cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progestin stimulates the biosynthesis of fibronectin and accumulation of fibronectin mRNA in human endometrial stromal cells

Fibronectin is a major component of decidual basement membrane. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of progestin on the synthesis and secretion of fibronectin in human endometrial stromal cells. Stromal cells were isolated during the menstrual cycle and cultured in RPMI-1640 with 2% fetal calf serum supplemented with progesterone or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in a long-term culture system. Indirect immunofluorescent staining showed that fibronectin was uniformly distributed in the intracellular and extracellular regions of stromal cells treated with MPA for 14 days. The biosynthesis and secretion of this protein and the accumulation of cellular fibronectin mRNA were studied after various culture periods. Cells were pulse-labelled with [35S]methionine to determine the amount of newly synthesized fibronectin secreted into the culture medium. A monoclonal antibody (Mab) identified human fibronectin on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), showing a predominant band (Mr 230-250 kDa) which migrated with authentic fibronectin run in parallel. In six endometrial specimens, the amount of radioactivity incorporated as [35S]fibronectin was increased by progestin. Maximal stimulation occurred after 6 days treatment with MPA. Culture beyond 16 days reduced the rate of synthesis and secretion to 40% of the maximum. The effect of progestin was dose dependent with 0.02, 0.2 and 1 microM progesterone, producing 2.0, 3.8 and 11-fold increases respectively, over the control. Medroxyprogesterone acetate was more effective than progesterone, the maximal response (10-fold increase) being achieved at 0.02 microM MPA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mechanistic insights into the first Lygus-active β-pore forming protein.

The cotton pests Lygus hesperus and Lygus lineolaris can be controlled by expressing Cry51Aa2.834_16 in cotton. Insecticidal activity of pore-forming proteins is generally associated with damage to the midgut epithelium due to pores, and their biological specificity results from a set of key determinants including proteolytic activation and receptor binding. We conducted mechanistic studies to gain insight into how the first Lygus-active β-pore forming protein variant functions. Biophysical characterization revealed that the full-length Cry51Aa2.834_16 was a stable dimer in solution, and when exposed to Lygus saliva or to trypsin, the protein underwent proteolytic cleavage at the C-terminus of each of the subunits, resulting in dissociation of the dimer to two separate monomers. The monomer showed tight binding to a specific protein in Lygus brush border membranes, and also formed a membrane-associated oligomeric complex both in vitro and in vivo. Chemically cross-linking the β-hairpin to the Cry51Aa2.834_16 body rendered the protein inactive, but still competent to compete for binding sites with the native protein in vivo. Our study suggests that disassociation of the Cry51Aa2.834_16 dimer into monomeric units with unoccupied head-region and sterically unhindered β-hairpin is required for brush border membrane binding, oligomerization, and the subsequent steps leading to insect mortality.
System Identification of the Longitudinal/Heave Dynamics for a Tandem-Rotor Helicopter Including Higher-Order Dynamics

As part of a product improvement program to upgrade the CH-47F cockpit and flight control system for the US Army, a new Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS) is being developed by Boeing Helicopters. The DAFCS will incorporate modern control algorithms in the low-speed/hover regime to improve handling qualities for operations in a Degraded Visual Environment (DVE). In support of the modern control law development, the US Army required a complete closed-loop analysis model in SIMULINK ® . The central element of this analysis model was an accurate state-space representation of the bare- airframe response. CIFER ® was used to perform the system identification at three gross weights and two airspeeds having a common quasi-steady model structure. The quasi-steady model identification had a restricted frequency range due to rotor-on-rotor and inflow dynamics. Subsequently, the quasi-steady model was extended to higher-frequencies by incorporating higher-order rotor dynamics. This paper covers the identification of the longitudinal/heave-axis bare-airframe dynamics for the Heavy Gross Weight (HGW) hover configuration, and provides a comparison of results for the quasi-steady and hybrid models.
Pediatric Exercise Science: A Brief Overview

Interest in the physiological responses to exercise unique to the pediatric age group has grown exponentially over the past 50 years. A number of issues surrounding children's exercise have been particularly responsible for this trend, particularly a) recognition of the health benefits of exercise in youth, b) the growing involvement of young persons in highly intense levels of sports play, and c) the role that exercise may play in the diagnosis and management of children with chronic disease. As a consequence, current research to date has provided a comprehensive picture of the features specific to children's response to exercise. Future challenges facing the field of pediatric exercise science involve translating this information into practical guidelines which can be applied to the realms of clinical medical practice, preventive health initiatives, and athletic training regimens which are appropriate for this age group.
Management of Hypertension in Primary Care Safety-Net Clinics in the United States: A Comparison of Community Health Centers and Private Physicians' Offices.

Objective To examine adherence to guideline-concordant hypertension treatment practices at community health centers (CHCs) compared with private physicians' offices. Data Sources/Study Setting National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2006 to 2010. Study Design We examined four guideline-concordant treatment practices: initiation of a new medication for uncontrolled hypertension, use of fixed-dose combination drugs for patients on multiple antihypertensive medications, use of thiazide diuretics among patients with uncontrolled hypertension on ≥3 antihypertensive medications, and use of aldosterone antagonist for resistant hypertension, comparing use at CHC with private physicians' offices overall and by payer group. Data Collection/Extraction Methods We identified visits of nonpregnant adults with hypertension at CHCs and private physicians' offices. Principal Findings Medicaid patients at CHCs were as likely as privately insured individuals to receive a new medication for uncontrolled hypertension (AOR 1.0, 95 percent CI: 0.6–1.9), whereas Medicaid patients at private physicians' offices were less likely to receive a new medication (AOR 0.3, 95 percent CI: 0.1–0.6). Use of fixed-dose combination drugs was lower at CHCs (AOR 0.6, 95 percent CI: 0.4–0.9). Thiazide use for patients was similar in both settings (AOR 0.8, 95 percent CI: 0.4–1.7). Use of aldosterone antagonists was too rare (2.1 percent at CHCs and 1.5 percent at private clinics) to allow for statistically reliable comparisons. Conclusions Increasing physician use of fixed-dose combination drugs may be particularly helpful in improving hypertension control at CHCs where there are higher rates of uncontrolled hypertension.
Macrophages in Innate and Acquired Immunity

Alveolar macrophages play a central role in pulmonary host defense. When foreign particles or pathogens enter the respiratory tract, constitutively present innate host defenses attempt to clear the challenge. Alveolar macrophage phagocytosis of foreign material is a critical component of this response, as is secretion of inflammatory mediators designed to combat invading pathogens. If the pathogenic burden is too large and overwhelms innate immunity, then acquired immune responses are initiated resulting in the generation of antigen-specific cellular and humoral immunity. In response to evolutionary pressures to minimize unnecessary inflammation in the lower respiratory tract, alveolar macrophages are generally poor accessory cells in the initiation of specific immunity. However, in many circumstances, especially those associated with cellular activation, alveolar macrophages can play an important role in the generation and expansion of pulmonary immune responses. This review discusses the role of alveolar macrophages in innate and acquired pulmonary host defense.
Effects of invasive Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) on seed germination and seed dispersal potential in southeastern Puerto Rico

Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) are invasive in Puerto Rico due to a variety of negative economic effects, yet we know very little about their ecological impacts. Because they are herbivorous, defecate intact seeds, move through the forest, and have long gut-passage times, Green Iguanas may affect seed germination and seed dispersal. In summer 2013, a total of 258 Green Iguana scat samples were collected at the Humacao Natural Reserve in southeastern Puerto Rico. Seeds extracted from scat and collected from fruit were planted under common garden conditions using experimental treatments designed to tease apart the effects of feces, fruit, and ingestion on seed germination. Green Iguanas decreased the time for seeds to germinate in Ficus spp. by removing fruit pulp, but had no effect on germination of native Annona glabra seeds. For non-native P. pterocarpus and Pterocarpus spp., Green Iguanas produced conflicting results, decreasing the percentage of seeds germinating, but at the same time, reducing the time for seeds to germinate. Green Iguanas likely disperse most seeds beyond the canopies of parental tree at our site. Government and economic resources are being used to eradicate Green Iguana populations in Puerto Rico, but the lack of consistent effects of Green Iguanas on seed germination for the plant species consumed at our site complicates generalizing about their ecological effects and developing management plans that minimize negative effects for native plant communities. We recommend additional studies that target both species of particular concern, such as threatened native or invasive species, as well as studies of sensitive habitats in Puerto Rico.
Thermal Death Times for Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A) in Crabmeat.

Thermal death times for Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A) in blue crabmeat were determined. Blue crabmeat was inoculated with 107 cells of L. monocytogenes strain Scott A/g prior to distributing 7.5 g into sausage casings (1.6 cm × 4 cm). Ten to 12 sausages, one with a thermocouple connected to a recorder, were placed into a preheated, recirculating water bath at either 50, 55, or 60°C. At designated times, the L. monocytogenes populations was determined by plating serial dilutions onto both trypticase soy agar (TSA) and modified Vogel-Johnson agar. After incubation, presumptive L. monocytogenes colonies were counted. D-values based on enumeration of colonies from TSA were 40.43, 12.00, and 2.61 min at 50, 55, and 60°C, respectively. Heat resistance as demonstrated by using modified Vogel-Johnson agar as the plating medium was less with D-values of 34.48, 9.18, and 1.31 min at each of the same heating temperatures. Z-values of 8.40 and 6.99°C were derived from the TSA and modified Vogel-Johnson agar data, respectively. Based on these findings, the current parameters used to commercially pasteurize crabmeat are adequate to inactivate L. monocytogenes strain Scott A.
Bruff, Harold H. Untrodden Ground

Bruff, Harold H. Untrodden Ground: How Presidents Interpret the Constitution. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2015. 550 pages. $55.00 (hardcover).“It is emphatically the province and duty...
Grounds and ‘Grounds’

In this paper, I offer a new theory of grounding. The theory has is that grounding is a job description that is realized by different properties in different contexts. Those properties play the grounding role contingently, and grounding is the property that plays the grounding role essentially. On this theory, grounding is monistic, but ‘grounding’ refers to different relations in different contexts. First, I argue against Kit Fine’s monist univocalism. Next, I argue against Jessica Wilson’s pluralist multivocalism. Finally, I introduce monist multivocalism, explicate three versions of it, and show its advantages.
Comment Evaluation and Revision in a Bilingual Electronic Meeting

Translation accuracy continues to be a major problem in multilingual electronic meetings and a significant reason for such systems’ lack of acceptance and use. One way of increasing accuracy is detecting potential errors before a comment is added to the discussion. By comparing the original message text with a round-trip translation (RTT) and correcting any wording mistakes, misunderstandings might be prevented in the overall conversation. In this study, one group used an electronic meeting system with automatic translation that detected differences between a participant’s typed comment and a RTT. If there was a significant change, the group member was then given an opportunity to modify the text before submitting it to the transcript. Another group, serving as the control group, used an equivalent electronic meeting system without error detection. Results show that there was only a slight, non-significant increase in comprehension when comments were revised and translated to German with an 80% similarity threshold, but there would have been a significant increase in comprehension if a 50% threshold had been chosen.
Local Leaders More Likely to Support than Oppose Michigan's Emergency Manager Law, But Strongly Favor Reforms

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the state’s Emergency Manager law, officially known as Michigan’s Local Financial Stability and Choice Act (P.A. 436 of 2012). This law is targeted at local jurisdictions determined to be in fiscal emergencies, and offers a number of reparative options, including the appointment of emergency managers, consent agreements, mediation, and bankruptcy proceedings. The findings in this report are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Spring 2012 and Fall 2016 waves of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
Be it ever so humble: Proposing a dual-dimension account and measurement of humility

AbstractWhat does it mean to be humble? We argue that humility is an epistemically and ethically aligned state of awareness – the experience of ourselves as a small part of a larger universe and as one among a host of other morally relevant beings. So conceived, humility can be operationalized and measured along the dual dimensions of low self-focus and high other-focus and is distinct from other related constructs (e.g., modesty and open-mindedness). We discuss our newly developed scale (Study 1 and 2), and provide preliminary validation using self-report (Study 3) and behavioral measures (Study 4), showing that humility is related to people’s general ethical orientation (e.g., empathy, universalism/benevolence, and civic responsibility), their well-being (e.g., sense of autonomy, life-purpose, and secure attachment), mature religious beliefs/practices, and reactions to disagreement – specifically, people high in humility sat closer and less angled away from their conversation partner with whom they disa...
Changes in pharyngeal constrictor volumes during head and neck radiation therapy: Implications for dose delivery.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomical changes and associated dosimetric consequences to pharyngeal constrictor muscles (PCMs) that occur during head and neck (H and N) radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: A cohort of 13 oropharyngeal cancer patients with daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was retrospectively studied. On every 5th CBCT image, PCM was manually delineated by a radiation oncologist. The anterior-posterior PCM thickness was measured at the midline level of C3 vertebral body. Delivered dose to PCM was estimated by calculating dose on daily images and performing dose accumulation on corresponding planning CT images using a parameter-optimized B-spline-based deformable image registration algorithm. The mean and maximum delivered dose (Dmean, Dmax) to PCM were determined and compared with the corresponding planned quantities. Results: The average (±standard deviation) volume increase (ΔV) and thickness increase (Δt) over the course of 35 total fractions were 54 ± 33% (11.9 ± 7.6 cc) and 63 ± 39% (2.9 ± 1.9 mm), respectively. The resultant cumulative mean dose increase from planned dose to PCM (ΔDmean) was 1.4 ± 1.3% (0.9 ± 0.8 Gy), while the maximum dose increase (ΔDmax) was 0.0 ± 1.6% (0.0 ± 1.1 Gy). Patients who underwent adaptive replanning (n = 6) showed a smaller mean dose increase than those without (n = 7); 0.5 ± 0.2% (0.3 ± 0.1 Gy) versus 2.2 ± 1.4% (1.4 ± 0.9 Gy). There were statistically significant (P = 0.001) strong correlations between ΔDmean and Δt (Pearson coefficient r = 0.78), as well as between ΔDmean and ΔV (r = 0.52). Conclusion: The patients underwent considerable anatomical changes to PCM during H and N RT. However, the resultant increase in dose to PCM was minor to moderate. PCM thickness measured at C3 level is a good predictor for the mean dose increase to PCM.
Is Intravenous Immunoglobulin More Cost Effective Than Plasmapheresis in the Treatment of Pediatric Guillain Barre Syndrome. Data from Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) 1997-2009 (P03.003)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the impact of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasmapheresis on outcome and cost of hospitalization of pediatric patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) through analysis of the Kid9s inpatient database between 1997 and 2009. BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, IVIg have been more extensively used as an alternative to plasmapheresis to treats GBS. DESIGN/METHODS: We analyzed the Kid9s Inpatient Database (KID) for age, race, length of stay, disposition/outcome, and cost of stay for pediatric patients hospitalized with GBS between 1997 and 2009. We compared these variables when patients were treated with IVIg versus plasmapheresis. RESULTS: Among 368, 134, 118, 174, 244 pediatric patients admitted to hospitals for GBS on 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 respectively, 333/35, 88/46, 85/33, 139/35, 214/30 were treated with IVIg/plasmapheresis respectively. The average age of patients treated with IVIG was significantly lower than the average age of patients treated with plasmapheresis (P CONCLUSIONS: The mean hospitalization charges and mean hospitalization length of stay of pediatric patients with GBS treated with plasmapheresis were higher than in group of patients treated with IVIg in 1997 to 2009 time periods. Disclosure: Dr. Elenein has nothing to disclose. Dr. He has nothing to disclose. Dr. Souayah has received personal compensation for activities with Walgreens and Grifols. Dr. Souayah has received research support from Talecris.
Mineral Sensitivity of Petroleum–Bearing Formations

The mechanisms and kinetics of mineral swelling, alteration, and fine generation are described. The models and rate equations for mineral-sensitive properties of rock and the methods for the interpretation and proper correlation of experimental data are presented. These models provide insight into the mechanism of the clay swelling process and a proper means of interpreting and analyzing the swelling-dependent characteristics of clayey formations. They allow for accurate determination of the swelling parameters of petroleum-bearing formations. They can be used to predict the conditions causing wellbore stability problems and to alleviate the undesirable consequences of the swelling phenomenon in petroleum reservoirs.
A Phase I Trial of the PI3K Inhibitor Buparlisib Combined With Capecitabine in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Abstract Background Buparlisib is an oral pan-class I phosphotidyinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. The present phase I study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of buparlisib with capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods Patients received buparlisib once daily (range, 50 to 100 mg) for 3 weeks with capecitabine twice daily (range, 1000 to 1250 mg/m2) for 2 weeks with a 1-week break. Dose escalation used a traditional “3 + 3” design with standard definitions of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose. Results Of the 25 patients enrolled, 23 were evaluable for DLT and 17 were evaluable for response. The maximum tolerated dose of the combination was buparlisib 100 mg daily and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily. DLTs included grade 3 hyperglycemia and grade 3 confusion. The most common grade 3 toxicities were diarrhea and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase. One patient exhibited a complete response to treatment and four had a confirmed partial response. In cohorts 3 and 4, in which the buparlisib dose remained constant but the capecitabine dose was increased, significant increases in the buparlisib plasma concentration were noted. Conclusion The combination of buparlisib with capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer was generally well-tolerated, with several patients demonstrating prolonged responses. Unexpectedly low rates of PIK3CA mutations (3 of 17) were seen, and only 2 of 7 tumors with subtyping were luminal, making exploration of these putative predictive markers impossible. Further study of the combination is not unreasonable, with expanded pharmacokinetics and sequencing analysis to better elucidate potential drug–drug interactions and more accurate predictive biomarkers of response.
Temporal assessment of radiomic features on clinical mammography in a high-risk population

Extraction of high-dimensional quantitative data from medical images has become necessary in disease risk assessment, diagnostics and prognostics. Radiomic workflows for mammography typically involve a single medical image for each patient although medical images may exist for multiple imaging exams, especially in screening protocols. Our study takes advantage of the availability of mammograms acquired over multiple years for the prediction of cancer onset. This study included 841 images from 328 patients who developed subsequent mammographic abnormalities, which were confirmed as either cancer (n=173) or non-cancer (n=155) through diagnostic core needle biopsy. Quantitative radiomic analysis was conducted on antecedent FFDMs acquired a year or more prior to diagnostic biopsy. Analysis was limited to the breast contralateral to that in which the abnormality arose. Novel metrics were used to identify robust radiomic features. The most robust features were evaluated in the task of predicting future malignancies on a subset of 72 subjects (23 cancer cases and 49 non-cancer controls) with mammograms over multiple years. Using linear discriminant analysis, the robust radiomic features were merged into predictive signatures by: (i) using features from only the most recent contralateral mammogram, (ii) change in feature values between mammograms, and (iii) ratio of feature values over time, yielding AUCs of 0.57 (SE=0.07), 0.63 (SE=0.06), and 0.66 (SE=0.06), respectively. The AUCs for temporal radiomics (ratio) statistically differed from chance, suggesting that changes in radiomics over time may be critical for risk assessment. Overall, we found that our two-stage process of robustness assessment followed by performance evaluation served well in our investigation on the role of temporal radiomics in risk assessment.
Structure and Function of Fungal Plasma-Membrane ATPases

The characteristic marker enzyme for the plasma membranes (PM) of almost all living cells is a cation-dependent ATPase of Mr∼100000 which has at least three crucial functions: maintaining ionic balance between the cell interior and the environment; creating background conditions for water balance (i.e. volume control in animal cells; turgor regulation in plants, fungi, and bacteria), and mediating energy transfer from redox and dehydration reactions to a wide variety of so-called active transport processes carried out at the plasma membrane. The cationic substrate for this enzyme in fungal membranes is protons, which usually must be exported in order to offset excess metabolic production. With one or two important exceptions, the entire class of enzymes can transfer net electric charges through membranes, so that they function as “biochemical fuel cells” (Mitchell 1967) or “electroenzymes” (Chapman et al. 1983).
Quantification of Macrophages in High-Grade Gliomas by Using Ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI: A Pilot Study

Purpose To investigate ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI as a noninvasive imaging biomarker of macrophages in adults with high-grade gliomas. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, adults with high-grade gliomas were enrolled between July 2015 and July 2017. Each participant was administered intravenous ferumoxytol (5 mg/kg) and underwent 3.0-T MRI 24 hours later. Two sites in each tumor were selected for intraoperative sampling on the basis of the degree of ferumoxytol-induced signal change. Susceptibility and the relaxation rates R2* (1/T2*) and R2 (1/T2) were obtained by region-of-interest analysis by using the respective postprocessed maps. Each sample was stained with Prussian blue, CD68, CD163, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Pearson correlation and linear mixed models were performed to assess the relationship between imaging measurements and number of 400× magnification high-power fields with iron-containing macrophages. Results Ten adults (four male participants [mean age, 65 years ± 9 {standard deviation}; age range, 57-74 years] and six female participants [mean age, 53 years ± 12 years; age range, 32-65 years]; mean age of all participants, 58 years ± 12 [age range, 32-74 years]) with high-grade gliomas were included. Significant positive correlations were found between susceptibility, R2*, and R2' and the number of high-power fields with CD163-positive (r range, 0.64-0.71; P < .01) and CD68-positive (r range, 0.55-0.57; P value range, .01-.02) iron-containing macrophages. No significant correlation was found between R2 and CD163-positive (r = 0.33; P = .16) and CD68-positive (r = 0.24; P = .32) iron-containing macrophages. Similar significance results were obtained with linear mixed models. At histopathologic analysis, iron particles were found only in macrophages; none was found in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive tumor cells. Conclusion MRI measurements of susceptibility, R2*, and R2' (R2* - R2) obtained after ferumoxytol administration correlate with iron-containing macrophage concentration, and this shows their potential as quantitative imaging markers of macrophages in malignant gliomas. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
What impact does the child development assessment process have on parental self-efficacy?

Objective: Parental self-efficacy has been linked to overall parental competence, resilience and capacity to respond to adversity. It is therefore a desirable skill to promote in vulnerable parents...
Some results in the theory of genuine representations of the metaplectic double cover of GSp2n(F) over p-adic fields

Abstract Let F be a p-adic field and let G ( n ) ¯ and G 0 ( n ) ¯ be the metaplectic double covers of the general symplectic group and symplectic group attached to a 2n dimensional symplectic space over F. We show here that if n is odd then all the genuine irreducible representations of G ( n ) ¯ are induced from a normal subgroup of finite index closely related to G 0 ( n ) ¯ . Thus, we reduce, in this case, the theory of genuine admissible representations of G ( n ) ¯ to the better understood corresponding theory of G 0 ( n ) ¯ . For odd n we also prove the uniqueness of certain Whittaker functionals along with Rodier type of Heredity. Our results apply also to all parabolic subgroups of G ( n ) ¯ if n is odd and to some of the parabolic subgroups of G ( n ) ¯ if n is even. We prove some irreducibility criteria for parabolic induction on G ( n ) ¯ for both even and odd n. As a corollary we show, among other results, that while for odd n, all genuine principal series representations of G ( n ) ¯ induced from unitary representations are irreducible, there exist reducibility points on the unitary axis if n is even. We also list all the reducible genuine principal series representations of G ( 2 ) ¯ provided that the F is not 2-adic.
Identifying At-Risk Computer Science Students Early in Semester Utilizing Data-Driven Models

With enrollment in computer science (CS) programs continuing to rise, effective student advising is increasingly important to improve student performance and retention. Yet many advising strategies focus on identifying struggling students based on GPA after the semester ends. By the end of the semester, it is too late to add or drop courses, and often too late for students to benefit from other resources which could have helped them succeed in the previous semester's courses. Identifying struggling students as early as possible could have a significant positive impact. If these students can be advised as early as possible, these students could be provided support and allowed to add or drop courses before it is too late. In the present work, we study the earliest student data in the semester, including the grades on the first homework assignments and first midterm exam. By leveraging actual student data, we develop predictive models of student success based on early homework and midterm scores. We have created models which predict with up to 86.7% accuracy whether a student will pass the data structures course, based on as little as the first homework assignment. These initial predictions could enable advisors to more rapidly and effectively support struggling students very early in the semester, improving a student's chances for success.
Anterior Component Separation

Anatomic restoration of the abdominal wall midline can improve functionality after a hernia repair. When the gap is too wide, a component separation of the lateral abdominal wall can help slide its components and achieve primary closure. Understanding of these procedures requires an intimate knowledge of the anatomy of the abdominal wall. The present chapter describes an anterior component separation.
Surgical Performance and the Working Environment

This chapter explores some of the interactions between the surgical working environment, human performance, infection control, and other surgical outcomes. It considers the properties necessary for a room that can appropriately support surgery, from different functions that need to be served, through design considerations and necessary trade-offs, to ventilation, lighting, and acoustics. Optimal OR size varies with procedures and technologies used, and has generally increased in size over time. It needs to be able to contain a range of devices and storage; support a range of visual tasks; allow easy entry, exit, and movement within the room; be easily cleanable; and allow flexibility for a range of procedures. The value of ancillary space – such as induction rooms – and the location of post-care units in relation to the OR are considered. A variety of studies that have explored different aspects of the OR environment – such as ventilation, door openings, acoustics, and humidity – are used to illustrate the interactions between work environment and performance. Finally, a number of methods are described that can be deployed to explore these effects.
Multimedia Pretraining to Teach Complex Content in Occupational Therapy Education.

Importance Challenged to teach increasingly complex content to students, occupational therapy educators need effective instructional approaches. The explosion of multimedia and digital resources in college classrooms suggests that solutions to teaching complicated concepts should leverage educational technology. The multimedia principle of pretraining offers one technique for enriching instruction. The principle of pretraining specifies that learning is more effective when the names and characteristics of main terms are introduced before detailed concepts are presented. Objective To compare the efficacy of three approaches to pretraining for increasing student mastery of complex health care content. Design Pretest, posttest, delayed posttest (after 2 wk). Setting University. Participants First-year occupational therapy students (N = 145) at three West Coast universities. Intervention One of three 12-min video interventions was administered to participants: traditional enhanced pretraining, static concept map pretraining, or animated concept map pretraining. A subsequent 1-hr live lecture on the complex topic of sensory integration theory expanded on the pretraining foundation and was presented to all students. Outcomes and measures Schematic knowledge, which refers to the web of interrelated information built during the learning process, was measured using a structured word association test. Results Participants benefited from all types of pretraining, yet the greatest gains were seen with the static concept map pretraining approach. Conclusions and relevance Pretraining with a static concept map provides effective preparation for complex content learning and preferentially assists learners with low prior knowledge of a topic. Despite its surface sophistication, an animated concept map does not increase pretraining effectiveness and is not recommended. What this article adds As occupational therapy educators are charged with teaching ever more complex content augmented by the use of educational technology, finding practical strategies to enhance student learning is key. Pretraining using a static (one-page or one-screen) concept map introduces new terminology to the learner while simultaneously providing an overview of a topic. Then, when more complex concepts are introduced, exposure to the topic and prior knowledge have already been primed, thus increasing learning potential.
Capital, Three Dimensionally Speaking

Much of the mystery attaching to the concept of capital in economics can be avoided by treating capital as a three dimensional entity, the dimensions being quantity, time and value. The literature on the subject is notable for different treatments focusing on just one or two of these dimensions to the neglect of the others. The most neglected dimension in economics is value. Yet notions of capital that lose sight of this dimension are seen to be incoherent. In this paper we undertake to place the three dimensions in sharp relief while explaining the conceptual dangers of such neglect. A consistent attention to the value dimension provides an indispensable bridge to the notions of capital that function in everyday usage and, thus, contribute to an understanding of economic decisions and economic policies that involve the concept of capital.
Trolls or Toll-Takers: Do Intellectual Property Non-Practicing Entities Add Value to Society?

There are few areas of patent law more contentious than the dispute over the social utility of “non-practicing entities,” or (if you will excuse the expression) “patent trolls.” Whether non-practicing entities add value to society is a topic of much debate, and the focus of the 2015 Chapman Law Review Symposium.
Evaluation of a satellite-based cyanobacteria bloom detection algorithm using field-measured microcystin data

Widespread occurrence of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) and the associated health effects from potential cyanotoxin exposure has led to a need for systematic and frequent screening and monitoring of lakes that are used as recreational and drinking water sources. Remote sensing-based methods are often used for synoptic and frequent monitoring of CyanoHABs. In this study, one such algorithm - a sub-component of the Cyanobacteria Index called the CIcyano, was validated for effectiveness in identifying lakes with toxin-producing blooms in 11 states across the contiguous United States over 11 bloom seasons (2005-2011, 2016-2019). A matchup data set was created using satellite data from MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and Ocean Land Colour Imager (OLCI), and nearshore, field-measured Microcystins (MCs) data as a proxy of CyanoHAB presence. While the satellite sensors cannot detect toxins, MCs are used as the indicator of health risk, and as a confirmation of cyanoHAB presence. MCs are also the most common laboratory measurement made by managers during CyanoHABs. Algorithm performance was evaluated by its ability to detect CyanoHAB 'Presence' or 'Absence', where the bloom is confirmed by the presence of the MCs. With same-day matchups, the overall accuracy of CyanoHAB detection was found to be 84% with precision and recall of 87 and 90% for bloom detection. Overall accuracy was expected to be between 77% and 87% (95% confidence) based on a bootstrapping simulation. These findings demonstrate that CIcyano has utility for synoptic and routine monitoring of potentially toxic cyanoHABs in lakes across the United States.
Variant Approaches to Luck

The standard approach to assessing luck will proceed via the amount-measure of the Basic Luck Equation λ = Y − E. However, some variant perspectives bring other salient features of luck to light.
Surficial Stabilization of Wildfire-Burnt Hillslopes Using Xanthan Gum and Polyacrylamide

Post-wildfire erosion and the slope instability issues associated with it are a global problem that can negatively affect transportation corridors, the environment, and human life. Currently, mulch treatments are commonly used means of stabilizing wildfire-burnt hillslopes; however, mulch, especially agricultural straw mulch, can pose environmental concerns related to invasive plants. An environmentally friendly treatment, xanthan gum (XG), and a commercial polyacrylamide (PAM) were evaluated as alternatives for stabilizing surficial silty soil that was burnt by the 2018 Mesa Fire in central Idaho to reduce runoff-dominated erosion. Indoor rainfall experiments were conducted to simulate three wet-dry cycles. Runoff and infiltration were measured after each wetting and drying event, and used to compare the effectiveness of the admixture. The total runoff at the end of three wetting events increased slightly, by ~ 4% for PAM and ~ 12% for XG. These results indicate that both PAM and XG decrease soil loss and infiltration, but that neither seals the soil surface completely. The soil loss during each wetting event was found to be dependent on the water content before wetting and the corresponding regime in the soil water retention curve. PAM and XG maintained the unsaturated state in soil, with water contents consistently around 30% before the second and third wetting events. This resulted in similar runoffs and statistically significant reductions in soil loss. At the end of three events, the soil loss was reduced by 2.9 times for XG and 6.9 times for PAM, compared to the soil loss from untreated soil.
Management of Gout: Update from the American College of Rheumatology.

The American College of Rheumatology published updated guidelines for gout management focused on improving prevention of flare-ups.
Toxicity and Dosimetric Parameters of Ablative Radiation Therapy in the Management of Patients with Child-Pugh B/C Liver Function and Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose/Objective(s) To date there is no clear standard non-surgical therapeutic option for HCC patients. Ablative radiation therapy (SBRT/HIGRT) is an emerging non-invasive treatment for patients with HCC. However, there is concern about the risk for radiation-induced liver toxicity following radiation in patients with decompensated liver function (Child-Pugh B/C). Materials/Methods We retrospectively identified all patients with unresectable, non-metastatic HCC treated with SBRT/HIGRT and underlying Child-Pugh B or C liver function prior to radiation therapy at our University and Veterans Affairs (VA) radiation oncology departments from 2014 to 2019. Primary endpoints included treatment-related toxicity, as well as, evaluation of dosimetric parameters for OAR. Results 38 patients (39 treatment courses) were included. Most patients (97%) had Child-Pugh B7-B9 (62% CP B7, 21% CP B8, 15% CP B9) or ALBI grade 2-3 (69% ALBI grade 2, 31% ALBI grade 3) liver disease prior to radiation therapy. A single patient had Child-Pugh C10 liver function. The most commonly utilized regimens include 50 Gy in either 5 or 10 fractions. The median delivered dose was 50 Gy (range 30-50) in an average of 7.5 fractions (range 5-10). Most patients had a single lesion (63%) with a median lesion size of 3.2 cm (range 1.10-7.40 cm). The mean liver dose was 9.40 Gy (range 3.38-23.94) with a liver D800cc of 4.14 Gy (range 0.35-17.31). All patients completed their intended treatment course with a median follow up of 43 months. Four (10.3%) treatment courses resulted in non-classical radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) (defined as an increase of 2 or more points in Child-Pugh score), compared to 8.3% for patients with Child-Pugh A liver function treated during a similar time period. Otherwise, one patient (2.6%) experienced acute grade 3+ (non-RILD) hepatobiliary toxicity (transient transaminitis). Two-year freedom from local progression was 73% (95% CI 37-90%), median overall survival 12 months (95% CI 5-25 months), and median progression free-survival was not reached. Conclusion Ablative radiation therapy as definitive management for patients with unresectable, non-metastatic HCC appears to be reasonably well tolerated in patients with decompensated liver function at baseline (Child-Pugh B7-B9), with low rates of RILD and encouraging local control. With careful selection, these patients appear to be reasonable candidates for consideration of SBRT/HIGRT. Our analysis did not include enough patients with Child-Pugh C10+ disease to draw meaningful conclusions.
Susceptibility assessment of urban tree species in Cambridge, MA, from future climatic extremes

The City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, recognizes the value of the city’s urban forest in terms of air quality, lower wind speeds, esthetics, energy conservation, reduced noise pollution, habitat value, decreased runoff, and bolstering of local businesses and property values. The density, composition, and location of street and city park trees comprising the urban forest will be influenced by future climate-driven extreme weather events. In this study, we have developed an approach for assessing impacts of multiple extreme weather scenarios likely to become more frequent under climate change and subsequently influence the composition of street and park trees. This potential for loss of trees as a result of one (or more) of these climate-related extreme weather events is considered to be one indicator of the susceptibility of Cambridge’s urban forest to climate-related weather events. The scenarios considered were a hurricane/tropical storm similar to tropical storm Sandy in 2012, heat stress, snow or ice loading (e.g., loss of tree limbs), Asian longhorn beetle or emerald ash borer infestations, and the cumulative effect from the addition of all these scenarios. The literature was used to assess the sensitivity of tree species to each threat and determine the anticipated loss of individuals from each species. The results are a reasonable indication of the more tolerant tree species in Cambridge and their locations. This assessment of susceptibility can inform proactive management of the urban forest.
Topical sulfonylurea as a novel therapy for hypertrichosis secondary to diazoxide, and potentially for other conditions with excess hair growth

It is hypothesized that a topical application of a sulfonylurea drug, which can inhibit the ATP-sensitive potassium-gated channels (Kir6.X/SUR) present in human hair bulb tissues, will inhibit hair growth in a targeted manner. Diazoxide is used to treat severe hypoglycemia due to hyperinsulinism of infancy. However, this often results in hypertrichosis that can be severe enough to prevent its use. Diazoxide blocks insulin release from the pancreas by opening the SUR1/Kir6.2 channels in s-cells. Diazoxide can also act on two potassium-gated channels in the skin that affect hair growth, namely SUR1/Kir6.2 and SUR2B/Kir6.1, thus causing hypertrichosis. It is proposed that a topical sulfonylurea will inhibit the excessive hair growth due to diazoxide, but will not impact the beneficial effects of diazoxide on beta cells. This approach can also be applied to rare cases of Cantu syndrome, caused by mutations in ABCC9 (coding for SUR2) or in KCNJ8 (coding for Kir6.1) that is characterized by congenital hypertrichosis. More importantly, this approach may also be effective in treating other forms of hypertrichosis or hirsutism, that are quite common, yet very distressing to patients worldwide.
Abstract W P298: Simulation Based Acute Stroke Training for Neurology Residents

Background: The majority of patients presenting with acute stroke in teaching hospitals are assessed by neurology residents. Simulation based training has been shown to be an effective teaching tool in medical education. We sought to determine whether simulation based training improves learner confidence in the evaluation and management of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We devised a simulated acute stroke scenario utilizing a standardized patient instructed to act out a right hemispheric syndrome and an emergency department nurse. Scenarios were performed in May/June of 2013 and April/May of 2014. Laboratory values, vitals, electrocardiogram and a normal head computerized tomography scan were shown to the residents. Residents were expected to efficiently take a focused history, perform an NIHSS exam, evaluate exclusion and inclusion criteria, obtain informed consent for thrombolysis administration and give the correct dose of t-PA. Following t-PA administration, the patient develops an acute severe headache and the learner is evaluated on whether they immediately discontinue the infusion and initiate appropriate management steps for t-PA associated hemorrhage. Following the scenario the learner met one on one with staff for a debriefing session. Learner confidence in the management of acute stroke was assessed before and after the simulation experience using a 5 point Likert scale with 1=novice, 3=competent and 5=expert. Following the simulation, learners were asked to evaluate the experience (poor, needs improvement, good or outstanding). Results: 21 Neurology residents completed the scenario (11 in 2013 and 10 in 2014). Learner confidence improved from mean 2.81(SD-0.88) to 3.36(SD-0.73), p=0.03. Evaluations were favorable with all residents reporting a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ experience. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that simulation training in the evaluation of acute ischemic stroke among neurology residents is feasible and improves learner self-confidence.
On the Monitoring of Linear Profiles

Control chart methods are proposed for process monitoring when the quality of a process or product is characterized by a liner function. Among the methods recommended for Phase I are the use of a bivariate T(2) chart to check for stability of the reg..