cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of cranio-cervical injuries: C1–C2 posterior cervical fusion and decompression

Abstract The occipitocervical junction allows for rotation and flexion-extension of the head rotation. Bony articulations between C1–C2 and the ligamentous complex are responsible for stability. Fractures or injuries to the ligamentous complex often requires operative management in order to restore stability. In this review, techniques for posterior cervical fusion and decompression are reviewed and include: fixation to C2, transarticular screw construct, screw-rod construct, occipital-cervical fusion, and posterior wiring. Complications and outcomes for each of the posterior techniques are described. While the primary focus is posterior approaches, anterior C1–C2 approach play a critical role in managing these injuries and is described briefly.
Regional Anesthesia for Pain Management After Orthopedic Procedures for Treatment of Lower Extremity Length Discrepancy

Introduction The use of regional anesthesia techniques continues to expand in a wide variety of surgical procedures as the benefits and safety are increasingly appreciated. Limb-lengthening procedures are often associated with significant postoperative pain and high opioid requirements which may impact patient’s recovery and increase risk of chronic pain and long-term opioid use. Methods The current study retrospectively reviews our experience utilizing a novel peripheral nerve catheter (PNC) protocol for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing elective limb-lengthening procedures. We measure total opioid consumption following 48 hrs in the postoperative period between groups. Results A total of 70 patients were included from which 41 received general plus regional anesthesia (RA) and 29 were managed with general anesthesia alone (NORA). Postoperative pain needs were calculated as morphine equivalents (ME). There were no differences in the demographic characteristics between the groups. Over the first 48 postoperative hours, opioid use was 0.5 mg/kg ME (IQR 0.3, 0.9) in the RA group versus 1.7 mg/kg ME (IQR 1.1, 3.1) in the NORA group (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis between femoral lengthening and tibial-fibular lengthening procedures demonstrated the same opioid-sparing effect favoring the RA group compared to the NORA group. Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in the femoral lengthening RA group compared to NORA group (32 hrs [IQR 29, 35] versus 53 hrs [IQR 33, 55], respectively). There was no significant difference in length of stay between the RA group and NORA group after tibial-fibular lengthening procedures. Discussion Regional anesthesia via continuous catheter infusions has a clinically significant opioid-sparing effect for postoperative pain management after limb-lengthening procedures and may facilitate earlier hospital discharge.
Addressing microaggressions in racially charged patient-provider interactions: a pilot randomized trial

Racial bias in medical care is a significant public health issue, with increased focus on microaggressions and the quality of patient-provider interactions. Innovations in training interventions are needed to decrease microaggressions and improve provider communication and rapport with patients of color during medical encounters. This paper presents a pilot randomized trial of an innovative clinical workshop that employed a theoretical model from social and contextual behavioral sciences. The intervention specifically aimed to decrease providers’ likelihood of expressing biases and negative stereotypes when interacting with patients of color in racially charged moments, such as when patients discuss past incidents of discrimination. Workshop exercises were informed by research on the importance of mindfulness and interracial contact involving reciprocal exchanges of vulnerability and responsiveness. Twenty-five medical student and recent graduate participants were randomized to a workshop intervention or no intervention. Outcomes were measured via provider self-report and observed changes in targeted provider behaviors. Specifically, two independent, blind teams of coders assessed provider emotional rapport and responsiveness during simulated interracial patient encounters with standardized Black patients who presented specific racial challenges to participants. Greater improvements in observed emotional rapport and responsiveness (indexing fewer microaggressions), improved self-reported explicit attitudes toward minoritized groups, and improved self-reported working alliance and closeness with the Black standardized patients were observed and reported by intervention participants. Medical providers may be more likely to exhibit bias with patients of color in specific racially charged moments during medical encounters. This small-sample pilot study suggests that interventions that directly intervene to help providers improve responding in these moments by incorporating mindfulness and interracial contact may be beneficial in reducing racial health disparities.
CryoEM structure of Drosophila flight muscle thick filaments at 7 Å resolution

Striated muscle thick filaments are composed of myosin II and several non-myosin proteins. Myosin II's long α-helical coiled-coil tail forms the dense protein backbone of filaments, whereas its N-terminal globular head containing the catalytic and actin-binding activities extends outward from the backbone. Here, we report the structure of thick filaments of the flight muscle of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster at 7 A resolution. Its myosin tails are arranged in curved molecular crystalline layers identical to flight muscles of the giant water bug Lethocerus indicus Four non-myosin densities are observed, three of which correspond to ones found in Lethocerus; one new density, possibly stretchin-mlck, is found on the backbone outer surface. Surprisingly, the myosin heads are disordered rather than ordered along the filament backbone. Our results show striking myosin tail similarity within flight muscle filaments of two insect orders separated by several hundred million years of evolution.
Signal autonomy: Skeletal muscle in diabetes

Skeletal muscle from individuals with type 2 diabetes has a cell-autonomous phosphoprotein signature.
Engaging with Policy, Practice and Publics: Intersectionality and Impact: Sarah Marie Hall and Ralitsa Hiteva. 2020. Bristol, England: Policy Press. 173pp. AUS$16.52. EPub.

Hall and Hiteva’s (2020) Engaging with Policy, Practice, and Publics utilizes social scientists’ personal experiences to illustrate “spaces of research engagement and encounter” (p. 5) and how “dif...
The Association of Preoperative Opioid Use With Revision Surgery and Complications Following Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty.

Purpose Preoperative opioid use has been shown to be associated with poor outcomes following different upper-extremity surgeries. We aimed to examine the relationship between preoperative opioid use and outcomes following carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty . We hypothesized that patients prescribed higher daily average numbers of preoperative oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) would show higher rates of complications and revision surgery. Methods In the Truven Health MarketScan Database, we identified all patients who underwent CMC arthroplasty from 2009 to 2018. We separated them into cohorts based on average daily OMEs prescribed in the 6 months prior to the surgery: opioid naive, 10 OMEs per day. We retrieved 90-day complications and 3-year revision surgery data, and we compared these outcomes by opioid-use groups. Results We identified 40,141 patients. The majority (55.9%) were opioid naive, with the next most common group receiving a daily average of 10 OMEs per day had a 1.45% increase in 3-year revision surgery compared with opioid-naive patients, which equated to 2.12 (confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–3.36) times increased odds. Additionally, patients taking >10 OMEs had increased odds of an emergency department visit (odds ratio [OR]: 1.60, CI: 1.43–1.78), a 90-day hospital admission (OR: 2.34, CI: 1.97–2.79), and surgical site infection (OR, 2.02, CI: 1.59–2.54) compared with opioid-naive patients, with absolute differences of 4.53%, 2.78%, and 1.22% compared with opioid-naive patients, respectively. Additionally, preoperative opioid use predicted both number of prescriptions filled in the short term and long term continued opioid use. Conclusions Preoperative opioid use of >10 OMEs per day is associated with a higher risk for complications and revision surgery following CMC arthroplasty. Our findings demonstrate a dose-dependent relationship between opioid use and postoperative complications . Further study is necessary to determine if reducing opioid use prior to CMC arthroplasty may reduce the likelihood of these negative outcomes. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Breastfeeding, maternal psychopathological symptoms, and infant problem behaviors among low-income mothers returning to work.

Abstract Rationale One of the biggest challenges for mothers returning to work after childbirth is breastfeeding. Studies documented the physical health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and children. However, research findings concerning the longitudinal effects of breastfeeding on maternal and children's mental health are mixed. Objective The current study investigated the longitudinal effects of the length of breastfeeding on maternal psychopathological symptoms and infants’ problem behaviors, among a sample of low-income working mothers. Methods The sample included 285 infants and their mothers (primarily minority, low-income, and single) who returned to work 3-month postpartum, recruited from an ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged area in a southern U.S. state. Mothers' breastfeeding behaviors were assessed four times in the first year postpartum, and mothers' psychopathological symptoms and their infants’ problem behaviors were reported by mothers two times, at 12-month and 24-month postpartum. Results Path models revealed that high maternal psychopathological symptoms in infancy worsened the effect of breastfeeding on child externalizing behaviors in toddlerhood. Likewise, very high infant externalizing behaviors worsened the effect of breastfeeding on maternal hostility one year later. Conclusions This study suggests the need for implementing prevention interventions with a lifecycle approach and continued, tailored professional breastfeeding support after hospital discharge among at-risk working mothers. Findings of this study can inform public policy by highlighting the importance of considering joint breastfeeding support and mental health counseling in the delivery of services to mothers and their infants who live in under-resourced environments and struggle with maternal psychopathology.
Real-time model for unit-level heating and cooling energy prediction in multi-family residential housing

In this paper, we introduce a real-time modelling approach to predict the heating and cooling energy consumption of each housing unit in multi-family residential buildings. We first present measure...
Rosette formation between rat thymocytes and guinea pig erythrocytes requires "active" fetal calf serum. I. Characteristics of "active" serum factors and receptors on thymocytes and erythrocytes.

Abstract Rosette formation between rat thymocytes and guinea pig erythrocytes is dependent on at least two factors present in non-heat treated fetal calf serum. One factor is a high molecular weight, heat stable substance and the other factor is a heat labile substance(s). The rosette formation process is divalent cation dependent and seems to involve the sequential binding to thymocytes of the high molecular weight, heat stable substance, the heat labile substance (s), and then guinea pig erythrocytes. Thymocytes appear to bear a receptor which is dependent on hexose monophosphate shunt metabolism, is not removed by many digestive enzymes, but is blocked with phytohemag-glutinin and pokeweed mitogen. Erythrocytes appear to bear a receptor which is dependent on hexose monophosphate shunt metabolism, removed by pronase treatment, and blocked by phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A.
Internalization Through Socialization

Professors Ryan Goodman and Derek Jinks have authored an important paper and have begun an important project: how the process of internalization of international law into national behavior transpires through the process of "socialization." That project continues their important joint work on the Institutional Theory of Sovereignty1 by sketching an ambitious outline of an integrated model of social mechanisms that influence state behavior. In this comment, let me explain first, why the project and this paper are important; and second, how their project could be strengthened in the years ahead. Until quite recently, the enterprise of International Legal Scholarship had long been viewed as a complex oxymoron: like the "Holy Roman Empire," which, of course, was neither Holy, Roman, nor an Empire, or the "New York Giants," who are neither New, from New York, or Giants. Similarly, many domestic lawyers had assumed that if the subject was "international," there could be no law involved, and if the subject was "international law," there could be no scholarship involved. All that changed less than two decades ago, when international law finally met international relations theory.2 Unlike many other areas of legal scholarship, international law was a relative latecomer to interdisciplinarity; the field only became interdisciplinary about fifteen years ago, not coincidentally about the time that the collapse of the Berlin Wall signaled the new functionality of international law
Strategies of Muslim Family Law Reform

Family law in Muslim-majority countries has undergone tremendous change over the past century, and this process continues today with intensity and controversy. In general, this change has been considered one of “reform,” defined loosely as the adoption of national laws to modify the rules of Islamic law (fiqh) that had been applicable and predominant in the particular country in an effort to improve the rights of women and children. In most Muslim-majority contexts, however, the rules of fiqh remain particularly (and in some jurisdictions uniquely) relevant in the area of family law, and the reform process is usually presented as taking place internally to Islamic law rather than something external to it. In early reform efforts, three main strategies were used to achieve substantive results (namely the strategies of exercising preference, patching, and jurisdiction stripping). To the extent that the scholarly literature on Muslim family law deals with types of internal strategies (rather than the actual substantive changes), these three strategies are typically the main or only ones discussed. Family law reform has been very active in recent years, however, and some advocates have developed creative and innovative ways to continue to push legal change that is presented as coming from within the Islamic legal tradition. This article, drawing mainly on examples from Egypt and Morocco, seeks to identify and examine the breadth of strategies in Sunni Islam that have been used beyond these well-known three. By naming and defining them, we hope to facilitate discussions and research in this area, among academics and those engaged in reform projects alike. Specifically we aim to encourage empirical studies of the practical impact of reforms; draw attention to the potential unintended consequences produced by each type of strategy; and contribute to a larger conversation about the benefits and disadvantages of internal approaches, on a case by case basis and as a whole, in comparison with other ways that might be used to achieve legal improvements for women and children.
Discretionary Contracts and Bank-Firm Relationships

This paper provides a rationale for the use of discretion in bank loan contracts. Discretion allows banks which produce information on borrowers to optimally adapt contract terms to 'soft' or non-verifiable information in the course of lending. This facilitates investment efficiency and also allows for wealth redistributions in favor of firms with good investment opportunities. I show that the optimality of discretion depends critically on bank quality and the degree of lender competition. If bank quality is low and/or lender competition is limited, enforceable bank contracts and financial market contracts dominate discretionary contracts. I also show that the relative importance of bank vis-a-vis financial market financing is non-monotonic in borrower quality. The analysis has implications for the competitive position and the optimal organizational structure of banks, and emphasizes the value of relationship lending in an increasingly competitive environment.
Comparison of Acid Secretion Rates Measured by Gastric Aspiration and by In Vivo Intragastric Titration in Healthy Human Subjects

In nine healthy subjects acid secretion rates, measured first by gastric aspiration and then by in vivo intragastric titration to pH 5, were compared. In vivo intragastric titration was initiated by instilling 50, 100, or 700 ml saline (pH 5) into the stomach, followed by a continuous intragastric saline infusion at 3.3 ml/min. Irrespective of the volume of saline used to initiate in vivo intragastric titration, acid secretion rates during titration were two to three times greater than secretion rates during gastric aspiration (P & 0.005). This difference was not due to transpyloric acid losses during aspiration, since such losses were corrected for by nonabsorbable marker recovery; nor was the difference due to a higher intragastric pH during in vivo titration, since significant differences in acid secretion rates between aspiration and titration persisted when in vivo titration was performed at an acid pH. These findings suggest that in vivo intragastric titration leads to higher measured acid secretory rates than gastric aspiration because the titration method is associated with gastric distention and even small degrees of gastric distention stimulate gastric acid secretion.
Kinetics of solid-state reactions in Ni-Zr thin films

We have studied the kinetic of the solid-state amorphizing reaction in thin film multilayers of Ni and Zr. Crystalline Ni and Zr films were deposited in ultra-high vacuum onto platinum resistance thermometer embedded in alumina. An electronic feedback circuit controls the temperature of the substrata by adjusting the power dissipated by the platinum resistors. We find that structural relaxation in the as-deposited Ni and Zr films affects the initial stages of the reaction. For long reaction times there is a discontinuous change in the reaction rate. The time to reach this transition increases with film thickness and depends exponentially on 1/T, with an apparent activation energy of 3 eV atom{sup {minus}1}. 25 refs., 9 figs.
Cutaneous discrimination and motor control following somatosensory cortical ablations.

Abstract Unilateral ablation of the anterior ectosylvian gyrus (AEG) alone or in combination with ablation of the posterior sigmoid gyrus (PSG) and coronal gyrus, was followed by a contralateral cutaneous sensory deficit, as shown by tests of learned discrimination or orientation-localization of passively-received cutaneous stimuli. Performances of problems involving light touch, or a difficult discrimination, were sometimes impaired more than a simple discrimination involving pressure stimuli. Ablation of the PSG alone was not followed by a cutaneous sensory deficit but by impairment of posture and fine motor control more severe than that which followed AEG ablation. Following PSG ablation, recovery of ability to accurately direct the forelimb with vision, but not while blindfolded, suggested a proprioceptive deficit, however, PSG ablation was also associated with damage to the corticospinal tract. The results suggest a particular division of function between SI and SII.
Measurement of adhesion work of electrospun polymer membrane by shaft-loaded blister test

The work of adhesion at the interface of electrospun membrane and rigid substrate is measured by a shaft-loaded blister test (SLBT). Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were electrospun with an average fiber diameter of 333 ± 59 nm. Commercial cardboard with inorganic coating was used to provide a model substrate for adhesion tests. In SLBT, the elastic response PVDF was analyzed and its adhesion energy measured. The average value of the adhesion work is 206 ± 26 mJ/m(2). Elastic modulus of electrospun membrane obtained by SLBT is found to be 23.42 ± 2.69 MPa, which is consistent with the value obtained from standard tensile tests. The results show SLBT presented a viable methodology for evaluating the adhesion energy of electrospun polymer fabrics.
Married to a Memory: Undetected Grief in an Assisted Living Environment

The death of a spouse or partner is one of life's most stressful events (Holmes & Rahe, 1967; Scully, Tosi, & Banning, 2000). The impact can be dramatic, leading to both physical and mental health ...
Influence of High Levels of Pyridoxine on Twisted Legs in Broilers

Three experiments were conducted using commercially available broiler chicks to study the influence of high levels of pyridoxine on incidence of twisted legs. Chicks were grown in wire floored battery brooders to two weeks of age when they were weighed and visually scored for twisted legs. Supplementation of a diet containing 2.2 mg synthetic vitamin B6/kg with 10 and 20 mg/kg pyridoxine resulted in a significant decrease (P less than or equal to .05) in incidence of twisted legs in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, supplementation with 30, 60, or 100 mg/kg numerically reduced incidence, but the differences were not statistically significant. Incidence of twisted legs was significantly increased by injecting chicks with .5 ml physiological saline at 1 and 7 days of age in comparison to noninjected controls. Including 10 mg pyridoxine HCl in the saline reduced the incidence but it was still numerically higher than the noninjected controls. Factors other than vitamin B6 nutrition appear to play a more important role in the etiology of twisted legs in broiler chicks.
Effect of pulse duration on microsecond-domain laser lithotripsy

The pulsed dye laser (wavelength 504 nm, pulse duration 1 microsecond) is widely used for fragmenting urinary and biliary calculi. In this study, the performance of this laser was compared with pulsed dye lasers producing pulse durations of 8 and 20 microseconds. Fragmentation thresholds and fragmentation rates were measured using a variety of urinary and biliary calculi. Effective fragmentation of urinary and biliary calculi was obtained with 1-microsecond and 8-microseconds pulse durations, but satisfactory fragmentation could not be achieved at 20 microseconds.
Sensitivity to rubber chemicals

Certain chemicals added to rubber in processing may migrate to the surface of products, eliciting allergic contact dermatitis, an immune reaction due to delayed (cell-mediated) hypersensitivity. These compounds include thiurams, mercapto chemicals, paraphenylenediamine derivatives, naphthyl chemicals, carbamates, and miscellaneous chemicals such as thioureas. This review discusses clinical reports and patch testing data demonstrating that these compounds are sensitizers. In addition, animal experiments and leaching studies are reviewed. Nonoccupational exposure is emphasized.
Solution of multiple choice estimation problems via 0-1 integer programming

Surveillance systems are often required to simultaneously estimate the trajectory parameters of several targets. This problem is complicated significantly in high target density situations since the individual data sequences required by standard estimation algorithms are difficult to form. This paper discusses certain computational aspects of assigning closely spaced sensor returns to individual tracks. We refer to this as a "multiple choice" estimation problem since the real tracks are generally hidden in a large set F of feasible tracks. Forming the feasible track set F on the basis of a priori knowledge of the problem is the first step on the assignment process. A subset of the potential tracks contained in F is then selected on the basis accomplished by 0-1 integer programming, as we now illustrate for a simple discrete linear problem.
GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST REACTION COMPLICATING HL-A MATCHED BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract Graft-versus-host reaction, ranging from mild to severe, was observed in three of seven patients who had had an allogeneic bone-marrow engraftment from their HL-A antigen identical siblings. Two patients died as a direct result of this complication of marrow transplantation.
On construct validity: A critique of Miniard and Cohen's paper

Abstract Miniard and Cohen's conclusion that our measures of attitudes and subjective norms lack construct validity is rejected. It is shown that the data from their study are entirely consistent with data from previous investigations and that the data provide additional evidence for the predictive validity of our theory and for the construct validity of our operations.
A preliminary report of the effects of orally administered enoximone on regional hemodynamics in congestive heart failure.

Abstract Twelve patients with moderately severe congestive heart failure underwent the simultaneous determination of central and regional hemodynamics after administration of placebo and enoximone. The regions examined hemodynamically included renal, hepatics-planchnic and upper limb. Enoximone was studied in 2 doses, 1 and 2 mg/kg, and administered in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. At these doses enoximone elicited a significantly greater increase in cardiac output and a greater decrease in systemic vascular resistance than placebo. Systemic blood pressure was not significantly altered. Enoximone did not significantly change the flow or resistance of renal or hepatic-splanchnic vascular beds. Limb vascular resistance decreased modestly after enoximone with a significant augmentation (+12% to 17%) of limb blood flow compared with placebo. The initial oral administration of the 1 and 2 mg/kg doses of enoximone improved central hemodynamic parameters with apparent preferential reduction of limb vascular resistance and augmentation of blood flow to the limb region (peripheral musculoskeletal system).
Quantitative Prediction of Biochar Soil Amendments by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Any sale of C credits in a cap-and-trade system based on soil biochar applications will require an effective and inexpensive audit system. We investigated the ability of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict biochar amendment levels, total C, and C/N ratios within and between two independent soil sample sets collected from an agricultural field in Boone County, Iowa. One set had high intrinsic diversity of soil properties, while the other set had low diversity. The calibration cross-validation procedure showed the ability of NIRS to quantitatively model total C and biochar C along with their normalized values with R²⁻ values >0.82 and ratios of prediction deviation (RPDs) >2.2 for the high-diversity set. Modeling total C of the no-biochar controls (R² = 0.69, RPD = 1.56) and normalized total C (R² = 0.51, RPD = 1.31) from the low-diversity sample set was less accurate. Validation using the independent partial least squares regression models of the high-diversity sample set to predict constituent concentrations for the low-diversity sample set showed predictions of total C, biochar C, and normalized biochar C with bias-corrected RPDs >2.1 and R² values >0.87. Model validation R² (0.92) between the measured biochar C and model-predicted normalized biochar C was significantly greater (α < 0.05) than the autocorrelation between the measured total C and biochar C (R² = 0.89), thus demonstrating that NIRS responds to biochar C apart from total C. The results indicate that inexpensive NIRS analyses can be used to audit soil biochar applications.
Temperature Dependence of Reactor Water Environmental Fatigue Effects on Carbon, Low Alloy and Austenitic Stainless Steels

Recent studies of the environmental fatigue data for carbon, low alloy and austenitic stainless steels have shown that reactor water effects are significantly less deleterious as temperatures are reduced below 350 °C (662 °F). At temperatures below 150 °C (302 °F) the reduction in life due to reactor water environmental effects is less than a factor of 2, and the existing ASME Code Section III fatigue design curves for air can be used. The latter include a factor of 20 on cycles whereas the ASME Subgroup on Fatigue Strength (SGFS) has determined that a factor of 10 should be used on the mean failure curves which include reactor water effects. These factors account for scatter in the data, surface finish effects, size effects, and environmental effects. Reactor water environmental degradation dependence on temperature is determined using variations of the statistical models developed by Chopra and Shack, Higuchi, Iiada, Asada, Nakamura, Van Der Sluys, Yukawa, Mehta, Leax and Gosselin, References [1 through 22]. Comparisons of the resulting proposed environmental fatigue design criteria with reactor water environmental fatigue data are made. These comparisons show that the Code factors of 2 and 20 on stress and cycles are maintained for air environments, and the 2 and 10 Code factors are maintained for the reactor water environments. Environmental fatigue criteria are given for both worst case strain rates and for arbitrary strain rates. These design criteria do not require the designer to consider sequence of loading, hold times, transient rates, and other operating details which may change during 60 years of plant operation.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Colony-stimulating factors.

One of the most exciting recent developments in cancer-related research has been the discovery and understanding of colony-stimulating factors. There is now a general optimism that these factors will be used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias, as well as in the treatment of patients who are immunocompromised or undergoing bone marrow transplantation. We have gathered a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the current status of this rapidly moving field.
DNA damage alters DNA polymerase δ to a form that exhibits increased discrimination against modified template bases and mismatched primers

Human DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ4), a key enzyme in chromosomal replication, is a heterotetramer composed of the p125, p50, p68 and p12 subunits. Genotoxic agents such as UV and alkylating chemicals trigger a DNA damage response in which Pol δ4 is converted to a trimer (Pol δ3) by degradation of p12. We show that Pol δ3 has altered enzymatic properties: it is less able to perform translesion synthesis on templates containing base lesions (O6-MeG, 8-oxoG, an abasic site or a thymine-thymine dimer); a greater proofreading activity; an increased exonuclease/polymerase activity ratio; a decreased tendency for the insertion of wrong nucleotides, and for the extension of mismatched primers. Overall, our findings indicate that Pol δ3 exhibits an enhanced ability for the detection of errors in both primers and templates over its parent enzyme. These alterations in Pol δ3 show that p12 plays a major role in Pol δ4 catalytic functions, and provides significant insights into the rationale for the conversion of Pol δ4 to Pol δ3 in the cellular response to DNA damage.
Computing elliptic integrals by duplication

Logarithms, arctangents, and elliptic integrals of all three kinds (including complete integrals) are evaluated numerically by successive applications of the duplication theorem. When the convergence is improved by including a fixed number of terms of Taylor's series, the error ultimately decreases by a factor of 4096 in each cycle of iteration. Except for Cauchy principal values there is no separation of cases according to the values of the variables, and no serious cancellations occur if the variables are real and nonnegative. Only rational operations and square roots are required. An appendix contains a recurrence relation and two new representations (in terms of elementary symmetric functions and power sums) forR-polynomials, as well as an upper bound for the error made in truncating the Taylor series of anR-function.
Suicide risk and prevention in bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorders are prevalent and severe illnesses that are associated with a high risk of suicide. Patients with bipolar disorder who have had prior suicide attempts are at a substantially higher risk for future suicidality, even after controlling for other risk factors. Despite the magnitude of this problem, there is a paucity of controlled prospective data to guide clinical care, most likely due to the difficulties inherent in such studies. The most robust literature supports the use of lithium as a suicide-protective agent in bipolar disorder, but a definitive controlled study in a generalizable population is warranted. As in other areas of psychiatry, a careful assessment of the individual patient risk is of paramount importance.
Aerodynamic Performance of Supersonic Missile Body- and Wing Tip-Mounted Lateral Jets

Forward, missile body-mounted, lateral jet thrusters in a windward orientation yield amplie cation factors that are well below unity ( 0.5). This deamplie cation is caused by the intense interaction between the oncoming freestream and the jet e ow, causing massive loss of the favorable pressure on the windward wings. Additionally, the jet e ow creates a blockage effect that extends to the windward rear tail panels causing reduced tail control for this missile orientation. A means to enhance the amplie cation factor and regain control of tail panels is addressed by studying several alternate locations of the lateral jet thruster with a e xed body/wing/tail missile geometry. It is shown that the jet thrusters mounted on the wing tips enhance the amplie cation factor to 1.06 as compared to 0.5 for the forward missile body-mounted lateral thruster. This approach also recovers the control power of the windward rear tail panels. Specie c generic missile studies are presented after extensive jet interaction validations of the computational method with the wind-tunnel data. Nomenclature AF = amplie cation factor, 1 CNjet CNno-jet T q S Clm = rolling moment coefe cient, Mx q S Xref Cm = pitching moment coefe cient, My q S Xref CN = normal force coefe cient, N q S , airframe only CY = side force coefe cient, FY q S CYm = yawing moment coefe cient, Mz q S Xref dp = pressure differential, Pjet Pno-jet Pinf FY = side force, N M = freestream Mach number Mx = rolling moment My = pitching moment Mz = yawing moment N = normal force, N P = pressure, N/m 2 q = dynamic pressure, 1 2 S = missile cross-sectional area, m 2 T = jet thrust, N = velocity, m/s = angle of attack, deg = ratio of specie c heats = density = azimuth angle, deg
Chordoma cutis: a report of nineteen patients with cutaneous involvement of chordoma.

Background: Chordoma, an uncommon tumor originating from remnants of the notochord, with cutaneous involvement has rarely been reported. Objective: Our purpose was to document clinical manifestations, histopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, treatment, and course of chordoma with cutaneous involvement. Methods: Pathologically proven cases of chordoma were reviewed retrospectively for cutaneous involvement. Detailed clinical data and histopathologic changes were studied. Skin biopsy specimens were stained for immunohistochemical phenotyping. Results: Of 207 cases of chordoma, 19 had skin involvement: as local recurrences or metastasis in 12, as direct extension of primary tumor in 6, and as a result of distant metastasis from sacrococcygeal chordoma in 1. Local recurrences were frequent, but distant metastasis to various organs, including skin, occurred. Conclusion: We propose the term chordoma cutis to describe this condition. In seven patients, cutaneous lesions were detected when the diagnosis of primary chordoma was made.
Chromosome painting analysis of early oogenesis in human trisomy 18.

We have used chromosome 18-specific painting probes to analyze early stages of oogenesis in two human trisomy 18 fetuses. At leptotene, a diffuse, nonlinear chromosomal fluorescence was detected as one (27%), two (42%), or three (31 %) signals in 534 cells. The variation in size of these signals implies the possibility of associations between homologs prior to zygotene. At pachytene, about 75 % (339/453) of the cells had a trivalent configuration, and almost half of these cells exhibited almost complete triple synapses. Approximately 24% of the pachytene cells demonstrated a bivalent:univalent configuration, and 1 % exhibited complete asynapsis. Our data imply that triple synapses may be a regular feature of meiosis involving multivalents.
Light microscopic analysis of the cortical projection of the thalamic ventrolateral nucleus in the cat.

Summary Study of the normal cyto- and myeloarchitecture of the cat ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VL) reveals that it can be divided into a dorsal and ventral zone. The dorsal VL zone, adjacent to the internal medullary lamina, is sparsely myelinated. Its cells appear homogenous in size and distribution. Stimulation of the dorsal zone evoked contractions of contralateral proximal body musculature. Small lesions in this zone produced degeneration in the regions of the motor cortex representing proximal musculature (occurring within area 6). The ventral VL zone, adjacent to the ventrobasal complex (VB), is more densely myelinated. Within the ventral zone large darkly stained cells appear in clusters surrounded by smaller, less darkly stained cells. Stimulation of the ventral zone evoked contractions of contralateral distal limb and vibrissal musculature. Small lesions in the ventral zone produced degeneration in the regions of the motor cortex representing distal limb and vibrissal musculature (occurring within area 4 and a small part of area 6aβ). Lesions in VB neighboring VL produced degeneration confined to the sensory cortex, and not in area 4 or 6, the sites of VL projection. There are striking differences in the pattern of cortical degeneration following VL and VB lesions. A small VL lesion produced sparse degeneration spread over a relatively wide area of the motor cortex. Larger VL lesions increased the density of degeneration within the same cortical area, indicating an extensive overlap in the cortical projection of VL fibers. In contrast, a small VB lesion produced dense degeneration limited to a small region of the sensory cortex. Larger VB lesions produced the same density of degeneration spread over a wider area of cortex, indicating little or no overlap in the cortical projection of VB fibers.
The effect of die attach voiding on the thermal resistance of chip level packages

Abstract The presence of voids in the die bond region is known to adversely affect the thermal resistance of the packaged chip-level device. Unfortunately, such voids are easily formed in the solder layer during manufacturing, and are found to nucleate, grow and coalesce with thermal cycling. Although the relationship between package thermal resistance and voids has been examined extensively, little data exist concerning the precise effects of void size, configuration and position. The present study allows the experimental investigation of these effects through application of an innovative experimental technique that carefully controls void geometry and distribution. The results show that for small, random voids, the thermal resistance, θjc, increases linearly with void volume percentage, V%, according to the equation θjc = 0.007V + 1.4987, and for large, contiguous voids the increase follows the exponential relationship, θjc = 1.427e0.015V. At 73% voiding, θjc was found to increase 30% and 200% for random and contiguous voids, respectively.
Extraosseous calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor. Report of a case.

T he calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor has been described by Pindborg’l 2 as a separate entity among the epithelial odontogenic tumors. The eponym “Pindborg tumor” also has been used to denote this pathologic entity.3 Recently, Pindborg4 has reviewed the literature and summarized the information available on twenty-six known cases. With two exceptions,4 all the known cases have been intraosseous. Another case of the extraosseous variety has been seen and is herewith added to the literature.
Biological and histological characteristics of simultaneous bilateral breast cancer

Biological and histological characteristics of simultaneous bilateral breast cancers were studied in 11 patients: 8 had bilateral oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumours, 2 had bilateral ER-negative tumours; and only 1 case was asymmetric in receptor status. In contrast 5 of 7 asynchronous bilateral tumours demonstrated disparity in receptor status. The high incidence of bilateral positivity and similarity of receptor content in the simultaneous group suggests that the development of this group of tumours is probably hormonally related. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between tumour size and receptor content suggests an alteration in tumour characteristics during tumour progression.
Theory of light reflection by cholesteric liquid crystals possessing a pitch gradient

Cholesteric liquid crystals possessing a pitch gradient are expected to occur in several circumstances of some interest. It is necessary to investigate a layer’s light-reflection properties in order to confirm this structure and to further study its response to boundary or field conditions. In this article two different models and their solutions are presented.
In vivo reactivity of resistance arterioles to activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

Our goal was to examine in vivo responses of resistance arterioles contained within the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation to activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (K+) channels. We measured changes in diameter of cheek pouch arterioles in response to activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels using RP 52891 (Aprikalim) and BRL 38227 (active enantiomer of cromakalim). RP 52891 and BRL 38227 produced dose-related dilatation of arterioles, which was inhibited by glibenclamide (1.0 μM), but not altered by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 1.0 μM). Glibenclamide did not alter baseline diameter of cheek pouch arterioles and did not alter dilatation of cheek pouch arterioles in response to nitroglycerin (1.0 and 10 μM). L-NMMA did not alter dilatation of arterioles to nitroglycerin, but inhibited dilatation of arterioles to acetylcholine (0.1, 1.0 and 10 μM). Thus, dilatation of arterioles in response to activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels appears to be specific and does not involve the release of nitric oxide or a nitric oxide containing compound. The findings of the present study suggests that ATP-sensitive K+ channels are functional in resistance arterioles in vivo, but do not appear to affect resting tone of cheek pouch arterioles.
An enhanced PM2.5 air quality forecast model based on nonlinear regression and back-trajectory concentrations

Abstract An enhanced PM2.5 air quality forecast model based on nonlinear regression (NLR) and back-trajectory concentrations has been developed for use in the Louisville, Kentucky metropolitan area. The PM2.5 air quality forecast model is designed for use in the warm season, from May through September, when PM2.5 air quality is more likely to be critical for human health. The enhanced PM2.5 model consists of a basic NLR model, developed for use with an automated air quality forecast system, and an additional parameter based on upwind PM2.5 concentration, called PM24. The PM24 parameter is designed to be determined manually, by synthesizing backward air trajectory and regional air quality information to compute 24-h back-trajectory concentrations. The PM24 parameter may be used by air quality forecasters to adjust the forecast provided by the automated forecast system. In this study of the 2007 and 2008 forecast seasons, the enhanced model performed well using forecasted meteorological data and PM24 as input. The enhanced PM2.5 model was compared with three alternative models, including the basic NLR model, the basic NLR model with a persistence parameter added, and the NLR model with persistence and PM24. The two models that included PM24 were of comparable accuracy. The two models incorporating back-trajectory concentrations had lower mean absolute errors and higher rates of detecting unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations compared to the other models.
Estrogenic effect on the expression of estrogen receptor, COUP-TF, and lactoferrin mRNA in developing mouse tissues.

We have previously demonstrated that lactoferrin (LF) is a major estrogen-inducible protein in the mouse uterus. The increase of LF mRNA after estrogen treatment (>300 fold) is the result of a complex interplay among transcription factors acting on the estrogen response element (ERE) of the LF gene. Two transcription factors—the estrogen receptor (ER) and the chicken oval-bumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF)—play opposing roles in the estrogen responsiveness of the LF gene promoter-reporter constructs in transiently transfected human endometrial carcinoma cells. The ratio of ER/COUP-TF in the transfected cells appears to be critical for estrogen-stimulated LF gene promoter activity (Liu et al, 1993). In the current study, ER and COUP-TF mRNA levels are examined and related to LF mRNA expression in various mouse tissues, including the developing uterus with/without estrogen stimulation. Results show that LF mRNA and protein are expressed in various tissues during development, but the potent synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), does not increase LF mRNA expression in nonreproductive tissues such as liver, spleen, and lung. In contrast, in developing neonatal reproductive tract tissues, DES increases LF mRNA and protein expression as previously reported in immature and mature uterine tissues DES, however, did not affect ER and COUP-TF expression in developing uterine tissues. Although the uterus has a high ratio of ER/COUP-TF as compared to other tissues examined, COUP-TF may not be the only regulator for LF gene expression in this particular tissue since COUP-TF remains constant during development and following DES treatment. These data point to the complexity of differential expression of LF gene in estrogen responsive and nonresponsive tissues during development. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
The Magnetic Properties of Superconducting Alloys of Indium and Thallium

Magnetization curves for spherical samples of a series of alloys in the solid solution range of thallium in indium have been measured as a function of temperature and composition, and critical field curves have been obtained. These alloys show a fairly strong Meissner effect, and the breadth of the transition region increases for increasing thallium content. Alloys of high thallium content were found to have magnetic properties strongly sensitive to mechanical shock while in the intermediate state.