cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Participation in Medical Decision Making: The Devil Is in the Details.

Extending appropriate autonomy to minors engaged in medical treatment is an important ethical mandate. Determining an appropriate role for pediatric patient participation is, indeed, a challenging ...
Evidence for an impact of melanopsin activation on unique white perception.

Current models of human color vision only consider cone inputs at photopic light levels, yet it is unclear whether the recently discovered melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) contribute to color perception. Using a lab-made five-primary photostimulator that can independently control the stimulations of rods, cones, and ipRGCs in human retina, we determined the observer’s unique white perception, an equilibrium point for signals arising from the opponent mechanisms of color vision, under different levels of melanopsin activation. We found changing melanopsin activation levels shifts the equilibrium point in the chromatic pathways. Our results suggest potential evidence for an impact of melanopsin activation on unique white perception and the existing color vision model for the periphery may need to be revised by incorporating melanopsin signaling.
Accelerating Stroke Recovery: Body Structures and Functions, Activities, Participation, and Quality of Life Outcomes From a Large Rehabilitation Trial:

Background. Task-oriented therapies have been developed to address significant upper extremity disability that persists after stroke. Yet, the extent of and approach to rehabilitation and recovery remains unsatisfactory to many. Objective. To compare a skill-directed investigational intervention with usual care treatment for body functions and structures, activities, participation, and quality of life outcomes. Methods. On average, 46 days poststroke, 361 patients were randomized to 1 of 3 outpatient therapy groups: a patient-centered Accelerated Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP), dose-equivalent usual occupational therapy (DEUCC), or usual therapy (UCC). Outcomes were taken at baseline, posttreatment, 6 months, and 1 year after randomization. Longitudinal mixed effect models compared group differences in poststroke improvement during treatment and follow-up phases. Results. Across all groups, most improvement occurred during the treatment phase, followed by change more slowly during follow-up. Compared wi...
Evolution of clinical and environmental health applications of exhaled breath research: Review of methods and instrumentation for gas-phase, condensate, and aerosols

Human breath, along with urine and blood, has long been one of the three major biological media for assessing human health and environmental exposure. In fact, the detection of odor on human breath, as described by Hippocrates in 400 BC, is considered the first analytical health assessment tool. Although less common in comparison to contemporary bio-fluids analyses, breath has become an attractive diagnostic medium as sampling is non-invasive, unlimited in timing and volume, and does not require clinical personnel. Exhaled breath, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and exhaled breath aerosol (EBA) are different types of breath matrices used to assess human health and disease state. Over the past 20 years, breath research has made many advances in assessing health state, overcoming many of its initial challenges related to sampling and analysis. The wide variety of sampling techniques and collection devices that have been developed for these media are discussed herein. The different types of sensors and mass spectrometry instruments currently available for breath analysis are evaluated as well as emerging breath research topics, such as cytokines, security and airport surveillance, cellular respiration, and canine olfaction.
Mining data from milk infrared spectroscopy to improve feed intake predictions in lactating dairy cows.

ABSTRACT Feed intake is one of the most important components of feed efficiency in dairy systems. However, it is a difficult trait to measure in commercial operations for individual cows. Milk spectrum from mid-infrared spectroscopy has been previously used to predict milk traits, and could be an alternative to predict dry matter intake (DMI). The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate if milk spectra can improve DMI predictions based only on cow variables; (2) to compare artificial neural network (ANN) and partial least squares (PLS) predictions; and (3) to evaluate if wavelength (WL) selection through Bayesian network (BN) improves prediction quality. Milk samples (n = 1,279) from 308 mid-lactation dairy cows [127 ± 27 d in milk (DIM)] were collected between 2014 and 2016. For each milk spectra time point, DMI (kg/d), body weight (BW, kg), milk yield (MY, kg/d), fat (%), protein (%), lactose (%), and actual DIM were recorded. The DMI was predicted with ANN and PLS using different combinations of explanatory variables. Such combinations, called covariate sets, were as follows: set 1 (MY, BW 0.75 , DIM, and 361 WL); set 2 [MY, BW 0.75 , DIM, and 33 WL (WL selected by BN)]; set 3 (MY, BW 0.75 , DIM, and fat, protein, and lactose concentrations); set 4 (MY, BW 0.75 , DIM, 33 WL, fat, protein, and lactose); set 5 (MY, BW 0.75 , DIM, 33 WL, and visit duration in the feed bunk); set 6 (MY, DIM, and 33 WL); set 7 (MY, BW 0.75 , and DIM); set-WL (included 361 WL); and set-BN (included just 33 selected WL). All models (i.e., each combination of covariate set and fitting approach, ANN or PLS) were validated with an external data set. The use of ANN improved the performance of models 2, 5, 6, and BN. The use of BN combined with ANN yielded the highest accuracy and precision. The addition of individual WL compared with milk components (set 2 vs. set 3) did not improve prediction quality when using PLS. However, when ANN was employed, the model prediction with the inclusion of 33 WL was improved over the model containing only milk components (set 2 vs. set 3; concordance correlation coefficient=0.80 vs. 0.72; coefficient of determination=0.67 vs. 0.53; root mean square error of prediction 2.36 vs. 2.81 kg/d). The use of ANN and the inclusion of a behavior parameter, set 5, resulted in the best predictions compared with all other models (coefficient of determination=0.70, concordance correlation coefficient=0.83, root mean square error of prediction=2.15 kg/d). The addition of milk spectra information to models containing cow variables improved the accuracy and precision of DMI predictions in lactating dairy cows when ANN was used. The use of BN to select more informative WL improved the model prediction when combined with cow variables, with further improvement when combined with ANN.
The Internship: What’s Being Done With It

The authors present the results of a survey of American psychiatric internships (categorical). It was found that over half of the programs offered experiences in specialties other than psychiatry for six months or less. A large majority of the programs offered a purely inpatient experience for the psychiatric portion of the year. The authors emphasize the role of the non-psychiatric rotations and discuss the value of rotations which are integrative of psychiatry and other medical care during the internship year. They suggest that this approach most creatively addresses the hypothetical issues which led to the reinstatement of the internship.
Searching for Meaning: Melodic Patterns, Combinations, and Embellishments.

Steve Larson Associate Professor of Music University of Oregon School of Music steve@darkwing.uoregon.edu I am interested in the search for musical patterns -not so much because I want to find particular patterns, but because I want to understand musical meaning and I believe that musical meaning is something that listeners create when they relate musical patterns to one another, and when they relate musical patterns to other sorts of patterns. I describe a theory of musical meaning that argues that experienced listeners of tonal music hear musical motion metaphorically, as purposeful action within a dynamic field of musical forces (musical gravity, magnetism, and inertia). That theory has been used to clarify issues in Schenkerian theory, to analyze music in many styles, to improve the training of musicians, to account for experimental results in melodic expectation, to explain striking regularities in published analyses of tonal music, and even to illuminate the phenomenon of "swing" in jazz. The assumptions of that theory generate a small set of patterns and pattern combinations. This small set of patterns crops up over and over again in tonal music. Recognizing these patterns and their significance requires seeing how they are embellished in particular pieces. I illustrate these patterns, their combinations and embellishments, and something about their meaning by analyzing several folk songs, including "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" and Mozart's variations on it. The ubiquity of this small set of patterns raises interesting questions about searching for musical patterns, about the role of computers in information retrieval vs their role in musical artificial intelligence, and about musical meaning. My presentation ends with a series of such questions.
Alzheimer disease: mechanistic understanding predicts novel therapies.

In the last several years, Alzheimer disease researchers have come to agree that certain biochemical changes in the hippocampus and association cortices occur many years or decades before clinical ...
Synthesis and Reactivity of Paramagnetic Nickel Polypyridyl Complexes Relevant to C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 )Coupling Reactions

A number of new transition metal catalyzed methods for the formation of C(sp2 )-C(sp3 ) bonds have recently been described. These reactions often utilize bidentate polypyridyl-ligated Ni catalysts, and paramagnetic NiI halide or aryl species are proposed in the catalytic cycles. However, there is little knowledge about complexes of this type. Here, we report the synthesis of paramagnetic bidentate polypyridyl-ligated Ni halide and aryl complexes through elementary reactions proposed in catalytic cycles for C(sp2 )-C(sp3 ) bond formation. We investigate the ability of these complexes to undergo organometallic reactions that are relevant to C(sp2 )-C(sp3 ) coupling through stoichiometric studies and also explore their catalytic activity.
Detecting GRBs with the Pierre Auger Observatory using the single particle technique

During the past ten years, gamma-ray Bursts (GRB) have been extensively studied in the keV-MeV energy range but the higher energy emission still remains mysterious. Ground based observatories have the possibility to investigate energy range around one GeV using the “single particle technique”. The aim of the present study is to investigate the capability of the Pierre Auger Observatory to detect the high energy emission of GRBs with such a technique. According to the detector response to photon showers around one GeV, and making reasonable assumptions about the high energy emission of GRBs, we show that the Pierre Auger Observatory is a competitive instrument for this technique, and that water tanks are very promising detectors for the single particle technique. We conclude that a dedicated experiment based on water Cherenkov tanks at high altitude could be a very interesting complement to satellite observations.
Generation of Entangled Tripartite States in Three Identical Cavities

The generation of entanglement between three identical coupled cavities, each containing a single three-level atom, is studied when the cavities exchange two coherent photons and are in the N =2, 4, and 6 manifolds, where N represents the maximum number of photons possible in any one cavity. The combined states of the atom and the photon in a cavity is given by a qutrit for N = 2, a five-dimensional qudit for N = 4, and a seven-dimensional qudit for N = 6. The conservation of the operator Nˆ for the interacting three-cavity system limits the total number of tripartite states to only 6, 18, and 38, rather than the usual 3³ = 27, 5³=125, and 7³ = 343 states for N =2, 4, and 6, respectively. The deterministic generation of entanglement from general initially unentangled tripartite states is studied in the limit of large hopping strength, where all the solutions are analytic and given in terms of exponential functions. Several types of resulting tripartite entanglement are analyzed in order to obtain maximally entangled states.
Distinct Stress Profiles Among Oncology Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Abstract Context Cancer and its treatment are inherently stressful and stress impacts important patient outcomes. Patients vary considerably in their response to stress. Understanding this variability requires a patient-centered multidimensional approach. Objectives The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize patient subgroups with distinct multidimensional stress profiles (stress appraisal, exposure, and adaptation) during cancer treatment. Methods Among 957 patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer, latent profile analysis was performed to identify patient subgroups using concurrent evaluations of global (Perceived Stress Scale) and cancer-specific (Impact of Events Scale–Revised) stress, lifetime stress exposure (Life Stressor Checklist–Revised), and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10). Results Three latent classes were identified: “Normative” (54.3%; intermediate global stress and resilience, lower cancer-related stress, lowest life stress); “Stressed” (39.9%; highest global and cancer-specific stress scores, lowest resilience, most life stress); and “Resilient” (5.7%; lowest global stress, cancer-specific stress comparable to Normative class, highest resilience, intermediate life stress). Characteristics that distinguished the Stressed from the Normative class included the following: younger age, female gender, lower socioeconomic status, unmarried/partnered, living alone, poorer functional status, and higher comorbidity burden. Compared to Stressed patients, Resilient patients were more likely to be partnered, to not live alone, and had a higher functional status. No demographic or clinical characteristics differentiated Normative from Resilient patients. Exposure to specific life stressors differed significantly among the classes. Conclusion A subset of patients warrants intensive psychosocial intervention to reduce stress and improve adaptation to cancer. Intervention efforts may be informed by further study of Resilient patients.
Creating LGBTQI+ programing in urban higher education: Considering the creation process of a campus resource room

While many community college campuses provide resources of some kind for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or other sexual or gender-non-binary minoriti...
Whither compartmentalization of decay in trees? A commentary on: 'Using the CODIT model to explain secondary metabolites of xylem in defence systems of temperate trees against decay fungi'.

The detailed review 'Using the CODIT model to explain secondary metabolites of xylem in defence systems of temperate trees against decay fungi' (Morris et al., 2020) breaks new ground in understanding the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SMs) that resist (1) the loss of sapwood function after wounding and (2) the spread of fungal infection. The review summarizes the current state of research and provides fingerposts for the direction of new research.
Fracture resistance design through biomimicry and topology optimization

Abstract Most biological composites including bones, teeth and nacres have superior fracture resistance properties than that of their constituents. Their complex mixing of stiff and soft constituents enables energy dissipation ahead of the crack tip and contributes to enhance the fracture performance. In this study, phase-field based modeling is used to understand the fracture resistance of bio-inspired designs. Phase-field based topology optimization is then proposed to further improve the fracture resistance of these composite structures. The fracture process from damage to multiple crack propagation and ultimately to failure is fully studied. Numerical experiments show that significant enhancement of the fracture toughness, failure strain and overall strength can be achieved over the homogeneous constitutive stiff material.
Tube-Based Model Predictive Controller for Building’s Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System

The proactive control of building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can reduce energy consumption and provides cost saving. An efficient design of a controller for a complex system such as a building, which is also prone to uncertainties and disturbances, calls for advanced control methods such as model predictive control (MPC). This article presents a tube-based MPC to minimize the net cost of energy usage by the building’s HVAC system while satisfying the comfort level of the building’s occupants. Contrary to the conventional MPC, this controller is robust against model uncertainty and exogenous disturbances affecting the building thermal load model. Compared to other robust approaches such as the min–max controller, the proposed controller is of lower computational complexity and can be used with the environment having complex models, e.g., with nonlinear dynamics. Moreover, the proposed controller shows a satisfactory performance when optimizing an economic objective, such as cost minimization. The merits of using the proposed MPC controller are demonstrated using several simulation cases.
Real-time estimation of pedestrian volume at button-activated midblock crosswalks using traffic controller event-based data

Abstract Pedestrian volume is essential for optimizing midblock pedestrian signals as well as for quantifying pedestrian exposure in safety analyses. However, previous methods of pedestrian volume collection require either time-consuming ground-truth data collection, or the purchase and maintenance of costly sensors in a large-scale application. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel method for large-scale pedestrian estimation at midblock crosswalks using button-pushing and signal timing events. The pedestrian arrival is modeled as a Poisson process, and two submethods are developed to estimate pedestrian volume at one-stage and two-stage button-activated midblock crosswalks (BAMCs). To address the issue of missing signal cycles at two-stage BAMCs, all missing cycles that are identified by using the proposed paired signal cycle identification algorithm are accounted for and added by minimizing the error between estimation results of two stages. Eight days of the ground-truth pedestrian volume is manually collected from two study midblock crosswalks to evaluate the proposed methods. On average, 235 and 230 pedestrians per day were observed to cross the one-stage BAMC and two-stage BAMC, respectively. The average mean absolute error of estimated pedestrian volume using a one-hour interval is 2.27 and 1.78 ped/hour at two study locations, respectively. The evaluation results indicate that the proposed methods are promising for estimating pedestrian volume at midblock crosswalks using event-based data. A further sensitivity analysis of changing the estimation interval shows that the one-hour interval pedestrian volume estimation is recommended as having the least error.
Income Inequality and Per Capita Income: Equilibrium of Interactions

The formal theoretical model in this study provides general equilibrium evidence that a country's ranking with respect to either of income inequality (αr), or GDP Per Capita (Gr) each are better statistics for a country's `placement' in the cross-section of countries than either of actual realizations for Gini Coefficients (α) or GDP Per Capita (G). In this respect, formal theoretical proofs establish that the distance parameter, [αr-Gr] transforms the cross-section of countries into a continuous distribution for relative country inequality, with outcome G is a smooth U-shaped function of [αr-Gr]. Relations between G and α, or between Gr and αr are unable to replicate highlighted U-shaped topology. Contrary to Kuznets curves, outlined U-topology embeds not continuous evolution of G and α, but existence of optimal realizations for G and α. This is an important distinction. The formal theoretical prediction that regulation of α can, in presence of focus on achievement of incremental, as opposed to disruptive innovations, be deployed towards improvements to a country's relative welfare is empirically validated, as is the prediction that hedonistic capitalism - capitalism that does not concern itself with adverse effects of disruptive innovations on income inequality, but that is beneficial for GDP Per Capita - induces deteriorations to a country's relative welfare. Importantly, study findings produce the formal theoretical inference and empirical validation that, in of themselves, none of socialism, communism, or entrepreneurship that merely responds to presence of demand for products or services, have capacity for generation of economic development. Totality of study findings characterize the distance parameter, [αr-Gr] to be a robust proxy for `relative country inequality', demonstrates that GDP Per Capita is not a proxy for economic development, and establishes centrality of innovation activities for generation of economic development.
Bepridil is potent against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.

Guided by a computational docking analysis, about 30 Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency (FDA/EMA)-approved small-molecule medicines were characterized on their inhibition of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro). Of these small molecules tested, six displayed a concentration that inhibits response by 50% (IC50) value below 100 μM in inhibiting Mpro, and, importantly, three, that is, pimozide, ebastine, and bepridil, are basic molecules that potentiate dual functions by both raising endosomal pH to interfere with SARS-CoV-2 entry into the human cell host and inhibiting Mpro in infected cells. A live virus-based modified microneutralization assay revealed that bepridil possesses significant anti−SARS-CoV-2 activity in both Vero E6 and A459/ACE2 cells in a dose-dependent manner with low micromolar effective concentration, 50% (EC50) values. Therefore, the current study urges serious considerations of using bepridil in COVID-19 clinical tests.
Ionothermal Synthesis of Uranyl Vanadate Nanoshell Heteropolyoxometalates.

Two uranyl vanadate heteropolyoxometalates (h-POMs) have been synthesized by ionothermal methods using the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate (EMIm-Et2PO4). The hybrid actinide-transition metal shell structures have cores of (UO2)8(V6O22) and (UO2)6(V3O12), which we designate as {U8V6} and {U6V3}, respectively. The diethyl phosphate anions of the ionic liquids in some cases terminate the core structures to form actinyl oxide clusters, and in other cases the diethyl phosphate oxyanions link these cluster cores into extended structures. Three compounds exist for the {U8V6} cluster core: {U8V6}-monomer, {U8V6}-dimer, and {U8V6}-chain. Tungsten atoms can partially substitute for vanadium in the {U6V3} cluster, which results in a chain-based structure designated as {U6V3}-W. Each of these compounds contains charge-balancing EMIm cations from the ionic liquid. These compounds were characterized crystallographically, spectroscopically, and by mass spectrometry.
Hyperparameter Selection for Bayesian Image Reconstruction by Mimicking Physical Crystallization

Although Bayesian theory has been successfully applied for count-limited medical image reconstruction in the past two decades, its wide applications in clinic has been hampered by its hyperparameter ${\beta}$ , which is traditionally determined by a trial-error style. To eliminate the cumbersome style, this work aims to present a selection method by mimicking the physical model of cooling down the temperature adaptively for an economic high-quality crystal. From the basic Bayes' law, the physical meaning of hyperparameter can be interpreted as the ratio of the data uncertainty (or variance ${\alpha}$ ) and the prior tolerance (or ${\sigma}$ ) by formulating the probability distribution functions (FDFs) of the data fidelity and prior expectation. Inspired by this idea, the prior tolerance ${\sigma}$ can be treated as the temperature of the texture patterns, and ${\beta}$ can be adjusted according to different texture pattern status by satisfying the condition of each PDF in the Bayes' Law during the iteration. In Simulated phantom study, realistic Poisson noise added to the pre-log transmission data model was used. Both phantom simulation and clinical patient data results show that the proposed method can provide comparable reconstructed image quality comparing to the conventional methods but with much less reconstruction time. It is observed that the parameter introduced to satisfy the prior's PDF is more sensitive to stop the iteration process.
Sex-, Race- and Ethnicity-Based Differences in Thromboembolic Events Among Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19.

Background Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Whether sex, race or ethnicity impacts these events is unknown. We studied the association between sex, race, and ethnicity and venous and arterial thromboembolic events among adults hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods and Results We used the American Heart Association Cardiovascular Disease COVID-19 registry. Primary exposures were sex and race and ethnicity, as defined by the registry. Primary outcomes were venous thromboembolic events and arterial thromboembolic events. We used logistic regression for risk adjustment. We studied 21 528 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 across 107 centers (54.1% men; 38.1% non-Hispanic White, 25.4% Hispanic, 25.7% non-Hispanic Black, 0.5% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, and 5.9% other race and ethnicity). The rate of venous thromboembolic events was 3.7% and was more common in men (4.2%) than women (3.2%; P<0.001), and in non-Hispanic Black patients (4.9%) than other races and ethnicities (range, 1.3%-3.8%; P<0.001). The rate of arterial thromboembolic events was 3.9% and was more common in men (4.3%) than women (3.5%; P=0.002), and in non-Hispanic Black patients (5.0%) than other races and ethnicities (range, 2.3%-4.7%; P<0.001). Compared with men, women were less likely to experience venous thromboembolic events (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% CI, 0.61-0.83) and arterial thromboembolic events (adjusted OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.89). Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, non-Hispanic Black patients had the highest likelihood of venous thromboembolic events (adjusted OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04-1.54) and arterial thromboembolic events (adjusted OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.11-1.65). Conclusions Men and non-Hispanic Black adults hospitalized with COVID-19 are more likely to have venous and arterial thromboembolic events. These subgroups may represent at-risk patients more susceptible to thromboembolic COVID-19 complications.
The HEXACO model of personality and video game preferences

Abstract Personality dimensions are associated with preferences for various recreational activities. The present study examined whether personality dimensions differed in their associations with preferences for particular aspects of gaming experiences. We examined the unique associations that personality dimensions had with gaming preferences reported by 359 community members who were active gamers. The basic personality dimensions captured by the HEXACO model of personality were found to be associated with gaming preferences. For example, extraversion was found to have a moderate association with the socializer gaming preference (i.e., enjoyed interacting with others while playing) and a weak association with the daredevil gaming preference (i.e., enjoyed the thrill of taking risks in games). Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for understanding the connection between personality and preferences for gaming experiences.
Salt Effects on Protein-DNA Interactions: The λcI Repressor and EcoRI Endonuclease

In this paper, finite-difference solutions to the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann (NLPB) equation are used to calculate the salt dependent contribution to the electrostatic DNA binding free energy for both the λcI repressor and the EcoRI endonuclease. For the protein-DNA systems studied, the NLPB method describes nonspecific univalent salt dependent effects on the binding free energy which are in excellent agreement with experimental results. In these systems, the contribution of the ion atmosphere to the binding free energy substantially destabilizes the protein-DNA complexes. The magnitude of this effect involves a macromolecular structure dependent redistribution of both cations and anions around the protein and the DNA which is dominated by long range electrostatic interactions. We find that the free energy associated with global ion redistribution upon binding is more important than changes associated with local protein-DNA interactions (ion-pairs) in determining salt effects. The NLPB model reveals how long range salt effects can play a significant role in the relative stability of protein-DNA complexes with different structures.
The Isaacs wave-energy pump: Field tests off the coast of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii: November 1976 – March 1977

Abstract Field tests conducted on a wave-power pump showed that this simple design conceived by Professor John D. Isaacs is suitable for wave-energy extraction around the Hawaiian Islands. In the small model tested, over 200 W of mechanical power were produced. Larger models could extract several orders of magnitude more power. Further research needs to be done with prototype models. The transmission of the power to the shore still needs to be examined. A by-product of the operation of the pump is nutrient rich water pumped from the bottom of the pipe. In our test, the water was pumped from 300 ft. It is feasible with a similar design that the water can be pumped from 1000 ft where the water is richer in nutrients. This water could then be used to stimulate the growth of marine plants.
Hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism complicating oncogenic osteomalacia. Effect of successful tumor resection on mineral homeostasis.

Abstract Described herein is a case of oncogenic osteomalacia that ran a course of at least 16 years before curative resection of a mixed mesenchymal tumor. Hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism developed in the patient, and review of the literature indicated that this occurs in about 10 percent of reported cases. Changes in serum parathyroid hormone levels with and without phosphate supplement therapy and before and after tumor resection suggested that both the high intake of phosphate and the effect of the neoplasm on vitamin D bioactivation engendered the parathyroid overactivity. Despite marked hyperparathyroidism, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were subnormal preoperatively but showed a sevenfold increase within 48 hours of tumor resection. Thereafter, a gradual increase in the maximal tubular reabsorption of phosphate occurred during several months. Biopsy of the iliac crest confirmed that tumor removal was followed by resolution of osteomalacia, but there was no accompanying increase in vertebral mineral density as assessed by quantitative computed tomography or in total-body bone mineral as measured with dual-photon absorptiometry. The findings presented are consistent with secretion by the tumor of a factor with a short half-life that is potent enough to inhibit renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase despite hyperparathyroidism. The resulting subnormal circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels may have secondarily contributed to decreased renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate.
A Margin of Appreciation for Muslims? Viewing the Defamation of Religions Debate Through Otto-Preminger-Institut v. Austria

Critics of the global standard outlawing defamation of religions often view the proposal as an effort by radical Muslims to deprive the liberal West of long-held liberties. What if however, the supporters of the proposal are surprisingly moderate in what they ask for? What if the liberal West itself has a history of banning blasphemy? To explore these questions, this essay looks at the defamation of religions debate from the vantage point of Otto-Preminger-Institut v. Austria (1994), in which the European Court for Human Rights upheld an Austrian prosecution of a film potentially offensive to Catholics. The Otto-Preminger case unsettles the critics’ arguments in two ways. First, the majority suggests one could ban some blasphemy without stifling religions debate. Second, the dissent, while opposing the prosecution, would have allowed Austria to ban violent and abusive attacks on religious groups. This suggests a compromise where defamation of religions proposal is read as calling for a ban on the incitement of religious hatred. Finally, the Otto-Preminger case shows how to conduct a civil discussion about if and when to ban religiously offensive speech. There is a lesson for defamation of religion critics here as well.
CD24 on the Resident Cells of the Central Nervous System Enhances Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

CD24 is a cell surface glycoprotein that is expressed on both immune cells and cells of the CNS. We have previously shown that CD24 is required for the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an experimental model for the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). The development of EAE requires CD24 expression on both T cells and non-T host cells in the CNS. To understand the role of CD24 on the resident cells in the CNS during EAE development, we created CD24 bone marrow chimeras and transgenic mice in which CD24 expression was under the control of a glial fibrillary acidic protein promotor (AstroCD24TG mice). We showed that mice lacking CD24 expression on the CNS resident cells developed a mild form of EAE; in contrast, mice with overexpression of CD24 in the CNS developed severe EAE. Compared with nontransgenic mice, the CNS of AstroCD24TG mice had higher expression of cytokine genes such as IL-17 and demyelination-associated marker P8; the CNS of AstroCD24TG mice accumulated higher numbers of Th17 and total CD4+ T cells, whereas CD4+ T cells underwent more proliferation during EAE development. Expression of CD24 in CD24-deficient astrocytes also enhanced their costimulatory activity to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific, TCR-transgenic 2D2 T cells. Thus, CD24 on the resident cells in the CNS enhances EAE development via costimulation of encephalitogenic T cells. Because CD24 is increased drastically on resident cells in the CNS during EAE, our data have important implications for CD24-targeted therapy of MS.
Recent Results from Ultraviolet and Optical Spectropolarimetry of Hot Stars

The first comprehensive linear polarization data on hot stars covering the spectral range from 1500 to 7600A are presented. These results are based on recent observations made with the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE), combined with ground-based observations from the Pine Bluff Observatory. Implications of the data for models of the circumstellar envelopes of hot stars are discussed, with particular emphasis on the surprising results found for the rapidly rotating Be stars. In particular, WUPPE discovered that the continuum polarization in Be stars decreases into the ultraviolet, which was not predicted by models prior to the observations. Time variability in the optical data is also discussed. Possible interpretations of these results are examined in the light of recent new models for Be star disks.
Cervical Disc Replacement vs Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an option for young patients with degenerative disc disease resulting in radiculopathy or myelopathy. This new surgical technique has been compared with the gold standard of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with similar excellent outcomes in neurologic function and resolution of pain and other radicular symptoms. CDA is attractive for the young patient because it is a motion-sparing implant, and therefore it is thought to have a decreased risk of adjacent level disease. This article reviews the literature of CDA for clinical outcomes, rates of adjacent level disease, and complications associated with the procedure.
GLYCATED SERUM ALBUMIN INDUCES CHEMOKINE GENE EXPRESSION IN HUMAN RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL CELLS

Chronic hyperglycemia is thought to be important in the development of diabetic neovascularization but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a leukocyte chemokine and activating agent with angiogenic properties that is present in diabetic vitreous and may play a role in diabetic vasculopathy. We studied IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) production by human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells exposed to glycated human serum albumin (GHSA). Enzyme-linked immunoassay GHSA (500 micrograms/mL)-treated hRPE cells secreted levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 detectable within 4 h and reached 26.0 +/- 1.3 and 42.2 0.4 ng/10(6) cells/mL after 24 h, respectively. Induction of IL-8 and MCP-1 by GHSA at concentrations ranging from 62.5 to 3,000 micrograms/mL exhibited dose-dependent kinetics. The GHSA-induced chemokine secretion by hRPE was almost completely inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, suggesting that de novo mRNA and protein synthesis are necessary for the GHSA-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production. Northern blot analysis of GHSA-induced hRPE IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA expression corresponded to the time- and dose-dependent increases measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High concentrations of glucose (20 mM; 360 mg/dl) increased GHSA-induced hRPE IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion, whereas added insulin (0.5 ng/mL) inhibited IL-8 but not MCP-1 protein secretion and mRNA expression. GHSA also induced hRPE to secrete GRO-alpha, RANTES, and NAP-2 chemokines. GHSA induction of hRPE chemokines further suggests a role for the hRPE in leukocyte infiltration, vascular injury, and neovascularization.
Anger and Hostility as Primary Externalizing Features of Depression in College Men

Some have suggested that Major Depressive Disorder diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) may not capture the full range of depressive symptoms of some men who adhere to hegemonic masculine gender role norms. The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of several proposed externalizing variables to predict masculine depression in a sample of men (n = 169). A stepwise multiple regression process was used, in which three models were analyzed. The analysis indicated that hostility and anger were the only variables predictive of masculine depressive symptoms. Additional implications for clinical assessment, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are addressed.
Olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma—variables predictive of tumor control and recurrence

This report surveys the world literature concerning prognostic variables for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma, an uncommon tumor arising from the olfactory epithelium. Specific sites of local and regional tumor extension, recurrence of disease after treatment, distant metastasis, and patient age were all found to be related to patient prognosis. There is a higher cure rate for patients treated after 1966, indicating an improvement in treatment methods. Also, the results indicate that in more recent years patients are being diagnosed and treated with less advanced disease. A statistical procedure, discriminant analysis, was employed, which permits the oncologist to predict patient outcome accurately. The discriminant function equation was 87% correct in identifying patients with tumor control (for a minimum period of 36 months) or recurrence and was 84% correct in classifying patients free of disease for at least 60 months or with recurrence. The statistical procedures employed in this report can be extended to other tumors and survival criteria.
Stopped hearts, amputated toes and NASA: contemporary legends among healthy volunteers in US phase I clinical trials

The first stage of testing new pharmaceuticals in humans is referred to as a phase I clinical trial. The purpose of these studies is to test the safety of the drugs and to establish appropriate doses that can later be given to patients. Most of these studies are conducted under controlled, in-patient conditions using healthy volunteers who are paid for their participation. To explore healthy volunteers’ experiences in clinical trials, an ethnographic study was conducted at six in-patient phase I clinics in the USA. In addition to the observation of clinic activities (from informed consent procedures to dosing to blood draws), 268 semi-structured interviews were conducted, 33 with clinic staff and 235 with healthy volunteers. Drawing on this dataset, this article explores healthy volunteers’ exchange of contemporary legends about phase I clinical trials. In addition to potentially scaring the listener and communicating distrust in the medical community, these incredible stories help participants cope with perceived stigma and establish a gradient of risk of trial participation, creating potential boundaries to their participation in medical research. The article argues that contemporary legends play a productive role in society, shaping how people view themselves and others and influencing their decisions about risky activities.
Zinc in the central nervous system: From molecules to behavior

The trace metal zinc is a biofactor that plays essential roles in the central nervous system across the lifespan from early neonatal brain development through the maintenance of brain function in adults. At the molecular level, zinc regulates gene expression through transcription factor activity and is responsible for the activity of dozens of key enzymes in neuronal metabolism. At the cellular level, zinc is a modulator of synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity in both development and adulthood. Given these key roles, it is not surprising that alterations in brain zinc status have been implicated in a wide array of neurological disorders including impaired brain development, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and mood disorders including depression. Zinc has also been implicated in neuronal damage associated with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and seizure. Understanding the mechanisms that control brain zinc homeostasis is thus critical to the development of preventive and treatment strategies for these and other neurological disorders.
A new approach to catastrophic injury: spinal cord injury patients

Catastrophic injuries and illnesses create great financial strains on patients who require lifetime care. Families, health care providers and insurers recognise that individual patient care needs require a closer look at the prudent allocation of health care benefit dollars. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has initiated an approach to this problem called ‘case management’. Two ventilator dependent quadriplegics were discharged home utilising the case management concept. This system provides many advantages for patients. However, the health care team needs to be aware of the drawbacks of the system.
The Trapping of Fluorescent Light Produced within Objects of High Geometrical Symmetry

In a fluorescent body (e.g., scintillation counter crystal for detecting nuclear radiation) some of the fluorescent light may be trapped within the body because it is totally internally reflected an indefinitely large number of times. This phenomenon occurs only in bodies whose shapes have high symmetry. Equations are derived for the trapping fractions of rectangular parallelepipeds, plane parallel sheets, and spheres. Illustrative numerical values are given for various values of refractive index. For rectangular parallelepipeds of index 1.225, 1.500, and 2.000, the trapping fractions are 0.0, 0.236, and 0.598 respectively. For a sphere of index 1.50, the trapping fraction is 0.414 or 0.264, depending on whether the index with respect to the exciting radiation is taken as 1.00 or 1.50, these alternatives corresponding essentially to excitation by gamma-radiation or by light, respectively.
The D0 Level 2 Trigger

The D0 Level 2 trigger (L2), a subsystem of the three-stage D0 trigger, reduces event rates from 10 KHz to 1 KHz. The system is organized as a global processor and preprocessors for the calorimeter, muon, tracker, and preshower subsystems. Preprocessors digest information from a single detector system and produce a list of the objects. The global processor receives the object lists, matches across detectors, and applies selection criteria to the objects. The system can buffer 16 events. The L2 design has been guided by extensive queuing simulations. The system is presently being commissioned, with all components available as either pre-production or production boards.
On context-free languages and push-down automata

This note describes a special type of one-way, one-tape automata in the sense of Rabin and Scott that idealizes some of the elementary formal features used in the so-called “push-down store” programming techniques. It is verified that the sets of words accepted by these automata form a proper subset of the family of the unambiguous context-free languages of Chomsky's and that this property admits a weak converse.
Theriogenology Question of the Month.

History A 2-year-old sexually intact male Vietnamese potbellied pig that weighed 113 kg (249 lb) was admitted and examined to determine the cause of inappetance, irritability, and an enlargement in the inguinal region. The clinical signs had become more evident and the pig’s condition had gradually worsened during the preceding week. No treatment had been initiated prior to our examination. The owners reported that the boar would attempt to mate with a piece of polyvinyl chloride pipe. Physical examination revealed massive distention (40 X 25 cm [15.7 X 9.8 inches]) in the inguinal region and caudoventral portion of the abdomen. Palpation of the enlargement revealed it was firm and excessively warm but could be compressed, which suggested it was filled with fluid. The prepuce was edematous. There was evi dence of irritation of the skin over the right inguinal region. Question