cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ketopantoate Hydroxymethyltransferase: Tetrahydrofolate-Independent Hydroxymethyltransferase and Enolization Reactions with α-Keto Acids†

The panB gene that encodes ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase has been cloned from Mycobacterium tuberculosis , expressed, and purified to homogeneity. 1 H NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the rate of (i) tetrahydrofolate-independent hydroxymethyltransferase chemistry between formaldehyde and R-ketoisovalerate and (ii) deuterium exchange in the methylenetetrahydrofolate- independent enolization of R-ketoisovalerate and other R-keto acids, catalyzed by PanB. These studies have demonstrated that substrate enolization by PanB is divalent metal-dependent with a preference of Mg 2+ > Zn 2+ > Co 2+ > Ni 2+ > Ca 2+ . The rate of enolization is pH-dependent with optimal activity in the range of 7.0-7.5. The pH profile was bell-shaped, depending on the ionization state of two ionizable groups with apparent pK values of 6.2 and 8.3. Enolization and isotope exchange occurs with some R-keto acids (e.g., pyruvate and R-ketobutyrate), resulting in the complete exchange of all ‚-hydrogens. Enzyme- catalyzed enolization and isotope exchange occur with other long-chain and branched R-keto acids, resulting in the stereospecific exchange of only one of the ‚-hydrogen atoms. These results are discussed in the context of steric restrictions present in the enzyme active site and the stereochemistry of base-catalyzed isotope exchange.
Kinetics of the Hydrogen Reduction of Silica Incorporating the Effect of Gas‐Volume Change upon Reaction

The kinetics of the reduction of SiO2 in hydrogen in the temperature range of 1285°–1450°C have been studied by analyzing experimental data obtained by thermogravimetry. The rate analysis was performed by the use of rate equations that incorporate the effect of the net change in the gas volume upon reaction on the interphase mass transfer rate. The calculated Gibbs-free energy and overall reaction rate at each temperature are in good agreement with the reported Gibbs free energy and the experimental data. This indicates that the overall reaction rate is controlled by the convective mass transfer in the diffusion boundary layer, and the effect of the net change in the gas volume upon reaction must be incorporated to analyze correctly the rate of the hydrogen reduction of silica.
Hemodynamic effects of the vacuum-assisted closure device on open mediastinal wounds1

Abstract Background Application of the Vacuum-Assisted Closure device (VAC) to open sternal wounds has negative hemodynamic effects. We hypothesized that the interposition of a muscle flap attenuates these negative hemodynamic effects. Materials and methods After institutional approval, monitoring lines were placed in anesthetized, ventilated pigs. Through a median sternotomy, sonometric crystals were strategically positioned around the left ventricle. A rectus flap was rotated over the mediastinal wound, and the VAC was placed over the flap. After baseline measurements, a vacuum of 125 mmHg [Group (GP) 1, n = 5] or 50 mmHg (GP2, n = 6) was initiated. Hemodynamics were recorded every 15 min for 1.5 h, and 15 min after cessation of the vacuum therapy. GP3 (n = 6) underwent intermittent VAC cycling (on 5 min/off 2 min). Significance determined by t test. Results While non-flapped animals had significant detriment in both left ventricular filling volume and cardiac output, flapped animals had insignificant depression of both parameters. Download : Download full-size image Conclusion Application of muscle flaps to sternal wounds prior to VAC therapy significantly attenuates the negative hemodynamic effects seen when the VAC is used alone.
A kernel between sets of vectors

In various application domains, including image recognition, it is natural to represent each example as a set of vectors. With a base kernel we can implicitly map these vectors to a Hilbert space and fit a Gaussian distribution to the whole set using Kernel PCA. We define our kernel between examples as Bhattacharyya's measure of affinity between such Gaussians. The resulting kernel is computable in closed form and enjoys many favorable properties, including graceful behavior under transformations, potentially justifying the vector set representation even in cases when more conventional representations also exist.
Utilization and effect of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States power grid

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are uniquely capable of providing both transportation and battery storage interconnection to the electric power grid. This ability allows PHEVs the possibility of serving the power grid in the capacity of a mobile energy storage unit, providing the grid with additional stability, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. Additionally, with the higher fuel efficiency of PHEVs, the transportation and power generation sectors can collectively reduce their ecologically harmful emissions and increase their reliance on environmentally friendly energy sources. These concepts are still new and under development; in this paper, the viability of the PHEV as a mobile energy storage unit connected to the power grid is examined from a power system perspective, involving an examination of practicality, reliability, short- and long-term economics, and alternative energy storage units.
The site-specific integration reaction of Listeria phage A118 integrase, a serine recombinase.

Background: A large subfamily of serine recombinases contains long polypeptide segments appended to the C-terminal end of the conserved catalytic domain. Members of this subfamily often function as phage integrases but also mediate transposition and regulate terminal differentiation processes in eubacteria. Although a few members of this subfamily have been studied in purified in vitro systems, key mechanistic aspects of reactions promoted by these recombinases remain to be determined, particularly with respect to the functions of the large C-terminal domain. Results: We have developed and characterized a robust in vitro recombination reaction by the Listeria phage A118 integrase, a member of the subfamily of serine recombinases containing a large C-terminal domain. The reaction occurs in a simple buffered salt solution and exhibits a modest stimulation by divalent cations or spermidine and DNA supercoiling. Recombination with purified A118 integrase is unidirectional, being efficient only between attP and attB DNA sites to either join separate DNA molecules (intermolecular recombination) or to generate deletions or inversions depending on the relative orientation of att sites in cis (intramolecular recombination). The minimal attP site is 50 bp but requires only 44 bp of base sequence information, whereas the minimal attB site is 42 bp and requires 38 bp of base sequence information. DNA exchange occurs between the central 2 bp of attP and attB. Identity between these two base pairs is required for recombination, and they solely determine the orientation of recombination sites. The integrase dimer binds efficiently to full att sites, including the attL and attR integration products, but poorly and differentially to each half-site. The large C-terminal domain can be separated from the N-terminal catalytic by partial proteolysis and mediates non-cooperative DNA binding to att sites. Conclusions: The basic properties of the phage A118 integrase reaction and its substrate requirements have been elucidated. A118 integrase thus joins the handful of biochemically characterized serine integrases that are serving as models for mechanistic studies on this important class of recombinases. Information reported here will also be useful in exploiting this recombinase for genetic engineering.
Impact of stepwise hyperventilation on cerebral tissue oxygen saturation in anesthetized patients: a mechanistic study

Positive-pressure ventilation is frequently adjusted in intubated patients. For example, hyperventilation is used in patients with elevated intracranial pressure or to facilitate neurosurgical procedures,1,2 and hypoventilation (‘permissive hypercapnia’) is used in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome as part of protective lung ventilatory strategy.3 Cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes as a consequence to a change in blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level.4 If hemoglobin concentration, oxygen saturation, and cerebral metabolic rate are considered constant, a decrease in CBF will lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the brain. As a consequence, cerebral oxygenation (the balance between cerebral oxygen demand and supply) will decrease. It has been shown that the change in cerebral oxygenation secondary to an adjustment in mechanical ventilation can be measured by cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (SctO2) based on frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology.5,6 However, it is not clear if the mechanism responsible for the change in SctO2 is exclusively due to the change in blood CO2 level or if changes in intrathoracic pressure and associated secondary changes in systemic hemodynamics, including blood pressure and cardiac output (CO), also contribute to the SctO2 change. The influence of anesthetic choice, propofol-remifentanil vs. sevoflurane, is also uncertain, especially considering the fact that potent inhalational agents possess intrinsic cerebral vasodilatory effect while intravenous agents do not.7 In this study, it was our hypothesis that the decrease in SctO2 induced by stepwise hyperventilation is due to both changes in blood CO2 level and changes in systemic hemodynamics. To test this hypothesis, we carried out this mechanistic study in which SctO2, end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and CO were continuously and simultaneously measured throughout a stepwise increase in minute ventilation from hypoventilation (ETCO2 = 55 mmHg) to hyperventilation (ETCO2 = 25 mmHg) in patients anesthetized with either propofol-remifentanil or sevoflurane.
MoPADS: A Mobility Profile Aided File Downloading Service in Vehicular Networks

This paper proposes a new intelligent transportation system (ITS) that uses not only integrated cellular and wireless multihop relaying technologies but vehicles' mobility profiles to provide quality yet affordable services as well. It focuses on a subsystem where cellular bandwidth is mostly used for control signals, and a wireless mesh network called ad hoc distribution network (ADN) is used for file transfer in a multihop fashion from one or more server stations to vehicles via access points (APs) using ad hoc channels. A major design goal is to maximize the amount of requested data that can be delivered to the requesting vehicles during their journey using the ADN, taking into consideration the limited coverage of each AP and the requirement that the requested data have to arrive at a certain AP before the requesting vehicles arrive at that AP in order for the data to be downloadable. This paper proves that the optimization problem, as well as its key variations, is NP-hard and proposes efficient solutions to the problem. Analysis and realistic simulations involving a real city map and practical vehicular traces are used to evaluate the performance, and the results indicate that satisfying performance for file download applications can be achieved.
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against orbital target cells in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and related disorders; close relationship between serum cytotoxic antibodies and parameters of eye muscle dysfunction

We have carried out tests for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against extra ocular muscle (EOM), Muller’s muscle, orbital fibroblasts and skeletal muscle in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and related eye disorders. Cytotoxicity was measured as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and results expressed as % cytotoxicity. Tests were positive, with EOM cells, in 65% of patients with TAO, 75% with ocular myopathy, a variant of TAO in which periorbital inflammation is minimal, 50% with euthyroid Graves’ disease defined as ophthalmopathy associated with subclinical thyroiditis and in 50% of patients with stable lid lag and retraction but no other signs of progressive ophthalmopathy, but in only 13% of patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism without ophthalmopathy, 10% with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 14% of patients with other thyroid disorders. Tests were positive, with Muller’s muscle cells, in 40% of patients with TAO, 25% with ocular myopathy, 40% with euthyroid Graves’ disease, 44% with lid lag, 19% with Graves’ hyperthyroidism, 50% with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and in 37.5% of patients with other thyroid disorders. When skeletal muscle cells were used as target, tests were positive in 13% of patients with TAO, 31% with lid lag, 25% with Graves’ hyperthyroidism and in 29% of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but in no patient with euthyroid Graves’ disease or other thyroid disorders. Tests were negative in all patients and normals tested when EOM-derived fibroblasts were used as targets in ADCC. A significant positive correlation between % cytotoxicity against EOM cells and the severity of the eye muscle dysfunction expressed as an eye muscle index, was observed in patients with TAO. There was a significant negative correlation between the duration of eye disease and % cytotoxicity against EOM cells, suggesting higher titers of cytotoxic antibodies in the early stages of TAO. There was no correlation between % cytotoxicity and serum level of anti-TSH receptor antibodies, measured in a radioreceptor assay. These findings suggest that autoimmunity against Muller’s muscle may play a role in the pathogenesis of persistent lid lag and retraction. The nature of the EOM and Muller’s muscle autoantigens recognized by cytotoxic antibodies in the serum of patients with TAO and related eye disorders is unknown.
Biologic effects of intrauterine devices.

124 sources are cited in this review of species-specific IUD effects. Differences in antifertility action are due somewhat to anatomic and physiologic peculiarities of the reproductive system but also probably to the variation in size configuration and composition of devices used in experimentation. IUDs in subhuman and human primates generally composed of stainless steel or mixtures of polyethylene and barium sulfate are manufactured into loops coils bows and rings and usually fill the corpus of the uterus without applying force to the uterine walls. In large domestic animals such as sheep and cattle the shape of the uterus is somewhat distorted by some of the polyethylene spirals used. In smaller animals such as rodents and rabbits threads of silk or nylon or larger segments of polyethylene are often used. Findings are reviewed for domestic fowl mouse rat hamster and guinea pig rabbit swine cattle and rhesus monkey. IUDs in human females probably have no systemic effect except perhaps leading to prolonged or elevated oxytocin secretion. The principle human effects elucidated concern the endometrium. In the endometrium chronic infiltration with plasma cells and lymphocytes almost always occurs; tissue edema stroma fibrosis and increased vascularity occur in tissues directly adjacent to the device; and maturation may be delayed. IUDs have an antifertility effect in every animal tested.
Oxidative Desulfurization of Crude Oil Incorporating Sulfone Decomposition by Alkaline Earth Metal Oxides

This work explores a novel approach to desulfurization of whole crude oil where thiophenic sulfur compounds are oxidized to sulfones followed by sulfone decomposition into sulfur-free hydrocarbons. The objective of this work is to study the effect of alkaline earth metal oxides on decomposition of sulfones in oxidized crude oil. About 73% of the sulfones in a preoxidized, medium sour crude oil was decomposed over CaO at 360 °C. SO2 was detected by TPD–MS and also measured by a quantitative method when the spent CaO sorbent was thermally treated in an inert atmosphere with sweep gas. No prominent decomposition of sulfur compounds was observed when untreated crude oil (not oxidized) was treated over CaO at 360 °C. This study demonstrates the feasibility of decomposing sulfones in oxidized crude oil over CaO-based materials.
Surprising effect of uncompensated resistance on the cyclic voltammetric responses for a reversible surface-confined and uniformly accessible redox couple.

A traditional diagnostic for cyclic voltammetric responses is the plot of the peak current ipeak vs the scan rate |v| or vs |v|1/2. For a reversible redox couple with redox moieties freely diffusing in bulk solution, a plot of ipeak vs |v|1/2 will be linear; for a surface-confined and uniformly accessible reversible couple, a plot of ipeak vs |v| will be linear; however, if there is significant uncompensated resistance, it is the plot of ipeak vs |v|1/2 that will be linear even if the redox species are surface confined. The present work offers a theoretical basis for this result.
Phenol Red Clearances in the Dog

Marshall and his coworkers1 were the first to adduce evidence that phenol red is excreted by the dog's kidney by tubular secretion as well as by glomerular filtration. This evidence was: (1) phenol red injected intravenously accumulated in the cells of the convoluted tubules of the anuric kidney obtained by spinal transection; (2) phenol red is in part bound to plasma colloids and thus rendered non-filtrable, and an insufficient concentration of filtrable phenol red is present in arterial blood to account for the quantity excreted in the urine; (3) in two experiments on anesthetized dogs the rate of excretion of phenol red was not proportional to the concentration in the plasma at all levels of the latter; (4) phenol red clearances in a normal dog were considerably greater than simultaneous creatinine clearances. The last mentioned experiments were done within a restricted range of plasma phenol red (0.21 to 0.54 mg. %) and leave undetermined the question of the relationship of the latter to the phenol re...
INVESTIGATION OF SANITATION QUALITY OF TABLEWARE IN CATERING INDUSTRY OF FENGHUA

Objective To understand sanitation quality and disinfection of tableware in catering industry of Fenghua in order to provide the basis for supervision and management. Methods Sampling detection and filter paper method of E.coli were used to evaluate the sanitation quality of tableware in different scales of catering industry of Fenghua after disinfection. Results The passing rates were significantly different in three years and that of 2008 was the highest.The results of sanitation examination of tableware in different scales of management units were significantly different and the disinfection qualified rate of tableware provided by professional suppliers was the highest.The results of sanitation examination of tableware with different disinfection methods were significantly different and the disinfection qualified rate of steam or boiling was higher. Conclusion The health inspection departments should strengthen management to ensure sanitary quality of utensils.The professional suppliers of disinfection tableware have strict disinfection management system and the profession staff can perform cleaning and disinfection procedure to ensure the sanitary quality of tableware.In different disinfection methods steam or boiling is the best way to disinfect tableware.
Analysis of Biological Monitoring Results of Vectors in 2006 in Hefei City

Objective By monitoring city vector organisms so as to grasp their type,quantity,distribution and seasonal variation and formulate scientific and rational basis for biological control programs.Methods Rodents were caught using night method.Mosquitoes monitoring was conducted with artificial hours method;Flies were lured with cage monitoring method,trapping methods used to monitor housing cockroachs.Results Mouse density of the year was 0.44%,Rattus norvegicus was dominant species of rats;Mosquito density was 28.89 / man-hours,the dominant species of mosquito was Culex pipiens,Fly density was 1.99 / month,cockroaches density was 1.71/,German cockroach was the dominant species.Conclusion For rats and cockroaches,integrated measures including health promotion,environmental management and pesticide application should be taken.For mosquito and flies,environmental sanitation aimed at eliminating the breeding places should be used.
Exposure reduces negative bias in self-rated performance in public speaking fearful participants

Abstract Background and objectives Individuals with public speaking anxiety (PSA) under-rate their performance compared to objective observers. The present study examined whether exposure reduces the discrepancy between self and observer performance ratings and improved observer-rated performance in individuals with PSA. Methods PSA participants gave a speech in front of a small audience and rated their performance using a questionnaire before and after completing repeated exposures to public speaking. Non-anxious control participants gave a speech and completed the questionnaire one time only. Objective observers watched videos of the speeches and rated performance using the same questionnaire. Results PSA participants underrated their performance to a greater degree than did controls prior to exposure, but also performed significantly more poorly than did controls when rated objectively. Bias significantly decreased and objective-rated performance significantly increased following completion of exposure in PSA participants, and on one performance measure, anxious participants no longer showed a greater discrepancy between self and observer performance ratings compared to controls. Limitations The study employed non-clinical student sample, but the results should be replicated in clinical anxiety samples. Conclusions These findings indicate that exposure alone significantly reduces negative performance bias among PSA individuals, but additional exposure or additional interventions may be necessary to fully correct bias and performance deficits.
Quality Control: Laboratory Accreditation

The accreditation process plays an important role in the quality assessment and improvement of echocardiography laboratories. The accreditation process will be reviewed along with criticism and changes to the process over time. Many measures of the individual steps in the accreditation process as well as more global measures of quality are included in the standards required for laboratory accreditation through the Intersocietal Commission. This section also provides links to additional sources of information concerning each of these measures.
Environmental Management and Economic Interdependence

The question of environmental management has been characterised in the previous chapter as primarily a problem of public policy. No matter what the organisation of production, whether market-orientated or centrally-planned, there is no inherent mechanism that tends automatically to curb environmental damage resulting from production and consumption, and to bring about the internalisation of the attendant social costs. The necessary decisions have to be taken in a public-policy context — under existing environmental conditions and employing policy instruments considered most appropriate — with full knowledge of the relevant costs and benefits to society.
Prior Endovascular Intervention Is Not Detrimental to Pedal Bypasses for Ischemic Wounds.

Background Endovascular strategies are often preferred for revascularization of ischemic foot wounds secondary to infrapopliteal disease because of the less invasive technique and faster recovery. Bypass is typically reserved for failures or lesions not amenable to balloon angioplasty. However, the effects of an endovascular-first approach on subsequent bypass grafts are largely unknown. This study evaluates the effects of prior endovascular tibial interventions (PTIs) on successive bypasses to pedal targets. Methods Patients who presented with ischemic tissue loss and tibial arterial occlusive disease to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between 2006 and 2013 and underwent a surgical bypass to pedal arteries were included in this study. A retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain patient demographics, past medical history, extent of disease, prior tibial endovascular interventions, the treatment intervention, subsequent interventions, wound healing status, limb salvage, and patient survival. The primary outcome was primary patency of the pedal bypass graft. Results From 122 eligible patients, 27 had a PTI, whereas 95 had no prior endovascular tibial intervention (nPTI) in the treatment of ischemic pedal wounds with mean follow-up of 24.5 and 20.5 months, respectively (P = 0.36). The 2 groups were largely similar in terms of demographics, comorbidities, wound size, and degree of ischemia. Runoff scores between the 2 groups were also comparable (5.0 ± 1.6 for PTI and 4.8 ± 1.9 for nPTI, P = 0.59). The plantar artery was a more common target vessel in the PTI group, whereas the posterior tibial artery was targeted more often in the nPTI group (P = 0.04). At 12 months, those with a PTI exhibited a shorter primary patency (34.8% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.04). In a multivariate model, PTI was a significant risk factor for primary patency loss (hazard ratio 2.51, P = 0.004). Primary assisted patency and secondary patency were similar between the 2 groups. Wound healing was improved in those patients who had a prior endovascular intervention with 63.8% healed at 1 year compared with only 34.8% of those without intervention (P = 0.01). Amputation-free survival was similar (P = 0.68), as was survival alone (P = 0.50). Conclusions Despite a decrease in primary patency, pedal bypass was not otherwise negatively affected by a PTI. Similar primary assisted patency, secondary patency, wound healing, and survival between the 2 patient populations indicate that an endovascular-first approach is a feasible treatment strategy to achieve similar clinical outcomes in the management of ischemic foot wounds.
INNOVATIONS: A student assistant program for the Nineties

Presentation des programmes d'enseignement pour les assistants-documentalistes, encore etudiants, qui travaillent dans les bibliotheques universitaires americaines
Oberon: a Poetical Romance in Twelve Books. Translated from the German of Wieland by John Quincy Adams. Edited with an Introduction and Notes by A. B. Faust: New York: F. S. Crofts & Co., 1940. Pp. xcii, 340. $3.00.

(1942). Oberon: a Poetical Romance in Twelve Books. Translated from the German of Wieland by John Quincy Adams. Edited with an Introduction and Notes by A. B. Faust. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 139-140.
A Very Brief History of Light

For many early thinkers and natural philosophers, optics was considered the most fundamental of the natural sciences. Human efforts to understand vision and the nature of light remained at the forefront of intellectual endeavors for well over 3000 years. A study of optics in the Western and Islamic cultures provides an understanding of the intellectual growth of these societies. This article attempts to retrace this history.
In pursuit of stability: evolution of Asia's regional financial architecture

ABSTRACTOver the last 30 years, East Asia has progressed from virtually no intergovernmental arrangement in the 1980s to exclusive financial regionalism supported by strong centripetal forces in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis (1997–1998), but this move has not yet produced coherent regional financial architecture. This article examines the evolution of Asia's regional financial architecture of the last three decades and discusses factors that have promoted and inhibited Asia's efforts toward financial regionalism. Since the Global Financial Crisis (2008–2009), the centripetal forces that aided the region's defensive regionalism have weakened, and the crisis has moved the region to seek multiple sources of financial stability from global to regional. On the one hand, given its export-promotion strategy, East Asia still relies heavily on the global financial architecture, and the region's US dollar dependence continues. On the other hand, the Global Financial Crisis has triggered China to seek ...
Fabrication and characterization of mesopores in a silica gel matrix

The sol–gel synthesis of a silica (SiO2) matrix that surrounds ZnO nanoparticles was studied using atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques prior to and just after removal of the nanoparticles. The...
Defining and Estimating Risk and Protection: An Illustration from the School Success Profile

This article links a risk and protection conceptual framework with definitions of risk and protection from epidemiology. It describes methods for estimating and modeling risk and protection that yield readily interpretable results using contingency tables and logistic regression. Data from a national sample of adolescents illustrate key concepts, providing implications for research and practice.
Currency Undervaluation and Economic Growth in Central and Eastern European Countries

This paper analyzes the relationship between currency undervaluation and economic growth in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Rodrik (2008) finds that, in general, developing countries experience higher economic growth when their currency is undervalued. We show that, due to their relatively rapid transition from centrally-planned to market systems, CEE economies are not expected to behave in the same manner as other developing countries. We use Rodrik’s procedure of quantifying the undervaluation of a currency, and a sample of 12 countries with about 20 years of data to run panel data regressions with various control variables. In all instances we find that, for the CEE countries, currency undervaluation is associated with reduced economic growth.
Systematic errors in the measurement of adsorption isotherms by frontal analysis: Impact of the choice of column hold-up volume, range and density of the data points

Besides the accuracy and the precision of the measurements of the data points, several important parameters affect the accuracy of the adsorption isotherms that are derived from the data acquired by frontal analysis (FA). The influence of these parameters is discussed. First, the effects of the width of the concentration range within which the adsorption data are measured and of the distribution of the data points in this range are investigated. Systematic elimination of parts of the data points before the calculation of the nonlinear regression of the data to the model illustrates the importance of the numbers of data points (1) within the linear range and (2) at high concentrations. The influence of the inaccuracy of the estimate of the column hold-up volume on each adsorption data point, on the selection of the isotherm model, and on the best estimates of the adsorption isotherm parameters is also stressed. Depending on the method used to measure it, the hold-up time can vary by more than 10%. The high concentration part of the adsorption isotherm is particularly sensitive to errors made on t(0,exp) and as a result, when the isotherm follows bi-Langmuir isotherm behavior, the equilibrium constant of the low-energy sites may change by a factor 2. This study shows that the agreement between calculated and experimental overloaded band profiles is a necessary condition to validate the choice of an adsorption model and the calculation of its numerical parameters but that this condition is not sufficient.
Adult Presentation of Learning Disorders

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that childhood learning disorders tend to persist through adolescence and adulthood (Dykman, Peters, & Ackerman, 1973; Gottesman, Belmont, & Kaminer, 1975; Kline, 1972; Muehl and Forell, 1973; Rourke, Young, Strang, & Russell, 1986; Sarazin & Spreen, 1986). Accordingly, there is little support for the maturation hypothesis, which posits that children tend to outgrow learning problems manifested in childhood. Disorders of learning are referred in the literature by a multiplicity of terms such as learning disability, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD), and dyslexia. Unfortunately, individuals with often quite disparate learning-related disorders are grouped together. Most researchers and clinicians agree that there is a strong need to retire the general term of “learning disabilities” that is often used to describe a heterogeneous group of individuals manifesting distinct disorders. Rather, more attention should be directed toward identifying the specific attributes of the individual’s learning problem.
Pattern of executive functioning in adolescents with epilepsy: A multimethod measurement approach.

Abstract Youth with epilepsy demonstrate deficits in executive functioning (EF), the skills necessary for goal-directed behavior (e.g., problem-solving, initiating, monitoring, organization, planning, and working memory). Despite 30–50% of youth with epilepsy demonstrating EF deficits, no extant studies have utilized both performance and questionnaire-based measures to examine the pattern of EF deficits in adolescents with epilepsy. Study aims were to 1) identify the pattern of EF deficits in adolescents with epilepsy and 2) identify which assessment tools are most sensitive to EF deficits in this population (adolescents, ages 13–17, with epilepsy). An exploratory aim was to examine group differences on measures of EF by epilepsy type. Standard performance-based neuropsychological measures (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Version V or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Working Memory Index-Version IV, Delis Kaplan Executive Functioning System, NIH Toolbox, Test of Everyday Attention for Children) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) comprised the multimethod assessment battery. Depending on the measure, 30% of adolescents with epilepsy had deficits in working memory, 17% in cognitive flexibility/problem solving, 6% in inhibition, and 18% in planning/organization. Attention was a significant problem for 15% of adolescents with epilepsy. Correlations among the various EF measures were quite poor. Across various EF domains, results indicated that adolescents with localization-related epilepsy demonstrated better EF skills compared to adolescents with unclassified epilepsy. Overall, our findings suggest that executive functioning deficits are selective and different from those observed in other neurological populations (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injury) where problems with self-regulation (i.e., inhibition, planning/organization) are more pronounced. These findings support utilizing multiple measures, including both performance-based neuropsychological tests and parent- and self-reports, to assess executive functioning difficulties in adolescents with epilepsy as they are uniquely sensitive to executive functioning domains. Adolescents with unclassified epilepsy also appear to be at higher risk for EF deficits and thus represent an important group to target for intervention.
Outcomes of salvage radical prostatectomy following more than one failed local therapy.

Purpose To describe the salvage radical prostatectomy (sRP) experience in patients presenting with recurrent, clinically localized prostate cancer after multiple failed local treatments. Materials and methods Among the 251 sRP performed during 2000-2016, 11 patients had failed multiple local therapies. We describe baseline clinical characteristics at primary cancer diagnosis and prior to sRP, surgical information, complications and oncological outcomes. Results The mean±standard deviation age at sRP was 65±5 years and the median (interquartile range) serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 2 (1.3) ng/mL. The most common first and subsequent treatments were radiotherapy and cryotherapy, respectively, with median time of 24 months from the last local treatment. The median operative time was 180 minutes and median estimated blood loss was 750 mL. Five (45.5%) patients underwent additional procedures during sRP for pre-operative morbidity from prior treatments (rectourethral fistula, urethral stricture, incontinence). Post-operative complications requiring invasive intervention occurred in 7 (63.6%) patients. Over a median follow-up of 29 (12-96) months, 10 of the 11 men (90.9%) achieved an undetectable PSA in after sRP. Three of these men with an initially undetectable PSA level experienced biochemical recurrence; the remaining 7 are without evidence of disease. Overall, no local recurrence or systemic metastasis was identified at last follow-up. Conclusions sRP is technically feasible and offers durable cancer control in patients with recurrent prostate cancer despite having undergone multiple prior attempts at cure. These patients experience higher rates of post-operative complications and such patients must be appropriately counseled regarding the potential risks and benefits.
Pareto fronts for multiobjective optimal design of the lithium-ion battery cell

Abstract The objective of this paper is to study the multiobjective optimization problems for the optimal design of lithium-ion batteries. First, a two-objective problem is constructed with the performance measures of energy per unit separator area for the discharge rate of 0.5C and the mass per unit separator area. The reaction zone model and genetic algorithm are employed to solve this problem qualitatively. The resulted Pareto front comes out to be a concave curve in the 2D plane of the two performance measures. Three case studies are guided to illustrate the advantages and applications of employing the multiobjective optimization in the design process. A more sophisticated simulation model is then employed for a three-objective optimization problem with the objectives of energy performance at both low and high discharge rates and mass performance. The problem is quantitatively resolved with the assistance of the electrochemical model and genetic algorithm. The Pareto front comes out to be a curved surface in the 3D space of the three objectives. The properties of the Pareto front are discussed to offer new perspectives on product designs in the industry.
Sampling Based \(\delta \)-Approximate Data Aggregation in Sensor Equipped IoT Networks

Emerging needs in data sensing applications result in the usage of IoT networks. These networks are widely deployed and exploited for various efficient data transfer. Wireless sensors can be incorporated in IoT networks to reduce the deployment costs and maintenance costs. One of the critical problems in sensor equipped IoT devices is to design an energy efficient data aggregation method that processes the maximum value query and distinct set query. Therefore, in this paper, we propose two approximate algorithms to process the maximum queries and distinct-set queries in wireless sensor networks. These two algorithms are based on uniform sampling. Solid theoretical proofs are offered which can make sure the proposed algorithms can return correct query results with a given probability. Simulation results show that both \(\delta \)-approximate maximum value and \(\delta \)-approximate distinct set algorithms perform significantly better than a simple distributed algorithm in terms of energy consumption.
The Role of Childhood and Adult Stress in the Genesis of the Decathected Unconscious

Much time and space have been given in this volume to a description of the dynamics, the mechanisms, and especially the neurophysiology of the “decathected unconscious,” but paradoxically very little experimental data have been presented to describe in any detail the substantive content of that entity. The reason for this omission has been the direction of our interest, which until now has been concerned mainly with the definition of physiological mechanisms. Theoretically, the activities of the decathected unconscious, because of the influences of powerful defensive mechanisms, should be most likely to produce some variety of neurotic behavior. But this is only partially true since defensive measures often successfully decathect threatening material. In order to provide more substantial experimental and clinical data on the operation of the decathected unconscious in normals, we will emphasize in this chapter the normal use of defense mechanisms in the decathected unconscious. Only in the later chapters of the book will we extrapolate to more neurotic behavior.
Etiology and Pathogenesis of Insomnia

Although insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and effective treatments are available, little is known about its underlying causes and development. This article reviews and contrasts various psychological and neurobiological theories on the etiology and pathogenesis of insomnia. Obstacles to scientific progress and future directions are also outlined.
Counterpoint: Randomized trials provide the strongest evidence for clinical guidelines: The US Preventive Services Task Force and Prostate Cancer Screening.

BACKGROUND The US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer based primarily on 2 large long-term randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and a systematic review of harms resulting from screening. OBJECTIVE To support use of large, long-term randomized trials as the evidence base for clinical guidelines on screening and to draw attention to limitations of modeling studies used for this purpose. METHODS We respond to critiques of use of RCTs as the primary evidence base, considering the results of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) and European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) trials, documented harms resulting from PSA screening, and methodological concerns with modeling studies. RESULTS The PLCO and ERSPC provided 11-13 years of follow-up on over 250,000 subjects. The PLCO, despite limitations, is most representative of US populations, screening and treatment practices, and showed no mortality benefit resulting from annual PSA testing after 13 years of follow-up. The confidence interval was narrow and precluded more than a 13% relative mortality reduction. Competing causes of mortality in older men make it progressively less likely that longer follow-up will demonstrate a large absolute reduction in disease-specific mortality. With continued screening, the increasing prevalence of asymptomatic cancers in older men will increase the rate of overdiagnosis. Potential harms from screening and treatment are significant. CONCLUSIONS Projections from models are subject to mistaken assumptions and investigator biases, and should not be accorded the same weight as evidence from RCTs. Current empiric evidence is sufficient to support the US Preventive Services Task Force guideline that clinicians should recommend against PSA screening for prostate cancer.
A duty to disclose. Issues to consider in securing informed consent.

ABSTRACT Background This article reviews the historical development of informed consent law and highlights factors dentists must consider when deciding how to obtain valid informed consent from patients. Conclusions Informed consent laws vary from state to state. Dentists should review the laws in their states to determine when they are legally required to obtain informed consent, what information must be disclosed for the consent to be valid and how to secure consent for minor patients and adult patients who are not legally competent. Practice Implications Dentists should ensure that they are familiar with and in compliance with the informed consent laws in their states. ADA-member dentists also should be mindful of their ethical obligation to inform patients of proposed treatment and reasonable alternatives.
Why Do Alcoholics Drink

The deceptively simple question “Why do alcoholics drink?” is central to the problem of alcoholism. Dissection of the question, however, reveals it to be highly complex, fraught with the potential for semantic and conceptual confusion. Why refers to etiology, cause, or underlying mechanisms of action. Should the answer then be addressed toward the biochemical, physiological, psychological, behavioral, social, or cultural determinants of drinking? The term alcoholic also creates difficulties. What type of alcoholic: essential versus reactive, primary versus secondary, binge versus steady (Ludwig, Cain, Wikler, Taylor, and Bendfeldt, 1977), problem versus addicted (Straus, 1976), loss-of-control versus non-loss-of-control (Stein et al., 1968), or Jellinek (1960) type drinkers? And what about the word drink? Does this refer to the type of beverage: beer, wine, or liquor? Does it refer to the pattern of drinking: periodic versus constant, solitary versus social, or situational versus nonsituational? Or does it refer to the amount consumed over some span of time?
Environmental Change and the Elderly

Projections of future events may have become more frequent simply because a new century is approaching. Or, quite possibly, the incidence of such projections has increased because the technology for making them has proliferated and improved. Whatever the reason may be, one such set of projections was recently undertaken and presented by a group of scholars interested in the problems of aging (Neugarten, 1975). As background for the more sophisticated projections, one estimate predicted that in the year 2000 over 35 million people in the United States would be 65 years of age or over, in contrast to about 22 million at the time of this writing. The magnitude of this increase in the United States in the aged population is, to say the least, impressive. On a worldwide basis, the figures are even more impressive. And yet, as Beattie has pointed out, a number of significant futuristic studies have for all intents and purposes ignored or have omitted consideration of the elderly segment of the population (Beattie, 1975).
THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE MAGNESIUM COMPLEX OF CHICKEN SKELETAL TROPONIN-C

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates molecular structure of the magnesium complex of chicken skeletal troponin-C (TNC). Crystals of magnesium-troponin C were grown by co-crystallization of the protein in the presence of MgCl2 analogous to manganese–TNC complex. Long central helix is richly endowed with charged residues, which have the potential for ion-pair and like-charge pair interactions. Residues 100–103 form strong hydrogen bond while residue pairs 84–88 and 91–95 may also be involved in hydrogen bonding. The current agreement index is 0.22, which includes the protein, the two bound magnesium metals and 37 water molecules. The other ion pairs are too far to be in direct hydrogen bonding. The ion pairs on the surface of the exposed helix seem to contribute to its stability.
Collagen Metabolism in Uremia

Collagens are among the most abundant structural proteins of the extracellular matrix and are important components of basement membranes. Although many tissue collagens under normal circumstances have slow turnover rates (e.g., in dermis), other collagens are degraded and new collagens synthesized in the course of tissue remodeling (e.g., in bone). In chronic renal failure abnormalities occur in bone remodeling as well as lesions in dermis and subcutaneous tissue (necrosis) and tendons (spontaneous rupture). These changes should be interpreted with respect to our current knowledge of collagen metabolism.
Multicellular Interactions in 3D Engineered Myocardial Tissue.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the US and many countries worldwide. Current cell-based clinical trials to restore cardiomyocyte (CM) health by local delivery of cells have shown only moderate benefit in improving cardiac pumping capacity. CMs have highly organized physiological structure and interact dynamically with non-CM populations, including endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Within engineered myocardial tissue, non-CM populations play an important role in CM survival and function, in part by secreting paracrine factors and cell-cell interactions. In this review, we will summarize the progress of engineering myocardial tissue with pre-formed physiological multicellular organization, and will present the challenges towards clinical translation.