cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase during early reparative phase of gastric mucosa and effects of aging.

Background Although the gastric mucosa of adult healthy animals possesses a remarkable capacity to promptly repair its mucosal architecture after an acute injury, aging attenuates this process. We hypothesize that certain tyrosine kinases (Tyr-k), specifically the enzyme associated with EGF-receptor (EGF-R), may play a role in this process. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the role of this enzyme in the early reparative phase of the gastric mucosa in young and aged rats. Experimental design In our initial effort to test the hypothesis, we examined the changes in both total and EGF-R-associated Tyr-k activities in the gastric mucosa of young adult rats (4-months old) during the first 60 minutes after hypertonic saline (2 M NaCl; 1.5 ml/130 g body weight)-induced injury. Because the maximal stimulation (90-100% over the controls) in both total and EGF-R-associated Tyr-k occurred at 30 minutes after injury, we used this time point to perform the next experiment, in which groups of young and aged rats were given (intragastically) 2 M NaCl or water. One of the young and aged groups of rats was also injected (i.p.) with the Tyr-k inhibitor tyrphostin-51 (300 micrograms/kg body weight) 60 minutes before injury. The gastric mucosa was assayed for EGF-R Tyr-k activity and tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of EGF-R, phospholipase C (PLC) activity and relative concentration and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1, as well as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) levels. Results Basal EGF-R Tyr-k activity and the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R, as well as PLC activity, were all found to be higher in the gastric mucosa of aged than in young rats. Although 30 minutes after injury, EGF-R Tyr-k activity, tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R, and relative abundance of the receptor were all increased in the gastric mucosa of both young and aged rats, the magnitude of stimulation of each of the parameters was found to be considerably lower in aged than in young rats, compared with the corresponding basal levels. A similar phenomenon was also observed for PLC activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. The relative concentration of mucosal PLC-gamma 1 level was, however, not affected by injury in either young or aged rats. Tyrphostin greatly attenuated the injury-induced increases in the above mentioned parameters in both young and aged rats. In young but not in aged rats, injury caused a significant increase in mucosal TGF-alpha levels. Conclusions We conclude that (a) activation of EGF-R Tyr-k is an important event in the early reparative process of the gastric mucosa, and (b) local production of TGF-alpha may play an important role in regulating the activation of EGF-R Tyr-k.
Motility, expression of surface antigen, and X and Y human sperm separation in in vitro fertilization medium

The influence of surrounding medium on human sperm swimming behavior has been characterized. In modified Ham's F-10 serum-supplemented in vitro fertilization medium, the straight-track swimming pattern of sperm in semen changed rapidly into circular tracks, and a new surface antigen was detected soon after this change. The circular tracks alternated between clockwise and counterclockwise directional movements. Addition of 17 beta-estradiol in a concentration range found in follicular fluid increased the frequency of clockwise movement twofold, suggesting that a steep concentration gradient created by an aduterine flow during ovulation, is likely to direct sperm migration up the gradient in the ipsilateral oviduct. Separation of X and Y sperm raised the possibility that a female carrier of an X-linked disease might choose to have a daughter, instead of taking the chance of having an affected son.
Impulsivity and Attentional Bias in Cocaine Dependence: Does Familial Substance Misuse Contribute to Neurobehavioral Performance?

The goal of the present study was to examine the relationship between family history of alcohol and illicit drug abuse and impulsivity in cocaine users and healthy controls. One hundred and thirty-five individuals recruited for a larger study (58 cocaine users and 77 healthy controls) with and without family history of substance misuse participated in the study. Individuals completed a computer-administered interview regarding family history of substance misuse and neurobehavioral measures of impulsivity and attentional bias. Family history of substance misuse was found to be associated with greater attentional bias to cocaine-related stimuli, regardless of personal drug use status (cocaine user versus healthy control). These findings suggest that drug cues may be more salient to first degree relatives of substance users. However, the nature of this relationship to genetic and/or environmental factors is unknown.
Human Evolution, Genetic Engineering, and Cloning

In mankind, there are two kinds of heredity: biological and cultural. Cultural inheritance makes possible what no other organism can accomplish: cumulative transmission of experience from generation to generation. Cultural inheritance leads to cultural evolution, the prevailing mode of human adaptation. For the last few millennia, humans have been adapting the environment to their genes more often than adapting their genes to the environment. Nevertheless, natural selection persists in modern humans, both as differential morality and as differential fecundity. More than 2000 human diseases and abnormalities have genetic causation. Healthcare may contribute to augment the future incidence of hereditary ailments. Germ-line gene therapy could halt this increase, but at present it is not technically feasible. Therapeutic cloning will in the future bring enhanced possibilities for organ transplantation, nerve cell and tissue healing, and other health benefits. Mitochondrial replacement therapy, still under development, could take care of severe diseases transmitted to the progeny through the mother's mitochondria.
Palliative Radiation in Metastatic Osteosarcoma

The patient is an 18-year-old black woman presenting with osteosarcoma arising in the distal femur and metastasizing to the lungs. Multidrug chemotherapy with methotrexate, ifosfamide, and cisplatin for 5 months resulted in an initially good response, although doxorubicin (Adriamycin) had to be discontinued because of cardiac arrhythmia. A wide resection with knee joint replacement was accomplished but there was rather rapid recurrence, both locally in the femur and the lung. The patient had an above-the-knee amputation for the local recurrence and was started on ifosfamide for the pulmonary metastases. During the next 6 months the patient developed left leg paresis and urinary retention associated with an intramedullary metastasis at T11–12. Further data is not provided regarding the response of the pulmonary metastases to ifosfamide, but on physical examination the patient was noted to be cachectic and on nasal oxygen.
Genomic Analysis of Vulcanisaeta thermophila Type Strain CBA1501T Isolated from Solfataric Soil.

Hyperthermophilic archaea have been isolated from high-temperature environments such as geothermally heated soils, sulfur-rich hot springs, and submarine volcanic habitats; optimal growth of these organisms occurs above 80°C (Stetter, 1999, 2006, 2013). The genus Vulcanisaeta belongs to the family Thermoproteaceae, order Thermoproteales, phylum Crenarchaeota, and was first proposed by Itoh et al. (2002). It currently includes 3 validly named species, that is, Vulcanisaeta distributa (Itoh et al., 2002), V. souniana (Itoh et al., 2002), and V. thermophila (Yim et al., 2015), as per the List of Prokaryotic Names with Standing in Nomenclature database (Parte, 2014). Members of the genus Vulcanisaeta are rod-shaped, anaerobic, hyperthermophilic, and acidophilic (Itoh et al., 2002). To date, 15 genomes, including two complete genomes, V. distributa and “Vulcanisaeta moutnovskia” (Mavromatis et al., 2010; Gumerov et al., 2011), have been reported for the genus Vulcanisaeta, as per the NCBI genome database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/). Hyperthermophilic enzymes are stable and active at high temperatures of >70°C (Vieille et al., 1996). These enzymes can be studied using model systems to elucidate enzyme mechanisms and evolution of proteins stable at high temperatures and to determine the higher temperature limit for enzyme stability (Vieille and Zeikus, 2001). In a previous study, V. thermophila CBA1501T (= ATCC BAA-2415T = JCM 17228T) was isolated from solfataric soil in the Republic of the Philippines (Yim et al., 2015). It was found to grow at 75–90°C, pH 4.0–6.0, and 0–1.0% (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth at 85°C, pH 5.0, and 0% (w/v) NaCl. Here, a genome sequence of V. thermophila CBA1501T has been reported and information of hyperthermophilic enzymes of high biotechnological value has been provided.
Structural Role of ABCG5/ABCG8 in Sterol Transport

ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters play critical roles in maintaining sterol homeostasis in eukaryotic organisms, including yeast, plants and mammals. In humans, the heterodimeric ABCG5/ABCG8 (G5G8) mediates the excretion of cholesterol and dietary plant sterols into bile and into the gut lumen. Mutations inactivating either ABCG5 or ABCG8 cause sitosterolemia, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by plant sterol accumulation, hypercholesterolemia, and premature coronary atherosclerosis. ABCG5 and ABCG8 are half ABC transporters;each subunit consists of an N-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and a C-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD). The NBDs dimerize to form two catalytically asymmetric nucleotide-binding sites (NBS), one that is catalytically active (NBS2) and the other inactive (NBS1). To understand the structural basis for G5G8-mediated sterol transport we developed a large-scale purification of human G5G8 by exploiting Pichia patoris yeast. We crystallized the transporter in lipid bilayers, solved its structure in a nucleotide-free state at 3.9 A resolution, and generated the first atomic model of an ABC sterol transporter. G5G8 presents a new structural configuration for the TMD of ABC transporters, which is present in a large and functionally diverse ABC2 superfamily. We discover that the TMD and the NBS are coupled through networks of interactions that differ between NBS1 and NBS2, reflecting the catalytic asymmetry of the transporter. A series of conserved polar residues in the TMD form polar networks that we proposed play a role in transmitting signals from the ATPase catalysis in the NBS to sterol transport on the TMD. Molecular dynamic simulation and long-range coevolution analysis revealed an inward-upward TMD movement that predicts a significant conformational change between the TMD subunits. Thus, the G5G8 structure provides a molecular framework that allows us to propose a mechanistic model for ABC transporter-mediated sterol transport and to analyze the disruptive effects of mutations causing sitosterolemia. The structure will serve as a structural template for homology modelling to a wide range of transport system that is regulated by ABCG transporters and by ABC2 superfamily.
Outcomes in Inguinal Hernia Repair

Inguinal herniorrhaphy is one of the most common procedures performed worldwide. In the past, the disease process was managed exclusively by open techniques. While the initial focus in inguinal herniorrhaphy was to reduce recurrence, later achieved with the Lichtenstein technique, focus has more recently shifted to other outcomes including postoperative complications, chronic pain, early return to normal activity, and better cosmesis. While recurrence data is similar between the Lichtenstein and laparoscopic techniques, the latter is superior in the above outcomes. Both laparoscopic techniques, totally extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal repairs, by and large have similar outcomes. Robotic inguinal herniorrhaphy is new and data is still lacking. In this section, we thus summarize inguinal hernia repair outcomes as they pertain to open and minimally invasive techniques.
Initiation Reactions in Acetylene Pyrolysis

In gas-phase combustion systems the interest in acetylene stems largely from its role in molecular weight growth processes. The consensus is that above 1500 K acetylene pyrolysis starts mainly with the homolytic fission of the C–H bond creating an ethynyl radical and an H atom. However, below ∼1500 K this reaction is too slow to initiate the chain reaction. It has been hypothesized that instead of dissociation, self-reaction initiates this process. Nevertheless, rigorous theoretical or direct experimental evidence is lacking, to an extent that even the molecular mechanism is debated in the literature. In this work we use rigorous ab initio transition-state theory master equation methods to calculate pressure- and temperature-dependent rate coefficients for the association of two acetylene molecules and related reactions. We establish the role of vinylidene, the high-energy isomer of acetylene in this process, compare our results with available experimental data, and assess the competition between the firs...
Changing Tides: Acceptability, support, and perceptions of tidal energy in the United States

Abstract Tidal energy is a renewable energy source that could be used to help mitigate climate change. Tidal energy technology is in the early stages of development and views towards this technology and energy source are not well understood. Through a representative mail survey of Washington State residents, we assessed attitudes and behaviors related to tidal energy, perceived benefits and risks, and climate change beliefs. Higher levels of perceived benefits and climate change beliefs were associated with increased acceptability of and support for tidal energy whereas greater perceived risks were associated with decreased acceptability and support (acceptability being an attitudinal construct, support a behavioral construct). Coastal residents reported higher levels of acceptability and support than non-coastal residents. Pulling from innovation theory, we show that levels of support depended upon the development lifecycle stage of the technology. Support declined once the project moved into the water from the lab, however, grid-connected pilot projects were more likely to be supported than those without grid-connection. Policies developed to encourage the development of tidal energy may be more accepted and supported if they include incentives for pilot phases with grid-connection.
Role of subchondral bone properties and changes in development of load-induced osteoarthritis in mice

Summary Objective Animal models recapitulating post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) suggest that subchondral bone (SCB) properties and remodeling may play major roles in disease initiation and progression. Thus, we investigated the role of SCB properties and its effects on load-induced OA progression by applying a tibial loading model on two distinct mouse strains treated with alendronate (ALN). Design Cyclic compression was applied to the left tibia of 26-week-old male C57Bl/6 (B6, low bone mass) and FVB (high bone mass) mice. Mice were treated with ALN (26 μg/kg/day) or vehicle (VEH) for loading durations of 1, 2, or 6 weeks. Changes in articular cartilage and subchondral and epiphyseal cancellous bone were analyzed using histology and microcomputed tomography. Results FVB mice exhibited thicker cartilage, a thicker SCB plate, and higher epiphyseal cancellous bone mass and tissue mineral density than B6 mice. Loading induced cartilage pathology, osteophyte formation, and SCB changes; however, lower initial SCB mass and stiffness in B6 mice did not attenuate load-induced OA severity compared to FVB mice. By contrast, FVB mice exhibited less cartilage damage, and slower-growing and less mature osteophytes. In B6 mice, inhibiting bone remodeling via ALN treatment exacerbated cartilage pathology after 6 weeks of loading, while in FVB mice, inhibiting bone remodeling protected limbs from load-induced cartilage loss. Conclusions Intrinsically lower SCB properties were not associated with attenuated load-induced cartilage loss. However, inhibiting bone remodeling produced differential patterns of OA pathology in animals with low compared to high SCB properties, indicating that these factors do influence load-induced OA progression.
Animal Perception Including Differences With Humans

Summary There are similarities and marked differences between how animals and humans perceive their environment. Animals and humans perceive sound, light, chemicals (taste and smell), touch, and the earth’s magnetic field. In comparing humans with animals, there are differences in the following: • Auditory perception: Ultrasonic sound (high frequencies of sound) is detected by some animals, such as cats, bats, rats, and mice, but not by humans. Moreover, there is spatial location of the source of sound in humans, but it is much more highly developed in some animals with the pinnae (external ears) capable of partial rotation. • Light/visual perception (sight): This encompasses trichromatic vision in humans and Old World monkeys and great apes, but not in nonprimate mammals; these having dichromatic vision. In addition, birds and some mammals, such as dogs, have the ability to detect ultraviolet light. In contrast, humans do not. There are differences also in the eyes of nocturnal versus diurnal animals and their location. In mammals there seems to be an absence of extraretinal light reception unlike in birds. • Chemoreception: Humans have a full repertoire of taste receptors while some animals lack some or all taste receptors. Most mammals have a well-developed vomeronasal chemoreception with humans having little or none. Humans have reduced olfactory chemoreception even compared to other primates. Some mammals have highly developed olfaction. Homing pigeons use odor detection. • Tactile perception (touch): Many mammals have vibrissae (tactile hairs) but these are not present in humans. • Other senses: In birds, there is magnetoreception detecting the direction of the Poles to aid migration. This does not appear to be the case in mammals.
Baseline-Subtraction-Free (BSF) Damage-Scattered Wave Extraction for Stiffened Isotropic Plates

Lamb waves enable long distance inspection of structures for health monitoring purposes. However, this capability is diminished when applied to complex structures where damage-scattered waves are often buried by scattering from various structural components or boundaries in the time-space domain. Here, a baseline-subtraction-free (BSF) inspection concept based on the Radon transform (RT) is proposed to identify and separate these scattered waves from those scattered by damage. The received time-space domain signals can be converted into the Radon domain, in which the scattered signals from structural components are suppressed into relatively small regions such that damage-scattered signals can be identified and extracted. In this study, a piezoelectric wafer and a linear scan via laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) were used to excite and acquire the Lamb-wave signals in an aluminum plate with multiple stiffeners. Linear and inverse linear Radon transform algorithms were applied to the direct measurements. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Radon transform as a reliable extraction tool for damage-scattered waves in a stiffened aluminum plate and also suggest the possibility of generalizing this technique for application to a wide variety of complex, large-area structures.
Speaker-dependent low-level acoustic feature extraction for emotion recognition

In this paper, accuracy for emotion recognition using low- level acoustic features is investigated. The aim of any speech emotion recognition system is to extract acoustic features that are representative of the emotional state of the speaker. Frequency formants, intensity, and pitch are the low-level features proposed for characterizing four different emotions, anger, happy, sadness, and neutral, using acoustic data. Low- level features describe the acoustic, prosodic, and spectral properties of the speech signal and limit the complexity of emotion recognition systems. An algorithm is designed for characterizing each emotion using the acoustic features. It has been proven that various aspects of a speaker’s physical and emotional state can be identified by speech alone. However, the accuracy of such analyses has not been optimized due to acoustic variabilities such as length and complexity of human speech utterance, gender, speaking styles and speech rate. It has also been found that speaker-dependent systems are more accurate in emotion recognition than that of speaker-independent systems. Since speech emotion recognition is relatively a newer field, the set of most powerful features which can distinguish different emotions is not defined; hence, examining the accuracy of emotion recognition using selected acoustical features is an important task.In this paper, accuracy for emotion recognition using low- level acoustic features is investigated. The aim of any speech emotion recognition system is to extract acoustic features that are representative of the emotional state of the speaker. Frequency formants, intensity, and pitch are the low-level features proposed for characterizing four different emotions, anger, happy, sadness, and neutral, using acoustic data. Low- level features describe the acoustic, prosodic, and spectral properties of the speech signal and limit the complexity of emotion recognition systems. An algorithm is designed for characterizing each emotion using the acoustic features. It has been proven that various aspects of a speaker’s physical and emotional state can be identified by speech alone. However, the accuracy of such analyses has not been optimized due to acoustic variabilities such as length and complexity of human speech utterance, gender, speaking styles and speech rate. It has also been found that speaker-dependent sy...
Are direct density cues, not resource competition, driving life history trajectories in a polyphenic salamander?

Polyphenisms, where multiple, discrete, environmentally-cued phenotypes can arise from a single genotype, are extreme forms of phenotypic plasticity. Cue acquisition and interpretation are vital for matching phenotypes to varying environments, but can be difficult if cues are unreliable indicators or if multiple cues are present simultaneously. Facultative paedomorphosis, where juvenile traits are retained at sexual maturity, is a density-dependent polyphenism exhibited by many salamanders. Favorable conditions such as low larval densities and stable hydroperiod delay metamorphosis and promote a paedomorphic strategy. We investigated proximate cues affecting facultative paedomorphosis in order to understand how larval newts (Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis) assess conspecific density. To isolate the effects of density cues from the effects of resources and agonistic behavior, we caged larval newts in mesocosms in a 2 × 2 factorial design that manipulated both background larval newt densities (high or low) and food levels (ambient or supplemented). We found strong effects of both food and density on caged individuals. Under high densities, caged larvae were more likely to become efts, a long-lasting juvenile terrestrial stage, across both food levels, while paedomorphs were more common under low densities. Though food levels increased growth rates, density had strong independent effects on metamorphic timing and phenotype. Competition for food and space are classical density-dependent processes, but density cues themselves may be a mediator of density-dependent effects on polyphenisms and life history responses.
Cachectin: a pluripotent hormone released during the host response to invasion.

Publisher Summary The two monokines, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and cachectin (tumor necrosis factor, TNF) are structurally distinct proteins that do not bind to the same receptor; however, they share many biological properties. This chapter focuses on cachectin/TNF because it has several unique properties that implicate it as an endogenous mediator of the catabolic state and shock observed in infected animals. The determination of the amino acid sequence of mouse cachectin revealed a surprising finding. In addition, the mouse cachectin had similar biological activity in killing the tumor cell line L929. Subsequent cloning studies have confirmed the identity of these two proteins: mouse TNF and mouse cachectin are identical. Cachectin has many physical similarities to IL-1; in addition, both of them also prompt a number of biological responses in common. This overlap in activity has been of interest as many of the properties once believed to be the domain of IL-1 exclusively are, in fact, shared with cachectin. Presumably, similar overlaps occur with other monokines and lymphokines as well.
Optical Fiber Sensor Coatings

Interferometric fiber optic sensors1 are based upon the principle that environmental perturbations shift the phase of light, ϕ, propagating in a single mode fiber. This change of phase, △ϕ, compared to a phase reference (see Fig. 1) is ultimately converted by a demodulator to an electrical signal proportional to the environmental perturbation.
Viral Design: User Concepts of Virality on the Niche Social Media Site, Dribbble

Virality is a much-studied topic on popular social media sites, but has been rarely explored on niche sites. Dribbble is a niche social networking site for artists and designers with over 600,000 users. Using a mixed-method approach, we explore virality from a user-centric perspective. Interviews confirm that viral-like events do exist on Dribbble. Through interviews we identify the measures and possible driving factors of viral-like events. While what spreads is different than on other platforms, our work suggests that the measures and mechanics that drive these events are similar. These similarities reflect fundamental human behavior underlying social phenomenon across different platforms. Our results are supported by regression modeling using variables identified by our informants. Smaller sites like Dribbble are rarely studied, so our work contributes to social media studies, particularly using mixed methods approaches, and to the body of research around information diffusion and viral events.
Hierarchically porous polymer coatings for highly efficient passive daytime radiative cooling

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) involves spontaneously cooling a surface by reflecting sunlight and radiating heat to the cold outer space. Current PDRC designs are promising alternatives to electrical cooling but are either inefficient or have limited applicability. We present a simple, inexpensive, and scalable phase inversion-based method for fabricating hierarchically porous poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) [P(VdF-HFP)HP] coatings with excellent PDRC capability. High, substrate-independent hemispherical solar reflectances (0.96 ± 0.03) and long-wave infrared emittances (0.97 ± 0.02) allow for subambient temperature drops of ~6°C and cooling powers of ~96 watts per square meter (W m-2) under solar intensities of 890 and 750 W m-2, respectively. The performance equals or surpasses those of state-of-the-art PDRC designs, and the technique offers a paint-like simplicity.
Inhaled combination of sildenafil and rosiglitazone improves pulmonary hemodynamics, cardiac function, and arterial remodeling

Currently, dual- or triple-drug combinations comprising different vasodilators are the mainstay for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the patient outcome continues to...
Risk Factors and Maternal Morbidity Associated with Unintentional Hysterotomy Extension at the Time of Cesarean Delivery.

Objective Our aim was to estimate the incidence of unintentional hysterotomy extension at the time of cesarean delivery and to identify associated risk factors and maternal morbidity. Study Design We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating chlorhexidine-alcohol versus iodine-alcohol for skin antisepsis in women undergoing cesarean delivery. We included patients with a low transverse hysterotomy. The primary outcome was the incidence of unintentional hysterotomy extension. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent factors associated with hysterotomy extension. Maternal morbidity was compared between patients with and without extension. Results Of 1,038 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 71 (6.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.4–8.5%) experienced a hysterotomy extension. Of several potential risk factors assessed, the second stage of labor was the only independent predictor of hysterotomy extension (adjusted odds ratio: 10.2; 95% CI: 2.6–39.8). Hysterotomy extension was associated with increased operative time (73 vs. 55.3 minutes; p Conclusion Hysterotomy extensions are not infrequent at the time of cesarean delivery and are associated with increased maternal morbidity. Cesarean delivery during the second stage of labor is the main independent risk factor for hysterotomy extension.
An Oligopoly Analysis of AT&T's Performance in the Wireline Long-Distance Markets after Divestiture

Having been present at the creation of "divestiture," as the next witness for the defense scheduled to be called before the court, the day after the surprise settlement, and therefore never heard, I had a seat at the table to listen to what was to be forthcoming. It was evident to me that ATT AT&T submitted its tariff to the FCC as required and the other two followed voluntarily. The Judge Greene court, in effect, was implementing the regulatory reform programs of the Ford and Carter Administrations in the other network industries. These programs: (a) separated ownership of the product at the entry node from transport services from that node to the exit node, and (b) regulated prices for link and node utilization where there were open entry "bottlenecks." By legislation or agency rulemaking, the gas networks or power grids were restructured into newly defined, open-entry regional markets subject to price caps at key nodes. These partial deregulatory policies proceeded through the mid 1980s to the late 1990s changing only to add auction markets in place of some price controls. The Greene court's antitrust policy in the AT&T divestiture went in this direction. The AT&T revenue share from wireline services declined by 2% to 5% per year from 1984 to 1991, then stabilized at 65%, which held, plus or minus 1%, until 1997. (3) To lose a third of total revenue share in any of these network industries presaged a decline in price relative to the costs of service. In fact, both residential and business LD charges declined, but so did the (regulated) interexchange switching charges that constituted the largest share of LD costs. Wireline LD prices for services throughout the country went down, but not by as much as did marginal costs for these services in this fifteen year period. Price net of marginal cost, as a percentage of price,--the Lerner Index in oligopoly theory--increased on standard plan services to an amount in excess of 60%. Even on discount plans--contracts for service to which large numbers of residential subscribers were switching--these margins increased from 65% to 68%. …
Executive functioning phenotypes in youth with epilepsy.

Abstract Objective The objectives of this study were to identify executive functioning (EF) phenotypes in youth with epilepsy and to examine whether phenotypes differ on psychosocial and medical outcomes (i.e., absence/presence of seizures in the past three months), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and emotional and behavioral functioning. Methods Youth 5–18 years with diagnosed epilepsy and caregivers completed a battery of questionnaires as part of a larger national validation of the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Epilepsy Module. The primary measure of interest was the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Parent Form. Medical chart reviews and demographic data were also collected. Latent class analysis was used to identify EF phenotypes. Chi-square and analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were conducted to examine EF phenotype group differences on seizure outcomes, HRQOL, and behavioral and emotional functioning. Results Two-hundred and thirty-seven children with epilepsy (Mage = 11.2 years; 56% female; 60% White: Non-Hispanic; 55% experienced seizures in the past three months) and their caregivers participated. Four EF phenotypes were identified: Group 1 — No EF deficits (45% of sample), Group 2 — Global EF deficits (29% of sample), Group 3 — Behavioral Regulation + Working Memory deficits (8% of sample), and Group 4 — Metacognitive deficits (17% of sample). No significant EF phenotype group differences were found for seizure characteristics. The ANCOVAs indicated significant EF phenotype group differences on HRQOL (parent-reported Impact, Cognitive, Sleep, EF, and Mood/Behavior and child-reported Cognitive, Sleep, EF, and Mood/Behavior subscales; ps Conclusion Phenotypic variability in EF is significantly related to patient-reported outcomes. Interventions addressing EF deficits need to be individualized to a child's particular EF phenotype to achieve optimal outcomes.
Yield and grape must quality of the IAC 138-22 ‘Máximo’ submitted to canopy management

ABSTRACT Grape cultivar IAC 138-22 'Maximo' grafted on IAC 766 ‘Campinas’ and IAC 572 ‘Jales’ rootstocks and trained in upright trellis was evaluated during consecutive summer and winter growing seasons for comparison different canopy management: a) branch thinning: comparison between one branch and two branches per spur and b) branch tipping: comparison between low and high upright trellis. The results obtained of the phytotechnical and physicochemical grape must characteristics allowed to confirm that there was no significant difference between rootstocks regarding branch thinning intensity and upright trellis height. The largest effect observed in canopy management was for yield values promoted by branch thinning. No effect was observed in the grape must physicochemical characteristics when the different treatments were compared in the same growing season. Regarding to the upright trellis height, larger values of soluble solids were obtained for the high trellis than in the low trellis. Winter growing season resulted in lower values of yield and greater values of total soluble solids and titratable acidity than in the summer growing season.
Covering the Boko Haram crisis beyond the nation: Analysis of shifting time and space frames in news reporting:

Through framing analysis, this article considers how two prominent Nigerian daily newspapers and two prominent United States daily newspapers have reported on the activities of Boko Haram during th...
Outcomes of surgical treatment for hemangiomas

Objective To quantify complications and rates of adverse events associated with surgical excision of hemangiomas in children using a national surgical database. Data source Pediatric American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program® (ACS NSQIP® -pediatric), years 2012-2016. Methods Subjects included children under 18 years with a postoperative diagnosis of International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 9th revision code: 228.00 and 228.01, or ICD 10 codes D18.00 and D18.01-hemangioma, any site and hemangioma, of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Results A total of 1180 patients were included. The median age was 3.2 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.2 to 6.4 years old). No occurrences of deep incisional surgical site infection, nerve injury, mortality, sepsis, septic shock, or blood stream infections were noted. In multivariate analysis, age ≤ 3 years and advanced American Society of Anesthesiologists class were significant predictors of adverse events (P = 0.035 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions For children with infantile hemangioma who fail to respond or have an incomplete response to medical therapy, surgical resection may be a relatively safe treatment alternative. Children older than 3 years of age with hemangiomas had less surgical adverse events than younger children. Overall, however, the surgical complications rates were low and deemed relatively minor.
The Ethics of Animal Use in Cancer Research

The relationship between science and society is somewhat like a bad marriage. The US public is extraordinarily ignorant of science. At the same time, science is captured by an ideology denying the relevance of ethics to science and also requiring that science be agnostic about animal thought and feeling. On the other hand, the public sees animal use as a moral issue, and about 50% of the public disapproves of such use. Consequently, the traditional societal ethic for animals, anti-cruelty, and laws reflecting that ethic have been replaced, and animal welfare concerns have increased across the world. Concern for animal pain and distress is a major concern, and animal biological and psychological natures should be respected. If killing animals is necessary, research animal death should be painless. Minimizing animal stress and pain is not only a moral requirement but a scientific one as well, since uncontrolled pain and distress can greatly deform variables being studied. And the research community must engage animal ethical issues in a serious manner.
The Impact of Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions on Applications to Federal Disability Programs

In this paper, we estimate the impact of Medicaid expansions via the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on applications to federal disability programs in 14 states that expanded Medicaid in January 2014. We use a difference-in-differences regression model to compare disability application rates in geographic areas within states that expanded Medicaid to rates in areas of non-expansion states that were carefully selected using a matching approach that accounts for state Medicaid policies pre-ACA as well as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics that might influence disability application rates. We find a slower decrease in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application rates after Medicaid expansions in expansion states relative to non-expansion states, with application rates declining in both state groups from 2014 through 2016. Our analysis of the impact of the Medicaid expansions on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application rates was inconclusive for reasons we discuss in the paper.
Completion thyroidectomy: A risky undertaking?

Abstract Background Completion thyroidectomy (cT) is sometimes necessary after thyroid lobectomy (TL), and it remains controversial whether 2-stage thyroidectomy adds operative risk. This study compares complication rates for TL, total thyroidectomy (TT), and cT. Methods Using a cohort design, we reviewed 100 consecutive cases each of TL, TT, and cT. Complications examined included reoperation for hematoma, temporary/permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) dysfunction, and hypoparathyroidism. Results Two patients had reoperation for hematoma, both in the TT cohort (p = 0.33). No patients in any cohort had permanent hypoparathyroidism or RLN injury, but transient RLN paresis occurred in three (3%) TL, two (2%) TT, and no (0%) cT patients (p = 0.38). Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 3% following TT versus 0% after cT (p = 0.12). Overall complication rate was higher after TT (7%) compared to TL (3%) and cT (0%, p = 0.02). Conclusions At a high-volume center, the observed complication rates were equivalently low for TL, TT, and cT. Summary Completion thyroidectomy is occasionally needed after lobectomy, but its procedure-specific risks are not well characterized. In a cohort study at a high-volume center, operative outcomes for patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy, total thyroidectomy, and completion thyroidectomy were compared and equivalently low complication rates were observed for all 3 procedures.
Microgrid Dynamic Modeling and Islanding Control With Synchrophasor Data

This paper illustrates the application of synchrophasor data to formulate reduced order dynamic models and use these models to design control algorithms that allow automated islanding and grid reconnection of a microgrid. The dynamics of the phasors at the point of common coupling (PCC) excited by the controllable assets in the microgrid are captured in reduced order models estimated from phasor data. The controllable assets are taken to be a hybrid set of distributed energy resources (DER) with different operational constraints and dynamics. In turn, the reduced order models are used to design a self-tuning feedback control algorithm to control the phasors at the PCC to allow seamless islanding and reconnection of the microgrid. The approach is illustrated on a hardware-in-the-loop setup with energy storage (ES) and diesel generator (DG) to validate the effectiveness of the modeling and control algorithms.
A Long-Term Trend Toward the Depletion of Fiscal-Macroeconomic Slack in the World Economy?

"A Long-Term Trend Toward The Depletion of Fiscal-Macroeconomic Slack in the World Economy?" is the author's 2008 (pre-crisis) attempt to update the line of thought he pursued in his 2004 International Security article "Societal Complexity and Diminishing Returns in Security."
Impaired Fetal Environment and Gestational Age: What Is Driving Mortality in Neonates With Critical Congenital Heart Disease?

Background Infants with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) are more likely to be small for gestational age (SGA) or born to mothers with maternal placental syndrome. The objective of this stu...
Investigating the effects of phonological neighbours on word retrieval and phonetic variation in word naming and picture naming paradigms

Prior work has shown that when a word with an initial voiceless stop has a contrasting initial voiced stop neighbour, Voice Onset Times (VOTs) are longer. Higher phonological neighbourhood density ...
The Effects of Emotional Abuse and Neglect in Adulthood

Are neglected and maltreated children more likely to have homicidal tendencies? There are many studies thatshow how sexual abuse and physical abuse can lead to domestic and sexual violence as an adult but not manystudies have shown how verbal abuse or emotional maltreatment can lead to having homicidal tendencies. Inthis study I will show how emotional abuse can cause children to have cognitive deficits that prevent them frommaking correct, moral decisions in adulthood.
Advocacy and Collaborative Health Care for Justice-Involved Youth

Children and adolescents who become involved with the justice system often do so with complex medical, mental health, developmental, social, and legal needs. Most have been exposed to childhood trauma or adversity, which both contribute to their involvement with the justice system and negatively impact their health and well-being. Whether youth are held in confinement or in their home communities, pediatricians play a critical role in promoting the health and well-being of justice-involved youth. Having a working knowledge of the juvenile justice system and common issues facing justice-involved youth may help pediatricians enhance their clinical care and advocacy efforts. This policy statement is a revision of the 2011 policy "Health Care for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System." It provides an overview of the juvenile justice system, describes racial bias and overrepresentation of youth of color in the justice system, reviews the health and mental health status of justice-involved youth, and identifies advocacy opportunities for juvenile justice reform.
Notch Regulates Fibrocartilage Stem Cell Fate and Is Upregulated in Inflammatory TMJ Arthritis

The Notch pathway is critical for the development of the extracellular matrix in cartilage by regulating both anabolic and catabolic cellular activities. Similarly, Notch signaling plays a biphasic role in adult cartilage health and osteoarthritis by maintaining homeostasis and contributing to degeneration, respectively. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the synovial joint of the craniofacial complex and is subject to injury and osteoarthritis. While Notch has been studied in axial skeletal joints, little is known about the role of Notch in TMJ development and disease. We identified fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) localized within the TMJ condyle superficial zone niche that regenerate cartilage and repair joint injury. Here we investigate the role of Notch in regulating TMJ development and FCSC fate. Using a Notch reporter mouse, we discovered FCSCs localized within the TMJ superficial niche exhibit Notch activity during TMJ morphogenesis. We further showed that constitutively activating Notch promotes FCSC differentiation toward both cartilage and bone lineages, but inhibits adipogenesis. Using a TNF-α-induced TMJ inflammatory arthritis mouse model, we found that the expression of Notch receptors and ligands are upregulated and coupled with cells undergoing cartilage to bone transdifferentiation, which may contribute to TMJ pathogenesis. We also discovered that global Notch inhibition reduces osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of FCSCs. Together, these findings suggest that Notch is critical for FCSC fate specification and TMJ homeostasis, and reveal that inhibition of the Notch pathway may be a new therapeutic target for treating TMJ osteoarthritis.
Using the Quantum Cell Expansion System to Generate Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Neuroprotection After Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Background & Aim Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been known to cause substantial systemic inflammation and trigger prolonged microglial activation in the brain. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have significant immunomodulatory properties; and we hypothesize that MSCs would be neuroprotective for newborn babies after CPB. However, the number of MSCs required in the pre-clinical and clinical models is in excess of 20 billion. Therefore we tested whether the Quantum could generate sufficient cells for preclinical piglet models and whether the cells were safe and efficacious in vivo. Methods, Results & Conclusion Passage 5-6 MSCs were manufactured in the Quantum using a D5 media containing platelet lysate; and phenotype, trilineage potential, viability, and cell yield were assessed for each lot. To test for safety and efficacy, two-week old piglets (n=16 total) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: (1) Control, (2) Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), (3) CPB followed by MSC administration. In group 3, MSCs (10 × 10^6 per kg) were delivered through CPB during rewarming period. The brains were fixed three hours after CPB for immunohistochemistry. Microglia was identified with specific antibody to Iba1 in both cortex and white matter. Caspase activation was also evaluated in the cortex. Starting from a mean seeding amount of 17.1 × 10^6 (range: 12.5-20 × 10^6), D5-Platelet lysate media manufactured a mean 4.70 × 10^8 MSCS (range: 3.3-7.5 × 10^8) between 10-12 days at passage 4 or 5 using the Terumo Research-grade expansion set (1.7 sq meters of surface area). The mean viability of MSCs was 92.5% (range: 89.5-92.7%) and all MSCs had >95% CD73, CD90, and CD105 expression and demonstrated trilineage potential. When transferred into the piglet model, immunohistochemistry revealed that MSC treatment normalized microglia expansion and activation caused by CPB to the same levels as the no CPB control. Acute caspase activations in the cortex after CPB were also mitigated by MSC treatment. In conclusion, MSC delivery was safe in an in vivo piglet model during CPB and has the potential to reduce microglial expansion and caspase activation in children undergoing CPB. Further investigation is necessary to determine the effect of MSC delivery through CPB during pediatric cardiac surgery.