contribute to etiology and/or maintenance of premenstrual disorders. The current study hypothesized that self-focused attention (SFA) on emotional and somatic symptoms may contribute to premenstrual distress. Participants were 61 women, including 29 women with a premenstrual disorder (PMD subgroup) and 32 controls. Participants rated symptoms and SFA responses each day for 30 days. Findings indicated that women in the PMD group reported greater use of SFA responses to symptoms compared to the control group, and during the premenstrual compared to intermenstrual phases. SFA partially mediated the relationship between menstrual cycle phase and symptoms. The interaction between physiological menstrual cycle changes and psychological contributions provides a more comprehensive explanation for premenstrual disorders, and future research is warranted to clarify this relationship.
Robust damage thresholds in ZnGeP 2 at 2 µm

Zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2) has been of interest to the U.S. Air Force since the late 1980's as an alternative to silver gallium selenide (AgGaSe2) for infrared nonlinear frequency conversion. Although 2-µm pumped OPO devices using ZnGeP2 have been demonstrated1 and studies of absorption and thermal characteristics have been undertaken, only incidental damage threshold measurements have been reported 2,3 We present the results of conditioned damage measurements on a series of ZnGeP2 witness samples grown at Lockheed Sanders.
The Overall Markedness of Discourse Relations

Discourse relations can be categorized as continuous or discontinuous in the hypothesis of continuity (Murray, 1997), with continuous relations expressing normal succession of events in discourse such as temporal, spatial or causal. Asr and Demberg (2013) propose a markedness measure to test the prediction that discontinuous relations may have more unambiguous connectives, but restrict the markedness calculation to relations with explicit connectives only. This paper extends their measure to explicit and implicit relations and shows that results from this extension better fit the continuity hypothesis predictions both for the English Penn Discourse (Prasad et al., 2008) and the Chinese Discourse (Zhou and Xue, 2015) Treebanks.
Cannabinoids in Medical Practice

Abstract Many patients with chronic medical illnesses use cannabinoids. There are two FDA-approved cannabinoid products, whereas medical marijuana purchased at legal dispensaries is not FDA regulated and may contain uncertain concentrations of various compounds. Cannabinoids have shown efficacy in treating chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, poor appetite in advanced HIV, some pain states, and multiple sclerosis-associated spasticity. Recreational cannabinoid use has many known potential serious harms. Physicians should be knowledgeable about cannabinoids and should inquire with their patients about cannabinoid use. Practical suggestions for clinical approaches are included.
Anthrax Toxin Protective Antigen Forms an Unusual Channel That Unfolds and Translocates Proteins Across Membranes

Anthrax toxin is one of two major virulence factors secreted by pathogenic Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax. Because inhalational anthrax is highly fatal, the agent has been weaponized for biowarfare and bioterrorism. Anthrax toxin is comprised of three individually nontoxic proteins, protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). But, to physiologically function, these individual subunits assemble into potent cytotoxins containing PA plus LF and/or EF. The PA component oligomerizes into a heptamer or octamer, which can insert into a host cell membrane to form a protein translocase channel. Under a transmembrane proton gradient driving force, LF and EF translocate through the narrow PA channel into the cytosol of the host cell. The narrowness of the channel necessitates that LF and EF unfold during translocation. This channel is unusual in this respect, because it contains its own unfoldase and translocase machinery. Highly nonspecific and dynamic clamp sites in the PA channel catalyze these activities. Anthrax toxin has been used extensively as a biophysical model to interrogate the molecular basis of translocation-coupled unfolding and translocation. It is being actively targeted by therapeutics to inhibit its function. New biotechnological adaptations use the toxin as a cancer therapy and generalized protein delivery vehicle.
Going the Distance Health in Long-Distance Versus Proximal Relationships

Healthy romantic relationships are beneficial to an individual's physical and mental health. The prevalence of long-distance relationships (LDRs) is increasing; yet, no research has assessed whethe...
Aids for Teaching and Learning

A principal teaching and learning mechanism is the direct teacher-student contact in the classroom. However, most teachers also use various other devices or methods. This chapter summarizes a few of the most common of these that have some applicability to the subject of building construction.
Transplantation of Donor‐Origin Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell‐Derived Thymic Epithelial Progenitors Prevents the Development of Chronic Graft‐versus‐Host Disease in Mice

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy for many malignantandnonmalignantdiseases.However,chronicgraft-versus-hostdisease(cGVHD)remainsa significant cause of late morbidity and mortality afterallogeneic HSCT. cGVHDoften manifests as autoimmunesyndrome.Thymicepithelialcells(TECs)playacriticalroleinsupportingnegativeselection andregulatoryT-cell(Treg)generation.StudieshaveshownthatdamageinTECsissufficienttoinduce cGVHD.We havepreviouslyreportedthat mouseembryonicstemcells(mESCs)canbeselectivelyinducedtogeneratethymicepithelialprogenitors(TEPs)invitro.Whentransplantedinvivo,mESC-TEPs further develop into TECs that support T-cell development. We show here that transplantation of donor-originmESC-TEPsintocGVHDrecipientsinducesimmunetolerancetobothdonorandhostantigens and prevents the developmentof cGVHD. This is associated with more TECs and Tregs. Our results suggest that embryonic stem cell-derived TEPs may offer a new tool to control cGVHD. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2016;5:1–10 SIGNIFICANCE Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is widely used in the treatment of many malignant and nonmalignant diseases. However, chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD)remains a significant cause of late morbidity and mortality following allogeneic HSCT. This study shows that transplantationofmouseembryonicstemcell(ESC)-derivedthymicepithelialprogenitors(TEPs)into cGVHD recipient mice prevents the development of cGVHD. Results suggest that generation of TEPs from human ESCs have the potential to provide a novel approach to prevent the development of cGVHD in patients after allogeneic HSCT.
Eugène Labiclie and the Second Empire

Eugene Labiche was born in Paris on 6 May 1815, the son of a well-to-do manufacturer. His birthdate and his genealogy place him firmly in the centre of the most bourgeois of centuries, and indeed he was to make his mark as the ‘king of vaudeville’, purveyor of entertainment to the wealthy middle class, by showing the folly and vanity of the bourgeois. Born during Napoleon’s brief hundred-day effort to retain his lost throne, little Eugene grew up in the conservative air of the Restoration and matured during the lacklustre reign of Louis-Philippe.
Hypothalamic Glucose Transport in Humans During Experimentally Induced Hypoglycemia-Associated Autonomic Failure.

Context Upregulated brain glucose transport in response to recurrent hypoglycemia may contribute to the development of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia. Whether recurrent hypoglycemia alters glucose transport in the hypothalamus is unknown. Objective To test the hypothesis that hypothalamic glucose transport will increase in healthy volunteers preconditioned with recurrent hypoglycemia to induce HAAF. Setting University medical center. Design and Participants Thirteen healthy subjects underwent paired euglycemic and hypoglycemic preconditioning studies separated by at least 1 month. Following preconditioning, hypothalamic glucose transport was measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the afternoon on day 2 of each preconditioning protocol. Outcome Measure The ratio of maximal transport rate to cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (Tmax/CMRglc), obtained from MRS-measured glucose in the hypothalamus as a function of plasma glucose. Results HAAF was successfully induced based on lower epinephrine, glucagon, and cortisol during the third vs first hypoglycemic preconditioning clamp (P ≤ 0.01). Hypothalamic glucose transport was not different following recurrent euglycemia vs hypoglycemia (Tmax/CMRglc 1.62 ± 0.09 after euglycemia preconditioning and 1.75 ± 0.14 after hypoglycemia preconditioning; P was not significant). Hypothalamic glucose concentrations measured by MRS were not different following the two preconditioning protocols. Conclusions Glucose transport kinetics in the hypothalamus of healthy humans with experimentally induced HAAF were not different from those measured without HAAF. Future studies of patients with diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia will be necessary to determine if the existence of the diabetes state is required for this adaptation to hypoglycemia to occur.
Association of restless legs syndrome and mortality in end-stage renal disease: an analysis of the United States Renal Data System (USRDS)

Objective of the study is to assess prevalence and survival among end stage renal disease patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) within a national database (USRDS). A case-control, retrospective analysis was performed. Differences in characteristics between the groups, RLS and those with no sleep disorder (NSD), were determined using χ2 tests. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess survival between those with RLS and propensity score matched controls. Cases of restless legs syndrome were defined as patients that had received an ICD-9 code of 333.94 at any point during their treatment (n = 372). RLS group demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of patients with major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, anxiety, depression, minor depressive disorder, and psychological disorder. The difference between the survival was not statistically significant in those without sleep disorder as compared to those with RLS (HR =1.16±0.14, p = 0.3). True prevalence of RLS in dialysis patients can only be estimated if knowledge gap for care providers in diagnosis of RLS is addressed. RLS patients also have increased incidence of certain psychological disorders which needs to be addressed.
Erratum to: DNA Computing and Molecular Programming

Erratum to: D. Soloveichik and B. Yurke (Eds.) DNA Computing and Molecular Programming DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-01928-4
De Novo Design of Iron-Sulfur Proteins.

Abstract Iron–sulfur proteins are one of the most abundant and functionally pliable redox proteins found in all living organisms. Because of their crucial role in mediating electron transfer processes, minimalist model systems have been developed as a proxy to study natural Fe–S redox proteins and to dissect rules to enable tuning of their redox and electron transfer activities. This goal has been pursued through computational design, mutagenesis in the first and second coordination sphere, metal substitution, cofactor replacement, and the use of unnatural amino acids to stabilize a given cluster. In this chapter, we discuss the most recent design strategies to introduce various Fe–S clusters into natural and artificial protein scaffolds. Practical approaches for the cluster reconstitution, hydrogen production, and electrochemical characterization are mentioned.
Do Option Prices Forecast Aggregate Stock Returns

We show that the average difference between the implied volatilities of call and put options on individual equities, which we term the implied volatility spread (IVS), has strong predictive power for stock market returns at horizons between one and six months, with monthly in-sample and out-of-sample R-squares around 5%. Controlling for other common predictive variables increases the significance of IVS and lengthens the horizons at which it is significant. We further show that IVS forecasts future surprises in aggregate earnings and growth rates in GDP and aggregate dividends. We conclude that this predictability is likely driven by expectations of stock lending fees embedded in IVS and is inconsistent with explanations based on informed option trading, time-varying risk premia, or illiquidity.
Fluorothreonyl-tRNA deacylase prevents mistranslation in the organofluorine producer Streptomyces cattleya.

Fluorine is an element with unusual properties that has found significant utility in the design of synthetic small molecules, ranging from therapeutics to materials. In contrast, only a few fluorinated compounds made by living organisms have been found to date, most of which derive from the fluoroacetate/fluorothreonine biosynthetic pathway first discovered in Streptomyces cattleya. While fluoroacetate has long been known to act as an inhibitor of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the fate of the amino acid fluorothreonine is still not well understood. Here, we show that fluorothreonine can be misincorporated into protein in place of the proteinogenic amino acid threonine. We have identified two conserved proteins from the organofluorine biosynthetic locus, FthB and FthC, that are involved in managing fluorothreonine toxicity. Using a combination of biochemical, genetic, physiological, and proteomic studies, we show that FthB is a trans-acting transfer RNA (tRNA) editing protein, which hydrolyzes fluorothreonyl-tRNA 670-fold more efficiently than threonyl-RNA, and assign a role to FthC in fluorothreonine transport. While trans-acting tRNA editing proteins have been found to counteract the misacylation of tRNA with commonly occurring near-cognate amino acids, their role has yet to be described in the context of secondary metabolism. In this regard, the recruitment of tRNA editing proteins to biosynthetic clusters may have enabled the evolution of pathways to produce specialized amino acids, thereby increasing the diversity of natural product structure while also attenuating the risk of mistranslation that would ensue.
Stem cell-inspired secretome-rich injectable hydrogel to repair injured cardiac tissue.

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop an injectable and biocompatible hydrogel that can deliver a cocktail of therapeutic biomolecules (secretome) secreted by human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) to the peri-infarct myocardium. Gelatin and Laponite® were combined to formulate a shear-thinning, nanocomposite hydrogel (nSi Gel) as an injectable carrier of secretome (nSi Gel+). The growth factor composition and the pro-angiogenic activity of the secretome were tested in vitro by evaluating the proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells. The therapeutic efficacy of the nSi Gel + system was then investigated in vivo in rats by intramyocardial injection into the peri-infarct region. Subsequently, the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, scar formation, and heart function were assessed. Biocompatibility of the developed nSi Gel was confirmed by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical tests which showed no significant differences in the level of inflammatory genes, microRNAs, and cell marker expression compared to the untreated control group. In addition, the only group that showed a significant increase in capillary density, reduction in scar area and improved cardiac function was treated with the nSi Gel+. Our in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrate the potential of this new secretome-loaded hydrogel as an alternative strategy to treat myocardial infarction. Statement of Significance Stem cell based-therapies represent a possible solution to repair damaged myocardial tissue by promoting cardioprotection, angiogenesis, and reduced fibrosis. However, recent evidence indicates that most of the positive outcomes are likely due to the release of paracrine factors (cytokines, growth factors, and exosomes) from the cells and not because of the local engraftment of stem cells. This cocktail of essential growth factors and paracrine signals is known as secretome can be isolated in vitro, and the biomolecule composition can be controlled by varying stem-cell culture conditions. Here, we propose a straightforward strategy to deliver secretome produced from hASCs by using a nanocomposite injectable hydrogel made of gelatin and Laponite®. The designed secretome-loaded hydrogel represents a promising alternative to traditional stem cell therapy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.
Early Changes in Tumor Perfusion from T1-Weighted Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI following Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Therapy of Recurrent High-Grade Glioma Correlate with Overall Survival.

Background. The aim of this study was to correlate T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI- (DCE-MRI-) derived perfusion parameters with overall survival of recurrent high-grade glioma patients who received neural stem cell- (NSC-) mediated enzyme/prodrug gene therapy. Methods. A total of 12 patients were included in this retrospective study. All patients were enrolled in a first-in-human study (NCT01172964) of NSC-mediated therapy for recurrent high-grade glioma. DCE-MRI data from all patients were collected and analyzed at three time points: MRI#1—day 1 postsurgery/treatment, MRI#2— day 7 ± 3 posttreatment, and MRI#3—one-month follow-up. Plasma volume (), permeability (), and leakage () perfusion parameters were calculated by fitting a pharmacokinetic model to the DCE-MRI data. The contrast-enhancing (CE) volume was measured from the last dynamic phase acquired in the DCE sequence. Perfusion parameters and CE at each MRI time point were recorded along with their relative change between MRI#2 and MRI#3 (Δ32). Cox regression was used to analyze patient survival. Results. At MRI#1 and at MRI#3, none of the parameters showed a significant correlation with overall survival (OS). However, at MRI#2, CE and were significantly associated with OS (). The relative and from timepoint 2 to timepoint 3 (Δ32 and Δ32) were each associated with a higher hazard ratio (). All parameters were highly correlated, resulting in a multivariate model for OS including only CE at MRI#2 and Δ32, with an of 0.89. Conclusion. The change in perfusion parameter values from 1 week to 1 month following NSC-mediated therapy combined with contrast-enhancing volume may be a useful biomarker to predict overall survival in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.
Self-Actualization Myths: What Did Maslow Really Say?:

Maslow’s theory of self-actualization is one of the most well-known theories both in psychology and to the public. It is also frequently misunderstood or misinterpreted. This article presents myths...
Silicone Migration and Late Hematoma following Silicone Implant Rupture: Case Report and Literature Review.

Summary:Distant silicone migration and late postoperative hematoma are rare but serious complications following breast implant rupture. This study describes a case report of both these complications occurring in the same patient. After a review of pertinent literature, the authors found 19 other cas
A critical role of the thioredoxin domain containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) in redox homeostasis and cancer development

Correct folding of nascent peptides occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is a complicate process primarily accomplished by the coordination of multiple redox proteins including members of the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family. As a critical member of the PDI family, thioredoxin domain containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) assists the folding of newly synthesized peptides to their mature form through series of disulfide bond exchange reactions. Interestingly, TXNDC5 is frequently found overexpressed in specimens of many human diseases including various types of cancer. In this review, we summarized the biochemical function of TXNDC5 in mammalian cells and the recent progress on the understanding of its role and molecular mechanisms in cancer development. Findings of TXNDC5 in the activation of intracellular signaling pathways, stimulation of cell growth & proliferation, facilitation of cell survival and modulation of extracellular matrix to affect cancer cell invasion and metastasis are reviewed. These published studies suggest that strategies of targeting TXNDC5 can be developed as potentially valuable methods for the treatment of certain types of cancer in patients.
Glucocorticoid Receptor-Binding and Transcriptome Signature in Cardiomyocytes.

Background An increase in serum cortisol has been identified as a risk factor for cardiac failure, which highlights the impact of glucocorticoid signaling in cardiomyocytes and its influence in the...
Self-help and Peer-delivered Services

This chapter outlines the important contributions people diagnosed with a severe mental illness make to their own rehabilitation and the rehabilitation of others. Like the fields of alcohol and drug addiction treatment, there is a long tradition of mutual self-help among persons living with mental illness. Today, these individuals are designing and delivering services and moving into psychiatric rehabilitation service provider positions in larger numbers. They are involved in operating peer support agencies, participating on boards of directors, educating and training practitioners and service recipients, and conducting research.
Thick Description as Pedagogical Tool: Considering Bowers’ Inspiration for Our Work

This article begins with deep appreciation of Chet Bowers’ powerful charge to take up thick description as a pedagogical tool, while also acknowledging the unpleasant manner in which he offered thi...
Can voice disorders matter as much as life‐threatening comorbidities to patients’ general health?

OBJECTIVE National initiatives and funding agencies may deprioritize voice disorders relative to conditions such as malignancy, pulmonary, or cardiac disease. It is unknown whether the impact of voice problems is outweighed by other potentially more serious disease states. Our objective was thus to quantify the extent to which voice contributes to general health status when adjusting for concurrent, more life-threatening comorbidities. METHODS Adults (n = 430) presenting to a tertiary care academic center with a primary voice complaint completed the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System global health short-form instrument (PROMIS). Medical comorbidities were categorized via the Deyo modification of the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The influence of voice and comorbid conditions on general health scores was assessed through multivariate ordinal regression. The potential for effect modification was also evaluated. RESULTS VHI-10 mean scores were 11.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.5 to 12.4). PROMIS physical and mental health t scores were 49.0 (95% CI, 48.0 to 49.9) and 51.6 (95% CI, 50.6 to 52.5), respectively. Global and social item scores were 3.4 (95% CI, 3.3 to 3.5) and 3.7 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.8), respectively. The most prevalent comorbid conditions were pulmonary disease, malignancy, and connective tissue disorders. In all analyses, voice handicap was a significant predictor of general health, even when adjusting for comorbid conditions (VHI-10 β = -1.349, P < 0.001 for physical health; β = -1.278, P < 0.001 for mental health; β = -1.691, P < 0.001 for social health; β = -0.956, P < 0.001 for the global overview item). CONCLUSION In the observed population, voice health has a significant, multi-dimensional impact on general health, which is not subsumed by the presence of comorbidities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:2405-2411, 2020.
Faculty knowledge and attitudes regarding predatory open access journals: a needs assessment study

Objective: The purpose of predatory open access (OA) journals is primarily to make a profit rather than to disseminate quality, peer-reviewed research. Publishing in these journals could negatively impact faculty reputation, promotion, and tenure, yet many still choose to do so. Therefore, the authors investigated faculty knowledge and attitudes regarding predatory OA journals. Methods: A twenty-item questionnaire containing both quantitative and qualitative items was developed and piloted. All university and medical school faculty were invited to participate. The survey included knowledge questions that assessed respondents’ ability to identify predatory OA journals and attitudinal questions about such journals. Chi-square tests were used to detect differences between university and medical faculty. Results: A total of 183 faculty completed the survey: 63% were university and 37% were medical faculty. Nearly one-quarter (23%) had not previously heard of the term “predatory OA journal.” Most (87%) reported feeling very confident or confident in their ability to assess journal quality, but only 60% correctly identified a journal as predatory, when given a journal in their field to assess. Chi-square tests revealed that university faculty were more likely to correctly identify a predatory OA journal ( p =0.0006) and have higher self-reported confidence in assessing journal quality, compared with medical faculty ( p =0.0391). Conclusions: Survey results show that faculty recognize predatory OA journals as a problem. These attitudes plus the knowledge gaps identified in this study will be used to develop targeted educational interventions for faculty in all disciplines at our university.
Mechanistic understanding of Li dendrites growth by in- situ/operando imaging techniques

Abstract Lithium (Li) metal is the holy grail of anode materials for high energy density batteries. However, safety hazards due to the formation of Li dendrites have prevented their commercialization. This study provides a comprehensive review of the recent works on the mechanisms of Li dendrite formation utilizing in-situ and operando imaging techniques. These multiscale and multimodal techniques include optical imaging, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, X-ray imaging, neutron microscopy and resonance-based imaging techniques. Briefly, optical microscopy enables visualization of Li morphological transitions, and if coupled with a Raman spectrometer, can provide chemical imaging of the Li/electrolyte interface. Electron microscopy and scanning probe imaging offer high spatial resolution enabling near-atomic structural studies of Li dendrites and solid electrolyte interphases. X-ray based techniques offer a high beam penetration depth allowing the study of Li microstructure evolution in large cells. Neutron imaging based on 6Li has higher sensitivity compared to X-ray imaging and can visualize the Li-ion concentration as a function of sample depth, while 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance allows for quantified analysis of Li microstructures and provide chemical and spatial information on Li microstructural growth. Finally, some prospective directions for further utilization of in-situ/operando imaging techniques in Li anode research was proposed.
K18-hACE2 Mice for Studies of COVID-19 Treatments and Pathogenesis Including Anosmia

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. While much has been learned in the first months of the pandemic, many features of COVID-19 pathogenesis remain to be determined. For example, anosmia is a common presentation and many patients with this finding show no or only minor respiratory signs. Studies in animals experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, provide opportunities to study aspects of the disease not easily investigated in human patients. COVID-19 severity ranges from asymptomatic to lethal. Most experimental infections provide insights into mild disease. Here, using K18-hACE2 mice that we originally developed for SARS studies, we show that infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes severe disease in the lung, and in some mice, the brain. Evidence of thrombosis and vasculitis was detected in mice with severe pneumonia. Further, we show that infusion of convalescent plasma (CP) from a recovered COVID-19 patient provided protection against lethal disease. Mice developed anosmia at early times after infection. Notably, while treatment with CP prevented significant clinical disease, it did not prevent anosmia. Thus K18-hACE2 mice provide a useful model for studying the pathological underpinnings of both mild and lethal COVID-19 and for assessing therapeutic interventions.
Hormonal Effects on the Mammary Gland of Postmenopausal Nonhuman Primates

Macaques are Old World anthropoid primates with a high degree of genetic identity to human beings and striking similarities in breast development, reproductive endocrinology, and menstrual cycle characteristics. These animals share critical pathways of hormone metabolism with humans, to a degree that is distinct from rodent models. Macaques also express estrogen receptors alpha and beta, progesterone receptors, and androgen receptors in the normal breast in patterns similar to those described for women. Spontaneously occurring hormone-dependent breast cancers occur in macaques at a similar prevalence to lower-risk populations of women, and these neoplasms exhibit similar growth patterns and key molecular changes seen in human lesions. These similarities lend support to a biomarker approach for modeling breast cancer risk. Estrogen+progestogen treatment of postmenopausal animals produces a proliferative response in the normal breast epithelium which reflects the breast cancer promoting effects of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy. Studies of novel agents such as tibolone, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and alternative progestogens in macaques have also helped to identify hormonal therapies with a more acceptable balance of benefit to risk. Future studies of novel selective estrogens, androgens, and dietary estrogens in the macaque model will further contribute to our understanding of breast cancer risk and prevention.
Fundamentals of Recoupling and Decoupling Techniques in Solid State NMR

Fundamentals of Recoupling and Decoupling Techniques in Solid State NMR provides broad coverage from the fundamentals through updated recoupling and decoupling techniques. It details step by step derivations and teaches readers how solid state NMR with Magic Angle Spinning exploits the interplay between mechanical rotation and radio frequency (RF) pulses to actively switch on (recoupling) and off (decoupling) desired interactions.This unique book offers: •Coverage from the basic through advanced topics and incorporates step by step derivations and exercises•Conceptual, experimental, and mathematical aspects of modern solidstate NMR•Detailed instruction of tensor calculus and step-by-step derivation to help students learn magic angle spinning phase integrationThis book is ideal for upper level undergraduate students majoring in physics or a related discipline and practicing physicists interested in learning more about this topic.
On a Second-Order Rational Difference Equation with Quadratic Terms, Part II

We give the character of solutions of the following second-order rational difference equation with quadratic denominator $$\begin{aligned} x_{n+1}=\dfrac{\alpha + \beta x_{n}}{Bx_n + Dx_nx_{n-1} + x_{n-1}}, \end{aligned}$$ where the coefficients are positive numbers, and the initial conditions \(x_{-1}\) and \(x_0\) are nonnegative such that the denominator is nonzero. In particular, we show that the unique positive equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable, and we give conditions on the coefficients for which the unique positive equilibrium is globally stable.
Climate effects on nesting phenology in Nebraska turtles

A frequent response of organisms to climate change is altering the timing of reproduction, and advancement of reproductive timing has been a common reaction to warming temperatures in temperate regions. We tested whether this pattern applied to two common North American turtle species over the past three decades in Nebraska, USA. The timing of nesting (either first date or average date) of the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was negatively correlated with mean December maximum temperatures of the preceding year and mean May minimum and maximum temperatures in the nesting year and positively correlated with precipitation in July of the previous year. Increased temperatures during the late winter and spring likely permit earlier emergence from hibernation, increased metabolic rates and feeding opportunities, and accelerated vitellogenesis, ovulation, and egg shelling, all of which could drive earlier nesting. However, for the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), the timing of nesting was positively correlated with mean minimum temperatures in September, October, December of the previous year, February of the nesting year, and April precipitation. These results suggest warmer fall, and winter temperature may impose an increased metabolic cost to painted turtles that impedes fall vitellogenesis, and April rains may slow the completion of vitellogenesis through decreased basking opportunities. For both species, nest deposition was highly correlated with body size, and larger females nested earlier in the season. Although average annual ambient temperatures have increased over the last four decades of our overall fieldwork at our study site, spring temperatures have not yet increased, and hence, nesting phenology has not advanced at our site for Chelydra. While Chrysemys exhibited a weak trend toward later nesting, this response was likely due to increased recruitment of smaller females into the population due to nest protection and predator control (Procyon lotor) in the early 2000s. Should climate change result in an increase in spring temperatures, nesting phenology would presumably respond accordingly, conditional on body size variation within these populations.
Economic Impact of Diagnostic Imaging in the Workup of Uncomplicated Bell's Palsy

Objective Our primary objective is to identify the costs associated with imaging in the diagnostic workup of uncomplicated Bell's palsy. Our secondary objective is to identify a dollar amount spent on extraneous diagnostic testing on a state and national level. Design and Setting Retrospective chart analysis was performed at our tertiary care medical center between 2007 and 2018. International Statistical Classification of Diseases-10 code G51.0 was used to identify patients with Bell's palsy seen by the senior author. A total of 163 patients were divided into two groups: those having received imaging and those diagnosed without imaging. The imaging group was then further subdivided by imaging modality: computed tomography (CT) only, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) only, or both. There was a total of 138 scans in 115 patients. To quantify the amount spent by insurance companies or patients on these scans, net expected pay (NEP) for each modality was used as a representation of cost. The NEP for a CT was $618. The NEP for an MRI was $1,119. The NEP for both scans was $1,737. We extrapolated our results to a state and national level. Main Outcome Measurements Cost of workup; state and national economic burden. Results Extrapolating our data, we forecast that in Illinois and in the United States, over $2 million and $53 million, respectively, are spent on unnecessary imaging. Conclusion By highlighting an unnecessary financial burden, our study provides concrete evidence to support the American Academy of Otolaryngology's recommendation that clinicians should not perform routine imaging studies when diagnosing uncomplicated Bell's palsy.
Can "Conscious Data Contribution" Help Users to Exert "Data Leverage" Against Technology Companies?

Tech users currently have limited ability to act on concerns regarding the negative societal impacts of large tech companies. However, recent work suggests that users can exert leverage using their role in the generation of valuable data, for instance by withholding their data contributions to intelligent technologies. We propose and evaluate a new means to exert this type of leverage against tech companies: "conscious data contribution" (CDC). Users who participate in CDC exert leverage against a target tech company by contributing data to technologies operated by a competitor of that company. Using simulations, we find that CDC could be highly effective at reducing the gap in intelligent technologies performance between an incumbent and their competitors. In some cases, just 20% of users contributing data they have produced to a small competitor could help that competitor get 80% of the way towards the original company's best-case performance. We discuss the implications of CDC for policymakers, tech designers, and researchers.
′Enjoy thinking, even if it is hard work′

Professor Gunther Kloeppel is a distinguished pancreatic pathologist, recognized the world over for his enormous contribution to the understanding of the pathogenesis of different pancreatic diseases. In the current article, Prof. Kloeppel, a role model for establishing a productive academic career, gives advice to junior investigators starting in the field of pancreatic research.
United We Divide?: Education, Income, and Heterogeneity in Mass Partisan Polarization

Scholars have devoted considerable attention to debating both the general importance of "economic" and "cultural" issues to mass political choices, and how the relative importance of these two issue dimensions vary across time and across citizens. In this paper, we shed light on the foundations of these debates by exploring heterogeneity in how citizens have reacted to 40 years of elite party polarization on these issues. We focus on heterogeneity across two lines of difference central to popular and scholarly discourse on this topic: income and formal education. We develop and test several expectations regarding the roles of income, education, and the intersection of the two, in shaping mass response to changes in the elite context. We find that mass party polarization on economic issues is most acute among highly educated citizens with relatively low incomes, while polarization on cultural issues has occurred largely among economically affluent, but less educated, citizens.
The "Real-Life" Death Panel, Reformed

��� he United Kingdom’s coalition government has just begun the most sweeping overhaul of the National Health Service since its inception. 1 Under the reforms, 80 percent of the NHS budget will be handed over to about five hundred local consortia of primary care physi cians, who will be empowered to make medical spending and allocation decisions for their patients. The 152 existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which purchase hospital and community care for patients and oversee primary care physicians in their regions, will close their doors, leaving local doctors with the power to decide which interventions are appropriate, and which too expensive. 2 Hospitals and community service providers will have greater freedom from government supervision and potentially greater access to private capital. Every element of the NHS is being redesigned to increase competition and decentralize decision-making. One of those elements is the National Institute of Health and Clinical Effectiveness, or NICE. NICE serves a number of functions within the NHS; it has, for example, garnered considerable praise for improving care by developing high-quality clinical practice guidelines. But its most controversial role has been that of “rationer-in-chief.” NICE evaluates the cost-effectiveness of new medical technologies, especially drugs. Approval of a drug effectively mandates that PCTs purchase it for patients who need it. In recent years, NICE has denied approval to a small number of high-cost cancer drugs, primarily on grounds that their costs greatly exceeded NICE’s threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year saved. NICE’s de nials are not technically binding on PCTs, but expensive departures from NICE’s recommendations are rare in the cash-strapped NHS. NICE’s denials of cancer drugs have met with vehement opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, patients’ rights groups, and the British press, which has cast NICE as a heartless, penny-pinching bureaucracy, willing to condemn patients to death because of money. Readers may recall that NICE had its moment on the American political stage during the debate on the Obama health reform law. NICE was held up by conservative com