cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
921-70 Right and Left Pulmonary Artery Size and Flow Disturbances After Patent Ductus Arteriosus Coil Occlusion: A Serial Echocardiographic Study

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Gianturco coils may potentially impinge on adjacent vascular structures. The purpose of this study was to assess flow disturbances and size of the left pulmonary artery (LPA). right pulmonary artery (RPA), and descending aorta (DAo) following PDA coil occlusion. Serial echocardiographic follow-up was available in 25 children (age range 0.4–13 years, mean-4.4 years: weight range 3.437 kg. mean-16.5 kg). who underwent successful coil implantation. Complete two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography (EC) examination was performed before, immediately after (19/25). and at g 6 months (range 8–21 months) in 12/25. The main pulmonary artery (MPA), LPA and RPA diameters were measured by electronic calipers and indexed to patient weight. LPA index is defined as LPA diameter (cm) divided by weight (kg) and RPA index is calculated by the same method. LPA index was then compared to RPA index for each follow-up EC examination. Doppler interrogation was performed across MPA. LPA, RPA and DAo during each study. The coil could be visualized near the origin of the LPA in 9/12 (75%) and in the DAo in 5/12 (42%). A significant increase in LPA flow velocity was noted in 4/12 (33%). pre coil velocity 0.9–1.1 m/sec, and post coil velocity 1.5–2.1 m/sec. p l 0.05. The velocity increase persisted in 3/4 patients and resolved in 1/4 at 12 months follow-up. There was a significant velocity increase in the DAo in 1/12 (8%), (2.2 m/sec), that resolved at 14 months follow-up. There was no significant increase in flow velocity in the RPA or MPA. Four of 12 patients (33%) had decreased relative size of the LPA (mean LPA index pre 0.073 and post 0.056) compared to the RPA size (RPA index mean pre 0.076 and post 0.070) at follow-up (12–15 months). One patient had mild coil related stenosis of the origin of the LPA (increase in velocity 0.9 m/sec pre to 2.1 m/sec post coil): this was persistent at 12 month follow-up. Conclusions 1. LPA relative size may decrease following PDA coil occlusion, hence serial follow-up echocardiography is recommended to assess long term LPA growth. 2. Minor flow disturbances may be seen in the LPA and DAo post PDA coil occlusion.
Identification of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament extending through the dura on preoperative computed tomographic examinations of the cervical spine.

Study design To establish the diagnosis of dural penetration on preoperative computed tomographic studies of the cervical spine in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Objectives To define before surgery the pathognomonic computed tomographic findings of OPLL extending to and through the dura. Summary of background data On preoperative computed tomographic studies, Hida et al have described the single-layer sign characterized by a solid mass of hyperdense OPLL and the double-layer sign defined by two (anterior and posterior) ossified rims surrounding a central nonossified but hypertrophied posterior longitudinal ligament. Only 1 of the 9 patients exhibiting the single-layer sign but 10 of 12 patients showing the double-layer sign had no separate dural plane identified at surgery. Methods Only 2 of 54 patients undergoing multilevel cervical circumferential OPLL procedures had absent dura at surgery. Computed tomographic examinations for all patients were retrospectively reviewed to determine unique signs of dural penetration. Results Dura was absent in 1 of 12 patients who had the single-layer CT sign that was additionally characterized by an irregular C angular configuration. Only 1 of 4 patients exhibiting the double-layer computed tomographic sign had absent dura at surgery. The remaining 38 patients had the smooth-layer sign, characterized by more regular margins of classic (22 patients) or early OPLL (16 patients). Conclusions The double-layer computed tomographic sign is more pathognomonic for dural penetration than the single-layer sign. The smooth-layer sign, indicating a clean dural plane, is more typical in North American patients.
XPS studies of the chemical state of Ba on the surface of impregnated tungsten dispenser cathodes

Abstract Several impregnated tungsten dispenser cathodes of different manufacture and type have been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The purpose of this study was to determine what changes occur in the chemical states of the elements present on cathode surfaces both before and after activation. These results are compared with those reported in the literature by other workers, as well as with standards prepared in situ for the case of barium and barium oxide. The effects of air exposure and reactivation on the 500 nm osmium-ruthenium coating were also examined for M-type cathodes.
Export of Plasmodium Proteins via a Novel Secretory Pathway

The intraerythrocytic location of the malaria parasite necessitates modification of the host cell. These alterations are mediated either directly or indirectly by parasite proteins exported to specific compartments within the host cell. However, little is known about how the parasite specifically targets proteins to locations beyond its plasma membrane. Mark Wiser, Norbert Lanners and Richard Bafford here propose an alternative secretory pathway for the export of parasite proteins into the host erythrocyte. The first step of this pathway is probably an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-like organelle that is distinct from the normal ER. Possible mechanisms of protein trafficking in the infected erythrocyte are also discussed. The proposed ER-like organelle and alternative secretory pathway raise many questions about the cell biology of protein export and trafficking in Plasmodium.
From pig bladders and cracked jars to polysulfones: An historical perspective on membrane transport

Abstract This not-so-scholarly review traces some of the early history of membrane transport starting with a pig's bladder in 1748 for liquids, and a cracked jar in 1823 for gases. It is remarkable how much of the early work was either misinterpreted or ignored, and how long it has taken to develop a coherent description.
Geology and utilization of underground space in metropolitan Kansas City area, USA

Kansas City is the international leader in the commercial development of mined-out areas for warehousing, manufacturing, offices, business, and service-related activities. Over 3000 people work underground at about two dozen sites with a combined floor space of almost 2 sq km. Most of the space was created after mining a 6-m-thick bed of limestone that underlies the city and its environs. The most common usage of the space is for storage. The mined-out area can be converted to warehouse storage at a fraction of the cost of a comparable surface facility.
Molecular interactions between human B-cell progenitors and the bone marrow microenvironment.

Abstract Apoptosis of normal and leukemic immature B-cells in vitro is suppressed when either cell type is grown in direct contact with a feeder layer of bone marrow-derived stromal cells, including fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial cells, and adipocytes. In this study, our objective was to identify a stromal cell type which is essential for lymphoblast survival and to characterize the molecules involved in lymphoblast adhesion to these cells. In experiments with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells ( n = 28) and purified CD19 + cells from normal bone marrow ( n = 6) we found that homogeneous populations of bone marrow fibroblasts could sustain survival of normal and leukemic immature B-cells as efficiently as composite bone marrow stromal layers. Electron microscopic studies showed that leukemic lymphoblasts associate with fibroblasts and with the extracellular matrix (ECM) primarily via their specialized cell surface structures. Immunogold labeling/electron microscopy analysis revealed that the areas of contact between lymphoblasts and fibroblasts contained β1 integrins (VLA-4 and VLA-5), fibronectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), and a cartilage-link protein, CD44. Double immunogold labeling studies disclosed a direct in situ relationship between fibronectin and VLA-4, VLA-5, and CD44. We hypothesize that these molecular interactions either bring lymphoblasts into close physical proximity with other fibroblast-bound or ECM-bound survival factors or provide survival signals themselves.
Both conserved and non-conserved regions of Spo11 are essential for meiotic recombination initiation in yeast

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the initiators of most meiotic recombination events. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least ten genes are necessary for meiotic DSB formation. However, the molecular roles of these proteins are not clearly understood. The meiosis-specific Spo11 protein, which shows sequence similarity with a subunit of an archaeal topoisomerase, is believed to catalyze the meiotic DSB formation. Spo11 is also required for induction of meiotic DSBs at long inverted repeats and at large trinucleotide repeat tracts. Here we report the isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive spo11-mutant alleles to better understand how Spo11 functions, and how meiotic DSBs are generated at various recombination hotspots. Analysis of mutation sites of isolated spo11-mutant alleles indicated that both N-terminal and C-terminal non-conserved residues of Spo11 are essential for the protein's function, possibly for interaction with other meiotic DSB enzymes. Several of the mutation sites within the conserved region are predicted to lie on the surface of the protein, suggesting that this region is required for activation of the meiotic initiation complex via protein-protein interaction. In addition to the conditional mutants, we isolated partially recombination-defective mutants; analysis of one of these mutants indicated that Ski8, as observed previously, interacts with Spo11 via the latter's C-terminal residues.
Reinvestigation of the jutz synthesis of benzo [e] pyrene and benzo [a] pyrene derivatives from benzanthrene

Abstract Base-catalyzed reactions of benzanthrene with “vinamidinium salts” ( 2a-c ) followed by thermal electrocyclic ring closure are regiospecific affording only benzo [e] pyrene derivatives, contrary to previous claims.
Mechanical limits to maximum weapon size in a giant rhinoceros beetle

The horns of giant rhinoceros beetles are a classic example of the elaborate morphologies that can result from sexual selection. Theory predicts that sexual traits will evolve to be increasingly exaggerated until survival costs balance the reproductive benefits of further trait elaboration. In Trypoxylus dichotomus , long horns confer a competitive advantage to males, yet previous studies have found that they do not incur survival costs. It is therefore unlikely that horn size is limited by the theoretical cost–benefit equilibrium. However, males sometimes fight vigorously enough to break their horns, so mechanical limits may set an upper bound on horn size. Here, I tested this mechanical limit hypothesis by measuring safety factors across the full range of horn sizes. Safety factors were calculated as the ratio between the force required to break a horn and the maximum force exerted on a horn during a typical fight. I found that safety factors decrease with increasing horn length, indicating that the risk of breakage is indeed highest for the longest horns. Structural failure of oversized horns may therefore oppose the continued exaggeration of horn length driven by male–male competition and set a mechanical limit on the maximum size of rhinoceros beetle horns.
Job Evaluation and Gender: The Case of University Faculty

This study examined the effects of students’ and professors’ sex on student evaluations of professors’ teaching effectiveness. Ratings of over four hundred faculty made by over nine thousand students were analyzed. After controlling for a large number of variables, the main results showed that (a) male faculty were given significantly higher evaluations on global teacher effectiveness and academic competence than female faculty; (b) when controlling for extraneous variables, female faculty were not found to be rated as more sensitive to student needs than male faculty; and (c) when making overall, global judgments of faculty performance, students seem to place more weight on academic competence for male faculty than for female faculty. Evaluations of employees’ performance are critical to employees’ success within work organizations. Favorable evaluations can be viewed as a limited resource that are essential for the attainment of other resources. Performance evaluations are used to determine decisions about terminations, promotions, and salary increases. If there are gender differences in performance evaluations, gender inequality in the labor force will persist despite other efforts to diminish discrimination such as affirmative action in hiring. Changes in the structure of the labor market, and in particular, an increase in the number of women in occupations previously dominated by men, makes it important to determine whether there are systematic differences in the evaluations made of men and women who perform the same job. A number of studies have examined whether the comparable achievements of women are evaluated less favorably than those of men. The results appear to be mixed. An early and well-known investigation of this
Downlink multi-user interference alignment in compound MIMO-X channels

In this paper, we elaborated on a new interference alignment technique for downlink multi-user system in a MIMO-X channel with multiple antennas. We considered two transmitters, each equipped with M antennas, and L users, each equipped with K antennas. Here, we consider a MIMO-X scenario that some users are receiving transmissions from both transmitters. The proposed approach is focused on rank-1 transmission to each user while each transmitter only needs to know the CSI for its serving users and each user only needs to know its corresponding channels to the transmitters.
Biochemical skeletal muscle and hematological profiles of moderate and severely iron deficient and anemic adult rats.

The time course of the effects of moderate and severe iron deficiency anemia on tissue biochemistry of adult male rats was studied. Nine groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were killed; eight of which had approximately 8 g hemoglobin (Hb)/dl (moderately anemic) for 3 to 360 days and one group which had approximately 4 g Hb/dl (severely anemic) for 30 days. Plasma iron was depressed in the mod erately and severely anemic groups at all times relative to nonanemic control rats. Moderately anemic rats at 360 days had a low mean corpuscu lar Hb and mean corpuscular volume and severely anemic rats at 210 days had a low mean corpuscular Hb, and elevated mean corpuscular Hb concen tration. Cytochrome oxidase activity of the white vastus lateralis, red vastus lateralis and soleus muscles were not different between the moderately anemic groups and their respective control groups at any time, but was significantly lower after 30 days of severe iron deficiency anemia. The myoglobin content and phosphofructokinase activity of these muscles showed no significant group differences with moderate or severe iron de ficiency. It is concluded that: 1) moderate iron deficiency anemia imposed no stimulus for alterations of the oxidative or glycolytic capacity of skeletal muscle, whereas severe iron deficiency anemia induced rapid select changes in a mitochondrial component of skeletal muscle, 2) the blood profiles in conjunction with the muscle biochemistry data in the moderately anemic group suggest a hypochromic, microcytic, "manifest iron deficiency" anemia, while those of the severely anemic group suggest a hypochromic, normo- cytic, "severe iron deficiency" anemia. J. Nutr. 108: 1306-1314, 1978.
Membrane localization of small proteins in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli synthesize over 60 poorly understood small proteins of less than 50 amino acids. A striking feature of these proteins is that 65% contain a predicted α-helical transmembrane (TM) domain. This prompted us to examine the localization, topology, and membrane insertion of the small proteins. Biochemical fractionation showed that, consistent with the predicted TM helix, the small proteins generally are most abundant in the inner membrane fraction. Examples of both Nin-Cout and Nout-Cin orientations were found in assays of topology-reporter fusions to representative small TM proteins. Interestingly, however, three of nine tested proteins display dual topology. Positive residues close to the transmembrane domains are conserved, and mutational analysis of one small protein, YohP, showed that the positive inside rule applies for single transmembrane domain proteins as has been observed for larger proteins. Finally, fractionation analysis of small protein localization in strains depleted of the Sec or YidC membrane insertion pathways uncovered differential requirements. Some small proteins appear to be affected by both Sec and YidC depletion, others showed more dependence on one or the other insertion pathway, whereas one protein was not affected by depletion of either Sec or YidC. Thus, despite their diminutive size, small proteins display considerable diversity in topology, biochemical features, and insertion pathways.
Monte Carlo simulation of radiation effects in microelectronics

In this paper, we describe a Monte Carlo method for computing the frequency and characteristics of single event effects in microelectronic devices. The method combines detailed physical modeling of individual radiation events, device simulations to estimate charge collection, and circuit simulations to determine the system-level effects of collected charge. A mathematical analysis of the Monte Carlo method is given, and with appropriate assumptions is shown to reduce to the rectangular parallelepiped (RPP) rate prediction method. A computer implementation of the method is described and results of a sample calculation are presented.
Using a natural disaster to understand the educational and technical assistance needs of small-scale forest landowners

Natural disasters occur in all forests, and may provide an opportunity for forestry extension educators and natural resource professionals to reach landowners with education and technical assistance. The 1998 ice storm that hit northern New York State, USA in January 1998, was used to assess the educational and technical assistance needs of forest owners. The degree of commonality among private forest landowners and maple syrup producers in their preferred delivery methods and messengers for educational materials was explored as a result of this natural disaster. Most respondents surveyed indicated that newsletters or special mailings were the best way to reach them. However, some evidence was found that small-scale forest landowners find personal contacts more useful than written materials when considering adopting a new practice. Evidence exists that some people likely sought information for the first time as a result of the storm and many think about the possibility of future ice storms when making management decisions. Responding effectively to a teachable moment created by a natural disaster requires the ability to disperse quickly relevant educational materials through a knowledgeable and trusted human network and into the hands of affected individuals before they begin making resource management decisions.
The Methods of Comparative Effectiveness Research

This review describes methods used in comparative effectiveness research (CER). The aim of CER is to improve decisions that affect medical care at the levels of both policy and the individual. The key elements of CER are (a) head-to-head comparisons of active treatments, (b) study populations typical of day-to-day clinical practice, and (c) a focus on evidence to inform care tailored to the characteristics of individual patients. These requirements will stress the principal methods of CER: observational research, randomized trials, and decision analysis. Observational studies are especially vulnerable because they use data that directly reflect the decisions made in usual practice. CER will challenge researchers and policy makers to think deeply about how to extract more actionable information from the vast enterprise of the daily practice of medicine. Fortunately, the methods are largely applicable to research in the public health system, which should therefore benefit from the intense interest in CER.
Increased visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio is associated with decreased overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving anti-angiogenic therapy

Abstract Background Body fat distribution is an emerging prognostic indicator in patients treated with anti-angiogenic (AA) therapy. We sought to evaluate the association of visceral and subcutaneous fat with progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with AA therapy. Methods Stage IV melanoma patients received bevacizumab ± interferon-alpha. Total abdominal fat, visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were measured at L3-L4 on CT images (cm 2 ). PFS and OS were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of fat and clinical variables with PFS and OS. Prediction accuracy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve with area under the curve (AUC). Results Forty-two patients were evaluated. Median VFA/SFA and body mass index (BMI) were used to group patients into high and low cohorts. PFS and OS were significantly decreased in patients with high VFA/SFA versus low (PFS, p=0.009; OS, p = 0.007), but not for BMI (PFS, p=0.774; OS, p=0.881). VFA/SFA, LDH and liver metastasis (LM) were predictors of PFS and OS on multivariate analysis. A prognostic score combining VFA/SFA, LDH, and presence or absence of LM had a higher accuracy for predicting PFS at 3 months (AUC 0.759) and OS at 24 months (AUC 0.846) than LDH and LM alone (PFS, AUC 0.705; OS, AUC 0.786). Conclusion Increased VFA/SFA is associated with decreased PFS and OS in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with AA therapy, indicating body fat distribution is an important prognostic factor.
Vertical diffusivities of active and passive tracers

The climate models that include a carbon-cycle need the vertical diffusivity of a passive tracer. Since an expression for the latter is not available, it has been common practice to identify it with that of salt. The identification is questionable since T, S are active, not passive tracers. We present the first derivation of the diffusivity of a passive tracer in terms of Ri (Richardson number) and Rq (density ratio, ratio of salinity over temperature z-gradients). The following results have emerged: (a) The passive tracer diffusivity is an algebraic function of Ri, Rq. (b) In doubly stable regimes (DS, partial derivative of T with respect to z > 0, partial derivative of S with respect to z 0. (c) In DC regimes (diffusive convection, partial derivative of T with respect to z 1), the passive scalar diffusivity is larger than that of salt. At Ri = O(1), it can be more than twice as large. (d) In SF regimes (salt fingers, partial derivative of T with respect to z > 0, partial derivative of S with respect to z > 0, Rq < 1), the passive scalar diffusivity is smaller than that of salt. At Ri = O(1), it can be less than half of it. (e) The passive tracer diffusivity predicted at the location of NATRE (North Atlantic Tracer Release Experiment) is discussed. (f) Perhaps the most relevant conclusion is that the common identification of the tracer diffusivity with that of salt is valid only in DS regimes. In the Southern Ocean, where there is the largest CO2 absorption, the dominant regime is diffusive convection discussed in (c) above.
Emerging translational bioinformatics: Knowledge-guided biomarker identification for cancer diagnostics

Advances in high-throughput genomic and proteomic technology have led to a growing interest in cancer biomarkers. These biomarkers can potentially improve the accuracy of cancer subtype prediction and subsequently, the success of therapy. In this paper, we describe emerging technology for enabling translational bioinformatics by improving biomarker identification. Specifically, we present an application that uses prior knowledge to identify the most biologically relevant gene ranking algorithm. Identification of statistically and biologically relevant biomarkers from high-throughput data can be unreliable due to the nature of the data — e.g., high technical variability, small sample size, and high dimension size. Furthermore, due to the lack of available training samples, data-driven machine learning methods are often insufficient without the support of knowledge-based algorithms. As a case study, we apply these knowledge-driven methods to renal cancer data and identify genes that are potential biomarkers for cancer subtype classification.
Existence of Pseudo Almost Automorphic Solutions for the Heat Equation with -Pseudo Almost Automorphic Coefficients

We obtain the existence of pseudo almost automorphic solutions to the -dimensional heat equation with -pseudo almost automorphic coefficients.
Factors affecting the stability of chitosan/tripolyphosphate micro- and nanogels: resolving the opposing findings

Micro- and nanogels prepared by ionically crosslinking chitosan with tripolyphosphate (TPP) attract keen interest as potential drug carriers. To achieve their optimal performance, it is essential to control their stability to aggregation and dissolution. Yet, literature on this subject (especially at physiological ionic strength and pH) remains filled with opposing reports. Recently, one of us hypothesized that these conflicting findings might stem from: (1) variations in the chitosan molecular structure; (2) the dissimilar particle concentrations used by the various groups; and (3) occasional overreliance on dynamic light scattering (DLS) as the sole analytical tool. To explore this hypothesis, here we use isothermal titration calorimetry, light scattering and UV-vis spectroscopy to analyze the effects of chitosan degree of deacetylation (DD) and particle concentration on chitosan/TPP particle stability. Their dissolution stability increases with the chitosan DD (due to the stronger chitosan/TPP binding) and when the particles are used at higher concentrations, and evidently depends on the chitosan molecular weight. Conversely, their aggregation stability decreases with the DD, because the chitosan is more prone to TPP bridging and becomes more lyophobic at near-neutral (physiological) pH. We also show how using DLS-derived size distributions as the sole tool for characterizing particle stability can lead to erroneous conclusions. Comparison of these findings to literature experimental conditions reconciles many of the opposing reports and provides essential guidelines for tuning chitosan/TPP particle stability.
Aberrant expression of neutrophil and macrophage-related genes in a murine model for human neutrophil-specific granule deficiency

Neutrophil-specific granule deficiency involves inheritance of germline mutations in the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPE) gene. Humans and mice lacking active C/EBP suffer frequent bacterial infections as a result of function- ally defective neutrophils and macrophages. We hypothesized that these defects reflected dysregu- lation of important immune response genes. To test this, gene expression differences of peritone- ally derived neutrophils and macrophages from C/EBP/ and wild-type mice were determined with DNA microarrays. Of 283 genes, 146 known genes and 21 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were down-regulated, and 85 known genes and 31 ESTs were up-regulated in the C/EBP/ mice. These included genes involved in cell adhesion/chemo- taxis, cytoskeletal organization, signal transduc- tion, and immune/inflammatory responses. The cy- tokines CC chemokine ligand 4, CXC chemokine li- gand 2, and interleukin (IL)-6, as well as cytokine receptors IL-8RB and granulocyte-colony stimulat- ing factor, were down-regulated. Chromatin immu- noprecipitation analysis identified binding of C/EBP to their promoter regions. Increased expression for lipid metabolism genes apolipoprotein E (APOE), scavenger receptor class B-1, sorting protein-related receptor containing low-density lipoprotein receptor class A repeat 1, and APOC2 in the C/EBP/ mice correlated with reduced total cholesterol levels in these mice before and after maintenance on a high-fat diet. Also, C/EBP-deficient macrophages showed a reduced capacity to accumulate lipids. In summary, dysregulation of numerous, novel C/EBP target genes impairs innate immune response and possibly other important biological processes medi- ated by neutrophils and macrophages. J. Leukoc. Biol. 78: 1153-1165; 2005.
Anatomical priors for global probabilistic diffusion tractography

We investigate the use of anatomical priors in a Bayesian framework for diffusion tractography. We compare priors that utilize different types of information on the white-matter pathways to be reconstructed. This information includes manually labeled paths from a set of training subjects and anatomical segmentation labels obtained from T1-weighted MR images of the same subjects. Our results indicate that the use of prior information increases robustness to end-point ROI size and yields solutions that agree with expert-drawn manual labels, obviating the need for manual intervention on any new test subjects.
Defining the Role of Industry Custom and Usage in Oil & Gas Litigation

Industry custom and usage evidence can be powerful; sometimes it will be the determinative factor in litigation. Litigants frequently seek to use custom and usage evidence to resolve interpretive and substantive issues arising in property, contract, tort, agency, and other legal disciplines, including the discipline we call oil and gas law.? This article analyzes the role custom and usage evidence plays in litigation concerning the oil and gas industry. The same analytical observations can be made of other industries. Each industry will have its own unique ways of doing business their own customs and usages-- their own way of doing things. Analysis of existing case law reveals that custom and usage evidence has been employed for many different purposes with courts employing differing threshold procedural and substantive requirements depending upon the context in which the evidence is offered. The goal of this article is to identify, categorize, and analyze the various ways custom and usage are used by litigants and managed by judges. By clearly identifying the various contexts in which custom and usage evidence is sought to be used by litigants, and in which it is admitted, excluded, or limited by the courts, it is possible to develop a principled analysis of when such evidence is necessary, appropriate, and inappropriate. This will assist counsel in evaluating when custom and usage evidence is essential, or desirable. In addition to addressing the substantive law of custom and usage, this article examines the procedural hurdles to admission of custom and usage evidence. It will also serve as a useful tool for explaining to prospective custom and usage witnesses their role in a case.
Training consultants

Consultants are trained to serve student and faculty computer users, first by having them observe the consulting process, and then by having them try it themselves with an experienced consultant looking on. Trainees are taught some acceptable responses to situations where they cannot readily solve the problem. They are challenged to become skillful in choosing the best response. Trainees are shown many sources of information, and then asked to become skillful in choosing among them.
Some Comments on the Archival Vocation

Adlai Stevenson said that the worst thing about running for the Presidency of the United States is that you have to shave twice a day. The worst thing about being the president of this Society or other societies like it is that, as one discovers very shortly after assuming the presidency, the members expect that at the annual meeting at the end of one's term the president will stand before the assembled membership and say something important, something memorable. I quickly became aware of this during the course of the year as I traveled about. I was almost invariably met with the greeting: "Well, have you decided yet what you're going to talk about?" This could have become quite a strain but this year there was an easy solution to the problem. The subject of this address, insofar as it can be said to have a subject, can be said almost to have selected itself. Everywhere I went I found that my fellow archivists were chiefly concerned with the status of our profession, with its relationship with our fellow professionals in other fields, and with the general questions of where we are going and in what directions we are or should be developing. I suppose that I have attended my share of these annual meetings of our Society, and each time that I come to one of them and see the wide variety of interests and activities represented, I am always slightly puzzled at what it is that brings us together. In the last analysis, about all we all have in common is that all of us call ourselves archivists. At least we call ourselves archivists while we are
Metabolomics: One Powerful Tool for the Understanding of Xenobiotic Receptors

Copyright: © 2012 Li F. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Xenobiotic receptors including members of the nuclear and soluble transcription factor superfamilies, can mediate the metabolic response of organism to the chemical environment. Upon activation, these receptors function to regulate numerous physiological processes, including the metabolism of xenobiotic pharmaceuticals and carcinogens as well as the control of endogenous lipid, cholesterol, energy and inflammatory pathways. For example, the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) α involves in the metabolism and transport of fatty acid; the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is responsible for control of bile acid metabolism and transport; the pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a key regulator of drug transport and metabolism. A number of clinical drugs can perform their efficacy through the activation of xenobiotic receptors, including hypolipidemic fibrate drugs, ursodeoxycholic acid (UCDA), and rifaximin. However, in many cases, activation of xenobiotic receptors can lead to toxic and carcinogenic responses. Over past 20 years, the transgenic mouse model, including knockout and humanized mice, was widely used to explore the function of xenobiotic receptors. Despite numerous studies are conducted in xenobiotic receptors, the mechanism about how these receptors perform their function in response to xenobiotic challenge and their roles in the development of various diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, still remains unclear.
Results of the management of craniopharyngioma in children. An endocrinological approach to the treatment.

The treatment results of 21 (1972–1982) patients with craniopharyngioma are reported who were treated either by surgery alone or by surgery and radiation therapy. The authors reviewed 14 patients (67%) who were less than 18 years of age at the time of surgery. The eradication was thought to be total in 7 children and subtotal in 7. Radiation was given as part of the initial therapy to 5 children after total excision and to 3 after subtotal removal. There were 2 postoperative deaths. All of the children suffered postoperative hormonal deficiencies. The results of this study indicate that total and subtotal removal followed by RT is an acceptable treatment for craniopharyngioma. Endocrine-deficient children, if treated properly, do well in terms of survival.
Differential capacity for complement receptor-mediated immune evasion by Porphyromonas gingivalis depending on the type of innate leukocyte.

The complement system plays a central role in immunity and inflammation, although certain pathogens can exploit complement to undermine protective immunity. In this context, the periodontal keystone pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis was previously shown by our group to evade killing by neutrophils or macrophages through exploitation of complement C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) and complement receptor 3 (CR3). Here, we examined whether P. gingivalis uses complement receptors to also subvert killing by dendritic cells. In line with earlier independent studies, intracellular viable P. gingivalis bacteria could be recovered from mouse bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) or human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) exposed to the pathogen. However, in the presence of C5a, the intracellular survival of P. gingivalis was significantly decreased in a C5aR1-dependent way. Further work using wild-type and receptor-knockout BMDC showed that, in the presence of C3a, the C3a receptor (C3aR) similarly enhanced the intracellular killing of P. gingivalis. In contrast, C5aR2, an alternative receptor for C5a (G protein-coupled receptor 77), was associated with increased intracellular P. gingivalis viable counts, consistent with the notion that C5aR2 functions as a negative regulator of C5aR1 activity. Moreover, P. gingivalis failed to use CR3 as a phagocytic receptor in BMDC, in contrast to our earlier findings in macrophages where CR3-mediated uptake promotes P. gingivalis survival. Collectively, these data show that complement receptors mediate cell-type-specific effects on how innate leukocytes handle P. gingivalis, which appears to exploit complement to preferentially evade those cells (neutrophils and macrophages) that are most often encountered in its predominant niche, the periodontal pocket.
Exploring the Impact of the Federal Tax Credit on the Plug-In Vehicle Market

The effect of the federal Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Credit on plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) sales is assessed in the United States by using an ex post stated preference survey of more than 2,882 PEV owners in 11 states. This study attributes more than 30% of the PEV sales to the federal tax credit, with an impact of up to 49% for the Nissan LEAF. The incentive shifts buyers from internal combustion engine vehicles to plug-in vehicles and advances the purchase timing of new vehicles by 1 year or more. The impact of the incentive on buyers of varying sociodemographic and vehicle choice characteristics is explored through the use of three performance measures, including number of vehicles sold, kilowatt-hours of capacity sold, and electric vehicle miles traveled per year. The results of this paper add to the discussion of the impact of monetary incentives on the alternative-fuel vehicle market and present possibilities for improving the performance of monetary incentives in the PEV market.
Probing Neural Transplant Networks In Vivo with Optogenetics and Optogenetic fMRI

Understanding how stem cell-derived neurons functionally integrate into the brain upon transplantation has been a long sought-after goal of regenerative medicine. However, methodological limitations have stood as a barrier, preventing key insight into this fundamental problem. A recently developed technology, termed optogenetic functional magnetic resonance imaging (ofMRI), offers a possible solution. By combining targeted activation of transplanted neurons with large-scale, noninvasive measurements of brain activity, ofMRI can directly visualize the effect of engrafted neurons firing on downstream regions. Importantly, this tool can be used to identify not only whether transplanted neurons have functionally integrated into the brain, but also which regions they influence and how. Furthermore, the precise control afforded over activation enables the input-output properties of engrafted neurons to be systematically studied. This review summarizes the efforts in stem cell biology and neuroimaging that made this development possible and outlines its potential applications for improving and optimizing stem cell-based therapies in the future.
S15.2 Global mapping of sti, hiv and unplanned pregnancy: where do these epidemics intersect?

Worldwide, women face sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks including unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) combine protection against two or more SRH risks into one product. Male and female condoms are the only currently available MPT products, but several other forms of MPTs are in development. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to examine the global distribution of selected SRH issues to determine where various risks have the greatest geographical overlap. We examined four indicators relevant to MPTs in development: HIV prevalence, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) prevalence, human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence, and the proportion of women with unmet need for modern contraception. Using ArcGIS Desktop, we mapped these indicators individually and in combination on chloropleth and graduated symbol maps. We conducted a principal components analysis to reduce data and enable visual mapping of all four indicators on one graphic to identify overlap. Our findings document the greatest overlapping risks in sub-Saharan Africa, and we specify countries in greatest need by specific MPT indication. These results can inform strategic planning for MPT introduction, market segmentation, and demand generation, but data limitations also highlight the need for improved (non-HIV) STI surveillance globally.
Site Selective Spectroscopy of Nd3+ in Strontium Fluorovanadate

High resolution site-selective photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals that Nd3+ ions occupy more than forty different crystal-field environments in Sr5(VO4)3F. Preferential energy transfer to the lasing site occurs but becomes less complete with increasing temperature.
Virtual Reality Museum of Consumer Technologies

Given the rapid pace of technical development in the past several decades, many people have fond memories of using devices that are no longer common. We built a prototype of a virtual museum of consumer technologies to explore this with the intention of prompting memories of using past tech in the visitors. The prototype was created using the Janus VR browser and evaluated on a 2D display by 7 young adult users. It successfully prompted memories in all of the evaluators and all users rated the pleasure of touring the museum neutral or better. Future work involves making a more comprehensive museum and exploring better ways to utilize virtual reality for more engaging experiences.
The Mechanism of Dense Interfacial Voids and Its Impact on Solder Joint Reliability

SAC 305 solder joints with ENIG and NiPdAu surface finishes are studied. In general, nano voids in Ni2SnP can be only seen in SAC 305/ENIG but not in SAC 305/NiPdAu. However, when trace amount of impurities are present in NiPdAu, very dense nano voids are observed in Ni2SnP. The voids formation mechanism related to interaction of interfacial impurities and vacancy flux towards the interface has been discussed to explain the observations. BGA ball shear test indicates the dense interfacial voids can degrade the solder joint strength dramatically.
Beliefs and Bayesian reasoning

We examine whether judgments of posterior probabilities in Bayesian reasoning problems are affected by reasoners' beliefs about corresponding real-world probabilities. In an internet-based task, participants were asked to determine the probability that a hypothesis is true (posterior probability, e.g., a person has a disease, given a positive medical test) based on relevant probabilities (e.g., that any person has the disease and the true and false positive rates of the test). We varied whether the correct posterior probability was close to, or far from, independent intuitive estimates of the corresponding 'real-world' probability. Responses were substantially closer to the correct posterior when this value was close to the intuitive estimate. A model in which the response is a weighted sum of the intuitive estimate and an additive combination of the probabilities provides an excellent account of the results.
Radiology and Radiotherapy of Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a histologically benign tumour commonly seen in the paediatric population. This tumour develops in the central region of the brain surrounded by several critical structures, including the optic pathway, pituitary, hypothalamus, circle of Willis, temporal lobes, and brainstem. Its central intracranial location poses a challenge to surgical resection and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy following limited surgery offers high rates of local control and long-term survival but may be associated with significant side effects. Proton therapy in this setting offers a dosimetric advantage over conventional radiotherapy because of the unique physical properties of proton particles, which deposit the dose in a narrow region called the Bragg peak before stopping. This phenomenon reduces the dose to adjacent critical structures and could translate into a reduction in late treatment-related sequelae and an improvement in survivors’ quality of life.
Reliability and Validity of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 Version 2 (SF-12v2) in Adults with Non-Cancer Pain

Limited evidence exists on how non-cancer pain (NCP) affects an individual's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to validate the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 Version 2 (SF-12v2), a generic measure of HRQoL, in a NCP cohort using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Longitudinal Files. The SF Mental Component Summary (MCS12) and SF Physical Component Summary (PCS12) were tested for reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and validity (construct: convergent and discriminant; criterion: concurrent and predictive). A total of 15,716 patients with NCP were included in the final analysis. The MCS12 and PCS12 demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and Mosier's alpha > 0.8), and moderate and high test-retest reliability, respectively (MCS12 intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.64; PCS12 ICC: 0.73). Both scales were significantly associated with a number of chronic conditions (p < 0.05). The PCS12 was strongly correlated with perceived health (r = 0.52) but weakly correlated with perceived mental health (r = 0.25). The MCS12 was moderately correlated with perceived mental health (r = 0.42) and perceived health (r = 0.33). Increasing PCS12 and MCS12 scores were significantly associated with lower odds of reporting future physical and cognitive limitations (PCS12: OR = 0.90 95%CI: 0.89-0.90, MCS12: OR = 0.94 95%CI: 0.93-0.94). In summary, the SF-12v2 is a reliable and valid measure of HRQoL for patients with NCP.
Delivery of anti-inflammatory peptides from hollow PEGylated poly(NIPAM) nanoparticles reduces inflammation in an ex vivo osteoarthritis model

Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory osteoarthritis treatments have the potential to significantly decrease undesirable systemic side effects and reduce required therapeutic dosage. Here we present a targeted, non-invasive drug delivery system to decrease inflammation in an osteoarthritis model. Hollow thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) nanoparticles have been synthesized via degradation of a N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) cross-linked core out of a non-degradable pNIPAM shell. Sulfated 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) was copolymerized in the shell to increase passive loading of an anti-inflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2)-inhibiting cell-penetrating peptide (KAFAK). The drug-loaded hollow nanoparticles were effective at delivering a therapeutically active dose of KAFAK to bovine cartilage explants, suppressing pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression after interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) stimulation. This thermosensitive hollow nanoparticle system provides an excellent platform for the delivery of peptide therapeutics into highly proteolytic environments such as osteoarthritis.