cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feature-based generators for time series data

A variety of interesting domains, such as financial markets, weather systems, herding phenomena, etc., are characterized by highly complex time series datasets which defy simple description and prediction. The generation of input data for simulators operating in these domains is challenging because process description usually involves high-dimensional joint distributions that are either too complex or simply unavailable. In such applications, a standard approach is to drive simulators with (historical) trace-data, along with facilities for real-time interaction and synchronization. But, limited input data, or conversely, abundant but low-fidelity random data, limits the usefulness and quality of the results. With a view to generating high-fidelity, random input for such applications, we propose a methodology which uses the original data, as a template, to generate candidate datasets, to finally accept only those datasets which resemble the template, based upon parameterized features. We demonstrate the methodology with some early experimental results.
An ON-OFF log domain circuit that recreates adaptive filtering in the retina

We introduce a new approach to synthesizing Class AB log-domain filters that satisfy dynamic differential-mode and common-mode constraints simultaneously. Whereas the dynamic differential-mode constraint imposes the desired filtering behavior, the dynamic common-mode constraint solves the zero-dc-gain problem, a shortcoming of previous approaches. Also, we introduce a novel push-pull circuit that serves as a current-splitter; it rectifies a differential signal into the ON and OFF paths in our log-domain filter. As an example, we synthesize a first-order low-pass filter, and, to demonstrate the rejection of dc signals, we implement an adaptive filter by placing this low-pass circuit in a variable-gain negative-feedback path. Feedback gain is controlled by signal energy, which is extracted simply by summing complementary ON and OFF signals-dc signals do not contribute to the signal energy nor are they amplified by the feedback. We implement this adaptive filter design in a silicon chip that draws biological inspiration from visual processing in the mammalian retina. It may also be useful in other applications that require dynamic time-constant adaptation.
Genetics of src: structure and functional organization of a protein tyrosine kinase.

The observations of Peyton Rous almost 80 years ago provided the first clues to the viral etiology of cancer. Since that time the study of transforming retroviruses such as Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and the subsequent identification of the genes responsible for the induction of the neoplastic state (oncogenes) have provided a foundation for understanding the molecular basis of cancer (Bishop 1987). Of equal importance is the recognition that transforming retroviruses transduce cellular gene sequences that encode proteins which function in the process of normal cell growth and differentiation. The analysis of transforming retroviruses therefore provides a unique opportunity to identify, isolate, and characterize cellular proteins that play fundamental roles in the regulation of normal and malignant cell growth. Genetic and biochemical studies using RSV have played a preeminent role in defining the relationship between virus expression and cellular transformation. Genetic evidence for a unique gene required for transformation was provided by Martin (1970), Kawai and Hanafusa (1971), and Toyoshima and Vogt (1969) with the isolation of temperature-sensitive mutants of RSV, thus clearly implicating a viral gene product in the transformation process.
On reordering conjunctions of literals; a simple, fast algorithm

In most formulations, finding the optimal order of evaluation of subgoals in the body of a clause is known to be inherently exponential in time. On the other hand, the author has found it useful to apply a quick reordering algorithm, based only on individual rules, which, though not guaranteed always to generate an optimal order, often does yield large speedups in the executions of programs to which it is applied. The time complexity of the algorithm is-in the absence of nonlogical (builtin) predicates and in the presence of only safe negative literals-at most O(n/sup 2/ log n) steps, where n is the length, in symbols, of the input conjunction. >
Kinetic and equilibrium phenomena in the system: Acetone vapor and polycarbonate film

Amorphous films of Lexan polycarbonate have been exposed to acetone vapor at controlled temperatures and partial pressures in order to study sorption kinetics and thermodynamics and polymer crystallization behavior. Sorption isotherms show a discontinuity is slope at or near the depressed glass transition, which itself was identified by torsion pendulum measurements. Crystallization abruptly begins to occur at partial pressures equal to or slightly above that of the solubility transition and is manifested by delayed desorption and whitening phenomena. In this process 20% crystallinity is usually developed, as measured by calorimetry which, however, produces a 40% drop in acetone solubility. Although the depressed glass temperature is near 0°C. in saturated atmospheres—a drop of 145°C.—the melting point is only depressed 60 or 70°C. Such disparity probably accounts for the enhanced polycarbonate crystallization rate in acetone over that in the dry bulk polymer above the normal Tg.
Sublobar/wedge resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy for stage I marginally operable non-small-cell lung cancer.

The optimal therapy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lobectomy for patients who are considered to be at risk [1]. However, for those considered to be at high risk for lobectomy, du...
The Decline and Fall of Medieval Sicily: Politics, Religion, and Economy in the Reign of Frederick III, 1296–1337

1. The kingdom at risk 2. The international scene: war without and within 3. A divided society I: the urban demesnal world 4. A divided society II: the rural baronial world 5. The religious scene: piety and its problems 6. In the margins: slaves, pirates, and women Conclusion Tables Bibliography.
Pedagogical Technology Experiences of Successful Late-Career Faculty

A small-scale phenomenological study reveals interesting and suggestive insights into the pedagogical technology experiences of late-career faculty with institutional recognition as successful instructors. Referred to in much of the literature as “resistant” and assumed to lack training in pedagogical technology and/or to adhere to passive learning strategies, the faculty in this study described attempts, successful and unsuccessful, to integrate technology into their teaching. Their experiences and perceptions point out the questionable effects of taking a “toolism” approach to faculty development and the risk associated with proceeding with unexamined assumptions about such faculty and their technology use.
THE EFFECTS OF MOISTURE AND HEAT ON THE EFFICACY OF CHEMICAL CUES USED IN PREDATOR DETECTION BY THE WOLF SPIDER PARDOSA MILVINA (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE)

Abstract Little is known about how environmental conditions affect the relative efficacy of information present in chemical cues. The wolf spider, Pardosa milvina, responds to silk and excreta from a larger species of wolf spider, Hogna helluo, with effective antipredator behavior. We investigated whether wetting or heating chemotactile cues of Hogna helluo would reduce the amount of antipredator behavior displayed by Pardosa milvina relative to unmanipulated cues. Pardosa milvina showed less antipredator behavior on chemotactile cues that had been wetted then dried but did not respond differently in the presence of cues that had been heated and then cooled. The results suggest that, in the field, morning dew may degrade some of the cues deposited by H. helluo at night and reduce the ability of P. milvina to avoid predation. However, typical periods of daily heating of cues may not affect the efficacy of predator detection by P. milvina.
Effectiveness of Challenge‐Based Instruction in Biomechanics

Studies were designed to determine the effectiveness of challenge-based instruction (CBI) versus traditional lecture-based instruction. Comparisons were made over a three-year period between student performance on knowledge-based questions in courses taught with taxonomy-based and challenge-based approaches to instruction. When performance on all questions was compared, CBI classes scored significantly better than control classes on 26 percent of the questions, while control classes outperformed CBI classes on eight percent of the questions, but there was no significant difference in overall performance. However, students in CBI classes performed significantly better than students in control classes on the more difficult questions (35 percent versus four percent). We attribute these differences to additional opportunities available in CBI classrooms for learners to examine their conceptual understanding. Student surveys indicate a slight preference for the challenge-based approach. We believe that the challenge-based approach is effective and has the potential to better prepare students for the workplace and for life-long learning.
Human and environmental factors affecting Aedes aegypti distribution in an arid urban environment.

Abstract Aedes aegypti has reappeared in urban communities in the southwestern USA in the 1990s after a 40-year absence. In 2003 and 2004, a systematic survey was conducted throughout metropolitan Tucson, AZ, to identify human and environmental factors associated with Ae. aegypti distribution within an arid urban area. Aedes aegypti presence and abundance were measured monthly using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention enhanced oviposition traps at sampling sites established in a grid at 3- to 4-km intervals across the city. Sampling occurred in the summer rainy season (July through September), the peak of mosquito activity in the region. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine relationships between mosquito density and factors that could influence mosquito distribution. House age was the only factor that showed a consistent significant association with Ae. aegypti abundance in both years: older houses had more mosquito eggs. This is the 1st study of Ae. aegypti distribution at ...
to be Quechua: the symbolism of coca chewing in highland Peru

In many Quechua communities of the high Andes it is customary to take a mid-afternoon break to chew coca leaves. During one such break, as I sat with Don Cipriano, a man of 45, his children surreptitiously took a few coca leaves and began to chew them.' "Do children chew coca?" I asked in surprise. "No," he answered, "children don't chew coca." Then he added indulgently, "Oh, they play at chewing coca, but they don't understand it." This paper explores what coca chewing means to Quechua people. Coca is an integral part of Quechua life in Peru and Bolivia and is a powerful symbol of cultural identity. A better understanding of the cultural and biological aspects of coca consumption in the Andes is urgently needed at this time, as Andean nations increasingly find themselves under international pressure to eradicate coca cultivation. It is an inescapable fact that native consumers of the coca leaf-as opposed to cocaine-would be profoundly affected by such a development. The act of chewing coca leaves is an unequivocal statement of cultural loyalties. Coca chewing identifies one as a Runa (Quechua person). It is not enough simply to chew the leaves, however; one must chew them properly. The handling, sharing, and consumption of coca leaves is governed by clearly defined rules of etiquette. As this etiquette is prescribed by Quechua cultural tradition, adherence to it implies the presentation of oneself as a participant in this tradition. Coca chewing plays a crucial role in maintaining basic cultural principles in the minds of individuals living in a Quechua-speaking community in southern Peru (Province of Paucartambo, Department of Cuzco). This paper explores the ceremonial uses of the coca leaf, focusing particularly on the etiquette for hallpay (coca chewing) during the daily routine. The hallpay ceremony involves reciprocal sharing of coca leaves among two or more individuals, accompanied by prescribed phrases of invitation and thanks, and by invocation to three classes of spiritual beings. The rules for performing the ceremony express the fundamental Quechua concept of ayllu, which is community rooted in a sense of common origin in, and orientation toward, certain sacred places. Ceremonial uses of coca involve standardized forms of behavior, the observance of which orients the actors spatially, socially, and religiously, and in so doing integrates them into a larger cultural framework. [ayllu, coca leaf, symbolic interaction, Quechua culture, ritual]
Echocardiographic follow-up study of the Ross procedure in older versus younger patients.

Objectives This study was designed to determine echocardiographic follow-up results of the Ross procedure in older adult patients with aortic valve disease. Background The excellent long-term results of the Ross procedure from several institutions have indicated that the pulmonary autograft may be the best available substitute for the diseased aortic valve in children and adolescents. The advantages of this operation include optimal hemodynamics and elimination of thromboembolic complications. These features may benefit older adult patients as well. Methods We reviewed data from 49 consecutive patients who had a Ross procedure between 1991 and 1996. Preoperative and postoperative Doppler echocardiographic studies were available for 44 patients (22 men, 22 women; mean [±SD] age 36 ± 14 years) who were grouped into <40 (n = 25) and ≥40 years old (n = 19). Measurements included left ventricular diastolic volume (LVDV), mass, and ejection fraction (EF); a peak pressure gradient across autograft in the aortic position and homograft in the pulmonary position; and valvular regurgitation. Results The mean length of echocardiographic follow-up was 36 ± 16 months. Postoperatively, there was a reduction in LVDV and left ventricular mass in both age groups: 153 ± 99 mL to 111 ± 72 mL (P =.015) and 210 ± 93 g to 152 ± 54 g (P =.002) for younger patients, 174 ± 115 mL to 126 ± 43 mL (P =.17) and 233 ± 71 g to 215 ± 65 g (P =.19) for older patients. No significant change in EF was noted in the younger age group. However, in the older age group a significant decrease to EF <25% was found in 2 patients 1 year after surgery. Moderate autograft regurgitation was also detected in 2 patients: 1 in each age group. Pressure gradients across the autograft remained within the normal range in both age groups. Two younger patients had severe homograft stenosis with peak gradients of 100 and 62 mm Hg. The older patients did not demonstrate homograft dysfunction. Conclusions The Ross procedure can be performed in selected older adults with aortic valve disease and provides durable valves in both aortic and pulmonic positions for at least 3 years after surgery but may result in less favorable left ventricular remodeling compared with that in the younger patients. Further follow-up will be necessary to determine the long-term outcome of the Ross procedure in this older adult patient population. (Am Heart J 2001;142:331-5.)
Computer-generated binary holograms

Holograms synthesized by computer are used for constructing optical wavefronts from numerically specified objects. Elimination of the need for a physical object has made new applications possible, for example, three-dimensional computer output displays, synthetic prototypes for interferometric testing, and filters for various optical data processing operations. Our computer holograms differ from a normal hologram in that the transmittance is binary, yet they are able to construct general wavefronts and images efficiently and have several practical advantages over holograms with a continuous range of transmittance. Recent improvements that simplify the production of binary holograms and improve their performance are described and experimental work showing reconstruction of two- and three-dimensional images is presented.
Detrital-zircon fission-track ages for the ''Hoh Formation'': Implications for late Cenozoic evolution of the Cascadia subduction wedge

We report new fission-track (FT) ages for detrital zircons for 34 sandstone samples and 2 volcanic ash beds from the “Hoh Formation,” exposed along the western side of the Olympic Mountains of western Washington State. The “Hoh Formation” is now formally known as the coastal unit of the Olympic Structural Complex, or Coastal OSC for short. About 35 zircons were dated per sample. The fission-track grain-age (FTGA) distributions are all strongly discordant; grain ages range from 10 to older than 100 Ma. Low vitrinite-reflectance values, short etch times for the zircons, and a broad range of grain ages indicate that the zircon FT ages are unreset and thus preserve information about cooling events in the source region for these sedimentary rocks. Five areas were sampled repeatedly and yield similar FTGA distributions, demonstrating that sampling errors are not a problem. We show that almost all of the samples contain a well-defined young component that was probably derived from a contemporaneous active volcanic source, presumably the adjacent Cascadia arc. Binomial peak-fitting was used to estimate the FT minimum age, which is the age of the youngest concordant fraction of zircon FT grain ages in a FTGA distribution. In most cases, minimum ages are similar to fossil ages where available. This result supports our contention that zircon FT minimum ages from volcaniclastic sandstones commonly can be used as a proxy for depositional age. Our zircon FT minimum ages indicate that the Coastal OSC is made up mainly of lower Miocene (ca. 24 to 16 Ma) sedimentary rocks. We use these age data, together with other geologic constraints, to reconstruct a tectonic history. Sedimentary rocks of the Coastal OSC were derived from a mixed-source region that included an active volcanic arc and also older units, including Cretaceous metamorphic rocks, probably located in the Omineca crystalline belt in the Canadian Rockies. The upper part of the Clallam Formation, located on the northern side of the Olympic Peninsula, appears to be a remnant of the sedimentary system that fed the Coastal OSC. The sediments that formed the Coastal OSC were initially deposited seaward of the Cascadia trench, at water depths of >2000 m. This debris was deposited seaward of the Cascadia trench, at water depths of >2000 m, and subsequently accreted beneath the frontal 50 to 100 km of the wedge. Owing to continued accretion at the front of the wedge, and erosion of the forearc high in back of the wedge, these lower Miocene sediments were moved rearward within the Cascadia subduction wedge. A simple relationship based on the cross-sectional area of the wedge and a steady accretion flux indicates that it would have taken ∼22 m.y. for the Coastal OSC to reach its present position 140 km landward of the toe of the wedge. This estimate is in good agreement with the unit9s early Miocene age.
Effects of Ovariectomy, Estrogen, and Ipriflavone on Liver Lipids and Cholesterol in a Rat Model

Abstract The hypocholesterolemic effect of estrogen is well documented. The question arises as to whether phytoestrogens such as ipriflavone (IP; 7-isopropoxy-3-phenyl-4H-l-benzopyran-4-one, a synthetic flavonoid derivative) exerts similar effects on cholesterol metabolism. For this study, 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 90 days, were divided into four equal groups. Animals in group 1 were sham-operated (sham), whereas animals in groups 2, 3, and 4 were ovariectomized (ovx). All the animals received a Teklad diet containing 0.4% Ca, 0.3% P, 3.0 IU vitamin D/g diet. Animals in group 2 served as ovx controls; animals in group 3 were injected with a dose of 40 μg 17β-estradiol/kg body weight per day. Animals in group 4 received IP (100mg/kg body weight per day) via gavaging in less than 3 ml deionized water containing 1% hydroxypropyl. All the animals were pair-fed to the E 2 group. After 30 days of treatment, animals were sacrificed and liver and blood were collected for analyses. Total liver cholesterol (mg/g liver) in animals that received IP (2.7±0.2) were significantly lower than those for the sham, ovx, and E 2 groups (3.0±0.32, 3.2±0.53, 3.1 ±0.24, respectively). Total liver lipids (mg/g liver) for E 2 administered animals (42±5.4) were significantly lower than those of ovx (48.6±5.3), but not lower than sham (47±8.5). In contrast to E;, IP did not lower liver lipid concentrations. These data indicate that IP lowers liver cholesterol but not liver lipids. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism by which IP lowers liver cholesterol levels. Future human clinical trials are merited to examine the relationships between naturally occurring isoflavonoids, such as those found in soy protein isolates, IP, and their cholesterol lowering effects.
Raman spectroscopy as a tool for long-term energetic material stability studies

Raman spectroscopy is shown to be useful as a tool for long-term stability studies. The stability of a novel submicron-size γ-polymorph form of the explosive HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) was monitored up to 1 year using Raman spectroscopy. The preparation and characterization of this submicron HMX has been previously discussed. It is important to know the long-term stability of this submicron γ-polymorph material under ambient conditions for its eventual utilization. This submicron HMX material has been found to be stable both chemically and polymorphically (to the order of 1% impurity level), even though HMX normally converts to the β-polymorph at ambient conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prospects and problems in synthetic vaccine development: what did we learn from the cholera toxin system?

The cholera toxin is a 84-kilodalton protein composed of two noncovalently bound subunits, A and B. The A subunit is the proenzyme form of an ADP-ribosyltransferase that is responsible for the biological activity of the toxin through its ability to activate target cell adenylate cyclase. The B subunit is the immunologically dominant region consisting of five identical, noncovalently associated B chains composed of 103 amino acids that are responsible for binding the toxin to target cell membrane receptors containing the oligosaccharide of the GM1 ganglioside. Neutralizing antibodies raised against the holotoxin react mainly with the B subunit, and antibodies against the B subunit are capable of neutralizing the biological activity of the intact toxin.
Annual Variation in Fish Assemblages of Watersheds with Stable and Changing Land Use

Abstract Freshwater fish assemblages are sensitive to changes in land use, but it is unclear how rapidly assemblages respond to such change or how closely they track physical changes in the stream environment. We monitored fish assemblages at the outflow of three watersheds on the outer coastal plain of Mississippi over a period of 8 y. The watersheds differed in patterns of land use, being predominantly forested, rapidly urbanizing, and long-urbanized, respectively. Watersheds were distinct in fish species composition, differing primarily in abundance of Etheostoma lynceum, E. stigmaeum, Luxilus chrysocephalus and Lythrurus roseipinnis. Species richness was consistently greatest at the predominantly forested site and least at the urbanized site. Fish assemblages were distinguishable in terms of substrate preference, water-speed, silt tolerance, and trophic habit. The stream draining the urbanizing watershed showed an increase in richness of species of high silt tolerance and a decrease in richness of tho...
Dramatic Reduction in Hydrocodone Prescriptions in an Urban Safety Net Health Care System: Has It Improved Patient Safety or Led to Increased Patient Suffering?

Pain management, chronic use of opioids for non-cancer pain, and opioid overdose have become nationwide public health challenges. According to a recent Institute of Medicine report, up to one-third of U.S. adults report chronic pain [1]. Following nationwide policy changes, updated practice guidelines, and the loosening of opioid prescribing restrictions in the 1990s, a dramatic increase was seen in the prescriptions of opioids for non-cancer chronic pain [2]. In addition, over the last 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in opioid-related accidental overdoses and deaths, with 16,651 deaths attributed to prescription opioids in 2010 [3,4]. The majority of these deaths are attributable to long-acting opioids and methadone [5]. The increased mortality rate is due not simply to the overall increase in prescriptions but also to prescriber knowledge deficits, patient behaviors and co-morbidities, and payor and system policies [5,6]. In addition to the risk of accidental overdose and death, chronic use of opioids creates other risks to patient safety including abuse, addiction, transition to heroin use, diversion, and accidents [7]. Lastly, opioids can be associated with numerous adverse effects, such as constipation, sedation, hormonal imbalance, and hyperalgesia [8–10]. At the same time, opioids are necessary to meet a critical need for adequate control of both acute and chronic pain in certain patient populations. Withholding and restricting necessary medical treatment may cause undue patient suffering [11]. In addition, prescriber bias and societal stigmas may result in unintended and problematic barriers to improved quality of life for certain groups [12]. In response to increases in opioid-related morbidity and mortality, various recommendations have been made for safe opioid prescribing, including urine drug monitoring, state prescription monitoring databases, and treatment agreements …
On the NP-Completeness of the Minimum Circuit Size Problem.

We study the Minimum Circuit Size Problem (MCSP): given the truth-table of a Boolean function f and a number k, does there exist a Boolean circuit of size at most k computing f? This is a fundamental NP problem that is not known to be NP-complete. Previous work has studied consequences of the NP-completeness of MCSP. We extend this work and consider whether MCSP may be complete for NP under more powerful reductions. We also show that NP-completeness of MCSP allows for amplification of circuit complexity. We show the following results. - If MCSP is NP-complete via many-one reductions, the following circuit complexity amplification result holds: If NP cap co-NP requires 2^n^{Omega(1)-size circuits, then E^NP requires 2^Omega(n)-size circuits. - If MCSP is NP-complete under truth-table reductions, then EXP neq NP cap SIZE(2^n^epsilon) for some epsilon> 0 and EXP neq ZPP. This result extends to polylog Turing reductions.
20 YEARS OF LEPTIN: ROLE OF LEPTIN IN HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS

Leptin, as a key hormone in energy homeostasis, regulates neuroendocrine function, including reproduction. It has a permissive role in the initiation of puberty and maintenance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This is notable in patients with either congenital or acquired leptin deficiency from a state of chronic energy insufficiency. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is the best-studied, with clinical trials confirming a causative role of leptin in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Implications of leptin deficiency have also emerged in the pathophysiology of hypogonadism in type 1 diabetes. At the other end of the spectrum, hyperleptinemia may play a role in hypogonadism associated with obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. In these conditions of energy excess, mechanisms of reproductive dysfunction include central leptin resistance as well as direct effects at the gonadal level. Thus, reproductive dysfunction due to energy imbalance at both ends can be linked to leptin.
COMPARISON OF ENZYME ACTIVITY IN MALIGNANT AND ADJACENT UNINVOLVED TISSUE.

SummaryHomogenates of the neoplastic and adjacent non-malignant tissues from patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon were prepared and assayed spectrophotometrically for LD, MD, and enolase. Significant differences in enzyme activity were observed between the tumor homogenates and the homogenates of the uninvolved tissue. The activities of LD, MD, and enolase were significantly higher in the tumor preparations than in the preparations of adjacent mucosal tissue. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the tumor proper is one of the sources of the elevated serum levels of the 3 enzymes.
How O-Substitution of Sialyl Donors Affects Their Stereoselectivity

The profound effect of substituents at C-5 of glycosyl sialosides on their stereoselectivity is well-known although the exact nature of this effect is somewhat less understood. Presented herein is a comparative study of a range of novel sialyl donors with various O-substituents. It is demonstrated that O-substituents at C-4 and C-7 may also have a significant effect on the reactivity of sialyl donors and on the stereoselectivity of chemical sialylation.
The Roles of Technical Communication Researchers in Design Scholarship

Design has come to be understood as an essential aspect of the work that technical communicators claim. As a result, research in the field of technical communication has approached studies of desig...
The Unsuspected Cecoureterocele

A review of 54 consecutive cases of ectopic ureterocele treated at our institution in the last 15 years revealed 4 cases of the cecoureterocele variant. Although the diagnosis of ectopic ureterocele was made preoperatively, the more accurate diagnosis of cecoureterocele was not suggested by preoperative radiographic studies. The cecocele component was disclosed only at endoscopy or during open resection of the ureterocele. A review of the presentation, preoperative assessment, intraoperative management and outcome of each case of unsuspected cecoureterocele suggests that optimal surgical management of the cecocele itself does not require total removal.
Specificity of the BAX polymerase chain reaction system for detection of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used for rapid and specific detection of foodborne pathogens. One commercial kit, the Qualicon BAX system uses PCR to detect Listeria monocytogenes in enrichment cultures derived from food and environmental samples. The specificity and sensitivity of the BAX system for detecting L. monocytogenes were characterized by using both pure and mixed cell cultures, and optimal conditions for production of cell lysates were determined. The BAX system was highly specific for L. monocytogenes, and no interference was seen in the presence of either other Listeria species or microbes from other genera. The assay detected L. monocytogenes at 10 5 -10 6 colony-forming units/mL. This sensitivity is adequate for detecting viable cells after enrichment but prevents false-positive signals from nonviable cells.
Abnormalities in chick embryos following thalidomide and other insoluble compounds in the amniotic cavity.

SummaryThalidomide produced encephalocele, eyelid defects and beak defects in a significant percentage of chick embryos inoculated into the amnion with the drug at 3 through 6 days incubation. No defects of this type were observed in control embryos inoculated with saline. However 4 other selected compounds which, like the thalidomide, remained in an undissolved state in the amniotic cavity after inoculation, produced the same types of defects. These compounds were sand, ground glass, colloidal alumina and colloidal attapulgus clay. In addition the last 2 produced severe twisting and distortion of the axis and appendages of the embryos, with increased incidence of ectopic viscera.
Learning in Organizations: Some Observations from the Practice

The authors find that learning in organizations that employ innovation and technology in their operations is fostered and incorporated in work environment for enhancing innovation while maintaining peak competiveness. It is divided across several segments, which include but are not limited to experimentation, risk tolerance, interaction with the external environment, dialogue, and decision-making. Conversely, this paper also examines several instances in which organizations failed to adopt a learning environment. Research illustrates that companies that fail continuously to improve fail because they can no longer competitively operate in today's global marketplace by holding onto the way work was once accomplished. Today's work environment is more demanding and less structured than in the past and, therefore, companies must adopt or they will become irrelevant. This paper also illustrates how learning actually occurs. Furthermore, the authors attempt to show the nascent relationship between learning and brain/mind principles at a cursory level. The paper also shows how the same basic principles utilized in educational learning can be applied to enhance corporate learning among adult learners.
When the high school coach is a bully

Though it is known that a minority of bully coaches exist, statistics regarding the actual prevalence of bully coaches in high schools are not well researched. School nurses may be placed in a consultative role with student athletes and their family members. Resource availability and suggestions for a plan of action are important for the school nurse. Support and encouragement for student athletes is critical for the development of positive mental health for young adults; therefore, families, peers, school personnel, and school nurses must all work together to produce positive sports experiences for high school age students.
Uncovering thematic structure to link co-occurring taxa and predicted functional content in 16S rRNA marker gene surveys

Analysis of microbiome data involves identifying co-occurring groups of taxa associated with sample features of interest (e.g., disease state). But elucidating key associations is often difficult since microbiome data are compositional, high dimensional, and sparse. Also, the configuration of co-occurring taxa may represent overlapping subcommunities that contribute to, for example, host status. Preserving the configuration of co-occurring microbes rather than detecting specific indicator species is more likely to facilitate biologically meaningful interpretations. In addition, analyses that utilize both taxonomic and predicted functional abundances typically independently characterize the taxonomic and functional profiles before linking them to sample information. This prevents investigators from identifying the specific functional components associate with which subsets of co-occurring taxa. We provide an approach to explore co-occurring taxa using "topics" generated via a topic model and then link these topics to specific sample classes (e.g., diseased versus healthy). Rather than inferring predicted functional content independently from taxonomic abundances, we instead focus on inference of functional content within topics, which we parse by estimating pathway-topic interactions through a multilevel, fully Bayesian regression model. We apply our methods to two large publically available 16S amplicon sequencing datasets: an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) dataset from Gevers et al. and data from the American Gut (AG) project. When applied to the Gevers et al. IBD study, we demonstrate that a topic highly associated with Crohn9s disease (CD) diagnosis is (1) dominated by a cluster of bacteria known to be linked with CD and (2) uniquely enriched for a subset of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis genes. In the AG data, our approach found that individuals with plant-based diets were enriched with Lachnospiraceae, Roseburia, Blautia, and Ruminococcaceae, as well as fluorobenzoate degradation pathways, whereas pathways involved in LPS biosynthesis were depleted. We introduce an approach for uncovering latent thematic structure in the context of sample features for 16S rRNA surveys. Using our topic-model approach, investigators can (1) capture groups of co-occurring taxa termed topics, (2) uncover within-topic functional potential, and (3) identify gene sets that may guide future inquiry. These methods have been implemented in a freely available R package https://github.com/EESI/themetagenomics.
Integration of Brain and Skull in Prenatal Mouse Models of Apert and Crouzon Syndromes

The brain and skull represent a complex arrangement of integrated anatomical structures composed of various cell and tissue types that maintain structural and functional association throughout development. Morphological integration, a concept developed in vertebrate morphology and evolutionary biology, describes the coordinated variation of functionally and developmentally related traits of organisms. Syndromic craniosynostosis is characterized by distinctive changes in skull morphology and perceptible, though less well studied, changes in brain structure and morphology. Using mouse models for craniosynostosis conditions, our group has precisely defined how unique craniosynostosis causing mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptors affect brain and skull morphology and dysgenesis involving coordinated tissue-specific effects of these mutations. Here we examine integration of brain and skull in two mouse models for craniosynostosis: one carrying the FGFR2c C342Y mutation associated with Pfeiffer and Crouzon syndrome and a murine model carrying the FGFR2 S252W mutation, one of two mutations responsible for nearly all cases of Apert syndrome. Using linear distances estimated from three-dimensional coordinates of landmarks acquired from dual modality imaging of skull (microCT) and brain (high resolution magnetic resonance microscopy) of mice at embryonic day 17.5, we confirm variation in brain and skull morphology in Fgfr2c+/C342Y mice, Fgfr2+/S252W mice, and their unaffected littermates. Mutation-specific variation in neural and cranial tissue notwithstanding, patterns of integration of brain and skull differed only subtly between mice carrying either the FGFR2c C342Y or the FGFR2 S252W mutation and their unaffected littermates. However, statistically significant and substantial differences in morphological integration of brain and skull were revealed between the two mutant mouse models, each maintained on a different strain. Relative to the effects of disease- associated mutations, our results reveal a stronger influence of the background genome on patterns of brain-skull integration and suggest robust genetic, developmental, and evolutionary relationships between neural and skeletal tissues of the head. Keywords
Root Traits for Improving Nitrogen Acquisition Efficiency

Agriculture is the mainstay of most developing countries’ economies across the globe and continues to play a vital role in the sustenance of human society. Nitrogen (N) often limits crop production and fertilizer usage is limited in developing nations, while in high-input systems intensive fertilization incurs substantial economic and environmental costs. The development of nitrogen efficient crops would ameliorate these problems. In low-input systems they will increase productivity, permitting farmers to climb out of the poverty trap of low inputs and low yields. In high-input systems they will reduce environmental pollution and crop input costs. The global significance of these issues means that the development of crops with reduced N requirement has become a high priority. There is substantial genetic variation for root traits that have potential utility for enhancing N acquisition. In this chapter, we focus on the potential benefits of root phenes that could enhance N acquisition and therefore could be deployed to improve agricultural sustainability.
Caspase-1 inhibition by VX-765 administered at reperfusion in P2Y12 receptor antagonist-treated rats provides long-term reduction in myocardial infarct size and preservation of ventricular function

Patients with acute myocardial infarction receive a P2Y12 receptor antagonist prior to reperfusion, a treatment that has reduced, but not eliminated, mortality, or heart failure. We tested whether the caspase-1 inhibitor VX-765 given at reperfusion (a requirement for clinical use) can provide sustained reduction of infarction and long-term preservation of ventricular function in a pre-clinical model of ischemia/reperfusion that had been treated with a P2Y12 receptor antagonist. To address, the hypothesis open-chest rats were subjected to 60-min left coronary artery branch occlusion/120-min reperfusion. Vehicle or inhibitors were administered intravenously immediately before reperfusion. With vehicle only, 60.3 ± 3.8% of the risk zone suffered infarction. Ticagrelor, a P2Y12 antagonist, and VX-765 decreased infarct size to 42.8 ± 3.3 and 29.2 ± 4.9%, respectively. Combining ticagrelor with VX-765 further decreased infarction to 17.5 ± 2.3%. Similar to recent clinical trials, combining ticagrelor and ischemic postconditioning did not result in additional cardioprotection. VX-765 plus another P2Y12 antagonist, cangrelor, also decreased infarction and preserved ventricular function when reperfusion was increased to 3 days. In addition, VX-765 reduced infarction in blood-free, isolated rat hearts indicating at least a portion of injurious caspase-1 activation originates in cardiac tissue. While the pro-drug VX-765 only protected isolated hearts when started prior to ischemia, its active derivative VRT-043198 provided the same amount of protection when started at reperfusion, indicating that even in blood-free hearts, caspase-1 appears to exert its injury only at reperfusion. Moreover, VX-765 decreased circulating IL-1β, prevented loss of cardiac glycolytic enzymes, preserved mitochondrial complex I activity, and decreased release of lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of pyroptosis. Our results are the first demonstration of a clinical-grade drug given at reperfusion providing additional, sustained infarct size reduction when added to a P2Y12 receptor antagonist.
Social Networks and Health in a Prison Unit

Although a growing body of research documents lasting health consequences of incarceration, little is known about how confinement affects inmates' health while incarcerated. In this study, we examine the role of peer social integration and prisoners' self-reported health behaviors (smoking, exercise, perception of health, and depression) in a prison unit. We also consider whether inmates with similar health characteristics cluster within the unit. Drawing on a sample of 132 inmates in a "good behavior" unit, we leverage social network data to ask: In prison, is it healthier to become friends with other prisoners or keep your head down and "do your own time"? Using exponential random graph models and community detection methods, findings indicate that social integration is associated with better health outcomes. However, race-ethnicity, religious identity, and exercise intensity emerge as key factors sorting inmates into social groups and likely shaping the distribution of health behaviors observed in the unit.
Monoclonal antibody therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract Optimal use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies therapy requires an understanding of their mechanisms of action and how CLL cells resist these cytotoxic effects. This critical review details current knowledge and questions.
Direct addition of sulfur and nitrogen functional groups to graphite felt electrodes for improving all-vanadium redox flow battery performance

Abstract Sulfur and nitrogen containing groups have been bonded to carbon in graphite felt electrodes using a hydrothermal treatment with ammonium persulfate (APS) for use in an aqueous all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRB). Our results reveal that the hydrothermal treatment with APS is a very effective means to attach both sulfur and nitrogen groups to the surface of graphite felt, and as a result, the inclusion of these groups significantly improved the voltaic efficiencies (∼95%), discharge capacities (>400 mAh), and capacity retention (∼83%) of these batteries at current density of 50 mA/cm2. The direct addition of reactive sulfur and nitrogen groups also substantially extended the range of current densities available to the battery (in excess of 200 mA/cm2) without sacrificing capacity and capacity retention. Linear sweep voltammetry indicated that APS treated graphite felts showed an electrochemical enhancement factor over double that of untreated pristine graphite felts. These results suggest that the direct addition of sulfur and nitrogen containing groups on the graphite felt as a simple and effective method for improving the performance of all-vanadium redox flow batteries.
Hyaluronan Disrupts Cardiomyocyte Organization within 3D Fibrin-Based Hydrogels.

Abstract The extracellular matrix in vivo contains variable but often large amounts of glycosaminoglycans that influence cell and tissue function. Hyaluronan (HA) is an abundant glycosaminoglycan within the extracellular matrix of the myocardium during early development and in the aftermath of a myocardial infarction. Its flexible anionic structure has a strong influence on mechanical response and interstitial fluid flow within the matrix. Additionally, HA has a direct, biochemical effect on cells through an array of cell-surface receptors, including CD44, RHAMM/CD168, and other surface-exposed structures. Recent studies have shown that HA modulates the response of cardiomyocytes and other cell types to two-dimensional substrates of varying elastic moduli. This study investigates the force response to HA of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts within three-dimensional matrices of variable composition and mechanical properties in vitro. HA significantly decreased the force exerted by the cell-matrix constructs in a tensiometer testing platform and within microfabricated tissue gauges. However, its effect was no different from that of alginate, an anionic polysaccharide with the same charge density but no specific transmembrane receptors. Therefore, these results establish that HA exerts a generic physical-chemical effect within three-dimensional hydrogels that must be accounted for when interrogating cell-matrix interactions.
120) Opioid Prescription Claims among Medicaid Enrolled Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease in North Carolina

Little is known about exposure to opioids among children and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). The purpose of this study was to describe opioid prescription claims of Medicaid enrolled children and young adults with SCD in North Carolina (NC). We examined Medicaid claims for 2,850 enrollees (March 2016 – February 2017) with SCD in NC. The sample included 0 to 22 year olds (n= 1,560), Pre-School [0-5 years], n=428; School Age [6-10 years], n=366; Middle School [11-14 years], n=261; Adolescent [15-18 years], n=284; and Young Adult [19-22 years], n=221). We evaluated number of opioid prescription claims and days filled across age groups. 38% (n=586) of the sample had at least one opioid prescription filled. The highest rates of opioid prescription claims were in Adolescents, 54% (n=154) had at least one opioid prescription claim. 20% of Pre-School age, 32% of the School-Age group, 45% of Middle School age, and 50% of Young Adults had at least one claim. Number of days filled were categorized into 1-30, 31-90 and >90 days and age categories were collapsed to 0-14 (n=322) and 15-22 (n=264). 1-30 day fills were highest for 0-14 year-olds 89% (n=285) and 64% (n=169) for 15- 22 year olds. 31 to 90 day fills were highest in 15 -22 year olds 19% (n=49) and 11% (n= 36) in 0 to 14 year olds. The 15- 22 year olds had the highest >90 day fills 7% (n=18), and 0.3% (n=1) of the 0 -14 year olds. These findings indicate that opioid prescription claims are prevalent across all age groups, with rates and fill days of opioid prescriptions increasing with age. Early, continuous assessment for opioid abuse and misuse is needed across all ages in people with SCD. Supported by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (R18 RHS024501A).