cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vancomycin-Resistant Pediococcus acidilactici: Nine Cases of Bacteremia

Pediococci, vancomycin-resistant gram-positive cocci, have been isolated from human specimens, but an association with clinical illness has not been established. Clinical and epidemiologic data were obtained on nine patients who had Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from blood. Patients were eight elderly adults with complicated medical problems and one infant with congenital jejunoileal atresia. Seven patients were hospitalized before P. acidilactici was isolated. Eight had received multiple antibiotics; however, only two had received vancomycin. In all cases there was a delay in correct bacterial identification, and the significance of the isolate was uncertain. There was no clearly identified syndrome associated with P. acidilactici bacteremia. All eight adults had fever and six had pneumonia potentially attributable to other causes. The findings underscore the importance of proper identification of vancomycin-resistant gram-positive cocci. P. acidilactici may be an opportunistic pathogen in severely compromised hosts; however, further observations are necessary to clarify its role in human disease.
Selective disruption of the cerebral neocortex in alzheimer's disease

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its transitional state mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are characterized by amyloid plaque and tau neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) deposition within the cerebral neocortex and neuronal loss within the hippocampal formation. However, the precise relationship between pathologic changes in neocortical regions and hippocampal atrophy is largely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, combining structural MRI scans and automated image analysis tools with reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) As levels, a surrogate for intra-cranial amyloid plaques and elevated CSF phosphorylated tau (p-tau) levels, a surrogate for neocortical NFTs, we examined the relationship between the presence of Alzheimer’s pathology, gray matter thickness of select neocortical regions, and hippocampal volume in cognitively normal older participants and individuals with MCI and AD (n=724). Amongst all 3 groups, only select heteromodal cortical regions significantly correlated with hippocampal volume. Amongst MCI and AD individuals, gray matter thickness of the entorhinal cortex and inferior temporal gyrus significantly predicted longitudinal hippocampal volume loss in both amyloid positive and p-tau positive individuals. Amongst cognitively normal older adults, thinning only within the medial portion of the orbital frontal cortex significantly differentiated amyloid positive from amyloid negative individuals whereas thinning only within the entorhinal cortex significantly discriminated p-tau positive from p-tau negative individuals.
Leadership and the art of cycle maintenance: A simulation model of superior—subordinate interaction

Abstract The leadership process is defined by the behaviors and messages exchanged by superiors and subordinates in the task and relationship domains. The behaviors are described and arranged in a series of cycles representing recurring patterns of transactions. A Markov model is then used to simulate behavior of different types of superior—subordinate relationships, illustrating the effects of tendencies such as risk-taking and defensiveness and the impact of closeness of supervision. Results support the usefulness of the model and highlight the mutual influence of superior and subordinate on the leadership process. Implications for testing the model and applications to selection and training are discussed.
Efficacy and adverse effects of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in vascular dementia: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Summary Background Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine do not have regulatory approval in most of the world for treatment of vascular dementia. A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the evidence for efficacy and safety of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in vascular dementia. Methods PubMed, BIOSIS, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Cochrane registries were searched for randomised, placebo-controlled trials on cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in patients with vascular dementia. Trial methods, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and adverse events were extracted and checked. Meta-analytic methods using fixed-effects models were used to give summaries of each drug's effects. Findings Three donepezil, two galantamine, one rivastigmine, and two memantine trials, comprising 3093 patients on the study drugs and 2090 patients on placebo, met the selection criteria. Trials were of 6-month duration with similar vascular dementia criteria and outcome measures. Cognitive effects on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment scale were significant for all drugs, ranging from a −1·10 point mean difference (95% CI −2·15 to −0·05) for rivastigmine to −2·17 for 10 mg daily donepezil (95% CI −2·98 to −1·35). Only 5 mg daily donepezil had an effect on the Clinicians' Global Impression of Change scale (odds ratio 1·51 [95% CI 1·11–2·07]). No behavioural or functional benefits were observed, except for a −0·95 point difference (95% CI −1·74 to −0·16) with 10 mg daily donepezil on the Alzheimer's Disease Functional Assessment and Change Scale. Compared with placebo, more dropouts and adverse events (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and insomnia) occurred with the cholinesterase inhibitors, but not with memantine. Interpretation Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine produce small benefits in cognition of uncertain clinical significance in patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia. Data are insufficient to support widespread use of these drugs in vascular dementia. Individual patient analyses are needed to identify subgroups of patients with vascular dementia who might benefit.
A rotational wave energy conversion system development and validation with real ocean wave data

Recently, there has been a massive push in the research community towards green or renewable energies, specifically for electrical power generation. Fossil fuels are losing their popularity due to the associated environmental damage and hazards, and green energies are gaining momentum as significant energy resources. This paper presents a novel system and method for converting the power of open ocean waves into electrical energy that is validated utilizing real open ocean wave data in a simulation. The operation of the machine is simulated and validated under real oceanic conditions. The newly proposed system and method stand out from most wave conversion methods because this new machine utilizes rotational motion. As opposed to linear generators that most popular models currently use, this machine will convert the linear up-and-down motion of the waves into rotational motion to turn a generator.
The Johnson Administration's Water Quality Policies: A Fifty-Year Perspective

Lyndon Johnson’s attitude towards polluted water was that the United States has a “moral imperative” to clean and restore its rivers. The Johnson Administration created America’s first national water quality standards in 1965, enforced them without having to go to court, sought and spent funds to help cities build sewers and wastewater treatment plants to prevent, remove and treat pollution, and helped the states develop water planning and water quality management programs. His administration supported training of new water quality professionals and research on difficult water quality problems, such as combined storm/sanitary sewerage as well as non-point pollution sources. The national water quality program the Johnson Administration put in place has thrived over the past 50 years and has improved surface water quality. Although President Johnson’s successors have modified his program they also have continued its key elements in place, such as the relationships among the federal agencies, states and local governments.
ASSESSING VEGETATION CHANGE IN COASTAL LANDSCAPES OF THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO

Multiple factors have caused rapid changes in coastal landscapes in the last half century. Coastal natural areas have been set aside to mitigate some of these changes for habitat preservation, among other goals. However, areas set aside for conservation are not exempt from these rapid changes. A major concern for coastal wetlands is the potential for habitat loss resulting from external land-use changes and sea-level rise, which essentially threaten these natural areas from all sides. In order to quantify these trends, we determined the types and rates of land-use/land-cover conversion in differing coastal sites in the U.S. along the northern Gulf of Mexico from the 1950s to the 1990s using existing National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) habitat data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). All sites were located in protected areas and contained an intact marsh-to-forest transition. A buffer zone of ∼2000 m around each site was also analyzed. Two sites, Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and the Barataria Preserve Unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JLNHPP), were located on the Mississippi Deltaic Plain in Louisiana, while the other sites, Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR) and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR), were located on the Gulf Coastal Plain in Mississippi and Alabama, respectively. Results showed prevalent marsh loss across all sites in the study, although the rate and type of marsh conversion to other land-cover types varied between the Mississippi Delta sites and the Coastal Plain. In the Delta, marsh was converted to open water along shorelines and in internal patches, but the majority of marsh loss was attributed to scrub-shrub encroachment. In the Coastal Plain, marsh was lost more slowly overall, both along the shoreline and forest-marsh boundary. The main trend in the Coastal Plain was replacement of agricultural areas by forest. The buffers experienced an increase in anthropogenically-modified categories, except for a decrease in agricultural areas. Our study suggests that coastal transitions of the northern Gulf of Mexico have indeed experienced landward and seaward losses and that marsh areas are especially vulnerable. It appears that marshes are not keeping pace with the spatial shifts in the aquatic to terrestrial transition as sea level rises, although results in the Coastal Plain are less conclusive because major land-use changes dominate the trends.
A General Method for Aluminum Incorporation into High-Silica Zeolites Prepared in Fluoride Media

The fluoride method of zeolite synthesis yields materials with unique characteristics such as high Si/Al ratio, large crystal size, and hydrophobic properties, and it has been advantageous for the synthesis of new pure-silica or high-silica zeolites. It is often difficult, however, to incorporate aluminum—and thus bring about useful catalytic properties—in materials prepared through the fluorite method. In this report, we show that FAU-type zeolites are an effective source of aluminum to the growing crystals in the high-silica LTA-type zeolite synthesis (ITQ-29). A key advantage of using aluminosilicate zeolite crystals as aluminum source in fluoride media was the high reproducibility and easy control of the Si/Al ratio of the product. The broad applicability of this methodology was demonstrated in the synthesis of several high-silica zeolites in fluoride media: we report the synthesis of aluminosilicate ITQ-12 (ITW-type zeolite). Other more conventional aluminosilicate zeolites (CHA-, *BEA-, and STT-type...
Logarithmic expected packet delivery delay in mobile ad hoc wireless networks: Research Articles

It has been shown that in a mobile ad hoc wireless network per node throughput remains constant as the number of nodes approaches infinity, when the nodes lie in a disk of unit area. However, this requires that some packets are delivered indirectly by a relay node. In this paper, we prove, in the same setup, that D(k) ∈ Θ(log k), where D(k) is the expected delay time of a mobile ad hoc wireless network with k nodes. As consequence, we have concluded that mobile ad hoc wireless networks are not scalable for real-time applications. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tests for the elliptical symmetry of hyperspectral imaging data

Accurate statistical models for hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data distribution are useful for many applications. A family of elliptically contoured distribution (ECD) has been investigated to model the unimodal ground cover classes. In this paper we propose to test the elliptical symmetry of real unimodal HSI clutters which will answer the question whether the family of ECD will provide an appropriate model for HSI data. We emphasize that the elliptical symmetry is an inherent feature shared by all ECDs. It is a prerequisite that real HSI clutters must pass these elliptical symmetry tests, so that the family of ECD can be qualified to model these data accurately.
Book Review: Martha A. Field, Surrogate Motherhood: The Legal and Human Issues (1988)

This short article reviews Martha A. Field, Surrogate Motherhood: The Legal and Human Issues (1988).
Walking on uneven terrain with a powered ankle prosthesis: A preliminary assessment

A successful walking gait with a powered prosthesis depends heavily on proper timing of power delivery, or push-off. This paper describes a control approach which provides improved walking on uneven terrain relative to previous work intended for use on even (level) terrain. This approach is motivated by an initial healthy subject study which demonstrated less variation in sagittal plane shank angle than sagittal plane ankle angle when walking on uneven terrain relative to even terrain. The latter therefore replaces the former as the control signal used to initiate push-off in the powered prosthesis described herein. The authors demonstrate improvement in consistency for several gait characteristics, relative to healthy, as well as controller characteristics with the new control approach, including a 50% improvement in the consistency of the percentage of stride at which push-off is initiated.
Stocktaking of Social Accountability Initiatives in OECD Countries

Building open government is a challenge for all countries. Hence the importance of collecting and exchanging experiences on how to put the basic principles of good governance into practice. Transparency and accountability; fairness and equity; efficiency and effectiveness; respect for the rule of law; and high standards of ethical behaviour are all principles that need to be given substance if better public governance is to benefit citizens. This joint OECD-World Bank stocktaking exercise of social accountability (SA) initiatives in OECD member countries contributes to the global exchange of policy relevant knowledge. The stocktaking exercise produced 40 templates detailing social accountability initiatives in 27 OECD countries and the European Commission. Building upon the two organisations' definitions, this report proposes a novel approach to analysing SA initiatives. This innovative classification system identifies SA initiatives based on their ultimate objective, as follows: * Scrutiny initiatives aim to enhance assessment, analysis, and review of government actions. * Proximity initiatives aim to reduce the "distance" between citizens and government by identifying citizen needs and preferences. * Engagement initiatives aim to incorporate citizens into the decision-making process. Some of the main findings include: * Initiators matter: Government-led initiatives generally aim to enhance proximity with, and engagement of, citizens while CSO-led initiatives focus more on exercising scrutiny. * Declared drivers vary widely: SA initiatives may be implemented as a means to uphold citizens' rights, to enhance trust and effectiveness, to react to public pressure, or to innovate boldly through the use of information and communication technology (ICT). * A legal basis does not make outcomes binding: The 40 cases analysed in the report show no link between the existence of a legal basis for SA initiatives and the binding effect of citizens' involvement. If proven through further research, this could temper the belief that legal frameworks alone are sufficient, or indeed indispensable, for SA initiatives to carry weight. * Evaluating impacts: Most information on the impacts of SA initiatives is general, and cannot be quantified nor verified. Evaluation was only conducted in half of the cases. This results often from a lack of incentives to carry out impact assessments, and to the obstacles of conducting a rigorous study. This gap needs to be addressed to ensure continued support of the implementation of such initiatives. Currently, evaluation is not considered as an essential component of SA initiatives.
IDSA--past, present, and future?

At the annual meeting in Minneapolis last year it was announced that I planned to have a "retreat" to create a dedicated block of time during which discussions could be held about numerous issues facing our society. The Council meetings, held twice a year, do not permit in-depth discussion because of the necessity of carrying out other functions. This retreat was held, and I would like to bring you up to date as to several consensuses developed at the meeting. As I hope to be able to convey to you, the issues that were addressed reflected on the beginnings of this society and what it stands for, how these foundations have been changed, and what further changes seem inevitable. The need for a retreat was readily apparent. The Society has been maturing, but we are probably still in the stage of early adolescence. During the past 24 years, the IDSA has had 23 presidents, 5 secretaries, and 3 treasurers; 50 people have served as councillors. This group of dedicated volunteers has formulated and modified our by-laws, given us an excellent code of ethics, and entered us into the arena of public policy, a very successful venture due to the excellent talents of Dr. Shelly Wolfe from Boston, with the assistance of Mr. Stephen Lawton of Washington, for educating the Senators and Representatives of Washington. Over the years, various fellowships were created that have been awarded by the Society and that have been financed by generous grants from the pharmaceutical houses. Prestigious awards for achievements in infectious disease research and training have been a continuous activity and an important part of our annual meetings. The Journal of Infectious Diseases has been markedly improved as it was taken over by this society and its fine editors; in addition the Reviews of Infectious Diseases was born and has flourished. In its collective wisdom, the IDSA has modified membership categories, an act that has resulted in a rapid
Three-Dimensional Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition of Nickel-Iron Alloys

A systematic study of the composition of Ni-Fe steel microstructures grown from iron pentacarbonyl and nickel tetracarbonyl by direct laser-induced pyrolysis is presented. The partial pressures of both precursors were varied from 2 to 40 mbar, resulting in needles of iron, nickel, and iron-nickel alloys. An Ar+ laser was employed at incident powers of 100 to 600 mW. Auger Spectroscopy and a microprobe were used to determine the composition of the needles vs. partial pressure and laser power. Composition was also measured along the length of the rods to determine temperature changes during needle growth. This latter effect is useful in modelling the heat flow mechanisms during 3-dimensional laser CVD, as the threshold decomposition temperatures of Fe(CO)5 and Ni(CO)4 differ and the composition of the rods affects their thermal conductivity. In some iron samples, periodic banded structures were observed along the length of the rods, indicative of periodic melting. Axial deposition rates were also measured relative to laser power density, and rates up to 40 μm/s were achieved. Photolysis in the gas phase was observed for the iron-nickel carbonyl mixture, and was largely eliminated with a high-pass UV filter at 420nm. Additional disassociation of the carbonyl groups produced carbon soot near the reaction zone, but only for high nickel carbonyl concentrations. Convective cooling of the needles during growth was determined to be the primary heat transfer mechanism.
EVIDENCE OF INHIBITIVE ROLE OF HIPPOCAMPUS IN NEURAL REGULATION OF ACTH RELEASE.

SummaryThe pituitary-adrenal axis of normal rats, as reflected by plasma corticoid levels, was activated acutely by the stress of ether anesthesia and withdrawal of blood by heart puncture. Bilateral electrolytic lesions in portions of the midbrain reticular formation or the amygdaloid nuclei suppressed or blocked this acute response. In such lesioned, unresponsive animals, placement of an additional lesion in hippocampus negated the block created by the first lesion in reticular formation or amygdala. The results support the opinion that hippocampus contributes an inhibitory component to the neural mechanisms regulating ACTH release.
CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL BEACHES

The subject of beach characteristics is a complex one which is obviously worthy of book-length treatment. The object of this paper is to describe briefly the shapes which groups of beach-forming particles take and the mechanisms by which the forces of nature have so arranged them. Using these reactions as criteria, the coastal engineer who is confronted with the problem of replenishing beach materials or of altering some existing sand flow with a shoreline structure will be able to understand (and predict) the rapid readjustment of the particles to their new environment. There are, of course, no unnatural beaches; the implication is that artificially created or nourished beaches and otherwise altered shorelines will respond in the same manner as those untouched beaches which were studied to assemble the information presented here.
Detection of aluminum in foods and the pollution of improvement

Objective Determination of aluminum in foods to improve detection and analysis of pollution.Methods 55 samples were determined to improve the monitoring results were analyzed after the study.Results The new method simplifies sample handling,improved the color condition,easy to master applications.Test results showed that the jellyfish,fried food,puffed food there are different levels of aluminum contamination.Conclusion The new method can serve as a national standard method of improvement and replacement.Aluminum contamination of food caused by human factors,should be based on new measures to increase control efforts.
Neurologic aspects of chronic facial pain.

Abstract Chronic facial pain can result from neuropathic changes associated with deafferentation. The pattern of deep afferent convergence on trigeminal cells may also relate to the pathophysiology of chronic facial pain disorders.
Diagnosis and management of hiccups in the patient with advanced cancer.

Abstract Benign, self-limited hiccups are more of a nuisance, but persistent and intractable hiccups lasting more than 48 hours and 1 month, respectively, are a source of significant morbidity in the patient with advanced malignancy.The hiccup reflex is complex, but stimulation of vagal afferents followed by activation of efferent phrenic and intercostal nerve pathways results in contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, respectively.The etiology of hiccups in the cancer and palliative care population may include chemotherapy, electrolyte derangements, esophagitis, and neoplastic involvement of the central nervous system (CNS), thorax, and abdominal cavity. Prolonged hiccups can result in depression, fatigue, impaired sleep, dehydration, weight loss, malnutrition, and aspiration syndromes. Evaluation should be symptom-directed, focusing mainly upon the CNS and thoracoabdominal cavities as well as assessment of medications and serum chemistries. Most patients with ongoing hiccups require pharmacotherapy, with chlorpromazine being the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved agent. However, numerous other medications have been reported to be efficacious for treating intractable hiccups. Gabapentin has recently been shown to terminate hiccups effecitvely in cancer patients and may emerge as a therapy of choice in the palliative setting due to favorable tolerability, pain-modulating effects, minimal adverse events, and lack of drug interactions.
Sensor network based solar forecasting using a local vector autoregressive ridge framework

The significant improvements and falling costs of photovoltaic (PV) technology make solar energy a promising resource, yet the cloud induced variability of surface solar irradiance inhibits its effective use in grid-tied PV generation. Short-term irradiance forecasting, especially on the minute scale, is critically important for grid system stability and auxiliary power source management. Compared to the trending sky imaging devices, irradiance sensors are inexpensive and easy to deploy but related forecasting methods have not been well researched. The prominent challenge of applying classic time series models on a network of irradiance sensors is to address their varying spatio-temporal correlations due to local changes in cloud conditions. We propose a local vector autoregressive framework with ridge regularization to forecast irradiance without explicitly determining the wind field or cloud movement. By using local training data, our learned forecast model is adaptive to local cloud conditions and by using regularization, we overcome the risk of overfitting from the limited training data. Our systematic experimental results showed an average of 19.7% RMSE and 20.2% MAE improvement over the benchmark Persistent Model for 1-5 minute forecasts on a comprehensive 25-day dataset.
Experimental and Multiscale Numerical Studies of Woven Fabric Carbon Composite Cylinder Subjected to Internal Pressure Loading

Carbon composite cylinders were fabricated using woven fabric composite sheets, and a mechanical device was designed and fabricated to apply internal pressure loading to the composite cylinders. This device can be used with a uniaxial testing machine without any fluid to generate internal pressure loading. Experimental tests were conducted for the composite cylinders to determine the failure loading using the device. Then, a multiscale modeling technique was utilized to predict the failure strength which was determined using the failure criterion based on the stresses and strains at the constituent material level such as fibers and matrix materials. Both numerical and experimental results agreed well. The subsequent studies to be conducted are physical tests and multiscale modeling and simulations to design carbon composite cylinders for extreme loading such as cases and containers for high explosives.
Use of Geriatric Assessment Tools in Selecting Therapies in Women Aged ≥70 Years With Hormone Receptor–Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Preliminary Experience With a Quality Improvement Initiative

Purpose To develop a multidisciplinary algorithmic approach to management of women aged ≥70 years with clinically staged T1N0 hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, including geriatric assessments predicting life expectancy and the likelihood of functional decline in the near future, in the context of a program-wide quality improvement initiative, to better select patients for therapeutic interventions. Methods and Materials Two geriatric assessment tools, the Combined Lee-Schonberg Index and the Vulnerable Elderly Scale, were introduced into our clinical workflow to predict long-term mortality and likelihood of functional decline. Scores from these tools, along with patient preferences and clinical features, were incorporated into a preoperative algorithm addressing the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and a postoperative algorithm addressing the use of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Results The algorithms were approved for use in August 2015. Twenty-four patients were identified by in-clinic screening and have been managed using the algorithms as a guide. Mean patient age was 80 years (range, 71-89 years). Per the preoperative algorithm, consideration of omission of SLNB was an option in 11 of 24 patients (46%), and in total 18 of 24 (75%) opted against SLNB. Per the postsurgical algorithm, consideration of omission of adjuvant RT was an option for 19 of 24 patients (79%), and in total 17 of 24 (71%) opted to forego RT. Conclusion Incorporation of simple geriatric assessments seems to have had a marked impact on decision making regarding both surgical and adjuvant therapies for women aged ≥70 years with early-stage hormone-positive breast cancer compared with historical patterns, with ≥71% omission of both SLNB and adjuvant RT in patients managed according to an institutional quality improvement initiative.
Designing an AntiRacist Curriculum For Middle School Students in Texas via The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Latino/Latina Critical Pedagogy

This paper describes how latino/latina critical pedagogy (LatCrit) can be incorporated into the Texas'middel school curriculum.Â The author demostrates how the Texas Essential Elements (TEKS), aÂ scheme of cross-curricular goals and objectives can be sued to design an anti-racist curriculum.Â Moreover, instructional strategies for teaching an anti-racist curriculum are provided.
Clinical and experimental aspects of notch receptor signaling: Hajdu-Cheney syndrome and related disorders.

Abstract Background There are four Notch transmembrane receptors that determine the fate and function of cells. Notch is activated following its interactions with ligands of the Jagged and Delta-like families that lead to the cleavage and release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD); this translocates to the nucleus to induce the transcription of Notch target genes. Genetic disorders of loss- and gain-of-NOTCH function present with severe clinical manifestations. Basic Procedures In this article, current knowledge of Hajdu Cheney Syndrome (HCS) and related disorders is reviewed. Main Findings HCS is a rare genetic disorder characterized by acroosteolysis, fractures, short stature, neurological manifestations, craniofacial developmental abnormalities, cardiovascular defects and polycystic kidneys. HCS is associated with NOTCH2 gain-of-function mutations. An experimental mouse model of the disease revealed that the bone loss is secondary to increased osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption due to enhanced expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (Rankl). This would suggest that inhibitors of bone resorption might prove to be beneficial in the treatment of the bone loss associated with HCS. Notch2 is a determinant of B-cell allocation in the marginal zone of the spleen and “somatic” mutations analogous to those found in HCS are associated with B-cell lymphomas of the marginal zone, but there are no reports of lymphomas associated with HCS. Conclusion In conclusion, HCS is a serious genetic disorder associated with NOTCH2 mutations. New experimental models have offered insight on mechanisms responsible for the manifestations of HCS.
Theoretical Study of Ductile Fracture in Steel Structures in the Presence of Spatial Variability in Toughness

AbstractMicromechanical or local models are increasingly used for predicting microvoid-growth–induced ductile fracture in structural steel components. Methods to calibrate and apply these models pr...
Research and activist projects of resistance: The ethical-political foundations for a transformative ethico-onto-epistemology

Abstract The core argument in this paper is that all research schools and theoretical frameworks carry with them – and, importantly, also within them, as their inherent dimensions – particular ethical orientations (systems of values and ethical endpoints) tailored to and derivative from socio-political and ultimately, practical projects in which research uniquely gains its concreteness and meaning. These projects can be differentiated along the axis either of supporting (explicitly or implicitly) the status quo by taking it for granted and not challenging its reigning assumptions or, alternatively, aiming at transcending it through resistance and social transformation. These systems of values and orientations, or a sociopolitical ethos, indelibly color all other elements and dimensions of inquiries such as their ontologies and epistemologies, forming a unified ethico-onto-epistemology. Cultural-historical theory, under certain expansions and upgrades, is a paradigmatic case for advancing this position, with Hedegaard's works seen as sharing Vygotsky's broadly defined sociopolitical ethos which sheds light on her approach's significance and promise. To establish the centrality of ethico-onto-epistemology, a revision of the constitutional framework that could enable it, away from assumptions of passivity, accommodation, and adaptation, is required. A Transformative Activist Stance paves the way to understand knowledge production as always embedded within activist pursuits of broad social projects beyond the narrow confines of academia while embracing transformative agency grounded in political imagination and commitment to resistance and radical social transformation.
Differences in Hearing Acuity among "Normal-Hearing" Young Adults Modulate the Neural Basis for Speech Comprehension.

Abstract In this paper, we investigate how subtle differences in hearing acuity affect the neural systems supporting speech processing in young adults. Auditory sentence comprehension requires perceiving a complex acoustic signal and performing linguistic operations to extract the correct meaning. We used functional MRI to monitor human brain activity while adults aged 18–41 years listened to spoken sentences. The sentences varied in their level of syntactic processing demands, containing either a subject-relative or object-relative center-embedded clause. All participants self-reported normal hearing, confirmed by audiometric testing, with some variation within a clinically normal range. We found that participants showed activity related to sentence processing in a left-lateralized frontotemporal network. Although accuracy was generally high, participants still made some errors, which were associated with increased activity in bilateral cingulo-opercular and frontoparietal attention networks. A whole-brain regression analysis revealed that activity in a right anterior middle frontal gyrus (aMFG) component of the frontoparietal attention network was related to individual differences in hearing acuity, such that listeners with poorer hearing showed greater recruitment of this region when successfully understanding a sentence. The activity in right aMFGs for listeners with poor hearing did not differ as a function of sentence type, suggesting a general mechanism that is independent of linguistic processing demands. Our results suggest that even modest variations in hearing ability impact the systems supporting auditory speech comprehension, and that auditory sentence comprehension entails the coordination of a left perisylvian network that is sensitive to linguistic variation with an executive attention network that responds to acoustic challenge.
Chasing troponin: how low can you go if you can see the rise?

Recently, a visiting professor made a comment about not chasing increased troponin values. He expressed the frustration of clinicians who struggle with deciding how to evaluate patients with these increases and when to do it acutely and when more chronically. Recent data have started to put the
Canonical ELM: Improving the Performance of Extreme Learning Machines on Multivariate Regression Tasks Using Canonical Correlations

The extreme learning machine (ELM), an algorithm for training feedforward neural networks, is described in the literature as an algorithm that is suitable for both multiclass classification and multivariate regression problems. In this paper, we show that the closed-form ELM solution is not optimal for multivariate regression problems because it ignores correlations between the different response or target variables. We propose an improved algorithm, the canonical ELM, that accounts for the correlations between the target variables, and yet adheres to the ELM principle of learning without iteratively updating the weights in the network. Experimental results obtained using a synthetic dataset and several real-world datasets show that the canonical ELM has a higher prediction accuracy than the ELM and is also more stable.
SLA-RALBA: cost-efficient and resource-aware load balancing algorithm for cloud computing

Recently, Service-level agreement (SLA) is deemed to be an integral aspect for on-demand provisioning of scalable resources on Cloud. SLA defines important constraints for instance guaranteed quality of service (QoS), pricing, fault-tolerant availability, security, and period of service. Currently, there is a dire need of SLA-based scheduling that improves resources utilization on Cloud. Scheduling with reduced execution time and cost may adversely affect resource utilization. To overcome this issue, we present a cost-efficient SLA-based load balancing scheduler, namely SLA-RALBA, for heterogeneous Cloud infrastructures. The proposed technique supports three levels of SLA opted by the Cloud users. The proposed novel technique incorporates the execution cost for the successful execution of users’ services to elevate the resource utilization on Cloud. The SLA-RALBA is simulated for performance analysis using the benchmark GoCJ and HCSP datasets. The performance results of the SLA-RALBA are compared with the existing schedulers, namely Execution-MCT, Profit-MCT, SLA-MCT, Execution-Min-Min, Profit-Min-Min, and SLA-Min-Min in terms of average resource utilization, execution time, and cost of the Cloud services. The obtained results reveal that SLA-RALBA provides an even trade-off between execution time and cost of the services by guaranteeing a drastic improvement in resource utilization on Cloud than existing algorithms.
Cytoplasmic Blebs in T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia.

Cytoplasmic Blebs in T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia A 64-year-old man presented with fatigue and dizziness. A peripheral-blood smear showed mature lymphoid cells with cytoplasmic blebs, and a diagn...
For Whom Does Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Work? An Analysis of Predictors and Moderators among African American Suicide Attempters

Both cognitively based compassion training (CBCT) and support-based group intervention have been found to be effective for African American suicide attempters in reducing suicidal ideation and depression, as well as enhancing self-compassion. This study aims to further our understanding of effective interventions by exploring participants’ responses to both interventions. Exploratory analyses were conducted in a sample of low-income African Americans who had attempted suicide (n = 82) to determine how baseline demographic and psychological characteristics would (1) predict outcomes (i.e., suicidal ideation, depression, and self-compassion) regardless of intervention conditions and (2) moderate outcomes in interaction with intervention condition. Non-reactivity, a mindfulness facet, was identified as an intervention moderator for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms, suggesting that CBCT outperformed the support group for African American suicide attempters who had low baseline non-reactivity (or high reactivity). Individuals who had high non-reactivity at baseline appeared to benefit more from both conditions in self-compassion as an outcome. There was a pattern that homeless individuals benefited less in terms of their levels of depressive symptoms and self-compassion as outcomes regardless of the assigned condition. When applying Bonferroni corrections, only non-reactivity as an intervention moderator for depressive symptoms was significant. Findings reveal the relevance of mindfulness and to a lesser extent socioeconomic status in informing compassion-based intervention outcomes with this underserved population and the importance of intervention matching and tailoring to maximize treatment effects. Future large trials are needed to replicate findings and directions indicated from the current pilot study.
Unraveling the Dynamic Network in the Reactions of an Alkyl Aryl Ether Catalyzed by Ni/γ-Al2O3 in 2-Propanol

The reductive cleavage of aryl ether linkages is a key step in the disassembly of lignin to its monolignol components, where selectivity is determined by the kinetics of multiple parallel and conse...
The asymmetry of economic growth and the carbon intensity of well-being

A key concern when crafting sustainable development policy is maximizing the benefits that derive from economic growth, such as increases in life-expectancy, while also reducing the negative impact...
Does variability among surgical skills diminish throughout surgical internship? Analysis of a 5-task surgical simulation assessment program starting Day 1.

Abstract Background Simulation assessments are not yet standardized among surgical programs. We instituted a 5-task simulation program to assess surgical technical skills longitudinally during internship. Methods First-year residents completed 5 simulation tasks: suturing, knot-tying, vascular anastomosis, and the peg-transfer and the intracorporeal suturing of the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Skills. Assessments occurred just before residency, mid-year, and at the completion of the intern year. Results This study involved 19 residents: 8 categorical, 4 urology, 3 interventional radiology, 2 plastics, and 2 non-designated preliminary interns. Mean completion times improved in both the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Skills peg-transfer (145 ± 50, 111 ± 47, and 95 ± 28 seconds) and suturing (526 ± 92, 392 ± 131, and 351 ± 158 seconds; each P Conclusion Technical skills of beginning surgery residents were assessed longitudinally with the institution of a 5-task curriculum. Periodic assessments showed improvement in each task. Furthermore, as residents were exposed to equal surgical training, the variability in resident scores showed the greatest decrease in simpler motor tasks.
Analyzing Outcomes of Nuss and Ravitch Repair for Primary and Recurrent Pectus Excavatum in Adults

Background Limited data exist for pectus excavatum repair in adults. We reviewed outcomes in adult patients undergoing Ravitch or Nuss pectus excavatum repairs to determine whether there was a statistical difference in postoperative complications and recurrence between primary and redo operations. Methods Patients undergoing pectus excavatum repair between 2001 and 2018 were excluded if they were receiving a concurrent unrelated operation, aged younger than 18 years, or had less than 1 year of follow-up (for recurrence analysis). Postoperative complications were recorded based on procedure type (Ravitch/Nuss) and iteration of repair (primary/redo). Continuous patient data were compared using Student t tests for variables such as age, length of stay, estimated blood loss, body mass index, and number of bars inserted. Fisher exact or χ2 tests were performed for postoperative complications and recurrence rates between groups. Results Of 290 patients, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications or recurrence rates between all Nuss repairs (n = 237; P = .59) and all Ravitch repairs (n = 53; P = .48), redo Nuss repairs (n = 53; P = .26) and Ravitch repairs (n=26; P = .99), and primary (P = .26) and redo Nuss (P = .10) repairs or primary (P = .99) and redo Ravitch (P = .99) repairs. There were significant differences in age, length of stay, follow-up, bars inserted, and estimated blood loss between all Nuss and Ravitch repairs (P Conclusions Postoperative complication and recurrence rates were not statistically different between Nuss and Ravitch procedures of all types, suggesting either procedure may have utility in recurrent pectus excavatum. Further research may look to expand sample size and a prospective study investigating long-term outcomes.
The Theory of Incubation

This chapter develops the theoretical framework to address the central question that underlies the volume. It begins with a discussion of the problems proto-insurgents face during incubation followed by a complete account of the incubation processes themselves. That proto-insurgents should want to prepare themselves before they challenge the sovereign’s claim to power is a modest notion, but it is clear not all have done so. This chapter also includes a discussion about why prewar preparation—compared to waiting until after conflict has begun—should be preferable for the proto-insurgent. The chapter contains a lengthy discussion about how these processes facilitate protracted conflict.
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME SECONDARY TO CORONARY EMBOLUS IN A PATIENT WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR NON-COMPACTION

About 3% cases of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are secondary to coronary embolism. Intracoronary imaging and noninvasive imaging play an important role in management of these patients. A 53-year-old male with no past medical history presented to hospital with acute non-ST elevation myocardial
Assessment and treatment of elder abuse in Spanish speaking Americans: A scoping review

Abstract Increases in the Latinx population accounted for more than half of the total growth in the US population between the year 2000 and 2010, and this population is expected to double within the next 30 years. As the United States, ages, diversifies, and modernizes, the number of older adults experiencing elder abuse is unfortunately also projected to increase. Given these rapid growth rates and projected increases, accurate understanding of appropriate Spanish Language elder abuse assessment measures and interventions is critical. As such, this review examines the available research on assessment and interventions for elder abuse in Spanish Speaking Latinx Americans. Findings suggest there is a large discrepancy between the available assessments and interventions for this population, and the preparedness of mental health providers to adequately serve this population. In order to better understand the prevalence and development of elder mistreatment for the Latinx population, it is important for providers to properly assess and intervene in a culturally informed manner. Special consideration is placed on the current approaches to detect and intervene, within a cultural framework and cultural specific risk factors. A discussion of limitations of the available research and direction of future work are also offered.
Abstract P019: Renal Mitochondrial Bioenergetics In Salt-sensitive Hypertension Is Affected By ANP

There are clinical data suggesting that low levels of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) aggravate susceptibility to salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension. ANP is known to affect mitochondria in many tiss...
The WHO Health Alert: Communicating a Global Pandemic with WhatsApp

Upon declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) orchestrated a global risk-communication outreach. The WHO’s objective was to persuade the public to upend and alter t...
Cultural Modification Analyses on Faunal Remains in Relation to Space Use and Direct Provisioning from Field VI EBIIIA Tell el-Hesi

Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Hesi have revealed an extensive Early Bronze Age IIIA city supported by grain-production and possibly trade. Early Bronze III materials are evident from multip...