cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Second Chance

All neurologists should read the poignant first person account by Dr David Larach and his family members chronicling his impressive recovery from a dominant hemispheric ‘‘malignant’’ middle cerebral artery infarction following decompressive hemicraniectomy, ICU treatment for raised intracranial pressure, and prolonged neurorehabilitation. The outcomes of decompressive hemicraniectomy in this setting have been the subject of much study and debate [1]. It is now clear that younger patients fare better than older ones, that dominant hemispheric infarction no longer should be considered a contraindication to decompressive hemicraniectomy, that meticulous ICU care improves outcomes, and that some neurologists’s paternalistic practices of allowing these patients to die is being replaced by an individualized decision-making process based on outcome evidence and informed consent [2]. Dr Larach et al. wisely point out that patients’ functional outcomes are influenced not only by neurosurgical and neuro-intensivist skills, but also by the quality and quantity of neuro-rehabilitation services that patients receive following hospital discharge. They rightly decry the limited availability of this important treatment in the United States because of insurance coverage restrictions. Because of the impact on patients’ quality of life, the extent of neurorehabilitation should be included as a metric in outcome studies. In a thoughtful commentary on the publication of three European hemicraniectomy trials in 2007 [3], Stephan Mayer highlighted the fact that some operated patients survived with a reasonably good functional recovery [4]. Because unoperated, many of these patients would have died, he called this phenomenon ‘‘a second chance on life’’ in much the same spirit that Dr Larach described his own outcome as ‘‘a life worth living.’’ Dr Larach’s account illustrates that neurological disability is not worse than death. Healthy physicians should exercise caution and humility when making medical decisions for patients based on quality of life estimations. There is evidence that young, healthy physicians routinely underestimate the quality of life of their patients who are disabled by spinal cord injury, ALS, cognitive impairment, and other disorders [5]. We all are in Dr Larach’s debt to be instructed so movingly about his satisfactory outcome. It is a gift to be reminded, as we are when formerly critically ill patients visit the ICU a year or two later, that, despite their disability, many patients are happy to be alive after receiving what commentators not long ago considered overly aggressive neurocritical care.
Physical mapping and promoter structure of the murine cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase pde4a gene

The Pde4a gene is a mammalian homolog of the dunce learning and memory gene of Drosophila melanogaster and encodes cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases, targets for drugs with antidepressant and anti-inflammatory actions in humans. We have analyzed the intron/exon and promoter structure of the murine Pde4a gene. Pde4a encodes at least two different transcripts, each generated by alternative mRNA splicing and the use of alternative promoters. The majority of Pde4a exons are tightly clustered at the 3′ end of the gene. The 5′ region of the gene contains at least one widely separated exon, which encodes the 5′ end of a distinct mRNA transcript and contains a separate promoter and transcriptional start site. Analysis of YAC clones determined that the Pde4a gene maps to the 4-cM region of Chromosome (Chr) 9, close to Ldlr and Epor, in a region syntenic to human PDE4A.
Taking consciousness seriously: A defense of Cartesian dualism

Most western traditional (theistic) philosophers have argued that the existence of consciousness requires some form of substantial non-material soul or self. Both God and the self are non-material, but the self has a material component that God does not. There have been several varieties of non-material substantial souls among western philosophers past and present. Three prominent conceptions are the Platonic/Cartesian, the Aristotelian/Thomistic, and now “emergent” dualists. All three are thought to be dead by the majority of contemporary philosophers of mind. My purpose in this paper is to defend what is standardly called Cartesian dualism, as it has been modified over time since Descartes. This view of the self is derived from the examination of consciousness as we are aware of it directly, but does have interesting relationships with western theism. It is often claimed that God is needed to explain the existence of souls, and, conversely, that the existence of souls provides important evidence to justify belief in a western theistic God. Descartes was convinced that the present existence of a non-substantial self could not be contradicted, and found other reasons to support his view that this self was not material, persisted in time, was possibly immortal, and had a relation to its body which was merely contingent and with which it interacted frequently. Taking consciousness seriously requires a non-material self. Briefly stated, modern Cartesians have defended the existence of a nonmaterial persisting conscious self, justifying its persistence in order to account for continuity of experience, character and memory, and justifying its non-materiality by the fact that its contents (qualia, feelings, thoughts, etc.) cannot be located in the physical world (inside or outside the self) and that its ways of responding (reasoning, free will, intentionality, etc.) are not ways that material bodies operate. So far I am merely stating the obvious about substance dualism. It is my claim that if we are to take consciousness seriously, take it as we experience it ourselves, a substance view of the self is required. As I have said, there are currently three forms of substance dualism, and I cannot defend and analyze all three. What I have chosen to do is defend the Cartesian view, commenting on some of the reasons why emergent dualist views are not adequate, and ignoring for the present project Aristotelian/Thomistic views, though I think such views share deficiencies with emergent dualism. It is important now to defend substance dualism because there are clear signs that some of the more important defenders of non-substance philosophies of mind have realized that their hopes for doing justice to consciousness and many of the traditional values embedded in our view of the self cannot be worked out
Interactions of atmospheric neutrinos in nuclei at low energy

We have calculated lepton spectra induced by cosmic-ray neutrinos interacting in oxygen, taking account of nuclear effects. The results are accurate to energies as low as 50 MeV for electrons and to threshold for muons, and they are consistent with measurements made with the large, water-filled nucleon-decay detectors.
Regenerative Process in Life and Mind

The functional organization of the nervous system is discussed from the standpoint of organizational closure and regenerative process in order to draw parallels between life and mind. Living organization entails continual regeneration of material parts and functional relations (self-production). Similarly, dynamic stability of informational states in brains may entail coherent self-regenerating patterns of neural signals. If mind is the functional organization of the nervous system, then mental states can be seen as switchings between alternative sets of stable, self-regenerative neural signal productions. In networks of neurons, signaling resonances can be created through recurrent, reentrant neural circuits that are organized to implement a heterarchy of correlational operations. Neural representations are dynamically built-up through an interplay between externally-impressed, incoming sensory signals and internally-generated circulating signals to form pattern-resonances. Semiotic aspects of resonance states involve semantic sensori-motor linkages to and through the external environment and pragmatic linkages to evaluative mechanisms that implement internal goal states. It is hypothesized that coherent regenerative signaling may be an organizational requirement for a material system to support conscious awareness. In this view general anesthetics and seizures abolish awareness by temporarily disrupting the organizational coherence of regenerative neural signaling.
Hemolymph glucose in the freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea stagnalis: Basal values and an effect of ingested carbohydrate

Abstract 1. 1. In the freshwater pulmonate gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis jugularis Say, a basal level of hemolymph glucose for nonfeeding animals appears to be about 30 μg/ml (3 mg %). 2. 2. Elevated levels of hemolymph glucose can be induced by starch feeding with subsequent return to the basal level when food is withheld.
Fate of Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduits After Complete Repair of Pulmonary Atresia and Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals

Background Surgical repair of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals (PA/VSD/MAPCAs) requires insertion of a conduit from the right ventricle to the reconstructed pulmonary arteries. Although there is extensive literature on conduit longevity for many forms of congenital heart defects, there is currently limited information for PA/VSD/MAPCAs. It is likely that conduits will have a different longevity in PA/VSD/MAPCAs because pulmonary artery pressures are higher after unifocalization than in other congenital heart defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fate of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits after complete repair of PA/VSD/MAPCAs. Methods This was a retrospective review of 103 infants who underwent complete repair of PA/VSD/MAPCAs with insertion of an aortic homograft conduit. The average age at complete repair was 5.1 ± 2.8 months, average conduit size was 13 ± 2 mm, and average conduit z score was a positive 1.6 ± 0.9. Results Conduit z scores were linearly correlated with increasing homograft conduit size. The average longevity of small homografts (8 to 11 mm) was 15 ± 4 months, medium homografts (12 to 14 mm) was 39 ± 7 months, and large homografts (15 to 17 mm) was 50 ± 14 months. There was a negative correlation between increasing pulmonary artery pressure and conduit longevity. Conclusions Conduit z scores and conduit size worked synergistically to predict the longevity of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits after complete repair of PA/VSD/MAPCAs. Pulmonary artery pressure was an additional modifier of longevity. These data provide a framework for expectations of aortic homograft conduits used in the repair of PA/VSD/MAPCAs.
Chemisorption complex-formation reactions of organophosphorus ligands and the effect of ligand structure on reactivity

Abstract Various organophosphorus ligands were chemisorbed onto inorganic halide surfaces (e.g. FeCl 3 and CuCl 2 ) and these interactions were studied by i.r. spectroscopy. Complex-formation was indicated by large negative shifts of the PO stretching frequency of the ligand and this data was evaluated in terms of the effect of the structure of the ligand on reactivity. The structure of the ligand was varied in three major ways: 1. (1) n was varied from zero to three in ligands of the general formula, ( R O) n R (3− n ) PO. 2. (2) R 1 and R 2 were varied systematically in ligands of the general furmula, ( R 2 O) 2 R 1 PO. 3. (3) n was varied from zero to three in ligands of the general formula, ( R O) n X (3− n ) PO.
Cyproheptadine antagonism of p-chloroamphetamine hypothermia in mice.

Abstract Serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were measured in the brains of mice following intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg p-chloramphetamine (PCA). Indolyl levels were decreased at the 60 min interval, but were unchanged 30 min following PCA injection. PCA-induced hypothermia was found to be dependent upon dose and ambient temperature. Hypothermia was attenuated by cyproheptadine and slightly enhanced in the presence of fluoxetine. Mechanisms other than intraneuronal release and serotonin appear to mediate PCA-induced hypothermia.
Autonomous robot for detecting subsurface voids and tunnels using microgravity

Tunnels have been used to evade security of defensive positions both during times of war and peace for hundreds of years. Tunnels are presently being built under the Mexican Border by drug smugglers and possibly terrorists. Several have been discovered at the border crossing at Nogales near Tucson, Arizona, along with others at other border towns. During this war on terror, tunnels under the Mexican Border pose a significant threat for the security of the United States. It is also possible that terrorists will attempt to tunnel under strategic buildings and possibly discharge explosives. The Center for Cave and Karst Study (CCKS) at Western Kentucky University has a long and successful history of determining the location of caves and subsurface voids using microgravity technology. Currently, the CCKS is developing a remotely controlled robot which will be used to locate voids underground. The robot will be a remotely controlled vehicle that will use microgravity and GPS to accurately detect and measure voids below the surface. It is hoped that this robot will also be used in military applications to locate other types of voids underground such as tunnels and bunkers. It is anticipated that the robot will be able to function up to a mile from the operator. This paper will describe the construction of the robot and the use of microgravity technology to locate subsurface voids with the robot.
Frequency-Selective Seismic Sensor

Recent trends in earthquake monitoring and prediction have focused on the monitoring of seismic frequencies that are very close to the natural frequencies of buildings and other structures, such as bridges. This paper introduces a new type of seismic sensor that is highly sensitive to vibrations at one specific frequency. The sensor inherently rejects vibrations at all other frequencies. The sensor's characteristic frequency must be tuned to match the natural frequency of the building or structure that is being monitored. The sensor is based on the fundamental principle of coupling an oscillating mass-spring system with an electromagnetic transducer consisting of a space charge and a toroidal coil. Analysis and experimental results show that the frequency selectivity of such a vibration sensing mechanism is substantially high.
Can carbon nanotube transistors be scaled without performance degradation

The effects of channel length scaling on carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNTFET) performance was investigated by varying device lengths on the same nanotube. Results show that scaling improves performance with substantial increases in on-current, resistances closer to the quantum limit than have ever been reported, and the shortest (∼30 nm) well-behaving CNTFETs to date.
Canine lymphoproliferative disease characterized by lymphocytosis: immunophenotypic markers of prognosis

Results: Four main phenotypic classifications were found: CD81 T-cell, CD211 B-cell, CD4-8-51 (aberrant T-cell phenotype), and CD341 (undifferentiated progenitor). Expression of CD34 predicted poor outcome with median survival of 16 days (P o .0001) compared with other phenotypes. Within the CD81 phenotype, dogs presenting with a lymphocytosis 430,000 lymphocytes/mL had significantly shorter median survival (131 days) than those presenting with o30,000 lymphocytes/mL (1098 days, P o .0008). Within the T-cell leukemias, there was no difference in outcome between dogs with CD4-8-51 leukemia and dogs with the CD81 T-cell phenotype nor was the loss of expression of the pan-leukocyte marker CD45 associated with decreased survival time. A CD211 lymphocytosis composed of large cells was associated with shorter survival time (129 days) than those with smaller circulating cells (median survival not reached, P o .01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Immunophenotyping provides an objective method for determining prognosis in lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by lymphocytosis. C
Determining the duration of therapy for patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Emerging data, including results from two systematic reviews, suggest that with appropriate antimicrobial selection, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be successfully treated in less than 7 days, rather than the 7–14 days frequently utilized. Shorter course therapy has the potential not only to improve efficacy, safety, and compliance, but also to minimize the evolution of resistance. Utilization of procalcitonin as a biomarker in CAP can appropriately influence the duration of therapy without affecting mortality and cure rates. CAP treatment duration can further be reduced successfully into the clinical setting with the assistance of an antibiotic stewardship team.
Intentions: The Structures

‘Intentionally’ is an adverb. It can be treated as a sentence modifier, verb modifier, or prepositional phrase. Thus, “John jumped” can go into “Intentionally John jumped,” “John jumped intentionallly,” and John jumped with the intention to jump.” For simple cases there is no reason to insist on one or another reading. For complex cases a more complex structure is evidently required. Thus, “John jumped onto the bed to escape a spider” would, on the simple readings go into (1) Intentionally John jumped onto the bed to escape a spider. (2) John jumped onto the bed to escape a spider intentionally. (3) John jumped onto the bed to escape a spider with the intention to jump on the bed to escape a spider. But each of these is ambiguous. One possible reading of (1) does not imply that John’s intentions was to escape a spider. The speaker of (1) identifies what it is John jumped to escape, viz. a spider, thought John only saw something he intended to avoid but did not recognize that it was a spider. Further, suppose John jumped, intentionally, onto the nearby covered piece of furniture, not knowing that there was a bed under the covering. John did not intend to jump on the bed (rather than anything else) intentionally, though he intentionally jumped onto what was, in fact, a bed.
Fluid flow and Al transport during quartz-kyanite vein formation, Unst, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Quartz-kyanite veins, adjacent alteration selvages and surroundingprecursor wall rocks in the Dalradian Saxa Vord Pelite of Unst in the Shetland Islands (Scotland) were investigated to constrain the geochemical alteration and mobility of Al associated with channelized metamorphic fluid infiltration during the Caledonian Orogeny. Thirty-eight samples of veins, selvages and precursors were collected, examined using the petrographic microscope and electron microprobe, and geochemically analysed. With increasing grade, typical precursor mineral assemblages include, but are not limited to, chlorite+chloritoid, chlorite+chloritoid+kyanite, chlorite+chloritoid+staurolite and garnet+staurolite+kyanite+chlori- toid. These assemblages coexist with quartz, white mica (muscovite, paragonite, margarite), and Fe-Ti oxides. The mineral assemblage of the selvages does not change noticeably with metamorphic grade, and consists of chloritoid, kyanite, chlorite, quartz, white mica and Fe-Ti oxides. Pseudosections for selvage and precursor bulk compositions indicate that the observed mineral assemblages were stable at regional metamorphic conditions of 550-600 � C and 0.8-1.1 GPa. A mass balance analysis was performed to assess the nature and magnitude of geochemical alteration that produced the selvages adjacent to the veins. On average, selvages lost about )26% mass relative to precursors. Mass losses of Na, K, Ca, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba and volatiles were )30 to )60% and resulted from the destruction of white mica. Si was depleted from most selvages and transported locally to adjacent veins; average selvage Si losses were about )50%. Y and rare earth elements were added due to the growth of monazite in cracks cutting apatite. The mass balance analysis also suggests some addition of Ti occurred, consistent with the presence of rutile and hematite- ilmenite solid solutions in veins. No major losses of Al from selvages were observed, but Al was added in some cases. Consequently, the Al needed to precipitate vein kyanite was not derived locally from the selvages. Veins more than an order of magnitude thicker than those typically observed in the field would be necessary to accommodate the Na and K lost from the selvages during alteration. Therefore, regional transport of Na and K out of the local rock system is inferred. In addition, to account for the observed abundances of kyanite in the veins, large fluid-rock ratios (10 2 -10 3 m 3 fluid m )3 rock) and time-integrated fluid fluxes in excess of � 10 4 m 3 fluid m )2 rock are required owing to the small concentrations of Al in aqueous fluids. It is concluded that the quartz-kyanite veins and their selvages were produced by regional-scale advective mass transfer by means of focused fluid flow along a thrust fault zone. The results of this study provide field evidence for considerable Al mass transport at greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions, possibly as a result of elevated concentrations of Al in metamorphic fluids due to alkali-Al silicate complexing at high pressures.
Should Women Count? A Context for the Debate*

Much recent feminist geographical scholarship emphasizes the utility of qualitative research methods; yet, a significant proportion of feminist research in geography is quantitative. Geographers' engagement with the ideas of feminist theorists has shed new light on the relationship between epistemology, methodology, and objectivity, which in turn has facilitated a reexamination of feminist uses of quantification. In providing a context for the debate over quantitative and qualitative methods, we argue that each has a place in feminist geographical research.
Play in Education

(1946). Play in Education. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 17, No. 9, pp. 520-566.
Application of the A.S.P.E.N. Clinical Guideline for Nutrition Support of Hospitalized Adult Patients With Obesity A Case Study of Home Parenteral Nutrition

An A.S.P.E.N. clinical guideline addressing the nutrition support of hospitalized adult patients with obesity was recently published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Among the patient presentations for which this guideline might be used is those who have a gastrointestinal complication after bariatric surgery. A case study is discussed of a 43-year-old woman with a long history of severe obesity who had a bowel obstruction approximately 2 weeks after her laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery. The patient's treatment plan for bowel rest and home parenteral nutrition was based on the A.S.P.E.N. clinical guideline for patients with obesity. She tolerated the course well and resumed the expected diet advancement and weight loss patterns expected of her weight-loss surgery.
Editing math: what to do with the symbols

When faced with mathematical material, editors with limited technical training often address only superficial concerns such as format and punctuation. A few simple guidelines are presented here which can help one do a more complete job. Superfluous symbols should be deleted; the remaining symbols should be defined properly, redefined where necessary, and used according to the rules of grammar. >
Point-spread function engineering to reduce the impact of spherical aberration on 3D computational fluorescence microscopy imaging

Wavefront encoding (WFE) with different cubic phase mask designs was investigated in engineering 3D point-spread functions (PSF) to reduce their sensitivity to depth-induced spherical aberration (SA) which affects computational complexity in 3D microscopy imaging. The sensitivity of WFE-PSFs to defocus and to SA was evaluated as a function of phase mask parameters using mean-square-error metrics to facilitate the selection of mask designs for extended-depth-of-field (EDOF) microscopy and for computational optical sectioning microscopy (COSM). Further studies on pupil phase contribution and simulated WFE-microscope images evaluated the engineered PSFs and demonstrated SA insensitivity over sample depths of 30 μm. Despite its low sensitivity to SA, the successful WFE design for COSM maintains a high sensitivity to defocus as it is desired for optical sectioning.
Continuum Aeroelastic Model for Inviscid Subsonic Bending-Torsion Wing Flutter

A full continuum aeroelastic model for bending-torsion dynamics of a slender high-aspect-ratio wing in inviscid subsonic airflow is developed avoiding finite element or Pade approximations. The structure model is the classical cantilever model of Goland. The aerodynamics is simplified to the two-dimensional typical section theory. Stability is discussed in the Laplace domain leading to the calculation of the aeroelastic modes, the stability curve, and a precise definition of flutter speed, as well as an explicit formula for divergence speed. The flutter speed is shown to be monotonic decreasing as M increases for small k (normalized complex frequency); if a mode flutters at M=0 then it flutters for every M>0 excepting M=1 . A time-domain state space model is developed requiring the language of abstract functional analysis in the form of a “convolution-evolution” equation in a Hilbert space. The time domain model for M=0 differs radically from 0<M⩽1 . It helps clarify the nature of the aeroelastic modes an...
Childhood cancer medical costs

The financial burden of cancer treatment is a major source of stress for families of children with cancer. A previous study demonstrated that out of pocket nonmedical costs incurred because of the illness were consuming 26% of the weekly budget. A one-month sampling of medical charges were collected for 64 families of children undergoing outpatient treatment of cancer. Families of ten patients who had died also participated; total cancer center medical charges throughout the illness were collected. Monthly charges for living patients varied greatly with diagnosis, ranging from $100 to $1800. Total cancer center charges throughout the illness for the decreased patients ranged from $8000 to $53,000 (mean, +34,558). More than 50% of the charges were incurred in the diagnostic and terminal stages of illness. One sign of the hardship endured by the families was the outstanding debts to the cancer center long after the patient's death. Medical costs constituted an average of 5.8% of the families' weekly budgets. Overall, medical costs to the family were found to be much less than the nonmedical costs incurred during treatment.
A Commentary on Age Segregation for Older Prisoners Philosophical and Pragmatic Considerations for Correctional Systems

The growing number of older prisoners in state and federal prisons has fostered an important discussion in literature regarding the potential benefits of age-segregated living arrangements for olde...
Adaptations: Using Darwin's Origin to teach biology and writing

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species is at once familiar and unfamiliar. Everyone knows that the Origin introduced the world to the idea of evolution by natural selection, but few of us have actually read it. We suggest that it is worth taking the time not only to read what Darwin had to say, but also to use the Origin to teach both biology and writing. It provides scientific lessons in areas beyond evolutionary biology, such as ecology and biogeography. In addition, it provides valuable rhetorical lessons-how to construct an argument, write persuasively, make use of evidence, know your audience, and anticipate counterarguments. We have been using the Origin in various classes for several years, introducing new generations to Darwin, in his own words.
bcl-XL Is the Major Bcl-X mRNA Form Expressed During Murine Development and Its Product Localizes to Mitochondria

Most examples of cell death in animals are controlled by a genetic program that is activated within the dying cell. The apoptotic process is further regulated by a set of genes that act as repressors of cell death. Of these, bcl-2 is expressed in a variety of embryonic and postnatal tissues which suggests a critical role for bcl-2 in organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Surprisingly, mutant mice with targeted disruption of bcl-2 appear normal at birth and complete maturation of lymphoid tissues before succumbing to fulminant lymphopenia and polycystic renal disease by 2–5 weeks of age. This suggests that there may be genes other than bcl-2 that can regulate apoptosis during development. To begin to investigate this possibility, we have cloned and characterized the murine bcl-x gene, whose human counterpart displays striking homology to bcl-2. The predicted murine bcl-xL gene product exhibits a high level of amino acid identity (97%) to its human counterpart. Just like Bcl-2, the murine bcl-xL gene product can act as a dominant inhibitor of cell death upon growth factor withdrawal. In addition, the bulk of the bcl-xL product localizes to the periphery of mitochondria as assessed by a bcl-xL-tag expression system, suggesting that both Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins prevent cell death by a similar mechanism. bcl-xL is the most abundant bcl-x mRNA species expressed in embryonic and adult tissues. The levels of bcl-xL mRNA appear higher than those of bcl-2 during embryonal development and in several adult organs including bone marrow, brain, kidney and thymus. In addition to bcl-xL, we have identified another form of bcl-x mRNA, bcl-x beta, that results from an unspliced bcl-x transcript. bcl-x beta mRNA is expressed in various embryonic and postnatal tissues. Surprisingly, the expression of bcl-xS (a negative regulator of programmed cell death) was undetectable by a sensitive S1-nuclease assay and polymerase chain reaction analysis of mouse tissues. Based on its tissue and developmental patterns of expression, it appears that bcl-x may play an important role in the regulation of cell death during development and tissue homeostasis.
Skeletal muscle atrogene expression and insulin resistance in a rat model of polytrauma.

Polytrauma is a combination of injuries to more than one body part or organ system. Polytrauma is common in warfare, and in automobile and industrial accidents. The combination of injuries can include burn, fracture, hemorrhage, and trauma to the extremities or specific organ systems. Resistance to anabolic hormones, loss of muscle mass, and metabolic dysfunction can occur following injury. To investigate the effects of combined injuries, we have developed a highly reproducible rodent model of polytrauma. This model combines burn injury, soft tissue trauma, and penetrating injury to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Adult, male Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and subjected to a 15–20% total body surface area scald burn, or laparotomy and a single puncture of the cecum with a G30 needle, or the combination of both injuries (polytrauma). In the current studies, the inflammatory response to polytrauma was examined in skeletal muscle. Changes in skeletal muscle mRNA levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 were observed following single injuries and polytrauma. Increased expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligases Atrogin‐1/FBX032 and TRIM63/MuRF‐1 were measured following injury, as was skeletal muscle insulin resistance, as evidenced by decreased insulin‐inducible insulin receptor (IR) and AKT/PKB (Protein Kinase B) phosphorylation. Changes in the abundance of IR and insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1) were observed at the protein and mRNA levels. Additionally, increased TRIB3 mRNA levels were observed 24 h following polytrauma, the same time when insulin resistance was observed. This may suggest a role for TRIB3 in the development of acute insulin resistance following injury.
GRIK1 genotype and daily expectations of alcohol's positive effects moderate the reduction of heavy drinking by topiramate.

Using retrospective reports obtained during treatment visits in 138 heavy drinkers, we found that topiramate’s reduction of heavy drinking was moderated by a polymorphism (rs2832407) in GRIK1, which encodes the GluK1 kainate subunit (Kranzler et al., 2014a). A subsequent analysis of that 12-week topiramate treatment trial showed similar effects of medication and genotype on daily drinking reports obtained via interactive voice response technology (IVR; Kranzler et al., 2014b). Specifically, rs2832407*C-allele homozygotes treated with topiramate reported lower levels of drinking than those receiving placebo. This group also had the largest decreases in the expected positive effects of drinking (i.e., expectancies) and desire to drink. To extend that analysis, which focused on how mean levels of desire and expectancies changed over time with treatment, we used a within-person approach to examine whether daily variation in expectancies and desire to drink interact with topiramate treatment and genotype to predict nighttime drinking levels. In contrast to the previous analysis (Kranzler et al., 2014b), here we focus on whether alcohol expectancies and desire to drink moderate the effects of topiramate on drinking. Results showed a three-way interaction of daily expectancies with genotype and medication, such that the protective effect of topiramate on nighttime drinking among rs2832407*C-allele homozygotes was decreased on days characterized by relatively high levels of anticipated positive effects of alcohol. There was no moderating effect of desire to drink or negative alcohol expectancies. Thus, there is specific moderation of the effects of topiramate by both genotype and cognitive process.
The Embedded Atom Method: Theory and Application

The Embedded Atom Method (EAM), a modem theory of metallic bonding, has been developed to provide a simple but accurate method of evaluating the energy and forces for an arbitrary arrangement of atoms. The relationships between the EAM and the underlying electron density theory will be discussed. Specific examples of EAM calculations of surface reconstruction for (110) fcc materials will be predicted and compared to experiment. The examples will include temperature effects in gold. The results of molecular dynamics calculations of the mechanical properties of nickel also will be presented. Topics to be discussed include dislocation mobility and dislocation emission from a stressed crack in nickel. The dislocation calculations will be related to continuum modelling.
Genetic Improvement of a Parasitoid Biological Control Agent: Artificial Selection for Insecticide Resistance in Aphylis melinus (Hymenopera: Aphelinidae)

Populations of Phylis melinus detach, a parasitic of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Haskell), in citrus, were artificially selected for increased tolerance to five insecticides (carbonyl, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, malathion, and mediation) commonly used in citrus IMP. Selection produced gradual, small to moderate increases in resistance, accompanied in 3 of 12 selected lines with apparent decreases in genetic variation for pesticide tolerance. LC50’s for carbonyl increased to >5 times that of the original field population and approximately 20 times that of a susceptible natural population. Major resistance phenotypes were not detected in large field samples of A. melinns , suggesting that such phenotypes are either present at low frequencies ( 50% survival of the carbaryl-selected strain as early as 18 d after treatment, whereas the unselected colony continued to suffer >86% mortality on 75-d-old residues (the oldest tested). Because larval A. melinus are protected from insecticides within their scale insect hosts, this observed increase in carbonyl tolerance of adults may enable the carbaryl-resistant A. melinns populations to persist in groves treated with carbaryl.
Estimation of Projectile Aerodynamic Coefficients Using Coupled CFD/RBD Simulation Results

A method to compute aerodynamic coefficients for a projectile is described. The core data used by the algorithm is so called virtual fly out results where an unsteady time accurate computational fluid dynamics simulation is tightly coupled to a rigid projectile flight dynamic simulation. The output of the overall simulation is time history data of the motion of the projectile along with all loads on the body. With time synchronized air loads and projectile motion information, aerodynamic coefficients are estimated using a 2 step procedure. First, projectile motion data is fit to the projectile linear theory analytic solution using the aerodynamic coefficients as fitting parameters. The results from the projectile linear theory fitting procedure are fed as initial conditions to an output error parameter identification algorithm. During numerical experiments it was found that local minima exist for this problem. This problem was remedied by using a grid of initial conditions for the parameters and running them through the projectile linear theory equations. Then the best overall result was selected as the initial condition for the output error method algorithm. With this algorithm modification, the technique is shown to work for synthetic data and virtual fly out data.
Indications and Techniques of Liver Biopsy

Generally speaking liver pathology may be studied in many pathologic samples, such as those obtained at autopsy, hepatectomy, partial liver resection, surgical and medical biopsy. The latter two modalities are of greatest significance for the clinicians and accordingly in this book we will mostly discuss the pathology of the liver as seen in liver biopsies.
Early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: Values of ascitic fluid variables

In a search for clinical and laboratory factors that would aid in early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, we identified two groups of patients with chronic liver disease and ascites: 1) 38 patients with 40 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and 2) 39 randomly selected patients with 40 sterile paracenteses who were matched for severity of liver dysfunction as a reference group. A variety of clinical and laboratory features were examined. The absolute lymphocyte count in peripheral blood was lower for the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis group (mean=703/mm3 vs. 1,212/mm3, p 70%. Although ascitic fluid total leucocyte and polymorphonuclear leucocyte counts are appropriate indicators for the early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, the possibility of their false positivity should be warranted. The use of multiple tests including ascitic fluid/serum LDH and glucose ratios has better positive predictive value than a single test alone.
Reference and data construction in Boxer

Boxer is an integrated computational environment encompassing a broad range of functionality, from programming to text editing, interactive graphics and data base activity. It is currently in the process of design and implementation at the University of California, Berkeley, and is intended largely for educational computing at all levels, from early elementary school into university. This note describes features from two sets of mechanisms in Boxer: The first specifies how one can refer to computational objects in Boxer, and the second specifies how one constructs compound objects. The common thread is that both of these exemplify important tradeoffs that one must make in designing systems for unsophisticated users, for example, easing the first stages of learning at the cost of formal simplicity of the system as perceived by experts.
Drivers and trends in landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire in forests of the US Northern Rocky Mountains (1984–2010)

Resilience in fire-prone forests is strongly affected by landscape burn-severity patterns, in part by governing propagule availability around stand-replacing patches in which all or most vegetation is killed. However, little is known about drivers of landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire, or whether such patterns are changing during an era of increased wildfire activity. (a) Identify key direct/indirect drivers of landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire (e.g., size, shape of patches), (b) test for temporal trends in these patterns, and (c) anticipate thresholds beyond which landscape patterns of burn severity may change fundamentally. We applied structural equation modeling to satellite burn-severity maps of fires in the US Northern Rocky Mountains (1984–2010) to test for direct and indirect (via influence on fire size and proportion stand-replacing) effects of climate/weather, vegetation, and topography on landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire. We also tested for temporal trends in landscape patterns. Landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire were strongly controlled by fire size and proportion stand-replacing, which were, in turn, controlled by climate/weather and vegetation/topography, respectively. From 1984 to 2010, the proportion of stand-replacing fire within burn perimeters increased from 0.22 to 0.27. Trends for other landscape metrics were not significant, but may respond to further increases proportion stand-replacing fire. Fires from 1984 to 2010 exhibited tremendous heterogeneity in landscape patterns of stand-replacing fire, likely promoting resilience in burned areas. If trends continue on the current trajectory, however, fires may produce larger and simpler shaped patches of stand-replacing fire with more burned area far from seed sources.
Probabilistic approach in evaluation of backflashover in 230kV double circuit transmission line

In order to study the problems posed by lightning stroke on vastly exposed transmission lines, it is essential to study different lightning overvoltage phenomena. One of the most significant electrical transients caused by lightning is backflashover. In this paper, by applying Monte Carlo method and considering accurate models of transmission line, grounding system and physical model of breakdown in insulator gap, the backflashover is studied on a 230 kV double circuit transmission line. To apply the proposed approach, the selected case study is simulated in EMTP-RV software and the results are presented.
Surgeon Characteristics Supersede Hospital Characteristics in Mortality After Urgent Colectomy.

Background Urgent colectomy is a common procedure with a high mortality rate that is performed by a variety of surgeons and hospitals. We investigated patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics that predicted mortality after urgent colectomy.
Zero-Cost Negative-Cost (ZCNC) mobile messaging

In this paper, we present a novel application for subsidizing the cost of SMS-based messaging, especially in mobile operator networks which have started showing the ldquointentional missed callrdquo phenomenon. The existing SMS infrastructure is augmented with an advertisement capability, borrowed from the Internet model to either subsidize the cost of or even provide a credit to the SMS originating User. In addition to user-to-user messaging, this application can also find acceptance in small and medium sized enterprises, which rely on SMS-messaging to reach their consumers. We describe an overall architecture for the proposed Zero-Cost Negative-Cost (ZCNC) mobile messaging, with related discussion on itpsilas different usage scenarios.
Effective Riemannian Diffusion Model for Conformational Dynamics of Biomolecular Systems.

We present a Riemannian formalism for effective diffusion of biomolecules in collective variable spaces that provides a robust framework for conformational free energy calculation methods. Unlike their Euclidean counterparts, the Riemannian potential of mean force (PMF) and minimum free energy path (MFEP) are invariant under coordinate transformations. The presented formalism can be readily employed to modify the collective variable based enhanced sampling techniques, such as umbrella sampling (US) commonly used in biomolecular simulations, to take into account the role of intrinsic geometry of collective variable space. Although our model is mathematically equivalent to a Euclidean diffusion with a position-dependent diffusion tensor, the Riemannian formulation provides a more convenient framework for free energy calculation methods and path-finding algorithms aimed at characterizing the effective conformational dynamics of biomolecules. A simple three-dimensional toy model and a pentapeptide (met-enkeph...
Immunological mechanisms of intravesical chitosan/interleukin-12 immunotherapy against murine bladder cancer

ABSTRACTThere is a critical unmet clinical need for bladder cancer immunotherapies capable of inducing durable antitumor immunity. We have shown that four intravesical treatments with a simple co-formulation of interleukin-12 and the biopolymer chitosan not only destroy orthotopic bladder tumors, but also promote a potent long-lasting systemic immune response as evidenced through tumor-specific in vitro killing assays, complete protection from rechallenge, and abscopal antitumor responses at distant non-treated tumors. This study investigates the immunological kinetics underlying these results. We show through depletion studies that CD8+ T cells are required for initial tumor rejection, but CD4+ T cells protect against rechallenge. We also show that even a single intravesical treatment can eliminate tumors in 50% of mice with 6/9 and 7/8 mice eliminating tumors after three or four treatments respectively. We then performed immunophenotyping studies to analyze shifts in immune cell populations after each t...
CRT-800.13 Contemporary Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Experience With Third-generation Balloon-expandable Versus Self-expanding Devices

Two competing TAVR technologies are approved for commercial use in the US: the balloon-expandable Sapien 3 (S3) (Edwards, Irvine, CA) and the self-expanding Evolut R (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). A total of 257 consecutive patients treated with S3 or Evolut R were included. Baseline demographic,
'Cadillac Compliance' Breakdown

This Essay argues that the best corporate compliance programs, what are known as “Cadillac compliance” programs, are becoming increasingly criminalized. In at attempt to avoid application of the criminal law, companies have adopted compliance protocols that are motivated by and mimic that law, using the precepts of criminal legislation, enforcement, and adjudication to advance their compliance goals. This approach to compliance is inherently flawed, however—it can never be fully effective in abating corporate wrongdoing. Criminalized compliance regimes are inherently ineffective because they impose unintended behavioral consequences on corporate employees by fostering rationalizations that allow offenders to square their self-perception as “good people” with the unethical or illegal behavior they are contemplating, thereby allowing wrongdoing to go forward. By importing into the corporation many of the criminal law’s delegitimizing features, criminalized compliance regimes create space for rationalizations, facilitating the necessary precursors to the commission of white collar and corporate crime. This insight, which offers a new way of conceptualizing corporate compliance, explains the ineffectiveness of many compliance programs and also suggests how companies might go about fixing them. The Essay addresses, through real-world examples, how companies might use behavioral compliance strategies to combat rationalizations and help repair their “Cadillac compliance” programs.