cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Klenow Fragment (exo-) Catalyzed DNA Polymerization by (5R)-5,6-Dihydro-5-hydroxythymidine and Structural Analogue 5,6-Dihydro-5-methylthymidine†

Oligonucleotides containing 5R-5,6-dihydro-5-hydroxythymidine (5R-3) and structural analogue 5,6-dihydro-5-methylthymidine (9) at defined sites were chemically synthesized via a method that obviates the use of NH4OH. Oligonucleotides prepared by this method were used to examine the effects of 5R-3 and 9 on the fidelity of Klenow (exo-) in vitro. The presence of lesions 5R-3 and 9 in DNA templates was shown to inhibit polymerization of primers hybridized to these templates. Inhibition was observed for both translesional synthesis and extension one nucleotide past the lesion, with the latter being more pronounced. The fidelity of Klenow (exo-) was reduced only slightly when utilizing substrates containing either dihyropyrimidine nucleotide. These results provide the first experimental verification of computational studies carried out on the effects of 3 on DNA templates, and are consistent with a structural model in which the C5-methyl group of 5R-3 adopts a pseudoaxial orientation resulting in a disruption...
Encephalitis in a Ghanian man

A 32-year-old Ghanian man presented on July 7, 1995, to another hospital, after noting a worm in his conjunctiva. A peripheral blood smear revealed microfilariae, and he was given diethylcarbamazine (DEC). He did not take the medication until August 12, and after two doses he became somnolent, progressively unresponsive, and was febrile to 102°F (38.9”C). He was hospitalized, found to have a white blood cell (WBC) count of 11 X 103/mm3 with 39% eosinophils (eos.), and was started on intravenous antibiotics and prednisone. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the head was unremarkable; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was notable for a WBC count of 10O/l~,L; and microfilariae were seen in the CSE He continued to be lethargic and was transferred to The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical College on August 30 for further management. The patient was born in Ghana and had lived in the United States for 3 years. He lived in Gabon from 1988 to 1990, where he worked in a forested area and had many insect bites. Physical examination showed the patient to be afebrile. He had sharp fundi bilaterally, his lungs were clear to auscultation, cardiac examination revealed no murmurs, and his abdominal examination was normal. The patient was lethargic but arousable. He was oriented to name and place only and could follow only simple commands. He had normal strength and sensation, but walked with a wide-based gait and frontal release signs were noted. Babinski reflexes were not present. On admission, the WBC count was 7.2 X 103/mm3 (0.6% eos.) and CSF results were as follows: 2 WBC/yL, 51 red blood cells (RBC)/P,L, glucose 73 mg/dL, protein 47 mg/dL; no bacteria or polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were seen on Gram stain. A CT scan of the head was unremarkable. The peripheral blood smear, from blood drawn during the day (Figure l), and CSF (Figure 2) both revealed microfilariae.
Unicentric Castleman’s Disease Presenting as a Pulmonary Mass: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Patient: Female, 16 Final Diagnosis: Castleman’s Disease Symptoms: Chest pain • cough non-productive Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Oncology Objective: Rare disease Background: Castleman’s disease, or angiofollicular lymphoid hyperplasia, is a rare disorder and can be easily misdiagnosed as lymphoma, neoplasm, or infection. The diagnosis is challenging due to the nonspecific signs and symptoms as well as the rarity of the disease. We present an unusual case of a young girl presenting with an enlarging pulmonary mass that was believed to be infectious in origin. Case Report: A 16-year-old Native American female from Arizona initially presented with occasional non-productive cough and chest pain. Imaging revealed a 3-cm left upper lobe lobulated mass. This mass was thought to be due to coccidioidomycosis and was treated with fluconazole. Follow-up imaging demonstrated growth of the mass to 4.8 cm. The patient underwent a left video-assisted thoracoscopic left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Histopathological examination revealed Castleman’s disease. Conclusions: Pulmonary masses in young patients can be easily misdiagnosed as infections or cancer. We present the case of a 16-year-old female misdiagnosed as having a fungal infection of the lung, which was later revealed to be Castleman’s disease of the left upper lobe.
Metalloprotein-Inhibitor Binding: Human Carbonic Anhydrase II as a Model for Probing Metal-Ligand Interactions in a Metalloprotein Active Site.

An ever-increasing number of metalloproteins are being discovered that play essential roles in physiological processes. Inhibitors of these proteins have significant potential for the treatment of human disease, but clinical success of these compounds has been limited. Herein, zinc(II)-dependent metalloprotein inhibitors in clinical use are reviewed, and the potential for using novel metal-binding groups (MBGs) in the design of these inhibitors is discussed. By using human carbonic anhydrase II as a model system, the nuances of MBG-metal interactions in the context of a protein environment can be probed. Understanding how metal coordination influences inhibitor binding may help in the design of new therapeutics targeting metalloproteins.
Fuel composition effects on transportation fuel cell reforming

Abstract This work examines the effect of various hydrocarbons on fuel processor light-off and reforming. Major hydrocarbon fuel constituents, such as aliphatic compounds, napthanes, and aromatics have been compared with the fuel processing performance of blended fuel components and reformulated gasoline to examine synergistic or detrimental effects the fuel components have in a real fuel blend. Short chained aliphatic hydrocarbons tend to have favorable light-off and reforming characteristics for catalytic autothermal reforming compared with longer-chained and aromatic components. Oxygenated hydrocarbons have lower light-off requirements than do pure hydrocarbons. Gas phase oxidation favors higher cetane # fuels, which tend to be longer chained hydrocarbons. Energy consumption during the start-up process shows a large fuel effect. Methanol and dimethylether (DME) show lower start-up energy demands for the fuel processor start-up than do high temperature reforming hydrocarbon fuels such as methane, gasoline and ethanol. Aromatics and longer chained hydrocarbons show a higher tendency for carbon formation, increasing the amount of carbon formed during the light-off phase while the addition of oxygenates tends to lower the carbon formed during the start-up process.
Environmental influences on relapse in substance use disorders.

Characteristics of the posttreatment environment have been implicated in relapse and recovery in substance use disorders. We summarize these findings and describe how different models of relapse interpret the data and diverge in their representations and measurement operations of environmental variables. The advantages and limitations of common measures of the posttreatment environment are discussed using research on life events and relapse as an example. An alternative approach to representing covariation over time between environmental characteristics and substance use that is derived from an application of behavioral theories of choice to relapse is presented. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]
Evaluation of Manufacturing Expert Systems: Framework and Model

ABSTRACT A great deal of attention has been given to the use of expert systems in solving manufacturing problems by software development experts as well as application experts. However, the evaluation of expert systems in manufacturing applications has received very little attention in the literature. Whether or not an expert system is justified for a particular manufacturing environment depends on the expert system's effectiveness on both the manufacturing problem and the problem environment. An expert system may be evaluated according to the effectiveness of its ability to solve problems (interpret, predict, diagnose, design, plan, monitor, debug, repair, instruct, and control), interface with users, and handle knowledge (learn, represent, induce, and retrieve). It may also be evaluated on other aspects such as expandability, responsiveness, or simply its costs. However, it is difficult to measure all the costs and benefits of an manufacturing expert system and to perform a traditional economic analysis...
An Evidence Roadmap for Implementation of Integrated Behavioral Health under the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created incentives and opportunities to redesign health care to better address mental and behavioral health needs. The integration of behavioral health and primary care is increasingly viewed as an answer to address such needs, and it is advisable that evidence-based models and interventions be implemented whenever possible with fidelity. At the same time, there are few evidence-based models, especially beyond depression and anxiety, and thus further research and evaluation is needed. Resources being allocated to adoption of models of integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) should include quality improvement, evaluation, and translational research efforts using mixed methodology to enhance the evidence base for IBHC in the context of health care reform. This paper covers six key aspects of the evidence for IBHC, consistent with mental and behavioral health elements of the ACA related to infrastructure, payments, and workforce. The evidence for major IBHC models is summarized, as well as evidence for targeted populations and conditions, education and training, information technology, implementation, and cost and sustainability.
Simulation Study of Bus Signal Priority Strategy: Taking Advantage of Global Positioning System, Automated Vehicle Location System, and Wireless Communications

Providing signal priority for buses has been proposed as an inexpensive way to improve transit efficiency and productivity and to reduce operation costs. Bus signal priority has been implemented in several U.S. cities to improve schedule adherence, reduce transit operation costs, and improve customer ride quality. Current signal priority strategies primarily utilize sensors to detect buses at a fixed or preset distance away from an intersection. Traditional presence detection systems, ideally designed for emergency vehicles, usually send a signal priority request after a pre-programmed time offset as soon as transit vehicles are detected without the consideration of bus readiness. The objective of this study is to take advantage of the already equipped Global Positioning System and automated vehicle location system on the buses in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and to develop an adaptive signal priority strategy that could consider bus schedule adherence, number of passengers, location, and speed. Buses can comm...
The impact of problem drinking on employment.

Social cost studies report that alcohol use and misuse impose a great economic burden on society, and over half of the total economic costs are estimated to be due to the loss of work productivity. Controversy remains, however, as to the magnitude and direction of the effects of alcohol consumption on productivity. Furthermore, most of the studies have looked at the relationship between problem drinking and wages. This paper investigates the impact of problem drinking on employment by analysing a random sample of men and women of prime working age from six Southern states in the US (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee). The data set contains 4898 females and 3224 males, with information on both employment and problem drinking. To eliminate the bias that may result from single-equation estimation, we used a bivariate probit model to control for possible correlation in the unobservable factors that affect both problem drinking and employment. We find no significant negative association between problem drinking and employment for both men and women, controlling for other covariates. The findings are consistent with other research and highlight several methodological issues. Furthermore, the study suggests that estimates of the costs of problem drinking may be overstated owing to misleading labour supply relationships.
Wavelength path reconfiguration to reduce fragmentation and number of operations in WDM mesh networks

This paper proposes a novel wavelength path reconfiguration scheme that reduces the number of operations while retaining the effectiveness of defragmentation. Numerical evaluation shows that the number of operations is reduced by approximately 50%.
A Grounded Approach to Social and Ethical Concerns about Technology and Education

This is an inquiry into the problem of how practicing educators can build the conviction to act in response to social and ethical concerns they hold about technology and education. The inquiry is essentially philosophical in that it consists of a close examination of the language, concepts, and meanings people employ in thinking and talking about these matters. It is not an empirical study of the nature, extent, or frequency of teachers' concerns about computers nor of the ways they actually do respond to their concerns. Rather, it is an effort to show by example how educators who are concerned about one issue—dehumanization—could examine their concern and reach a responsible, informed judgment about its validity and seriousness. The method we use to examine these concerns combines the conceptual analysis characteristic of analytic philosophy with the review and interpretation of social science research on important empirical questions. We refer to this as a grounded approach. The goal of the inquiry is t...
Cluster scattering effects on phonon conduction in graphene

The phonon-scattering cross section associated with isotopic clusters is evaluated from first principles and used to estimate the reduction in thermal conductance of wide graphene samples. A strong sensitivity of the thermal conductivity toward clustering is predicted for micrometer-sized samples at low temperatures. Important differences are obtained between the atomistically computed cross section, and existing analytical approximations, emphasizing the importance of atomistic investigations of thermal transport. Finally, possible techniques are suggested for synthesizing graphene containing isotopic clusters.
Rate and power control in a two-user multicarrier channel with no coordination: the optimal scheme vs. suboptimal methods

Maximizing the total rate with no coordination is an attractive option to increase the throughput of existing multiuser communication systems. This paper compares two sub-optimal methods for rate and power allocation in a two-user multicarrier channel with the optimum method, subject to individual power constraints. The two suboptimal methods, iterative water-filling (IW) and iterative constant-power transmission (ICP), closely approximate the performance of the optimum method when either interference-channel magnitude is smaller than the main-path gain or the total power budget is small. Both methods perform nearly alike and are easy to deploy in existing systems in which different transmission paths may not be coordinated.
Visualization of ribosomal RNA operon copy number distribution

Background: Results of microbial ecology studies using 16S rRNA sequence information can be deceiving due to differences in rRNA operon copy number and genome size of the detected organisms. It therefore will be useful for investigators to have a better understanding of how these two parameters differ in various organism types. In this study, the number of ribosomal operons and genome size were separately mapped onto a Bacterial phylogenetic tree. Results: A representative Bacterial tree was constructed using 31 marker genes found in 578 bacterial genome sequences. Organism names are displayed on the trees using graduations of color such that similar colors indicate similar numbers of operons or genome size. The resulting images provide an intuitive understanding of how copy number and genome size vary in different Bacterial phyla. Conclusion: Once the phylogenetic position of a novel organism is known the number of rRNA operons, and to a lesser extent the genome size, can be estimated by examination of the colored maps. Further detail can then be obtained for members of relevant taxa from the rrnDB database.
On the throughput of acyclic wired packet networks with finite buffers

In this paper, we study the effect of finite buffer sizes on the (unicast) throughput in directed acyclic wired erasure networks. First, we motivate the problem by presenting the underlying idea of throughput estimation in wireline networks. We observe that the problem of exact throughput estimation for wireline networks is equivalent to the calculation of steady state probabilities for a regular, ergodic Markov chain. We extend the ideas of rate loss and information leakage due to buffer overflow (i.e., discarding of packets) at nodes to general wired acyclic packet networks. We then use the estimates of the loss in rate at various nodes to derive simple and easily estimable bounds on the maximum achievable rate of information transmission during unicast sessions in such networks.
Gray matter volume differences and the effects of smoking on gray matter in schizophrenia.

Abstract Objective Many studies have evaluated differences in gray matter volume in schizophrenia, but have not considered the possible effects of smoking, which is extraordinarily common in people with the illness. The present study used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine differences in gray matter in subjects with schizophrenia and evaluate the effects of smoking on this measure. Methods Thirty-two subjects with schizophrenia (14 smokers, 18 non-smokers) and 32 healthy comparison subjects participated in the study. Whole brain, voxel-wise analyses of regional gray matter volume were conducted using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Results Reduced gray matter was observed in the schizophrenia group in the orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral insula and superior temporal gyri (STG), bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC), medial frontal gyrus, and cingulate gyrus. Within this group, smoking subjects had greater lateral prefrontal and STG gray matter volumes relative to non-smoking subjects. Conclusions The finding of reduced gray matter volume in prefrontal and temporal regions in schizophrenia is consistent with prior anatomical tracing and whole-brain voxel-based studies. Greater gray matter volumes in smoking relative to non-smoking subjects with schizophrenia highlight a potential experimental confound in volumetric studies and suggests that smoking may be associated with a relative preservation of lateral prefrontal and temporal gray matter in schizophrenia.
On the Benefits and Costs of Legal Expertise: Adjudication in Ancient Athens

Legal expertise permits detailed laws to be written and enforced, but individuals with expertise may employ their special knowledge to skew decisions in privately beneficial directions. We illustrate this tradeoff in a simple model, which we use to guide our analysis of the legal system in ancient Athens. Rather than accepting the costs of expertise in return for the benefits, as do most modern societies, the Athenians designed a legal system that banned professional legal experts. And this was not because Athenian society was simple: The Athenians employed sophisticated contingent contracts and litigated frequently (to the point that the law courts featured prominently in several famous comedies). Furthermore, the Athenians recognized that forgoing expertise was costly, and where the cost was particularly high, designed institutions that made use of expertise already existing in society, employed knowledgeable individuals who were unable to engage in significant rent seeking, or increased the private returns to collecting publicly beneficial information. Although the Athenian legal system differs in many ways from modern legal systems, it nonetheless functioned very effectively. Investigation of the Athenian system highlights how important it is for institutional designers to consider legal institutions as a bundle, whose pieces must complement one another.
Internal Validation of the Renal Pelvic Score: A Novel Marker of Renal Pelvic Anatomy That Predicts Urine Leak After Partial Nephrectomy

Objective To internally validate the renal pelvic score (RPS) in an expanded cohort of patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN). Materials and Methods Our prospective institutional renal cell carcinoma database was used to identify all patients undergoing PN for localized renal cell carcinoma from 2007 to 2013. Patients were classified by RPS as having an intraparenchymal or extraparenchymal renal pelvis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between RPS and urine leak. Results Eight hundred thirty-one patients (median age, 60 ± 11.6 years; 65.1% male) undergoing PN (57.3% robotic) for low (28.9%), intermediate (56.5%), and high complexity (14.5%) localized renal tumors (median size, 3.0 ± 2.3 cm; median nephrometry score, 7.0 ± 2.6) were included. Fifty-four patients (6.5%) developed a clinically significant or radiographically identified urine leak. Seventy-two of 831 renal pelvises (8.7%) were classified as intraparenchymal. Intrarenal pelvic anatomy was associated with a markedly increased risk of urine leak (43.1% vs 3.0%; P P P P P = .018]), and intraoperative collecting system entry (OR, 6.1; CI, 2.5-14.9; P Conclusion Renal pelvic anatomy as measured by the RPS best predicts urine leak after open and robotic partial nephrectomy. Although external validation of the RPS is required, preoperative identification of patients at increased risk for urine leak should be considered in perioperative management and counseling algorithms.
Rapid decreases in salinity, but not increases, lead to immune dysregulation in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.).

Rapid changes in salinity, as with other environmental stressors, can have detrimental effects on fish and may trigger increased susceptibility to disease. However, the precise mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. We examined the effects of sudden increases or decreases in salinity on teleost immune function using Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), as the fish model in a battery of bioassays of increasing immune system specificity. Two different salinity experiments were performed: one of increasing salinity (0 to 5, 10 and 20 g L(-1) ) and one of decreasing salinity (20 to 15, 10 and 5 g L(-1) ). Histopathology of anterior kidney, gills, gonads, intestines and liver of exposed fish was performed, but no remarkable lesions were found that were attributable to the salinity treatment regimes. The spleen was removed from each fish for analysis of cytokine expression, and peripheral blood was used for haematology, cortisol and phagocytosis assays. In the increasing salinity experiments, no significant changes were observed in any immune system assays. However, in the decreasing salinity experiments, lymphopenia, neutrophilia and monocytosis were observed in the peripheral blood without modification of the packed cell volume, plasma protein or plasma cortisol levels. Phagocytosis was increased in response to decreases in salinity from 20 g L(-1) to 15 g L(-1) , 10 g L(-1) and 5 g L(-1) , whereas phagocytic index was not significantly altered. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) transcription increased during the same decreases in salinity. However, the TGF-β value at 5 g L(-1) was less than those in the 15 and 10 g L(-1) salinity treatments. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) transcription did not significantly respond to either salinity regime. In total, acute salinity changes appeared to trigger reactive dysregulation of the immune response in tilapia, a situation which, when combined with additional co-occurring stressors such as sudden changes in temperature and/or dissolved oxygen, could make fish more susceptible to infectious diseases. Accordingly, these findings may help to explain how sudden environmental changes may initiate disease outbreaks and lead to critical declines in cultured or wild fish populations.
COMPARATIVE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CULTURED SPECIES OF TREBOUXIA1,2

SUMMARY Five species of cultured Trebouxia—T. anticipata, T. decolorans, T. erici, T. gelatinosa, and T. impressa—were examined with the electron microscope. A comparative examination of their pyrenoids revealed pyrenoglobuli associated with single pyrenoid thylakoids. The pyrenoids of T. decolorans, T. erici, and T. gelatinosa possess single thylakoids that cross or deeply penetrate the pyrenoid matrix and are often disposed in parallel arrays. T. anticipata possesses both single and double pyrenoid thylakoids within the matrix. T. impressa possesses vesiculate invaginations of thylakoid membranes into the pyrenoid matrix. The phycobiont. T. erici was examined in detail at the light and electron microscopic levels for pyrenoid alterations associated, with varied environmental regimes and with cell division. A greater amount of starch is present in cells grown in organic culture at 215 lux light intensity than in cells of similar size grown at 1075 or 3600 lux. Pyrenoglobuli are present throughout the life cycle and occur both in aplanospores and in zoospores.
The function of the teres major muscle: an electromyographic study.

Electromyographic activity of the teres major and latissimus dorsi muscles using indwelling bipolar fine-wire electrodes was recorded during motion of the arm and shoulder without resistance, against resistance, and during static resisted activity. The teres major is active during static motion and during motion against resistance with medial rotation, adduction, and extension of the arm. It is not active during motion without resistance, although latissimus dorsi usually is.
Effects of Aphanomyces Root Rot on Carbohydrate Impurities and Sucrose Extractability in Postharvest Sugar Beet

ABSTRACT Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) roots with rot caused by Aphanomyces cochlioides often are incorporated into storage piles even though effects of disease on processing properties are unknown. R...
Capsules and Closures

Capsules are a clean representation of the state of a computation in higher-order programming languages with effects. Their intent is to simplify and replace the notion of closure. They naturally provide support for functional and imperative features, including recursion and mutable bindings, and ensure lexical scoping without the use of closures, heaps, stacks or combinators. We present a comparison of the use of closures and capsules in the semantics of higher-order programming languages with effects. In proving soundness of one to the other, we give a precise account of how capsule environments and closure environments relate to each other.
A Stackelberg Game Theoretic Driver Model for Merging

Merging is one of the important issues in studying roadway traffic. Merging disturbs the mainline of traffic, which reduces the efficiency or capacity of the highway system. In this paper, we have considered the application of a Stackelberg game theory to a driver behavior model in a merging situation. In this model, the so-called payoffs that reflect the drivers’ aggressiveness affect the decision to proceed to merge and whether to accelerate or decelerate in the game theoretic framework. These merging behaviors in turn impact the mainline traffic, which may lead to a variety of influences, such as collisions or reduced roadway throughput. Consequently, this impact depends on the level of aggressiveness of the driver merging in and those in the mainline, which results in both longitudinal and lateral disturbances in the mainline due to their interaction.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Prevalence of Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism and Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in a general population of children with autism or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The study site was a clinic specializing in ASD in a large pediatric medical center serving a 10 county area in the midwestern USA. In a sample of 137 children, age 24-96 months, classified as having autism or ASD by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic, 24 percent had a history of at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The most common symptom was diarrhea, which occurred in 17 percent. There was no association between chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of developmental regression. The potential phenotypic association between autism and gastrointestinal symptoms is discussed.
Movement Theory and International Labor Solidarity

As international labor solidarity becomes an important counterweight to corporate globalization, practitioners can benefit from guidance that social movement theory provides. This study applies three strands of movement theory to actual and potential cross-border strategies in the Americas. It explores the structural relevance of political opportunities, the mobilization of networks as a resource, and the emphasis by New Social Movement theory on framing and reflexive identity. It discovers that each strand offers important insights, one clarifying limitations, a second demarcating and cultivating supporters, and a third motivating participation. Taken together, the strands comprise a dynamic basis for solidarity that enriches organizing strategies and gains measurable victories.
Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract To meet the rising need for on-demand electric energy, dielectric capacitors have been of increasing interest owing to their unique energy storage properties. The ability to deliver large amounts energy near instantaneously with a simple device that can last over millions of cycles is making dielectric capacitors one of the most attractive future options for large-scale electrical energy storage. The low gravimetric energy density, however, has prevented its widespread application in a wide range of fields including electric vehicles, and personal power technologies. Ceramic and polymer materials are being developed for energy storage, however, intrinsic limits on their dielectric properties (e.g., breakdown field and dielectric constant, respectively) prevents them from being used for high energy density applications. Because of this, composite systems of ceramics and polymers have been of increasing interest as they hold the potential for simultaneous improvement of both the dielectric constant and breakdown field leading to significant improvements in the energy storage potential. Herein we present new results and discuss the state of dielectric capacitor research including a discussion of the properties of interest. Recent developments in the field will be discussed including improvements in material properties, processing, and interface issues that arise when compositing materials as well as solutions to overcome these obstacles.
Reply to: “Letter to the editor: Ketamine-only versus isoflurane effects on murine cardiac function: comparison at similar depths of anesthesia?”

reply: The letter by Zuurbier et al. ([8][1]) questions one of the conclusions in our recently published article ([5][2]), that ketamine alone, at a dose of 150 mg/kg, was the best anesthetic for echocardiography. Zuurbier et al. noted that they were “unable to reach a surgical plane of anesthesia
The effect of red blood cell transfusion on the microcirculation of anemic children

Red blood cell transfusion can improve but also might temporarily reduce the microcirculation. The buccal microcirculation was visualized and total vessel density (TVD) determined with sidestream dark field imaging in 19 pediatric anemic (Hb 7.2 g/dL, 95 % CI 6.5–7.9) oncology or hematology patients receiving red blood cell transfusions (Tx) and in 18 age-matched healthy non-anemic controls. After transfusion, Hb (8.0 g/dL, 95 % CI 7.3–8.6) and TVD increased (14.7 ± 1.7 versus 16.6 ± 2.0 mm/mm2) significantly with a concomitant decrease in RBC velocity in medium-sized vessels (pre-Tx 711 ± 199 versus post-Tx 627 ± 163 μm/s). Compared to the controls, pre-Tx TVD (17.5 ± 1.3 mm/mm2) was lower and RBC velocity (476 ± 77 μm/s) was significantly higher. After transfusion, TVD and RBC velocity remained significantly lower and higher, respectively. In a subgroup, analysis of the transfused children with infection of TVD at baseline was lower with a larger increase after transfusion compared to anemic children without infection (ΔTVD 3.4 ± 2.6 versus ΔTVD 1.3 ± 1.5 mm/mm2). Conclusion: With the rise of hemoglobin after transfusion, significant improvements of tissue perfusion were demonstrated but differences to non-anemic controls persisted. In particular, the microcirculation of anemic oncology patients with infection improved after transfusion.
Super-resolution imaging using spin-dependent fluorescence in bulk diamond

By modulating the fluorescence brightness of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in bulk diamond, we demonstrate a `deterministic emitter switch microscopy' (DESM) technique that enables super-resolution imaging with localization down to several tens of nanometers.
Adsorption of Cd2+ on Carboxyl-Terminated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

The affinity of Cd2+ toward carboxyl-terminated species covalently bound to monodisperse superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, Fe3O4(np)-COOH, was investigated in situ in aqueous electrolytes using rotating disk electrode techniques. Strong evidence that the presence of dispersed Fe3O4(np)-COOH does not affect the diffusion limiting currents was obtained using negatively and positively charged redox active species in buffered aqueous media (pH = 7) devoid of Cd2+. This finding made it possible to determine the concentration of unbound Cd2+ in solutions containing dispersed Fe3O4(np)-COOH, 8 and 17 nm in diameter, directly from the Levich equation. The results obtained yielded Cd2+ adsorption efficiencies of ∼20 μg of Cd/mg of Fe3O4(np)-COOH, which are among the highest reported in the literature employing ex situ methods. Desorption of Cd2+ from Fe3O4(np)-COOH, as monitored by the same forced convection method, could be accomplished by lowering the pH, a process found to be highly reversible.
Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Zinc Sulfate on Ethanol Toxicity and Metabolism

SummaryAcute (single dose) and chronic (multiple dose) ethanol intoxication has been produced in rats and mice so that the effects on survival and on ethanol metabolism could be determined in animals pretreated with ascrobic acid and/or zinc sulfate. Only 13 of 40 mice (32%) injected ip with a fixed amount of ethanol on 2 consecutive days survived. In contrast, the survival rates in matched animals pretreated with ascrobic acid (25 mg) or zinc (1 μM) were 100 and 90%, respectively (20 animals per group). Smaller amounts of zinc (0.2 and 0.4 μM) improved the survival after the first injection of ethanol (24 hr), but not after the second (48 hr). Similar observations were made in rats given repeated injections of ethanol over a 4-week period. Serial blood ethanol concentrations were determined in rats pretreated with ascrobic acid, zinc, a combination of ascorbic acid and zinc, pyrazole (an alcohol dehydrogen-ase inhibitor), or saline (control). Blood ethanol concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.0...
Feedback inhibition of pituitary growth hormone in rats infected with Spirometra mansonoides.

SummaryS. mansonoides spargana produce a potent “worm factor” that causes both the generation of somatomedin and linear growth in hypophysectomized rats without detectable immunoassayable rat growth hormone (RGH). Implantation of these spargana has no significant effect on the growth of normal rats but did cause a 34% decrease in pituitary weight (p < .001) and a 68% decrease (p < .001) in pituitary RGH content. Hemipituitaries removed from these rats released a normal proportion of their RGH during a control incubation and responded with an appropriate increase during stimulation by high potassium. Either the “worm factor” has growth hormone-like action on the hypothalamus or pituitary, or somatomedin itself plays an important role in the feedback regulation of pituitary growth hormone.
The art and science of clinical decision making.

Thinking about how you make clinical decisions is the first step toward making better ones.
Immunologic response in gynecologic malignancy · as demonstrated by the delayed hypersensitivity reaction: Clinical correlations

The cell-mediated immune response, as demonstrated by cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity, has been reported to correlate well with the clinical course in a variety of neoplastic diseases. To facilitate evaluation of cellular immunity in patients with gynecologic cancer, an immunologic index has been devised which incorporates the cutaneous reaction to standard antigens, 1-nitro,2,4-difluorobenzene, and croton oil. Thirty-six patients with invasive cervical cancer, 19 patients with cervical dysplasia or carcinoma in situ, and 77 patients with dermatologic disorders were tested. Results reported here indicate a highly significant relationship between host cellular immunity and the clinical course of the patient with a gynecologic neoplasm.
AIM Photonics — What merging photonics with nano-electronics will do

The National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) is a network of research institutes in the United States that focuses on developing and commercializing manufacturing technologies through public-private partnerships between U.S. industry, universities, and federal government agencies. As one of the early institutes, the American Institute for Manufacturing integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) was officially announced in July 2015. This Institute is focused on developing an end-to-end photonic integrated circuit (PIC) ecosystem in the U.S., including domestic foundry access, integrated design tools, automated packaging, assembly and test, and workforce development.
The Organisation of Local Government

In 1971 a consultative document covering Wales and a White Paper — ‘Local Government in England: Government Proposals for Reorganisation’ — created the base from which was enacted in 1972 the Local Government Act. The 1972 legislation swept away an out-dated system of local authorities and created new structures. The Act allocated functions among these new authorities and modified the administration within the local authorities. While it did not materially affect the working of London government, since this had been modified by the London Government Act 1963, it replaced the Local Government Act 1933 and incorporated the provisions of the 1963 Act affecting the constitution of authorities in Greater London.
Retreat and its Consequences: American Foreign Policy and the Problem of World Order

1. Foreign policy retreat and the problem of world order 2. Burden sharing with Europe: problems of capability and will 3. Middle East policy: regional conflicts and threats to national interest 4. BRICS: stakeholders or free-riders? 5. Retreat and its consequences 6. Can America still lead - and should it?
Exploring the Effect of Childhood Abuse on Migraine, Depression and Anxiety Using Structural Equation Modeling (P2.207)

Objective: To test an integrated model examining the effect of childhood abuse on migraine, depression and anxiety correcting for the covariance among these conditions. Background: Literature shows that childhood abuse is associated with migraine, anxiety and depression. These comorbid outcomes have heretofore been studied independently, rather than simultaneously in an integrated model. Methods: We analyzed data from 14,484 adults in Wave 4 of Add Health study. Participants were queried regarding abuse (emotional, physical and sexual) during childhood and diagnoses of migraine, depression and anxiety. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine impact of history of childhood abuse on migraine, depression and anxiety. We used weighted least squares estimation with a mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV) chi-square. A tetrachoric covariance matrix, with probit regression coefficients was used to estimate path coefficients and factor loadings. Wald chi-square tests were used to examine if there was a significant difference in pathways from each of the types of abuse to the outcome variables. Results: About 14[percnt] (n=2,061) of respondents reported history of migraine. Participants with migraine (vs. no migraine) reported significantly higher rates of childhood abuse overall (60.5[percnt] vs 49[percnt]); including emotional (57.6[percnt] vs 45.5[percnt]; Χ2(1)=104.47, p<0.01), sexual (8.3[percnt] vs 4.6[percnt]; Χ2(1)=43.84, p<0.01) and physical (22.3[percnt] vs 17.9[percnt]; Χ2(1)=21.98, p<0.01) abuse. SEM analysis revealed that childhood abuse had a significant direct impact on each outcome (migraine, anxiety and depression) through a latent abuse factor (goodness of fit indices: CFI=0.994, TLI=0.985, RMSEA=0.023). Subgroup analysis by race and gender showed the same effects, indicating the homogeneity of the results. Examination of relative effects of different abuse types on depression, anxiety and migraine revealed that emotional and sexual abuse (but not physical abuse) had a significant impact on migraine, depression and anxiety. Conclusion: Childhood abuse has significant direct impact on migraine, depression and anxiety. Disclosure: Dr. Tietjen holds stock and/or stock options in Johnson & Johnson and Stryker. Dr. Karmakar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elhai has received royalty payments from John Wiley & Sons. Dr. Amialchuk has nothing to disclose.
Graduate Medical Education and Career Paths

This chapter demystifies graduate medical education in the United States: what it is, how to enter, how to succeed, and what to do after completion. The chapter outlines the process and the reasoning behind the process so it no longer appears to be arbitrary and labyrinthine.
«Who Is My Neighbor?» The Challenge of Everyday Racism

Rassismus beeinflusst die alltaglichen Reaktionen auf die Weisung »Deinen Nachsten sollst du lieben wie dich selbst« (Lk 10,27). Mit dieser Behauptung beruft sich die Autorin auf die Theorien der sozialen Konstruktion von Rasse und der »racial formation«. Auf dieser Grundlage zeigt sie, dass Rassismus eine Ideologie ist, die Dominanz rechtfertigt, sodass Vorurteile entstehen. Sie beschreibt das Verhaltnis des ursprunglichen Christentums zum Antisemitis- mus und bezeichnet den Rassismus als Haresie, die wesentliche Momente des christlichen Glaubens negiert. Die Frage »Wer ist mein Nachster?« stellt sich ihr angesichts des Rassismus’ in der Kirche. This article contends that racism conditions everyday responses to the injunc- tion «love your neighbor as yourself» (Luke 10:27). The author draws on theo- ries of the social construction of race and of racial formation to demonstrate that racism is an ideology to justify domination, and consider racist culture as a prod- uct of ideology and bias. She then exposes the relation of Christian origins to anti-Semitism, adverts to racism as a heresy aimed at key Christian teachings, and interrogates the question, «Who is my neighbor?» by exposing racism in the church.
Constant pH simulations of pH responsive polymers

Polyacidic polymers can change structure over a narrow range of pH in a competition between the hydrophobic effect, which favors a compact state, and electrostatic repulsion, which favors an extended state. Constant pH molecular dynamics computer simulations of poly(methacrylic acid) reveal that there are two types of structural changes, one local and one global, which make up the overall response. The local structural response depends on the tacticity of the polymer and leads to different cooperative effects for polymers with different stereochemistries, demonstrating both positive and negative cooperativities.
Customized algorithms for growing connected resistive networks

Abstract: We consider the problem of adding edges to connected resistive networks in order to optimally enhance their performance. The performance is captured by the H 2 norm of the closed-loop network and the l 1 regularization is introduced as a means to promote sparsity of the controller graph Laplacian. The resulting optimal control problem can be cast as a semidefinite program and standard interior point method solvers can be used to efficiently compute the optimal solution for small and medium size networks. In this paper, we develop two efficient customized algorithms for large-scale problems. Our customized algorithms are based on the proximal gradient method and the sequential quadratic approximation method. In the latter, the Newton direction is obtained using coordinate descent algorithm over the set of active variables. We provide comparison of these methods and show that both of them can be effectively employed to solve topology identification and optimal design problems for large-scale networks.
Molecular pathways associated with antitumor activity of ribavirin (Riba)

5855 Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to contribute to the growth of several different cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether COX-2 also plays a role in osteosarcoma growth in vivo. Several human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines (SAOS-2, LM7, K7, K7M3, Dunn, DLM-8) were analyzed for COX-2 protein and mRNA expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot, and RT-PCR. MTT assays were also used to evaluate tumor sensitivity to Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. All cell lines expressed COX-2. Higher COX-2 expression was seen in metastatic cell lines (LM7, K7M3, DLM-8) when compared to parental cell lines. Cell lines with higher COX-2 expression were more sensitive to Celecoxib treatment. In vivo experiments were conducted to determine the effect of Celecoxib on pulmonary metastases. LM7 cells were injected intravenously. Treatment with intraperitoneal Celecoxib (20 mg/kg/dose) was started on day 39 after injection, a time when micrometastases were established. Treatment was given three times per week for a total of 6 weeks. Surprisingly using our LM7 osteosarcoma lung metastases model, mice treated with Celecoxib had larger tumors when compared to the control group. VEGF was overexpressed in Celecoxib-treated mice, as quantified by IHC. Significant upregulation of VEGF expression following treatment of LM7 cells with Celecoxib was confirmed by RT-PCR. However, this in vivo effect was not seen if treatment with Celecoxib was started when metastases were significantly smaller (day 30). Mice treated early with Celecoxib showed smaller tumors when compared to the control group. Our data suggest that the time of treatment might be an important factor in either stimulating or inhibiting tumor growth. Celecoxib use at early stages in osteosarcoma lung metastases may potentially have a preventive role. Further studies on the role of COX-2 inhibitors and angiogenesis in osteosarcoma are warranted.
Polarized, Cobblestone, Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Maturation on a Synthetic PEG Matrix.

Cell attachment is essential for the growth and polarization of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Currently, surface coatings derived from biological proteins are used as the gold standard for cell culture. However, downstream processing and purification of these biological products can be cumbersome and expensive. In this study, we constructed a library of chemically modified nanofibers to mimic the Bruch’s membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium. Using atmospheric-pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization with a high-throughput screening platform to modify the nanofibers, we identified three polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted nanofiber surfaces (PEG methyl ether methacrylate, n = 4, 8, and 45) from a library of 62 different surfaces as favorable for RPE cell attachment, proliferation, and maturation in vitro with cobblestone morphology. Compared with the biologically derived culture matrices such as vitronectin-based peptide Synthemax, our newly discovered synthetic PEG surfaces exhibit simil...