cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association of congenital skin disorders with acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid.

We describe a fetus with epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica and a fetus with aplasia cutis congenita who were normal by careful ultrasound examination but whose midtrimester amniotic fluids exhibited elevated concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein and presence of acetyl-cholinesterase. These cases show that serious fetal skin pathology can be a source of amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase and elevated alpha-fetoprotein concentration and should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of these amniotic fluid findings.
Real Options as Engines of Choice and Heterogeneity

Four characterizations of options exist: (1) as a component of total firm value, (2) as specific projects, (3) as choices, and (4) as a heuristic for strategic investment. Option value exists when two conditions apply: future choices and potential for proprietary access to outcomes. Narrower boundary conditions are inconsistent with theory and incomplete for application. The option lens has promise for its power to shed economic insight into behavioral processes.
Decentralization As Political Strategy In West Africa

Administrative and political decentralization have emerged as high developmental priorities in Africa and elsewhere. Although the possible benefits of such reforms have been well theorized, the act...
Cure-state monitoring and water-to-cement ratio determination of fresh Portland cement-based materials using near-field microwave techniques

Quick and nondestructive determination of cure-state and water-to-cement (w/c) ratio in fresh Portland cement-based materials is an important issue in the construction industry since the compressive strength of these materials is significantly influenced by w/c ratio. In this paper, the results of a study demonstrating the potential for early determination of cure-state and w/c ratio of Portland cement-based materials, using a near-field microwave inspection technique, are presented. This technique utilizes the reflection properties of an open-ended rectangular waveguide probe radiating into Portland cement-based materials at 5 GHz (G-band) and 10 GHz (X-band). The results demonstrate the ability of near-field microwave sensing techniques to determine the state of hydration of cement paste and concrete with 0.50 and 0.60 w/c ratios and varying aggregate contents. An empirical formula relating the magnitude of reflection coefficient to the curing time is presented. Using this empirical relationship, the w/c ratio of cement paste and concrete can be unambiguously determined when daily monitoring of the reflection properties of the specimens is performed. The potential for utilizing this technique for on-site monitoring of cure-state and w/c ratio (and compressive strength) determination is also discussed.
Capacity Building Through Partnership: Intermediary Nongovernmental Organizations as Local and Global Actors:

Partnership and capacity building have become popular strategies among intermediary nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Partnership is viewed as a cure for centrally managed bureaucratic NGOs and capacity building as a measure for strengthening local NGOs. This article examines the case of an intermediary NGO that followed a unique strategy combining capacity building through partnership. Through this, it reveals the trade-offs involved in the choice of an appropriate governance structure. It was found that although the decentralized network form of governance proved to be a powerful innovation, it presented a paradox. Especially in this case where the goal was transmission of specific values and perspectives about sustainable development, such a strategy posed a complex set of trade-offs. Drawing from the experience of this organization, the author suggests that a “plural form” organization may provide maximum governance efficiency for intermediary NGOs like the one examined here. These insights may al...
Determinants of Arterial Wall Remodeling During Lipid-Lowering Therapy Serial Intravascular Ultrasound Observations From the Reversal of Atherosclerosis With Aggressive Lipid Lowering Therapy (REVERSAL) Trial

Background— Coronary plaque progression and instability are associated with expansive remodeling of the arterial wall. However, the remodeling response during plaque-stabilizing therapy and its relationship to markers of lipid metabolism and inflammation are incompletely understood. Methods and Results— Serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data from the Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering Therapy (REVERSAL) trial were obtained during 18 months of intensive versus moderate lipid-lowering therapy. In a subgroup of 210 patients, focal coronary lesions with mild luminal narrowing were identified. Lumen area, external elastic membrane (EEM) area, and plaque area were determined at the lesion and proximal reference sites at baseline and during follow-up. The remodeling ratio (RR) was calculated by dividing the lesion EEM area by the reference EEM area. The relationship between the change in remodeling, change in plaque area, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers was examined. At the l...
Neonatal Osteomyelitis Associated with Staphylococcus aureus in Turkey Poults

Abstract A case of Staphylococcus aureus infection causing osteomyelitis in young turkey poults is described. Mortality during the first week after hatching was 12.6%. Poults showed leg weakness, inflammation of all four toes, swelling of feet and hock joints, and osteomyelitis of the proximal tibiotarsus. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from exudate in the hock joints and footpads. Granulocytic infiltration and colonies of gram-positive coccoid bacteria compatible with S. aureus were found on microscopic examination of the lesions. Toe trimming after hatching is believed to have provided a portal of entry for S. aureus, which resulted in infection of the toes and spread along tendons to joints and bones of the leg. Neonatal staphylococcal osteomyelitis should be considered when recently placed turkey flocks experience increased mortality, especially if they develop severe swelling and inflammation of toes following trimming and have enlarged swollen feet, tendons, or joints.
Al, Si, and Mg occupancies in tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated sites in synthetic aluminous tremolite

A series of aluminous tremolites was synthesized at 800‐850 8C and 6‐13 kbar along the join Ca1.8Mg5.2Si8O22(OH)2-Ca1.8(Mg4.2Al)(AlSi7)O22(OH)2 by means of the Mg-Tschermaks substitution. Although the amphibole yields were high (97‐99 wt%), traces of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, amorphous silica, and, for the most aluminous mixture, corundum, were identified in some synthesis products. The samples were characterized by electron microprobe (EMP), X-ray diffraction Rietveld structure refinement (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy for the purpose of identifying the extent of Al, Mg, and Si order-disorder in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. Both EMP and 27 Al NMR verify that the Mg-Tschermaks substitution, with even distribution of Al between tetrahedral and octahedral sites, is obeyed in these amphiboles up to a limit of 1.9 total Al atoms per formula unit (apfu). 29 Si MAS NMR spectra indicate that Al substitutes essentially equally into both the T1 and T2 sites. For octahedral sites, the FTIR spectra indicate the presence of Al on the M1, M3, or both sites (presently indistinguishable) by the presence of an (MgMgAl)-OH band at 3652 cm 21 , which increases steadily with increasing Al content. The FTIR and 27 Al MAS NMR spectra show that Al is always present in the M1-M3 sites as well as the M2 site but partitioned among these sites in ways that are not clearly resolved at present. It is clear in this study that Al is more widely distributed over the octahedral and tetrahedral sites in synthetic aluminous tremolite with only a moderate Al content (,2.0 Al apfu) than has been traditionally thought.
Minireview: Lipid Droplets in Lipogenesis and Lipolysis

Organisms store energy for later use during times of nutrient scarcity. Excess energy is stored as triacylglycerol in lipid droplets during lipogenesis. When energy is required, the stored triacylglycerol is hydrolyzed via activation of lipolytic pathways. The coordination of lipid storage and utilization is regulated by the perilipin family of lipid droplet coat proteins [perilipin, adipophilin/adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP), S3-12, tail-interacting protein of 47 kilodaltons (TIP47), and myocardial lipid droplet protein (MLDP)/oxidative tissues-enriched PAT protein (OXPAT)/lipid storage droplet protein 5 (LSDP5)]. Lipid droplets are dynamic and heterogeneous in size, location, and protein content. The proteins that coat lipid droplets change during lipid droplet biogenesis and are dependent upon multiple factors, including tissue-specific expression and metabolic state (basal vs. lipogenic vs. lipolytic). New data suggest that proteins previously implicated in vesicle trafficking, inclu...
On the distribution of gamma cells in the cat retina.

Ganglion cells of the cat retina that are neither alpha nor beta cells are often lumped for convenience into a single anatomical group-the gamma cells (Boycott & Wassle, 1974 ; Stone, 1983 ; Wassle & Boycott, 1991). Defined in this way, gamma cells are the morphological counterpart to the physiological W-cell class, which includes all ganglion cells that are neither Y (alpha) nor X (beta) cells. We have estimated the retinal distribution of gamma cells by using retrograde transport to label ganglion cells innervating the superior colliculus and by assuming that these included virtually all gamma cells and no beta cells. We excluded labeled alpha cells on the basis of soma size. Our data suggest that gamma cells represent just under half of the ganglion cells in most of the nasal retina, but only about a third of those in the area centralis and temporal retina. Gamma cells do not appear to be more highly concentrated in the nasal visual streak than are other ganglion cells. In the temporal retina, gamma cells with crossed projections to the brain are apparently at least twice as common as those with uncrossed projections.
Testing theories of star formation

Recently developed models of star formation involve infall onto a disk which then accretes onto the star (Shu, Adams, and Lizano 1987, Ann. Rev. Astr. Ap., 25, 23). Since this disk is a likely candidate for the formation of planetary systems, this picture has considerable significance for bioastronomy. Current spatial resolution does not usually allow direct detection of the disks, so tests of the overall model are important. Various observational tests of these models will be presented, including far-infrared and molecular line observations.
Real-time flood forecasting by relating local stage and remote discharge

AbstractThe rating curve model (RCM) proposed by Moramarco and co-authors is modified here for flood forecasting purposes without using rainfall information. The RCM is a simple approach for discharge assessment at a river site of interest based on relating the local recorded stage and the remote discharge monitored at an upstream gauged river site located some distance away. The proposed RCM for real-time application (RCM-RT), involves only two parameters and can be used for river reaches where significant lateral flows occur. The forecast lead time depends on the mean wave travel time of the reach. The model is found to be accurate for a long reach of the Po River (northern Italy) and for two branches of the Tiber River (central Italy) characterized by different intermediate drainage areas and wave travel times. Moreover, the assessment of the forecast uncertainty coming from the model parameters is investigated by performing a Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, the model capability to accurately forecast...
The equivalence of compressor pressure-flow relationships with respect to jet nebulizer aerosolization characteristics.

Manufacturers of aerosolized medications, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, specify the nebulizer(s) and compressor to be used with their product, in an attempt to achieve efficacy comparable to that obtained in the clinical trials. The need to limit the compressor to that used in the trials has not been investigated in detail. We suggest a technique to determine the equivalency of different compressors such that a chosen nebulizer's performance is not significantly altered. Aerosol particle size (MMD) was measured with a laser; compressor flow and pressure were measured with a mass flow meter and pressure gauge, respectively. For all models of nebulizer, increased flow or driving pressure caused a decrease in aerosol MMD. The flow resistance of nebulizer models varied, and the flow output of compressors decreased as imposed nebulizer resistance increased. However, for any specific compressor-nebulizer combination there is a unique flow and pressure, and the nebulizer generates a given MMD. We...
Communication models for third party load frequency control

With deregulation of the power generation sector, the necessity for an enhanced and open communication infrastructure to support an increasing variety of ancillary services is apparent. A duplex and distributed communication system seems to be the most suitable solution to meet and ensure good quality of these services. Parameters needed and additional limits introduced by this new communication topology must be investigated and defined. This paper focuses on the communication network requirements for a third party load frequency control service. Data communication models are proposed based on queuing theory. Simulation is performed to model the effects of certain types of signal delays on this ancillary service.
Annual Production and Production: Biomass Ratios for Three Species of Stream Trout in Lake Superior Tributaries

Abstract We made estimates of annual production of stream trout in two Lake Superior tributaries in northeastern Minnesota in 1977–1978. The Caribou River (total alkalinity, 34 mg/L as CaCO3) drains part of the north shore of Lake Superior in an igneous rock geology. The Blackhoof River (total alkalinity, 83 mg/L) drains glacial drift and lake clay at the western end of Lake Superior. Annual production of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the Caribou River was estimated to be 58.0 kg (wet weight) per hectare, reflecting low water fertility. In the Blackhoof River, annual production was 43.5 kg of brown trout Salmo trutta and 95.7 kg of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss per hectare, The total salmonid production of 139.2 kg/hectare in the Blackhoof River appeared to reflect an intermediate level of water fertility. Ratios of annual production: mean standing stock (P/B) were calculated to be 2.2 for juvenile rainbow trout, 1.7 for brook trout, and 0.9 for brown trout. These values suggest an inv...
Boundary scan with cellular-based built-in self-test

Boundary scan merging with built-in self-test is discussed. The proposed implementation of boundary scan represents a snapshot of the Joint Test Advisory Group Recommendation 1.0, while the built-in self-test implements the features of cellular automata. Test patterns generated from two distinct sources are examined, one with registers using cellular automata and the other, based on the conventional LFSR (linear-feedback shift register) configuration. Distinctive effects of these patterns on fault coverage of specific designs are analyzed and illustrated. >
Is dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) produced by the symbionts or the host in an anemone–zooxanthella symbiosis?

Many groups of tropical cnidarians including scleractinian corals, octocorals, corallimorphs, and anemones contain the tertiary sulfonium compound dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). It is not known if the compound is synthesized by the animals, their microalgal symbionts, or derived through their diet. We determined the source of the DMSP in several species of tropical and temperate anemones using three approaches: (1) conducting comparative measurements of DMSP in aposymbiotic and zooxanthellate anemones of three species that harbor zooxanthellae, and similar measurements in one species that can harbor both zooxanthellae and zoochlorellae, (2) manipulating the presence or absence of zooxanthellae by inoculating juvenile aposymbiotic anemones (Aiptasia pallida) with their symbiont, Symbiodinium bermudense, and (3) manipulating the numbers of S. bermudense by growing aposymbiotic and zooxanthellate A. pallida in the light and the dark. DMSP was present in zooxanthellate anemones in concentrations of 3.4–15 μmol g−1 fresh mass (FM). In aposymbiotic Aiptasia spp. and Anthopleura elegantissima that lacked large numbers of zooxanthellae, concentrations ranged from being undetectable to 0.43 μmol g−1 FM. When aposymbiotic A. pallida were inoculated with zooxanthellae, concentrations of DMSP were an average of 4.24 μmol g−1 FM after 5 weeks; DMSP was undetectable in uninoculated control animals. Aposymbiotic anemones maintained in the light or the dark for 6 weeks contained no DMSP or zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellate anemones in the light contained five times as many zooxanthellae and approximately 7.5 times as much DMSP as zooxanthellate anemones maintained in the dark. Taken together, these data show that the zooxanthellae are the sole source of DMSP in A. pallida. The trends in DMSP concentrations in other species of zooxanthellate anemones suggest that this phenomenon is not limited to A. pallida but may be more generally true for other anemones or even other cnidarians hosting species of Symbiodinium.
Challenge of creating accurate and effective kinetic-energy functionals

The accuracy and effectiveness of various kinetic-energy functionals in providing total noninteracting kinetic energies, atomization kinetic energies, and equilibrium properties is evaluated. Employing converged Kohn-Sham densities, we assess various kinetic-energy functionals in a non-self-consistent manner. It is found
Is the tobacco settlement constitutional

In August 2005, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a conservative “think tank” and advocacy organization, filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the Louisiana Attorney General challenging the legality of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). If successful, this lawsuit could lead to the unraveling of one of the most significant opportunities to improve public health in United States history. Under the MSA, forty-six states agreed to end their litigation against the four largest tobacco companies in the United States, who in turn agreed to pay the states an estimated $206 billion. The CEI alleges that the MSA is unconstitutional. Specifically, the suit alleges that the MSA established a cartel under which the states receive monetary payments and the four major tobacco companies are insulated from price competition – and that this arrangement violates the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Biochemical requirements for PCBCK1 kinase activity, the Pneumocystis carinii MEKK involved in cell wall integrity

Fungal cell wall assembly is a complicated process involving multiple enzymes and coordinated signaling pathways. The cell wall integrity MAPK pathway acts to stabilize the fungal cell wall during conditions of elevated temperature by regulation of glucan synthesis. The upstream kinase, BCK1, is a critical component of this pathway. Pneumonia is a significant cause of death from the fungal opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis in immunocompromised states, especially with HIV infection. We have previously shown that PCBCK1 functions in the cell wall integrity pathway in yeast as a functional protein kinase. Kinases have specific requirements for enzymatic function which have not been investigated in fungi. Here we examine the biochemical requirements for PCBCK1 kinase activity expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae bck1D yeast. PCBCK1 requires 10 mM MgCl2, pH 6, temperature 30 C, and 10 lM ATP for kinase activity. Interference of the Pneumocystis cell wall integrity pathway is an attractive target for drug development since glucan synthesis machinery is not present in humans. 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Operand Registers and Explicit Operand Forwarding

Operand register files are small, inexpensive register files that are integrated with function units in the execute stage of the pipeline, effectively extending the pipeline operand registers into register files. Explicit operand forwarding lets software opportunistically orchestrate the routing of operands through the forwarding network to avoid writing ephemeral values to registers. Both mechanisms let software capture short-term reuse and locality close to the function units, improving energy efficiency by allowing a significant fraction of operands to be delivered from inexpensive registers that are integrated with the function units. An evaluation shows that capturing operand bandwidth close to the function units allows operand registers to reduce the energy consumed in the register files and forwarding network of an embedded processor by 61%, and allows explicit forwarding to reduce the energy consumed by 26%.
Deep Convection and ''First Echoes'' within Anvil Precipitation

The development of convective cells within anvil precipitation, in a region of moderate convective activity that might be called a small mesoscale convective system, is described and discussed. The presence of precipitation-sized hydrometeors in the air as the convection develops makes early stages visible to radar that might not otherwise be seen. Two kinds of convective initiation are illustrated. In one, a vigorous cell is initiated over an outflow boundary, but within light precipitation. In the other, the initiation is evidently by an instability created by the melting layer, perhaps by a mechanism first discussed by Findeisen. In this latter type, the new convective elements are not severe but they generate supercooled cloud within the anvil, extend entirely through the anvil to altitudes above 12 km MSL, and produce graupel showers with rain at the ground exceeding 50 dBZ. The instability itself may be generated in large part by moistening and cooling the sounding by the falling precipitation.
Regulation of skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor gene expression by biomechanical unloading

Biomechanical unloading of the rat soleus by hindlimb unweighting is known to induce atrophy and a slow- to fast-twitch transition of skeletal muscle contractile properties, particularly in slow-twitch muscles such as the soleus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor gene is upregulated in unloaded slow-twitch soleus muscles. A rat DHP receptor cDNA was isolated by screening a random-primed cDNA lambda gt10 library from denervated rat skeletal muscle with oligonucleotide probes complementary to the coding region of the rabbit DHP receptor cDNA. Muscle mass and DHP receptor mRNA expression were assessed 1, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days after hindlimb unweighting in rats by tail suspension. Isometric twitch contraction times of soleus muscles were measured at 28 days of unweighting. Northern blot analysis showed that tissue distribution of DHP receptor mRNA was specific for skeletal muscle and expression was 200% greater in control fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) than in control soleus muscles. A significant stimulation (80%) in receptor message of the soleus was induced as early as 24 h of unloading without changes in muscle mass. Unloading for 28 days induced marked atrophy (control = 133 +/- 3 vs. unweighted = 62.4 +/- 1.8 mg), and expression of the DHP receptor mRNA in the soleus was indistinguishable from levels normally expressed in EDL muscles. These changes in mRNA expression are in the same direction as the 37% reduction in time to peak tension and 28% decrease in half-relaxation time 28 days after unweighting. Our results suggest that muscle loading necessary for weight support modulates the expression of the DHP receptor gene in the soleus muscle.
Tumor-Unrelated CD4 T Cell Help Augments CD134 Plus CD137 Dual Costimulation Tumor Therapy

The ability of immune-based cancer therapies to elicit beneficial CD8(+) CTLs is limited by tolerance pathways that inactivate tumor-specific CD4 Th cells. A strategy to bypass this problem is to engage tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells. Thus, CD4 T cells, regardless of their specificity per se, can boost CD8(+) CTL priming as long as the cognate epitopes are linked via presentation on the same dendritic cell. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic impact of engaging tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells during dual costimulation with CD134 plus CD137 that provide help via the above-mentioned classical linked pathway, as well as provide nonlinked help that facilitates CTL function in T cells not directly responding to cognate Ag. We found that engagement of tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells dramatically boosted the ability of dual costimulation to control the growth of established B16 melanomas. Surprisingly, this effect depended upon a CD134-dependent component that was extrinsic to the tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells, suggesting that the dual costimulated helper cells are themselves helped by a CD134(+) cell(s). Nevertheless, the delivery of therapeutic help tracked with an increased frequency of tumor-infiltrating granzyme B(+) effector CD8 T cells and a reciprocal decrease in Foxp3(+)CD4(+) cell frequency. Notably, the tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells also infiltrated the tumors, and their deletion several days following initial T cell priming negated their therapeutic impact. Taken together, dual costimulation programs tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells to deliver therapeutic help during both the priming and effector stages of the antitumor response.
Identity Analytics And Belief Structures

Personal identity is an important topic in information systems in general and data analytics in particular. Normally associated with digital security and privacy, the scope of identity is much greater and affects most aspects of everyday life. Related subjects are behavioral tracking, personal-identifiable information (PII), privacy data relevance, data repurposing, identity theft, and homeland security. The purpose of this paper is to establish a context for using analytics to combine evidence to categorize certain subjects based on belief structures.
CIVIL LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE: AN ANALYSIS OF CYBERBULLYING POLICIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS

Cyberbullying is a form of covert bullying that affects the lives of young people and adults alike. Empirical evidence suggesting that the effects of cyberbullying may lead to protracted mental harm highlights the need for schools to take a proactive stance against this form of bullying. This article looks specifically at the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policies implemented by South Australian school authorities in order to comply with their legal duty of care in negligence. Part I introduces the topic of cyberbullying, while Part II explains a school’s legal liability for instances of cyberbullying and identifies the requisite need for anti-bullying polices. In addition, Part III highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to reduce the occurrence of cyberbullying that recognises the important roles played by parents and student bystanders. This section concludes by providing specific recommendations on how anti-bullying policies should be implemented. The article argues that while school authorities may bear legal liability for instances of cyberbullying, schools cannot effectively implement anti-bullying policies without forming a partnership with the whole school community.
Developing a low-cost multi-modal simulator for ultrasonography training

Ultrasonography (US) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used for visualizing subcutaneous body structures and internal organs. US is user-dependent technology. Pathology-specific training to facilitate cognitive and mechanical proficiency is needed for clinicians to derive full use of the technology. The purpose of this project is to design and evaluate a low-cost, multimodal simulator for student training and educator assessment of those students in the use of US. Experts in US education served as consultants in the development of this multi-modal, easy-to-use, high-fidelity simulator trainer. Simulation engineers adhered closely to requirements set out by these consultants making incremental adjustments and refinements to the simulator. The simulator was evaluated for functionality and ease of use. The simulator promises to be effective as a training and assessment platform with excellent fidelity and feedback mechanisms. It is extendable for additional anatomical images and teaching modules. This paper outlines the final steps in the ongoing development of a prototype simulator trainer focusing on the coming together of user requirements and developer specifications.
Adrenal Cortical Adenoma

Adrenal cortical adenomas are benign neoplasms of adrenal cortical cells that may or may not have functional activity. Adrenal cortical adenomas usually are single unilateral tumors that are more common in females. The incidence is unclear, particularly because many are identified as incidentalomas. Nonfunctional tumors often are identified as incidentalomas or in autopsies. A nonfunctional adrenal cortical adenoma may be associated with clinical symptoms if it is associated with hemorrhage or reaches a large size, although this is uncommon. Functional tumors may be associated with cortisol production (Cushing syndrome), aldosterone production (Conn syndrome), or sex steroid–producing tumors (virilization or feminization). Feminizing or virilizing tumors are quite uncommon, and the presence of these features is concerning for malignancy. Adrenal cortical adenomas may show degenerative features, hemorrhage, and cystic change.
Birth Weight and Perinatal Mortality: The Effect of Maternal Smoking

Infants born to mothers who smoke are a few hundred grams smaller, on average, than the infants of nonsmokers. This effect on fetal growth is regarded as evidence of the reproductive toxicity of cigarette smoking. In this paper, data from nearly 260,000 births in the state of Missouri (1980-1984) were analyzed using a method based on adjustment to relative birth weight. Two additional effects of smoking are demonstrated with this analysis; i.e., smokers are at higher risk of delivering very small preterm infants, and their infants have higher perinatal mortality at every relative birth weight. The latter is not apparent on an absolute birth weight scale and thus is not generally recognized. A supplementary analysis of births at high altitude is carried out to suggest that effects on fetal growth (whether from smoking or other factors) can occur independently of effects on mortality.
Spin State Estimation of Tumbling Small Bodies

It is expected that a non-trivial percentage of small bodies that future missions may visit are in non-principal axis rotation (i.e. “tumbling”). The primary contribution of this paper is the application of the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) method to estimate the small body spin state, mass, and moments of inertia; the spacecraft position and velocity; and the surface landmark locations. The method uses optical landmark measurements, and an example scenario based on the Rosetta mission is used. The SLAM method proves effective, with order of magnitude decreases in the spacecraft and small body spin state errors after less than a quarter of the comet characterization phase. The SLAM method converges nicely for initial small body angular velocity errors several times larger than the true rates (effectively having no a priori knowledge of the angular velocity). Surface landmark generation and identification are not treated in this work, but significant errors in the initial body-fixed landmark positions are effectively estimated. The algorithm remains effective for a range of different truth spin states, masses, and center of mass offsets that correspond to expected tumbling small bodies throughout the solar system.
Processing of retinal signals in the Limulus brain

Limulus retina sends signals to the brain through optic nerve fibers with processes terminating in both the first and second optic ganglia, called lamina and medulla. At the lamina, OFF signals are generated and sent to the medulla. Medullar cells extend fibers to the other parts of the brain. To understand the neural mechanisms of their visual guided mating behavior, it is important to investigate responses in the medulla. However, there are only very few studies on medulla due to experimental difficulties. In this paper, we developed two experimental setups to study the medulla ex vivo and succeeded in recording responses and in mapping receptive fields. Responses of neurons share many features with responses of ganglion cells in vertebrate retina. The recorded neurons can be classified as non-spiking, sustained and transient ON, sustained and transient OFF, ON-OFF, inhibition, and bilateral and contralateral types. Their receptive fields vary from 6 degrees to more than 180 degrees. Some cells have receptive fields classified as ON-center and OFF-center. In addition, one medullar cell had a separated receptive field extending over 90 degrees in the horizontal direction.
Meta-analysis of DSM alcohol use disorder criteria severities: structural consistency is only ‘skin deep’

Background Item response theory (IRT) analyses of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other psychological disorders are a predominant method for assessing overall and individual criterion severity for psychiatric diagnosis. However, no investigation has established the consistency of the relative criteria severities across different samples. Method PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and ProQuest databases were queried for entries relating to alcohol use and IRT. Study data were extracted using a standardized data entry sheet. Consistency of reported criteria severities across studies was analysed using generalizability theory to estimate generalized intraclass correlations (ICCs). Results A total of 451 citations were screened and 34 papers (30 unique samples) included in the research synthesis. The AUD criteria set exhibited low consistency in the ordering of criteria using both traditional [ICC = 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06-0.56] and generalized (ICC = 0.18, 95% CI 0.15-0.21) approaches. These results were partially accounted for by previously studied factors such as age and type of sample (e.g. clinical v. community), but the largest source of unreliability was the diagnostic instrument employed. Conclusions Despite the robust finding of unidimensional structure of AUDs, inconsistency in the relative severities across studies suggests low replicability, challenging the generalizability of findings from any given study. Explicit modeling of well-studied factors like age and sample type is essential and increases the generalizability of findings. Moreover, while the development of structured diagnostic interviews is considered a landmark contribution toward improving psychiatric research, variability across instruments has not been fully appreciated and is substantial.
Noradrenergic modulation of the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine in rats.

Rationale:Neurochemical and clinical studies indicate involvement of noradrenergic (NE) neurotransmitter system in the actions of methamphetamine. Objective:The present study investigated NE involvement in the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine. Methods:In Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate 1.0 mg/kg methamphetamine, IP, from saline under a fixed-ratio schedule of food presentation, effects of various NE agonists, antagonists and uptake inhibitors were tested. Results: Desipramine (3.0–18.0 mg/kg) and nisoxetine (5.6–30.0 mg/kg), two selective NE-uptake inhibitors, did not significantly generalize to methamphetamine when administered alone, but 5.6 mg/kg desipramine and 10.0 mg/kg nisoxetine significantly shifted the methamphetamine dose-response curve to the left. The beta NE agonist, isoproterenol (0.56–3.0 mg/kg), and antagonist, propranolol (1.0–18.0 mg/kg), neither generalized to methamphetamine when given alone nor altered the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine when administered in combination. The alpha-1 NE agonist methoxamine (1.0–5.6 mg/kg) failed to generalize to the methamphetamine training stimulus. When given in combination with methamphetamine, the alpha-1 NE antagonist, prazosin (1.0 mg/kg), shifted the methamphetamine dose-response curve somewhat to the right and partially blocked the discriminative-stimulus effects of the 1.0 mg/kg training dose of methamphetamine, but these changes were not significant or dose-related, with further increases in prazosin dose (1.8–10.0 mg/kg) either producing similar or smaller changes. The alpha-2 NE agonist, clonidine, partially generalized to methamphetamine at doses of 0.1–0.18 mg/kg and increased drug-appropriate responding at lower doses of methamphetamine, but it partially blocked the discriminative-stimulus effects of higher 0.56–1.0 mg/kg doses of methamphetamine over the same dose range. The alpha-2 NE antagonist, yohimbine, also partially generalized to methamphetamine and blocked the discriminative-stimulus effects of the 1.0 mg/kg training dose of methamphetamine at doses of 5.6–10.0 mg/kg. A lower 3.0 mg/kg dose of yohimbine increased methamphetamine-appropriate responding when given together with low 0.1–0.3 mg/kg doses of methamphetamine. Conclusions:The present data suggest that the NE system plays a modulatory role in the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine. These effects appear to be mediated through NE uptake sites and alpha-2 receptors, with limited involvement of alpha-1 receptors and beta receptors.
User Preference Learning with Multiple Information Fusion for Restaurant Recommendation.

If properly analyzed, the multi-aspect rating data could be a source of rich intelligence for providing personalized restaurant recommendations. Indeed, while recommender systems have been studied for various applications and many recommendation techniques have been developed for general or specific recommendation tasks, there are few studies for restaurant recommendation by addressing the unique challenges of the multiaspect restaurant reviews. As we know, traditional collaborative filtering methods are typically developed for single aspect ratings. However, multi-aspect ratings are often collected from the restaurant customers. These ratings can reflect multiple aspects of the service quality of the restaurant. Also, geographic factors play an important role in restaurant recommendation. To this end, in this paper, we develop a generative probabilistic model to exploit the multi-aspect ratings of restaurants for restaurant recommendation. Also, the geographic proximity is integrated into the probabilistic model to capture the geographic influence. Moreover, the profile information, which contains customer/restaurantindependent features and the shared features, is also integrated into the model. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive experimental study on a real-world data set. The experimental results clearly demonstrate the benefit of exploiting multi-aspect ratings and the improvement of the developed generative probabilistic model.
A Rare Consequence of Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease - Peyronie's Disease.

Chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) may involve any organ system, but male genital involvement is rare. Peyronie’s Disease (PD) is an acquired, localized fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea, which leads to penile deformity, pain, and eventually to erectile dysfunction. We report the case of a 52 year old African American male with Acute Myeloid Leukemia who underwent human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matched sibling allogeneic peripheral blood SCT. His post transplant course was complicated by development of acute and multi-organ chronic GvHD requiring prolonged immunosuppression. He developed progressive dorsal curvature of the penis with erections within 1 year of ultra low dose interleukin -2 (IL2) treatment for his chronic GvHD but concealed symptoms for several months. Color Doppler Duplex ultrasound evaluation of the erect penis revealed a 75-degree curvature and appropriate hemodynamic response to prostaglandin injection. He underwent successful incision and grafting of the penile plaque. There is no significant residual curvature and is now able to engage in intercourse. A strong temporal association between GVHD (or its treatment) and Peyronie's is documented here. Awareness of the possible link between PD and chronic GVHD is required in this era of rapid growth in numbers of SCT.
“Beauty and the Beast” Unveiled: An Application of Critical Viewing to a Fable Turned Television Drama

AbstractWhat kinds of things lead to the success of a television program? Is it the overall theme, or the smaller and perhaps contrasting elements that compose the program? This critique of Beauty and the Beast analyzes some of the possible reasons why this program survived as long as it did in the competitive television marketplace.
Figure-of-Merits for Quantifying Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Four basic working modes of triboelectric nanogenerator have been demonstrated, each of which has different designs to accommodate the corresponding mechanical triggering conditions. A common standard is thus required to quantify the performance of the triboelectric nanogenerators so that their outputs can be compared and evaluated. In this chapter, figure-of-merits for defining the performance of a triboelectric nanogenerator has been developed, which is composed of a structural figure-of-merit related to the structure and a material figure of merit that is the square of the surface charge density. The structural figure-of-merit is derived and simulated to compare the triboelectric nanogenerators with different configurations. A standard method is introduced to quantify the material figure-of-merit for a general surface. This will establish the standards for developing TENGs towards practical applications and industrialization.
The Biology of Weight Regulation and Genetic Resetting TM

The biggest myth in healthcare is that obesity is a self-induced, self-controlled problem cured by eating less and getting more exercise. Despite decades of treating obesity with traditional methods of dieting and exercise, progress has not been made. While these traditional methods are successful and repeatable in people who are merely overweight (BMI of less than 30), patients with obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) have generally progressed beyond the “tipping point ” after which traditional methods of weight loss become less effective. The new science of obesity indicates that this “tipping point” at which genetic resettingTM occurs is reached when adipose tissue dysfunction occurs. It is becoming clear that obesity is less an ongoing personal choice than a fact of biology: once obesity is established at a certain level of adiposity dysfunction, the person with obesity rarely escapes its grip or consequences. This chapter discusses in detail the science of weight regulation, the science of epigenetics, and the science behind the concept of genetic resettingTM.
Nucleic acids biosensors for the early detection of tumorigenic lung cell lines.

B21 Functional nucleic acids, known as aptamers, can be selected from random sequence populations. Aptamers can potentially be applied in conventional roles for identifying and typing tumors, essentially as substitutes for antibodies or other staining reagents. Fluorescent aptamers have been used to label cells in flow cytometry. A 2â™-fluoropyrimidine modified RNA pool that contains a random sequence core of 30 nucleotides flanked by primer binding sites has been generated and selected against three lung tumor cell lines that differ in their Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression were chosen as targets for selection. NCI-H358 is from a non-small cell lung cancer and expresses wild type EGFR. NCI-1650 is from a bronchoalveolar carcinoma and expresses a mutant form of EGFR (in-frame deletion delE746-A750). NCIH526 is from a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines and expresses low to undetectable levels of EGFR. Selection of aptamers against these three lines serves several purposes: first, it will potentially demonstrate that aptamers against cell surfaces can be used to differentiate different types of lung tumor cells as well as typing tumor cells from normal cells. These aptamers can further be modified for early detection of tumorigenic cells. Second, aptamers may be derived that recognize particular types or levels of EGFR, an important tumor marker. Finally, selection methods that target both adherent and suspension cells will be developed.
Importance of Long-Term Follow-up in Evaluating Treatment Regimens for Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

A complete report was recently published [1] which describes the results of our experience at Memorial Hospital in the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during the past 20 years as of December 1986 and compares them with those of other large published series. In this paper I will update our overall experience, summarize the results of our most recent trials, and discuss our future plans.
Does the label really matter? Evidence that the US public continues to doubt “global warming” more than “climate change”

Does the public doubt the existence of “global warming” more than “climate change”? While previously published research suggests that it does, others have argued that this effect either never existed or has disappeared amid broader shifts in public opinion. We draw on survey response theory to help reconcile this debate. We then analyze data from an October 2016 probability-based survey experiment (n = 1461 US adults) to test the prediction that the US public (and particularly, Republicans) continue to respond differently when asked whether global warming vs. climate change exists. Indeed, respondents who were asked about climate change responded “Yes” (definitely or somewhat) more often (85.8%) than respondents who were asked about global warming (80.9%), an effect observed for Republicans (74.4 vs. 65.5%) but not Democrats (94% in both conditions). We discuss broader implications for US public opinion and discourse in an era of significant proposed government rollbacks of climate and environmental policy.
Analysis of Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Data with an Elastic Net Multivariate Curve Resolution Strategy for Sparse Spectral Recovery

Analysis of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data requires the differentiation between a small number of relevant chemical signals and a larger amount of noise. This is often done based, at least partially, on a threshold which assumes that low intensity m/z signals arise from the noise. This eliminates low-intensity fragments, isotopes, and adducts and may exclude relevant low-intensity compounds all together. This work describes the use of multivariate curve resolution–alternating least-squares with an additional sparse regression step using elastic net (MCR-ENALS) to distinguish relevant m/z signals without the use of a harsh thresholding step, thus allowing for discovery of low-intensity m/z signals corresponding to the analytes. This strategy is demonstrated first on a unit mass analysis of amphetamines in which relevant m/z signals are found at as low as a 0.1% intensity relative to the molecular m/z peak. The incorporation of MCR-ENALS into our previously reported data reduction stra...