cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging with independent component analysis for presurgical seizure onset zone localization: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective One of the greatest challenges of achieving successful surgical outcomes in patients with epilepsy is the ability to properly localize the seizure onset zone (SOZ). Many techniques exist for localizing the SOZ, including intracranial electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and stereoelectroencephalography. Recently, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in conjunction with independent component analysis (ICA) has been utilized for presurgical planning of SOZ resection, with varying results. In this meta-analysis, we analyze the current role of rs-fMRI in identifying the SOZ for presurgical planning for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Specifically, we seek to demonstrate its current effectiveness compared to other methods of SOZ localization. Methods A literature review was conducted using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases up to May of 2020. A total of 253 articles were screened, and seven studies were chosen for analysis. Each study was analyzed for SOZ localization by ground truth, SOZ localization by rs-fMRI with ICA, principal component analysis, or intrinsic connectivity contrast, and outcomes of surgery. A meta-analysis was performed to analyze how ground truth compares to rs-fMRI in SOZ localization. Results The odds ratio comparing ground truth to rs-fMRI was 2.63 (95% confidence interval = 0.66-10.56). Average concordance of rs-fMRI SOZ localization compared with ground truth localization across studies was 71.3%. Significance In the hunt for less invasive presurgical planning for epilepsy surgery, rs-fMRI with ICA provides a promising avenue for future standard practice. Our preliminary results show no significant difference in surgical outcomes between traditional standards of SOZ localization and rs-fMRI with ICA. We believe that rs-fMRI could be a step forward in this search. Further investigation comparing rs-fMRI to traditional methods of SOZ localization should be conducted, with the hope of moving toward relying solely on noninvasive screening methods.
Predictors of the cost of hysterectomy for benign indications

Abstract Introduction Hysterectomy is a commonly performed procedure with widely variable costs. As gynecologists divert from invasive to minimally invasive approaches, many factors come into play in determining hysterectomy cost and efforts should be sought to minimize it. Our objective was to identify the predictors of hysterectomy cost. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study where women who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions at the University of Texas Medical Branch from 2009 to 2016 were identified. We obtained and analyzed demographic, operative, and financial data from electronic medical records and the hospital finance department. Results We identified 1,847 women. Open hysterectomy was the most frequently practiced (35.8 %), followed by vaginal (23.7 %), laparoscopic (23.6 %), and robotic (16.9 %) approaches. Multivariate regression demonstrated that hysterectomy charges can be significantly predicted from surgical approach, patient’s age, operating room (OR) time, length of stay (LOS), estimated blood loss, insurance type, fiscal year, and concomitant procedures. Charges increased by $3,723.57 for each day increase in LOS (P Conclusion Multiple demographic and operative factors can predict the cost of hysterectomy. Healthcare providers, including gynecologists, are required to pursue additional roles in proper resource management and be acquainted with the cost drivers of therapeutic interventions. Future efforts and policies should target modifiable factors to minimize cost and promote value-based practices.
Assessing Education and Training of Developmental Screening Tools Among Residents in a Southern Academic Medical Center

Background: Developmental disabilities in children are common, and early identification is a critical component promoting long-term success. Many standardized developmental screening tools have been developed to aid clinicians in monitoring children’s developmental progress. Developmental screening tools are core clinical practice, yet a large percent of pediatricians still do not implement these into clinical practice. Mississippi has been found to have the lowest rate of developmental …
Is Climate Change a National Emergency

The next decade is critical for climate action. As sea levels rise, wildfires rage, and disasters increase in frequency and scale, it is clear that the U.S. must leverage an expanding menu of legal, policy, and technological tools to address climate change’s destabilizing effects. At present, we remain off-track to reduce our collective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and avoid irreversible, catastrophic harm. The emissions gap—the difference between the world’s current emissions trajectory and what we must emit to avoid climate change’s most severe consequences—continues to grow. Although President Biden and the 117th congressional leadership have pledged to combat the climate crisis, the Democrats’ narrow Senate majority will make passing comprehensive climate legislation difficult. In the face of legislative paralysis, a growing number of policymakers have called on the president to declare a climate change national emergency. Is climate change—and its multifaceted impacts—an emergency that warrants using supplemental legal authorities? If so, what federal emergency authorities are available? And what are the normative stakes to democratic governance if a president declares a climate emergency? This Article addresses these questions and others, arguing that climate change is unlike any problem facing the nation and the world. As climate change destabilizes the physical environment, it will force us to look with fresh eyes at all legal tools available to address climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and how we respond to climate impacts. As such, presidents must consider using all legal authorities—to include the National Emergencies Act (NEA)—to address climate change.
The Uncanniness of Conflicting Moral Norms

In this chapter, I use Helen Cixous’ text on Freud’s repression of repression in “The Uncanny” to guide my argument that moral instability is a repressed knowledge that is further repressed in its acknowledgment. I find traces in Freud’s text of his uncomfortable but growing realization that cultural and moral norms are not objective.
Detection of Postcolonoscopy Colorectal Neoplasia by Multi-target Stool DNA.

Introduction Significant variability between colonoscopy operators contributes to postcolonoscopy colorectal cancers (CRCs). We aimed to estimate postcolonoscopy colorectal neoplasia (CRN) detection by multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA), which has not previously been studied for this purpose. Methods In a retrospective cohort of patients with +mt-sDNA and completed follow-up colonoscopy, positive predictive value (PPV) for endpoints of any CRN, advanced adenoma, right-sided neoplasia, sessile serrated polyps (SSP), and CRC were stratified by the time since previous colonoscopy (0-9, 10, and ≥11 years). mt-sDNA PPV at ≤9 years from previous average-risk screening colonoscopy was used to estimate CRN missed at previous screening colonoscopy. Results Among the 850 studied patients with +mt-sDNA after a previous negative screening colonoscopy, any CRN was found in 535 (PPV 63%). Among 107 average-risk patients having +mt-sDNA ≤9 years after last negative colonoscopy, any CRN was found in 67 (PPV 63%), advanced neoplasia in 16 (PPV 15%), right-sided CRN in 48 (PPV 46%), and SSP in 20 (PPV 19%). These rates were similar to those in 47 additional average risk persons with previous incomplete colonoscopy and in an additional 68 persons at increased CRC risk. One CRC (stage I) was found in an average risk patient who was mt-sDNA positive 6 years after negative screening colonoscopy. Discussion The high PPV of mt-sDNA 0-9 years after a negative screening colonoscopy suggests that lesions were likely missed on previous examination or may have arisen de novo. mt-sDNA as an interval test after negative screening colonoscopy warrants further study.
Uniform boundary observability of Finite Difference approximations of non-compactly coupled piezoelectric beam equations

First, we study the space-dicretized Finite Difference approximations of the system of non-compactly coupled partial differential equations (PDE) model of piezoelectric beam equations involving mag...
Pediatric Palliative Care Parents' Distress, Financial Difficulty, and Child Symptoms.

Abstract Context Parents of patients with a serious illness experience psychological distress, which impacts parents' wellbeing and, potentially, their ability to care for their children. Parent psychological distress may be influenced by children's symptom burden and by families' financial difficulty. Objectives This study examined the associations among parent psychological distress, parent-reported patient symptoms, and financial difficulty, seeking to determine the relative association of financial difficulty and of patient symptoms to parent psychological distress. Methods Cross-sectional study of baseline data for 601 parents of 532 pediatric palliative care patients enrolled in a prospective cohort study conducted at seven US children's hospitals. Data included self-reported parent psychological distress and parent report of child's symptoms and family financial difficulty. We used ordinary least squares multiple regressions to examine the association between psychological distress and symptom score, between psychological distress and financial difficulty, and whether the degree of financial difficulty modified the relationship between psychological distress and symptom score. Results The majority of parents were moderately to severely distressed (69%) or severely distressed (17%) and experienced some degree of financial difficulty (65%). While children's symptom scores and family financial difficulty together explained more of the variance in parental psychological distress than either variable alone, parental distress was associated more strongly, and to a larger degree, with financial difficulty than with symptom scores alone. Conclusions Parent psychological distress was associated with parent-reported patient symptoms and financial difficulty. Future work should examine these relationships longitudinally, and whether interventions to improve symptom management and ameliorate financial difficulties improve parental outcomes.
Emergency department disposition: Do surgical residents contribute to inefficiency?

Abstract Background Residents are often viewed as contributors to Emergency Department (ED) prolongation of length of stay (LOS). To understand this proposition, we performed a study to identify ED patient care intervals and how each contributed to LOS. Methods We performed a retrospective review of prospectively gathered data on 145 ED surgery consults. Residents prospectively documented patient names, page times, and time of plan. Key ED patient care intervals were then retrospectively extracted from the patient's chart. A time analysis was then performed. Results Average arrival to disposition time was 305 min, and residents averaged 47 min to see and staff consults. The longest intervals were arrival to imaging (75 min) and imaging time (73 min). Average disposition to discharge time was 170 min (36% of LOS). Conclusions Surgery residents see and staff consults within the norms for care established by the hospital. Imaging time is a bottleneck hindering disposition. Access block also significantly increases ED LOS.
Primary receptor-recognition site of human transferrin is in the C-terminal lobe

The role of the transferrin receptor in capturing and conveying transferrin through the cell during the iron-donating cycle of receptor-mediated endocytosis has been studied extensively. Nevertheless, almost nothing is known of how human transferrin binds to its receptor. In an initial approach toward delineating the receptor-recognition site(s) of human transferrin, we have studied the interactions of proteolytically-cleaved, single-sited fragments of transferrin, representing the N- and C-lobes of the molecule respectively, with cells expressing the transferrin receptor on their plasma membranes. Only the C-fragment was found capable of donating iron to hepatoma-derived HuH-7 cells or of binding to surface receptors of HuH-7 and leukemic K562 cells. Although no association of N- and C-fragments could be demonstrated by gel chromatography, the presence of excess N-fragment strengthened the binding of C-fragment by an order of magnitude. An explanation of these observations is that the primary receptor recognition site of human transferrin is on the C-lobe of the protein, but that prior binding of this lobe to receptor enables the N-lobe to respond to receptor as well, either directly or by interaction with the bound C-lobe.
Tetraspanin CD151 specifically regulates ERK1/2 signaling to limit FcϵRI-mediated production of cytokines by mast cells (HYP3P.349)

Mast cells and basophils are granulocytes critical in the pathogenesis of allergic disease due to the release of preformed and newly synthesized mediators. Tetraspanins are emerging as novel modulators of signals for cellular activation, however, mechanistic understanding of their function is currently lacking. We found tetraspanin CD151 to be specifically induced in human and mouse mast cells upon IgE stimulation, suggesting a functional role in activation of these cells. Here, we show that CD151 modulates IgE-induced mast cell activation by exerting selective control over downstream pathways regulating de novo synthesis of cytokines IL-4, IL-13 and TNF-α. Mechanistically, CD151 selectively targets IgE-induced activation of ERK1/2, associated with cytokine production, but has no regulatory effect on PLCγ1 or calcium release necessary for degranulation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 blocks the exaggerated induction of cytokines by CD151 deficient mast cells. In vivo, CD151 deficiency significantly exacerbates IgE-mediated late phase response in a murine model of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Collectively, our data indicate that CD151 functions in the late phase of IgE-induced mast cell activation by limiting cytokine synthesis.
Fault-Tolerant middleware and the magical 1%

Through an extensive experimental analysis of over 900 possible configurations of a fault-tolerant middleware system, we present empirical evidence that the unpredictability inherent in such systems arises from merely 1% of the remote invocations. The occurrence of very high latencies cannot be regulated through parameters such as the number of clients, the replication style and degree or the request rates. However, by selectively filtering out a “magical 1%” of the raw observations of various metrics, we show that performance, in terms of measured end-to-end latency and throughput, can be bounded, easy to understand and control. This simple statistical technique enables us to guarantee, with some level of confidence, bounds for percentile-based quality of service (QoS) metrics, which dramatically increase our ability to tune and control a middleware system in a predictable manner.
Fighting Tradition: Changing norms of gender violence in Miskitu society

This article concerns gender violence against indigenous Miskitu women in Nicaragua’s North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) by examining how violence toward RAAN women is linked not only to culturally-based perceptions of love and marriage, but also to disruptive gender relations caused by neoliberal economic policies of the state and the lack of justice accessible to women through Nicaraguan customary law (derecho indigena o consuetudinario). The second part of the article reveals that RAAN women are beginning to view gender violence as criminal behaviour, especially when their children are the victims of aggressors. Increasingly, women are seeking justice for themselves and their daughters through the national system of justice and through governmental and non-governmental organizations. Conclusions suggest that while multiple and convergent cultural, economic, and politico-juridical factors have generated and institutionalized intra-familial violence in Miskitu society, recent changes will de-centre the normalization of violence within the next generation. Normal 0 false false false EN-NZ ZH-CN X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
High-resolution photoelectron spectra of the pyrimidine-type nucleobases

High-resolution photoelectron spectra of the gas phase pyrimidine-type nucleobases, thymine, uracil, and cytosine, were collected using synchrotron radiation over the photon energy range 17 ≤ hν ≤ 150 eV. These data provide the highest resolution photoelectron spectra of thymine, uracil, and cytosine published to date. By comparing integrated regions of the energy dependent photoelectron spectra of thymine, the ionization potentials of the first four ionic states of thymine were estimated to be 8.8, 9.8, 10.3, and 10.8 eV. The thymine data also show evidence for low energy shape resonances in three of the outermost valence electronic states. Comparing the uracil spectrum with the thymine spectrum, the four outermost valence electronic states of uracil likely begin at binding energies 9.3, 9.9, 10.5, and 11.0 eV. High-resolution spectra indicate only one tautomeric form of cytosine contributes significantly to the spectrum with the four outermost valence electronic states beginning at binding energies 8.9, 9.9, 10.4, and 10.85 eV.
Nitrogen Metabolism in the Ruminant

Abstract The protein needs of the world's expanding population continue to receive the attention of nutritionists. Ruminant nutritionists must consider the future role of the ruminant in meeting this protein requirement. The ruminant's unique ability to fix nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) into protein will have a part in providing this growing requirement. Economics will force ruminants to utilize more NPN which is not utilizable by humans. An efficient transition demands a thorough understanding of nitrogen (N) metabolism in the ruminant. Various aspects of ruminant N metabolism have been reviewed by Chalmers and Synge (16), McDonald (75), Kay and Hobson (61), McLaren (76), Phillipson (88), Blackburn (4), and Hungate (54). The intent in this presentation is to discuss, as quantitatively as possible, the pathways of the major N fractions through the ruminant body. Interactions with other feed components in the rumen will be considered. Feed N input to the rumen. The only N input to the animal is feed which also represents the primary N input to the rumen.
Lymphoid cell infection by measles virus in newborn hamsters: Role for monocytes in virus spread to distant sites

Abstract Following intraperitoneal inoculation of measles (HBS) virus into newborn hamsters widespread but variable productive lymphoid tissue infection was detected by a sensitive viral isolation technique. Peritoneal wash cells and spleen were the most common sites of infection. Virus was frequently isolated from the bone marrow and was commonly found in multiple lymph nodes. Thymic infection was only rarely demonstrated. A mononuclear cell associated viremia was demonstrated by Ficoll-hypaque fractionation of peripheral blood from animals receiving both high- and low-dose virus. Infection was present in both plastic adherent and non-adherent fractions of the blood mononuclear cells. The infected cell population in the spleen had both nylon wool and plastic adherent characteristics and infection was therefore thought to be macrophage-associated. The possible relevance of such macrophage associated infection is discussed with regard to the pathogenesis of natural measles infection and the immunosuppression observed in measles-infected hosts.
Atomic physics of highly charged ions in an electron beam ion trap

Two electron beam ion traps are in use at LLNL for the purpose of studying the properties of very highly charged ions and their interactions with electrons. This paper reviews the operation of the traps and discusses recent experiments in three areas: precision transition energy measurements in the limit of very high ion charge, dielectronic recombination measurements for the He‐like isoelectronic sequence, and measurements of x‐ray polarization.
Korle Meets the Sea

Korle Meets the Sea. Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. 216 pp.
Searching social networks for subgraph patterns

Software tools for Social Network Analysis (SNA) are being developed which support various types of analysis of social networks extracted from social media websites (e.g., Twitter). Once extracted and stored in a database such social networks are amenable to analysis by SNA software. This data analysis often involves searching for occurrences of various subgraph patterns (i.e., graphical representations of entities and relationships). The authors have developed the Graph Matching Toolkit (GMT) which provides an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a heuristic graph matching algorithm called the Truncated Search Tree (TruST) algorithm. GMT is a visual interface for graph matching algorithms processing large social networks. GMT enables an analyst to draw a subgraph pattern by using a mouse to select categories and labels for nodes and links from drop-down menus. GMT then executes the TruST algorithm to find the top five occurrences of the subgraph pattern within the social network stored in the database. GMT was tested using a simulated counter-insurgency dataset consisting of cellular phone communications within a populated area of operations in Iraq. The results indicated GMT (when executing the TruST graph matching algorithm) is a time-efficient approach to searching large social networks. GMT’s visual interface to a graph matching algorithm enables intelligence analysts to quickly analyze and summarize the large amounts of data necessary to produce actionable intelligence.
Using navigators to improve care of underserved patients: current practices and approaches.

BACKGROUND Logistic, cultural, educational, and other barriers can impede the delivery of high-quality cancer care to underserved patients. Patient navigation services represent one innovation for addressing perceived barriers to care encountered by disadvantaged patients. In this report, the authors have 1) defined patient navigation, distinguishing it from other cancer support services; 2) described how programs are organized; and 3) discussed the need for research on program effectiveness. METHODS Information was examined on navigation programs published in the scientific literature and on line. Qualitative research also was conducted, consisting of direct observation of patient care in cancer clinics with and without navigators in northern California, in-person interviews with personnel and patients in the clinics observed, and telephone interviews with navigators at four sites across the United States. RESULTS The authors found that navigation services have been implemented at all stages of cancer care: prevention, screening, treatment, and survival. Navigators differ from other cancer support personnel in their orientation toward flexible problem solving to overcome perceived barriers to care rather than the provision of a predefined set of services. There are no rigorous demonstrations of the effects and effectiveness of navigation, although such studies are underway. CONCLUSIONS Currently, patient navigation is understudied, and literature documenting its effects and effectiveness is scant. Rigorous studies are needed of the navigator role and program costs and benefits. Such studies will facilitate an assessment of program effectiveness, feasibility across a range of health care settings, and performance relative to alternative approaches for addressing barriers to care among the underserved. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Dielectric cell separation of fine needle aspirates from tumor xenografts

As an approach to isolating tumor cells from fine needle biopsy specimens, we investigated a dielectric cell preparation method using an in vivo xenographic tumor model. Cultured human MDA-MB-435 tumor cells were grown as solid tumors in nude mice and fine needle aspiration biopsies were conducted. Biopsied cells were suspended in sucrose medium and collected on slides patterned with microelectrode arrays (electrosmears) energized by electrical signals in the range 10 to 960 kHz. The unlabeled cells adhered to characteristic regions of the slides in accordance with their morphology as a result of dielectric forces. Tumor cells were trapped between 40 and 60 kHz and were separated according to whether they were mitotic, large and complex, or small. Damaged tumor cells were captured at between 60 and 120 kHz; granulocytes between 70 and 90 kHz; lymphocytes between 85 and 105 kHz; healthy erythrocytes between 140 and 180 kHz, and damaged erythrocytes above 180 kHz. Using intrinsic cell characteristics, the electrosmear presented cell subpopulations from fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens in a manner that is compatible with automated slide-based analysis systems. The approach has the potential to facilitate the analysis of the role of cell subpopulations in disease.
Coherent ffiatter-wave manipulation in the diabatic limit

Guided systems for coherent matter-waves are expected to offer substantial improvements but adiabatic coupler proposals have proved difficult to realize. We outline instead considerations for a coherence-preserving diabatic approach
Dynamic characteristics of non‐classically damped structures

The equations of motion of a structure in undamped modal coordinates may have non-zero off-diagonal terms in the damping matrix. Although these terms are commonly neglected, studies have shown that they may have a significant influence on the response to dynamic loads. In this paper, two independent criteria are developed to determine when these damping terms will affect the structure's modal properties and response. It is found that even small off-diagonal damping values can be significant if the structure has closely spaced natural frequencies. To quantify and understand the influence of these damping terms, closed-form analytical expressions are derived for the modal properties and harmonic and stochastic response of structures with closely spaced natural frequencies. One conclusion is that off-diagonal damping terms will decrease a modal damping ratio for each pair of closely spaced modes. This is significant, since a response analysis performed by neglecting these off-diagonal terms will underestimate the true response.
A security practices evaluation framework

Software development teams need guidance on choosing security practices so they can develop code securely. The academic and practitioner literature on software development security practices is large, and expanding. However, published empirical evidence for security practice use in software development is limited and fragmented, making choosing appropriate practices difficult. Measurement frameworks offer a tool for collecting and comparing software engineering data. The goal of this work is to aid software practitioners in evaluating security practice use in the development process by defining and validating a measurement framework for software development security practice use and outcomes. We define the Security Practices Evaluation Framework (SP-EF), a measurement framework for software development security practices. SP-EF supports evidence-based practice selection. To enable comparison of practices across publications and projects, we define an ontology of software development security practices. We evaluate the framework and ontology on historical data and industrial projects.
A New Family of Parasitic Copepods (Cyclopoida, Shiinoidae)

[Eine neue Familie wird errichtet, um das Genus Shiinoa Kabata - Parasiten in der Nasenhohlen scombrider Fische - aufzunehmen. Vom westlichen Antlantischen Ozean wird eine neue Art, S. inauris, beschrieben. Diese Art unterscheidet sich von S. occlusa Kabata - einer Indopazifischen Art - durch den Besitz von 3-segmentigen Exopoden an Bein 1 und 2; bei S. occlusa sind die Exopoden 2-segmentig. Fur die neue Art werden beide Geschlechter beschrieben, fur S. occlusa das Mannchen zum ersten mal. Die neue Familie scheint den Ergasilidae naher zu stehen als irgendeine vorher beschriebene poecilostome Familie., Eine neue Familie wird errichtet, um das Genus Shiinoa Kabata - Parasiten in der Nasenhohlen scombrider Fische - aufzunehmen. Vom westlichen Antlantischen Ozean wird eine neue Art, S. inauris, beschrieben. Diese Art unterscheidet sich von S. occlusa Kabata - einer Indopazifischen Art - durch den Besitz von 3-segmentigen Exopoden an Bein 1 und 2; bei S. occlusa sind die Exopoden 2-segmentig. Fur die neue Art werden beide Geschlechter beschrieben, fur S. occlusa das Mannchen zum ersten mal. Die neue Familie scheint den Ergasilidae naher zu stehen als irgendeine vorher beschriebene poecilostome Familie.]
The effect of in vivo chromium exposure on Na/K-and Mg-ATPase activity in several tissues of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

The effect ofin vivo chromium exposure on Na/K- and Mg-ATPase activity was studied in several tissues of the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri. Those tissues studied were: intestine, gill, liver, and kidney. Tissue chromium levels were determined for control rainbow trout and trout exposed to 2.5 mg Cr/1 (as chromate) for 48 hours. After exposure to chromium, inhibition of Na/K-ATPase activity, but not Mg ATPase activity, was observed. These results may partially explain the detrimental effects of hexavalent chromium on fish.
Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of neuromuscular disease

Removal of immunoglobulin by plasma exchange and administration of immunoglobulin by intravenous infusion each improve selected neuromuscular diseases. Both treatments are expensive and relatively brief in their duration of action, but they benefit both self-limited neuromuscular diseases such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome and acute exacerbations of more chronic neuromuscular diseases including myasthenia gravis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. It is likely that plasma exchange acts by removing pathogenic antibodies. The mechanism by which intravenous immunoglobulin acts is less clear. Possibilities include (1) antiidiotypic antibody effect, (2) complement absorption, (3) downregulation of immunoglobulin production, (4) receptor blockade, (5) virus neutralization, (6) enhancement of suppressor cells, and (7) inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation. Although plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin have major side effects, severe reactions are uncommon with plasma exchange and rare with intravenous immunoglobulin. Because of their low incidence of life-threatening complications, both treatments have major appeal to clinicians. Because of their brief action and high cost as well as the uncertainty as to whether either or both should be employed, their role in the therapeutic armamentarium of the neurologist requires further study.
Biotic Multipliers of Climate Change

Many species face uncertain fates under climate change. Some will persist by shifting their range or adapting to local conditions, whereas others will be lost to extinction. Efforts to lessen the impacts of climate change on biodiversity depend on accurate forecasts. Most studies aiming to identify likely winners and losers consider species one at a time with a “climate envelope” approach that correlates species' occurrences with climatic and environmental variables. Using this method, researchers have predicted that by 2050, 15 to 37% of species will be faced with extinction ( 1 ). But which species are most likely to be under threat? And how will their loss affect the broader ecological community?
Diethylstilbestrol stimulates ornithine decarboxylase in kidney cells in culture

Summary Diethylstilbestrol, estradiol-17β, progesterone or testosterone at concentrations of 10 −9 M, but not a number of other hormones tested, increase the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in hamster kidney cells maintained in culture with the peak in activity occurring three to six hours after addition of hormones. S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase of these cells is also stimulated by DES. The DES induced increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and of S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase involves protein synthesis — it is inhibited by cycloheximide — but does not involve RNA synthesis at that moment — it is not inhibited by actinomycin D. This suggests that the mRNA for ODC and SAMDC may be synthesized earlier and retained in the cell in some inactive form until released by the estrogenic stimulus.
Theory of steady state limiting current at stationary wire electrodes

Abstract The steady state limiting current at a vertical wire-electrode under conditions of natural convection is calculated from the boundary layer theory of convective mass transfer. The integral method of von Karman is applied to the case of a curved surface with cylindrical symmetry. The conditions under which substantial departures from the flat electrode behaviour occur are discussed quantitatively. The results are given in dimensionless form so that the variations of the seven main variables involved in the problem can be represented with the help of two variable dimensionless groups only. The generalized correlation thus obtained allows a complete calculation of the limiting current from general properties of the system considered (diffusion coefficient, viscosity and concentration of solution, densification coefficient, height and radius of electrode). The case of a mixture of electrolytes (including especially the case of an excess of indifferent electrolyte usually present in polarographic practice) has also been treated. The calculated values of the limiting current are compared with the experimental results of various authors.
A study of the 28Si(d, 3He)27Al reaction

Spectroscopic factors have been measured for all the levels in 27Al up to 3 MeV from the reaction 28Si(d, 3He)27Al. The level at 3.00 MeV with Jπ92+ is excited much more strongly than that at 2.98 MeV with Jπ = 32+, although it does not show either an l = 2 or an l = 4 pick-up distribution. The results are not in agreement with the collective rotational model. Better, but still not very good, agreement is found with the weak-coupling core-excitation model. Occupation numbers are obtained for protons in d52, d32 and d12 orbits for the ground state wave function of 28Si. These are compared with the neutron occupation numbers.
Coping with viral diversity in HIV vaccine design.

The ability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to develop high levels of genetic diversity, and thereby acquire mutations to escape immune pressures, contributes to the difficulties in producing a vaccine. Possibly no single HIV-1 sequence can induce sufficiently broad immunity to protect against a wide variety of infectious strains, or block mutational escape pathways available to the virus after infection. The authors describe the generation of HIV-1 immunogens that minimizes the phylogenetic distance of viral strains throughout the known viral population (the center of tree [COT]) and then extend the COT immunogen by addition of a composite sequence that includes high-frequency variable sites preserved in their native contexts. The resulting COT+ antigens compress the variation found in many independent HIV-1 isolates into lengths suitable for vaccine immunogens. It is possible to capture 62% of the variation found in the Nef protein and 82% of the variation in the Gag protein into immunogens of three gene lengths. The authors put forward immunogen designs that maximize representation of the diverse antigenic features present in a spectrum of HIV-1 strains. These immunogens should elicit immune responses against high-frequency viral strains as well as against most mutant forms of the virus.
The effect of a-estradiol, some of its esters and estrone on the respiration of tissue homogenates.

MEYER et al. (1948) showed that certain natural and synthetic estrogens in concentrations of 0.2 to 3 × 10−4 M inhibit tissue respiration by attacking the iron compounds in the cytochrome system. The portion of the estrogenic molecule responsible for this inhibition was traced to the free phenolic groups of these compounds. Case and Dickens (1948) described some synthetic estrogens which inhibit the succinoxidase by acting on the cytochrome portion, some which inhibit by acting on the succinic dehydrogenase system, and still others which inhibit the over-all oxidation of succinate but which act neither on the cytochrome oxidase nor the succinic dehydrogenase. Data are herein reported which suggest a-estradiol, some of its esters, and estrone in a concentration of 5 × 10−5 M inhibit oxidation of substrates whose oxidative systems are coenzyme linked but do not inhibit the succinoxidase system. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Comment on Article by Müller and Mitra

Due to their great flexibility, nonparametric Bayes methods have proven to be a valuable tool for discovering complicated patterns in data. The term “nonparametric Bayes” suggests that these methods inherit model-free operating characteristics of classical nonparametric methods, as well as coherent uncertainty assessments provided by Bayesian procedures. However, as the authors say in the conclusion to their article, nonparametric Bayesian methods may be more aptly described as “massively parametric.” Furthermore, I argue that many of the default nonparametric Bayes procedures are only Bayesian in the weakest sense of the term, and cannot be assumed to provide honest assessments of uncertainty merely because they carry the Bayesian label. However useful such procedures may be, we should be cautious about advertising default nonparametric Bayes procedures as either being “assumption free” or providing descriptions of our uncertainty. If we want our nonparametric Bayes procedures to have a Bayesian interpretation, we should modify default NP Bayes methods to accommodate real prior information, or at the very least, carefully evaluate the effects of hyperparameters on posterior quantities of interest.
Differential neuroprotection from human heat shock protein 70 overexpression in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemia and ischemia-like conditions.

We previously showed that overexpressing the 70-kDa inducible heat shock protein in primary astrocyte cultures and in a rodent stroke model using viral vectors resulted in protection from ischemia and ischemia-like injury. However, viral transfection could potentially provoke a stress response itself; therefore, we examined whether transgenic mice constitutively expressing human heat shock protein 70 were protected from ischemic insults. Astrocyte cultures from brains of heat shock protein 70 transgenic mice were resistant to hydrogen peroxide injury in a dose-dependent fashion, but were less resistant to hypoglycemia and oxygen-glucose deprivation. Because hydrogen peroxide exposure and glucose deprivation are partially dependent on glutathione levels, we determined whether heat shock protein 70 transgenic cultures had altered glutathione levels under normal growth conditions. However, there was no significant difference in glutathione levels between heat shock protein 70 transgenic and wildtype astrocytes. Hippocampal, but not cortical neuron cultures from these same transgenic mice were also protected against oxygen-glucose deprivation and glutamate toxicity. In an in vivo model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia, there was no significant difference in infarct size assessed 24 h postinsult. These results suggest that heat shock protein 70 protects against some but not all kinds of central nervous system injury. The protective effects may be related to the nature and severity of the insults, as well as subpopulations of brain cells and dose-dependent effects of HSP70 overexpression.
A Fresh Look at the Definition of Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae to β-Lactam Antibiotics

Definitions for susceptibility or resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin were not developed until penicillin-resistant pneumococci appeared in South Africa in the late 1970s. The definition that was accepted (which still remains in use) and later definitions of resistance to most other beta-lactam antibiotics were derived from laboratory and clinical data relating to the treatment of meningitis, not otitis media, sinusitis, or pneumonia. An understanding of the origin of these definitions helps to resolve the apparent paradox that infections of the respiratory tract due to seemingly beta-lactam-resistant pneumococci may still respond well to standard doses of these drugs. A recently sanctioned change in the definition of susceptibility to amoxicillin is helpful in eliminating the paradox for this drug, but it may create further confusion by implying that, on a microgram basis, amoxicillin is substantially more effective than penicillin or third-generation cephalosporins. This article examines definitions of susceptibility and resistance of pneumococci, highlighting areas that have led to confusion and proposing a new way of understanding them.
Bringing Adjunct Engineering Faculty into the Learning Community

Adjunct faculty can offer enrichment to an engineering program by bringing practical experience and by introducing relevant industrial applications and problems to the classroom. The industrial perspective of adjunct faculty often manifests itself through an emphasis on communication and presentation skills, and concern for customer needs. Students observing these attributes come away with a better appreciation for the demands of the engineering workplace. Adjunct faculty members can also provide important linkages for developing industrial affiliate programs, co-op activities, and employment opportunities for graduates. Nevertheless, the position of adjunct faculty is tenuous, subject to shifting enrollments, negative student perception, and limited connectivity with the mainstream issues of the academic department. Adjunct faculty who teach in engineering programs will almost always come with excellent technical credentials, but they will have little or no teacher training or knowledge of learning principles and cognitive psychology. With limited time on campus, adjunct faculty have little opportunity to improve their teaching skills and methods, resulting in a “sink or swim” environment. At the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), we have evolved a regimen of strategies to ensure the quality of the educational program and to support the teaching effectiveness and professional commitment of adjunct faculty. These strategies have improved student and faculty satisfaction with adjunct faculty, and indeed have improved adjunct faculty self-satisfaction. These strategies are described in the current paper.
Structure of a Crystalline Vapochromic Platinum(II) Salt

Square-planar cations of the orange form of [Pt(Me2bzimpy)Cl](PF6)·DMF [Me2bzimpy = 2,6-bis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine] stack along the b axis in a head-to-tail arrangement with short interplanar spacings (3.35 and 3.39 A). Long intermolecular Pt···Pt contacts [4.336(2) and 4.565(2) A] and comparatively short Me2bzimpy···Me2bzimpy distances are consistent with spectroscopic measurements for orange salts of Pt(Me2bzimpy)Cl+. The DMF solvent molecules line channels parallel to c, which may provide a conduit for vapor absorption. The crystals are vapochromic, changing from orange to violet upon exposure to acetonitrile vapor. The changes in spectroscopic properties accompanying vapor absorption are consistent with changes in intermolecular interactions between complexes.
Plasma deposition and surface characterization of oligoglyme, dioxane, and crown ether nonfouling films.

Plasma-deposited PEG-like films are emerging as promising materials for preventing protein and bacterial attachment to surfaces. To date, there has not been a detailed surface analysis to examine the chemistry and molecular structure of these films as a function of both precursor size and structure. In this paper, we describe radio-frequency plasma deposition of a series of short-chain oligoglymes, dioxane, and crown ethers onto glass cover slips to create poly(ethylene glycol)-like coatings. The resultant films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF−SIMS), dynamic contact angle goniometry, and radiolabeled fibrinogen adsorption. Detailed analysis of the high-mass (120−300 m/z) TOF−SIMS oligoglyme film spectra revealed six classes of significant fragments. Two new models are proposed to describe how these fragments could be formed by distinct film-building processes: incorporation of intact and fragmented precursor molecules. The ...
Straight single-crystalline germanium nanowires and their patterns grown on sol¿gel prepared gold/silica substrates

Straight single-crystalline Ge nanowires with a uniform diameter distribution of 50-80 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers were grown in a high yield on sol-gel prepared gold/silica substrates by using Ge powder as the Ge source. Detailed electron microscopy analyses show that the nanowires grow through a vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism with gold nanoparticles located at the nanowire tips. By using transmission electron microscope grids as the shadow mask, the sol-gel technique can be readily adapted to prepare patterned film-like gold/silica substrates, so that regular micropatterns of Ge nanowires were obtained, which could facilitate the integration of Ge nanowires for characterization and devices.
Climate-driven environmental change in the Zhada basin, southwestern Tibetan Plateau

The Zhada basin is a large Neogene extensional sag basin in the Tethyan Himalaya of southwestern Tibet. In this paper we examine environmental changes in the Zhada basin using sequence stratigraphy, isotope stratigraphy, and lithostratigraphy. Sequence stratigraphy reveals a long-term tectonic signal in the formation and filling of the Zhada basin, as well as higher-frequency cycles, which we attribute to Milankovitch forcing. The record of Milankovitch cycles in the Zhada basin implies that global climate drove lake and wetland expansion and contraction in the southern Tibetan Plateau from the Late Miocene to the Pleistocene. Sequence stratigraphy shows that the Zhada basin evolved from an overfilled to underfilled basin, but continued evolution was truncated by an abrupt return to fluvial conditions. Isotope stratigraphy shows distinct drying cycles, particularly during times when the basin was underfilled. A long-term environmental change observed in the Zhada basin involves a decrease in abundance of arboreal pollen in favor of nonarboreal pollen. The similarity between the long-term environmental changes in the Zhada basin and those observed elsewhere on and around the Tibetan Plateau suggests that those changes are due to global or regional climate change rather than solely the result of uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.
Interacting fermions picture for dimer models

Recent numerical results on classical dimers with weak aligning interactions have been theoretically justified via a Coulomb gas representation of the height random variable. Here, we propose a completely different representation, the interacting fermions picture, which avoids some difficulties of the Coulomb gas approach and provides a better account of the numerical findings. Besides, we observe that the Peierls argument explains the behavior of the system in the strong interaction case.