cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissecting APOBEC3G substrate specificity by nucleoside analog interference.

The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) cytidine deaminase genes encode a set of enzymes including APOBEC1 (A1), APOBEC2 (A2), APOBEC4 (A4), and APOBEC3A-H (A3A-H). Although each possesses one or more zinc binding motifs conserved among enzymes catalyzing C → U conversion, the functions and substrate specificities of these gene products vary considerably. For example, although two closely related enzymes, A3F and A3G, both restrict HIV-1 infection in strains deficient in virus infectivity factor (vif), A3F selectively deaminates cytosine within 5′-TTCA-3′ motifs in single stranded DNA, whereas A3G targets 5′-CCCA-3′ sequences. In the present study we have used nucleoside analog interference mapping to probe A3G-DNA interactions throughout the enzyme-substrate complex as well as to determine which DNA structural features determine substrate specificity. Our results indicate that multiple components of nucleosides within the consensus sequence are important for substrate recognition by A3G (with base moieties being most critical), whereas deamination interference by analog substitution outside this region is minimal. Furthermore, exocyclic groups in pyrimidines 1–2 nucleotides 5′ of the target cytosine were shown to dictate substrate recognition by A3G, with chemical composition at ring positions 3 and 4 found to be more important than at ring position 5. Taken together, these results provide insights into how the enzyme selects A3G hotspot motifs for deamination as well as which approaches might be best suited for forming a stable, catalytically competent cross-linked A3G-DNA complex for future structural studies.
Anisotropy in the extended haptic perception of longitudinal distances.

Using horizontal rotational motions of a hand-held rod, participants in four experiments probed the aperture between two blocks separated in depth. The farther block could be either on the outer or on the inner side of the hand-rod system, defining apertures of opposite sense. The participants reported the perceived size of the in-depth intervals by adjusting, with the nonprobing hand, the lateral separation between two blocks or the egocentric distances of two blocks. Over variations in hand and geometric arrangement of stimulus and report blocks, perceived aperture size depended on the aperture’s sense: Apertures with the farther edge on the outer side of the hand-rod were reported as being larger than their mirror image counterparts. The effect was not observed in judgments of a single edge distance (Experiment 5); it was configuration dependent. The sense effect would not be expected from the physical quantity accommodating perceived frontal apertures. Possible expansions of the physical model are discussed.
Experiment-Based Optimization of Flapping Wing Kinematics

Optimization of flapping wing trajectory was explored using an experimental apparatus. A scaled-up hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) wing was fabricated and mounted to a three-degree of freedom flapping mechanism. The vertical force generated during flapping was measured using a load cell and the wing path was optimized to maximize the average vertical force. The mechanism design, control, and instrumentation, and the optimization approach are explained. The optimization results, including wing trajectories, are presented and further research topics are discussed.
Orbital flight test program extended

NASA has extended the date for completion of the first four space shuttle orbital flight tests to April 1982. The extension of the flight test program has made it necessary to reschedule the first operational flight of the Columbia (STS-5) from March 1 982 to September 1 982. The decision to extend the flight test program and reschedule STS-5 is the result of several factors, the major one being the continuing engineering assessment and improvement of the thermal protection system.
Anti-inflammatory macrophages improve skeletal muscle recovery from ischemia-reperfusion

The presence of macrophages (MPs) is essential for skeletal muscle to properly regenerate following injury. The aim of this study was the evaluation of MP profiles and their importance in skeletal ...
An inconvenient dataset: bias and inappropriate inference with the multilevel model

The multilevel model has become a staple of social research. I textually and formally explicate sample design features that, I contend, are required for unbiased estimation of macro-level multilevel model parameters and the use of tools for statistical inference, such as standard errors. After detailing the limited and conflicting guidance on sample design in the multilevel model didactic literature, illustrative nationally-representative datasets and published examples that violate the posited requirements are identified. Because the didactic literature is either silent on sample design requirements or in disagreement with the constraints posited here, two Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to clarify the issues. The results indicate that bias follows use of samples that fail to satisfy the requirements outlined; notably, the bias is poorly-behaved, such that estimates provide neither upper nor lower bounds for the population parameter. Further, hypothesis tests are unjustified. Thus, published multilevel model analyses using many workhorse datasets, including NELS, AdHealth, NLSY, GSS, PSID, and SIPP, often unwittingly convey substantive results and theoretical conclusions that lack foundation. Future research using the multilevel model should be limited to cases that satisfy the sample requirements described.
Communicative competence in the delivery of bad news

Abstract Grounded in the Cegala and Waldron (Communication Studies 43 (1992) 105) model of communicative competence, the present study applied the McNeilis (Health Communication 13 (2001) 5) provider-patient coding scheme to video tapes of 3rd year medical students delivering bad news to a standardized patient. The goal of the study was to understand the specific communicative moves that are associated with perceptions of competence during bad news delivery. The coding scheme assesses Content, Acknowledgment Tokens, Interruptions, Alignment, and Function of the message. Naive observers also evaluated the tapes on several items, assessing empathy and communicative effectiveness. Nonmedical talk was the most common type of content, followed by discussion of the current health problem. Neither acknowledgment tokens nor interruptions were frequent. The most common function of a message was a closed question, followed by explanations, assertions, and open questions. Summing across the functions indicated that information giving was the most common behavior. The perceivers’ data showed fairly neutral assessments of the medical students—they were generally not evaluated very positively, although they were not disliked. Regression analyses indicated numerous specific communicative behaviors that were associated with judgments of competence. Statements falling into the Nonspecific Content category were associated with more positive perceptions, while relational statements, moderately closed questions, solicited answers, expansions, restatements, assertions, explanations, open questions, bracketing, and small talk as well as information verifying, seeking, and giving (summed functions) led to more negative perceptions. The results indicate that the delivery of bad news requires communicative moves that differ from other kinds of medical communication. Depending on the results of future analyses of this topic, health care providers may be well advised to focus little of their communication on information seeking, giving, or verifying during the initial bad news delivery consultation, but rather to save most communication of information for a follow-up scheduled shortly afterwards.
Video compression for lossy packet networks with mode switching and a dual-frame buffer

Video codecs that use motion compensation benefit greatly from the development of algorithms for near-optimal intra/inter mode switching within a rate-distortion framework. A separate development has involved the use of multiple-frame prediction, in which more than one past reference frame is available for motion estimation. In this paper, we show that using a dual-frame buffer (one short-term frame and one long-term frame available for prediction) together with intra/inter mode switching improves the compression performance of the coder. We improve the mode-switching algorithm with the use of half-pel motion vectors. In addition, we investigate the effect of feedback in making more informed and effective mode-switching decisions. Feedback information is used to limit drift errors due to packet losses by synchronizing the long-term frame buffers of both the encoder and the decoder.
Laparoscopic Liver Resection

Since the introduction of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there has been explosive growth in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Commonly accepted laparoscopic procedures have now come to include bariatric and anti reflux procedures, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, hernia repair, and colon resection. The adoption of laparoscopy to the field of liver surgery; however, has been slower to take off. Initial concerns included inadequate exposure and ability to attain hemostasis, fear of gas embolism, and doubts over the oncologic adequacy of the less invasive procedure. The earliest reports of laparoscopic liver surgery were limited to wedge resections for staging or isolated metastases(Lefor, AT & Flowers, JL 1994). Laparoscopic liver resection finally started to gain serious widespread attention after publication of Cherqui’s initial thirty patient experience(Cherqui, D et al 2000). Since that time, the field has seen explosive growth, with over 2,804 cases now described in the world literature(Nguyen, KT et al 2009). Despite its widespread acceptance, laparoscopic liver resection remains a daunting technical challenge suited to a relatively small number of centers that have taken the time and effort to develop concurrent expertise in both open hepatic surgery and laparoscopy. Once these hurdles are overcome; however, laparoscopic liver resection is a safe and highly effective procedure offering numerous patient benefits. In this chapter, we will describe the indications for laparoscopic liver resection, and outline the steps that should be taken by fledgling groups wishing to embark upon creating a laparoscopic liver resection program.
Towards scalable compositional analysis

Due to the state explosion problem, analysis of large concurrent programs will undoubtedly require compositional techniques. Existing compositional techniques are based on the idea of replacing complex subsystems with simpler processes with the same interfaces to their environments, and using the simpler processes to analyze the full system. Most algorithms for proving equivalence between two processes, however, require enumerating the states of both processes. When part of a concurrent system consists of many highly coupled processes, it may not be possible to decompose the system into components that are both small enough to enumerate and have simple interfaces with their enviornments. In such cases, analysis of the systems by standard methods will be infeasible.In this paper, we describe a technique for proving trace equivalence of deterministic and divergence-free systems without enumerating their states. (For deterministic systems, essentially all the standard notions of process equivalence collapse to trace equivalence, so this technique also establishes failures equivalence, observational equivalence, etc.) Our approach is to generate necessary conditions for the existence of a trace of one system that is not a trace of the other; if the necessary conditions cannot be satisfied the systems are equivalent. We have implemented the technique and used it to establish the equivalence of some systems with state spaces too large for enumeration to be practical.
ACCOMMODATING CONTEXT CHANGE

Two independent mechanisms of context change have been discussed separately in the literature - context change by entity introduction and context change by event simulation. Here we discuss their integration. The effectiveness of the integration depends in part on a representation of events that captures people's uncertainty about their outcome - in particular, people's incomplete expectations about the changes effected by events. We propose such a representation and a process of accommodation that makes use of it, and discuss our initial implementation of these ideas.
Generalized-α Time Integration Solutions for Hanging Chain Dynamics

In this paper, we study numerically the two- and three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic response of a chain hanging under its own weight. Previous authors have employed the box method, a finite-difference scheme popular in cable dynamics problems, for this purpose. The box method has significant stability problems, however, and thus, is not well suited to this highly nonlinear problem. We illustrate these stability problems and propose a new time integration procedure based on the generalized-α method. The new method exhibits superior stability properties compared to the box method and other algorithms such as backward differences and trapezoidal rule. Of four time integration methods tested, the generalized-α algorithm was the only method that produced a stable solution for the three-dimensional whirling motions of a hanging chain driven by harmonic linear horizontal motion at the top.
Primary Care Providers' Recommendations for Hypertension Prevention, DocStyles Survey, 2012.

Background: Healthy behaviors, including maintaining an ideal body weight, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking, can help prevent hypertension. T...
Remote sensing for prediction of 1-year post-fire ecosystem condition

Appropriate use of satellite data in predicting >1 year post-fire effects requires remote measurement of sur- face properties that can be mechanistically related to ground measures of post-fire condition. The present study of burned ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in the Black Hills of South Dakota evaluates whether immediate fractional cover estimates of char, green vegetation and brown (non-photosynthetic) vegetation within a pixel are improved predictors of 1-year post-fire field measures, when compared with single-date and differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR and dNBR) indices. The modeled estimate of immediate char fraction either equaled or outperformed all other immediate metrics in predicting 1-year post-fire effects. Brown cover fraction was a poor predictor of all effects (r 2 < 0.30), and each remote measure produced only poor predictions of crown scorch (r 2 < 0.20). Application of dNBR (1 year post) provided a consid- erable increase in regression performance for predicting tree survival. Immediate post-fire NBR or dNBR produced only marginal differences in predictions of all the 1-year post-fire effects, perhaps limiting the need for prefire imagery.Although further research is clearly warranted to evaluate fire effects data available 2-20 years after fire, char and green vegetation fractions may be viable alternatives to dNBR and similar indices to predict longer-term post-fire ecological effects.
Chromosome 8p23.1 Deletions as a Cause of Complex Congenital Heart Defects and Diaphragmatic Hernia

Recurrent interstitial deletion of a region of 8p23.1 flanked by the low copy repeats 8p-OR-REPD and 8p-OR-REPP is associated with a spectrum of anomalies that can include congenital heart malformations and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Haploinsufficiency of GATA4 is thought to play a critical role in the development of these birth defects. We describe two individuals and a monozygotic twin pair discordant for anterior CDH all of whom have complex congenital heart defects caused by this recurrent interstitial deletion as demonstrated by array comparative genomic hybridization. To better define the genotype/phenotype relationships associated with alterations of genes on 8p23.1, we review the spectrum of congenital heart and diaphragmatic defects that have been reported in individuals with isolated GATA4 mutations and interstitial, terminal, and complex chromosomal rearrangements involving the 8p23.1 region. Our findings allow us to clearly define the CDH minimal deleted region on chromosome 8p23.1 and suggest that haploinsufficiency of other genes, in addition to GATA4, may play a role in the severe cardiac and diaphragmatic defects associated with 8p23.1 deletions. These findings also underscore the importance of conducting a careful cytogenetic/molecular analysis of the 8p23.1 region in all prenatal and postnatal cases involving congenital defects of the heart and/or diaphragm.
Effects of walnut consumption on blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Background: Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease events and death. Walnuts in particular have a unique profile: they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Objectives: We aimed to conduct a literature review and a metaanalysis to combine the results from several trials and to estimate the effect of walnuts on blood lipids. Design: Literature databases were searched for published trials that compared a specifically walnut-enhanced diet with a control diet. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of weighted mean differences (WMDs) of lipid outcomes. Results: Thirteen studies representing 365 participants were included in the analysis. Diets lasted 4‐24 wk with walnuts providing 10‐24% of total calories. When compared with control diets, diets supplemented with walnuts resulted in a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol and in LDL-cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol: WMD = 210.3 mg/dL, P , 0.001; LDL cholesterol: WMD = 29.2 mg/dL, P , 0.001). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were not significantly affected by walnut diets more than with control diets (HDL cholesterol: WMD = 20.2, P = 0.8; triglycerides: WMD = 23.9, P = 0.3). Other results reported in the trials indicated that walnuts provided significant benefits for certain antioxidant capacity and inflammatory markers and had no adverse effects on body weight [body mass index (kg/m 2 ): WMD = 20.4, P = 0.5; weight (kg): WMD = 20.05, P = 0.97]. Conclusions: Overall, high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the duration of the short-term trials. Larger and longer-term trials are needed to address the effects of walnut consumption on cardiovascular risk and body weight. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:1‐8.
Summary of the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery, Orlando, FL, October 25–27, 2013

This is a summary of the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery held in Orlando, Florida, from October 25-27, 2013.
A Visual, Interactive Approach to Synthesis of Spherical 6R Closed Chains for Rational Motions via Constraint Manifold Modification

In this paper, we present an interactive, visual design approach for the dimensional synthesis of spherical 6R closed chains for a given rational motion using constraint manifold modification. This work is an extension of our previous work on the dimensional synthesis of planar 6R closed chains using the aforementioned approach. The theoretical underpinning of this work is based on representation of spherical displacements by quaternions and the kinematic mapping approach. In this way, motion of the coupler of a spherical 6R chain motion maps to a rational curve and the kinematic constraints of a spherical 6R closed chain map to hyper-dimensional algebraic surfaces in the image space of spherical displacements. Thus, the problem of determining dimensional parameters of the chain is reduced to finding the surface parameters that satisfy the geometry of the curve. This, in turn, resolves into satisfying the kinematic constraints of the chain. We provide designers an interactive, user friendly graphical tool that allows them to visually contain the image curve by simple geometric manipulation of the size, orientation, and the location of the constraint surfaces. This simple and straightforward design process lends designers an understanding of the mechanism design methodology.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Carcinogenicity Evaluation: Comparison of Tumor Data from Dual Control Groups in the Sprague–Dawley Rat

Following recent clarification in Europe that a single control group is now acceptable for rodent carcinogenicity studies, the use of dual controls may be reduced or disappear. To date, virtually nothing has been published on whether this latter situation has improved the identification of tumorigenic risk potential in these studies. In this paper, the results of 13 rat carcinogenicity studies, performed between 1991 and 2002, with 2 control groups, are presented. Although no major differences in tumor incidences between these dual control groups were found, some interstudy variation occurred. In cases where a notable difference was seen, the use of 2 control groups, as well as robust, contemporary background data, allowed an easier interpretation of findings in drug-treated groups. Thus, the continued use of dual control groups has a vital role in the assessment of tumoriogenic risk. The paper also presents an update on survival, on the range and extent of background spontaneous neoplasms, and comments on genetic drift in this commonly used rat strain.
Tech Transfer: Everything (Patent) is Never Quite Enough

All forms of intellectual property may be necessary for the effective commercialization of a patent. Nevertheless, while the Bayh-Dole Act is an explicit recognition by Congress of the need to allocate patent rights in order to promote a policy of commercializing the products of federal research funding, it is silent on other salient intellectual patent rights such as trade secrets and copyrights. The ownership of trade secrets and copyrights must be clearly accounted for and their ownership allocated as part of the commercialization process. While state governments can provide clearer laws on the ownership of trade secrets, federal law would preempt most state laws that would purport to change the 1976 Copyright Act’s default rules. This article does not advocate a radical change in the status quo regarding the allocation of intellectual property rights between faculty members and universities. A university must have a carefully-nuanced intellectual property policy that promotes a myriad of goals from those of the university as trustee of our intellectual heritage of open publication and debate, to the university as a not-for-profit, revenue generating, self-sustaining research institution, to the duties of the university as a corporate body of independent self-governing scholars. Absent some statutory change, universities should adopt a nuanced set of intellectual property policies that recognize the university's interest in different forms of intellectual property and differing embodiments of intellectual property The university’s interest in a faculty-authored scholarly tome or journal article is quite different from its potential interest in a faculty-authored computer program or laboratory notebook - especially when these are associated with university owned patents. Without university capture, these works would not be developed, commercialized, or disseminated. In some cases, such innovations are necessary for the commercialization of university-owned patent rights.
Numerical Controlled Drilling And Routing

Printed circuit board fabrication today consists of many factors. The two most important factors are drilling and routing. It should also be remembered that the design of the printed circuit board is also a variable that greatly affects drilling and routing. This chapter focuses on some design considerations and deals with drilling and router programming.
The Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Spina Bifida — Endoscopy

Birth rates several times those in developed countries, the lack of preventive measures, and the rarity of prenatal diagnosis all contribute to the fact that spina bifida is a very common condition among children of developing countries. At the CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (CCHU), a center for pediatric neurosurgery established in 2001, 75–100 new infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) present for treatment annually.
Rolling Process Modeling Report. Finite-Element Model Validation and Parametric Study on various Rolling Process parameters

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been investigating manufacturing processes for the uranium-10% molybdenum alloy plate-type fuel for high-performance research reactors in the United States. This work supports the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Material Management and Minimization Reactor Conversion Program. This report documents modeling results of PNNL’s efforts to perform finite-element simulations to predict roll-separating forces for various rolling mill geometries for PNNL, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Y-12 National Security Complex, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. The model developed and presented in a previous report has been subjected to further validation study using new sets of experimental data generated from a rolling mill at PNNL. Simulation results of both hot rolling and cold rolling of uranium-10% molybdenum coupons have been compared with experimental results. The model was used to predict roll-separating forces at different temperatures and reductions for five rolling mills within the National Nuclear Security Administration Fuel Fabrication Capability project. This report also presents initial results of a finite-element model microstructure-based approach to study the surface roughness at the interface between zirconium and uranium-10% molybdenum.
Computerized Planning of Cryosurgery Using Cryoprobes and Cryoheaters

In a typical minimally invasive cryoprocedure, multiple cryoprobes are inserted into the tissue with the goal of maximizing cryoinjury within a predefined target region, while minimizing cryoinjury to the surrounding tissues. A temperature-controlled electrical heater has been developed recently by this research team, in order to assist in limiting the cryoinjury to the target region. The new device has been termed a 'cryoheater,' and it can work with any cryosurgical cooling technique. A prototype computerized planning tool has been presented recently by this research team, which helps to determine the best locations in which to insert the cryoprobes. This prototype was designed for cryoprobes only. The planning procedure utilized a novel iterative optimization technique, based on a force-field analogy. The combination of cryoheaters with computerized planning is the subject matter of this report. The current report includes a review of cryoheater development, and presents an improved cryosurgery planning tool which incorporates cryoheaters.
A functionalist theory of social domination

In this paper, I develop a functionalist theory of social domination to compete with current theories of this kind of social power that have arisen with and from the work of Philip Pettit. In the latter view, the basic structure of domination is seen as the capacity for ‘arbitrary interference’ of one agent in the life choices of another agent. According to this account, domination is performed by agents, acting arbitrarily, within structured social relationships, but is not seen as being caused by those social structures or systems themselves. On my alternative account, modern forms of domination need to be seen as outside of the interests of agents themselves and instead as part of the functions of the social systems and institutions within which agents are socialized, live, work, and to which they become adapted. In this view, domination becomes not a property of agency, but a central property of the social facts that make up the process of socialization itself. Domination is social and systemic, in th...
A Cubic Space Curve Connected with the Tetrahedron

(1921). A Cubic Space Curve Connected with the Tetrahedron. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 203-206.
Cranberry proanthocyanidins modulate reactive oxygen species in Barrett's and esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines

Background We recently reported that a cranberry proanthocyanidin rich extract (C-PAC) induces autophagic cell death in apoptotic resistant esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cells and necrosis in autophagy resistant cells. EAC is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates supporting development of improved preventive interventions. Objective The current investigation sought to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the context of C-PAC induced cell death. Methods A panel of human esophageal cell lines of EAC or BE (Barrett's esophagus) origin were treated with C-PAC and assessed for ROS modulation using CellROX® Green reagent and the Amplex Red assay to specifically measure hydrogen peroxide levels. Results C-PAC significantly increased ROS levels in EAC cells, but significantly reduced ROS levels in CP-C BE cells. Increased hydrogen peroxide levels were also detected in C-PAC treated EAC cells and supernatant; however, hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly increased in medium alone, without cells, suggesting that C-PAC interferes or directly acts on the substrate. Hydrogen peroxide levels did not change in C-PAC treated CP-C BE cells. Conclusion These experiments provide additional mechanistic insight regarding C-PAC induced cancer cell death through modulation of ROS. Additional research is warranted to identify specific ROS species associated with C-PAC exposure.
Elevated prothrombin time on routine preoperative laboratory results in a healthy infant undergoing craniosynostosis repair: Diagnosis and perioperative management of congenital factor VII deficiency

Abstract Introduction Congenital factor VII deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder with high phenotypic variability. It is critical that children with congenital Factor VII deficiency be identified early when high-risk surgery is planned. Cranial vault surgery is common for children with craniosynostosis, and these surgeries are associated with significant morbidity mostly secondary to the risk of massive blood loss. Presentation of case A two-month old infant who presented for elective craniosynostosis repair was noted to have an elevated prothrombin time (PT) with a normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) on preoperative labs. The infant had no clinical history or reported family history of bleeding disorders, therefore a multidisciplinary decision was made to repeat the labs under general anesthesia and await the results prior to incision. The results confirmed the abnormal PT and the case was canceled. Hematologic workup during admission revealed factor VII deficiency. The patient underwent an uneventful endoscopic strip craniectomy with perioperative administration of recombinant Factor VIIa. Discussion Important considerations for perioperative laboratory evaluation and management in children with factor VII deficiency are discussed. Anesthetic and surgical management of the child with factor VII deficiency necessitates meticulous planning to prevent life threatening bleeding during the perioperative period. Conclusion A thorough history and physical examination with a high clinical suspicion are vital in preventing hemorrhage during surgeries in children with coagulopathies. Abnormal preoperative lab values should always be confirmed and addressed before proceeding with high-risk surgery. A multidisciplinary discussion is essential to optimize the risk-benefit ratio during the perioperative period.
THE PALEOECOLOGY OF A LATE ORDOVICIAN SHALE UNIT FROM SOUTHWEST OHIO AND SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA

The Treptoceras duseri shale unit within the Waynesville Formation of Late Ordovician (early Richmondian) age in southwest Ohio and the equivalent Trilobite shale unit in the same formation exposed in adjacent portions of Indiana represent an Ordovician shallow marine mud-bottom epeiric sea facies. These fine-grained elastics contain a moderately diverse mollusk-trilobite assemblage dominated by vagrant epifaunal detritus-feeding calymenid and asaphid trilobites, large endobyssate and infaunal filter-feeding pelecypods, and nektonic nautiloids. Articulate brachiopods, ectoprocts, and pelmatozoan echinoderms form only minor elements of this fauna.This mollusk-trilobite assemblage was common in Late Ordovician shallow marine clastic environments where mobility was an asset and there was an abundance of oxygen and food resources. Such assemblages are characteristic of the Lorraine Fauna of Late Ordovician (Edenian to Richmondian) age that occurs from the Ohio Valley north and east into New York, Ontario, Quebec, and Ireland. These early Paleozoic mud-bottom assemblages were considerably modified by the Late Ordovician extinction event and were replaced in the Silurian and Devonian by distinctly different assemblages dominated by large epifaunal strophomenid and spiriferid brachiopods, crinoids, and phacopid trilobites.
How Some Mycoplasmas Evade Host Immune Responses

Even though free-living, mycoplasmas depend on their hosts for key nutrients, including purines, pyrimidines, several amino acids, and sterols, which are incorporated into the membranes of these wall-less bacteria. These requirements reflect their relative genomic simplicity. The 580-kb genome of Mycoplasma genitalium, for example, is comparable in size to that of a large virus.
Which VIVO harvester queries best populate the VIVO database with accurate faculty member publications

The National Institutes of Health encourages its research partners to use VIVO™ software to enhance research investigator collaboration. VIVO provides a dynamic online directory to facilitate professional networking opportunities for investigators who share similar or complementary research interests (VIVO, 2015). VIVO Harvester performs author searches in PubMed™ to populate VIVO profiles with article citations. Harvester only provides 65% of the total number of references (Eldredge et al., 2015), however. This study describes how the VIVO Harvester query design impacts Harvester's ability to populate the VIVO database with the correct citations to investigator publications. This action research project analyzed elements critical to optimizing Harvester's accuracy, thereby informing the development of similar queries for other institutions. Institution-specific knowledge coupled to expert PubMed search skills are essential to optimizing the accuracy of VIVO. This development fosters discovery and enhances translational research capable of benefitting society.
Evaluation of explanted polyurethane trileaflet cardiac valve prostheses

Morphologic, chemical, and hemodynamic studies were made of eight prototype polyurethane trileaflet cardiac valve prostheses that had been implanted in juvenile sheep for 17 to 21 weeks in the mitral position. Calcification of the polyurethane leaflet surfaces was the principal finding. Quantitative chemical analyses revealed calcium values with a mean of 42.7 ± 21 mg/gm dry weight of leaflet. Morphologically, two distinct types of calcification were observed: One was associated with the polyurethane surface or the interface between the leaflet surface and microthrombi or fibrous sheaths; the other was characterized by calcification associated with degenerated cells within thrombotic material and the fibrous sheath. These morphologic findings were in accord with the results of hemodynamic performance studies indicating that these heart valve prostheses had become both stenotic and regurgitant.
Image segmentation with implicit color standardization using spatially constrained expectation maximization: detection of nuclei

Color nonstandardness -- the propensity for similar objects to exhibit different color properties across images -- poses a significant problem in the computerized analysis of histopathology. Though many papers propose means for improving color constancy, the vast majority assume image formation via reflective light instead of light transmission as in microscopy, and thus are inappropriate for histological analysis. Previously, we presented a novel Bayesian color segmentation algorithm for histological images that is highly robust to color nonstandardness; this algorithm employed the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to dynamically estimate -- for each individual image -- the probability density functions that describe the colors of salient objects. However, our approach, like most EM-based algorithms, ignored important spatial constraints, such as those modeled by Markov random field (MRFs). Addressing this deficiency, we now present spatially-constrained EM (SCEM), a novel approach for incorporating Markov priors into the EM framework. With respect to our segmentation system, we replace EM with SCEM and then assess its improved ability to segment nuclei in H&E stained histopathology. Segmentation performance is evaluated over seven (nearly) identical sections of gastrointestinal tissue stained using different protocols (simulating severe color nonstandardness). Over this dataset, our system identifies nuclear regions with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.838. If we disregard spatial constraints, the AUC drops to 0.748.
Willingness of Mentally Ill Individuals to Sign Up for a Novel Proposal to Prevent Firearm Suicide

The study goal was to determine whether a significant number of high suicide risk individuals would confidentially put their own names onto a list to prevent future gun purchases. An anonymous written survey was administered in an inpatient psychiatric unit and two outpatient psychiatric clinics at an academic medical center. Two hundred forty individuals were approached to fill out the survey, of whom 200 (83.3%) did so. Forty-six percent of participants stated that they would put their own name onto the list. This novel suicide prevention proposal, a Do-Not-Sell List, would appeal to many people at high risk for suicide.
Analysis of diffusion in curved surfaces and its application to tubular membranes

The effects of curvature on the diffusion of membrane-associated molecules are poorly understood. Here a generalizable theoretical framework for modeling diffusion on curved surfaces is derived and...
Laboratory Monitoring of Children on Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Prospective Study

Background: The primary hypothesis of this article is that a team approach in creating a protocolized laboratory monitoring schedule for home parenteral nutrition (PN) patients improves patient safety by decreasing the occurrence of nutrition deficiencies and is cost-effective. Methods: In this prospective cohort study of home PN patients, each patient followed an established protocol of laboratory monitoring and weekly review by an interdisciplinary team of dietitians, nurses, and physicians. Data collected included anthropometric measurements, laboratory results, deviations from laboratory protocols, laboratory charges, PN shortage information, and means of ameliorating such shortages. Cost-effectiveness analysis was only performed for nonmicronutrient laboratory tests. Results: Fifteen children (male, n = 6) with a median age of 59 months (range, 19–216) were included in this study. Primary diagnoses included short bowel syndrome (47%) and intestinal pseudo-obstruction (40%). Patients received PN mixtu...
Exporting Civilization: French Cultural Diplomacy

Nations continually argue about whether or not to have a cultural diplomacy. Those countries that engage in such diplomatic efforts constantly debate what should be done. France is an exception to this rule, because cultural diplomacy has been an integral part of its foreign policy for over a hundred years. The use of cultural grandeur as a projection of national prestige has characterized France since the time of the Renaissance King, Francois I, and the Sun. King, Louis XIV. Moreover, the essence of this cultural diplomacy has also remained remarkably consistent, along with political, military, and economic power. The soft power associated with cultural creativity and way of life constituted a powerful means for asserting French presence in the international community.
Bariatric Surgery : Pathophysiology and Outcomes

Diabetes mellitus and obesity are closely interrelated and pose a major burden on health care in terms of morbidity and mortality. Weight loss has favorable metabolic benefits for glycemic control and improvement of metabolic syndrome. Bariatric surgery (BS) is the most effective treatment for weight loss with durable results as compared to lifestyle modification. BS procedures have been associated with significant reduction in abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome components, and glycemic control requiring fewer medications. Long-term risks of surgery include nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, which need to be carefully balanced with metabolic benefits for individual patients.
Technical note: Fu–Liou–Gu and Corti–Peter model performance evaluation for radiative retrievals from cirrus clouds

Abstract. We compare, for the first time, the performance of a simplified atmospheric radiative transfer algorithm package, the Corti–Peter (CP) model, versus the more complex Fu–Liou–Gu (FLG) model, for resolving top-of-the-atmosphere radiative forcing characteristics from single-layer cirrus clouds obtained from the NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network database in 2010 and 2011 at Singapore and in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, in 2012. Specifically, CP simplifies calculation of both clear-sky longwave and shortwave radiation through regression analysis applied to radiative calculations, which contributes significantly to differences between the two. The results of the intercomparison show that differences in annual net top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) cloud radiative forcing can reach 65 %. This is particularly true when land surface temperatures are warmer than 288 K, where the CP regression analysis becomes less accurate. CP proves useful for first-order estimates of TOA cirrus cloud forcing, but may not be suitable for quantitative accuracy, including the absolute sign of cirrus cloud daytime TOA forcing that can readily oscillate around zero globally.
CRYPTOCHROME mediates behavioral executive choice in response to UV light

Drosophila melanogaster CRYPTOCHROME (CRY) mediates behavioral and electrophysiological responses to blue light coded by circadian and arousal neurons. However, spectroscopic and biochemical assays of heterologously expressed CRY suggest that CRY may mediate functional responses to UV-A (ultraviolet A) light as well. To determine the relative contributions of distinct phototransduction systems, we tested mutants lacking CRY and mutants with disrupted opsin-based phototransduction for behavioral and electrophysiological responses to UV light. CRY and opsin-based external photoreceptor systems cooperate for UV light-evoked acute responses. CRY mediates behavioral avoidance responses related to executive choice, consistent with its expression in central brain neurons.
Effects of Image-Based and Text-Based Active Learning Exercises on Student Examination Performance in a Musculoskeletal Anatomy Course.

Research on the benefits of visual learning has relied primarily on lecture-based pedagogy, but the potential benefits of combining active learning strategies with visual and verbal materials on learning anatomy has not yet been explored. In this study, the differential effects of text-based and image-based active learning exercises on examination performance were investigated in a functional anatomy course. Each class session was punctuated with an average of 12 text-based and image-based active learning exercises. Participation data from 231 students were compared with their examination performance on 262 questions associated with the in-class exercises. Students also rated the helpfulness and difficulty of the in-class exercises on a survey. Participation in the active learning exercises was positively correlated with examination performance (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). When controlling for other key demographics (gender, underrepresented minority status) and prior grade point average, participation in the image-based exercises was significantly correlated with performance on examination questions associated with image-based exercises (P < 0.001) and text-based exercises (P < 0.01), while participation in text-based exercises was not. Additionally, students reported that the active learning exercises were helpful for seeing images of key ideas (94%) and clarifying key course concepts (80%), and that the image-based exercises were significantly less demanding, less hard and required less effort than text-based exercises (P < 0.05). The findings confirm the positive effect of using images and active learning strategies on student learning, and suggest that integrating them may be especially beneficial for learning anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 10: 444–455. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Characterization of the Cervical Retaining Ligaments During Subplatysmal Facelift Dissection and its Implications.

Background The cervical retaining ligaments anchor the platysma and soft tissues of the neck to the deep cervical fascia and deeper skeletal structures. The cervical retaining ligaments tether the platysma and prohibit free mobilization and redraping of the platysma muscle in rhytidectomy. This ligament system has previously been described in the literature only qualitatively. Objectives To define the anatomic dimensions of the cervical retaining ligaments and their relation to the platysma muscle in order to better understand the cervical retaining ligament system and how it limits motion of the platysma during rhytidectomy. Methods Extended deep plane rhytidectomy was performed on 20 fresh cadaveric hemifaces. The extent cervical retaining ligaments were dissected and measured. The anterior extent (width) of the cervical ligament were recorded at three anatomic points on each hemiface: (1) at the level of the inferior border of the mandible; (2) at the top of the thyroid cartilage at the thyroid notch; and (3) at the level of the cricoid. Results The average width of the cervical retaining ligaments in the neck was 15.3 mm. The width significantly decreased as they became more inferiorly positioned from the top of the neck at the anatomic measurement points, measuring 17.1 mm, 16.1 mm, and 12.6 mm (P Conclusions The cervical retaining ligaments are the support mechanisms of the platysma muscle in the neck. While previously described in only a qualitative manner, this study quantifies the anterior extent of these ligaments and how they invest the lateral platysma muscle. As these ligaments tether the platysma for an average of 1.5 cm, lateral platysma elevation of this distance during rhytidectomy surgery can improve platysmal redraping during rhytidectomy and potentially improve neck rejuvenation.
Epileptogenic brain connectivity patterns using scalp EEG

This paper introduces a new method for the quantification and analysis of functional connectivity from electroencephalogram (EEG) by implementing cross-correlation method. The recorded clinical EEG signals are segmented and categorized into three types of epileptiform discharges (ED), interictal spike, spike and slow wave complex, and repetitive spike and slow wave complexes. The extracted EEG functional connectivity in different frequency bands were quantified and analyzed to identify characterizing patterns between each type of ED. Results revealed that the number of connections from different epileptogenic biomarkers and calculated for each frequency band were statistically different. Such functional connectivity maps reveal distinctive patterns that can be used to classify these types of ED.