cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hardest-to-place kidney transplant outcomes in the United States.

The outcomes of hardest-to-place kidney transplants-accepted last in the entire match run after being refused by previous centers-are unclear, potentially translating to risk aversion and unnecessary organ discard. We aimed to determine the outcomes of hardest-to-place kidney transplants and whether the organ acceptance position on the match run sufficiently captures the risk. This is a cohort study of the United Network for Organ Sharing data of all adult kidney-only transplant recipients from deceased donors between 2007 and 2018. Multiple regression models assessed delayed graft function, graft survival, and patient survival stratified by share type: local versus shared kidney acceptance position scaled by tertile. Among 127 028 kidney transplant recipients, 92 855 received local kidneys. The remaining received shared kidneys at sequence number 1-4 (n = 12 322), 5-164 (n = 10 485) and >164 (n = 11 366). Hardest-to-place kidneys, defined as the latest acceptance group in the match-run, were associated with delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-1.92) and all-cause allograft failure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.17). Results of this IRB-approved study were robust to the exclusion of operational allocation bypass and mandatory shares. The hardest-to-place kidneys accepted later in the match run were associated with higher graft failure and delayed graft function.
Improving Alcohol Screening for College Students: Screening for Alcohol Misuse Amongst College Students with a Simple Modification to the Cage Questionnaire

Objective: To improve the CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener) questionnaire's predictive accuracy in screening college students. Participants: The sample consisted of 219 midwestern university students who self-administered a confidential survey. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and Cronbach's alpha were used to analyze factor structure, validity, and reliability. Results: The modified CAGE correctly classified students with alcohol abuse (“AA students”; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.7765) and students with alcohol dependency (“AD students”; AUC = 0.8392) more often than CAGE (AA students: AUC = 0.6977; AD students: AUC = 0.7437), and these differences are statistically significant (AA students: χ2(1) = 14.72, p < .001; AD students: χ2(1) = 7.71, p < .01). Using 2-point cut scores, CAGE correctly identified 59.38% of AD students as AD, whereas the modified CAGE correctly identified 87% of AD students as AD. Using 1-point cut scores, CAGE correctly identified 65% AA students, whereas the modified CAGE identified 85.29%. Conclusions: The modified CAGE has better accuracy than CAGE in predicting AA and AD among college populations.
Comprehensively modeling heterogeneous symptom progression for Parkinson's disease subtyping

Abstract The Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease, of which the etiological and pathological mechanisms remain unclear to date. PD has been associated with diverse movement dysfunctions and non-motor symptoms (i.e., symptom heterogeneity) and progression patterns of these symptoms differ from patient to patient (i.e., progression heterogeneity). To address these, the present investigation aims at comprehensively considering full progression course of early PDs to identify subtypes, each of which can reflect unique PD progression pattern. We retrospectively analyzed the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and the Parkinson Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP) as the development and validation cohorts, respectively. An unsupervised deep learning model was built to model progression trajectories in diverse clinical manifestations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers to produce a representation vector for each patient, encoding his/her symptom progression profile. Then by performing clustering analysis on the patients’ representation vectors, we identified three subtypes with distinct PD progression patterns in the PPMI cohort: Subtype I, mild baseline severity and mild symptom progression; mild baseline severity and moderate progression; and Subtype III, rapid symptom progression. Replication in the PDBP validation cohort demonstrated reproducibility of the subtypes. After that, we explored demographic factors, CSF biomarkers, neuroimaging biomarkers in brain regional atrophy, and genetic factors of the subtypes. Last, to enhance usability of the subtypes, predictive model of subtypes that relies on data at baseline and 1-year follow-up was trained. In conclusion, the identified subtypes revealed significant symptom progression patterns of PDs. Patients with similar baseline severities can even suffer from different progression pattern, leading to distinct prognosis. Demographic factors, biomarkers, and genetic components of the subtypes suggested distinct biological mechanisms and pathways potentially leading to those progression patterns. Our findings may benefit pathophysiological study, clinical practice, and clinical trials to advance PD.
StarTrek: Combinatorial Variable Selection with False Discovery Rate Control

Variable selection on the large-scale networks has been extensively studied in the literature. While most of the existing methods are limited to the local functionals especially the graph edges, this paper focuses on selecting the discrete hub structures of the networks. Specifically, we propose an inferential method, called StarTrek filter, to select the hub nodes with degrees larger than a certain thresholding level in the high dimensional graphical models and control the false discovery rate (FDR). Discovering hub nodes in the networks is challenging: there is no straightforward statistic for testing the degree of a node due to the combinatorial structures; complicated dependence in the multiple testing problem is hard to characterize and control. In methodology, the StarTrek filter overcomes this by constructing p-values based on the maximum test statistics via the Gaussian multiplier bootstrap. In theory, we show that the StarTrek filter can control the FDR by providing accurate bounds on the approximation errors of the quantile estimation and addressing the dependence structures among the maximal statistics. To this end, we establish novel Cramer-type comparison bounds for the high dimensional Gaussian random vectors. Comparing to the Gaussian comparison bound via the Kolmogorov distance established by \citet{chernozhukov2014anti}, our Cramer-type comparison bounds establish the relative difference between the distribution functions of two high dimensional Gaussian random vectors. We illustrate the validity of the StarTrek filter in a series of numerical experiments and apply it to the genotype-tissue expression dataset to discover central regulator genes.
Assessing and predicting neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a TRACK-SCI study

Neuropathic pain is one of the most common secondary complications occurring after spinal cord injury (SCI), and often surpasses motor and sensory deficits in the patient population preferences of the most important aspects to be treated. Despite the better understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain, reliable treatments are still lacking and exhibit wide variations in efficiency. Previous reports have suggested that the most effective pain management is early treatment. To this end, we utilized the TRACK-SCI prospective clinical research database to assess the neuropathic pain status of all enrolled patients and identify acute care variables that can predict the development of neuropathic pain 6- and 12-months post SCI. 36 out of 61 patients of our study cohort reported neuropathic pain at the chronic stages post SCI. Using multidimensional analytics and logistic regression we discovered that (1) the number of total injuries the patient sustained, (2) the injury severity score (ISS), (3) the lower limb total motor score, and (4) the sensory pin prick total score together predict the development of chronic neuropathic pain after SCI. The balanced accuracy of the corresponding logistic regression model is 74.3%, and repeated 5-fold cross validation showed an AUC of 0.708. Our study suggests a crucial role of polytrauma in chronic pain development after SCI and offers a predictive model using variables routinely collected at every hospital setting.
Translocation of Macromolecules across Membranes and Through Aqueous Channels

Maintaining the permeability barrier of membranes is essential for cell viability. Cells allow the passage of small hydrophilic ions across the membrane by selectively gating transmembrane aqueous pores. Over the past decade an increasing amount of evidence supports a model for which transport of larger molecules such as proteins, DNA and phage also occurs through the selective gating of transmembrane aqueous channels. Studies are presented on the mechanisms by which proteins are translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum and E. coli plasma membrane through transmembrane protein-conducting channels. The model of a protein-conducting channel raises a number of challenging questions. First, if proteins are moving across through a transmembrane aqueous channel, then what is moving the protein across the membrane? Second, membrane proteins are synthesized using the same membrane-bound machinery as is used for translocating proteins across the membranes. Thus, how could a transmembrane protein-conducting channel account for the biogenesis of proteins which themselves must eventually end up spanning the bilayer multiple times? The evidence for protein-conducting channels is reviewed, and the mechanism(s) proposed for transport will be evaluated. The experiments also focus on tests for the role of aqueous channels for the biogenesis of membrane proteins.
Hierarchy of Evidence

Although the approach to clinical decision making and the Evidence Based model are currently being widely discussed, I do not think we can disagree on the problem addressed by the model: how to identify and use the results of clinical trials in the management of the individual patient. The pyramid showing the hierarchy of clinical trials is often included in publications or presentations almost as a proof of adherence to the Evidence Based model, but not always in an appropriate way. The hierarchy of evidence is a scale indicating the reliability of clinical trials based on the possibility to control systematic errors (bias). The various types of studies listed in the pyramid refer to different ways of formulating the study, the so-called study design. A trial ranked high in the hierarchy can better control the systematic errors than one ranked at the bottom. This hierarchy takes into account only the quality of the clinical study regardless of its indication, i.e. its ability to answer a specific clinical question.
Erik Erikson’s value orientation stages

Abstract This study examined ethical development among kibbutz adolescents from the perspective of Erik Erikson’s model of value orientation stages. The purpose was threefold: to examine the longitudinal patterns of value-orientation stage change, to assess the impact of kibbutz education on value orientation development, and to clarify the empirical relationship between value orientation and moral judgment stages. The findings suggested that value-orientation stage change was gradual, upward, and with few regressions. Furthermore, there were no significant sex differences. The empirical relationship between value orientation and moral judgment stages varied from early adolescence to early adulthood underscoring the importance of a life-span perspective on moral development.
Explicit Estimates of Arrival Times for Dispersion in Rivers

AbstractExplicit formulas for the times of arrival of the leading and trailing edges of a contaminant cloud are developed from a one-dimensional advection-dispersion model of transport. These times—defined as the times at which the concentration is some fraction α of the peak concentration—can be determined easily with iterations using a spreadsheet or other software, but this approach becomes time-consuming if many calculations are needed. Also, solutions to the transient storage zone model and its relatives can be made more efficient by identifying the arrival times of the edges of a contaminant cloud. The expressions for the arrival times depend only the fraction α and the Peclet number P. For 0.01 1 and 1% for P>20, and the expression for the time of arrival of the trailing edge is within 10–20% for P=1 and less than 1% for P>6. Despite the criticisms of the advection-dispersion model for transport in real waterways, the...
Asymptotic stability of discrete-time systems with saturation nonlinearities

The authors present results for the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium x=0 of n/sup th/ order, discrete-time systems with state saturations. The results are used to establish conditions for the non-existence of limit cycles in n/sup th/-order fixed point digital filters. It is demonstrated that the present results are easier to apply and are less conservative than corresponding existing results. >
'Overly Deferential to Executive Power:' Partisanship and Evasiveness in Justice Samuel Alito's Confirmation Hearing

In all President George W. Bush made three nominations to the Supreme Court: John Roberts, Harriet Miers, and Samuel Alito. I suggest that a key factor in the selection of each of these nominees was their stance on the issue of executive authority and the war on terrorism. While evidence suggests that on a number of issues Miers was a very different nominee, or at least a potentially very different nominee, from Roberts and Alito, I submit that on the issue of executive authority all three were seen by the Bush administration as reliable votes for the New Paradigm or Unitary Executive theory of government. In the following paper I conduct a content analysis of Alito's senate confirmation hearing. Did the Senate make the issue a priority? Was the issue treated in a partisan fashion? Was the nominee forthcoming or evasive in his responses on the topic? In order to answer these queries, I employ a content analysis of the questioning behavior of the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Recent news accounts of warrantless wiretapping and torture increased the issue's value as senators used executive-authority exchanges to signal constituents and score points with their colleagues. I find that of the substantive issues discussed, executive authority matters were addressed as much as abortion and both outpaced all other substantive issues that were raised. Furthermore, executive authority issues were treated in a partisan fashion with Democrats far more likely to raise the issue than Republicans and far more likely to be skeptical and critical in their remarks then their GOP colleagues who were almost always positive and supportive of the Bush administration and the nominee. Ultimately, my results provide support for recent studies that suggest senators engage in strategic and partisan behavior in the confirmation process.
Verification of MPI-Based Software for Scientific Computation

We explore issues related to the application of finite-state verification techniques to scientific computation software employing the widely-used Message-Passing Interface (MPI). Many of the features of MPI that are important for programmers present significant difficulties for model checking. In this paper, we examine a small parallel program that computes the evolution in time of a discretized function u defined on a 2-dimensional domain and governed by the diffusion equation. Although this example is simple, it makes use of many of the problematic features of MPI. We discuss the modeling of these features and use Spin and INCA to verify several correctness properties for various configurations of this program. Finally, we describe some general theorems that can be used to justify simplifications in finite-state models of MPI programs and that guarantee certain properties must hold for any program using only a particular subset of MPI.
Clay-mediated carbon nanotube dispersion in poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)

Abstract Poly( N -isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is the most widely studied temperature-responsive polymer due to its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) near to that of the human body temperature (around 32 °C). Unlike many water-soluble polymers, PNIPAM exhibits little affinity for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), which is not sufficient for preparing stable aqueous suspensions. The present study makes use of montmorrilonite clay (MMT) to compatibilize SWNT in aqueous PNIPAM solution. The interactions of clay with SWNT and PNIPAM is probed using UV–vis spectroscopy and cryo-TEM of aqueous suspensions. Furthermore, zeta potential measurements and direct visual observation suggests stable dispersion of SWNT in PNIPAM. SEM micrographs show that nanotube dispersion state in the aqueous suspension is preserved to a large extent in the solid nanocomposite films formed with drying. PNIPAM nanocomposite hydrogels, containing clay and SWNT, were also prepared with better SWNT dispersion in the presence of clay. Mechanical measurements show a 96% increase in storage modulus at 25 °C for 0.45 wt% clay and 0.05 wt% SWNT containing hydrogels (as compared to pure PNIPAM hydrogels). This method of employing clay as a dispersing aid for stabilizing nanotubes in PNIPAM solution is expected to be very useful for other polymers that have low affinity for nanotubes and could open up even more applications for nanotube-filled polymeric materials. This method of using clay to disperse carbon nanotubes in PNIPAM will likely be useful for producing mechanically durable and also, electrically conductive, PNIPAM-based hydrogels, sensors and self-cleaning surfaces that should serve to open up more biological applications for nanotube-filled materials.
Structural Basis for Nucleotide Exchange and Power Stroke Generation by the Kinesin Molecular Motor

Kinesin molecular motors use energy derived from ATP to step along microtubules, driving many essential processes in eukaryotic cells, including mitosis, vesicle transport and cytoskeletal remodeling. Several conformational states of kinesin have been identified by X-ray crystallography, but the structural transitions used by kinesin to generate force and movement along intact microtubules have remained unclear. We used recent improvements in cryo-EM methodology and instrumentation to capture the conformation of microtubule-attached kinesin at the beginning (no-nucleotide) and end (ATP analog-bound) of the force generation process at 5-6A resolution. We derived all-atom models for these two maps from a crystal structure of the tubulin-kinesin complex, using explicitly solvated molecular dynamics simulations combined with restraints derived from the maps. This analysis revealed that, contrary to existing models, kinesin's central beta sheet serves as the primary transducer in the motor's force-generation mechanism, twisting to drive ADP release and subsequently untwisting upon ATP binding to trigger a power stroke. We identified conserved residues on the motor domain, supported by additional structural and biochemical analysis of site-directed mutations, which serve as allosteric latches during the motor's microtubule-attached phase. These latches regulate the sheet-twisting motion and couple key properties of motor function to each other, including nucleotide binding, hydrolysis, and generation of a power stroke. These findings reveal how interactions with the microtubule can fundamentally alter kinesin's energetic landscape in order to initiate productive motility.
Developing health literacy knowledge and skills through case-based learning.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of case-based learning to teach pharmacy students health literacy concepts and skills in managing patients with limited health literacy. Design. A health literacy patient case was developed and incorporated into a case-based learning laboratory. The case involved a patient with limited health literacy and required students to evaluate and formulate a care plan. Assessment. A comparison of pretest and posttest scores demonstrated that students gained health literacy knowledge and skills through completion of the patient case. Students believed that the case-based exercise was successful in meeting specific learning objectives for the course. Conclusions. Addition of a case-based learning was effective in teaching pharmacy students health literacy concepts and skills.
EBG Structures for Low Profile Antenna Designs: What Have We Learned?

It is an honour to present a paper in this memorial session dedicated to the professional life of Prof. J. R. James. He was a major contributor in advancing our scientific and engineering knowledge about microstrip and mobile communication antennas. His books in these areas have received world wide attention and have been regarded as standard references. His recent co-edited book was very timely in documenting the state of art in the development of mobile communication antennas [K. Fujimoto and J.R. James, 2001]. I attended several of his talks and always enjoyed his application-oriented presentations. Since this is one of the areas that the author is involved in and also contributed to his edited book, the author thought it would be appropriate to elaborate on some recent advances in applying electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures for low profile antenna designs based on our recent publications [Y. Rahmat-Samii and F. Yang, 2006]. (5 pages)
Inpatient Management of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Alcohol withdrawal is a common condition encountered in the hospital setting after abrupt discontinuation of alcohol in an alcohol-dependent individual. Patients may present with mild symptoms of tremulousness and agitation or more severe symptoms including withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens. Management revolves around early identification of at-risk individuals and symptom assessment using a validated tool such as the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol score. Benzodiazepines remain the mainstay of treatment and can be administered using a front-loading, fixed-dose, or symptom-triggered approach. Long-acting benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide or diazepam are commonly used and may provide a smoother withdrawal than shorter-acting benzodiazepines, but there are no data to support superiority of one benzodiazepine over another. Elderly patients or those with significant liver disease may have increased accumulation and decreased clearance of the long-acting benzodiazepines, and lorazepam or oxazepam may be preferred in these patients. Patients with symptoms refractory to high doses of benzodiazepines may require addition of a rescue medication such as phenobarbital, propofol or dexmedetomidine. Anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, valproate, gabapentin) may have a role in the management of mild to moderate withdrawal. Other medications such as β-antagonists or neuroleptics may offer additional benefit in select patients but should not be used a monotherapy.
Neuroselection and song learning in birds: species universals in a culturally transmitted behavior

Abstract Research on avian song learning has been dominated by instructional models of the learning process. An alternative model is presented here which is selective in nature. It postulates extensive pre-encoding of information about species-specific song structure, embodied in innately-specified brain circuitry. Auditory experience operates on this circuitry selectively so that only some of it is preserved. Two types of pre-encoded auditory template are postulated, participating in selective responsiveness of naive young songbirds to conspecific songs and rapid memorization of them. Supporting evidence for this model derives from species-wide universal song features found to recur in many birdsongs that are known to be learned and culturally transmitted. The fact that natural variation is more limited than previously supposed lends credence to the applicability of neuroselection models to avian song learning.
Evaluation of Digital Control Law Design in the W'-Plane

A quantitative evaluation is provided to the qualitative statement that "the W'-plane looks like the S-plane for small (low) frequencies."
Development of a Therapeutic Adenoviral Vector for Cholangiocarcinoma Combining Tumor-Restricted Gene Expression and Infectivity Enhancement

Cholangiocarcinoma is an invasive malignancy that is most often unresectable upon diagnosis and unresponsive to chemotherapy and radiation. While adenoviral gene therapy has shown promise in treating many tumors, systemic toxicity and low tumor transduction efficiency have hampered its application in many gastrointestinal cancers. To overcome these difficulties, we have constructed an adenoviral vector utilizing a tumor-specific promoter (TSP) for selective transgene expression and a vector with an RGD-motif in the fiber-knob region for infectivity enhancement. In seeking a TSP for cholangiocarcinoma, Secretory Leukoprotease Inhibitor, Midkine, Gastrin Releasing Peptide, VEGF, Cox-2M, and Cox-2L promoters were configures in adenoviral vectors, and evaluated in cholangiocarcinoma cells lines (Oz and SkChA-1). Luciferase assays demonstrated that Cox-2 promoters (M and L) showed the highest promoter activity, with Cox-2M appearing slightly stronger than Cox-2L. Infectivity enhanced vectors with RGD-motif in the fiber-knob region were also constructed with the luciferase transgene driven by a CMV control and the Cox-2M and Cox-2L promoters. Subsequent luciferase assays comparing the unmodified vectors to the RGD-modified versions demonstrated higher levels of luciferase activity than the RGD-infected cells. This paradigm was then applied to a therapeutic HSV-TK/GCV model by constructing RGD-enhanced HSV-TK vectors driven by Cox-2M and Cox-2L promoters. In vitro cytocidal effect analysis confirmed that the RGD-modified, cox-2 (M and L) driven vectors showed a stronger cytocidal effect upon gancyclovir administration than the vectors with wild-type fiber. The Cox-2 promoter demonstrates a favorable selectivity profile for cholangiocarcinoma, and RGD-modification further enhances transduction efficiency. This combination has potential to overcome the obstacles to clinical application of adenoviral gene therapy in cholangiocarcinoma.
Recovery from slow inactivation in K+ channels is controlled by water molecules

Application of a specific stimulus opens the intracellular gate of a K(+) channel (activation), yielding a transient period of ion conduction until the selectivity filter spontaneously undergoes a conformational change towards a non-conductive state (inactivation). Removal of the stimulus closes the gate and allows the selectivity filter to interconvert back to its conductive conformation (recovery). Given that the structural differences between the conductive and inactivated filter are very small, it is unclear why the recovery process can take up to several seconds. The bacterial K(+) channel KcsA from Streptomyces lividans can be used to help elucidate questions about channel inactivation and recovery at the atomic level. Although KcsA contains only a pore domain, without voltage-sensing machinery, it has the structural elements necessary for ion conduction, activation and inactivation. Here we reveal, by means of a series of long molecular dynamics simulations, how the selectivity filter is sterically locked in the inactive conformation by buried water molecules bound behind the selectivity filter. Potential of mean force calculations show how the recovery process is affected by the buried water molecules and the rebinding of an external K(+) ion. A kinetic model deduced from the simulations shows how releasing the buried water molecules can stretch the timescale of recovery to seconds. This leads to the prediction that reducing the occupancy of the buried water molecules by imposing a high osmotic stress should accelerate the rate of recovery, which was verified experimentally by measuring the recovery rate in the presence of a 2-molar sucrose concentration.
Energy-conserving data cache placement in sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks hold a very promising future. The nodes of wireless sensor networks (WSN) have a small energy supply and limited bandwidth available. Since radio communication is expensive in terms of energy consumption, the nodes typically spend most of their energy reserve on wireless communication (rather than on CPU processing) for data dissemination and retrieval. Therefore, the role of energy conserving data communication protocols and services in WSN can not be overemphasized. Caching data at locations that minimize packet transmissions in the network reduces the power consumption in the network, and hence extends its lifetime. Finding locations of the nodes for caching data to minimize communication cost corresponds to finding the nodes of a weighted Minimum Steiner tree whose edge weights depend on the edge's Euclidean length and its data traffic rate. We call this tree a Steiner Data Caching Tree (SDCT). We prove that an optimal SDCT is binary, and that at-least two of the three internal angles formed at the Steiner points are equal. We derive expressions that determine the exact location of a Steiner point for a set of three nodes based on their location and their data refresh rate requirements. Based on these (optimality) results, we present a dynamic distributed energy-conserving application-layer service for data caching and asynchronous multicast. We present the results of simulation of our service that verifies its power saving properties.
Ozone toxicity: Effect of dietary vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids

Abstract The roles of vitamin E and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the acute toxicity of ozone have been investigated. After equilibration on test diets, the lung lipids of male CD-1 mice had an altered peroxidizability index (PI) which was effected by the content of dietary PUFA but not by vitamin E acetate. Mice fed 0 or 10.5 mg kg vitamin E acetate had the same mortality (LT50 of 29–32 days) on exposure to 1 ppm ozone, regardless of the significant differences in lung PI between groups fed high or low PUFA diets. High supplemental levels (105.0 mg kg ) of vitamin E acetate were protective and delayed the LT50 to 1 ppm ozone by an average of 15 days. The mode of action of vitamin E and the interaction with high levels of PUFA and ozone appear complex.
Nitrous oxide accumulation in soils from riparian buffers of a coastal plain watershed carbon/nitrogen ratio control.

O accumulations within riparian soils of an agricultural watershed in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the USA. Soil samples were obtained from ten sites (site types) with diﬀ erent agronomic management and landscape position. Denitriﬁ cation enzyme activity (DEA) was measured by the acetylene inhibition method. Nitrous oxide accumulations were measured after incubation with and without acetylene (baseline N
Cerclage wiring technique after proximal femoral fracture in total hip arthroplasty

Cerclage wires have been used to stabilize proximal femoral cracks after stem insertion in cementless total hip arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal number and orientation of cerclage wires necessary to prevent stem subsidence and crack propagation. The crack was stabilized by 1, 2, or 3 wires placed either normal to the femoral neck axis or normal to the crack. The femora were compressed to 2,670 N while measuring crack opening and stem subsidence. Wires placed normal to the crack allowed less stem subsidence by 3.17 mm and less crack opening by 1.55 mm compared with wires placed normal to the neck. The addition of multiple wires reduced subsidence by 50% and reduced crack opening to <1 mm. Medial and anterior calcar cracks are best stabilized by at least 2 cerclage wires that are placed normal to the crack.
Analysis of heart rate response curves: a comment on pooled interaction error terms.

Use of pooled interaction error terms in repeated measurement analyses of variance may lead to seriously erroneous conclusions. The danger is increased when designs contain both data sampled at short intervals of time, such as second-by-second heart rate (HR) responses, and data sampled at longer intervals, such as responses on different trials or stimulus presentations. Empirical examples illustrate the differing error variances typically found with such data.
A New Class of Hydroxy-Substituted Squaraine Rotaxane

A templated macrocyclization reaction was used to permanently encapsulate a highly fluorescent hydroxy-substituted squaraine dye inside a tetralactam macrocycle. The free squaraine dye is quite rigid due to internal hydrogen bonding and its photophysical properties hardly change upon encapsulation. A combination of X-ray and NMR data show that the surrounding tetralactam macrocycle adopts an unusually rigid chair conformation and does not undergo rapid pirouetting. Because of its large size and conformational rigidity, the macrocycle creates anisotropic NMR shielding zones that extend over the N,N-dibutylamino groups at each end of the squaraine thread. This shielding anisotropy allows hindered aryl-N rotation to be observed by NMR spectroscopy and provides direct experimental evidence that quinoid-like resonance structures are major contributors to the bis(N,N-dialkylaminophenyl)squaraine resonance hybrid.
Borderline personality and psychotropic medication prescription in an outpatient psychiatry clinic

Borderline personality is a complex disorder and pharmacological intervention is typically focused on target symptoms. Previous studies indicate that patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are prescribed a greater number of psychotropic medications than those without BPD. However, these studies were self-report in design and/or preceded the use of newer psychotropic medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In this study, we explored among 280 psychiatric outpatients the relationships between an axis II diagnosis of BPD and the number of axis I diagnoses, psychotropic medications, and psychotherapy sessions. Compared to those with other types of personality disorders (n = 128) or no personality disorder at all (n = 91), those with BPD (n = 61) were diagnosed with significantly more axis I disorders, prescribed significantly more psychotropic medications, and attended significantly more psychotherapy sessions. These findings suggest that: (1) BPD patients will probably be prescribed more psychotropic medications than other psychiatric outpatients, and (2) in addition to psychotropic medication prescription, there may be additional variables (e.g., psychotherapy sessions) that make a meaningful contribution to the overall healthcare utilization among those with BPD.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunits with a C2 cytoplasmic loop yellow fluorescent protein insertion form functional receptors

Several nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits have been engineered as fluorescent protein (FP) fusions and exploited to illuminate features of nAChRs. The aim of this work was to create a FP fusion in the nAChR α7 subunit without compromising formation of functional receptors. A gene construct was generated to introduce yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), in frame, into the otherwise unaltered, large, second cytoplamsic loop between the third and fourth transmembrane domains of the mouse nAChR α7 subunit (α7Y). SH-EP1 cells were transfected with mouse nAChR wild type α7 subunits (α7) or with α7Y subunits, alone or with the chaperone protein, hRIC-3. Receptor function was assessed using whole-cell current recording. Receptor expression was measured with 125I-labeled α-bungarotoxin (I-Bgt) binding, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. Whole-cell currents revealed that α7Y nAChRs and α7 nAChRs were functional with comparable EC50 values for the α7 nAChR-selective agonist, choline, and IC50 values for the α7 nAChR-selective antagonist, methyllycaconitine. I-Bgt binding was detected only after co-expression with hRIC-3. Confocal microscopy revealed that α7Y had primarily intracellular rather than surface expression. TIRF microscopy confirmed that little α7Y localized to the plasma membrane, typical of α7 nAChRs. nAChRs composed as homooligomers of α7Y subunits containing cytoplasmic loop YFP have functional, ligand binding, and trafficking characteristics similar to those of α7 nAChRs. α7Y nAChRs may be used to elucidate properties of α7 nAChRs and to identify and develop novel probes for these receptors, perhaps in high-throughput fashion.
Open-Delta Transformer Banks - Analysis of Circuit

WHEN a three-phase transformer bank is operated in open delta, an unbalanced secondary voltage results, and the transformers themselves may be overloaded. The unbalanced voltage will cause a circulating current to flow which may cause overheating of the equipment in the secondary circuit to an extent depending upon the amount of the voltage unbalance and the load being carried. Wolf and Mattison1 have described a method of overcoming the voltage unbalance, and this paper is written to mention briefly the effect of unbalanced voltages on the operation of induction motors and to present an analysis of the circuit, together with some correlated material.
Update on new and re-emerging pediatric respiratory viruses

Respiratory infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. A number of novel respiratory tract viruses have been identified recently as significant causes of acute upper and lower respiratory tract illness in children. Highly sensitive modern molecular techniques have been used to identify emerging viruses and to re-examine the epidemiology and impact of previously known viruses. This review will describe the importance and clinical features of several viruses, including human metapneumovirus, coronaviruses, human bocavirus and rhinoviruses.
Inductive common ground tutoring

Abstract A paradigm for the formalization of highly flexible educational environments in computer tutors is presented. As an example a computer program that helps students write context-free grammars is described. This program has powerful inductive capabilities that enable it to adapt to and tutor intelligently virtually any context-free domain, exploiting the student's own intuitive judgements of grammaticality. Further research directions are discussed.
One-dimensional thermomechanical model for lateral melting and ignition of a thin sheared viscous layer

We compute the temperature profile near a laterally growing uniformly sheared viscous layer, a melt of the host material. A similarity variable is identified and an analytical solution is found for the temperature field and phase boundary trajectory for the case of uniform sliding. A numerical method for the iterative solution of this non-linear Stefan problem is implemented. In the case of a chemically reactive material with an Arrhenius dependence of the reaction rate on temperature we compute the ignition times. The dependence of the ignition time on the sliding velocity and latent heat of the material is determined numerically.
Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur refraktometrischen, densimetrischen und dielektrischen Fettbestimmung in Raps

In Auswertung der Literatur uber einfach anzuwendende, zeit- und kostengunstige Methoden der Fettbestimmung werden das refraktometrische Verfahren nach LEITHE, das DK-metrische Verfahren nach WHITTEN und BAUMANN sowie ein densimetrisches Verfahren fur die Ermittlung des Fettgehaltes in Rapssaat ausgewahlt und experimentell gepruft. Prinzipiell erweisen sich alle 3 Verfahren als geeignet. Vorgeschlagen wird die Anwendung eines modifizierten LEITHE-Verfahrens unter Verwendung von Xylamon als Losungsmittel. Die Standardabweichungen liegen bei s = 0,13 bis 0,26, die ermittelten Absolutwerte stimmen innerhalb 0,5% mit den nach TGL 85-004 bestimmten Fettgehalten uberein.
Urinary retention after tension-free vaginal tape procedure: From incision to excision… to complete urethrolysis

We report on a healthy neurologically intact 45-year-old patient with persistent obstruction after a tension-free vaginal tape procedure necessitating several surgical procedures for correction.
Protein separation by ion exchange chromatography: A model for gradient elution

In this communication, we 1) extend for the first time the moment theory to gradient elution in ion exchange chromatography; 2) consider linear, exponential, and step gradients; and 3) relate retention time (first moment) and band spreading (second moment) to separation efficiency for gradient elution processes
Mechanism of high strain rate superplasticity in aluminium alloy composites

A constitutive equation has been obtained through an analysis of high strain rate superplasticity (HSRS) data on a 2124 Al-Si{sub 3}-N{sub 4} composite. The parametric dependencies of HSRS in composites are different from those observed in conventional aluminium alloys and mechanically alloyed alloys. The HSRS in composites exhibits high activation energy values of 293--338 kJ mol{sup {minus}1} and an inverse grain size and reinforcement size dependence. It is suggested that the mechanism of HSRS in composites is interface controlled superplasticity. This is depicted on a new superplasticity mechanism map for composites. The map can be used as a guideline for designing composites for optimum superplasticity.
Understanding the pitfalls of CCS cost estimates

Abstract This paper reviews and compares the prevailing methods, metrics and assumptions underlying cost estimates for CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies applied to fossil fuel power plants. This assessment reveals a number of significant differences and inconsistencies across different studies, not only in key technical, economic and financial assumptions related to the cost of a CCS project (such as differences in plant size, fuel type, capacity factor, and cost of capital) but also in the underlying methods and cost elements that are included (or excluded) in a particular study (such as the omission of certain “owner's” costs or the cost of transport and storage). Such differences often are not apparent in the cost results that are reported publicly or in the technical literature. In other cases, measures that have very different meanings (such as the costs of CO2 avoided, CO2 captured and CO2 abated) are all reported in similar units of “dollars per ton CO2”. As a consequence, there is likely to be some degree confusion, misunderstanding and possible mis-representation of CCS costs. Given the widespread interest in the cost of CCS and the potential for lower-cost CO2 capture technology, methods to improve the consistency and transparency of CCS cost estimates are needed.
Altered hepatic lipid metabolism in C57BL/6 mice fed alcohol: a targeted lipidomic and gene expression study

Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with fatty liver disease in mammals. The object of this study was to gain an understanding of dysregulated lipid metabolism in alcohol-fed C57BL/6 mice using a targeted lipidomic approach. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze several lipid classes, including free fatty acids, fatty acyl-CoAs, fatty acid ethyl esters, sphingolipids, ceramides, and endocannabinoids, in plasma and liver samples from control and alcohol-fed mice. The interpretation of lipidomic data was augmented by gene expression analyses for important metabolic enzymes in the lipid pathways studied. Alcohol feeding was associated with i) increased hepatic free fatty acid levels and decreased fatty acyl-CoA levels associated with decreased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and decreased fatty acyl-CoA synthesis, respectively; ii) increased hepatic ceramide levels associated with higher levels of the precursor molecules sphingosine and sphinganine; and iii) increased hepatic levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide associated with decreased expression of its catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase. The unique combination of lipidomic and gene expression analyses allows for a better mechanistic understanding of dysregulated lipid metabolism in the development of alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Counteraction of the anti-mitotic effects of D2O in the dividing eggs of Arbacia punctulata: A temperature-pressure analysis

Abstract Early prophase eggs of Arbacia punctulata were immersed in 70 per cent D2O sea water at three different temperatures (15 °, 20 ° and 25 °C) and then subjected to high pressure (1000 to 7000 psi). Subsequent counts as to the number of eggs that succeeded in the completion of the first cleavage division were made. These data formed a basis for analyzing the manner in which temperature influences the capacity of pressure to counteract the antimitotic effects of deuteration. Maximal release from mitotic blockage tended to decrease with increasing temperature, being 88 per cent at 15 °, 78 per cent at 20 ° and 71 per cent at 25 °C. The pressure required for maximal release was higher for the higher temperatures, being 3500 psi at 15 ° and 4500 psi at 20 ° and 25 °C. Moreover, in the pressure range below these maxima, each increment of 5 °C raised the pressure requirement for equivalent release by 500 to 1000 psi. The results are interpreted in terms of the effects of temperature, pressure and deuteration on the gel, or polymer, structure of the mitotic apparatus. Increasing temperature and deuteration tend to overstabilize this structure, whereas pressure tends to cause solation, or labilization. Thus pressure can counteract both the effects of temperature and deuteration by shifting the sol-gel equilibrium back into the range wherein mitotic function can continue.
Room-temperature remote sensing: Far-infrared imaging based on thermopile technology

This work presents recent advances on room-temperature far-infrared thermopile detectors. The focal plane arrays micromachined at JPL are integrated with dedicated radiation-hardened read-out circuit chips to provide remote sensing under high radiation conditions environments.
Chronic abscess of the prostate gland

LMOST every physician thinks the A term abscess of the prostate gIand refers 0nIy to an acute suppurative process evidenced by fever, chilIs, dysuria and other severe IocaI or systemic symptoms. WhiIe this is an important cIinica1 entity it occurs infrequentIy and it seems important to caII attention to the fact that the type of abscess most often encountered, though not aIways recognized, is chronic prostatic abscess, singIe or muItipIe, which exists for years, seIdom causes an acute febriIe episode, but which nevertheIess is primariIy or secondariIy responsible for very definite disability. This paper wiII deaI onIy with the Iatter variety of prostatic abscess. In 1933, I described a condition termed chronic abscess of the prostatic ducts and outIined a method of treatment. A Iater articIe discussed a group of sixty-seven cases of this type for which transurethra1 operations were performed at The Mayo CIinic during a period of three years. Since then severa additional cases have been subjected to operation, bringing the tota number of cases by January I, 1937, to 149.
Successful angioplasty of an occluded aberrant coronary artery: a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction.

A 48‐year‐old woman was admitted for an acute infero‐lateral myocardial infarction (AMI). The coronary angiography showed an occluded aberrant left circumflex artery taking off from the right sinus of Valsalva of the aortic root. This rare coronary anomaly represents a challenge for interventional cardiologists, especially in the setting of AMI, since it may be difficult to identify an aberrant occluded vessel, to predict its origin and course and finally to choose the material which offers an adequate support during the revascularization procedure. In this particular case, the percutaneous treatment of initially occluded aberrant circumflex artery was performed successfully.