cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Citrulline‐containing myelin basic protein is recognized by T‐cell lines derived from multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individuals

The cause of MS is uncertain, but an autoimmune disorder of the CNS is likely, and myelin basic protein (MBP) is a candidate antigen. MBP exists in different isoforms, generated by differential splicing of exons, and in charge isomers, generated by posttranslational modifications. Different isoforms and charge isomers presumably subserve different functions, and they vary in abundance in immature myelin found during myelinogenesis and remyelination compared with mature myelin. The 18.5-kd isomer is most abundant in normal human adults and consequently has been used almost exclusively for immunologic studies in MS. In the present study, we examined a different but abundant charge isomer of MBP, termed MBP-C8, to determine whether it could be recognized by MBP-specific cytotoxic and proliferative T-cell lines (TCL) and whether a T-cell response directed exclusively against citrulline-containing residues of MBP-C8 exists in MS patients and healthy controls. We showed that citrulline affects antigen recognition by some TCL that are specific for areas of MBP that contain the citrulline residues. Following stimulation with MBP-C8, MBP-C8-specific TCL could be generated from both MS patients and controls. T-cell responses against antigens that appear during myelinogenesis and during remyelination may be important in inducing and perpetuating an autoimmune response involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
The therapeutic dilemma of BCLC C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): an interventional oncology-based approach

Learning Objectives Discuss treatment impact of image-guided interventions and present a practical algorithm to select-treat patients with advanced HCC. Background Advanced HCC definition is variable and current therapeutic approach is controversial. Definition includes clinical characteristics as normal-mildly impaired performance status (PS), Child-Pugh score (A-B, sometimes C), and imaging findings like indirect signs of portal hypertension, infiltrative tumor, vascular invasion or extra hepatic disease. Current therapeutic approach is based on systemic medications as Sorafenib; however, a small proportion of patients with portal venous thrombosis and without extra hepatic spread are suitable candidates for loco regional therapy. TACE additionally to systemic agents and Yttrium (Y-90) radioembolization potentially provide survival benefits but considerable side effects, making patient selection imperative. Prognostic and selection factors/criteria include ascites, portal venous thrombosis, serum α-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/ml, bilirubin > 2 mg/dl, albumin Clinical Findings/Procedure Details 1. Review available literature on how BCLC C HCC patients potentially benefit from image guided available interventions and how these impact survival 2. Review patient selection criteria, indications and absolute/relative contraindications of providing treatment to BCLC C HCC patients 3. Algorithm presentation: Proposal on how to approach and provide treatment to BCLC C HCC according to the Emory interventional oncology multidisciplinary practice. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points Various challenges in treating BCLC C HCC can potentially limit the therapeutic effect of available interventions and may raise safety concerns. Careful individualized case selection is essential to maximize therapeutic effects and minimize complication rate. BCLC C HCC interventional oncology treatments potentially provide survival benefits to patients.
Kinematic models and human elbow flexion movements: quantitative analysis.

The smoothness with which movements are customarily performed has led Hogan (1984) to formulate a model for trajectory planning by the central nervous system in which the goal is to maximize smoothness, one measure of which is the integrated mean squared magnitude of jerk (jerk cost). We tested the applicability of this minimum-jerk model to one-joint goal directed movements performed by human subjects at different speeds and amplitudes, by comparing kinematic parameters and the jerk cost predicted by the mathematical model with values calculated from experimental data. We also tested a higher order, minimum-snap kinematic model. Normal subjects performed elbow flexions of 5 to 50 degrees “as rapidly and accurately as possible” and also at slower speeds. The boundary conditions of both models were adjusted to account for the failure of subjects to produce movements which reached equilibrium precisely at the target (so that acceleration and velocity reached zero together). Typically, fast movements ( 300ms) were asymmetric with strong, brief acceleration peaks and broad, slow deceleration peaks. In fast movements, the calculated jerk cost was consistently higher than predicted by the minimum-jerk model; a good fit to all kinematic parameters was provided by the minimum-snap model (a seventh-order polynomial). Neither model consistently predicted the trajectories of slower movements. We conclude that muscle/limb dynamics can account for the success of the minimum-snap model with fast movements, and that there is no evidence of planning for maximal smoothness in slower movements.
A Water Maser Flare in W49N: Amplification by a Rotating Foreground Cloud

We monitored the 22 GHz H2O maser emission toward W49N from December 1989 through May 1990. During this period we observed an outburst in a component at -66.25 km s-1. The flux density of the flaring component increased by a factor of 10 to a maximum of 4020 Jy over a period of 24 days and decreased over the following 34 days to 1400 Jy on the last day of monitoring. During the flux increase the line narrowed from about 1.1 to 0.8 km s-1; it subsequently rebroadened to 1.0 km s-1. Most interestingly, during the flaring behavior the line center shifted by approximately 0.5 km s-1 over the 58 day period. To explain the flare, particularly its shifting line center, we present a model of two interacting maser clouds. In the model, saturated maser radiation produced in a background cloud is amplified by an unsaturated, masing foreground cloud. Motion of the foreground cloud across the line of sight produces a flaring line, accompanied by line narrowing. We demonstrate that the observed flare in W49N may be explained by such a model where a rotating foreground cloud passes in front of a nonrotating background cloud. The differential amplification of the background cloud's radiation produces the observed increase in flux density, line narrowing, and systematic shift in center velocity.
When executives successfully influence peers: The role of target assessment, preparation, and tactics

We examined 62 lateral influence episodes to more fully understand the process used by executives to gain the support of peers for new initiatives. Behavioral complexity theories (cf. Zaccaro, 2001) were used to formulate the research questions related to this study and interpret the results. Interestingly, target assessment factors were connected to certain preparation efforts and the use of specific influence tactics. Executives' preparation efforts, however, were not associated with influence tactic use. Implications for HR professionals and directions for research are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Smuggling Approach to Raising in English

In this squib, I analyze raising constructions involving an overt experiencer, as in the following example (I indicate lower occurrences or traces with the notation): (1) John seems to Mary [ to be nice]. The issue that (1) poses is the following: given the Minimal Link Condition (MLC) or Relativized Minimality (RM), why doesn't the DP 'Mary' block movement of the DP 'John' from the embedded clause to the matrix Spec,IP? In this squib, I will suggest a solution to this problem based on smuggling. The basic idea is that VP-movement smuggles the embedded subject 'John' past the experiencer 'Mary', thus avoiding a violation of the MLC/RM.
General Strain Theory and School Bullying: An Empirical Test in South Korea

Despite recognition of bullying as a serious school and social problem with negative effects on students’ well-being and safety, and the overlap between aggressive bullying acts and delinquent behavior, few empirical studies test the applicability of criminological theories to explaining bullying. This limitation in research is especially evident in studies of non-Western countries. Using longitudinal data on 2,817 South Korean youth, the current study attempts to fill the gaps by examining whether general strain theory can explain school bullying. As the theory suggests, youth who experience victimization by peers and conflict with parents are more likely to engage in bullying. However, there is limited evidence of the expected interaction effects between strains and conditioning factors. Inconsistent with general strain theory, parental attachment and positive relationships with teachers do not condition the effects of strains, and anger is not a mediating variable. Implications for interventions and fo...
Etoposide (VP-16) plus cisplatin (DDP): a new active chemotherapeutic combination in patients with stage III-IV ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Ten patients with Stage III-IV ovarian adenocarcinoma were treated with the drug combination etoposide (VP-16) plus cisplatin (DDP). All patients were in relapse following prior vigorous, uninterrupted treatment with three or more lines of chemotherapy that included (1) courses of weekly 1-mg/kg single-agent DDP, (2) DDP 50 mg/m2 in various combinations with or without cytoxan, adriamycin and hexamethylmelamine q 4 weeks and (3) highdose methotrexate-leucovorin plus cyclophosphamide (MECY) q 4 weeks. The median duration of treatment prior to starting VP-16-DDP was 27.5 months (range 6 to 53 months). VP-16-DDP was given as a 2-day regimen repeated every 4 weeks. VP-16, 100-150 mg/m2, was given on days 1 and 2, and 50 mg/m2 of DDP on day 1 only. The finding of 50 % partial response and 38 % stabilization of measurable tumor was remarkable in patients so extensively pretreated. The responses were not due to increased DDP dosage, but rather to an apparent synergism between VP-16 and DDP.
The Lienzo of Tlapiltepec: A Painted History from the Northern Mixteca (Brownstone, ed.)

This work is a book review considering the title The Lienzo of Tlapiltepec: A Painted History from the Northern Mixteca edited by Arni Brownstone with contributions by Nicholas Johnson and Bas van Doesburg. Forward by Elizabeth Hill Boone.
Strontium Metabolism in Mature Hens and Growing Embryos

Abstract The feeding of dietary levels of 1.5 and 3.0% strontium to laying hens produced zero hatchability of fertile eggs. Apparently stable strontium was deposited in egg shells by replacement of an equal quantity of calcium. Ash content of egg shells was increased as the dietary strontium level was increased. Embryo ash, calcium and phosphorus contents were reduced with increasing dietary strontium level. Skeletal calcification in chick embryos appeared to be inhibited by retained transferred strontium. Stable strontium was deposited in tibiae of laying birds without changing ash, calcium or phosphorus contents of the bone. Strontium deposited in bone was readily removed upon withdrawal of high dietary levels of strontium from the diet.
The effect of shipping fees on customer acquisition, customer retention, and purchase quantities

The growth of the e-commerce sector has highlighted the importance of shipping fees. We empirically study the effects of shipping fees and marketing activities on customer acquisition, customer retention, and average expenditures using data from an online grocer. We find that shipping fees greatly influence order incidence rates and graduated shipping fees significantly affect average expenditures. The analysis indicates that customer acquisition is more sensitive to order size incentives while retention is more influenced by base shipping fee levels. Furthermore, a profitability analysis suggests that shipping policies that provide incentives for larger order sizes may outperform free shipping promotions and standard increasing fees structures.
Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) on N95 Respirator Filtration Performance and Structural Integrity

The ability to disinfect and reuse disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may be needed during a pandemic of an infectious respiratory disease such as influenza. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is one possible method for respirator disinfection. However, UV radiation degrades polymers, which presents the possibility that UVGI exposure could degrade the ability of a disposable respirator to protect the worker. To study this, we exposed both sides of material coupons and respirator straps from four models of N95 FFRs to UVGI doses from 120–950 J/cm2. We then tested the particle penetration, flow resistance, and bursting strengths of the individual respirator coupon layers, and the breaking strength of the respirator straps. We found that UVGI exposure led to a small increase in particle penetration (up to 1.25%) and had little effect on the flow resistance. UVGI exposure had a more pronounced effect on the strengths of the respirator materials. At the higher UVGI doses, the strength...
Unsupervised learning models of primary cortical receptive fields and receptive field plasticity

The efficient coding hypothesis holds that neural receptive fields are adapted to the statistics of the environment, but is agnostic to the timescale of this adaptation, which occurs on both evolutionary and developmental timescales. In this work we focus on that component of adaptation which occurs during an organism's lifetime, and show that a number of unsupervised feature learning algorithms can account for features of normal receptive field properties across multiple primary sensory cortices. Furthermore, we show that the same algorithms account for altered receptive field properties in response to experimentally altered environmental statistics. Based on these modeling results we propose these models as phenomenological models of receptive field plasticity during an organism's lifetime. Finally, due to the success of the same models in multiple sensory areas, we suggest that these algorithms may provide a constructive realization of the theory, first proposed by Mountcastle [1], that a qualitatively similar learning algorithm acts throughout primary sensory cortices.
Dried Cow Manure and Dried Rumen Contents As a Partial Substitute for Alfalfa Leaf Meal

Abstract HAMMOND (1942) reviewed the literature pertaining to the synthesis of vitamins of the B-G Complex in the rumen of the cow and reported his experimental finding that the addition of dried cow manure to a diet deficient in riboflavin improved growth in chickens and was not detrimental when added to a complete diet. Alfalfa leaf meal is known to be a source of several vitamins but is used in poultry diets chiefly as a source of vitamin A and riboflavin. An acute shortage of alfalfa products in the spring of 1943 made the formulation of substitutes imperative. Accordingly a series of experiments was conducted for the purpose of finding combinations of feedstuffs that could be used in place of alfalfa leaf meal. EXPERIMENTAL In an exploratory trial it was found that when the 8 percent of alfalfa leaf meal in a certain simple wartime diet for chicks was replaced by . . .
Estrogen’s attenuating effect on the exercise pressor reflex is more opioid dependent in gonadally intact than in ovariectomized female cats

Using gonadally intact female cats, we showed previously that estrogen, applied topically to the spinal cord, attenuated the exercise pressor reflex. Although the mechanism by which estrogen exerted its attenuating effect is unknown, this steroid hormone has been shown to influence spinal opioid pathways, which in turn have been implicated in the regulation of the exercise pressor reflex. These findings prompted us to test the hypothesis that opioids mediate the attenuating effect of estrogen on the exercise pressor reflex in both gonadally intact female and ovariectomized cats. We therefore applied 200 μl of 17β-estradiol (0.01 μg/ml) with and without the addition of 1,000 μg naloxone, a μ- and δ-opioid antagonist, to a spinal well covering the L6–S1 spinal cord in decerebrated female cats that were either gonadally intact or ovariectomized. The exercise pressor reflex was evoked by electrical stimulation of the L7 or S1 ventral root, a maneuver that caused the hindlimb muscles to contract statically. We found that, in gonadally intact cats, the attenuating effect of estrogen was more pronounced than that in ovariectomized cats. We also found that, in gonadally intact female cats, naloxone partly reversed the attenuation of the pressor response to static contraction caused by spinal estrogen application. For example, in intact cats, the pressor response to contraction before estrogen application averaged 39 ± 4 mmHg ( n = 10), whereas the pressor response 60 min afterward averaged only 18 ± 4 mmHg ( P < 0.05). In contrast, the pressor response to contraction before estrogen and naloxone application averaged 33 ± 5 mmHg ( n = 11), whereas afterward it averaged 27 ± 6 mmHg ( P < 0.05). In ovariectomized cats, naloxone was less effective in reversing the attenuating effect of estrogen on the exercise pressor reflex.
Undergraduate Research Experience through the Analysis of Data Sets in Psychology Courses

A method for involving large numbers of introductory psychology students as active researchers is described and evaluated. Students are assigned a project requiring them to develop research questions and to answer those questions by means of a computerized analysis of previously collected data. Results of a study of the project's effects on attitudes toward research in psychology indicate that students reported valuing research more, understanding statistical procedures better, and feeling less anxious about statistics and computers. These and other findings are taken to suggest that this assignment may be an effective way to introduce introductory students to research activities and values in psychology.
Hemoglobin oxygen saturation measurements using resonance Raman intravital microscopy.

A system is described for in vivo noninvasive measurements of hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbO2Sat) at the microscopic level. The spectroscopic basis for the application is resonant Raman enhancem...
Parallel domain decomposition and load balancing using space-filling curves

Partitioning techniques based on space filling curves have received much recent attention due to their low running time and good load balance characteristics. The basic idea underlying these methods is to order the multidimensional data according to a space filling curve and partition the resulting one dimensional order. However, space filling curves are defined for points that lie on a uniform grid of a particular resolution. It is typically assumed that the coordinates of the points are representable using a fixed number of bits, and the run times of the algorithms depend upon the number of bits used. We present a simple and efficient technique for ordering arbitrary and dynamic multidimensional data using space filling curves and its application to parallel domain decomposition and load balancing. Our technique is based on a comparison routine that determines the relative position of two points in the order induced by a space filling curve. The comparison routine could then be used in conjunction with any parallel sorting algorithm to effect parallel domain decomposition.
AC actuation of fixed-fixed beam MEMS switches

In this paper, an actuation scheme of RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches based on a combined DC and AC actuation voltage (AC actuation) is proposed and numerically simulated. Compared to the conventional electrostatic actuation, AC actuation requires a much smaller actuation voltage, which is more suitable for low-voltage application, including wireless phones and sensors. The frequency of the AC component (actuation frequency) is very close to the mechanical resonant frequency of the MEMS structure beam. A parametric study on the effects of switch geometry, residual stress, and quality factor on the switch actuation voltage and switching time is performed in this work and specific design guidelines are provided for practical designs.
Chaotic mixing in microdroplets

We describe a general methodology for introducing thorough chaotic mixing in microdroplets. The mixing properties of fluid flows in microdroplets are governed by their symmetries, which give rise to invariant surfaces serving as barriers to transport. Complete three-dimensional mixing by chaotic advection requires destruction of all flow invariants. To illustrate this idea, we demonstrate that complete mixing can be obtained in a time-dependent flow produced by moving a microdroplet along a two-dimensional path. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experiments that use the thermocapillary effect to manipulate microdroplets.
A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Strengths of Black Youths

The strengths of Black youths lie in their abilities to resist the barriers that they encounter in the various environments in which they exist. Yet the media and social science literature have defined the youths in terms of the pathology of their environments rather than focusing on the assets that Black youths use in such environments. Thus, terms such as inner city, urban, and at-risk are used as proxies for the youths’ personality attributes and themes, such as violence, substance abuse, school underachievement, and family instability are used to define their life experiences. In doing so, the literature suggests that the negative behaviors that it ascribes to Black youths are normative in actuality. In this article, a new framework for understanding the assets of Black youths is provided. The framework highlights the role of racial socialization in the youths’ development of strengths that allow them to cope effectively with barriers.
Investigating Bio-Char as Flow Modifier and Water Treatment Agent for Sustainable Pavement Design

The life expectancy of Asphalt Binder (AB) has been negatively impacted by the harsh bombardment of Ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays cause asphalt to oxidize faster, which results in the deterioration of asphalt's rheological characteristics that can lead to pavement distresses. This paper investigates merits of bio-char to improve asphalt aging susceptibility by blending one control binder (PG 64-22) and two bio-modified binder at concentrations of 3 and 6% individually; the specimens were then analyzed in terms of their rheological characterization before and after aging. Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) method was used to age all specimens, aged and un-aged samples were then tested using a Rotational Viscometer (RV) to evaluate the changes in their rheological behavior before and after aging as a result of aforementioned modifications. This paper also looks at the chemical composition and elemental analysis of bio-char along with bio- chars' ability to absorb chromium. A sorption procedure was used to determine whether or not bio-char can be used to absorb chromium. The highest chromium removal occurred at a pH value of 5.5. Bio-char was used to improve dispersion and liquid retention, while enhancing oxidation resistance.
Consultation with the specialist: cardiac dysrhythmias.

1. Jon Tingelstad, MD* 1. 2. *Department of Pediatrics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. An anxious mother has rushed her 2-month-old boy to your office because of irritability, diminished appetite, decreased physical activity, and pallor that have become more prominent over the past 2 to 3 hours. On arrival, your nurse evaluates him immediately and calls you because of her concerns. The infant is lethargic and pale. His pulse rate is 240 beats/min and respiratory rate is 60 breaths/min. His weight is 4.5 kg. Capillary refill is 4 to 5 seconds, rectal temperature is 36.6°C (98°F), and lungs are clear. His abdomen is soft, and his liver edge is palpable 3 cm below the right costal margin. The anterior fontanelle is flat and soft. His eyes, ears, and throat appear normal. This is the first episode of this type that this infant has experienced. He is on a 20 kcal/oz proprietary formula and is not receiving any medications. His mother cares for him, and she knows of no exposure to infectious diseases. He has no siblings. He weighed 3.45 kg at birth. While obtaining an electrocardiogram, which demonstrates a ventricular rate of 240 beats/min with narrow QRS complexes, findings consistent with paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia, you apply an ice bag to the infant’s face. There is no change in the cardiac rate, even though you repeat the maneuver twice. You consider direct current cardioversion, but no such apparatus is available in your office. You are able to get an intravenous drip started and administer adenosine 0.1 mg/kg by rapid push. The tachycardia persists; 2 minutes later you repeat the adenosine at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg. This proves effective, with the heart rate slowing suddenly to 160 beats/min. The electrocardiogram now demonstrates a short PR interval and wide QRS complex with pre-excitation (delta wave), characteristic features of the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. The patient remains …
Characterization of Short-Term Temperature, Exposure, and Solubilization Effects on Library Compound Quality:

Many compound collections are stored under the same temperature conditions, which can limit flexibility by increasing the processing time required for high-demand compounds. In this study, the authors wanted to evaluate the impact of a hybrid-storage approach where high-demand compounds are stored for a shortened time period at room temperature to expedite processing operations. The use of a Covaris adaptive-focused acoustics platform was also characterized as a potential enhancement or alternative to storage at elevated temperatures. This study evaluated the impact of temperature, exposure, and solubilization on overall compound quality for short-term storage. A small library of 25 representative compounds was evaluated over an 18-week period to monitor the change in purity and concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The authors concluded that temperature had a significant impact on compound concentration, and the effects due to exposure cycles were minimal. A ...
Discounting initial population sizes for prediction of extinction probabilities in patchy environments

Liu, J., 1993. Discounting initial population sizes for prediction of extinction probabilities in patchy environments. Ecol. Modelling, 70: 51-61.
Ultra-Wideband Multilayer Substrate Integrated Folded Waveguides

A substrate integrated folded waveguide is shown that remains monomode from 2.6 GHz to 11 GHz covering the entire Federal communications commission's allocated ultra-wideband spectrum of 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. Furthermore, the structure is only 8.5 mm wide. Measured results are given that verify the operation of the guide.
The Human–Animal Bond in Academic Veterinary Medicine

This article outlines the development of academic veterinary interest in the human–animal bond (HAB) and provides short summaries of the various centers currently studying the HAB at North American universities. Although most of these centers are at veterinary schools, the level of involvement by veterinarians is surprisingly low, considering how important a strong HAB is for the average veterinary practitioner (the stronger the bond, the more the client will be willing to pay for veterinary services).
Are Police Posters Art

Art theft sometimes creates strange relationships. One of the strangest is the nexus between the crime itself and the interest of the public in the aesthetic power of the stolen image. Perhaps that accounts for how art theft often attracts so much attention. They can still emerge when these works are reproduced. Take for instance the Los Angeles Police Department’s Art Theft Detail website which has a terrific collection of stolen art notices. The array of images provides a real sense of the scale of art stolen in the Los Angeles area alone. But these posters - meant to publicize the theft and secure their return - can result in works of art in their own right; created in the confluence of theft, police investigation, and graphic design. The poster publicizing a recent theft of an Andy Warhol print of Mick Jagger with “Stolen Art” and the LAPD seal splashed across the top looks exactly like something Warhol himself might have produced.
lncRNAs in Stress Response

All living organisms sense and respond to harmful changes in their intracellular and extracellular environment through complex signaling pathways that lead to changes in gene expression and cellular function in order to maintain homeostasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a large and heterogeneous group of functional RNAs, play important roles in cellular response to stressful conditions. lncRNAs constitute a significant fraction of the genes differentially expressed in response to diverse stressful stimuli and, once induced, contribute to the regulation of downstream cellular processes, including feedback regulation of key stress response proteins. While many lncRNAs seem to be induced in response to a specific stress, there is significant overlap between lncRNAs induced in response to different stressful stimuli. In addition to stress-induced RNAs, several constitutively expressed lncRNAs also exert a strong regulatory impact on the stress response. Although our understanding of the contribution of lncRNAs to the cellular stress response is still highly rudimentary, the existing data point to the presence of a complex network of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins in regulation of the cellular response to stress.
Comparative Analysis of Calcium Silicate-based Root Filling Materials Using an Open Apex Model.

Abstract Introduction Many new calcium silicate–based root filling materials have emerged in the market; however, their performance in the orthograde obturation of an open apex has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal adaptation of ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK), NeoMTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL), and Endosequence BC RRM-Fast Set Putty (BC RRM-FS; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) after orthograde placement in roots with open apices. Methods Palatal roots of maxillary molars were instrumented to create divergent open apices and divided into 4 groups for orthograde obturation: ProRoot MTA, NeoMTA Plus, BC RRM-FS, and BC RRM-FS + BC Sealer. Using a scanning electron microscope, the quality of material adaptation at the anatomic apex was evaluated by 5 blinded examiners; 3 mm of the root end was sectioned, and gap distance was measured at the material-dentin interface. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results There were no significant differences in marginal adaptation among the 4 groups at the level of the anatomic apex ( P = .175). BC RRM-FS + BC Sealer had a significantly smaller gap size after 3-mm root end resection compared with the other 3 groups ( P Conclusions All materials showed comparable marginal adaptation at the anatomic apex when used for orthograde obturation of open apices. Application of BC Sealer before the delivery of BC RRM-FS Putty enhanced the quality of adaptation coronal to the apex.
Clinical analysis of peptic ulcer in preschool children

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and gastroscopy features of peptic ulcer in preschool children,to provide basis for diagnosis and rational treatment. Methods The clinical and gastroscopy data of 42 cases of peptic ulcer in preschool children were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were 20 cases of gastric ulcer,21 cases of duodenal ulcer and 1 case of gastric and duodenal ulcer. Twelve cases of secondary ulcer included 8 cases of allergic purpura-associated ulcers and 4 cases of foreign body-associated ulcers. Conclusion The peptic ulcer in preschool children are lack of typical clinical presentation,have different causes and gastroscopy features,therefore,we need to actively do gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis,in order to provide the basis for rational therapy.
Renal Trauma: When to Embolize?

Purpose of Review The management of solid organ injury continues to evolve from operative therapy to non-operative therapy with the highest success rates seen in the management of blunt renal trauma. Angio-embolization has emerged as an important modality to increase the success rate of non-operative management of kidney injuries.
Physiologic and biologic behavior of autologous canine 131L-fibrinogen labeled by a chloramine-T method.

Autologous canine 131I-fibrinogen labeled by a chloramine-T method was examined to determine whether the fibrinogen had been altered by the iodination procedure as suggested by other investigators. Before and after radioiodination, clottability of the fibrinogen was always equal to or greater than 89 percent. Gel chromatography studies revealed that labeled fibrinogen behaved as unlabeled fibrinogen and no high molecular weight material was found. Gamma camera scintigraphy reflected the chromatography results, as iodinated material did not appear in the liver or spleen until 48 to 72 hours. The slow-moving component of the whole blood clearance curves, respresenting undenatured fibrinogen, had a mean half-life of 61.4 +/- 5.1 hours (+/- S.E.M.) and comprised 51.5 +/- 7.5 percent of the initial activity. Similarly, a mean falf-life of 53.4 +/- 2.0 hours and 59.6 +/- 7.7 percent initial activity wwere attributed to fibrinogen according to the plasma clearance curves as determined by trichloracetic acid precipitation. The results clearly demonstrated that chloramine-T iodination of fibrinogen can yield an excellent product, biologically and chemically, which is free from macroaggregates.
Numerical modeling of supercavitating propeller flows

A three-dimensional boundary element method is used for the numerical modeling of supercavitating propellers subjected to nonaxisymmetric inflow. The method has been developed in the past for the prediction of unsteady sheet cavitation for conventional propellers. To allow for the treatment of supercavitating propellers, the method is extended to model the separated flow behind trailing edges with nonzero thickness. The convergence of the method is studied. Results from numerical validation, as well as comparisons of predictions with experimental measurements, are provided.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Starch Biosynthesis

Publisher Summary Starch is present in most of the green plants and in practically every type of tissue: leaves, fruit, pollen grains, roots, shoots, and stems. Starch synthesis takes place during development and maturation of storage organs, such as tubers, fruits, and seeds. The synthesized starch is then degraded during the time of sprouting or germination of the seed or tuber, or in the ripening of the fruit. The metabolites arising from starch degradation are a source of both carbon and energy. The site of starch synthesis and storage in cereal grains is the endosperm, and the starch granules are synthesized and located in amyloplasts. Starch content in potato tubers, maize endosperm, sweet potato, and roots of cassava and yam varies between 65% and 90% of the total dry weight. This chapter discusses enzymic reactions involved in starch synthesis in higher plants and algae. The bacterial enzymes of glycogen synthesis are also described and compared to the analogous plant enzymes. Regulation of starch synthesis at the enzymic level is discussed and compared to what is observed in the regulation of bacterial glycogen synthesis. In relation to this, results showing how starch content has been increased in certain plants by over-expression of biosynthetic enzymes are described. The chapter also deals with some of the maize endosperm mutants, where the biochemical process affected by the mutation is known.
Spatial reasoning in comparative analyses of physics diagrams

Spatial reasoning plays a critical role in STEM problem solving. Physics assessments, for example, are rich in diagrams and pictures, which help people understand concrete physical scenarios and abstract aspects of physical reasoning. In this paper we describe a system that analyzes sketched diagrams to solve qualitative physics problems from a popular physics textbook. Causal models describing each problem are formulated via visual and conceptual analyses of the sketched diagrams. We use a combination of qualitative and quantitative reasoning to solve vector addition, tension, and gravitation ranking problems in the introductory chapters of the book.
Dynamic Flexibility of Hydrogenase Active Site Models Studied with 2D-IR Spectroscopy.

Hydrogenase enzymes enable organisms to use H2 as an energy source, having evolved extremely efficient biological catalysts for the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen. Small-molecule mimics of these enzymes provide both simplified models of the catalysis reactions and potential artificial catalysts that might be used to facilitate a hydrogen economy. We have studied two diiron hydrogenase mimics, μ-pdt-[Fe(CO)3]2 and μ-edt-[Fe(CO)3]2 (pdt = propanedithiolate, edt = ethanedithiolate), in a series of alkane solvents and have observed significant ultrafast spectral dynamics using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. Since solvent fluctuations in nonpolar alkanes do not lead to substantial electrostatic modulations in a solute’s vibrational mode frequencies, we attribute the spectral diffusion dynamics to intramolecular flexibility. The intramolecular origin is supported by the absence of any measurable solvent viscosity dependence, indicating that the frequency fluctuations are not coupled ...
Autonomic and Sensory Disorders

The complexities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its intimate relationship with sensory function are especially well illustrated in the group of genetic disorders known as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN). Each HSAN disorder is caused by a different genetic error affecting a specific aspect of small fiber development and/or maintenance resulting in variable phenotypic expression. With the exception of HSAN type I, which is a dominant disorder presenting in the second decade, the other HSAN are autosomal recessive disorders whose mutations impede normal neural crest migration and differentiation and result in decreased neuronal populations. Therefore signs are usually present within the first year of life. For each HSAN type, penetrance is complete but there can be marked variability in expression. Decreased analgesia is characteristic of all HSANs, whereas the degree and type of autonomic dysfunction differs among the HSANs.
Eyelid: Temporary Tarsorrhaphy

Patients should have been evaluated and deemed appropriate for such surgical intervention. Temporary suture tarsorrhaphy is used as a temporizing measure for the treatment of decompensated ocular surface disorders, neurotrophic ulcers, or infectious corneal ulcers in convalescent phase, nonhealing corneal epithelial defects, and cases of transient ocular exposure. Patients should have been educated about the risks and benefits of the procedure, including alternatives.
The Stent Is Not to Blame: Lessons Learned With a Simplified US Version of the Frozen Elephant Trunk

Background We analyzed trends, assessed outcomes and lessons learned, and investigated whether using a simplified US version of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique to treat complex arch pathology poses additional risk. Methods From 2010 to 2015, we performed 129 consecutive ET procedures (traditional ET [t-ET], n = 92 [71.3%]; FET, n = 37 [28.7%]) for chronic dissecting (n = 62 [48.1%]) and atherosclerotic aneurysms (n = 67 [51.9%]). A stepwise logistic regression model using preoperative and intraoperative variables was created to analyze the outcomes. Results Thirty-day mortality was 12.4% (t-ET, n = 9 [9.8%]; FET, n = 7 [18.9%]; p = 0.24). The rate of persistent (at the time of discharge) stroke was 5.4% (t-ET, n = 5 [5.4%]; FET, n = 2 [5.4%]; p =1.00). The rate of persistent spinal cord deficit was 3.9% (t-ET, n = 3 [3.3%]; FET, n = 2 [5.4%]; p = 0.62). In the multivariable analyses, the addition of FET was not an independent predictor of mortality, permanent stroke, or spinal cord deficit. Conclusions With the advent of endovascular technology, there is a clinical shift toward increased use of FET to eliminate or facilitate the second surgical stage in treating patients with extensive aortic pathology. The addition of FET to the surgical armamentarium does not seem to pose additional risk (although larger studies are needed), but judicious use is advised nonetheless. A single-piece endoprosthesis for FET instead of a customized one should be considered.
Letter to the Editor: Ding Q, Wang Z, Shen M, Su Z, and Shen L (2017) Acute Alcohol Exposure and Risk of Mortality of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ding et al. performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The authors identified eighteen observational studies for meta-analysis and reported no association between BAC and death in patients with TBI. Lower levels of BAC (1-100 mg/dL) were associated with greater odds of death than higher levels of BAC, implying a protective effect in higher BAC groups. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Beyond service-learning: Helping undergraduates define and plan for lives of civic engagement at the University of Michigan

In recent years, a number of American colleges and universities have increased their efforts at civic engagement education, implementing courses, minors, majors, or co-curricular programs to prepare students for civic activity. In an effort to broaden undergraduates’ perceptions of civic engagement and provide them with concrete skills necessary for active engagement throughout their lives, the University of Michigan School of Social Work has established a multidisciplinary minor in Community Action and Social Change (CASC). Drawing on focus groups and interviews with CASC students, the authors describe the ways in which CASC’s curricular model helps participants to develop and articulate their own conceptions of civic engagement and to plan for how they will be civically engaged post-graduation.
Regenerative Endodontic Procedures among Endodontists: A Web-based Survey

Abstract Introduction The protocols that endodontists implement for regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) are unknown. The aim of this study was to examine current REP protocols among practicing endodontists in the United States. Methods A Web-based survey was sent to 4060 active members of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). A total of 850 participants completed the survey, representing a 20.9% response rate. Results Responses indicated 60% reported having performed REPs; most performed 1 to 3 per year. The most commonly selected source (60.8%) for the clinical protocol was the “AAE Clinical Considerations for a Regenerative Procedure.” Time constraints were the most common reason why 92.4% of respondents did not report their REP cases to the AAE.org database; additionally, 15.5% were unaware of it. Almost half (49.8%) of the participants reported they would attempt an REP on a patient of any age. The most commonly used irrigants were >3% sodium hypochlorite at the first appointment and EDTA at the scaffold formation appointment. As the intracanal medicament, 52.2% used calcium hydroxide, whereas 23.5% used triple antibiotic paste. At the scaffold formation appointment, 77.1% used a local anesthetic without a vasoconstrictor, and 94.3% used a blood clot as the scaffold. Mineral trioxide aggregate was the coronal barrier most often selected. Considering factors most likely to encourage the use of REPs in the future, 79.8% reported the availability of good candidates followed by 40.1% who desired better evidence. Conclusions Based on the results of this survey, REP protocols appear to be heterogeneous and do not strictly conform to the “AAE Clinical Considerations for a Regenerative Procedure.”
Visual Attention: Mice Can Use Spatial Cues Too

Summary The use of cues to predict the location of a visual target is an important cognitive strategy for primates. While mice are generally considered to be less dependent on vision than primates, new work shows that they can also use spatial cues to direct their visual attention.
Inferring Nighttime Ionospheric Parameters With the Far Ultraviolet Imager Onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer.

The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) Far Ultraviolet (FUV) imager, ICON FUV, will measure altitude profiles of OI 135.6 nm emissions to infer nighttime ionospheric parameters. Accurate estimation of the ionospheric state requires the development of a comprehensive radiative transfer model from first principles to quantify the effects of physical processes on the production and transport of the 135.6 nm photons in the ionosphere including the mutual neutralization contribution as well as the effect of resonant scattering by atomic oxygen and pure absorption by oxygen molecules. This forward model is then used in conjunction with a constrained optimization algorithm to invert the anticipated ICON FUV line-of-sight integrated measurements. In this paper, we describe the connection between ICON FUV measurements and the nighttime ionosphere, along with the approach to inverting the measured emission profiles to derive the associated O+ profiles from 150–450 km in the nighttime ionosphere that directly reflect the electron density in the F-region of the ionosphere.
Mass Spectrometric Methods for Determination of Cannabinoids in Physiological Specimens

This chapter describes the published mass spectrometric (MS) methods that have proven most effective for quantitative measurement of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its major metabolites in physiological specimens. Because determination of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCA) in urine continues to be the most frequently used indicator of marijuana use, the first portion of the chapter will discuss methods for measurement of THCA in urine. However, the major portion of the chapter is devoted to the most recent developments for measuring THC and its metabolites in other biological specimens including blood, plasma, meconium, oral fluids, hair, and other tissues. Table 1–7 are designed to facilitate location of references describing analytical methods involving key components for analysis of cannabinoids in various matrices.
Performative interviewing: affective attunement and reflective affective analysis in interviewing

In this essay, we develop an affective framework that offers performance ethnographers new methodological ways of orienting to and analyzing interviews. Affective attunement is the notion that indi...
Gravitational Allocation on the Sphere

Given a collectlon $\mathcal{L}$ of $n$ points on a sphere $\mathbf{S}_{n}^{2}$ of surface area $n$ , a fair allocation is a partition of the sphere into $n$ parts each of area 1, and each associated with a distinct point of $\mathcal{L}$ . We show that if the $n$ points are chosen uniformly at random and the partition is defined by a certain “gravitational” potential, then the expected distance between a point on the sphere and the associated point of $\mathcal{L}$ is $O(\sqrt{\log n})$ . We use our result to define a matching between two collections of $n$ independent and uniform points on the sphere, and prove that the expected distance between a pair of matched points is $O(\sqrt{\log n})$ , which is optimal by a result of Ajtai, Komlos, and Tusnady.