cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modified Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics course: Feasibility, trainee satisfaction, and sustainability potential

Objective The main objective of this initiative was to present evaluation results from an innovative adaptation of the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) training course. We modified the traditional ALSO curriculum in our institution by adding hands-on training in laceration repairs and simulation scenarios on acute maternity care. Methods The modified ALSO provider course was designed to enhance cognitive and procedural skills of health care professionals in managing obstetric emergencies. Forty-nine participants attended this course and completed a posttraining survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participant-reported assessment scores for the ALSO course on three domains (subject knowledge, organization and clarity, and teaching effectiveness) for each of 12 course topics. Results Evaluation of the results showed a high rate of trainee satisfaction as evidenced by the mean assessment scores across all topics ranging from 4.80 to 4.98 (out of 5.00). All trainees said they would refer others to the course. Our modified ALSO course effectively addressed the important needs of primary care physicians involved in maternity care, especially in underserved communities where specialized obstetric care is not readily available. Both simulation scenarios and workshops using simulated human tissue provide a better foundation before formal training. Conclusion Given the changing legal and regulatory climate, we expect that learning to treat complex obstetric situations on the job will become increasingly risky. With this in mind, both simulation scenarios and workshops using simulated human tissue will provide a better foundation before formal training.
Monte Carlo closure for moment-based transport schemes in general relativistic radiation hydrodynamic simulations

General relativistic radiation hydrodynamics simulations are necessary to accurately model a number of astrophysical systems involving black holes and neutron stars. Photon transport plays a crucial role in radiatively dominated accretion disks, while neutrino transport is critical to core-collapse supernovae and to the modeling of electromagnetic transients and nucleosynthesis in neutron star mergers. However, evolving the full Boltzmann equations of radiative transport is extremely expensive. Here, we describe the implementation in the general relativistic SpEC code of a cheaper radiation hydrodynamics method which theoretically converges to a solution of Boltzmann's equation in the limit of infinite numerical resources. The algorithm is based on a gray two-moment scheme, in which we evolve the energy density and momentum density of the radiation. Two-moment schemes require a closure which fills in missing information about the energy spectrum and higher-order moments of the radiation. Instead of the approximate analytical closure currently used in core-collapse and merger simulations, we complement the two-moment scheme with a low-accuracy Monte-Carlo evolution. The Monte-Carlo results can provide any or all of the missing information in the evolution of the moments, as desired by the user. As a first test of our methods, we study a set of idealized problems demonstrating that our algorithm performs significantly better than existing analytical closures. We also discuss the current limitations of our method, in particular open questions regarding the stability of the fully coupled scheme.
A Genetic Marker Associated with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a repetitive strain injury involving synovial inflammation of the tendons of the first extensor compartment of the wrist. It is relatively common in the general population, and is the most common radial-sided tendinopathy seen in athletes. Identifying a genetic marker associated with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis could provide a useful tool to help identify those individuals with an increased risk for injury. A genome-wide association screen was performed using publically available data from the Research Program in Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH) including 4,129 cases and 98,374 controls. rs35360670 on chromosome 8 showed an association with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis at genome-wide significance (p=1.9×10−8; OR=1.46; 95% CI=1.38–1.59). This study is the first genome-wide screen for de Quervain's tenosynovitis and provides insights regarding its genetic etiology as well as a DNA marker with the potential to inform athletes and other high-risk individuals about their relative risk for injury.
Perceptions of College Among Latina/o Elementary Students:

This study uses empirical data from a version of the Clark doll experiment and Latina/o Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) to determine the factors that shape the perceptions of college among 35 randomly selected Latina/o children in Grades 2nd to 5th. The findings of this study lead to two conclusions: (a) that Latina/o children hold their race/ethnicity in lower regard when compared to Whites, exhibit an ambivalence regarding identity that negatively affects their self-esteem and their perceptions of college as an attainable goal; and (b) that Latinas perceived themselves more favorably than Latinos in all categories, which positively affects their perceptions of a college education.
Where does Afghanistan fit in China’s grand project? A content analysis of Afghan and Chinese news coverage of the One Belt, One Road initiative:

One Belt, One Road is a political and economic initiative developed by China to revive ancient trade routes in an effort to encourage international trade. One Belt, One Road will increase China’s e...
Language patterns in specific language impairment and high functioning autism (P3.214)

Objective: To examine differences in the use of language in children with specific language impairment (SLI) and high functioning autism (HFA) by analyzing verbal responses on standardized tests. Background: Specific Language impairment and autism spectrum disorders share symptoms of deficits in communication skills, while there are strong differences with regard to social skills and range of interests. However, there is ongoing debate regarding their classification as distinct conditions or as disorders sharing a common etiology. Previous work has identified differences in the cognitive profiles and neuroanatomy associated with these conditions. However, others argue that the 2 conditions are on a single spectrum and not etiologically distinct. This study analyzed phenotypic differences in the language patterns of children diagnosed with SLI or HFA. Design/Methods: Responses from the CELF-4 formulated sentences (FS) subtest and WASI vocabulary and similarities subtests of 16 children with SLI, 28 children with HFA, and 52 typically developing (TD) participants were examined for response length, grammatical errors, filler words, perseverations, revisions (repeated attempts to begin or continue a sentence), off topic attention shifts (lapses in attention to the task), and rambling. Data were analyzed using both parametric and non-parametric methods. Results: SLI responses were longer and contained more filler words than did those of the other two groups, while HFA responses exhibited more grammatical errors, off topic attention shifts, and rambling. Both SLI and HFA responses showed higher rates of perseveration compared to controls. There were no significant differences in revisions among the 3 groups. Conclusions: Differences in language patterns of participants with SLI and HFA suggest that these conditions may be distinct from each other. The observed differences may be useful clinically in distinguishing between the two conditions. Study Supported by: Supported by NIH #P50 NS22343 (DT, PI) and the UCSD School of Medicine Research Fellowship Disclosure: Dr. Craig has nothing to disclose. Dr. Trauner has received research support from Novartis.
Tools for the Assessment of Comorbidity Burden in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction: Comorbidities influence the prognosis, clinical outcomes, disease activity, and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients have a high comorbidity burden necessitating their study. Comorbidity indices are used to measure comorbidities and to study their impacts on different outcomes. A large number of such indices are used in clinical research. Some indices have been specifically developed in RA patients. Aim: This review aims to provide an overview of generic and specific comorbidity indices commonly used in RA research. Methods: We performed a critical literature review of comorbidity indices in RA using the PubMed database. Results/Discussion: This non-systematic literature review provide an overview of generic and specific comorbidity indices commonly used in RA studies. Some of the older but commonly used comorbidity indices like the Charlson comorbidity index and the Elixhauser comorbidity measure were primarily developed to estimate mortality risk from comorbid diseases. They were not specifically developed for RA patients but have been widely used in rheumatology comorbidity measurement. Of the many comorbidity indices available, only the rheumatic disease comorbidity index and the multimorbidity index have been specifically developed in RA patients. The functional comorbidity index was developed to look at functional disability and has been used in RA patients considering that morbidity is more important than mortality in such patients. While there is limited data comparing these indices, available evidence seems to favor the use of rheumatic disease comorbidity index as it predicts mortality, hospitalization, disability and healthcare utilization. The choice of the index, however, depends on several factors such as the population under study, outcome of interest, and sources of data. More research is needed to study the RA specific comorbidity measures to make evidence based recommendations for the choice of a comorbidity measure.
A System for the Preparation of Organohalogen Reference Materials with Marine Lipid Matrices

Well characterized reference materials which closely resemble real biota, water, or sediment samples are useful in establishing the accuracy of analyses for trace levels of analytes in such natural samples. Natural samples, sometimes enriched by addition of specific analytes, have been used in studies to compare the accuracy of analyses done in different laboratories. Such inter-calibration studies have been reported recently for organochlorine compounds (Harvey et al, 1974; Holden, 1975; Horn and Pavlou, 1976) in various matrices (biological materials, waters, sediments). Similar studies are now being conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Monaco, and by the National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Canada. The samples used in such studies have often not been generally available, particularly on a continuing basis after the completion of an intercalibration project.
USING SONG AS MEDIA IN TEACHING ENGLISH

This study was aimed at first investigating whether or not the use of songs significantly give effect as media in teaching English. Second, the difficulties faced by the students in learning English were also investigated. This quasi experimental research involved two classes of students of agriculture in UMTS. The data were collected through pretest, posttest and questionnaires. In analyzing the collected data, quantitative research method was employed. Furthermore, the data taken from questionnaires were also investigated to find out the difficulties faced by the students in using songs as media in learning English. The study found that the use of songs likely improves students’ motivation in learning English. It was evidenced by tobt (6.542) that greater than tcrit. As the result of the study, the null hypothesis of this research was rejected; the use of songs is likely to give effecct in learning English.
Spontaneous sternal fracture during labor in a healthy primigravida with female athlete triad: A case report.

Abstract Introduction This case raises awareness of the diagnosis of sternal fracture during labor and obviates the need for lengthy, expense-consuming workup. This report identifies a subset of women who may be at higher risk for this pathology. Methods Upon diagnosing and treating a patient who spontaneously fractured her sternum during labor, we reviewed previously reported cases and highlight key points of this entity. Results We report the third case of sternal fracture during labor in a healthy primigravida with female athlete triad. After 12 h of labor, the woman underwent epidural placement. By 16 h, the cervix was fully dilated. During the second push in the chin-to-chest position, a healthy baby was delivered, but the mother experienced acute anterior chest pain. Tenderness persisted for three weeks. Plain radiographs confirmed the presence of the fracture, which healed spontaneously. Conclusion While chest pain during labor often results from serious causes including pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and spontaneous pneumothorax, hyperflexion sternal fracture can occur, particularly in a woman with female athlete triad.
Impact of Geographic Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Minor Amputation Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes.

Abstract Background Socioeconomic disadvantage is a known contributor to adverse events and higher admission rates in the diabetic population. However, its impact on outcomes after lower extremity amputation is unclear. We aimed to assess the association of geographic socioeconomic disadvantage with short- and long-term outcomes after minor amputation in patients with diabetes. Materials and methods Geographic socioeconomic disadvantage was determined using the area deprivation index (ADI). All patients from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database (2012-2019) who underwent minor amputation with a concurrent diagnosis of diabetes were included and stratified by the ADI quartile. Associations of the ADI quartile with 30-day readmission and 1-year reamputation were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analyses and multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for baseline differences. Results A total of 7415 patients with diabetes underwent minor amputation (70.1% male, 38.7% black race), including 28.1% ADI1 (least deprived), 42.8% ADI2, 22.9% ADI3, and 6.2% ADI4 (most deprived). After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, the odds of 30-day readmission were greater in the intermediate ADI groups than those in the ADI1 group, but not among the most deprived. Adjusted odds of 1-year reamputation were greater among ADI4 than those among ADI1. Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed a greater likelihood of reamputation with an increasing ADI quartile over a 1-year period (P Conclusions Geographic socioeconomic disadvantage is independently associated with both short- and long-term outcomes after minor diabetic amputations in Maryland. A targeted approach addressing the health care needs of deprived regions may be beneficial in optimizing postoperative care in this vulnerable population.
A Knowledge Driven Approach to Adaptive Assistance Using Preference Reasoning and Explanation.

There is a need for socially assistive robots (SARs) to provide transparency in their behavior by explaining their reasoning. Additionally, the reasoning and explanation should represent the user's preferences and goals. To work towards satisfying this need for interpretable reasoning and representations, we propose the robot uses Analogical Theory of Mind to infer what the user is trying to do and uses the Hint Engine to find an appropriate assistance based on what the user is trying to do. If the user is unsure or confused, the robot provides the user with an explanation, generated by the Explanation Synthesizer. The explanation helps the user understand what the robot inferred about the user's preferences and why the robot decided to provide the assistance it gave. A knowledge-driven approach provides transparency to reasoning about preferences, assistance, and explanations, thereby facilitating the incorporation of user feedback and allowing the robot to learn and adapt to the user.
Epistemic practices in Bio Art

This paper addresses three aspects of Bio Art: iconography, artificial life, and wetware. The development of models for innovation require hybrid practices which generate knowledge through epistemic experimental practices. The intersection of art and the biological sciences contain both scientific data as well as the visualization of its cultural imagination. In the Bio Art Lab at the School of Visual Arts, artists use the tools of science to make art.
Clinical Outcomes of Molecular Tumor Boards: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSEWe conducted this systematic review to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with molecular tumor board (MTB) review in patients with cancer.METHODSA systematic search of PubMed was perf...
Modeling an analysis of diffusive and advective processes in geosciences

Not a collection of proceedings, but 11 papers on topics that emerged from a September 1989 conference in Houston on mathematical and computational issues in geophysical fluid and solid mechanics. The discussions include a semi-linear heat equation subject to the specification of energy, an analytic
Brain uptake of ammonia in fulminant hepatic failure: the role of cerebral blood flow

Two distinct neurological manifestations of the failing liver are brain edema in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with cirrhosis. In the first, cerebral swelling leading to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a devastating complication of FHF and is a leading cause of death in this syndrome.1 A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disturbances occurs in HE complicating chronic liver disease, which is only rarely associated with brain edema.2 Recently, astrocyte swelling has been proposed as a common pathological and functional alteration of the brain in a wide spectrum of liver disease.3 In this paradigm, brain edema would occur commonly in FHF but rarely in chronic liver disease, as a result of the compensatory loss of organic osmolytes from astrocytes in chronic liver disease.4 More recent clinical and experimental observations point to an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) as a factor that contributes to the development of brain swelling. Although clinical studies document widely varying values for CBF in FHF,5,6 it is acknowledged that even normal CBF may be in excess of the metabolic needs of the encephalopathic brain.7 More importantly, those patients with the highest CBF had the greatest degree of brain swelling and, as a result, the poorest clinical outcomes.5,6
Potential Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon-α and a Nucleos(t)ide Analogue as Combination Therapy for HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND/AIMS Despite the potent suppression of the hepatitis B virus with modern antiviral agents, only a minority of HBeAg-positive patients achieve hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion. We aimed to explore the potential efficacy of combination therapy consisting of pegylated interferon (p-IFN) and an oral antiviral agent in patients with HBeAgpositive chronic hepatitis B. METHODS The treatment protocol consisted of p-IFN-α-2a at 180 μg/wk for 48 weeks, with either entecavir or tenofovir added 8 weeks after the initiation of p-IFN and continued for at least 6 months after HBe seroconversion was achieved. RESULTS To date, 10 patients have been treated under the protocol (eight adults, mean age 36±8 years; two adolescents, aged 12 and 16 years). All eight adult patients experienced loss of HBeAg at a mean of 72.3±66.9 weeks, including six patients who also developed anti-HBe and one patient who had HBs seroconversion. Although both adolescents remain on therapy, one adolescent had HBs seroconversion without HBe seroconversion. A total of nine of our 10 patients experienced a favorable serological transition. CONCLUSIONS The combination of p-IFN and a modern oral antiviral agent may be more effective than monotherapy with either class of agent in the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
Statistical fluctuations in heart rate variability indices.

Abstract Short-term variability in the fetal heart rate (FHR) is believed to be associated with fetal well-being, and a number of quantitative indices of variability have been proposed. Before using such an index, its sampling properties must be well understood so that apparent changes in “variability” can be confidently attributed to biological origins rather than statistical sampling fluctuations. We have compared the sampling properties of two representative variability indices on computer-synthesized “random” FHR patterns. Both indices demonstrated statistical fluctuations which decreased with increasing sample size; the coefficient of variation of a single index value is approximately ɛ = 2 N with N being the number of cardiac cycles observed. In practice, if changes in variability are to be detected with reasonable confidence, heart rate observations of several minutes will generally be required.
Mutation of a Single MalK Subunit Severely Impairs Maltose Transport Activity in Escherichia coli

The maltose transport system of Escherichia coli, a member of the ABC transport superfamily of proteins, consists of a periplasmic maltose binding protein and a membrane-associated translocation complex that contains two copies of the ATP-binding protein MalK. To examine the need for two nucleotide-binding domains in this transport complex, one of the two MalK subunits was inactivated by site-directed mutagenesis. Complexes with mutations in a single subunit were obtained by attaching a polyhistidine tag to the mutagenized version of MalK and by coexpressing both wild-type MalK and mutant (His)6MalK in the same cell. Hybrid complexes containing one mutant (His)6MalK subunit and one wild-type MalK subunit were separated from those containing two mutant (His)6MalK proteins based on differential affinities for a metal chelate column. Purified transport complexes were reconstituted into proteoliposome vesicles and assayed for maltose transport and ATPase activities. When a conserved lysine residue at position 42 that is involved in ATP binding was replaced with asparagine in both MalK subunits, maltose transport and ATPase activities were reduced to 1% of those of the wild type. When the mutation was present in only one of the two subunits, the complex had 6% of the wild-type activities. Replacement of a conserved histidine residue at position 192 in MalK with arginine generated similar results. It is clear from these results that two functional MalK proteins are required for transport activity and that the two nucleotide-binding domains do not function independently to catalyze transport.
Terceros en el arbitraje: la situación del asegurador

Con base en la legislacion nacional e internacional, la presente obra aborda la situacion del asegurador frente a un proceso arbitral en el cual se decide la responsabilidad del asegurado o del tomador de la poliza y su posible participacion en el juicio; asi como, los efectos de la sentencia (laudo arbitral) a la que se arrive.
Dilemmas of East African Cooperation: Domestic Audience and Prisoner's Dilemma Approaches on Regional Integration

Regional cooperation in East Africa before and after independence has been through various institutions. The first East African Community (EAC) existed from 1967 to 1977; it was revived in 1999. Since then, there has been a mixture of cooperation, and intransigence in reforming internal processes for full EAC treaty implementation. No member state has utilised referenda to validate their positions, despite stated actions in ‘public interest’. This research uses theoretical assumptions of domestic audience and Prisoner's Dilemma approaches to evaluate two instances where Tanzania cooperated with partner states, and two non-cooperation instances. I hypothesise that domestic audience and Prisoner's Dilemma approaches provide insight into Tanzania's choices. This research applies paradigms of studying cooperation problems to regional institutions in Third World Countries (TWCs). I argue that just as in great powers, TWCs contend with problems of cooperation and sanctions from their audiences, given the potent...
Modeling cultural responses to volcanic disaster in the ancient Jama-Coaque tradition, coastal Ecuador: A case study in cultural collapse and social resilience

The cultural impacts of catastrophic Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcanism are characteristically variable throughout the world due to a wide range of factors such as magnitude of the eruptive event, proximity to the eruption, the geographic and ecological settings of the eruptive footprint, and relative social and political complexity of the societies affected. The reasons why one society succumbs to a volcanic disaster while another may recover are complex and not subject to invariant laws. Likewise, even in cases where recovery is possible, different pathways may be followed depending on a host of contingent factors. In archaeological cases, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between cultural developments that may be caused by volcanic disasters and those that are merely coincidental with these events, but not all volcanic eruptions lead to cultural collapse. Archaeological research in the Jama Valley of coastal Ecuador has revealed evidence of three volcanic eruptions emanating from the northern Ecuadorian highlands some 200 km to the east, all three of which represent major stratigraphic breaks in the regional archaeological record. The third of these volcanic events, now thought to have occurred at ∼90 AD, significantly affected the Muchique Phase 1 chiefdoms of the Jama–Coaque tradition that occupied much of northern Manabi province. And like the first two eruptive events in the Formative Period that led to centuries-long valley abandonment, this eruption also resulted in valley abandonment for several centuries. But it also ushered in a new ceramic phase (Muchique Phase 2) of the Jama–Coaque tradition, and a notable change in settlement hierarchy, ceramic figural sculpture, evidence for warfare, agricultural intensification and diversification, surplus storage facilities, and new forms of political complexity and chiefly authority. This paper offers a model of differential human response to catastrophic volcanism that focuses attention on human-resource imbalances resulting from such events and identifies a series of contingent circumstances in which complex chiefdoms may cope, and even flourish, in the aftermath of disaster.
Moderate movement leadership and the Vietnam moratorium committee

This essay considers rhetorical challenges faced by leaders of moderate protest movements through a case study of the Vietnam Moratorium Committee and its interactions with followers, the media, third parties, and the target establishment, the Nixon Administration.
Survival probability of non-linear oscillators subjected to broad-band random disturbances

Abstract An analytical method is developed for examining the first-passage problem formulated in context with the response of a class of lightly damped non-linear oscillators to broad-band random excitations. A circular (E-type) barrier is considered. The amplitude of the oscillator response is modeled as a Markovian process. This modeling leads to a backward Kolmogorov equation which governs the evolution of the survival probability of the oscillator. The Kolmogorov equation is solved approximately by using the Galerkin technique and a perturbation technique. A set of confluent hypergeometric functions are used as an orthogonal basis for the expansions which are involved in the application of the Galerkin technique and the perturbation technique. The proposed method is exemplified by considering the response of the classical Van der Pol oscillator to white noise excitation. The reliability of the derived analytical solution is assessed by comparison with digital data obtained by a Monte Carlo simulation.
Narrowing and rebroadening of amplified spontaneous emission in high gain laser media

Abstract A series of recent papers by Allen and Peters on line narrowing in high gain laser media is criticized. New data demonstrating spectral narrowing followed by rebroadening are presented.
Interview with Rich Friedrich, Dave Cohen, and Alex Dreiling

Dejan Milojicic discusses Web 2.0 and its implications for modern IT with three guests: Rich Friedrich, director of the Enterprise Systems and Service Lab in HP Labs; Dave Cohen, chief technology architect of Merrill Lynch; and Alex Dreiling, research program manager at SAP Labs in Brisbane.
Interactive Video: An Examination of Use and Effectiveness.

In the last few years, interactive video has made tremendous advances in hardware with corresponding reduction in cost. This article discusses the nature of interactive video, its educational use, evidence for effectiveness, and the design of interactive video courseware. The evidence seems to indicate that the medium is both effective and efficient, though few rigorous studies have been done. While a systematic approach is followed for producing interactive video, little discussion of design models and variables exists. The development or adaptation of consistent design models and further study on effectiveness, efficiency, and cost effectiveness are suggested.
By Any Other Name: Accounting for Failure in the Naming of Subject Categories.

Abstract Research shows 65–80% of subject search terms fail to match the appropriate subject heading and one-third to one-half of subject searches result in no references being retrieved. In a cross-sectional study, 82 students (3rd grade through college) were presented complex concepts in a naming task. Concreteness, complexity, and syndeticity contributed significantly in explaining match-failure and predicting match-success. The likelihood of match-success following an initial failure is improved by manipulating the values of these three properties. Developmental trends which worked against match-success were observed. It is suggested that match-failure is a consequence of developmental naming patterns and that these patterns can be overcome through the use of metacognitive naming skills.
Nonperturbative m_X cut effects in B-->X_sl^+Γ observables

Recently, it was shown that in inclusive B-->X_s[script-l]^+[script-l]Γ decay, an angular decomposition provides three independent (q^2 dependent) observables. A strategy was formulated to extract all measurable Wilson coefficients in B-->X_s[script-l]^+[script-l]Γ from a few simple integrals of these observables in the low q^2 region. The experimental measurements in the low q^2 region require a cut on the hadronic invariant mass, which introduces a dependence on nonperturbative b quark distribution functions. The associated hadronic uncertainties could potentially limit the sensitivity of these decays to new physics. We compute the nonperturbative corrections to all three observables at leading and subleading order in the power expansion in Lambda_(QCD)/m_b. We find that the subleading power corrections give sizeable corrections, of order -5% to -10% depending on the observable and the precise value of the hadronic mass cut. They cause a shift of order -0.05 GeV^2 to -0.1 GeV^2 in the zero of the forward-backward asymmetry.
Energy and Structure of the M2 Helix in Acetylcholine Receptor-Channel Gating

We studied single-channel currents from neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor-channels with mutations in the pore-lining, M2 helix of the ɛ-subunit. Three parameters were quantified: 1), the diliganded gating equilibrium constant (E2), which reflects the energy difference between C(losed) and O(pen) conformations; 2), the correlation between the opening rate constant and E2 on a log-log scale (Φ), which illuminates the energy character of the residue (C- versus O-like) within the C↔O isomerization process; and 3), the open-channel current amplitude (i0), which reports whether a mutation alters the energetics of ion permeation. The largest E2 changes were observed in the cytoplasmic half of ɛM2 (5′, 9′, 12′, 13′, and 16′), with smaller changes apparent for residues ≥17′. Φ was ∼0.54 for most ɛM2 residues, but was ∼0.32 at the positions that had largest E2 changes. An arginine substitution reduced i0 significantly at six positions, with the magnitude of the reduction increasing, 16′→2′. The measurements suggest that the 9′, 12′, and 13′ residues experience large and late free-energy changes in the channel-opening process. We speculate that in the gating isomerization the pore-facing residues >6′ and <16′ experience multiple energy perturbations associated with changes in protein structure and, perhaps, hydration.
Pathogenesis of Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Pneumococcal pneumonia poses a serious threat to children in developing countries and remains an important disease in the industrialized world. Capsular polysaccharide is the only bacterial factor proven to contribute to pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms responsible for the hypoxemia, toxemia, crisis, and death associated with this common infection are poorly understood. Toxins secreted by the bacteria, byproducts of bacterial breakdown (e.g., pneumolysin or teichoic acid), or constituents of the intense inflammatory response in the lung might play a role in these phenomena. Malnourished children presumably carry less metabolic reserve with which they can resist the exceptional stresses of pneumococcal disease, and underlying parasitic infestation or other chronic infections, through release of potent mediators such as tumor necrosis factor or platelet-activating factor, might prime the mechanisms of host defense for a more fulminant and systemic response to infection. Vaccines that can protect infants are badly needed, and a better understanding must be gained of the mechanisms by which this pathogen continues to cause such devastating disease in the world's children and elderly.
Effect of Quantum-Well Structures on the Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in the Si/Si1-xGex System

The Si/Si1-xGex quantum well system is attractive for high temperature thermoelectric applications and for demonstration of proof-of-principle for enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit Z, since the interfaces and carrier densities can be well controlled in this system. We report theoretical calculations for Z in this system, based on which Si/Si1-xGex quantum-well structures were grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. Thermoelectric and other transport measurements were made, indicating that an increase in Z over bulk values is possible through quantum confinement effects in the Si/Si1-xGex quantum-well structures.
Functional Interactions between Mldp (LSDP5) and Abhd5 in the Control of Intracellular Lipid Accumulation

Cellular lipid metabolism is regulated in part by protein-protein interactions near the surface of intracellular lipid droplets. This work investigated functional interactions between Abhd5, a protein activator of the lipase Atgl, and Mldp, a lipid droplet scaffold protein that is highly expressed in oxidative tissues. Abhd5 was highly targeted to individual lipid droplets containing Mldp in microdissected cardiac muscle fibers. Mldp bound Abhd5 in transfected fibroblasts and directed it to lipid droplets in proportion to Mldp concentration. Analysis of protein-protein interactions in situ demonstrated that the interaction of Abhd5 and Mldp occurs mainly, if not exclusively, on the surface of lipid droplets. Oleic acid treatment rapidly increased the interaction between Abhd5 and Mldp, and this effect was suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of triglyceride synthesis. The functional role of the Abhd5-Mldp interaction was explored using a mutant of mouse Abhd5 (E262K) that has greatly reduced binding to Mldp. Mldp promoted the subcellular colocalization and interaction of Atgl with wild type, but not mutant, Abhd5. This differential interaction was reflected in cellular assays of Atgl activity. In the absence of Mldp, wild type and mutant Abhd5 were equally effective in reducing lipid droplet formation. In contrast, mutant Abhd5 was unable to prevent lipid droplet accumulation in cells expressing Mldp despite considerable targeting of Atgl to lipid droplets containing Mldp. These results indicate that the interaction between Abhd5 and Mldp is dynamic and essential for regulating the activity of Atgl at lipid droplets containing Mldp.
Laboratory study of survival and duration of individual zoeal stages as a function of temperature in the brachyuran crab Cancer magister

Larvae were hatched from ovigerous Dungeness crabs, Cancer magister, collected from Puget Sound Basin, Washington, USA, in April, 1986, and the effects of temperature on rates of survival and development were studied for each of the five zoeal stages both in small batch-culture and in individual culture. Culture method had little effect on the results at 10°, 15°, and 20°C. Increased mortality was measured at all stages at 20°C, with 100% mortality occurring during the terminal fifth stage. Fifth stage larvae may also show higher mortality at 15°C than at 10°C. Stage duration varied inversely with temperature at all stages, although differences between 10° and 15°C were greater than between 15° and 20°C. The results indicate that survival and stage duration are independent of the values for the previous and subsequent stages, that variability among larvae in instar duration increases with temperature, and that the terminal fifth zoeal stage is the most sensitive to temperature stress. Duration of a late zoeal instar is not related to its earlier development rate nor can early development rates be used to predict whether individual zoeae will successfully develop to the megalopa. Measurements of megalopa dry weights indicate no differences due either to previous culture temperatures or to total time to the megalopa. Predictive models of larval transport that require estimates of larval duration should account for both changes in temperature response that can affect individual stage duration, and variability among individuals in stage duration that can influence the degree of larval dispersion.
The evolution of corporate social responsibility

Over the past several decades, corporate socialresponsibility (CSR) has grown from a narrow andoften marginalized notion into a complex and multi-faceted concept, one which is increasingly central tomuch of today’s corporate decision making. To theextent that corporate social responsibility was evendiscussedseveraldecadesago,thesediscussionswereconfined to a small group of academics.AmongthefirstacademicstodebatethetopicwereColumbia professor Adolf A. Berle and Harvard pro-fessor E. Merrick Dodd, in a series of articles featuredin the Harvard Law Review. Whereas Berle contendedthatmanagerswereresponsibleonly toafirm’sshare-holders,Doddarguedthat managershadawiderrangeof responsibilities. In a classic exchange, ProfessorDodd(1932) asked:“Forwhomarecorporatemanagerstrustees?” (p. 1145). Answering his own query, heposited that corporate mana gers were responsible tothe public as a whole, and not just to shareholders.The crux of Dodd’s argument was his contentionthat, in addition to the economic responsibilities theyowed shareholders, managers had social responsibili-ties to society because the modern large firm is “per-mittedandencouragedbythelawprimarilybecauseitisofservicetothecommunityratherthanbecauseitisasourceofprofittoitsowners ”(Dodd,1932,p.1149).This reasoning became the intellectual basis for theassertion that firms have a corporate social responsi-bility. Although many other proponents of “sharehold-er primacy” still disagree, by 1954, Professor Berlefamously declared that “the argument has beensettled (at least for the time being) squarely in favorof Professor Dodd’scontention” (Berle, 1954, p. 169).During the 1950s and 1960s, the United Stateswitnessedthebirthofthemodernactivistmovements.The modern civil rights movement gained momentumwiththe1954decisionof Brownv.BoardofEducation.The environmental movement was at least in partsparked by the publication of Rachael Carson’s (1962)Silent Spring. Some trace the beginnings of themodern consumer movement back to the publicationof Ralph Nader’s (1965) first book, Unsafe at AnySpeed. The Vietnam War of the 1960s and early 1970sswept these and other social movements together,permanently changing the business environment inAmericaandtheworldbyusheringinaneraofactivistgroups and NGOs that are concerned about businessesandbusinesspractices,andwhichtodayoftenattemptto focus media attention on business practices theyconsider to be unethical or irresponsible.Unwanted media attention can seriously tarnishcorporate reputation, which in turn can lead todecreases in sales or employee dissatisfaction. Iffirms do not react appropriately, this media attentioncan also lead to unwanted legislation and regulation.In today’s business environment, executives musteither embrace corporate social responsibility or riskserious consequences.Asaresult,thefocusofthedebatechangedinthe1970s from corporate social responsibility to
Monitoring the total organic carbon concentrations in a lake with the integrated data fusion and machine-learning (IDFM) technique

The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) in surface waters is subject to seasonal variation, as well as abrupt changes in concentration due to events. In drinking water treatment, TOC is a precursor to disinfection byproducts such as total trihalomethanes (TTHM). With the aid of an early warning system for the detection of TOC concentrations, water treatment operators could make more informed decisions and adjust the treatment processes to minimize the generation of disinfection byproducts. In this paper, a near real-time monitoring system is explored using the Integrated Data Fusion and Machine-learning (IDFM) technique to predict the spatial distribution of TOC in a lake based upon surface reflectance data from satellite imagery. Landsat 5 TM and MODIS Terra satellite imagery can be acquired free of charge, yet MODIS has coarse spatial resolution, while Landsat has a lengthy 16 day revisit time. This difficulty is solved using data fusion algorithms to fuse the fine spatial resolution of Landsat with the daily revisit time of MODIS to generate a synthetic image with both high spatial and temporal resolution. To demonstrate the capabilities of IDFM, this case study uses the fused surface reflectance band data and applied machine-learning techniques to reconstruct the spatiotemporal distribution of TOC in Harsha Lake, which serves as the source water intake for the McEwen Water Treatment Plant in Ohio. The results of this application of IDFM were analyzed using 4 statistical indices, which indicated that the Artificial Neural Network model is capable of reconstructing TOC concentrations throughout the lake.
Epitaxial growth of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in strained silicon for research on ultra-low energy electronic processes

Abstract We present a review of the progress in the field of 2DEG in strained Si/SiGe heterostructures during the past 20 or so years. We highlight the difference in the key challenges in sample preparation between the samples for low-temperature transport studies and those for field-effect transistor (FET) applications. The requirements of low electron density and high electron mobility for low-temperature electron transport are also discussed. High mobility (> 300,000 cm2/V s) can be reproducibly achieved recently and low electron sheet density (1.1 × 1011 cm− 2) in modulation-doped samples (as opposed to gated) has also been observed. Magnetotransport measurements provide indications of the mobility limiting factors thereby pointing to the plausible directions for further improvements on the strained Si sample quality.
Best Practices in PET/CT: Consensus on Performance of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) using the glucose metabolism tracer 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) has become a widespread and preferred imaging modality for evaluating most cancers. Since commercial PET-CT scanners became available in 2001, there has been rapid dissemination of this hybrid imaging modality and PET-CT scanners have largely replaced stand-alone PET scanners. How PET-CT scans are performed and applied to cancer management has varied considerably, in part reflecting the varied background of the practice settings and training experience of the physicians performing and interpreting the PET-CT studies. Combined PET/CT with FDG has become the gold standard in oncologic imaging by accurately defining anatomy and function of many tumors. From April 2-4, 2008, a focus group composed of physicians and technologists from different practice settings and training backgrounds entitled "Best Practices in PET/CT Symposium" was held in Sonoma, California. The symposium focused on optimization of PET-CT protocols but also included other pertinent topics related to PET-CT imaging in oncology. This article summarizes areas of consensus reached by the group regarding many of the discussion topics. The summary consensus covered in this article is meant to provide direction for future discussions on how to improve the application of this hybrid modality to patient care.
Effect of cirrhosis and debrisoquin phenotype on the disposition and effects of pinacidil.

Pinacidil is an investigational vasodilator currently undergoing clinical trials as an antihypertensive agent. It is metabolized in humans to pinacidil N-oxide. To determine whether pinacidil's metabolism or effects were influenced by either liver disease or the subject's debrisoquin phenotype, eight patients with chronic stable cirrhosis and 13 healthy subjects were studied. Seven of the healthy volunteers were extensive metabolizers of debrisoquin, whereas six were of the poor metabolizer phenotype. Neither the clearance of pinacidil nor the production of the N-oxide was altered by the subjects' debrisoquin phenotype. Cirrhosis produced a 50% reduction in pinacidil's clearance (20.7 ± 1.4 vs. 42.1 ± 5.1 L/hr; P < 0.0005) and a prolongation in the elimination t½ from 3.9 ± 0.3 to 6.1 ± 0.6 hours (P < 0.01). Less pinacidil was metabolized to the N-oxide metabolite in the patients with cirrhosis than in the normal individuals. Thus pinacidil's metabolism and clearance are reduced in patients with cirrhosis but are independent of debrisoquin phenotype. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 650–655; doi:10.1038/clpt.1986.240
Anatomic Significance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Hip Fracture

This study was done to determine the histologic etiology for the linear black signal seen on magnetic resonance imaging at the site of proximal femoral fractures. No previous satisfactory explanation for this black line exists in the literature. To determine the pathologic etiology of this linear black signal, the magnetic resonance imaging appearances of osteotomies and fractures of proximal femora were correlated with gross and histologic appearances in 12 freshly frozen porcine hips. In phase 1, a unilateral femoral neck osteotomy was performed in 1 hip, and a sham operation was performed on the contralateral hip. The radiologist was able to easily determine the site and side of the osteotomy using magnetic resonance imaging. In phase 2, the remaining 8 femoral specimens were stressed using the 1125 Instron Materials Testing Machine in a compression mode. In the 8 specimens, 4 fractures were created that were visible on magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiographs; 2 fractures were apparent only on magnetic resonance images, and 2 specimens did not have fractures identified by plain radiographs or magnetic resonance images. Gross and microscopic analysis of the specimens confirmed the magnetic resonance imaging findings in all 8 cases (6 fractures and 2 nonfractures). Histologic evaluation showed trabecular impaction at the 6 fracture sites corresponding to the linear black signal on magnetic resonance images. No edema or hemorrhage was present in these postmortem specimens. The authors conclude that the low signal band seen with proximal femoral fractures is produced by impaction of the trabecular bone and is not the result of perifracture edema or hemorrhage.