cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic causes and management of male infertility

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples. With infertility such a common problem in a generally healthy age group, complete evaluation is needed of both men and women. Infertility work up for men includes a semen analysis, the results of which suggest various supplemental studies, including karyotype. Karyotype is indicated when a patient has findings on history or physical exam concerning for chromosomal abnormalities, azoospermia, or severe oligospermia (count <5 million/mL). The most common chromosomal numerical abnormality found on karyotype is Klinefelter syndrome which is classified as redundant sex chromosomes, with the most common chromosomal arrangement being 47, XXY. If a patient is found to have a chromosomal abnormality such as Klinefelter's, there is still a chance of fertility using testicular sperm extraction and in-vitro fertilization.
Unmet Need for Medical Care: The Role of Mental Health Status

Mental health status is an important factor to consider when exploring correlates of unmet need for medical care and prescription drugs. This paper explores whether self-rated mental health status is associated with unmet need and delays in obtaining medical care and prescription drugs. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression with 27,305 non-institutionalized adults aged 18 and older from the 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey explore factors associated with self-reported unmet need for medical care and prescriptions, as well as access delays. Patients with lower physical and mental health status had the highest odds of experiencing unmet need for medical care and prescriptions, as well as access delays. These findings highlight the importance of increasing access to a usual source of care among individuals with lower self-rated mental health status as a strategy for addressing unmet need.
Characterizing Trends in Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist Use from Patient Clinical Evaluations during Medical Toxicology Consultation

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a new class of compounds with profound psychoactive effects and potential toxicity. This study characterizes patterns in SCRA abuse using qualitative interviews with individuals receiving medical toxicology consultation. Patients with suspected exposure to a new psychoactive substance were interviewed by medical toxicologists upon presentation for acute care. Investigators collected clinical and qualitative data including knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to psychoactive substance use. Responses were categorized by identifying themes, and statistics were generated to describe patterns of use. Overall, 69% (86) of the 124 cases of novel psychoactive substance use entered into the registry were associated with exposure to SCRAs. Most patients (68.8%) had used SCRAs at least once before the presenting episode. 47.7% considered SCRAs to be very easy to obtain, and 44.2% reported paying for the substances while 32.6% acquired it for free. Nearly half (48.8%) of patients reported their primary reason for use was to get high; a small proportion used SCRAs to avoid testing positive on drug screening (6.9%) or as an alternative to marijuana (4.6%). Findings suggest an independent and stable culture is developing around the use of SCRAs separate from their appeal as an "undetectable" alternative to marijuana.
The Trump Administration’s Flawed Decision on coronavirus Vaccine Injury Compensation: Recommendations for Changes

The Trump Administration has announced that all claims for injuries that may be caused by the coronavirus vaccines now being developed must be filed in the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program This essay assesses the flaws in this program and advocates that it be substantially modified or that compensation claims be addressed via other significantly superior compensation programs
79664 Complement Driven Auto-Reactive Antibodies in Lung Transplantation

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Our work unveils a novel mechanism of ischemia repurfusion injury driven by pre-existing autoimmunity following lung transplant and a potential therapeutic strategy for blocking complement-dependent injury thereby reducing risk of lung transplant rejection. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our goal was to determine if pre-existing autoimmune autoantibodies, such as those resulting from cigarette smoke (CS), contribute to graft rejection in lung transplantation (LTx) and if autoreactive-mediated graft injury is complement-dependent. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: For in vivo experiments, we utilized our emphysema mouse model. Briefly, eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice are exposed to 3R4F reference cigarette smoke 5 hours per day, 5 days a week for 6 months. Upon completion, cigarette smoked (CS) mice and control (NS) mice received syngeneic orthotopic left-lung transplant from age-matched C57BL/6J donors. To determine if pre-existing autoreactivity mediated graft injury was complement-dependent we treated CS-LTx mice with a novel, bifunctional complement inhibitor. Autoantibody levels were measured by ELISA and lung injury was assessed by blinded histopathological analyses. Complement inhibition was verified by immunofluorescence. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We found that CS-exposure leads to production of autoreactive antibodies towards extracellular matrix (ECM) components and contributes to graft injury. Interestingly, LTx into CS exposed mice further increased de-novo ECM autoantibody development. Lastly, treatment with our novel, bifunctional complement inhibitor blocked autoantibody spreading and significantly reduced graft rejection. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: These data demonstrate that smoking induces pre-LTx autoreactivity to ECM proteins that promotes graft injury following LTx. Furthermore, complement inhibition reduces autoantibody production and protects the graft from injury.
Construction of subitized units is related to the construction of arithmetic units

This study investigates the relationship between children’s subitizing activity and their construction of arithmetic units. In particular, the study hypothesizes a positive association between children’s construction of subitized units and their construction of arithmetic units, and hypothesizes that children who can subitize larger units, such as five items, in kindergarten, are more likely to construct arithmetic units by the beginning of first grade. Data for this study were drawn from 3,660 children surveyed at the beginning of kindergarten in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and at the beginning of first grade in the following year. The children are from a single school district in the southwest United States. Logistic regression was used to model the likelihood of constructing arithmetic units based on children’s earlier construction of subitized units. Findings provide evidence of a positive relationship between children’s construction of subitized units and arithmetic units, and, on average, children who have constructed subitized units at the beginning of kindergarten are more likely to construct arithmetic units by the beginning of first grade. Based on the findings, theoretical and instructional implications are discussed.
The role of anthropogenic dispersal in shaping the distribution and genetic composition of a widespread North American tree species

Dispersal and colonization are among the most important ecological processes for species persistence as they allow species to track changing environmental conditions. During the last glacial maximum (LGM), many cold-intolerant Northern Hemisphere plants retreated to southern glacial refugia. During subsequent warming periods, these species expanded their ranges northward. Interestingly, some tree species with limited seed dispersal migrated considerable distances after the LGM ~19,000 years before present (YBP). It has been hypothesized that indigenous peoples may have dispersed valued species, in some cases beyond the southern limits of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. To investigate this question, we employed a molecular genetics approach on a widespread North American understory tree species whose fruit was valued by indigenous peoples. Twenty putative anthropogenic (near pre-Columbian habitations) and 62 wild populations of Asimina triloba (pawpaw), which produces the largest edible fruit of any North American tree, were genetically assayed with nine microsatellite loci. Putative anthropogenic populations were characterized by reduced genetic diversity and greater excess heterozygosity relative to wild populations. Anthropogenic populations in regions that were glaciated during the LGM had profiles consistent with founder effects and reduced gene flow, and shared rare alleles with wild populations hundreds of kilometers away (mean = 723 km). Some of the most compelling evidence for human-mediated dispersal is that putative anthropogenic and wild populations sharing rare alleles were separated by significantly greater distances (mean = 695 km) than wild populations sharing rare alleles (mean = 607 km; p = .014). Collectively, the genetic data suggest that long-distance dispersal played an important role in the distribution of pawpaw and is consistent with the hypothesized role of indigenous peoples.
Focus Beam System Biaxial Cross-Polarization 2 nd Sample Method

With increase in complexity of material designs, the material parameter’s axial orientation becomes harder to orient/find. This paper describes a method for extracting the material parameters of a biaxial sample without a known axis orientation using a focus beam system (FBS) and a second sample with a known axis orientation.
Utilizing Persistent Entomopathogenic Nematodes in a Conservation or a More Classical Biological Control Approach

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been the focus of a significant amount of research since the early 1980s due to their many favorable attributes as biological control agents of potential pest insects (Kaya & Gaugler, 1993). As a group, EPNs have a broad host range, variation in foraging strategies and host associations which suggest the potential to control pest species with diverse life histories (e.g. Campbell & Gaugler, 1997; Grewal, Lewis, Gaugler, & Campbell, 1994, Lewis, Gaugler, & Harrison, 1992, 1993; Lewis, Ricci, & Gaugler, 1996; Wilson, Ehlers, & Glazer, 2012). The vast majority of the EPN research has been focused on important components required to utilize EPNs in an inundative release strategy or a biopesticide. These components include mass rearing techniques, isolating/ propagating populations with the highest laboratory efficacy with little regard to ecological adaptation to the release environment, species/populations with the longest storage “shelf” life, and application technology. EPNs are used almost exclusively as a biological insecticide, typically at high densities to the soil (2.5 × 109 per ha, 25 IJ/cm2) with little concern for the fate of applied EPNs. Evaluation of EPN population is usually focused on pest reduction and is limited to a few days or weeks after application (Lewis, Campbell, & Gaugler, 1998). In these releases, little emphasis is placed on the long term establishment of the EPN in the soil profile for long-term pest suppression through pest recycling and the selection of an EPN population which retains the genetic coding for long-term persistence under low host density and unfavorable environmental conditions.
Mechanisms and constraints underlying implicit sequence learning

Our ability to learn about sequences of events allows us to perceive melody in music, to coordinate the movement of our bodies, and to understand spoken language. Much of this sequential behavior proceeds outside of our conscious awareness. In this dissertation, I consider two questions: (1) What is the nature of the processes underlying our implicit sequence learning behavior? (2) To what degree does sequential behavior in different domains and tasks rely on similar underlying mechanisms? A cross section of current theories of sequential learning are evaluated in their ability to account for human learning studies drawn from both serial reaction time (SRT) and statistical word learning tasks. Five novel experiments are reported which differentiate between competing theories concerning the mechanisms underlying implicit sequence learning. A view emerges which describes implicit sequence learning as a relatively simple and limited process with a memory substrate utilizing distinct spatial codes for events in time as opposed to aggregate context.
Fungal Structure and Morphology

1 Intracellular Components 2 Basic Growth Patterns: Molds and Yeasts 3 Dimorphism 4 Instability in Growth Pattern: ‘Phenotypic Switching’ 5 Structures used in Identification of Fungi 6 Conidial Structure and Germination 7 Features of Fungi Associated with Pathogenicity and Virulence Keywords: fungal structure and morphology; basic growth patterns-molds and yeasts; growth pattern instability-‘phenotypic switching’; Coccidioides immitis hyphae; conidial structure and germination; yeast pattern of growth; plasticity in morphology-fungi grown under certain environmental conditions; fungi features associated with pathogenicity and virulence
Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay populations of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus are genetically distinct

The Delaware Bay contains the world’s largest population of horseshoe crabs, which constitute an ecologically significant component of this estuarine ecosystem. The North Atlantic speciesLimulus polyphemus has an extensive geographical distribution, ranging from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. Recent assessments of the Delaware Bay population based on beach spawning and trawling data have suggested a considerable decrease in the number of adult animals since 1990. Considerable debate has centered on the accuracy of these estimates and their impact on marine fisheries management planning. Compounding this problem is the lack of information concerning the genetic structure of Atlantic horseshoe crab populations. This study assessed patterns of genetic variation within and between the horseshoe crab populations of Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay, using both Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). We examined 41 animals from Delaware Bay and 14 animals from the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. To provide high quality, uncontaminated genomic DNA for RAPD analysis, DNA was isolated from hemocytes by direct cardiac puncture, purified by spin column chromatography, and quantified by agarose gel electrophoresis. RAPD fingerprints revealed a relative paucity of polymorphic fragments, with generally homogeneous banding patterns both within and between populations. DNA sequence analysis of 515 bases of the 5′ portion of the mitochondrial COI gene showed haplotype diversity in the Chesapeake Bay sample to be significantly higher than in the Delaware Bay sample, despite the larger size of the latter. Haplotype analysis indicates minimal contemporary gene flow between Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay crab populations, and further suggests that the Delaware Bay population is recovering from a recent population decline.
Triple junctions as a cause for anomalously near-trench igneous activity between the trench and volcanic arc

In the eastern Aleutian arc, western Sumatra, and southwestern Japan, the distribution of igneous rocks cannot be explained by direct analogy with the igneous activity in modern island arcs. In these places, episodes of intrusion occurred within the accretionary prism, anomalously close to an active trench. For the eastern Aleutian arc and Sumatra, we speculate that the near-trench igneous rocks could be related to the subduction of a ridge that trended nearly perpendicular to the trench. The ridge-trench-trench triple junction so formed migrated along the trench. As the accretionary prism was under-thrust by the ridge, it would increase the heat flow sufficiently to cause partial melting of the sediment. In Japan, the near-trench igneous rocks could be related to the migration of a trench-trench-trench triple junction along the Japan Trench. The activity associated with this triple junction may be continuing today.
Some respiratory and metabolic effects of exercise in moderately obese men.

Abstract The effects of varying levels of exercise on oxygen uptake, CO2 production, blood pressure, arterial blood gasses, and arterial concentrations of glucose, insulin, and growth hormone were examined in ten normal weight and ten moderately overweight young men. At comparable external work loads with a bicycle ergometer, the lean men required less oxygen than the obese men. When oxygen uptakes were matched during exercise on a treadmill, the lean men were walking on a steeper grade or at a higher rate than the obese men. The efficiency of exercise as assessed by the relation between oxygen uptake and work did not differ between the two groups. Blood pressure rose more in the obese during exercise than in the lean. The fall in lactate and rise in bicarbonate was of greater magnitude during cycle ergometry than during treadmill exercise. Obese and lean men, however, showed similar changes. With each level of exercise, there was a fall in arterial insulin levels, but the concentrations in the blood of overweight men always remained significantly above that of the normal men. Growth hormone tended to be higher in the normal weight men, but the differences were usually not significant, and there was no significant rise with exercise in either group until the highest levels of work were achieved. Glucose concentrations tended to be higher in the obese men, but fell to constant levels in both groups during exercise. Blood pressure rose to a greater extent in the overweight men during exercise.
Attitudes of medical professionals toward euthanasia.

Abstract This is a pilot study of the attitudes of health care professionals toward euthanasia, and how those attitudes are affected by religion, previous experience in withdrawing care, and years in the health care profession. The data are drawm from a sample of 63 oncology professionals in the Midwest. The findings suggest that Protestants tend to support euthanasia more than Catholics; those with high religious commitments tend to disagree based on professional norms; agreement with euthanasia is inversely related to years in the profession; and those with previous experience tend to disagree with euthanasia based on legal/self-interest reasons. However, further research with larger cross-cultural samples is needed to confirm these findings.
The Coming Decade of System Networking Discontinuities

The traditional Data Center Networking (DCN) model is under a transitory period, where several emerging technologies may cause significant discontinuities and result in a new dominant model. Clients are seeking: optimized fabrics that are flat and converged, simpler network control and management, automated network virtualization services and a platform for which to run agile network services. This presentation will cover the client requirements that are influencing the demand side of these new solutions, as well as some of the emerging technologies
Hadron mass relations in a charmed quark model with broken SU(8) symmetry

It is assumed that charmed hadrons exist and, together with the usual hadrons, can be classified in representations of SU(8). Hadron masses are assumed to arise from quark masses plus two-body interactions between quarks. Mass relations among the hadrons are obtained. It is estimated that charmed vector mesons have masses about 2 GeV and that charmed baryons have masses between 2.2 and 5 GeV. (AIP)
Multiplet structure of Feshbach resonances in nonzero partial waves

We report a unique feature of magnetic-field Feshbach resonances in which atoms collide with nonzero orbital angular momentum. p-wave (l=1) Feshbach resonances are split into two components depending on the magnitude of the resonant state's projection of orbital angular momentum onto the field axis. This splitting is due to the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between the atoms and it offers a means to tune anisotropic interactions of an ultracold gas of atoms. Furthermore this splitting in the p-wave Feshbach resonance has been experimentally observed and is reported. A parametrization of the p-wave resonance in terms of an effective-range expansion is given.
Update on Mixed-salt Technology Development for CO2 Capture from Post-combustion Power Stations

The new mixed-salt technology combines the well-known ammonia and potassium carbonate technologies with improved reaction kinetics and reduced emissions. This technology is capable of capturing CO2 at high cyclic loadings compared to amine-based processes. In addition, mixed-salt technology can strip CO2 at high pressure, reducing the CO2 compression costs, requires no solvent chilling as in aqueous ammonia based processes, and has a low reboiler duty for regeneration (< 1000 Btu/lb.). Mixed-salt technology provides unique opportunities for better energy management to reduce the burden on the power plant steam cycle and is suitable for capturing CO2 from post-combustion, pre-combustion and other industrial gas streams. The mixed-salt technology has already been tested successfully in two small bench-level systems and is currently being tested at a large bench-scale pilot level with the funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The technology can easily be scaled up with use of conventional process equipment and can be demonstrated in full scale sooner than second-generation technologies that are currently in development.
The effects of hormones on the reproductive physiology of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

Abstract In the turtle, Chrysemys picta , progesterone completely inhibits ovulation and causes a reduction in pituitary, oviduct and follicle size. In contrast, pregnant mare serum gonadotropin effectively stimulates ovarian and oviducal growth. Bilateral ovariectomy of gravid turtles induces oviposition within hours suggesting ovarian involvement. Progesterone treatment is only mildly effective in delaying this oviposition. The data suggest that the antigonadal action of progesterone in C. picta is mediated primarily by inhibition of the hypothalamic-hypophysial system.
Central Supply: Sterilization of Cystoscopy Instruments and Accessories

(1960). Central Supply: Sterilization of Cystoscopy Instruments and Accessories. Hospital Topics: Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 101-107.
PSYCHIATRIC COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY.

Abstract Almost all psychiatric syndromes may occur in surgical patients at one time or another. The rate of occurrence varies considerably, but in one large municipal hospital study 22 per cent were found to have gross psychiatric complications. The most common psychiatric complications of surgery are (1) the anxiety reaction, (2) depression, (3) denial of illness and (4) acute brain syndrome. Therapy of all psychiatric complications is based on the institution of on-the-spot psychotherapy plus adjunctive drug therapy. When the acute brain syndrome develops, it is secondary to the disturbed physiology of the primary surgical condition and improves as the primary condition improves.
Body composition assessment in athletes with spinal cord injury: comparison of field methods with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Body composition assessment in athletes with spinal cord injury: comparison of field methods with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
Patterns of Endoparasite Infections in American Martens (Martes americana) of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A

Abstract We investigated the endoparasite community in introduced American martens (Martes americana) across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A., in relation to host sex, age, and abundance. Seven parasite species were found, including 2 previously unreported protist parasites (Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium sp.). Marten sex was unrelated to parasite species richness or prevalence. There was a negative relationship between age and parasite prevalence for 2 parasites (Alaria sp. and Capillaria putorii) and also between age and parasite species richness in male martens. There was no relationship between marten abundance and parasite species richness or between marten abundance and each parasite species' prevalence. Physaloptera maxillaris prevalence was higher in the east Upper Peninsula of Michigan, whereas Alaria sp. prevalence was higher in the west. Overall, parasite distribution in marten in the Upper Peninsula appeared influenced more by ecological factors than marten physiology or density.
Concerning the mechanism for transfer of d-glucuronate from myo-inositol oxygenase to d-glucuronate reductase

The d-glucuronate product of myo-inositol oxygenase (EC 1.13.99.1) is efficiently reduced by NADPH in the presence of either purified d-glucuronate reductase (EC 1.1.1.19), or reductase that is part of a protein aggregate that also contains the oxygenase. This occurs despite the fact that the maximum concentration of d-glucuronate that could be formed by the oxygenase under the conditions used for the coupled enzyme experiments is 7 μM, and 10 μM externally supplied d-glucuronate (Km = 7.6 mM) does not support any detectable NADPH oxidation under the reaction conditions. The most likely explanation for the results is that the uncyclized aldehyde form of d-glucuronate is the product of the oxygenase reaction, and that it diffuses into solution and is captured by the reductase before it cyclizes to the more stable but less reactive hemiacetal form.
Strategic Information Diffusion: Spread vs. Exploit

Frequent drops of prices to zero is a common phenomenon in price trends of many smartphone applications. The only means by which many of these apps spread is the word of mouth of their users. Motivated by these observations, we study the problem of optimal dynamic pricing in a social network where agents can only get informed about the product via word of mouth from a friend who has already bought the product. We show that for a durable product such as many apps, the optimal policy should drop the price to zero infinitely often, giving away the immediate profit in full to expand the informed network in order to exploit it in future. We further show that, beside the word of mouth nature of the information diffusion, this behavior crucially depends on the type of the product being offered. For a nondurable product, although the firm may initially make some free offers to expand its network, after a finite period, it will fix the price at a level that extracts the maximum profit from the already informed population.
Employment experiences of homeless young adults: Are they different for youth with a history of foster care?

Abstract There are approximately 350,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who are homeless each year in the United States and some were placed in foster care as a minor. The purpose of this study is to examine the baseline information and outcomes following an employment training program for homeless transitional youth. A comparison is made between those with a history of foster care (FC) and those without (NFC). At baseline, the FC had significantly more youth of African-American decent and significantly less Caucasian youth than the NFC. Additionally, the FC were significantly more likely to have mental health issues and current substance abuse issues than the NFC. Approximately 60% of participants from each group found employment within 3 months following the training and the mean hourly wage of all participants post-training was $9.27 ($9.55 NFC and $8.88 FC). Follow-up comparisons found that having a mental health issue most significantly predicted whether a youth found employment following the employment training program, even while taking into consideration foster care history and all other control variables. Hispanic FC youth had significantly higher hourly wages after controlling for all other variables when compared to Hispanic NFC youth.
Theoretical Study of the Thermal Decomposition of N,N'-Diacyl-N,N'-Dialkoxyhydrazines: A Comparison of HF, MP2, and DFT

The thermal decomposition of N,N‘-diacyl-N,N‘-dialkoxyhydrazines, (N(COR1)(OR2))2, to the corresponding ester and dinitrogen was investigated with high-level ab initio and density functional calculations. The results suggest that the decomposition proceeds via a two step 1,1-elimination. Coupled cluster calculations on several model systems (R1R2H; R1CH3, R2H; R1R2CH3) at the density functional geometry (CCSD(T)//B3P86) with zero-point energy and thermal corrections at the B3P86 level show that the barrier for the first elimination, the rate-determining step, is 24−34 kcal/mol, while the barrier for the second step in the two step 1,1-elimination is only 1−3 kcal/mol, a value that is much smaller than the exothermicity of the first step. This result explains why experimentalists have been unable to trap the intermediate nitrene. The critical point associated with the concerted elimination is shown to be a second-order saddle point on the potential energy surface at the HF and density functional levels of ...
TGF-β-induced IRAK-M expression in tumor-associated macrophages regulates lung tumor growth

TGF-β-induced IRAK-M expression in tumor-associated macrophages regulates lung tumor growth
Classification of proximal endovenous closure levels and treatment algorithm.

Objectives Endovenous closure is a common method to treat saphenous vein incompetence. Despite attempts to prevent it, some patients have extension of thrombus above the ideal site of closure immediately below the epigastric vein. We have developed a classification system for the level of saphenous vein closure to guide further therapy after endovenous treatment. Methods A six-tier classification system was developed, based on thrombus proximity to the epigastric or femoral vein, and an algorithm for treatment, based on level of closure was applied to all patients. Results Five hundred consecutive patients underwent radio-frequency ablation of the saphenous vein; it was successfully closed in 498 (99.6%) patients. Thirteen patients (2.6%) experienced thrombus bulging into the femoral vein or adherent to its wall, which was treated with anticoagulation. All of these patients had thrombus retraction to the level of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) in an average of 16 days with concurrent anticoagulation. No femoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) occurred in the series. There was a significantly higher rate of proximal thrombus extension in those patients with a history of DVT and those with a great saphenous vein (GSV) diameter of >8 mm (P Conclusions A classification system for saphenous endovenous closure which extends above the epigastric vein has been helpful in guiding management. A GSV diameter at the SFJ of >8 mm and a history of DVT results in significantly higher rates of proximal thrombus extension into the femoral vein. A short course of LMWH, until clot retracts back into the saphenous vein, is therapeutic. Management of the patients with thrombus flush with the femoral vein wall still needs to be defined, but the outcome from these patients is generally benign.
Riding the Conformational Wave to the Open Channel State in the CFTR Chloride Channel

The pore structure of the CFTR chloride channel is unknown. We showed previously that R352 in TM6 forms a salt bridge with D993 in TM9; charge-destroying mutations at either site destabilized the open state, affecting conductance, selectivity, and pore blockade. Other pairs of interacting residues also contribute to stabilizing the open state. We continued these experiments to determine how steps leading to the dimerization of the NBDs upon binding of nucleotide relate to the steps leading to pore opening, using single-channel recordings of WT-CFTR and channels bearing a cysteine or alanine at 352, 993, or both. In R352C-CFTR, but not R352A-CFTR, modification of the cysteine by positively-charged MTSET+ and MTSEA+ recovered the stability of the open state. In D993C-CFTR, but not D993A-CFTR, negatively-charged MTSES- recovered the stability of the open state. In contrast, D993C-CFTR modified by MTSET+ retained the instability of the open state. The R352C/D993C-CFTR double mutant exhibited instability of the open state in both the absence and presence of DTT, suggesting that R352C did not form a disulfide with D993C. In WT-CFTR, exposure to AMP-PNP led to greatly prolonged channel openings, as expected. However, this response was not found for R352A-CFTR. Surprisingly, R352C/D993C-CFTR could be latched open by the bifunctional crosslinker, MTS-2-MTS, such that channels could not close upon washout of ATP. MD simulations based on CFTR homology models (see Dawson Lab abstract) predict conformational states in which R352 and D993 approach each other to within van der Waals distances. These results suggest that the binding of ATP at CFTR's NBDs initiates a conformational wave, which leads to a change in pore structure from the closed to the open state, the latter being stabilized by inter-TM interactions including the R352-D993 salt bridge. (Support: NIH-2R56DK056481-07)
Engineering light-emitting diode surgical light for near-infrared fluorescence image-guided surgical systems

The near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence signal in the 700 to 900 nm from molecular probes used in fluorescence image-guided surgery (FIGS) is usually weak compared to the NIR component from white light-emitting diode surgical light, which is typically switched off during FIGS to enhance the molecular fluorescence contrast of the image. We propose a simple solution to this critical issue in FIGS by removing NIR light from surgical light with a low cost commercial 3M cool mirror film 330.
The Effect of Bispectral Index Monitoring on End-tidal Gas Concentration and Recovery Duration After Outpatient Anesthesia

We performed this study to determine whether instituting monitoring of bispectral index (BIS) throughout an entire operating room would affect end-tidal gas concentration (as a surrogate for anesthetic use) or speed of recovery after outpatient surgery. Primary caregivers (n = 69) were randomly assigned to a BIS or non-BIS Control group with cross-over at 1-mo intervals for 7 mo. Data were obtained in all outpatients except for those having head-and-neck surgery. Mean end-tidal gas concentration and total recovery duration were compared by unpaired t-test. Overall, 469 patients (80%) received propofol for induction and sevoflurane for maintenance. This homogeneous group was selected for statistical analysis. Mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentration was 13% less in the BIS group (BIS, 1.23%; Control, 1.41%; P < 0.0001); differences were most evident when anesthesia was administered by first-year trainees. Mean BIS values were 47 in the BIS-Monitored group. Total recovery was 19 min less with BIS monitoring in men (BIS group, 147 min; Controls, 166 min; P = 0.035), but not different in women. We conclude that routine application of BIS monitoring is associated with a modest reduction in end-tidal sevoflurane concentration. In men, this may correlate with a similar reduction (11%) in recovery duration.
Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment for Juvenile Bipolar Disorder

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and correlates of adherence to divalproex sodium (DVPX) and lithium carbonate (Li) combination treatment during the initial stabilization treatment phase. Method Adherence to Li/DVPX combination therapy was measured by the presence or absence of minimum serum concentrations of DVPX (50 μg/mL) or Li (0.6 mmol/L). Secondary measures included pill count, patient/parent report, and clinical judgment. Correlates of adherence, including patient characteristics, medication side effects, and family variables, were evaluated. Results One hundred seven patients (70 males and 37 females) were studied. The proportion of serum concentrations in the therapeutic range across the study period was 0.84 for DVPX and 0.66 for Li. Maternal ( r = −0.31; p r = −0.44; p r =−0.26; p r = 0.21; p r = 0.23; p r = −0.24; p r = −0.22; p r = 0.33; p Conclusions Nonadherence may limit the statistical power of treatment efficacy studies and the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy treatment for juvenile BPD and necessitate strategies to evaluate and enhance levels of treatment adherence.
Actionable Sequence Data on Infectious Diseases in the Clinical Workplace

Among the wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the clinical workplace, infectious diseases pose unusually difficult problems. First, the diversity of disease-causing agents is prodigious, and infectious agents may disseminate to and invade almost any host anatomic compartment. Second, these agents, because of their short generation times and, in some cases, high mutation rates, evolve quickly, resulting in evasion of host defenses, inter- and intrahost diversification in real time, and acquired resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Third, some infectious diseases progress quickly, i.e., within hours or days, and offer only a fleeting, narrow window of opportunity for successful therapeutic intervention early in the course of disease. Thus, to be actionable, diagnostic tests must be broad in their range, specific, sensitive, and rapid. These needs have not been adequately met by current, routine approaches, such as cultivation, serology, and specific PCR assays. As a result, inappropriately broad or mistargeted antimicrobial agents are used, resulting in drug resistance and other adverse effects, and important diseases are untreated or treated too late. A recently published case report by Wilson et al. (1) highlights the potential impact of DNA sequencing technology on infectious disease diagnosis, and illustrates in a best-case scenario how this technology may address these needs. The report describes a 14-year-old boy with severe combined immunodeficiency, who had undergone bone marrow transplantation and was maintained on monthly intravenous infusions of immune globulin and antibiotic prophylaxis against Pneumocystis pneumonia. Approximately 1 month after a trip to Puerto Rico, he experienced 10 days of unexplained fever, headache, and conjunctivitis. Over the course of the following 12 months, he suffered from uveitis, thrombocytopenia, and 2 more acute episodes of fever, headache, and photophobia and developed a lymphocyte-predominant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis, as well as biopsy-proven granulomatous leptomeningitis. All routine tests for infectious disease agents …
Measurement of excitation cross section of the 6 3 P 1 state of Hg using self-calibrating apparatus

The total cross section for excitation of ground state mercury atoms to the 63P1 state by 50 eV electrons was experimentally determined to be 0.434 ± 0.04 × 10−16 cm2. The apparatus used a pair of single-photon detectors to observe correlated optical photons in the 7 1S0 → 6 3P1 → 6 1S0 and 7 3S1 → 6 3P1 → 6 1S0 cascades. The product of the number of singles counts in the two detectors divided by the number of time-correlated cascade events was used along with angular distribution and correlation factors to determine N, the total number of atoms excited to the 6 3P1 state in the interaction region. The correct number N was arrived at in this way without making a separate determination of the overall photon detection efficiency. No standard lamp was needed for calibration nor was reference made to another standard cross section. The apparatus was self-calibrating. The absolute excitation cross section was determined from N and other parameters of the bombardment apparatus.
Transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking for progressive keratoconus: 24-month clinical results

Purpose To assess the clinical results of transepithelial collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients 26 years and younger with progressive keratoconus suitable for epithelium-off (epi-off) CXL. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy. Design Prospective case series. Methods The study included 26 eyes (26 patients) treated by transepithelial (epithelium-on) CXL. The mean age was 22 years (range 11 to 26 years) (10 younger than 18 years; 16 between 19 years and 26 years). Preoperative and postoperative examinations included uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, simulated maximum keratometry (K), coma and spherical aberration, and corneal optical coherence tomography optical pachymetry. The solution for transepithelial CXL (Ricrolin TE) comprised riboflavin 0.1%, dextran 15.0%, trometamol (Tris), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Ultraviolet-A treatment was performed with the Caporossi Baiocchi Mazzotta X Linker Vega at 3 mW/cm 2 . Results After relative improvement in the first 3 to 6 months, the UDVA and CDVA gradually returned to baseline preoperative values. After 12 months of stability, the simulated maximum K value worsened at 24 months. Coma aberration showed no statistically significant change. Spherical aberration increased at 24 months. Pachymetry showed a progressive, statistically significant decrease at 24 months. Fifty percent of pediatric patients were retreated with epi-off CXL due to significant deterioration of all parameters after 12 months of follow-up. Conclusions Functional results after transepithelial CXL showed keratoconus instability, in particular in pediatric patients 18 years old and younger; there was also functional regression in patients between 19 years and 26 years old after 24 months of follow-up. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Noncontact tympanic thermometer

An improved electronic tympanic thermometer has been developed. Thermal feedback is used to lower measurement error, response time and potential cost, and to obviate the need for actual contact with the tympanic membrane. With this technique core temperature can be monitored with increased effectiveness and reduced risk.
COORDINATION, CREDIT, AND AN ELASTIC CURRENCY

The market economy is modeled as a decentralized joint production system. Markets in such an economy require the use of money or credit instruments to facilitate exchange. As a result, market economies are at risk for monetary instability induced by real-side production coordination failure. In particular, economies decentralized via centralized wholesaling markets are subject to precipitous collapses. The most stable monetary system is trade in specie. However, there very likely is a scarcity of specie, which generates inefficiency and discourages production. There is, then, a need for an elastic currency. Bank-issued bills of exchange are a perfectly elastic medium and eliminate the scarcity of specie and its attendant inefficiency, but are a less stable monetary system than is trade in specie. In the trade-off between elasticity and stability, fiduciary currency (or fiduciary deposits) lies between specie and bank-issued bills of exchange.
Slowness matching finite difference method for travel times beyond transmission caustics

Conventional finite difference eikonal solvers produce only the first arrival time. However suitable solvers (of sufficiently high order of accuracy) may be extended via Fermat's principle to yield a simple algorithm which computes all travel times to each subsurface point, with cost on the same order as that of a first arrival solver.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acoustic sensor performance for vehicle mounted arrays

Commercially available digital signal processors (DSPs) can be used to host state-of-the-art air acoustic adaptive beamforming algorithms in low power, low cost, real-time sensor systems. These systems are suitable for use as both unattended ground sensor and in vehicle mounted microphone array applications. This paper describes a compact state-of- the-art, real-time adaptive beamforming approach and sensor hardware for vehicle mounted array operation. Recent field test results are presented for detection, tracking, and classification results with the vehicle engine idling as well as with the vehicle 'on the move.' Tracking accuracy results are also presented. The system tested used an eight- microphone array on the SARGE with two additional microphones located near the engine and the exhaust for additional adaptive noise cancellation.
Silicon nanowire NVM cell using high-k dielectric charge storage layer

Si nanowire (SiNW) channel non-volatile memory (NVM) cells were fabricated by a ''self-alignment'' process. First, a layer of thermal SiO"2 was grown on a silicon wafer by dry oxidation, and the SiNWs were then grown by chemical vapor deposition in pre-defined locations. This was followed by depositing the gate dielectric, which almost surrounds the nanowire and consists of three stacked layers: SiO"2 blocking layer, HfO"2 charge-storing layer and a thin tunneling oxide layer. Source/drain and gate electrodes were formed by photolithography and lift-off, and the devices were electrically tested. As expected from this fabrication process and the enhanced electrostatic control of the ''surrounding'' gate, excellent cell characteristics were obtained.
On the myrmecomorph Coquillettia insignis Uhler (Hemiptera: Miridae): arthropod predators as operators in an ant-mimetic system

The nature of female-limited mimicry in the myrmecomorphic plant bug Coquillettia insignis Uhler is described, including aspects of its relation to possible ant models and to co-occurring visual arthropod predators. Twelve species of ants were collected with C. insignis on its host plant Lupinus caudatus Kell., of which six species were common: third instar to adult female mimics closely resemble four of these six species, in both morphology and behaviour. The mimetic significance of these close correspondences is indicated by the results of over 500 feeding trials, using the three most common species of co-occurring visual arthropod predators as operators. Two of these three species (Sussacus papenhoei Gertsch: Salticidae; and Sinea diadema (Fabricius): Reduviidae), classified C. insignis with corresponding models and not with closely related, non-mimetic plant bugs. Furthermore, after having had a single ‘unpleasant’ experience with the ant Formica fusca assassin bugs that had previously accepted C. insignis as prey rejected them in 19 out of 23 trials. These findings indicate that C. insignis is a Batesian mimic, with visual arthropod predators functioning as one class of potential operator. Implications for future research on perception and learning in arthropod predators is briefly discussed.
The linguistic consequences of being a lame

The most uniform and characteristic variety of Black English is the grammar used by members of the vernacular culture in pre-adolescent and adolescent years: the ‘Black English Vernacular’. Less regular varieties which show the influence of other dialects, are used by isolated individuals within the community (‘lames’) who are less familiar with vernacular norms. Rules that are categorical for the vernacular are often variable for lames. Within the vernacular peer groups, core members show the most regular or frequent use of characteristic rules such as the deletion of is. Since most linguists grow up relatively isolated individuals within their own communities, it is important that they become aware of the linguistic consequences of being lame, and apply this knowledge in their methodology.Who's the lame who says he knows the gameAnd where did he learn to play?– The Fall
Onset of superconductivity in the antiferromagnetically ordered state of single-crystal DyNi2B2C

Temperature-dependent static magnetization, ac magnetic susceptibility, and electrical-resistivity measurements of single-crystal ${\mathrm{DyNi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C reveal bulk superconductivity below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$=(6.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1) K. This ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ is well below the N\'eel temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}}$=10.3 K. ${\mathrm{DyNi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C is the first R${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C compound with ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}}$. The upper critical magnetic field ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) increases approximately linearly from zero at 6.2 K to \ensuremath{\sim}5 kG at 2 K.