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Background: Innovation is broadly defined as the act of introducing a new product, idea, or process. The field of surgery is built upon innovation, revolutionizing technology, science, and tools to improve patient care. While most innovative solutions are aimed at problems with a significant patient population, the process can also be used on orphan pathologies without obvious solutions. We present a case of tracheal agenesis, a rare congenital anomaly with an overwhelming mortality and few good treatment options, that benefited from the innovation process and achieved survival with no ventilator dependence at three years of age. Methods: Utilizing the framework of the innovation process akin to the Stanford Biodesign Program, 1) the parameters of the clinical problem were identified, 2) previous solutions and existing technologies were analyzed, newly invented solutions were brainstormed, and value analysis of the possible solutions were carried out using crowd wisdom, and 3) the selected solution was prototyped and tested using 3D modeling, iterative testing on 3D prints of actual-sized patient parts, and eventual implementation in the patient after regulatory clearance. Results: A 3D-printed external bioresorbable splint was chosen as the solution. Our patient underwent airway reconstruction with “trachealization of the esophagus”: esophageotracheal fistula resection, esophagotracheoplasty, and placement of a 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) stent for external esophageal airway support at five months of age. Conclusions: The innovation process provided our team with the guidance and imperative steps necessary to develop an innovative device for the successful management of an infant survivor with Floyd Type I tracheal agenesis. Article summary: We present a case of tracheal agenesis, a rare congenital anomaly with an overwhelming mortality and few good treatment options, that benefited from the innovation process and achieved survival with no ventilator dependence at three years of age.The importance of this report is to reveal how the innovation process, which is typically used for problems with significant patient population, can also be used on orphan pathologies without obvious solutions.

Identification of chemical compounds has many applications in science and technology. However, this process still relies significantly on the knowledge and experience of chemists. Thus, the development of techniques for faster and more accurate chemical compound identification is essential. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of using artificial neural networks to accurately identify organic compounds through the measurement of refractive index. The models were developed based on the refractive index measurements in different wavelengths of light, from UV to the far-infrared region. The models were trained with about 250,000 records of experimental optical constants for 60 organic compounds and polymers from published literature. The models performed with accuracies of up to 98 %, with better performance observed for the refractive index measurements across the visible and IR regions. The proposed models could be coupled with other devices for autonomous identification of chemical compounds using a single-wavelength dispersive measurement.

Research in Humanities in the Third World/Global South is increasingly becoming a derivative exercise, leading to the loss of social relevance. Not just the methods of inquiry, even the topics of research are being dictated from the metropolitan centres, and even those who are conversant with the epistemic violence perpetrated on the non-west are victims/products of this theory-imposition. Restoring authenticity in research enroute to ensuring its social relevance, and finding 'voice' have become the major concerns of researchers in the field in recent years. This article advocates a critically-informed theoretical stance, and a few methodological manoeuvres derived from this stance, which together have the potential to address this issue plaguing research in humanities. Careful scrutiny of dominant theoretical postulates and approaches with a view to distinguishing between genuine theories, and those that are mere symptoms of the very socio-cultural phenomena they claim to analyse, and deriving the methods of inquiry from the objects of analysis themselves, by assuming a fluid connection between the subject and object of inquiry, are two of the researchauthenticity reclaiming macro-strategies this paper advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The passage of leukocytes across the endothelium and into arterial walls is a critical step in the development of atherosclerosis. Previously, we showed in vitro that the RhoG guanine nucleotide exchange factor SGEF (Arhgef26) contributes to the formation of ICAM-1-induced endothelial docking structures that facilitate leukocyte transendothelial migration. To further explore the in vivo role of this protein during inflammation, we generated SGEF-deficient mice. When crossed with ApoE null mice and fed a Western diet, mice lacking SGEF showed a significant decrease in the formation of atherosclerosis in multiple aortic areas. A fluorescent biosensor revealed local activation of RhoG around bead-clustered ICAM-1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells. Notably, this activation was decreased in cells from SGEF-deficient aortas compared to wild type. In addition, scanning electron microscopy of intimal surfaces of SGEF(-/-) mouse aortas revealed reduced docking structures around beads that were coated with ICAM-1 antibody. Similarly, under conditions of flow, these beads adhered less stably to the luminal surface of carotid arteries from SGEF(-/-) mice. Taken together, these results show for the first time that a Rho-GEF, namely SGEF, contributes to the formation of atherosclerosis by promoting endothelial docking structures and thereby retention of leukocytes at athero-prone sites of inflammation experiencing high shear flow. SGEF may therefore provide a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis.

Fantastic fiction, where the referent is evidently a creation of words, facilitates the move beyond meaning to significance, and this marks its difference vis-à-vis realist fiction where the “referential fallacy” often gets in the way of the reader reaching the level of significance. Exploiting this potential, Carroll helps the reader ofAlice in WonderlandandThrough the Looking Glasssuspend their habit of looking at their self and the world as two unrelated entities. He does this by challenging the assumed plenitude of the Cartesian “I” and the substantiality of the world this “I” seeks to know. From this vantage point, the power relations in the Victorian society that the culture of this society sustains become obvious to the reader. This is Carroll’s innovation on the tradition in fantasy literature. “Carrolludicity,” the use of play to facilitate scrutiny of contemporary knowledge and belief systems, and the unique way in which the food chain becomes a metaphor for contemporary social hierarchy, forcing reflection on the dominant cultural code are instances of this innovation. TheAlicebooks offer their reader the experience of occupying a belief and value neutral space for a few fleeting moments, facilitating reflection on contemporary culture, and herein lies Carroll’s relevance for his post-Victorian reader. Carrroll’s deconstruction of the symbolic system is more apparent to postmodern readers who are familiar with antifoundationalism, the dominant philosophical stance of their time. TheAlicebooks initiate these readers into the process of becoming sojourners through the cultures of the world, including their own culture, and prepare them for a cosmopolitan life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Collection of high-quality videorecorded speech samples is essential for speech outcomes research. Solution: Cleft palate team SLPs were trained to collect standard videorecorded speech samples in the clinic setting across 20 sites in North America. Standard training and equipment was provided. What We Did That is New: Quality management procedures were developed and utilized to verify video quality and protocol adherence. Over 97% of speech samples collected by trained SLPs met defined quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Surgical treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) includes a wide array of procedures. The purpose of this study was to develop a classification for VPI procedures and to describe variations in how they are performed. Design/participants/setting/outcomes: We completed an in-depth review of the literature to develop a preliminary schema that encompassed existing VPI procedures. Forty-one cleft surgeons from twelve hospitals across the USA and Canada reviewed the schema and either confirmed that it encompassed all VPI procedures they performed or requested additions. Two surgeons then observed the conduct of the procedures by surgeons at each hospital. Standardized reports were completed with each visit to further explore the literature, refine the schema, and delineate the common and unique aspects of each surgeon's technique. Results: Procedures were divided into three groups: palate-based surgery; pharynx-based surgery; and augmentation. Palate-based operations included straight line mucosal incision with intravelar veloplasty, double-opposing Z-plasty, and palate lengthening with buccal myomucosal flaps. Many surgeons blended maneuvers from these three techniques, so a more descriptive schema was developed classifying the maneuvers employed on the oral mucosa, nasal mucosa, and muscle. Pharynx-based surgery included pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty, with variations in design for each. Augmentation procedures included palate and posterior wall augmentation. Conclusions: A comprehensive schema for VPI procedures was developed incorporating intentional adaptations in technique. There was substantial variation amongst surgeons in how each procedure was performed. The schema may enable more specific evaluations of surgical outcomes and exploration of the mechanisms through which these procedures improve speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe current postoperative management practices following cleft palate repair. Design: A survey was administered to cleft surgeons to collect information on their demographic characteristics, surgical training, surgical practice, and postoperative management preferences. Setting: Eighteen tertiary referral hospitals across the United States. Participants: Surgeons (n = 67) performing primary cleft palate repair. Results: Postoperative diet restrictions were imposed by 92% of surgeons; pureed foods were allowed at one week after surgery by 90% of surgeons; a regular diet was allowed at one month by 80% of surgeons. Elbow immobilizers and/or mittens were used by 85% of surgeons, for a median duration of two weeks. There was significant disagreement about postoperative use of bottles (61% allow), sippy cups (68% allow), pacifiers (29% allow), and antibiotics (45% prescribe). Surgeon specialty was not associated with any aspect of postoperative management (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Surgeon years in practice, a measure of surgeon experience, was associated only with sippy cup use (p < 0.01). The hospital at which the surgeon practiced was associated with diet restrictions (p < 0.01), bottle use (p < 0.01), and use of elbow immobilizers or mittens (p < 0.01); however, many hospitals still had disagreement among their surgeons. Conclusions: Surgeons broadly agree on diet restrictions and the use of elbow immobilizers or mittens following palate repair. Almost all other aspects of postoperative management, including the type and duration of diet restriction as well as the duration of immobilizer use, are highly individualized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on presentations at ACPA's 2024 Annual Meeting, covering diverse topics such as innovative techniques for cleft rhinoplasty, novel methods for nasal aesthetic analysis, and advancements in digital workflow for nasoalveolar molding fabrication. It highlight the importance of improving surgical outcomes, enhancing preoperative planning, and leveraging technology for more effective cleft care interventions.

Objective: To present the design and methodology for an actively enrolling comparative effectiveness study of revision palatoplasty versus pharyngoplasty for the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) Design: Prospective observational multicenter study Setting: Twelve hospitals across the United States and Canada Participants: Individuals who are 3–23 years of age with a history of repaired cleft palate and a diagnosis of VPI, with a total enrollment target of 528 participants Interventions: Revision palatoplasty and pharyngoplasty (either pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty), as selected for each participant by their treatment team Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome is resolution of hypernasality, defined as the absence of consistent hypernasality as determined by blinded perceptual assessment of a standard speech sample recorded twelve months after surgery. The secondary outcome is incidence of new onset obstructive sleep apnea. Statistical analyses will use propensity score matching to control for demographics, medical history, preoperative severity of hypernasality, and preoperative imaging findings. Results: Study recruitment began February 2021. As of September 2022, 148 participants are enrolled, and 78 have undergone VPI surgery. Enrollment is projected to continue into 2025. Collection of postoperative evaluations should be completed by the end of 2026, with dissemination of results soon thereafter. Conclusions: Patients with VPI following cleft palate repair are being actively enrolled at sites across the US and Canada into a prospective observational study evaluating surgical outcomes. This study will be the largest and most comprehensive study of VPI surgery outcomes to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous VCL::ALK fusion spindle (ovoid) cell tumor is unique. Recently emerged RAS::MAP tyrosine kinase fusion sarcomas more commonly involve subcutis, skeletal muscle and even bone. We share our experience with a novel cutaneous VCL::ALK spindle cell tumor. An 11‐year‐old male presented with a back pedunculated pink–red papule thought to be a pyogenic granuloma. Biopsy histopathology revealed an epithelial collarette with pedunculated tumor extending to deep dermis/subcutis interface. The combination of spindled and epithelioid cells, an ovoid myopericytoid appearance within myxoid to collagenous stroma, low to moderate MIB1 and focal S100 protein without SOX10 immunostaining, were suggestive of a novel RAS::MAPK tyrosine kinase fusion sarcoma that is well described. ALK immunostain being positive, a next‐generation sequencing comprehensive fusion panel was performed to reveal a VCL::ALK fusion. While epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma shares this fusion and similar dermal location and collarette pedunculation, this and other entities were excluded by older patient age, deeper dermal involvement, ovoid‐to‐spindled morphology, central pericytoid vasculature, myxoid stroma, moderate cellularity with low to moderate MIB1 expression, superficial ulceration, and focal S100 protein expression. Complete excision was performed with favorable follow‐up to date. This novel VCL::ALK fusion spindle (ovoid) cell tumor of the dermis is best considered as part of the recently emerged RAS::MAP tyrosine kinase fusion sarcomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of multidisciplinary approaches, community support, and research findings to improve treatment and outcomes for individuals with cleft lip and palate. It highlights the positive impact of a community-based craniofacial team day, a comparative effectiveness study, and a comparison of early speech production in children with cleft palate.

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful nodules, drainage and scarring in skin folds. Injectable adalimumab is the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HS. Although systemic Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors show promise, serious side-effects have been reported. There are no highly effective topical treatments for HS; furthermore, the contribution of epidermal keratinocytes to the intense inflammation has largely been unexplored. Objectives We investigated the role of keratinocytes and epidermal immune cells in HS inflammation at all Hurley stages of disease severity. We aimed to determine whether ruxolitinib can mitigate inflammation from keratinocytes and to develop a better understanding of how topical therapeutics might benefit patients with HS. Methods We used skin samples from 87 patients with HS (Hurley stages I–III) and 39 healthy controls to compare keratinocyte- and immune cell-driven epidermal inflammation, in addition to the response of lesional HS keratinocytes to treatment with interferon (IFN)-γ and ruxolitinib. We used haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assessments in whole skin, isolated epidermis, and cultured keratinocytes from healthy controls and both nonlesional and lesional HS skin to identify and define epidermal and keratinocyte-mediated inflammation in HS and how this may be targeted by therapeutics. Results HS lesional keratinocytes autonomously secreted high levels of chemokines, such as CCL2, CCL3 and CXCL3, which recruited neutrophils, CD8 T cells, and natural killer cells to the epidermis. Keratinocytes were the dominant source of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in HS lesions with little to no contribution from underlying dermal immune cells. In the presence of IFN-γ, which is dependent on immune cell infiltrate in vivo , keratinocytes expressed increased levels of additional cytokines including IL-1β, IL-12, IL-23 and IL-36γ. The JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib mitigated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in HS lesional keratinocytes, thus providing a rationale for future study as a topical treatment for HS. Conclusions This study demonstrates that keratinocytes actively recruit immune cells to HS epidermis and interactions between these cells drive a broad inflammatory profile in HS epidermis. Targeting epidermal inflammation in HS with novel topical formulations may be highly efficacious with reduced systemic side-effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently reported detrital zircon (DZ) data help to associate the Paleogene strata of the Gulf of Mexico region to various provenance areas. By far, recent work has emphasised upper Paleocene‐lower Eocene and upper Oligocene strata that were deposited during the two episodes of the highest sediment supply in the Paleogene. The data reveal a dynamic drainage history, including (1) initial routing of western Cordilleran drainages towards the Gulf of Mexico in the Paleocene, (2) an eastward shift of the western continental divide, from the Jura‐Cretaceous cordilleran arc to the eastern edge of the Laramide province after the Paleocene and (3) a southward shift, along the eastern Laramide province, of the headwaters of river systems draining to the Mississippi and Houston embayments at some time between the early Eocene and Oligocene. However, DZ characterisation of most (~20 Myr) of the middle Eocene‐lower Oligocene section remains limited. We present 60 DZ age spectra, most of which are from the middle or upper Eocene outcrop belts, with 50–200‐km spacing. We define six to eight distinct groups of DZ age spectra for middle and upper Eocene strata. Data from this and other studies resolve at least six substantial temporal changes in age spectra at various positions along the continental margin. The evolving age spectra constrain the middle and upper Eocene drainage patterns of large parts of interior North America. The most well‐resolved aspects of these drainage patterns include (1) persistent rivers that flowed from erosional landscapes across the Paleozoic Appalachian orogen either into the low‐lying Mississippi embayment or directly into the eastern Gulf; (2) at least during marine regressions, a trunk channel that likely flowed southward along the axial part of Mississippi Embayment and integrated tributaries from the east and west; and (3) rivers that flowed to the Houston embayment in the middle Eocene that likely originated in the Laramide province in central Colorado and southern Wyoming, as Precambrian basement highs in those source areas were being unroofed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate patient-reported aesthetic and psychosocial outcomes of secondary cleft lip and nose revision procedures. Design: Single-center cohort study. Setting: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients/Participants: Patients who underwent secondary revision procedures for cleft lip and nasal defect (N = 42). Interventions: Patients were administered a survey during a routine postoperative clinic visit. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcome measures were planned prior to data collection and included improvement in appearance seen in lip and nose, satisfaction with revision procedure, changes in self-confidence, likelihood to participate in social activities, and effect on teasing by peers. Results: Patients agreed that an improvement was seen in the appearance of their lip (1.93) and nose (1.98) following surgery. Overall, patients felt satisfied with the results of their revision procedure (1.76). An improvement in confidence and decrease in feelings of self-consciousness was reported. Patients were teased less by their peers and more likely to participate in social activities. Conclusions: Secondary revision procedures of the cleft lip and nasal defect provide a patient-reported improvement in appearance and a positive psychosocial impact on patient's lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The El Rito and Galisteo depocenters in north‐central New Mexico archive tectonically‐driven Paleogene drainage reorganization, the effects of which influenced sedimentation along the northwestern margin of the Gulf of Mexico. Although separated by ~100 km and lacking depositional chronology for the El Rito Formation, the two aforementioned New Mexican depocenters are commonly considered remnants of a single basin with coeval deposition and shared accommodation mechanism. Detrital zircon U‐Pb maximum depositional ages indicate that the El Rito and Galisteo formations are not coeval. Moreover, stratigraphic thickness trends and mapping relationships indicate different accommodation mechanisms for the Galisteo and El Rito depocenters; tectonically‐induced subsidence versus infilling of incised topography, respectively. The regional unconformity that bounds the base of both the El Rito and Galisteo formations is a correlative surface induced by local tectonic activity and associated drainage reorganization in the early Eocene, and was diachronously buried by northward onlap of fluvial sediments. Detrital zircon distributions in both depocenters indicate increased recycling of Mesozoic strata above the unconformity, but diverge upsection as topographic prominence of local basement‐involved uplifts waned. Sediment capture in these depocenters is coeval with deposition in other externally‐drained Laramide basins. Further, it corresponds to a period of low Laramide province‐derived sediment input and replacement by Appalachian‐sourced sediment along the northwestern margin of the Gulf of Mexico during a basin‐wide transgression. This illustrates the potential effect that pockets of sediment storage within the catchment of a transcontinental drainage system can have over the sedimentary record in the receiving marine basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the association between university–industry collaboration and firm innovation performance, and the effect of informal mechanisms of knowledge transfer on such an association, using data from a survey of 245 firms in Ghana and employing partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results are of significant relevance to the business community and policy-makers in Ghana and West African. We find that while university–industry collaboration is positively related to innovation performance in firms, informal mechanisms of university knowledge transfer do not and negatively moderate the positive association between university–industry collaboration and innovation performance in firms. It is also found that to facilitate innovation outcomes, formal, legal binding contracts are required. The study recommends that university knowledge generation and innovation policies in Ghana encourage formal collaboration between knowledge exchange actors. It is also suggested that improvements need to be made to the efficacy of intellectual property legislation in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on list of the disclosures for all sessions with continuing education at ACPA's 77th Annual Meeting and disclosures have been reviewed and any relevant conflict of interests have been resolved.

The foraging ecology of mammalian herbivores is regulated in part by their ability to detoxify plant secondary metabolites (PSM). Ambient temperature has been shown to alter liver function in rodents and the toxicity of some PSMs, but little is known about the physiological and nutritional consequences of consuming PSMs at different ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the effect of ambient temperature on the response of mammals to the most ubiquitous class of PSM, tannins, is unknown.We measured the effect of temperature and tannin intake on liver function, and the subsequent effect on the tannin tolerance of wild Japanese wood mice, Apodemus speciosus. The experiment involved acclimation to one of two ambient temperatures (10°C or 20°C) followed by acclimation to a diet of acorns (6.2% tannin DW). Liver function was measured both before and after acclimation to acorns by measuring the clearance time of a hypnotic agent. Finally, the mice were fed only acorns in a 5‐day feeding experiment to assess their tolerance to tannin in the diet.Acclimation to acorns had a significant effect on liver function, but the direction of this effect was dependent on ambient temperature. Acorn consumption improved the liver function of wood mice at 10°C, but reduced liver function at 20°C, revealing a complex relationship between ambient temperature and tannin intake on liver function. Furthermore, mice with better liver function, indicated by faster clearance of the hypnotic agent, exhibited higher protein digestibility on an acorn‐only diet, indicative of higher tannin tolerance.These results suggest that environmental temperature plays a significant role in the tolerance of A. speciosus to tannins, providing new insight into their seasonal feeding behaviour and winter ecology. We contend that cold‐induced tannin tolerance may help to explain the population dynamics of mammalian herbivores with seasonal changes in the tannin content of their diet, and inform predictions about the response of these animals to a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether intraoperative acetaminophen was able to decrease opioid consumption, pain scores, and length of stay while increasing oral intake in cleft palate surgery. Design/Setting/Patients: One hundred consecutive patients with cleft palate who underwent a von Langenbeck or 2-flap palatoplasty and intravelar veloplasty at a tertiary medical center by the 2 senior authors from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Interventions: Three intraoperative treatment groups were analyzed: intravenous (IV) acetaminophen, per rectal (PR) acetaminophen, and no acetaminophen. All patients received long-acting local anesthesia infiltration before incision. Additionally, all patients were admitted overnight and given weight-based per oral (PO) acetaminophen and oxycodone and IV morphine as needed based on pain scores. Outcomes Measured: The study outcomes included pain scores, opioid requirement, length of stay, and oral intake. Results: The treatment groups were comprised of 40 patients who received IV acetaminophen, 22 PR acetaminophen, and 35 none. Concerning demographic data, there was no statistical difference between treatment groups. There was no statistically significant difference for opioid intake, although both IV and PR acetaminophen groups had decreased pain scores (P = .029). There was no difference in oral intake (P = .13) or length of stay (P = .31) between treatment groups. Conclusion: In this study, intraoperative administration of acetaminophen was associated with decreased pain scores, but no opioid-sparing effect. As other studies have shown an opioid-sparing effect with postoperative acetaminophen, we recommend withholding the intraoperative dose and beginning therapy in the immediate postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discloses the financial and non-financial relationships of the contributors with the journal.

There is reason to be optimistic about management education in Africa given the growth in the number of business schools on the continent and continued efforts at raising quality. There remains room for improvement in the field, of course, and the issues and challenges that need to be tackled have been written about elsewhere (e.g. African Management Initiative (AMI), 2013; AMBA, 2015; Thomas et al., 2016). The study reported here has the more nuanced purpose of understanding the blind spots that persist in the field. These are issues that are largely ignored or receive insufficient attention because their significance is underestimated. Through a series of structured in-depth interviews with leading management educators and stakeholders, we uncover three potential blind spots to do with a lack of demand-side orientation, unequal access to management education, and the need for glocalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Mammals maintain specific body temperatures (Tb) across a broad range of ambient temperatures. The energy required for thermoregulation ultimately comes from the diet, and so what animals eat is inextricably linked to thermoregulation. Endothermic herbivores must balance energy requirements and expenditure with complicated thermoregulatory challenges from changing thermal, nutritional and toxicological environments. In this review we provide evidence that plant‐based diets can influence thermoregulation beyond the control of herbivores, and that this can render them susceptible to heat stress. Notably, herbivorous diets often require specialised digestive systems, are imbalanced, and contain plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). PSMs in particular are able to interfere with the physiological processes responsible for thermoregulation, for example by uncoupling mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, binding to thermoreceptors, or because the pathways required to detoxify PSMs are thermogenic. It is likely, therefore, that increased ambient temperatures due to climate change may have greater and more‐specific impacts on herbivores than on other mammals, and that managing internal and external heat loads under these conditions could drive changes in feeding ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The passage of leukocytes across the endothelium and into arterial walls is a critical step in the development of atherosclerosis. Previously, we showed in vitro that the RhoG guanine nucleotide exchange factor SGEF (Arhgef26) contributes to the formation of ICAM-1-induced endothelial docking structures that facilitate leukocyte transendothelial migration. To further explore the in vivo role of this protein during inflammation, we generated SGEF-deficient mice. When crossed with ApoE null mice and fed a Western diet, mice lacking SGEF showed a significant decrease in the formation of atherosclerosis in multiple aortic areas. A fluorescent biosensor revealed local activation of RhoG around bead-clustered ICAM-1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells. Notably, this activation was decreased in cells from SGEF-deficient aortas compared to wild type. In addition, scanning electron microscopy of intimal surfaces of SGEF-/- mouse aortas revealed reduced docking structures around beads that were coated with ICAM-1 antibody. Similarly, under conditions of flow, these beads adhered less stably to the luminal surface of carotid arteries from SGEF-/- mice. Taken together, these results show for the first time that a Rho-GEF, namely SGEF, contributes to the formation of atherosclerosis by promoting endothelial docking structures and thereby retention of leukocytes at athero-prone sites of inflammation experiencing high shear flow. SGEF may therefore provide a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the state’s recent adoption of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards, all leadership preparation programs are required to develop a standards-based curriculum emphasizing the principal’s responsibility to lead schools committed to student success. The Midwest State University (MSU) educational leadership faculty, which has undergone significant turnover, is faced with the dual challenge of developing collaborative working relationships among department members while revising their principal preparation program to meet the state’s upgraded requirements. The MSU faculty used this opportunity to develop a professional learning community through a series of retreats and sustained work activities throughout the academic year as they reformed their principal preparation program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The lymphatic system, composed of lymphatic vessels, lymph, lymph nodes, and lymphocytes, is a distinctive vasculature (discontinuous basement membrane, open endothelial junctions, anchoring filaments, valves, and intrinsic contractility), different yet similar to the blood vasculature; an integral component of the plasma-tissue fluid-lymph circulation (the “blood-lymph loop”); and the center of the immunoregulatory network. Lymphatics are involved in diverse developmental, growth, repair, and pathologic processes both analogous to and distinct from those affecting the blood vasculature. Interference with the blood-lymph loop produces swelling [an imbalance between lymph formation (regulated by Starling’s law of transcapillary fluid exchange) and lymph absorption], scarring, nutritional and immunodysregulatory disorders, as well as disturbances in lymph(hem)angiogenesis (lymphedema-angiodysplasia syndromes). The lymphatic system is also the stage on which key events during cancer development and progression are played out, and historically, also forms the basis for current evaluation, prognostication, and/or both operative and non-operative treatment of most cancers. Recent advances in molecular lymphology (e.g., discovery of lymphatic growth factors, endothelial receptors, transcription factors, genes, and highly specific immunohistochemical markers) and growing interest in lymphangiogenesis, combined with fresh insights and refined tools in clinical lymphology, including non-invasive lymphatic imaging, are opening up a window for translation to the clinical arena. Therefore, in cancer biology, attention to the multifaceted structure-function relationships within this vast, relatively unexplored system is long overdue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains the failure of the Jamaica slaves to reproduce naturally in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It argues that the explanation for the failure stemmed from dietary inadequacies and the harsh working routines of sugar cultivation, which compounded epidemiological and whatever social, cultural and political factors may have motivated Jamaican slave women concerning their own reproductive capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary This paper makes a case for looking beyond the tropes that oversimplify the intellectual movement called Theory. It claims that this is necessary to get a glimpse of the [...]