cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“The Compass Follows the Flag”: The French Scientific Mission to Mexico, 1864–1867

Abstract During the French Intervention in Mexico, 1861–67, the French Ministry of Public Instruction established a scientific commission (Commission scientifique du Mexique, 1864–1867) that would perform functions similar to those of earlier missions to Egypt, Greece, and Algeria. This paper places the work of the Commission in the context of 19th-century French science and complements recent studies on scientific colonialism or imperialism. The role of geography and geographers is emphasized.
How to reverse-engineer quality rankings

A good or bad product quality rating can make or break an organization. However, the notion of "quality" is often defined by an independent rating company that does not make the formula for determining the rank of a product publicly available. In order to invest wisely in product development, organizations are starting to use intelligent approaches for determining how funding for product development should be allocated. A critical step in this process is to "reverse-engineer" a rating company's proprietary model as closely as possible. In this work, we provide a machine learning approach for this task, which optimizes a certain rank statistic that encodes preference information specific to quality rating data. We present experiments on data from a major quality rating company, and provide new methods for evaluating the solution. In addition, we provide an approach to use the reverse-engineered model to achieve a top ranked product in a cost-effective way.
Power system state recognition using data mining algorithms

This paper describes an approach to identify the state of a power system using Data Mining Algorithms. With the advent of Phasor Measurement Units (PMU), a huge amount of power system data is being stored day-to-day in the Phasor Data Collectors (PDCs). Knowledge discovery and machine learning techniques can make use of this data to extract valuable information and interesting patterns in these databases. In this paper, Symbolic Aggregate ApproXimation (SAX) is used to convert the time stamped phasor data from the PMUs into symbolic strings and Data Mining (DM) algorithms are used to predict the current state of a power system. Along with the state, the location and cause of disturbance is also identified in minimal time. The effectiveness of different DM algorithms for determining state of a power system is also shown using the measures of accuracy, precision and recall.
Next Generation Sequencing in Differential Diagnosis of Childhood Melanoma From Spitz Nevus: A Case Report

Melanomas are uncommon in children and share many of the characteristics of benign Spitz nevi in their clinical presentation as well as histopathology. Therefore, the diagnosis could be challenging. Currently, molecular diagnostic tools are being explored to aid the diagnosis in the pediatric melanoma. Melanomas often harbor multiple gene mutations and gene number variations, including BRAF (7q34), CCND1 (11q13), RREB1 (6p25), Cep 6, MYB (6q23), PIK3CA (3q26), PTEN (10q23), CDKN2A (9p21), c-KIT (4q12) and MYC (8q24), but these changes are rare in benign melanocytic nevi, including Spitz nevus of which the signature gene abnormalities had been recently revealed. Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a new molecular technique allowing the detection of a broad spectrum of genome abnormalities simultaneously, thus providing a potential powerful tool for assisting the diagnosis of childhood melanoma. We herein present a 12-year-old female with a melanocytic neoplasm showing histopathologic features highly suggestive of malignant melanoma. A variety of molecular analysis studies were employed including NGS, which revealed BRAF mutation, BRAF copy number addition, and CDKN2A and PTEN deletion. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were also used, which not only confirmed the gene number variation in BRAF, CDKN2A and PTEN, but also revealed gain in MYC. These results added valuable information in the diagnosis of melanoma. This case demonstrated the usefulness of molecular analysis as the ancillary tools in assisting the diagnosis of childhood melanoma. Int J Clin Pediatr. 2014;3(1):22-28 doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.14740 / ijcp148e
BIOLOGICAL ASSAY OF THE MAMMOGENIC LOBULE-ALVEOLAR GROWTH FACTOR OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY1,2

GOMEZ AND TURNER (1, 2,) on the basis of an extensive series of experiments, postulated the presence in the anterior pituitary of two mammogenic factors, the first of which stimulated the growth of the mammary duct system and the second the lobule-alveolar system. Lewis and Turner (3) continued the study of the duct factor noting its presence in the AP of all types of cattle. Lipid extracts of the AP were shown to be rich in this factor. It was suggested that the secretion of estngen under natural conditions and the injection of estrogen in experimental animals caused an increased secretion of Mammogen I and thus stimulated the growth of the duct system. Since the growth of the lobule-alveolar system normally occurs during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy or upon the injection of progestin and estrogen in experimental animals, it was suggested that progestin and estrogen stimulated an increased secretion of Mammogen II by the AP which in turn was responsible for completing the growth of the mammary gland.
Implementation of Finite Deformation Triphasic Modeling in the Finite Element Code FEBio

Many biological soft tissues exhibit a charged solid matrix, most often due to the presence of proteoglycans enmeshed within the matrix. The predominant solute content of the interstitial fluid of these tissues consists of the monovalent counter-ions Na+ and Cl−. The electrical interactions between the mobile ion species and fixed charge density of the solid matrix produces an array of mechano-electrochemical effects, including Donnan osmotic swelling, and streaming and diffusion potentials and currents. These phenomena have been successfully modeled by the triphasic theory of Lai et al. [1], which is based on the framework of mixture theory [2]. Other similar frameworks have also been proposed [3, 4]. The equations of triphasic theory are nonlinear, even in the range of infinitesimal strains. Therefore, numerical schemes are generally needed to solve all but the simplest problems using this framework.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Associations between different forms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Abstract Aims—To study the epidemiology and natural history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Methods—Retrospective cohort study involving all 172 hospitals of the Department of Veterans Affairs. A total of 194 527 patients with GORD were followed between 1981 and 1994. Distribution of oesophagitis, oesophageal ulcer, oesophageal stricture, strictured hiatus hernia, hiatus hernia, and pyrosis by age, sex, and ethnicity were determined. The comorbid occurrence of various forms of GORD in identical patients was analysed by an age and race standardised morbidity ratio. The population of all hospitalised veterans was used for comparison. Results—Severe forms of GORD associated with oesophageal erosions, ulcers, or strictures, affected elderly, white, male patients more often than their corresponding opposite demographic group. All forms of GORD clustered in the same patient population; on average, any form of GORD was 10 times more likely to occur in a patient with another form of GORD than without. The highest morbidity ratio (22) was found in oesophageal ulcer and stricture. About one third of all patients with oesophageal erosions, ulcers, or strictures also had hiatus hernia; 46% of patients with hiatus hernia were diagnosed as having other forms of GORD. While one third of all oesophageal strictures appeared in patients without other forms of GORD diagnosed at any time, oesophageal ulcers were always associated with some other form of GORD. No clear cut progression in different forms of GORD was found. Conclusions—Older age, male sex, and white ethnicity are risk factors in the development of severe forms of GORD. The most severe grade of GORD is reached at the onset of the disease. Keywords: epidemiology of GORD; erosive oesophagitis; oesophageal stricture; oesophageal ulcer; hiatus hernia; natural history; pyrosis; reflux oesophagitis
Detectors for discrete-time signals in non-Gaussian noise

The structure and performance of a class of nonlinear detectors for discrete-time signals in additive white noise are investigated. The detectors considered consist of a zero-memory nonlinearity (ZNL) followed by a linear filter whose output is compared with a threshold. That this class of detectors is a reasonable one to study is apparent from the fact that both the Neyman-Pearson optimum and the locally optimum (i.e., weak-signal optimum) detectors for statistically independent noise samples can be put into this form. The measure of detector performance used is the asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE) of the nonlinear detector under study with respect to a linear detector appropriate for the same detection problem. A general expression for this ARE is given along with the result that the non-linearity maximizing this expression is any linear function of the nonlinearity in the appropriate constant-signal locally optimum detector. To illustrate the structure and performance of these nonlinear detectors for a wide range of non-Gaussian noise distributions, three general classes of symmetric, unimodal, univariate probability density functions are introduced that are generalizations of the Gaussian, Cauchy, and beta distributions.
Comparison of atmospheric forcing in four sub-arctic seas

A comparative analysis was conducted on climate variability in four sub-arctic seas: the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea shelf, the Labrador Sea, and the Barents Sea. Based on data from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, the focus was on air–sea interactions, which influence ice cover, ocean currents, mixing, and stratification on sub-seasonal to decadal time scales. The seasonal cycles of the area-weighted averages of sea-level pressure (SLP), surface air temperature (SAT) and heat fluxes show remarkable similarity among the four sub-arctic seas. With respect to variation in climate, all four seas experience changes of comparable magnitude on interannual to interdecadal time scales, but with different timing. Since 2000 warm SAT anomalies were found during most of the year in three of the four sub-arctic seas, with the exception of the Sea of Okhotsk. A seesaw (out of phase) pattern in winter SAT anomalies between the Labrador and the Barents Sea in the Atlantic sector is observed during the past 50 years before 2000; a similar type of co-variability between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea shelf in the Pacific is only evident since 1970s. Recent positive anomalies of net heat flux are more prominent in winter and spring in the Pacific sectors, and in summer in the Atlantic sectors. There is a reduced magnitude in wind mixing in the Sea of Okhotsk since 1980, in the Barents Sea since 2000, and in early spring/late winter in the Bering Sea shelf since 1995. Reduced sea-ice areas are seen over three out of four (except the Sea of Okhotsk) sub-arctic seas in recent decades, particularly after 2000 based on combined in situ and satellite observations (HadISST). This analysis provides context for the pan-regional synthesis of the linkages between climate and marine ecosystems. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Modeling of Chlorine Related Defects and Complexes in ZnMgSe

We have used the ab-initio full potential LMTO method to model native defects and chlorine-impurity-related defects in ZnSe and ZnxMg1-xSe. Our results show that there is a strong tendency for formation of a defect complex between a chlorine impurity at the Se site and a vacancy at the neighboring Zn site. The formation energies of this complex and other chlorine related defects decrease in the presence of magnesium. However, the maximum achievable electron concentration in the presence of magnesium is lower because of the increase in the band gap.
NONSENSE MUTATIONS IN THE ADE3 LOCUS OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Fifty seven mutations at the ade3 locus have been crossed to ochre, amber and ochre-amber suppressors. 70% (39/56) of the mutations at this locus are nonsense mutations; 61% (34/56) are ochre mutations and 9% (5/56) are amber mutations. The frequency of nonsense mutations among ade3 alleles recovered is very high and raises the interesting possibility that only polar mutations at this locus are recovered. An hypothesis to explain these genetical findings as well as physiological properties of these mutations is proposed.
Radon-Nikodým compact spaces and fragmentability

While investigating Asplund spaces in [15], R. R. Phelps and the author noticed that weak* compact subsets of the duals of Asplund spaces (or equivalently, as it turned out, weak* compact subsets of dual Banach spaces with the Radon-Nikodým property) possessed many properties in common with weakly compact subsets of Banach spaces. The topological study of the spaces homeomorphic to the latter, the so-called Eberlein compact spaces, or EC spaces for short, had flourished and had already yielded a rich collection of results. Therefore it was natural to hope that a similar study of the former might also lead to interesting discoveries. In a series of letters with S. Fitzpatrick exchanged during the summer and the fall of 1981, we started to collect properties of compact spaces that are homeomorphic to weak* compact subsets of the duals of Asplund spaces, which we tentatively called “Asplund compact spaces“. However, as far as we are aware, Reynov's paper [16] is the first study in print of the topological properties of “Asplund compact spaces” or “compacta of RN type” as Reynov termed them.
Comparison of 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography Ventilation With Nuclear Medicine Ventilation-Perfusion Imaging: A Clinical Validation Study

Purpose Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) ventilation imaging provides lung function information for lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Before 4DCT-ventilation can be implemented clinically it needs to be validated against an established imaging modality. The purpose of this work was to compare 4DCT-ventilation to nuclear medicine ventilation, using clinically relevant global metrics and radiologist observations. Methods and Materials Fifteen lung cancer patients with 16 sets of 4DCT and nuclear medicine ventilation-perfusion (VQ) images were used for the study. The VQ-ventilation images were acquired in planar mode using Tc-99m-labeled diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid aerosol inhalation. 4DCT data, spatial registration, and a density-change-based model were used to compute a 4DCT-based ventilation map for each patient. The percent ventilation was calculated in each lung and each lung third for both the 4DCT and VQ-ventilation scans. A nuclear medicine radiologist assessed the VQ and 4DCT scans for the presence of ventilation defects. The VQ and 4DCT-based images were compared using regional percent ventilation and radiologist clinical observations. Results Individual patient examples demonstrate good qualitative agreement between the 4DCT and VQ-ventilation scans. The correlation coefficients were 0.68 and 0.45, using the percent ventilation in each individual lung and lung third, respectively. Using radiologist-noted presence of ventilation defects and receiver operating characteristic analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the 4DCT-ventilation were 90%, 64%, and 81%, respectively. Conclusions The current work compared 4DCT with VQ-based ventilation using clinically relevant global metrics and radiologist observations. We found good agreement between the radiologist's assessment of the 4DCT and VQ-ventilation images as well as the percent ventilation in each lung. The agreement lessened when the data were analyzed on a regional level. Our study presents an important step for the integration of 4DCT-ventilation into thoracic clinical practice.
What Texas Estate Planners Need to Know about Transferring a Wind Interest

Wind development is at the forefront of our nation’s green energy trend. The importance of wind energy raises prospective legal issues, in particular to estate planners, regarding how those rights should be treated in their clients’ wills. Estate planners must be especially careful in determining their clients’ goals and assist them in achieving those goals. A testator who merely partitions his or her land into parcels of equal sizes in an attempt to make an equitable division to the beneficiaries might not achieve an equal distribution of wealth to each beneficiary because it is very likely that the shares will not have equal value. he shares of property with turbines, or the most turbines, will be more valuable than those without, or those with less. Additionally, the parcels with turbines would have less, if not little, surface area to enjoy quietly.This article addresses some of the issues related to testamentary transfers of wind rights to increase the likelihood that your client’s will accurately reflects his or her testamentary intent.
The role of informal member leaders in a system containing formal leaders

The purpose of this descriptive field study was to explore the processes associated with the emergence of informul member leaders in a temporary system contatinig formal leaders. Four individuals w...
An approach to rotational relapse

The tendency of rotated teeth to relapse after treatment following retention is partially because of the supra-alveolar fibers which are stretched during rotational correction. Early treatment, overrotation, a long retention period, and proper contouring of contact points have been used to reduce relapse. With several surgical methods, it has been shown that releasing the tension in the periodontal fibers by severing the supracrestal and transseptal fibers significantly reduced relapse tendencies following rotation. This study was designed to test a simple surgical method (Vanarsdall) and to examine the effect of transsecting supra-alveolar fibers in orthodontically rotated teeth. Twelve cases in which a tooth and its antimere were rotated in excess of 10 degrees prior to orthodontic treatment were chosen for this study. One of the two rotated teeth was chosen for the gingival fibrotomy, while its antimere was retained by conventional orthodontic means and served as a control. The incision was made at a 45-degree angle to the long axis of the tooth, on the labial and lingual aspects of each tooth, 2 months prior to debanding. A significant decrease in the amount of relapse up to 30 days following removal of appliances in the fibrotomy group as compared to the control group (0.42 degrees and 5.75 degrees, respectively) suggests that the procedure be considered for overcoming rotational relapse.
Rodent Immunohistochemistry Pitfalls and Troubleshooting

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a common adjunct in pathology for morphologic diagnosis, research pathology, and studying the pathogenesis of the disease. Proper technique and interpretation of an immunohistochemistry assay is of utmost importance. A variety of problems, including the presence of artifacts (nonspecific background or other staining problems) and the differentiation between nonspecific and specific staining, commonly occur. It is essential that antibody quality and IHC technique be optimized. We review the histologic patterns of specific and nonspecific staining after using IHC techniques, as well as basic troubleshooting procedures, and provide some examples of nonspecific staining and other artifacts especially in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues (FFPE) of mice.
Combined Inguinal and Extraperitoneal Approach for Large Femoral Pseudoaneurysms: Case Reports

A combined inguinal and suprainguinal extraperitoneal approach is described for the surgical management of large (more than 7 cm in diameter) or high lying femoral pseudoaneurysms. The anastomosis was performed without tension and minimized turbulence and stress on the suture line. This approach facilitates surgical dissection and vascular control of the aneurysms.
Validation and Comparison of AMH Serum Levels Using the Original Active MIS/AMH ELISA to the New Active AMH Gen II ELISA

whole genome sequence can be obtained from a blastocyst and that a known genetic mutation within some of the blastocysts can be identified. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two DNA amplification METHODS were compared to see which one generates sufficient quality template DNA for whole genome sequence analysis using Complete Genomics’ DNA nanoarray sequencing platform (1). The METHODS were SurePlex, which is commonly used for array CGH, and a modified multiple displacement amplification (MDA) (2). 10-20 cells were biopsied from embryos affected with the R-1MT mutation of Myotonic Dystrophy. The samples were lysed and the DNA denatured in a single tube. Approximately 2 ug of DNA were generated by both amplificationMETHODS. Prior to whole genome sequence analysis, amplified samples were screened with 96 independent qPCR markers spread across the genome to select samples with the lowest amount of bias. Briefly, we determined the average cycle number across the entire plate and subtracted that from each individual marker to compute a ‘‘delta cycle’’ number. The delta cyclewas plotted against the GC content of the 1000 base pairs surrounding each marker. This gave us a sense of the relative GC bias of each sample. To get a sense of the overall ‘‘noise’’ of the samples, the absolute value of each delta cycle was summed to create the ‘‘sum of deltas’’ measurement. From our experience, a low sum of deltas and a relatively flat plotting of the data against GC content yields a well-represented whole genome sequence. The best amplified samples were processed by Complete Genomics at their Mountain View, CA sequencing facility as previously described (1). RESULT(S): The sum of deltas was 61 for the MDA method and 287 for the SurePlex. As such, the MDA method was used to amplify the rest of the samples and process them for complete genome sequencing. The results of the sequencing process are expected by the end of December 2010. CONCLUSION(S): Although PGDwith whole genome sequencing is currently cost prohibitive, one could amplify DNA, separate an aliquot for analysis by current METHODS, and then sequence the remaining few normal embryos, in order to lower the cost of the procedure. SUPPORT: Departmental funds 1. Drmanac et al. (2010) Science 327, 78-81. 2. Dean et al. (2002) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99, 5261-5266.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Reveals White Matter Reorganization in Early Blind Humans

Multiple functional methods including functional magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and positron emission tomography have shown cortical reorganization in response to blindness. We investigated microanatomical correlates of this reorganization using diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Five early blind (EB) were compared with 7 normally sighted (NS) persons. DTT showed marked geniculocalcarine tract differences between EB and NS participants. All EB participants showed evidence of atrophy of the geniculocortical tracts. Connections between visual cortex and the orbital frontal and temporal cortices were relatively preserved in the EB group. Importantly, no additional tracts were found in any EB participant. Significant alterations of average diffusivity and relative anisotropy were found in the white matter (WM) of the occipital lobe in the EB group. These observations suggest that blindness leads to a reorganization of cerebral WM and plausibly support the hypothesis that visual cortex functionality in blindness is primarily mediated by corticocortical as opposed to thalamocortical connections.
Rice XA21 Binding Protein 3 Is a Ubiquitin Ligase Required for Full Xa21 -Mediated Disease Resistance

XA21 is a receptor-like kinase protein in rice (Oryza sativa) that confers gene-for-gene resistance to specific races of the causal agent of bacterial blight disease, Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae. We identified XA21 binding protein 3 (XB3), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a substrate for the XA21 Ser and Thr kinase. The interaction between XB3 and the kinase domain of XA21 has been shown in yeast and in vitro, and the physical association between XB3 and XA21 in vivo has also been confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation assays. XB3 contains an ankyrin repeat domain and a RING finger motif that is sufficient for its interaction with the kinase domain of XA21 and for its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, respectively. Transgenic plants with reduced expression of the Xb3 gene are compromised in resistance to the avirulent race of X. oryzae pv oryzae. Furthermore, reduced levels of Xb3 lead to decreased levels of the XA21 protein. These results indicate that Xb3 is necessary for full accumulation of the XA21 protein and for Xa21-mediated resistance.
TRANSCENDING BABEL IN THE CULTURAL TRANSLATION OF FRIEDRICH RÜCKERT (1788–1866)

A tension between cosmopolitanism and nationalism characterizes the career of the poet–philologist Friedrich Ruckert. The German orientalist and mentor to Paul de Lagarde translated remarkable quantities of Sanskrit, Farsi, and Arabic verse, while earning popular acclaim for his Biedermeier celebrations of the German Heimat. The contradiction in these scholarly pursuits can be reconciled by examining the intersection of the local, national, and global in Ruckert's conception of language. In the German Pietist tradition, national tongues embodied both the divine word of God and the particular historical circumstances of speakers. Through feats of translation Ruckert expected to transform German into a universal language of spiritual reconciliation, thereby transcending Babel and distinguishing the German nation as a chosen people. This article investigates the process of cultural translation through which Ruckert made “world poetry” intelligible to a German audience, arguing that cosmopolitanism underlay a German claim to cultural dominance in post-Napoleonic Europe.
Superconductor-semiconductor memories

The authors describe new types of hybrid superconductor-semiconductor RAMs which utilize the current switches in superconductive electronics to remove important constraints on the design of semiconductor memories and achieve performances attainable by the individual technologies separately. They focus on a voltage word line RAM architecture and illustrate the basic designs in terms of a low-T/sub c/ Josephson-CMOS technology. They discuss the design of interface circuits, word-line drivers, memory cells, and fluxoelectronic current sensing of bit lines. Current projections for 4 K operation indicate that sub-nanosecond 64-kb RAMs using a 0.8- mu m CMOS technology are possible. Extensions of this design to high-T/sub c/ superconductor-CMOS circuits operating at 77 K are briefly discussed. >
Cngsc, a homologue of goosecoid, participates in the patterning of the head, and is expressed in the organizer region of Hydra

We have isolated Cngsc, a hydra homologue of goosecoid gene. The homeodomain of Cngsc is identical to the vertebrate (65-72%) and Drosophila (70%) orthologues. When injected into the ventral side of an early Xenopus embryo, Cngsc induces a partial secondary axis. During head formation, Cngsc expression appears prior to, and directly above, the zone where the tentacles will emerge, but is not observed nearby when the single apical tentacle is formed. This observation indicates that the expression of the gene is not necessary for the formation of a tentacle per se. Rather, it may be involved in defining the border between the hypostome and the tentacle zone. When Cngsc(+) tip of an early bud is grafted into the body column, it induces a secondary axis, while the adjacent Cngsc(−) region has much weaker inductive capacities. Thus, Cngsc is expressed in a tissue that acts as an organizer. Cngsc is also expressed in the sensory neurons of the tip of the hypostome and in the epithelial endodermal cells of the upper part of the body column. The plausible roles of Cngsc in organizer function, head formation and anterior neuron differentiation are similar to roles goosecoid plays in vertebrates and Drosophila. It suggests widespread evolutionary conservation of the function of the gene.
Presolvated electron reactions with methyl acetoacetate: electron localization, proton-deuteron exchange, and H-atom abstraction.

Radiation-produced electrons initiate various reaction processes that are important to radiation damage to biomolecules. In this work, the site of attachment of the prehydrated electrons with methyl acetoacetate (MAA, CH3-CO-CH2-COOCH3) at 77 K and subsequent reactions of the anion radical (CH3-CO•−-CH2-COOCH3) in the 77 to ca. 170 K temperature range have been investigated in homogeneous H2O and D2O aqueous glasses by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. At 77 K, the prehydrated electron attaches to MAA forming the anion radical in which the electron is delocalized over the two carbonyl groups. This species readily protonates to produce the protonated electron adduct radical CH3-C(•)OH-CH2-COOCH3. The ESR spectrum of CH3-C(•)OH-CH2-COOCH3 in H2O shows line components due to proton hyperfine couplings of the methyl and methylene groups. Whereas, the ESR spectrum of CH3-C(•)OH-CH2-COOCH3 in D2O glass shows only the line components due to proton hyperfine couplings of CH3 group. This is expected since the methylene protons in MAA are readily exchangeable in D2O. On stepwise annealing to higher temperatures (ca. 150 to 170 K), CH3-C(•)OH-CH2-COOCH3 undergoes bimolecular H-atom abstraction from MAA to form the more stable radical, CH3-CO-CH•-COOCH3. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) support the radical assignments.
Coexistent carcinoma of the stomach and hypertrophic gastritis; report of a case with review of the literature.

Summary The differential diagnosis between giant hypertrophic gastritis, gastric carcinoma and lymphosarcoma 29 is difficult. There are no diagnostic clinical or laboratory findings in the patients who developed gastric carcinoma to distinguish them from the larger group with uncomplicated hypertrophic gastritis. Giant hypertrophic gastritis alters the gastric mucosal pattern to such an extent that further alteration by superimposed carcinoma is difficult to detect roentgenologically. Gastroscopy is of value 30, 31 but even with gastroscopy it is frequently impossible to differentiate hypertrophic gastritis from carcinoma32. The early recognition of the development of carcinoma in hypertrophic gastritis must still depend on a high index of clinical suspicion, combined with repeated gastroscopic and roentgenologic observation.
Decision conflict and regret among surrogate decision makers in the medical intensive care unit

Abstract Introduction Family members of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit face significant morbidity. It may be the decision-making process that plays a significant role in the psychological morbidity associated with being a surrogate in the ICU. We hypothesize that family members facing end-of-life decisions will have more decisional conflict and decisional regret than those facing non–end-of-life decisions. Methods We enrolled a sample of adult patients and their surrogates in a tertiary care, academic medical intensive care unit. We queried the surrogates regarding decisions they had made on behalf of the patient and assessed decision conflict. We then contacted the family member again to assess decision regret. Results Forty (95%) of 42 surrogates were able to identify at least 1 decision they had made on behalf of the patient. End-of-life decisions (defined as do not resuscitate [DNR]/do not intubate [DNI] or continuation of life support) accounted for 19 of 40 decisions (47.5%). Overall, the average Decision Conflict Scale (DCS) score was 21.9 of 100 (range 0-100, with 0 being little decisional conflict and 100 being great decisional conflict). The average DCS score for families facing end-of-life decisions was 25.5 compared with 18.7 for all other decisions. Those facing end-of-life decisions scored higher on the uncertainty subscale (subset of DCS questions that indicates level of certainty regarding decision) with a mean score of 43.4 compared with all other decisions with a mean score of 27.0. Overall, very few surrogates experienced decisional regret with an average DRS score of 13.4 of 100. Conclusions Nearly all surrogates enrolled were faced with decision-making responsibilities on behalf of his or her critically ill family member. In our small pilot study, we found more decisional conflict in those surrogates facing end-of-life decisions, specifically on the subset of questions dealing with uncertainty. Surrogates report low levels of decisional regret.
Unique Familial MLL(KMT2A)-Rearranged Precursor B-Cell Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Non-twin Siblings.

Background Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has never occurred in families except for the ∼100% concordant cases in monozygous twins attributed to twin-to-twin metastases. We report the first kindred with infant ALL in non-twin siblings. The siblings were diagnosed with MLL-rearranged (MLL-R) ALL 26 months apart. The second affected sibling had an unaffected dichorionic monozygous co-twin. Both had fatal outcomes. Procedures Translocations were characterized by karyotype, FISH, multiplex FISH, and MLL breakpoint cluster region (bcr) Southern blot analysis. Breakpoint junctions and fusion transcripts were cloned by PCR. TP53 mutation and NADPH quinone oxidorecuctase 1 (NQO1) C609T analyses were performed, and pedigree history and parental occupations were ascertained. The likelihood of chance occurrence of infant ALL in non-twin siblings was computed based on a binomial distribution. Zygosity was determined by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Results The translocations were not related or vertically transmitted. The complex karyotype of the proband's ALL had chromosome 2, 3, 4, and 11 abnormalities causing a 5′-MLL-AFF1-3′ fusion and a non-productive rearrangement of 3′MLL with a chromosome 3q intergenic region. The affected twin's ALL exhibited a simple t(4;11). The complex karyotype of the proband's ALL suggested a genotoxic insult, but no exposure was identified. There was no germline TP53 mutation. The NQO1 C609T risk allele was absent. The likelihood of infant ALL occurring in non-twin siblings by chance alone is one in 1.198 × 109 families. Conclusions Whether because of a deleterious transplacental exposure, novel predisposition syndrome, or exceedingly rare chance occurrence, MLL-R infant ALL can occur in non-twin siblings. The discordant occurrence of infant ALL in the monozygous twins was likely because they were dichorionic.
Nietzsche: The Ethics of an Immoralist

Preface Abbreviations Introduction I. Nietzsche's Histories 1. The Ethics of History: On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life 2. The Ethics of Art: The Birth of Tragedy 3. The Ethics of Morality: On the Genealogy of Morals 4. The Ethics of Religion: The Antichrist II. The Highest Type 5. The Beginning of Zarathustra's Political Education: Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Prologue) 6. The Ethics of Creativity: Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Part I) 7. The Lust for Eternity and the Pathos of Self-Deification: Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Parts II and III) 8. Retreat from the Extremes: Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Part IV) 9. The Ethics of Knowing: Beyond Good and Evil Conclusion Notes Acknowledgments Index
The Utilization of Mental Health Services by South Asian Immigrant Communities in the United States

South Asians are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the United States. This paper identifies possible reasons why South Asians in the U. S. under-utilize mental health services compared to other immigrant communities, and offers suggestions regarding how mental health services can be tailored to better meet the needs of this particular ethnic group.
Superficial Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder Associated with Mucosal Involvement of the Prostatic Urethra: Results of Treatment with Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

AbstractIntravesical Pasteur strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin was used to treat 8 patients with mucosal transitional cell carcinoma of the prostatic urethra associated with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Complete initial response in the prostatic urethra was obtained in 7 of the 8 patients. Two patients had progression of disease during intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy (1 in the prostate and 1 in the bladder) and they received further surgical therapy.Of the 6 complete responders 1 patient had invasive ureteral, vesical and prostatic tumor 15 months after bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy, and he underwent nephroureterectomy and cystoprostatourethrectomy. Two patients required additional transurethral therapy for recurrent superficial tumors in the bladder but they have shown no evidence of recurrence in the prostatic urethra. Three patients have remained free of disease at 8 to 36 months.Before radical cystoprostatourethrectomy and urinary diversion are recommended, ou...
"Whole-of-Community" Obesity Prevention: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities in Multilevel, Multicomponent Interventions

The causes of obesity worldwide are complex and multilevel, including changing food environments, physical activity levels, policies, and food production systems. This intricate context requires multilevel and multicomponent (MLMC) interventions to improve health outcomes. We conducted a literature review of MLMC interventions for obesity prevention and mitigation; 14 studies meeting search criteria were identified. We found examples of successes in preventing obesity, reducing overweight, improving healthful behaviors, and enhancing some psychosocial indicators. Of eight studies that reported health and behavioral results, five showed no significant impact and three showed reductions in obesity. Four studies showed significant improvement in dietary behavior, and five reported significant desirable effects in physical activity or screen time. Five studies reported psychosocial impacts, and three of these showed significant improvements. MLMC approaches show promising results, particularly when they are able to integrate components at the policy, community, and interpersonal levels.
Sharing the load: a survey of parasitism in the invasive freshwater pulmonate, Physa acuta (Hygrophila: Physidae) and sympatric native snail populations

The highly invasive freshwater snail, Physa acuta, was examined for parasites over temporal and spatial scales. All populations studied had a high prevalence of the parasitic morph of the oligochaete worm, Chaetogaster limnaei. This worm was also found to infect two native snails, Glyptophysa gibbosa and Austropeplea tomentosa, at lower prevalences. Seasonality and collection sites did not significantly influence the worm’s infection dynamics, but strong positive correlations were found between the sizes of P. acuta individuals and both the likelihood of infection and infection intensity. The ectocommensal morph of C. limnaei was found in all three pulmonate species. Physa acuta was infected with two digenean trematode species which were also found in two native snails, Posticobia brazieri and G. gibbosa. One digenean, found within the renal gland of P. acuta, did not significantly influence the presence or infection intensity of the renal gland-dwelling C. limnaei parasitic morph. All parasites infecting P. acuta were also found to be infecting sympatric native freshwater snails. The effects that such host sharing by parasites may have upon the establishment of P. acuta as a successful invader merit further study.
Constitutively Expressed IFITM3 Protein in Human Endothelial Cells Poses an Early Infection Block to Human Influenza Viruses

A role for pulmonary endothelial cells in the orchestration of cytokine production and leukocyte recruitment during influenza virus infection, leading to severe lung damage, has been recently identified. As the mechanistic pathway for this ability is not fully known, we extended previous studies on influenza virus tropism in cultured human pulmonary endothelial cells. We found that a subset of avian influenza viruses, including potentially pandemic H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 viruses, could infect human pulmonary endothelial cells (HULEC) with high efficiency compared to human H1N1 or H3N2 viruses. In HULEC, human influenza viruses were capable of binding to host cellular receptors, becoming internalized and initiating hemifusion but failing to uncoat the viral nucleocapsid and to replicate in host nuclei. Unlike numerous cell types, including epithelial cells, we found that pulmonary endothelial cells constitutively express a high level of the restriction protein IFITM3 in endosomal compartments. IFITM3 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) could partially rescue H1N1 virus infection in HULEC, suggesting IFITM3 proteins were involved in blocking human influenza virus infection in endothelial cells. In contrast, selected avian influenza viruses were able to escape IFITM3 restriction in endothelial cells, possibly by fusing in early endosomes at higher pH or by other, unknown mechanisms. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the human pulmonary endothelium possesses intrinsic immunity to human influenza viruses, in part due to the constitutive expression of IFITM3 proteins. Notably, certain avian influenza viruses have evolved to escape this restriction, possibly contributing to virus-induced pneumonia and severe lung disease in humans. IMPORTANCE Avian influenza viruses, including H5N1 and H7N9, have been associated with severe respiratory disease and fatal outcomes in humans. Although acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and progressive pulmonary endothelial damage are known to be present during severe human infections, the role of pulmonary endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of avian influenza virus infections is largely unknown. By comparing human seasonal influenza strains to avian influenza viruses, we provide greater insight into the interaction of influenza virus with human pulmonary endothelial cells. We show that human influenza virus infection is blocked during the early stages of virus entry, which is likely due to the relatively high expression of the host antiviral factors IFITMs (interferon-induced transmembrane proteins) located in membrane-bound compartments inside cells. Overall, this study provides a mechanism by which human endothelial cells limit replication of human influenza virus strains, whereas avian influenza viruses overcome these restriction factors in this cell type.
Bifurcation nation: American penal policy in late mass incarceration:

The question has been posed whether current developments in American penal policy toward reducing prison populations and sentences for low level, nonviolent offenses might reflect the end of the ma...
Enteral High Fat-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Blend Alters the Pathogen Composition of the Intestinal Microbiome in Premature Infants with an Enterostomy

Objective To determine the effect of enteral fish oil and safflower oil supplementation on the intestinal microbiome in infants with an enterostomy born premature. Study design Infants with an enterostomy born premature were randomized to receive early enteral supplementation with a high-fat polyunsaturated fatty acid (HF-PUFA) blend of fish oil and safflower oil vs standard nutritional therapy. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing for longitudinal profiling of the microbiome from the time of study entry until bowel reanastomosis. We used weighted gene coexpression network analysis to identify microbial community modules that differed between study groups over time. We performed imputed metagenomic analysis to determine metabolic pathways associated with the microbial genes. Results Sixteen infants were randomized to receive enteral HF-PUFA supplementation, and 16 infants received standard care. The intestinal microbiota of infants in the treatment group differed from those in the control group, with greater bacterial diversity and lower abundance of Streptococcus, Clostridium, and many pathogenic genera within the Enterobacteriaceae family. We identified 4 microbial community modules with significant differences between groups over time. Imputed metagenomic analysis of the microbial genes revealed metabolic pathways that differed between groups, including metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and secondary bile acid synthesis. Conclusion Enteral HF-PUFA supplementation was associated with decreased abundance of pathogenic bacteria, greater bacterial diversity, and shifts in the potential metabolic functions of intestinal microbiota. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01306838
Decision-making patterns in managing children with suspected biliary dyskinesia

Aim To explore and to analyze the patterns in decision-making by pediatric gastroenterologists in managing a child with a suspected diagnosis of functional gallbladder disorder (FGBD). Methods The questionnaire survey included a case history with right upper quadrant pain and was sent to pediatric gastroenterologists worldwide via an internet list server called the PEDGI Bulletin Board. Results Differences in decision-making among respondents in managing this case were observed at each level of investigations and management. Cholecystokinin-scintigraphy scan (CCK-CS) was the most common investigation followed by an endoscopy. A proton pump inhibitor was most commonly prescribed treating the condition. The majority of respondents considered a referral for a surgical evaluation when CCK-CS showed a decreased gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) value with biliary-type pain during CCK injection. Conclusion CCK infusion rate in CCK-CS-CS and GBEF cut-off limits were inconsistent throughout practices. The criteria for a referral to a surgeon were not uniform from one practitioner to another. A multidisciplinary team approach with pediatric gastroenterologists and surgeons is required guide the decision-making managing a child with suspected FGBD. ​.
Conditions for the Existence of a Solution to a Two-Switched/Hybrid Optimal Control Problem

Abstract This paper considers a family of two vector fields, f 0 ( t, x, u ) and f 1 ( t, X, u ). There are two controls: the switching function v ( t ) (taking values in the set {0, 1}) and the usual control u ( t ). Terminal constraints on the state are imposed. The objective is to minimize an integral performance index. We do not make any assumptions about the number of switches nor about the mode sequence - they are determined by the solution of the problem. Under appropriate conditions including convexity constraints, we set forth sufficient conditions as well as necessary conditions for the existence of an optimal solution. The published examples of X. Xu and P. Antsaklis are revisited and a variation considered.