cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuity, Change, and Innovation in Emerging Consumer Bankruptcy Systems: Belgium and Luxembourg

Comparative analyses of the treatment of excessive consumer debt are more relevant today than ever before, particularly given the recent overhaul of U.S. consumer bankruptcy and rapid developments in several new European consumer bankruptcy systems. This article is the next in a series designed to offer access by English speakers to such comparative analysis. Following on earlier studies of the systems in Germany and France, this article examines the recent enactment and implementation of consumer debt relief legislation in Belgium and Luxembourg. First, it explores the paradox of consumer bankruptcy in two of the least indebted states in Europe. It reveals how and why legislators overcame their reticence to adopt formal consumer debt relief procedures despite low levels of aggregate consumer indebtedness. Second, it reports on how lawmakers in Belgium and Luxembourg ultimately chose to structure formal consumer debt relief, focusing on the extent to which these new systems reflect continuity, change, and innovation in terms of the existing systems in neighboring states, especially France. In so doing, this article offers a foundation for predicting the challenges that will arise in the new, more demanding U.S. law, as well as the sort of debt relief system that will likely soon emerge as rising consumer debt becomes a problem for other countries with legal systems based on the French civil law model, such as Spain, Portugal, and a number of South American states. The first few years of experience with consumer debt relief systems in Belgium and Luxembourg show that such procedures need not be overly debtor-friendly to be effective, and they need not undermine dedication to the sanctity of contracts in a civil law system.
Treatment of Hypoparathyroidism with Parathyroid Hormone

Hypoparathyroidism is the only classic hormonal deficiency state for which hormone replacement is not a therapy approved by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) or other regulatory agencies. However, the availability of approved parathyroid hormone (PTH) formulations for the treatment of osteoporosis has resulted in a solid body of work documenting the safety of efficacy of PTH(1–34) and PTH(1–84) in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. Both preparations decrease or eliminate the need for large doses of calcium and active vitamin D supplements while maintaining serum and, in some studies, urine calcium in the desirable range. Enhanced well-being is often described by these patients along with a measurable improvement in quality of life. Further studies should be geared towards developing an optimal dosing regimen for each individual and defining the precise role of parathyroid hormone replacement therapy in the management of patients with hypoparathyroidism.
Stress-Related Transactions between Person and Environment

Because stress implies a particular kind of commerce between a person (or animal) and environment, it provides an ideal vehicle for addressing the subject matter of this book on internal and external determinants of behavior. We believe this issue is expressed especially well by differentiating between two metatheoretical concepts, transaction and interaction. We have been drawn inexorably toward an emphasis on transaction by the very nature of stress phenomena and the evolving theoretical perspective within which we have worked.
Innovation and Diffusion in Mental Health

An implicit assumption of this volume is that community research will necessarily lead to the revitalization of mental health bureaucracies. Unfortunately, there is an emerging consensus that such an assumption is at best overoptimistic (Lynn, 1978), and that the utilization and dissemination of mental health research is the weakest link in the change process.
Intrapartum Fetal Assessment

This chapter explores the various options for intrapartum fetal assessment, such as fetal heart rate monitoring and fetal scalp blood gases. It also discusses the various fetal decelerations and their causes.
The Right to Say, But Not to Do: Balancing First Amendment Freedom of Expression with the Anti-Discrimination Imperative

This article addresses the question of how to balance two competing interests: The right of members of the LGBTQ community to access public goods and services in places of public accommodation; and the right of the owners and operators of such establishments to refuse them services based on an ill-defined “right of expression.” The conflict is brought into sharp relief when “expressive conduct” is defined so broadly that it encompasses a range of human activity, and when that definition is used as a way to veto the rights of LGBTQ customers to be free from discrimination. The article considers and rejects some of the proposed solutions, and recommends that the conflict be managed by emphasizing that those who own and operate places of public accommodation retain their First Amendment rights to express their views, but no right to deny service based on those views. The article concludes by recommending that consideration be given to enacting legislation that spells out how those views might be expressed without sending a message that LGBTQ customers are not welcome.
Data, Economics and Computational Agricultural Science

In this address I discuss the potential for the revolution in data infrastructure, data science and computation to support and accelerate the transformation towards a more productive, healthy and sustainable agricultural systems. A theme that emerges from both the agricultural systems science and economic‐behavioral sciences is that improved acquisition and use of data is a critical constraint on agricultural research and its successful application, both for on‐farm production system management and for technology and policy decision making. This in turn suggests potentially high returns to public investment in the data needed to enable computational agricultural science. I conclude with a prototype private‐public scheme for investment in the data needed to support advanced computational methods and models, and discuss the economic, technical, legal and institutional challenges to its implementation.
Fellows and Scholars of Econometric Reviews

Following consultations with several Board members of Econometric Reviews, we have decided to recognize major contributors to the journal since its inception in 1982. These contributors include suc...
How Prepared Are Pediatric Residents for Pediatric Emergencies: Is Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification Every 2 Years Adequate?:

Objectives. We assessed pediatric residents' retention of knowledge and clinical skills according to the time since their last American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA PALS) certification. Methods. Sixty-four pediatric residents were recruited and divided into 3 groups based on the time since their last PALS certification, as follows: group 1, 0 to 8 months; group 2, 9 to 16 months, and group 3, 17 to 24 months. Residents' knowledge was tested using 10 multiple-choice AHA PALS pretest questions and their clinical skills performance was assessed with simulation mock code scenarios using 2 different AHA PALS checklists, and mean scores were calculated for the 3 groups. Differences in the test scores and overall clinical skill performances among the 3 groups were analyzed using analyses of variance, χ2 tests, and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results. The pediatric residents' mean overall clinical skills performance scores declined within the first 8 months after their last AHA PALS certification date and continued to decrease over time (87%, 82.6%, and 77.4% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P = .048). Residents' multiple-choice test scores declined in all 3 groups, but the scores were not significantly different. Conclusions. Residents' clinical skills performance declined within the first 8 months after PALS certification and continued to decline as the time from the last certification increased. Using mock code simulations and reinforcing AHA PALS guidelines during pediatric residency deserve further evaluation.
"I can be the Judge of What's Serious": A Qualitative Pilot Study of Parents' Responses to Messaging About Side Effects of the HPV Vaccine.

Parents’ concerns about vaccine safety and side effects likely contribute to low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents. To facilitate parent-provider discussions about the HPV vaccine, we developed and tested the content of a clinical decision support application for implementation in pediatric clinical settings. This study sought to elicit perspectives of parents and providers on the best way to communicate information on vaccine side effects. To understand the acceptability of the application’s content, we conducted focus groups with parents (n = 11) and providers (n = 9) at three primary care clinics. Focus groups transcriptions were analyzed using iterations of deductive and inductive coding, with independent coding by two trained reviewers to improve inter-rater reliability. Surprisingly, when parents reviewed screen shots of HPV vaccine safety and side effect messages, parents took exception to the expression "no evidence of serious side effects". Parents wanted side effects listed explicitly so they could decide for themselves which side effects were "serious". Parents also felt that the HPV vaccine did have serious side effects, and the wording undermined their trust in the vaccine messaging overall. Providers accepted the phrasing of side effects and did not express concerns that parents would object to the messaging. Further research is needed to confirm parents' concerns with the phrasing “no serious side effects” for the HPV vaccine and to assess the impact on HPV vaccination deferral or delay.
The influence of race in older adults with infective endocarditis

Age is a risk factor for infective endocarditis, and almost half of diagnosed patients are age ≥ 60 years. Large national studies have not evaluated inpatient mortality and surgical valvular interventions between older White and Black patients hospitalized with infective endocarditis. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify older adults ≥60 years in North America with a principle diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital mortality and valvular repairs/replacement between older Black and White patients. Of 10,390 adults, age ≥ 60 years hospitalized for infective endocarditis during 2013 and 2014, 7356 were White and 1089 Black. Blacks were younger (mean age: 70.5 ± 0.5 vs. 73.5 ± 0.2 years, p < 0.01), lived in more zip codes with a median annual income <$39,000/yr. (40.4% vs 18.8%, p < 0.01), and had higher co-morbidity burden (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 54.6% vs 40.7%, p < 0.01). After multivariate adjustment, Blacks had higher odds for in-hospital mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.0, [Confidence Interval (CI) 1.1–3.8]; p = 0.020), and lower odds for mitral valve repairs/replacements (OR = 0.53, CI: 0.29–0.99, p = 0.049). Blacks age ≥ 60 years hospitalized in North America with infective endocarditis are less likely to undergo mitral valvular repairs/replacement and had higher in-hospital mortality compared to White patients.
Observation of Abundant Larval Arctic Shanny (Stichaeus punctatus) in the Western North Atlantic, Found in the Waters of the Isles of Shoals, Maine, USA

Information about the life history of larval fishes can be sparse, especially at the edges of typical geographic ranges and among fishes for which there is no commercial fishery. We report a new observation of larval Arctic Shanny (Stichaeus punctatus) far south of their typical geographic range in the western North Atlantic. Only two previous records of adult of S. punctatus have been documented in this region, and there has only been one previous report of larvae in US Atlantic waters. From May through July 2018, we observed large numbers of larval S. punctatus by night-lighting off a dock at Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Maine, in the Gulf of Maine. We include approximations of catch per unit effort (number of larvae per ten-minute sampling interval) throughout the sampling period and information regarding identifying features. The high number of larvae seen could indicate that the Isles of Shoals is a spawning locality for this species and could indicate a future increase in their abundance in the southern Gulf of Maine.
Library Publishing Curriculum

Review of: Educopia. (2016-2018). Library Publishing Curriculum. Retrieved from https://educopia.org/library-publishing-curriculum/ . Accessed 11/30/19.
Colonic Conditions: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder defined by the presence of abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits in the absence of an organic cause. Various factors contribute to the pathology of IBS and include changes to the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, motility, visceral sensation, and psychosocial state. Surgery has had a limited role in the management of IBS yet a high surgical rate exists in these patients. Newer minimally invasive procedures such as sacral nerve stimulation may be of use in patients who are refractory to conservative management to reduce symptoms and increase quality of life.
Decision-Making Model for Emergency Evacuation Based on the Lens Model Using Machine Learning and Monte-Carlo Simulation for Incomplete Information Environment:

Preparing for emergencies reduces significant losses to infrastructure and the economy. In this study, a decision-making analysis tool, Lens model (LM), is used to characterize the decision behavio...
He's on Parole... But You Still Can't Come in: A Parolee's Reaction to Georgia v. Randolph

The Supreme Court has traditionally held that a warrantless search of a parolee or probationer is reasonable. The Court has also found that consent to a warrantless search given by one party will override any non-consent by the other in a cohabitant living arrangement. Now, however, in Georgia v. Randolph, the Court has held that non-consent overrides the express verbal consent of a third party in a limited number of circumstances. Randolph calls into question whether a cohabitant non-consent to a warrantless home search will now override law enforcement's power to conduct suspicionless searches of a parolee's shared dwelling. This significant development in Fourth Amendment jurisprudence has beneficial ramifications for parolees. Extending Randolph to parolee living situations will protect parolees' cohabitants from an unnecessary intrusion on their Fourth Amendment liberties. Also, parolees bound by limited housing options post-release will now have a chance to establish the productive life that parole supposedly fosters because families and friends will be more apt to open their homes to the ex-offender if Randolph protects them against warrantless searches. Contrarily, not extending Randolph will further hem the already tight housing market for parolees by discouraging families and friends from giving ex-offenders a place to reside and will penalize those who do choose to extend assistance to those on parole.
Advances in Combining Radiation and Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer

Breast irradiation has long been utilized in the adjuvant or metastatic setting to eliminate microscopic disease or to palliate existing disease, respectively. However, preclinical data have demonstrated that radiation can also alter the tumor microenvironment and induce antitumor immune responses. As a result, multiple clinical studies have been undertaken and have reported synergy between radiation and immune checkpoint blockade across various cancer types. Given recent clinical successes with immune checkpoint blockade in both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer, there has been substantial interest in combining radiation and immunotherapy to enhance local and systemic immune responses. Herein, we review the preclinical rationale for combining radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the early clinical trials that have adopted this strategy in breast cancer, and the landscape of ongoing relevant clinical trials. Finally, we propose future directions based on promising preclinical studies that integrate radiation, checkpoint blockade, and novel agents for the treatment of breast cancer.
Analyst's stock views and revision actions

Abstract It is desirable to know analysts’ true stock views when they issue conflicting revisions in their earnings forecasts, price targets, and stock recommendations. This study employs the hidden Markov model (HMM) to model analysts’ revision activities and make inference for the “stock views”. The validity of the “stock views” is examined through the revision-view consistency. The results demonstrate that revisions consistent with stock views trigger stronger abnormal returns than revisions inconsistent with views. Analysts’ revisions are less effective when the stock views are perceived to be stagnant. Investors and researchers can use stock views to identify more informative revisions.
Quantifying normal lung in pulmonary fibrosis: CT analysis and correlation with %DLCO.

BACKGROUND Chest CT scans are routinely obtained to monitor disease progression in pulmonary fibrosis. However, radiologists do not employ a standardized system for quantitative description of the severity of the disease. Development and validation of a grading system offers potential for enhancing the information that radiologists provide clinicians. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Our retrospective review analyzed 100 sequential patients with usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) on HRCT scans from 2018 and 2019. A radiologic scoring system evaluated the percent of normal lung on the basis of a 0-5 point scale per lobe (findings for the right middle lobe were included in the right upper lobe score), yielding an overall additive numerical score on a scale of 20 (completely normal lung) to 0 (no normal lung). Two radiologists quantified the percentage of normal lung by consensus agreement. Percent DLCO as well as demographic data were obtained from the medical record. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation to assess correlation between grade and percent DLCO. RESULTS 96 patients met the inclusion criteria; average age was 71, 68% were male. Score on CT scan ranged from 18 to 4; average 10.9, SD 3.58. The single-breath diffusing capacity (percent DLCO) ranged from 88% to 17%; mean 44.5%, SD 14.3%. Spearman's correlation for CT score and percent DLCO was 0.622, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION This scoring system quantifying the amount of normal lung on chest CT of patients with UIP correlated significantly with percent DLCO (P < 0.001) and appears to offer a promising quantitative measure to assess severity of disease.
Future of Esophageal Preservation and Replacement

Patients with long gap EA, in which a primary repair is unable to be achieved without significant tension, encompasses a group of challenging patients in which there is no ideal management approach. Multiple operative strategies have been described for these patients. Many of these techniques require multiple procedures and may subject patients to prolonged operative times, sustained physiologic stress, and significant morbidity. Although esophageal replacement can be performed by a variety of methods if required, it is optimal to preserve the native esophagus if possible. There are a number of innovative techniques that have been described for esophageal lengthening in order to preserve the esophagus and create esophageal continuity in EA patients. These include new thoracoscopic approaches, the use of magnets, and lengthening devices.
Studies on polynucleotides: XCVII. Opposing orientations and location of the suIII+ gene in the transducing coliphages φ80psuIII+ and φ80suIII+suIII−

Abstract 3 H- or 33 P-labeled Escherichia coli tRNA tyrII was found to hybridize with the r strand of the plaque-forming coliphage φ80p su III + DNA. Since su III + tRNA hybridized with the l strand of the defective phage φ80d su III + su III − , as previously found by Lozeron, Szybalski, Landy, Abelson & Smith (1969) , it is concluded that an inversion of the E. coli DNA fragment carrying su III + occurred before its incorporation into the φ80p su III + genome. Electron micrographs of heteroduplexes between the r strands of φ80p su III + and φ80d su III + su III − confirmed this conclusion. These micrographs, which showed a short double-stranded DNA segment with a small loop, also indicated that the space between the tandem su III + and su III − genes is less than 50 nucleotides. The length of the E. coli fragment carrying the su III + gene in φ80p su III + corresponded to 5.4% of the length of φ80 DNA, and it replaced a segment of the φ80 genome bounded by points located 53.8 and 57.9% from the left terminus.
Prostaglandin E2 Exerts Catabolic Effects in Osteoarthritis Cartilage: Evidence for Signaling via the EP4 Receptor

Elevated levels of PGE(2) have been reported in synovial fluid and cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). However, the functions of PGE(2) in cartilage metabolism have not previously been studied in detail. To do so, we cultured cartilage explants, obtained from patients undergoing knee replacement surgery for advanced OA, with PGE(2) (0.1-10 muM). PGE(2) inhibited proteoglycan synthesis in a dose-dependent manner (maximum 25% inhibition (p < 0.01)). PGE(2) also induced collagen degradation, in a manner inhibitable by the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor ilomastat. PGE(2) inhibited spontaneous MMP-1, but augmented MMP-13 secretion by OA cartilage explant cultures. PCR analysis of OA chondrocytes treated with PGE(2) with or without IL-1 revealed that IL-1-induced MMP-13 expression was augmented by PGE(2) and significantly inhibited by the cycolooygenase 2 selective inhibitor celecoxib. Conversely, MMP-1 expression was inhibited by PGE(2), while celecoxib enhanced both spontaneous and IL-1-induced expression. IL-1 induction of aggrecanase 5 (ADAMTS-5), but not ADAMTS-4, was also enhanced by PGE(2) (10 muM) and reversed by celecoxib (2 muM). Quantitative PCR screening of nondiseased and end-stage human knee OA articular cartilage specimens revealed that the PGE(2) receptor EP4 was up-regulated in OA cartilage. Moreover, blocking the EP4 receptor (EP4 antagonist, AH23848) mimicked celecoxib by inhibiting MMP-13, ADAMST-5 expression, and proteoglycan degradation. These results suggest that PGE(2) inhibits proteoglycan synthesis and stimulates matrix degradation in OA chondrocytes via the EP4 receptor. Targeting EP4, rather than cyclooxygenase 2, could represent a future strategy for OA disease modification.
Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy families, using dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms

To improve carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy families, we determined allele frequencies and measures of variation for four (dC-dA)n.(dG-dT)n loci identified within a deletion-prone region of the human dystrophin gene. The loci are highly polymorphic, with predicted heterozygosities of 71.6%-93.3%. Direct DNA sequence analysis of the (dC-dA)n.(dG-dT)n locus in intron 49 revealed an additional length polymorphism which varies by single-basepair increments, is adjacent to the dinucleotide repeat block, and enhances the polymorphic content of this marker. The four (dC-dA)n.(dG-dT)n loci are each easily amplified by PCR in two diplex reactions. The variability of allele lengths at these loci makes them ideal for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis, often providing diagnostic information when RFLP analysis is uninformative. These markers have aided in identification of deletion mutations, exclusion of maternal cell contamination of chorionic villus samples, confirmation of paternity, and mapping of gene recombinations. The allele identification of these loci can be performed either with a radiolabel or with an automated, nonradioactive, fluorescent gel detection system.
Electric vehicle charging management using discrete event dynamic systems

Management of Electric Vehicle charging has gained significant interest mainly due its impacts on the distribution systems. Several control strategies which are proposed in the literature consider electric vehicle charging as time based signals on the system. This work proposes an alternative method by considering the charging as dynamic events on the distribution system. Proposed multi-state semi control and full control models are based on the ability to charge the vehicles at different rates and the ability to move from one state to another. Finally, a dynamic full control model based on the distribution system conditions is proposed. The proposed model has the potential to manage the load on the distribution transformer to sustain its life with this new type of load.
Binding assays for amino acids. The utilization of a cystine binding protein from Escherichia coli for the determination of acid-soluble cystine in small physiological samples.

Abstract Cystine binding protein isolated from Escherichia coli W3092 in high yield was used to develop a binding assay for the disulfide amino acid cystine. Filtration of a mixture of [14C]cystine and cystine binding protein through nitrocellulose filters separated the [14C]cystine-cystine binding protein complex from the unbound cystine. The binding of [14C]cystine-cystine binding protein complexes to the filter was optimal (100%) at pH 4 to 5, and was insensitive to Mg2+ (10 mm), EDTA (10 mm), or concentrations of NaCl to 0.5 m. Bovine serum albumin in excess of 30 µg decreased binding of the 14C complex to the filter. The binding of [14C]cystine to the cystine binding protein was inhibited by lanthionine, much less by diaminopimelic acid, cystathionine, and d-cystine, and was not inhibited by reduced or oxidized glutathione, penicillamine disulfide, cysteic acid, methionine, taurine, homocystine, carboxymethyl cysteine, or the N-ethylmaleimide adduct of cysteine. Nonradioactive cystine competed with [14C]cystine resulting in the expected diminution of the bound radioactivity, permitting the direct calculation of nonradioactive cystine concentrations of unknown samples. With the cystine binding protein assay, the cystine concentrations of human plasma were in the range of 87 to 100% of the values obtained by ion exchange chromatography, and the cystine contents of cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with nephropathic cystinosis were in the range of 89 to 121% of the values obtained by ion exchange chromatography. As little as 10 pmoles of cystine were measured.
An axiomatic foundation for multidimensional spatial models of elections with a valence dimension

Recent works on political competition incorporate a valence dimension into the standard spatial model. The analysis of the game between candidates in these models is typically based on two assumptions about voters' preferences. One is that valence scores enter the utility function of a voter in an `additively separable' way, so that the total utility can be decomposed into the `ideological utility' from the implemented policy (based on the Euclidean distance) plus the valence of the winner. The second is that all the voters identically perceive the platforms of the candidates and agree about their score on the valence dimension. The goal of this paper is to axiomatize collections of preferences that satisfy these assumptions. Specifically, we consider the case where only the ideal point in the policy space and the ranking over candidates are known for each voter. We characterize the case where there are policies $x_1,...,x_m$ for the $m$ candidates and numbers $v_1,...,v_m$ representing valence scores, such that a voter with an ideal policy $y$ ranks the candidates according to $v_i-||x_i-y||^2$.
Timing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application to Reduce Nitrogen Losses to the Environment

The advantage of using insurance to help a farmeradopt a best nitrogen management plan (BNMP) thatreduces the impact of agricultural production on theenvironment is analytically and empiricallydemonstrated. Using an expected value analysis, it isshown that an insurance program can be structured soas to reduce a farmer's cost of bearing the adoptionrisk associated with changing production practicesand, thus, to improve the farmer's certaintyequivalent net return thereby promoting the adoptionof a BNMP. Using the adoption of growing-season onlyN fertilizer application in Iowa as a case study, itis illustrated how insurance may be used to promotethe adoption of this practice to reduce N fertilizeruse. It is shown that it is possible for a farmer andan insurance company both to have an incentive todevelop an insurance adoption program that willbenefit both the farmer and the insurance company,increasing net social welfare and improvingenvironmental quality in Iowa.
Androgen action at the target musculature regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus.

We have previously demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) interacts with testosterone to regulate dendritic morphology of motoneurons in the highly androgen-sensitive spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB). Additionally, in adult male rats testosterone regulates BDNF in SNB motoneurons and its target muscle, the bulbocavernosus (BC). Because BDNF is retrogradely transported from skeletal muscles to spinal motoneurons, we hypothesized that testosterone could regulate BDNF in SNB motoneurons by acting locally at the BC muscle. To test this hypothesis, we restricted androgen manipulation to the SNB target musculature. After castration, BDNF immunolabeling in SNB motoneurons was maintained at levels similar to those of gonadally intact males by delivering testosterone treatment directly to the BC muscle. When the same implant was placed interscapularly in castrated males it was ineffective in supporting BDNF immunolabeling in SNB motoneurons. Furthermore, BDNF immunolabeling in gonadally intact adult males given the androgen receptor blocker hydroxyflutamide delivered directly to the BC muscle was decreased compared with that of gonadally intact animals that had the same hydroxyflutamide implant placed interscapularly, or when compared with castrated animals that had testosterone implants at the muscle. These results demonstrate that the BC musculature is a critical site of action for the androgenic regulation of BDNF in SNB motoneurons and that it is both necessary and sufficient for this action. Furthermore, the local action of androgens at the BC muscle in regulating BDNF provides a possible mechanism underlying the interactive effects of testosterone and BDNF on motoneuron morphology. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 587–598, 2013
Preparation and Three‐Carbon + Two‐Carbon Cycloaddition of Cyclopropenone 1,3‐propanediol ketal: 5,5‐Dicyano‐4‐phenyl‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐one 1,3‐propanediol ketal

Preparation and three-carbon + two-carbon cycloaddition of cyclopropenone 1,3-propanediol ketal: 5,5-Dicyano-4-phenyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one 1,3-propanediol ketal intermediate: 2-(bromomethyl)-2-(chloromethyl)-1,3-dioxane intermediate: Cyclopropenone 1,3-propanediol ketal product: 5,5-dicyano-4-phenyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one 1,3-propanediol ketal Keywords: acetal (and thioacetal) formation; alkylation, C-alkylation; annulation, carbocyclic-[3]; annulation, carbocyclic-[5]; cyclization, condensation; cyclization, cycloaddition; halogenation, bromination; halogenation, bromination; ring expansion reactions; potassium amide, preparation of; pressure reactions, use of resealable glass tubes
An assessment of the methodologic quality of medical education research studies published in The American Journal of Surgery.

Abstract Background This study examined the methodologic quality of medical education research published in The American Journal of Surgery (AJS) relative to other journals and in AJS itself over time. Methods Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) scores were determined for 198 education studies published in 2003 in 13 peer-reviewed journals including AJS and all 38 AJS education studies published in 2007. Results In 2003, the mean (standard deviation) MERSQI scores of AJS studies were 11.03 (2.12) compared with 9.83 (2.37) for studies published in the other 12 journals ( P = .03). AJS studies received higher scores for response rate ( P P = .03) than other journals. The mean MERSQI scores among AJS studies remained constant between 2003 and 2007 (12.03 [2.35] vs 11.03 [2.12], P = .13). Conclusions Education studies published in AJS compared favorably with those published in other journals, and this quality was maintained over time. Nonetheless, there is room for improvement with respect to study designs and outcome assessment.
Superconducting Magnets for MRI

Three types of magnets are currently used to provide the background field required for magnet resonance imaging (MRI). (i) Permanent magnets produce fields of up to 0.3 T in volumes sufficient for imaging the head or up to 0.15 T for whole body imaging. Cost and simplicity of operation are advantages, but relatively low field, weight (up to 100 tonnes) and, to a small extent, instability are limitations. (ii) Water-cooled magnets provide fields of up to 0.25 T in volumes suitable for whole body imaging, but at the expense of power (up to 150 kW for 0.25 T) and water-cooling. Thermal stability of the field requires the maintenance of constant temperature through periods both of use and of quiescence. (iii) Because of the limitations imposed by permanent and resistive magnets, particularly on field strength, the superconducting magnet is now most widely used to provide background fields of up to 2 T for whole body MRI. It requires very low operating power and that only for refrigeration. Because of the constant low temperature, 4.2 K, at which its stressed structure operates, its field is stable. The following review deals principally with superconducting magnets for MRI. However, the sections on field analysismore » apply to all types of magnet and the description of the source terms of circular coils and of the principals of design of solenoids apply equally to resistive solenoidal magnets.« less
Prenatal service use by adolescents

Although pregnant adolescents often have serious medical and social service needs, prenatal service use by this population is much lower than that by adults. We compared the prenatal care use by mothers of different ages and sociodemographic characteristics in Illinois in 1990, for both first and repeat births. Most of the lack of service use by adolescents is due to delays in initializing care, and the associations of use with race and ethnicity, marital status, and parity are non-uniform across age groups. Implications for service providers are discussed.
Excitatory amino acids and morphine withdrawal: differential effects of central and peripheral kynurenic acid administration.

The non-selective excitatory amino acid antagonist kynurenic acid, which does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, dose-dependently attenuated the behavioral signs of naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats following both intraventricular and subcutaneous administration. However, intraventricular and subcutaneous administration of kynurenic acid and different effects on individual withdrawal behaviors. Moreover, single unit recordings in anesthetized animals showed that intraventricular, but not subcutaneous, kynurenic acid administration attenuated the withdrawal-induced increased firing of locus coeruleus neurons. These studies indicate that: (1) both central and peripheral excitatory amino acid receptors may play an important role in opiate withdrawal; and (2) excitatory amino acid antagonist treatments might be developed to reduce opiate abstinence symptoms in man.
Role of caspase 1 in neurologic disease.

In recent years substantial advances have taken place in understanding the mechanistic pathways mediating neuronal cell death in a variety of neurologic diseases. Since the central nervous system (CNS) has little, if any, power of functional neuronal regeneration, prevention of neuronal cell death is an important target of modern neurotherapeutics. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms mediating neuronal cell death is required to effectively slow the progression of neurologic diseases featuring apoptosis. Increasing evidence demonstrates that blocking cell death pathways in cells otherwise fated to die (ie, following stroke, trauma, or in neurodegenerative diseases) improves neurologic outcome.
Sogurt, a Yogurt‐like Soybean Product: Development and Properties

Two sogurt products were prepared by fermenting a formulation containing soymilk, 0.15% calcium acetate, 0.5% gelatin, and lactose (0 or 2%) with Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus. Commercial plain yogurt was used as a control. Sogurts were evaluated for aroma, taste, texture, titratable acidity, pH, and color. Sogurts had beany and raisin aromas, more bitter and astringent tastes than yogurt, and slightly sandy mouth- feel. Sogurts and yogurt did not differ (P < 0.05) in intensity of butter aroma. Sogurt with lactose did not differ (P < 0.05) from yogurt in acidity. Sogurts were yellower and firmer than yogurt.
Rat RIβ isoform of type I regulatory subunit of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase: cDNA sequence analysis, mRNA tissue specificity, and rat/mouse difference in expression in testis

A rat complementary DNA (cDNA) for the RI beta isoform of type I cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit was cloned and sequenced and was found to contain the entire protein coding and 3'-untranslated regions, with a single (ATTAAA) poly-adenylation site. The largest open reading frame was preceded by a short out-of-phase open reading frame, which is not seen in the corresponding mouse RI beta cDNA due to a single base substitution. The rat RI beta cDNA clone was 2,374 bases long and detected a rat mRNA of approximately 2.8 kilobases. Rat RI beta mRNA was abundant in adult rat brain and testis but was undetectable in other rat tissues. The rat RI beta cDNA also detected RI beta mRNA in mouse brain, but not mouse testis, from 10-week-old BALB/c or 10- and 6-week-old Swiss Webster mice. Thus, despite a 96% nucleotide identity in the coding region of RI beta in rat vs. mouse, there are at least two differences in these closely related species. First, there is a short open reading frame, which precedes the coding region in the rat but not the mouse. Second, unlike the mouse testis, the rat testis contains abundant levels of RI beta mRNA.
The Selected Physical and Hand Properties of Latex-Bonded Nonwovens

The effect of binder levels and needle and harb variables on selected physical properties and correlation between three subjective hand properties of compactness, stiffness, and roughness and the physical properties were investigated. The binder levels significantly influenced the mean values of initial modulus, rupture strength, flexural rigidity, and fabric weight. While needle variable had significant effects on the mean values of initial modulus in the machine direction and percent elongation in the cross direction, barb variable showed no significant effect on the mean values of any of the physical properties investigated. Three subjective hand properties of compactness, stiffness, and roughness were evalu ated by the paired comparison method. The correlations between these hand ratings and initial modulus, rupture strength, flexural rigidity, and fabric weight were found to be significant.
A variational technique for the solution of the singular integral equations over the real line using enriched spaces

Abstract Mixed boundary value problems of mathematical physics may be formulated in a number of ways. Of interest is the numerical solution of those problems formulated as singular integral equations of Cauchy type. A variational technique is proposed for those equations defined over the real line, i.e., ag(x) + b π ∝ −∞ ∞ g(t) t − x dt + λ ∝ −∞ ∞ K(x, t) g(t) dt = f(x), − ∞ , where a = 0, b = 1, and g , K , and f ϵ L 2 (−∞, ∞) . Exploiting the basic property of the Hilbert transform, H ; i.e., H ( H (φ)) = − φ, an enriched space, V E ⊆ L 2 (−∞, ∞) is constructed consisting of the Chapeau functions and their images under the Hilbert transform. It is shown that besides being invariant under H , V E is also complete in L 2 (− ∞, ∞). The solution g is bounded at the endpoints and is approximated in V E by a truncated Fourier expansion. The Fourier coefficients are computed on orthonormalization of the images of the basis elements of V E . The technique for the dominant equation and its extension to the complete equation is described. Convergence and the rate of convergence are established.
Verification of protective device coordination in distribution systems with photovoltaic generation

In this paper, an automated approach is presented to verify the impact of different levels of photovoltaic (PV) penetration on the protective device coordination in distribution systems. The approach is implemented on a detailed feeder modeled in OpenDSS. The feeder has been modeled using extensive geographic information system (GIS) data, with loads, PV output and substation voltage modeled using data from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and data acquisition systems (DAS), as discussed in [1–2]. Starting from the feeder topology, an adjacency matrix is generated to find the coordinated protective devices during each possible fault in the feeder. The time-current curves (TCC) are created based on the types and ratings of the protective devices installed in the feeder to help classify whether coordination holds or not, under increasing penetration levels and varying locations of the PV system. The fuse-fuse coordination and fuse-recloser coordination during all types of possible faults are verified in this study. The approach implemented can also be utilized in other feeders to help verify the protective device coordination with and without PV penetration.
Understanding social impact from wildfires: advancing means for assessment

There is no uniform means for assessing social impact from wildland fires beyond statistics such as home loss, suppression costs and the number of residents evacuated. In this paper we argue for and provide a more comprehensive set of considerations for gauging social impact following wildfires. These expanded considerations can advance methods for determining how social impacts from wildfire are changing over time and among diverse communities affected by fire. Our preliminary considerations for social impact from wildfire are drawn from the synthesis of the literature on wildfire and other hazards. We explain how our considerations cover existing research insights and advance them by accounting for wildfire-specific impacts. Considerations are presented as a series of questions that could be answered by an assemblage of outside professionals and local key informants in an affected area for comparison and policy purposes. Those considerations could also be used to advance research questions related to wildfire exposure and impact. We discuss multiple methodological strategies for collecting and analysing data that would be needed to answer considerations presented as part of this synthesis. This includes potential methods for using those considerations to assess social impact across communities.
Denaturation and condensation of DNA in situ induced by acridine orange in relation to chromatin changes during growth and differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells

DNA in situ is progressively denatured when the cells or nuclei are treated with increasing concentration of acridine orange (AO). This transition can be monitored by flow cytometry as a decrease in green fluorescence. The complexes of denatured DNA and AO undergo immediate condensation and aggregation; this step is manifested by appearance of red luminescence and formation of precipitates that can be detected by electron microscopy. The precipitates form preferentially in heterochromatin as well as in ribosomes and polysomes. Their formation and further aggregation affects cellular light scatter properties in both the forward and right-angle direction. The AO-induced DNA denaturation and condensation was studied in nuclei of Friend erythroleukemia cells from exponentially growing, differentiated or quiescent cells. The DNA in nuclei of quiescent cells, from plateau-phase cultures, was the most sensitive to denaturation; it denatured (measured by changes in luminescence) at an AO concentration between 50 and 80 microM with the midpoint of the transition (Cd) at 70 microM. DNA in nuclei of differentiated cells (dimethyl-sulfoxide-induced erythroid differentiation) was more resistant (Cd = 77-83 microM), whereas DNA in exponentially growing cells was the most resistant (Cd = 86 microM). Extraction of proteins with 0.1 M HCl at 0 degree C abolished the differences between the cells and shifted the transition to a lower AO concentration (Cd = 46 microM). For comparison, the midpoint transitions representing condensation of free, nucleic acids measured as light scatter changes occurred at 13, 22, 31 and 53 microM of AO, for rRNA, tRNA, and denatured and native-calf thymus DNA, respectively. Denaturation and condensation of DNA, which can be induced by AO either in isolated nuclei or viable permeabilized or fixed cells provides a new approach to discriminate cell subpopulations with different chromatin structure by flow cytometry. The molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon are discussed.
GFP Reconstitution Across Synaptic Partners (GRASP) Defines Cell Contacts and Synapses in Living Nervous Systems

The identification of synaptic partners is challenging in dense nerve bundles, where many processes occupy regions beneath the resolution of conventional light microscopy. To address this difficulty, we have developed GRASP, a system to label membrane contacts and synapses between two cells in living animals. Two complementary fragments of GFP are expressed on different cells, tethered to extracellular domains of transmembrane carrier proteins. When the complementary GFP fragments are fused to ubiquitous transmembrane proteins, GFP fluorescence appears uniformly along membrane contacts between the two cells. When one or both GFP fragments are fused to synaptic transmembrane proteins, GFP fluorescence is tightly localized to synapses. GRASP marks known synaptic contacts in C. elegans, correctly identifies changes in mutants with altered synaptic specificity, and can uncover new information about synaptic locations as confirmed by electron microscopy. GRASP may prove particularly useful for defining connectivity in complex nervous systems.
The diversity of sulfhydryl groups in the human erythrocyte membrane.

Human bank blood erythrocytes were exposed to the mercurials p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), chlormerodrin (CM), p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (PCMBS), and 1-bromomercuri-2-hydroxypropane (BMHP) for different time intervals, at different concentrations and in combination with n-ethylmaleimide (NEM) added before, and 2-mercaptoethylguanidine (MEG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) added after the mercurial. Binding patterns of the mercurials to the cells and effects on permeability of the cells were measured. The results indicate that the erythrocyte membrane contains multiple classes of sulfhydryl groups, alteration of which has a variety of effects on cell permeability. PCMB, chlormerodrin and PCMBS react with at least three classes of sulfhydryls, two of which are associated with the sodium-potassium barrier and, when altered, result in potassium loss, sodium accumulation and hemolysis. BMHP reacts with at least two classes of sulfhydryls, one of which is associated with permeability, and, when altered, results in hemolysis in isotonic solutions of choline chloride or lactose. The results provide additional insight into the structure and function of the erythrocyte membrane.