cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxicity of hardwood extractives toward Saccharomyces cerevisiae glucose fermentation

The toxicity of oak and yellow-poplar wood extracts, as well as a first-stage hardwood hydrolyzate liquor prepared from a red oak:white oak:yellow-poplar (1:1:1) sawdust, on Saccharomyces cerevisiae D5A was examined. Acetone/water and hot methanol extracts of solid biomass samples from white oak, red oak, and yellow-poplar gave 88-94% of the ethanol produced with controls. The organism was tolerant to the compounds present in the xylose-rich hydrolyzate, with fermentation efficiency being improved to 97% of that obtained with controls by using an overliming/thermal conditioning protocol.
Orientation specific immobilization of organophosphorus hydrolase on magnetic particles through gene fusion.

Recombinant DNA technology has been utilized to fuse an octapeptide, Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys (FLAG), to the C-terminus of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH, EC 3.1.8.1), an enzyme capable of ...
A simple technique for constructing the full stress and displacement fields in elastic plates with multiple cracks

Abstract Full displacement and stress fields in a two-dimensional elastic solid with multiple interacting cracks is constructed in an approximate way, in elementary functions. It is done by approximating the actual displacement discontinuity (COD) on each crack, in each of modes I and II, by a product of the ellipse corresponding to an isolated crack and a quadratic polynomial. The polynomial’s coefficients, that reflect crack interactions, are chosen to match the SIFs and the average tractions on cracks (quantities found, for example, by a simple method of analysis of crack interactions; Kachanov, M. Elastic solids with many cracks: a simple method of analysis. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 23, 1987. 23–43). We then use this approximated CODs in the representation of the displacement field in the solid in terms of integrals over crack lines, with CODs as kernels. The constructed field differs from the actual one by the field generated by such traction distributions on cracks that have zero averages and produce zero stress intensity factors. The accuracy of the suggested method depends on the configuration, but, generally, remains good at spacings between cracks that are substantially smaller than the crack lengths.
Monitoring Intrathecal Temperature: Does Core Temperature Reflect Intrathecal Temperature During Aortic Surgery?

Paraplegia secondary to spinal cord ischemia is a common occurrence following proximal aortic surgery. Recent research has suggested that modest reductions in neuronal temperature (ie, a 2 to 5 degrees C reduction) may protect the central nervous system from ischemic injury, and several medical centers are now using modest whole body hypothermia in an attempt to protect the spinal cord during aortic surgery. However, to date, there are no reports to validate that reductions in core temperature will reduce intrathecal temperature during aortic surgery. In the present study, the correlation between core temperature, assessed with a pulmonary artery thermistor, and intrathecal temperature, assessed with a lumbar intrathecal thermocouple, were evaluated. Both devices were corrected for bias using a mercury thermometer standard. It was found that there was excellent correlation between pulmonary artery temperature and intrathecal temperature during all portions of the surgery (r = 0.948; P < 0.001). The regression line for the relationship was defined by the formula: intrathecal temperature = 0.98 x pulmonary artery temperature + 0.65. Furthermore, there was excellent correlation between bias-corrected intrathecal temperature and the temperature measured by commercially available, bias-uncorrected thermistors placed in the esophagus (r = 0.869; P < or = 0.001), urinary bladder (r = 0.873; P < 0.001), and pulmonary artery (r = 0.929; P < 0.001). Based on these data, it is concluded that there is a close correlation between intrathecal temperature and core temperatures during proximal aortic surgery, and commercially available thermistors provide sufficient accuracy to assess spinal cord cooling during attempts to protect the spinal cord from ischemic injury.
The Effect of Propranolol and Verapamil on External Pacing Threshold: A Placebo‐Controlled Study

External transthoracic pacing is frequently used in situations where cardiac medications are administered. In view of theoretical concerns of the effects of beta-blocking and calcium channel blocking agents on pacing threshold, these agents were studied in six normal subjects over a 90 minute period during external cardiac pacing. Subjects received 10 mg propranolol, verapamil or identical placebo intravenously on 3 separate days in a double-blinded trial with serial determination of pacing threshold. Neither placebo nor either active drug altered pacing threshold. It is concluded that propranolol and verapamil have no significant effect on the threshold required for external transthoracic pacing in normal subjects and concerns about a drug induced increase in threshold may be unfounded.
PbSe nanocrystals remain intrinsic after surface adsorption of hydrazine

Recent experiments have shown a dramatic increase in the conductivity of PbSe nanocrystalline films after hydrazine treatment, suggesting that hydrazine may create free carriers in PbSe nanocrystals. Here, we study the effect of hydrazine adsorption on the electronic structure of PbSe nanocrystals using density functional theory. The physisorption of the intact hydrazine molecule and its dissociative chemisorption on different surfaces of PbSe are considered. Despite experimental indications of the $n$-type doping by hydrazine in PbSe, no theoretical evidence of the effect is found. Instead, PbSe is predicted to remain an intrinsic semiconductor after surface doping by hydrazine, and become a $p$-type semiconductor after doping by the hydrazine fragments. We attribute the discrepancy between experiment and theory to indirect effects, such as self-doping by excess surface atoms due to selective surface etching.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of Edge-Sharing Octahedral−Tetrahedral−Octahedral Linear Trinuclear Complexes [M3(L1O)4]2+, Where M = Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ and L1OH Is the “Heteroscorpionate” Ligand (2-Hydroxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methane

The mixed functionality pyrazole/phenol ligand (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methane, L1OH, has been used to prepare a series of linear trimetallic systems with the general structural motif [M3(L1...
Associations between the five-factor model of personality and health behaviors among college students

Objective: In fall 2006, the authors examined associations between the five-factor model of personality and several key health behaviors. Methods: College students (N = 583) completed the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment and the International Personality Item Pool Big Five short-form questionnaire. Results: Highly conscientious individuals were more likely to wear seat belts, utilize alcohol-related harm reduction, exercise, get enough sleep, and consume fruits and vegetables. They were also less likely to smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, and binge drink. Highly extraverted individuals were more likely to smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, binge drink, and have multiple sexual partners, and they were less likely to engage in alcohol-related harm reduction, use condoms, and get enough sleep. Conclusions: These findings are supportive of a growing body of evidence indicating that conscientiousness and extraversion are robust concomitants of health behaviors among coll...
The Homotopy Type of the Symmetric Products of Bouquets of Circles

A wedge of k circles is homotopy equivalent to the plane with k points removed. By looking at ${\mathbb C}$∖{w1, …, wk} instead of ⋁k S1, we could view the symmetric product of a wedge of k circles as ${\mathcal A}$, the complement space [3] of a hyperplane arrangement, ${\mathcal A}$. Applying a theorem of Hattori [2], we see that if k > n, the symmetric product of ⋁k S1 is, up to homotopy, the union of n-dimensional subtorii in a k-torus.
The reluctance of cattle to change a learned choice may confound preference tests

Choice testing utilizing a Y-maze has been successfully used to test animal preferences. In this experiment, 12 female Angus×Hereford×Simmental×Charolais heifers were given a choice of walking through a squeeze chute (crush) or being restrained in a squeeze chute. The objective of the study was to determine if previously learned choices in a Y-maze would confound future choices. A start box led to two races in a Y configuration. There was a hydraulic squeeze chute at the end of each race. Animals that chose the right side were allowed to walk through the squeeze chute and animals that chose the left side were restrained in the squeeze chute for 30 s. During eight choice trials, the heifers had a definite preference for the ‘walk’ side. There were 64 walk choices and 32 ‘restraint’ choices. For six additional trials, the restraint and walk sides were switched. Walk choices dropped to 16 and restraint choices rose to 56. The resistance to switching effect was significant (P<0.01). Significantly more heifers vacillated (looked back and forth) at the decisionpoint after the sides were switched (P<0.01). The switch had been perceived by the animals. There is a tendency for cattle to resist changing a choice once they are accustomed to a treatment being associated with a specific side.
Androgen replacement in men with hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction.

The prevalence of hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction (ED) increases with age. Hypogonadism also is frequently associated with decreased libido and ED. Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadal ED is effective in restoring sexual desire and erectile function, especially in younger and healthy men. It appears to be less effective in older men with comorbid diseases that may cause ED. Therapy should be individualized, considered carefully, and closely monitored because of potential risks, especially in older men. The FDA has approved several testosterone delivery systems. These include a buccal testosterone tablet, intramuscular injections, transdermal and subcutaneous forms. There also are several promising experimental androgens under investigation including non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs).
Creating a web-based simulation gaming exercise using PERL and JavaScript

Business simulation gaming has been around for quite a few years. The pedagogical and, more recently, the assessment value of gaming has been recognized and accepted in many circles. Many functional and total enterprise gaming exercises have been used in various business courses. Over the year, as technology has improved, simulation exercises have become more sophisticated and user friendly. The student can now concentrate on the content and learning in the gaming exercise without getting too diverted by the mechanics of playing the game. With the advent of the Internet an added dimension of convenience is now available. Using the World Wide Web WWW is a natural extension of making simulation games more powerful and the access more convenient. Due to the ubiquitous nature of the World Wide Web, which is accessible today from any home computer connected to the Internet, it behooves academics to explore and take advantage of this technology. This article delineates one such implementation that makes the entire game available on the Web. The game has been in continuous use for the past 3 years. The various components of the game and how the programming languages Practical Extraction and Reporting Language PERL and JavaScript can provide the functionality for making the game available on the Internet are described.
Surface Based Underwater Communications

In an underwater environment signal propagation for the acoustic channel is subject to major multipath effect. Therefore, most underwater communication schemes require that the position of the transmitter or receiver is fixed while using directional antennas in order to ensure high signal-to-noise ratio. However, such a requirement hinders node discovery and ad-hoc formation of underwater networks and restraints communication between autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) where node locations change over time. This paper proposes a novel approach to underwater communications by relying on the water surface to establish communication links. The proposed surface-based reflection (SBR) model works by requiring the transmitting node to direct its energy towards the water surface. The receiver then applies homomorphic deconvolution techniques to determine the channels impulse response used in obtaining the reflected signal. The receiver is then able to determine the location of the transmitter by triangulating the transmitted and reflected signals with respect to the water surface. Simulation experiments are provided to validate the SBR approach.
The Application of Steady-State Thermal Expansion of the Rolls in Thickness Setup Model for HSM

The hot rolled strip thickness accuracy sometimes can not be guaranteed after a long time for waiting for slabs or other reasons. The reason is when rolling, the rollgap adaptive model has considered the thermal expansion of the roll. So when rolling is restarted, thermal expansion of the rolls must be cleared in order to accurately calculate the setup rollgap value. The finite element software ANSYS is used to calculate the temperature field and thermal expansion amount of the rolls in the rolling process. Application results show that this method can improve the accuracy of strip thickness.
A Systems Approach to Star Trackers

A signal processing analysis of star trackers for navigation and guidance was conducted as a part of the Star Tracker Aerospace Reference Study. The signal processing analysis is based on the similarity between communication system theory and the several types of star trackers. The navigation system and star tracker parameters are the trade-off items that permit operation within the bounds set by the star field and transmission path. A tracker parameter analysis is an aid in formulating criteria for selecting a tracker and judging performance. This paper is primarily concerned with the internal parameters of star tracker design; specifically, what methods are available to the designer to meet navigation, guidance, and star ephemeris requirements. Equations describing the modulation process are developed and compared to communication practices. To aid in the comparison of the various types of trackers, a representative set of parameters has been developed. The comparison is done on a graphical basis where the primary trade-offs are effective optical area, information bandwidth and angular accuracy. The expected range of background radiance, star distribution and effective irradiance are described in summary form. Sources of additional information are listed in a bibliography.
A bi-dimensional regression tree approach to the modeling of gene expression regulation

Motivation: The transcriptional regulation of a gene depends on the binding of cis-regulatory elements on its promoter to some transcription factors and the expression levels of the transcription factors. Most existing approaches to studying transcriptional regulation model these dependencies separately, i.e. either from promoters to gene expression or from the expression levels of transcription factors to the expression levels of genes. Little effort has been devoted to a single model for integrating both dependencies. Results: We propose a novel method to model gene expression using both promoter sequences and the expression levels of putative regulators. The proposed method, called bi-dimensional regression tree (BDTree), extends a multivariate regression tree approach by applying it simultaneously to both genes and conditions of an expression matrix. The method produces hypotheses about the condition-specific binding motifs and regulators for each gene. As a side-product, the method also partitions the expression matrix into small submatrices in a way similar to bi-clustering. We propose and compare several splitting functions for building the tree. When applied to two microarray datasets of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BDTree successfully identifies most motifs and regulators that are known to regulate the biological processes underlying the datasets. Comparing with an existing algorithm, BDTree provides a higher prediction accuracy in cross-validations. Availability: The software is available upon request from the authors. Contact: zhang@cse.wustl.edu Supplementary information: http://cic.cs.wustl.edu/bdtree/
Dynamic spectrum access with learning for cognitive radio

We study the problem of cooperative dynamic spectrum sensing and access in cognitive radio systems as a partially observed Markov decision process (POMDP). Assuming Markovian state-evolutions for the primary channels, we propose a greedy channel selection and access policy that satisfies an interference constraint and also outperforms some existing schemes in average throughput. When the distribution of the signal from the primary is unknown and belongs to a parameterized family, we develop an algorithm that can learn the parameter of the distribution still guaranteeing the interference constraint. This algorithm also outperforms the popular approach that assumes a worst-case value for the parameter thus illustrating the sub-optimality of the popular worst-case approach.
Thermoelectromechanical simulation of GaN HEMTs

As a tool for studying the critical issue of reliability in GaN HEMTs we develop a multi-dimensional device simulator based on a continuum formulation in which the electrical, mechanical, thermal and transport variables are fully coupled. The new simulator is illustrated with various examples involving HEMT operstion and failure.
Ku-dependent nonhomologous DNA end joining in Xenopus egg extracts.

An extract from activated Xenopus eggs joins both matching and nonmatching ends of exogenous linear DNA substrates with high efficiency and fidelity (P. Pfeiffer and W. Vielmetter, Nucleic Acids Res. 16:907–924, 1988). In mammalian cells, such nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is known to require the Ku heterodimer, a component of DNA-dependent protein kinase. Here I investigated whether Ku is also required for the in vitro reaction in the egg extract. Immunological assays indicate that Ku is very abundant in the extract. I found that all NHEJ was inhibited by autoantibodies against Ku and that NHEJ between certain combinations of DNA ends was also decreased after immunodepletion of Ku from the extract. The formation of a joint between a DNA end with a 5′-protruding single strand (PSS) and an end with a 3′-PSS, between two ends with 3′-PSS, and between two blunt ends was most Ku dependent. On the other hand, NHEJ between two DNA ends bearing 5′-PSS was Ku independent. These results show that the Xenopus cell-free system will be useful to biochemically dissect the role of Ku in eukaryotic NHEJ.
Short-Term Variations and Long-Term Dynamics in Commodity Prices

In this article, we develop a two-factor model of commodity prices that allows meanreversion in short-term prices and uncertainty in the equilibrium level to which prices revert. Although these two factors are not directly observable, they may be estimated from spot and futures prices. Intuitively, movements in prices for long-maturity futures contracts provide information about the equilibrium price level, and differences between the prices for the short-and long-term contracts provide information about short-term variations in prices. We show that, although this model does not explicitly consider changes in convenience yields over time, this short-term/long-term model is equivalent to the stochastic convenience yield model developed in Gibson and Schwartz 1990. We estimate the parameters of the model using prices for oil futures contracts and apply the model to some hypothetical oil-linked assets to demonstrate its use and some of its advantages over the Gibson-Schwartz model.
The interaction of Streptococcus dysgalactiae with plasmin and plasminogen

Abstract The activation of plasminogen and the binding of plasmin by bacteria may have many effects which promote infection. The occurrence of such activities in streptococci is well documented; however, these are yet to be demonstrated for S. dysgalactiae. Consequently, the ability of this bacterium to activate mammalian plasminogen and bind either plasmin or its zymogen was investigated. Activation of bovine plasminogen was dependant on both the strain and the growth medium used for cultivation. Eighteen strains were able to activate bovine and ovine plasminogen and some of these also activated plasminogen from the horse, rabbit and pig. None activated human plasminogen and one strain (CE127) did not activate plasminogen from any source. Tricine-SDS PAGE and zymographic analysis of culture supernatants showed that bovine plasminogen was activated by four out of six strains at two locations corresponding to 16 kDa and 10 kDa. Following the growth of five strains in the presence of bovine plasminogen, all but strain CE127 bound high levels of plasmin activity. In contrast, following growth in human plasminogen none of the strains exhibited bound plasmin activity although all could bind human plasmin directly. All strains were also able to bind bovine and human plasminogen in such a way as to allow its activation by urokinase. We conclude that S. dysgalactiae is capable of activating mammalian plasminogen in a species-specific fashion and that the bacterium is also capable of binding plasmin and plasminogen with an apparent preference for bovine plasmin over human plasmin and/or plasminogen from either species.
Acute abdomen in the medical intensive care unit.

Objective: Acute abdominal complication in the medical intensive care unit may be underdiagnosed and can add significant risk of death. We hypothesize that delays in surgery because of atypical presentation, such as the absence of peritoneal signs, may contribute to mortality. Design: Retrospective cohort study (1995‐2000). Setting: Medical intensive care unit in a tertiary care center. Patients: Medical intensive care unit patients with clinical, surgical, or autopsy diagnosis of acute abdominal catastrophe (gangrenous or perforated viscus). Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Seventy-seven patients (1.3%) met inclusion criteria. Ischemic bowel was the most common diagnosis, followed by perforated ulcer, bowel obstruction, and cholecystitis. Actual mortality rate was higher than predicted by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III scores at the time of medical intensive care unit admission (63% vs. 31%). Twenty-six patients (34%) did not have surgery, and none of these survived. Fifty-one patients underwent surgery and 28 survived (56%). Delay in surgical evaluation (p < .01) and intervention (p < .03), APACHE III scores (p < .01), renal insufficiency (p < .01), and a diagnosis of ischemic bowel (p < .01) were associated with increased mortality rates. Surgical delay was more likely to occur in patients with altered mental state (p < .01), no peritoneal signs (p < .01), previous opioids (p < .03), antibiotics (p < .02), and mechanical ventilation (p < .02). Conclusion: Delays in surgical evaluation and intervention are critical contributors to mortality rate in patients who develop acute abdominal complications in a medical intensive care unit. (Crit Care Med 2002; 30:1187‐1190)
Three-dimensional myocardial deformations: calculation with displacement field fitting to tagged MR images.

PURPOSE: To reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) myocardial deformations from orthogonal sets of parallel-tagged magnetic resonance (MR) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Displacement information in the direction normal to the undeformed tag planes was obtained at points along tag lines. Three independent sets of one-dimensional displacement data were used to fit an analytical series expression to describe 3D displacement as a function of deformed position. The technique was demonstrated with computer-generated models of the deformed left ventricle with data from healthy human volunteers. RESULTS: Model deformations were reconstructed with a 3D tracking error of less than 0.3 mm. Error between estimated and observed one-dimensional displacements along the tags in 10 human subjects was 0.00 mm +/- 0.36 (mean +/- standard deviation). Robustness to noise in the tag displacement data was demonstrated by using a Monte Carlo simulation. CONCLUSION: The combination of rapidly acquired parallel-tagged MR images and fi...
Effect of cycling on the stability of plasmid-bearing microorganisms in continuous culture

The implication of the possible existence of differences in the times required for plasmid-bearing and non-plasmid-bearing microorganisms to adjust their metabolic activities to step changes in their environment is examined. This adaptability difference suggests the possibility of maintaining an engineered strain in continuous culture by transient operation. It is shown for the case where adaptability is neglected that no cycling strategy will prevent the washout of the engineered strain, but the addition to the model of a time delay in substrate utilization can result in coexistence upon cycling. Numerical simulations of cycling in feed substrate concentration are carried out to illustrate the concept Operating diagrams are also constructed to indicate the conditions under which washout of the plasmid bearing strain can be prevented.
Dynamics of Wetland and Upland Subshrubs at the Salt Marsh-Coastal Sage Scrub Ecotone

Abstract We asked: Is Lycium californicum an ecotone species and what factors restrict it from overlapping more broadly with dominant plants of the salt marsh (downslope) and the coastal sage scrub (upslope)? Field sampling at Tijuana Estuary revealed that Lycium grows within a 1.1-m elevation range intermediate between that of Eriogonum fasciculatum (a subshrub of the coastal sage scrub) and Salicornia subterminalis (an obligate wetland subshrub of tidal marshes). Hence, Lycium was confined to the wetland-upland ecotone. In greenhouse experiments salt water wetting and soil moisture influenced these three species as follows: Salicornia required saturated soil to establish, restricting it to the wetland. Eriogonum failed to tolerate salt water wetting of the soil, both as seedlings (100% mortality) and as adults (100% mortality), likely restricting it to the upland. Lycium adults tolerated seawater wetting of the soil (100% survival) but seedlings did not (100% mortality). Both Lycium and Eriogonum should...
Payment Innovation at the Content/Carriage Interface

The paper identifies the possibility of payment innovation at the content/carriage interface -- that is, business models in which a content provider's payment structure relates in some manner to the carriage of the content. For example, an online video provider might offer a discounted price for delayed delivery in order to manage bandwidth costs. Similarly, an applications provider might make an arrangement where a consumer's purchase of the application permits the consumer to use the application exempt from the consumer's carrier's bandwidth cap or charges. The recently announced arrangement where Xfinity streaming will not count against Comcast Internet customers’ bandwidth cap is a real-world, emergent example. The paper begins by positing that such innovations are plausible for three reasons. First, carriers face peak-demand congestion issues, and at least some of these innovations could help address these issues. Second, consumers dislike uncertain payment structures. Both research and the market have shown that consumers prefer, and will pay a premium for, unlimited service packages or other packages where the amount that will be later billed is reasonably predictable. Third, content/carriage business models might create the opportunity for market-segmentation.The paper then provides a brief review of some precedents from utility and other regulation, such as the use of interruptible supply contracts in natural gas markets. Such contracts, which set priorities among customers, could address peak-demand issues; indeed, they mirror congestion pricing solutions.Finally, the paper addresses three possible policy dimensions of such payment innovations: privacy, intellectual property economics, and competition issues (plus net neutrality). As to privacy, some of the possible innovations present concerns that carriers will access customer-specific content information in a new way, although doctrinally any privacy concern can probably be met through disclosure and consent. The intellectual property owners will have to construct business models that account for the tradeoff between real-time streaming and the use of local storage. In the domain of net neutrality and competition policy, the paper analyzes several of the possible innovations. Although most such innovations can be described as "non-neutral" on at least some dimension, the paper concludes that most such innovations also have a plausible pro-competitive (consumer value enhancing) dimension as well. The paper notes that, while vertical foreclosure scenarios are possible, the Antitrust Division in the Comcast/NBC merger decided that it could address those issues in significant part by looking to the performance of the carrier's Internet service -- and that no rule against carrier-affiliated services was necessary.The paper's aim is to demonstrate that such new business models could have merit, both in a business sense (although it aims to be modest on that claim) and in a legal sense.
Neonatal Assessment: An Overview

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of assessment techniques used by physical therapists in the assessment of the neonate. An additional purpose is to provide a review of prenatal and postnatal development in the areas of muscle tone, range of motion, somatosensory skills, and reflex development. The role of the physical therapist on the neonatal team is discussed relating to the types of assessments physical therapists might use in evaluating the neonate. General considerations for assessment are provided, and specific areas including physical examination, behavioral assessment, evaluation of muscle tone, reflex assessment, oral motor evaluation, and sensory systems assessment are discussed. Physical therapy for the neonate has been considered as a specialty area of pediatrics. Physical therapists, however, are being asked to function in neonatal units in hospitals as a part of their practice in the general hospital setting. This article provides information for the inexperienced clinician who is interested in working with the neonate and for the experienced clinician.
Lessons from HeLa Cells: The Ethics and Policy of Biospecimens

Human biospecimens have played a crucial role in scientific and medical advances. Although the ethical and policy issues associated with biospecimen research have long been the subject of scholarly debate, the story of Henrietta Lacks, her family, and the creation of HeLa cells captured the attention of a much broader audience. The story has been a catalyst for policy change, including major regulatory changes proposed in the United States surrounding informed consent. These proposals are premised in part on public opinion data, necessitating a closer look at what such data tell us. The development of biospecimen policy should be informed by many considerations—one of which is public input, robustly gathered, on acceptable approaches that optimize shared interests, including access for all to the benefits of research. There is a need for consent approaches that are guided by realistic aspirations and a balanced view of autonomy within an expanded ethical framework.
Infectious pin complication rates in halo vest fixators using ceramic versus metallic pins.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of database patients. OBJECTIVE To compare infectious pin complication rates utilizing ceramic pins, an emerging technology, with a large database of complications in halo's using metallic pins. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The halo/vest fixator remains a useful modality of treatment for cervical spine trauma but has been described as having a high incidence of complications, foremost pin-related complications. Ceramic pins and vest modifications have been introduced under the premise of (1) decreasing pin-tract infections compared with metallic pins manufactured from stainless steel or titanium and with the advent of 3T MRI, (2) decreasing brain MRI artifact, and (3) lowering MRI intolerance owing to material overheating. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected patient data set of the Harborview Medical Center spine trauma registry. A historic control group exclusively utilizing metallic halo pins over a 10-year period was compared with patients who were treated with halo's exclusively utilizing ceramic pins over a recent 14-month period. Complications investigated included aseptic, loosening, and infections graded on a novel 3-tier system adapted from external fixation in long bone and periarticular trauma. Inclusion criteria were the patients with traumatic cervical spine injuries treated with a halo for a period of at least 14 days. RESULTS Forty-four patients were available for analysis in the ceramic pin group versus 263 in the metallic pin group. Overall pin complications amounted to 40.9% ceramic (C) versus 21.7% metal (M) pins (P<0.05), aseptic loosening rates 13.7% (C) compared with 8.3% (M), and pin site infections 27.3% (C) compared with 13.3% (M) (P<0.05). A grading system for halo pin tract infections was developed. In assessing overall complications and infections specifically, ceramic pins seemed to be associated with a higher incidence of adverse events or complications compared with titanium pins. CONCLUSION Despite the imbalance of size of our cohort groups, there seems to be a strong trend toward the newer ceramic pin technology not meeting expected minimum performance standards set by the earlier metallic material. Causes for the higher failure rate likely lay in the necessary changes made to the halo vest and specifically the pin design owing to the inherent mechanical property limitations of MRI compatible materials.
The molecular structures and reactivity of V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts

A series of V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts were structurally investigated byin situ Raman spectroscopy and chemically probed by methanol oxidation in order to determine the molecular structure-reactivity relationships of the V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts. Only surface TiO x species are present on the 3% TiO2/SiO2 catalysts, and the surface TiO x species as well as bulk TiO2 (anatase) particles coexist on the 40% TiO2/SiO2 catalyst. The deposition of 1–3% vanadium oxide onto 3% TiO2/SiO2 and 4% vanadium oxide onto 40% TiO2/SiO2 forms only a surface vanadium oxide phase.In situ Raman studies reveal that the surface vanadium oxide species preferentially exist on the titania sites of the TiO2/SiO2 system. The interaction between the surface vanadia and the surface titania overlayer on SiO2 increases the methanol oxidation reactivity by two orders of magnitude relative to V2O5/SiO2. In the presence of bulk TiO2 (anatase) particles on the SiO7 support, the reactivity of the surface vanadia further increases by an order magnitude relative to the catalysts containing only surface titania, and is close to that of surface vanadia on bulk TiO2. This suggests that the surface VO x -TiO2 (bulk) interactions results in a more active site than the surface VO x -TiO x -SiO2 interactions. In addition, the V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts exhibit high selectivity towards HCHO because redox sites are predominant on the surface of these catalysts with essentially no acid site present.
Advertising, Computers, and Pharmacy Liability: A Michigan court’s decision has ramifications for pharmaceutical care.

Arbor Drugs, Inc., advertised that its computer could detect dangerous drug interactions. A pharmacist failed to warn a patient accordingly and the patient suffered a stroke as a result of an interaction between tranylcypromine and a decongestant. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that this failure to warn was actionable under the theories of negligence and fraud as well as under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The court's basic message is that pharmacies may be held legally responsible for preventing harm when they represent themselves as being capable of doing so.
Plant-Parasitic Nematode Problems in Organic Agriculture

Crop protection approaches differ widely among organic growers both globally and regionally, yet organic farming faces the same plant-parasitic nematode (PPN) issues as conventional farming. Due to the restrictions on use of synthetic chemical inputs and the limited number of options for nematode management in organic fields, organic producers are often at greater risk to nematode problems than their conventional counterparts. While worldwide estimates of crop losses of about 12 % annually of food and fiber due to nematode damage are reported in the literature, such information for organic farming systems is scarce. Comparative studies of organic and conventional farming systems and surveys conducted in organic farms in distinct regions show that the genera of nematodes attacking organic crops are similar to that in conventional fields, including species of root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.), cyst (Heterodera and Globodera spp.), and root lesion (Pratylenchus spp.) nematodes, among others. For PPN management, organic farmers employ practices such as crop rotation, use of cover crops or resistant crop cultivars, and soil amendments. In many instances, however, these methods may not be sufficient for PPN management. Although resistant cultivars of some crops are available for root-knot and cyst nematodes, they are resistant to only a few races or species of nematodes and new races develop over time. Biological control, using microbial pathogens, endophytes, or antagonists may help control PPNs in organic production of some crops but have had limited commercial success. In contrast, use of soil amendments has provided some level of suppression of PPNs under field conditions. Increased populations of predatory nematodes or other beneficial species grazing microbial films and stimulating soil nutrient mineralization have been observed in organic systems, indicating an improvement in the soil health. Further studies are needed to estimate yield losses caused by the economically important PPN species in organic systems and to develop suitable nematode management strategies given for organic farming.
Second International Workshop on Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The Second International Workshop on Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (APXPS) was held at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, CA, from December 7–9, 2015. It brought together more than 100 participants from 17 countries. The workshop followed the inaugural meeting at the French synchrotron SOLEIL in December 2014, which was organized by Francois Rochet. The strong interest in these workshops reflects the growth of the APXPS community over the last decade, with instruments now operational at more than 12 synchrotrons around the world (see SRN, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 14–23 (2014)), and a steady increase in the number of laboratory instruments. APXPS has established itself as an important method for the investigation of surfaces and interfaces under in situ and operando conditions, including liquid/vapor and liquid/solid interfaces.
Explanation not Excuse: Attention Deficit Disorder, Collegiality and Coalition

This ethnopoetic essay performs some of the professional, interpersonal and political challenges presented by ADHD and some of the ways in which non-visible disabilities intersect with other axes of privilege and accessibility.
Dyssynergic vesicourethral responses during bladder rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients: effects of suprapubic percussion, credé method and bethanechol chloride.

AbstractFive normal men and 70 spinal cord injury male patients underwent 100 studies with the multiple pressure recording technique, incorporating the continuous infusion principle for sphincter pressure monitoring. Gross cystosphincteric dyssynergia was noted in the majority of patients with complete upper motor neuron bladders less than 2 years in duration. Some form of synergic voiding patterns was noted, mostly in patients with incomplete upper motor neuron bladders. The external sphincter tends to be synergic in late cases of upper motor neuron bladders. Internal sphincter dyssynergia is uncommon in cases of injuries less than 2 years in duration, with the exception of patients who have autonomic dysreflexia. Bladder neck obstruction seems to be more common in late lesions secondary to global hypertrophy of the bladder. Rehabilitation maneuvers and bethanechol chloride administration may exaggerate detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and injudicious use of such procedures could be detrimental to the urin...
Brain plasticity after damage.

The data presented in this article are commensurate with the idea that in the not-too-distant future, pharmacologic interventions will be available to prevent many of the deleterious effects of brain damage due to hypoxia and other causes of global brain insult. It is also likely that even after highly localized brain damage, there will be specific interventions to reduce the usual mental and behavioral changes induced by the damage. While the specific experimental studies use adult animals, similar beneficial effects are being found in studies in which damage occurs in the perinatal period.
Considerations for assessing model averaging of regression coefficients

Model choice is usually an inevitable source of uncertainty in model-based statistical analyses. While the focus of model choice was traditionally on methods for choosing a single model, methods to formally account for multiple models within a single analysis are now accessible to many researchers. The specific technique of model averaging was developed to improve predictive ability by combining predictions from a set of models. However, it is now often used to average regression coefficients across multiple models with the ultimate goal of capturing a variable's overall effect. This use of model averaging implicitly assumes the same parameter exists across models so that averaging is sensible. While this assumption may initially seem tenable, regression coefficients associated with particular explanatory variables may not hold equivalent interpretations across all of the models in which they appear, making explanatory inference about covariates challenging. Accessibility to easily implementable software, concerns about being criticized for ignoring model uncertainty, and the chance to avoid having to justify choice of a final model have all led to the increasing popularity of model averaging in practice. We see a gap between the theoretical development of model averaging and its current use in practice, potentially leaving well-intentioned researchers with unclear inferences or difficulties justifying reasons for using (or not using) model averaging. We attempt to narrow this gap by revisiting some relevant foundations of regression modeling, suggesting more explicit notation and graphical tools, and discussing how individual model results are combined to obtain a model averaged result. Our goal is to help researchers make informed decisions about model averaging and to encourage question-focused modeling over method-focused modeling.
Catheter Drainage of Abdominopelvic Abscess

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for catheter drainage of abdominopelvic abscess procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
An Abrupt Hepatitis B Seroconversion.

A 41-year-old man presented to the emergency department with auxiliary swelling and pain, fever, diarrhea, and chills. He was admitted for rapid onset of respiratory failure, anuria, lactic acidosis, shock, and coagulopathy. The laboratory received 2 samples ordered 9 h apart for hepatitis B virus (HBV)2 serology analysis. Discrepant HBV anti-surface and anti-core antibody results (Fig. 1, arrows) …
Widefield interferometric detection and size determination of dielectric nanoparticles

We propose an interferometric technique to detect and size low-index nanoparticles with radius smaller than 100nm. The method offers sensitive detection and identification of pathogens such as viruses based on the size information.
IMPLICATIONS OF WORSENING RIGHT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION FOLLOWING TRANSCATHETER OR SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM PARTNER2A

Background: Right ventricular (RV) function can worsen after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but the incidence of RV dysfunction after SAVR vs. transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not well described. We hypothesized that RV dysfunction would be more common after SAVR and would
Many More Hills to Climb

As South Africa moves through a third decade of democracy, the legacy of Nelson Mandela remains a powerful force, as he was the new nation’s first President and champion of a non-racial democracy for a better life for all. Mr. Mandela’s words in speeches, writings and observations galvanised sentiment over the goals for transformation, and how these might be achieved in all sectors including education.
Predicting Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea from MODIS observations

Blooms of Sargassum seaweed appear to have increased in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean since 2011. These blooms provide important habitats for many marine animals (fish, turtles, shrimps, crabs, etc.) to maintain a healthy marine ecosystem, but large amounts of Sargassum deposition on the beaches have caused numerous problems to the local environment, tourism industry, and economy. There is currently little information on Sargassum distribution and bloom timing, not to mention a forecast system. In this work, based on satellite measurements and statistics, a forecast system has been developed for the Caribbean Sea. From this system, Sargassum blooms in May–August in the Caribbean can be predicted by the end of February, with overall accuracy often exceeding 80% in the eastern Caribbean. The system thus provides at least several months of lead time for the local residents and management agencies to better prepare for potential beaching events. The approach has significant implications for many other regions experiencing macroalgal blooms of either Sargassum or Ulva prolifera.
Making It Personal: Neoantigen Vaccines in Metastatic Melanoma

Somatic mutations in cancer can be translated into peptides, termed neoantigens, which can be recognized by the immune system as "foreign" epitopes. Two recent studies in Nature (Sahin et al., 2017; Ott et al., 2017) examine the effects of neoantigen vaccines on patients with stage III or IV melanoma and demonstrate immunogenicity and intriguing clinical safety and efficacy data in phase I studies.
Scalable Directed Assembly of Highly Crystalline 2,7-Dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2- b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) Films.

Assembly of organic semiconductors with ordered crystal structure has been actively pursued for electronics applications such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Among various film deposition methods, solution-based film growth from small molecule semiconductors is preferable because of its low material and energy consumption, low cost, and scalability. Here, we show scalable and controllable directed assembly of highly crystalline 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) films via a dip-coating process. Self-aligned stripe patterns with tunable thickness and morphology over a centimeter scale are obtained by adjusting two governing parameters: the pulling speed of a substrate and the solution concentration. OFETs are fabricated using the C8-BTBT films assembled at various conditions. A field-effect hole mobility up to 3.99 cm2 V–1 s–1 is obtained. Owing to the highly scalable crystalline film formation, the dip-coating directed assembly process could be a great candidate for m...