cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS ON TROPHOBLAST AND DECIDUA OF THE BASAL PLATE OF THE HUMAN PLACENTA AT TERM.

The trophoblastic cells of the basal plate at the end of pregnancy still have an important hormonal function, in contrast to the decidual cells which appear to exert their main function at the onset of pregnancy. Possibly the decidual cells are functionally replaced by the basal trophoblastic cells, which phagocytize and destroy them. Although both types of cells are structurally quite similar and appear to produce the same hormones, but at different times, genetically they are very different. They degenerate morphologically in much the same way, but the cause for the retrogressive change for each is distinct. The trophoblastic cells degenerate with reticulum-fibrinoid inclusions which they have mainly phagocytized. The decidual cells perish with collagen inclusions formed from collagen fibers they in turn produced.
Risk models for mechanical circulatory support in children.

The authors are to be commended on developing a therapeutic intensity score (TIS) for pediatric MCS patients. Outcomes studies in pediatric mechanical circulatory support (MCS) have been challenged by small numbers and few devices. The multi-institutional analysis by Blume and colleagues from the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study in 2006 emphasized the inferior survival among children supported with non-pediatric devices. After the introduction of the Berlin Heart Excor in North America in 2000, this durable pediatric-specific extracorporeal pump became a standard component of the pre-transplant armamentarium. Although tremendous progress has accompanied its increasing application, certain anatomic sub-sets (in particular, single-ventricle physiology, the Fontan circulation and small infants) remain a formidable challenge. A few risk factor analyses were available, but the development of a national database to examine outcomes for all pediatric devices would await the creation of PediMACs, the pediatric component of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute–sponsored INTERMACS database. Risk factor modeling will be an integral component of this registry, but few risk-adjusted outcomes data are currently available. Thus, any innovative predictive models in the realm of pediatric MCS are potentially important if they generate risk/resource stratification that facilitates clinical decisionmaking. Given the rapid evolution of this field and limited national experience, institution-specific algorithms and protocols have provided the basis for most decision areas. May and colleagues have developed a novel scoring system based on the intensity of medical therapy during the hospitalization for ventricular assist device implant. Unfortunately, because the study purpose was the description and validation of a tool (the TIS), the reader is left wondering about its ultimate application. Clearly, risk stratification and severity of illness carry immense interest in this milieu of life-threatening illness and
God and Perceptual Skepticism

In the preceding chapter I have addressed myself primarily to those who will reject, on moral grounds, my Chapter 1 solution of the problem of suffering. But these philosophers ought to ask themselves whether they are Kantian absolutists with respect to suffering -whether they hold, e.g., that it would be morally unacceptable to inflict, say, five minutes of intense pain on an innocent person in order to prevent the annihilation of the human species. If they do not, then they have no good reason to reject my Chapter 1 solution. For it is open to us to hold that E is a much more valuable end than the preservation of humanity - valuable enough, indeed, to outweigh the negative value of human and animal suffering to a much greater extent than would the preservation of humanity outweigh the negative value of five minutes of intense pain. At any rate, I address myself in this chapter to those who agree that my Chapter 1 solution is successful.
The Review 's Evolving Relevance for U.S. Foreign Policy 1906–2006

We review the relevance of the international relations articles published in the first 100 years of the Review for American foreign policy. We define a spectrum of “policy relevance” and give a brief overview of the Review 's changing relationship to American foreign policy as the journal, the profession, and the foreign policy process evolved over the last century. We then look at the Review 's role in key periods in American foreign policy, focusing in particular on the example of the democratic peace literature. We conclude that although the content of the journal has moved away from early aspirations to near-term and direct policy relevance, the journal has evolved toward basic research that influences American foreign policies by affecting what scholars teach students, publish in policy journals, write in newspaper op-eds, say on the media, advise political leaders, and do when they are themselves in public office.
Action of regulators in polymerization of monomers containing allyl and methacrylate groups

The peroxide-initiated polymerization of allyl methacrylate has been examined in the presence of certain additives. By the use of mercaptans and diisopropyl dixanthogen the extent of polymerization at the point where gelation occurs may be extended from about 6% to 20–30% polymerization. Examination of samples of polyallyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and the copolymer of methyl methacrylate and allyl chloroacetate indicates that the postponement of gelation results largely from diminution of the molecular weight by the regulators. The effects of regulators on the composition of copolymers and the molecular weight of polymers, and the relation between molecular weight and extent of reaction at the gel point are discussed.
Using Formula Prices in the Absence of Publicly Reported Prices: An Application for Segregated Early Weaned Pigs

A formula for deriving the price of segregated early weaned pigs using corn, soybean meal, and market hog prices was estimated by equating return on investment for the different phases of production. USDA reported prices were compared with prices derived from this and several other common formulas. Based on several accuracy measures, the estimated formula was better at predicting spot-market prices than other formulas. Producers appear to form price expectations based on futures plus expected basis rather than simply futures or current cash prices. However, the method of choosing price expectations will depend on the risk attitudes of the buyer and seller and their business relationship. Developing pricing formulas based on the framework outlined here (equal returns on investment) has merit for establishing prices in the absence of publicly reported information. However, it is important that users of the formula understand the conceptual framework of how and why it was developed.
The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Pregnancy, Long-Term Psychosocial Consequences, and Fetal Death

Objectives. Few reports address the im- pact of cumulative exposure to childhood abuse and fam- ily dysfunction on teen pregnancy and consequences commonly attributed to teen pregnancy. Therefore, we examined whether adolescent pregnancy increased as types of adverse childhood experiences (ACE score) in- creased and whether ACEs or adolescent pregnancy was the principal source of elevated risk for long-term psy- chosocial consequences and fetal death. Design, Setting, and Participants. A retrospective co- hort study of 9159 women aged >18 years (mean 56 years) who attended a primary care clinic in San Diego, Cali- fornia in 1995-1997. Main Outcome Measure. Adolescent pregnancy, psy- chosocial consequences, and fetal death, compared by ACE score (emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; expo- sure to domestic violence, substance abusing, mentally ill, or criminal household member; or separated/divorced parent). Results. Sixty-six percent (n 6015) of women re- ported >1 ACE. Teen pregnancy occurred in 16%, 21%, 26%, 29%, 32%, 40%, 43%, and 53% of those with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to 8 ACEs. As the ACE score rose from zero to 1t o 2, 3t o 4, and>5, odds ratios for each adult consequence increased (family problems: 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3; financial problems: 1.0, 1.6, 2.3, 2.4; job problems: 1.0, 1.4, 2.3, 2.9; high stress: 1.0, 1.4, 1.9, 2.2; and uncontrollable anger: 1.0, 1.6, 2.8, 4.5, respectively). Adolescent preg- nancy was not associated with any of these adult out- comes in the absence of childhood adversity (ACEs: 0). The ACE score was associated with increased fetal death after first pregnancy (odds ratios for 0, 1-2, 3- 4, and 5- 8 ACEs: 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.8, respectively); teen pregnancy was not related to fetal death. Conclusions. The relationship between ACEs and ad- olescent pregnancy is strong and graded. Moreover, the negative psychosocial sequelae and fetal deaths com- monly attributed to adolescent pregnancy seem to result from underlying ACEs rather than adolescent pregnancy per se. Pediatrics 2004;113:320 -327; adolescent pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, children of impaired parents, drug abuse.
Remote Sensing of Temperature Profiles in Vegetation Canopies Using Multiple View Angles And Inversion Techniques

Most remote sensing applications in natural resource disciplines deal with vegetation or with substrate materials covered by a vegetation canopy. Remote sensing of vertical temperature profiles of the vegetation canopy (including the substrate) provide valuable information to resource managers. A mathematical approach is presented which theoretically allows the determination of a temperature profile from multiple, sensor view angles and a priori knowledge of vegetative geometric structure. The technique was evaluated on data from several wheat canopies at different stages of development. The technique was shown to be most applicable for the separation of vegetation and substrate temperatures. One can expect relatively accurate inferences of mean vegetation surface temperatures for intermediate and dense vegetation canopies, and relatively poor inferences of vegetation temperatures for sparse canopies. The converse is true for inferring substrate temperatures. The root-mean-square prediction accuracy of vegetation temperatures for intermediate-dense wheat canopies was 1.8 and 1.4°C for an exact and overdeterminate system, respectively. These findings have significant implications for any discipline concerned with the vegetation itself or the underlying substrate. For specific vegetation geometries this technique may provide a means for uniquely separating mean vegetation and substrate temperatures when a priori knowledge of vegetation geometry and two or more sensor view angle measurements can be obtained.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Activation and Signaling in the Alveolar Environment during Pneumocystis Pneumonia

PNEUMOCYSTIS pneumonia (PcP) is marked by significant inflammatory damage to the alveolus and parenchyma of the lung (Yoneda and Walzer 1981, 1983). While IL-1b and other pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to be increased in the lung during PcP (Perenboom et al. 1996), the mechanisms by which the inflammatory-mediated damage takes place are not fully understood. Transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) is an immune modulator that can promote inflammatory damage and sclerosis under some circumstances and in some tissues. Transforming growth factor-b is a strong chemotactic agent for inflammatory lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils (Adams et al. 1991; Wahl 1992; Wahl et al. 1987), and for the influx of these cells to the site through up-regulation of integrins (Ignotz and Massague 1986; Wahl et al. 1993). Transforming growth factor-b stimulates sclerosis by promoting fibroblast differentiation and maturation (Ignotz and Massague 1986; Willis, duBois, and Borok 2006) and fibrotic tissue formation (Branton and Kopp 1999; Fine and Goldstein 1987). In other circumstances, TGF-b can serve as an antiapoptotic agent by stimulating activation of the Akt-1 survival pathway (Suzuki et al. 2005), and can also have anti-inflammatory activity in the lung by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production (Brandes et al. 1987; Espevik et al. 1987) and inhibiting T-lymphocyte function (Kuruvilla et al. 1991; Wahl et al. 1988). Transforming growth factor-b must be activated in order to modulate immune responses. The latency-associated peptide (LAP) of TGF-b must be removed after secretion (Gleizes et al. 1997). This activation can be mediated by many substances, including integrins (Sheppard 2005), thrombospondin-1 (SchultzCherry and Murphy-Ullrich 1993), matrix metalloproteases (Yu and Stamenkovic 2000), and plasmin (Yehualaeshet et al. 1999). The role of TGF-b and the level of TGF-b activation in the lung during PcP has not been elucidated. This study sought to determine if TGF-b is present in the lung during PcP and whether it is activated to stimulate downstream smad signaling in alveolar macrophages.
Effect of Roof Insulation on the Performance of Broiler Chickens Reared Under High Temperature Conditions

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine the effect of insulation in poultry houses on broiler chicken performance. Environmental chambers were used to simulate the infrared radiation from a solar-heated roof of an uninsulated poultry house in summer and the ambient air temperature patterns to be expected in insulated and uninsulated poultry houses. Results indicate that the radiation from a hot roof alone has no apparent effect on body weight gain or feed conversion of broiler chickens. However, when the radiation was combined with a 3° C. increase in ambient air temperature, which was the increase attributed to absence of insulation in a minimally ventilated broiler house, male body weight gain and feed conversion were adversely affected. There was no significant effect on feed conversion for the females; however, body weight gain was decreased when females were reared separately from the males in an uninsulated poultry house.
Intramolecular Strain Coordinates Kinesin Stepping Behavior along Microtubules

Kinesin advances 8 nm along a microtubule per ATP hydrolyzed, but the mechanism responsible for coordinating the enzymatic cycles of kinesin's two identical motor domains remains unresolved. Here, we have tested whether such coordination is mediated by intramolecular tension generated by the "neck linkers," mechanical elements that span between the motor domains. When tension is reduced by extending the neck linkers with artificial peptides, the coupling between ATP hydrolysis and forward stepping is impaired and motor's velocity decreases as a consequence. However, speed recovers to nearly normal levels when external tension is applied by an optical trap. Remarkably, external load also induces bidirectional stepping of an immotile kinesin that lacks its mechanical element (neck linker) and fuel (ATP). Our results indicate that the kinesin motor domain senses and responds to strain in a manner that facilitates its plus-end-directed stepping and communication between its two motor domains.
The Haunts of Historical Archaeology

Colonialism, Eurocentrism, capitalism, and modernity—can there be four more hotly contested words in present-day scholarship? Each word, with its myriad facets, angles, and expressions, provokes images, sparks controversy, and raises passions. Each subject is rife in meaning and rich in historical detail. Experts from many disciplines have spent long hours pouring over each one, holding it to this light and that to see what is reflected, to discover what may be learned when it is held in a slightly different way, perceived from a new side, looked at from a new angle.
Nonheme-iron absorption, fecal ferritin excretion, and blood indexes of iron status in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian diets for 8 wk

Background: The characteristics of vegetarian diets suggest that these diets would have lower dietary iron bioavailability than nonvegetarian diets, but there is no evidence of iron deficiency in vegetarians. Objective: We evaluated the responsiveness of serum and fecal ferritin to differences in iron absorption from controlled lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian diets. Design: Twenty-one women aged 20-42 y with serum ferritin concentrations from 6 to 149 μg/L consumed lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian weighed diets for 8 wk each (crossover design). The diets differed substantially in meat and phytic acid contents. Nonheme-iron absorption was measured from the whole diets after 4 wk by using extrinsic 59 Fe and whole-body counting. Ferritin in extracts of fecal composites and in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the last 2 wk of each diet. Results: Nonheme-iron absorption was less from the lactoovovegetarian diet than from the nonvegetarian diet (1.1% compared with 3.8%; P < 0.01; n = 10). Diet did not affect hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, or serum ferritin. Substantially less fecal ferritin was excreted with the lactoovovegetarian diet than with the nonvegetarian diet (1. 1 compared with 6.0 μg/d, respectively; P < 0.01; n = 21). Conclusions: This research indicates 1) 70% lower nonheme-iron absorption from a lactoovovegetarian diet than from a nonvegetarian diet; 2) an associated decrease in fecal ferritin excretion, suggesting partial physiologic adaptation to increase the efficiency of iron absorption; and 3) an insensitivity of blood iron indexes, including serum ferritin, to substantial differences in dietary iron absorption for 8 wk.
The SBI Program and Student Outcomes: A Study of Business Policy Classes

This study represents a preliminary inquiry ID determine the value of combining SBI and Policy into a singular curriculum. A comparison of this combined formal was made wi1h the traditional Policy course. A slightly modified Job Diagnostic Survey (Hackman & Oldham, 1975) and a skills/usefulness scale (Hoffman, Fon1eno1 & Viswanathan, 1990) was administered ID assess the difference between the two groups. Results suggested that the combined formal met or exceeded the ou1comes of the traditional Policy course.
Protein crystal structure from non-oriented, single-axis sparse X-ray data

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have inspired the development of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) as a method to solve the structure of proteins. SFX datasets are collected from a sequence of protein microcrystals injected across ultrashort X-ray pulses. The idea behind SFX is that diffraction from the intense, ultrashort X-ray pulses leaves the crystal before the crystal is obliterated by the effects of the X-ray pulse. The success of SFX at XFELs has catalyzed interest in analogous experiments at synchrotron-radiation (SR) sources, where data are collected from many small crystals and the ultrashort pulses are replaced by exposure times that are kept short enough to avoid significant crystal damage. The diffraction signal from each short exposure is so `sparse' in recorded photons that the process of recording the crystal intensity is itself a reconstruction problem. Using the EMC algorithm, a successful reconstruction is demonstrated here in a sparsity regime where there are no Bragg peaks that conventionally would serve to determine the orientation of the crystal in each exposure. In this proof-of-principle experiment, a hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystal rotating about a single axis was illuminated by an X-ray beam from an X-ray generator to simulate the diffraction patterns of microcrystals from synchrotron radiation. Millions of these sparse frames, typically containing only ∼200 photons per frame, were recorded using a fast-framing detector. It is shown that reconstruction of three-dimensional diffraction intensity is possible using the EMC algorithm, even with these extremely sparse frames and without knowledge of the rotation angle. Further, the reconstructed intensity can be phased and refined to solve the protein structure using traditional crystallographic software. This suggests that synchrotron-based serial crystallography of micrometre-sized crystals can be practical with the aid of the EMC algorithm even in cases where the data are sparse.
The effect of childhood supervisory neglect on emerging adults' drinking

This study investigated the effect of childhood supervisory neglect on emerging adults' drinking. Child supervisory neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in the United States, but few studies explore supervisory neglect separate from other forms of maltreatment among emerging adults, 18-25 years old. The study sample included (n = 11,117) emerging adults, 18-25 years old who participated in Waves I and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We conducted separate analyses for male and female emerging adults, because they have different rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol risk behaviors. Our study used latent class analysis to understand how patterns of alcohol risk behaviors clustered together. For males, we found the following four classes: (1) multiple-risk drinkers, (2) moderate-risk drinkers, (3) binge-drinkers, and (4) low-risk drinkers or abstainers. For females, we found the following three classes: (1) multiple-risk drinkers, (2) moderate-risk drinkers, and (3) low-risk drinkers or abstainers. For both males and females, supervisory neglect increased the odds of membership in the multiple-risk drinkers' class compared to the low-risk drinkers or abstainers' class. Single males who did not live with their parents, and who were white had increased odds of being in the multiple-risk drinkers. For females, being more educated, or in a serious romantic relationship increased the odds of membership in the multiple-risk drinkers' class. Practitioners should ask about histories of supervisory neglect among emerging adults who engage in alcohol risk behaviors.
Explaining Social Movement Outcomes: Multiorganizational Fields and Hate Crime Reporting

Social movement organizations and nonprofit organizations can affect local communities in numerous ways, some of which are intended and some of which are unintended. Assessing the influence of these organizations is complicated because the effect that an organization has on a community depends in part on the attributes of the community in which it is embedded. This article draws attention to the importance of multiorganizational fields in determining social movement consequences through an analysis of hate crime enforcement and reporting in U.S. counties. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), in combination with more traditional statistical techniques, identifies fifteen configurations of variable attributes that almost always result in reported hate crimes. The analysis shows how measures of civil rights activism, political opportunities, grievances, and multiorganizational fields combine in local settings to produce hate crime reporting with near certainty. Results indicate that the resourcefulness, h...
Seasonal Variation in Sex Ratio of Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Its Dependence on Egg Hatching Behavior

Newly hatched larvae of Aedes triseriatus (Say) collected from treeholes displayed a seasonally variable sex ratio. The initial spring hatches of overwintered eggs were predominantly males, and subsequent hatches produced progressively smaller proportions of male larvae until females were the dominant sex. Primary sex ratios of geographic strains of A. triseriatus or progeny of male-predominant spring broods were not distorted. Ovitrap studies showed that females deposited equal numbers of male and female eggs throughout the year. Exposure to a hatching stimulus in the laboratory resulted in more rapid response by male embryos than females. Overwintered eggs in treeholes hatch in installments because hatching stimuli and/or conditioning factors are suboptimal, and the more ready hatching of males generates the seasonally characteristic sex ratios. Male and female embryos also show slight differences in photoperiodic response which do not contribute to seasonal distortion of sex ratio.
ReaxFF Reactive Force Field Study of the Dissociation of Water on Titania Surfaces

We studied the adsorption and dissociation of water at 300 K on the following TiO2 surfaces: anatase (101), (100), (112), (001), and rutile (110) at various water coverages, using a recently developed ReaxFF reactive force field. The molecular and dissociative adsorption configurations predicted by ReaxFF for various water coverages agree with previous theoretical studies and experiment. ReaxFF predicts a complex distribution of water on these surfaces depending on an intricate balance between the spacing of the adsorption sites (under-coordinated Ti and O surface atoms), water–surface interactions, and water–water interactions. Using molecular dynamics simulations to quantify water dissociation over the TiO2 surfaces at various water coverages, we find that the extent of water dissociation predicted by the ReaxFF reactive force field is in general agreement with previous density-functional theory studies and experiments. We demonstrate a correlation between the extent of water dissociation on different T...
A Multiple Comparison Sign Test: Treatments Versus Control

Let (Xoj, X1j, …, Xkj) be the result of a single trial, where the subscripts o is associated with a control and the subscripts 1, …, k with treatments. To test the joint hypothesis P(Xij – Xoj > 0)=l/2 = P(Xij – Xoj < 0), all i, compute the test criterion (r1, …, rk) where ri is the number of times Xij, – Xoj is negative in n trials. A method for computing the distribution of (r1, …, rk) is illustrated. Exact probability distributions of min ri are given for k = 2, n = 4(1)10 and k = 3, n = 4(1)7. It is conjectured that 2(min r – n/2)/ is distributed approximately as Dunnett's t. Tables based on this conjecture are computed and values are seen to agree well with comparable values from the exact distribution.
What do primary care prediabetes patients need? A baseline assessment of patients engaging in a technology-enhanced lifestyle intervention.

OBJECTIVE This study assessed the baseline knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of prediabetes patients in order to tailor a new technology-enhanced primary care-based lifestyle modification intervention. METHODS Patients with a diagnosis of prediabetes were enrolled in a randomized, controlled pilot study, Avoiding Diabetes Thru Action Plan Targeting (ADAPT), a technology-based intervention to promote action plan discussions around patient-selected behavior change goals. RESULTS A total of 54 adults (82% female) were enrolled in the pilot study. Most (89%) had comorbid conditions and mean BMI was 36. Participants exhibited high risk of diabetes knowledge (knowledge score 20 on a 32 point scale) and high levels of willingness to make changes to decrease diabetes risk. Number of daily steps was inversely correlated with perceived physical activity (r=-0.35082, p<0.001). Poorer scores on diet quality were inversely correlated with BMI. CONCLUSION Participants in this sample demonstrated requisite levels of knowledge, self-efficacy, motivation and risk perception for effective behavior change. These data suggest that primary care-based prediabetes interventions can move beyond educational goals and focus on enhancing patients' ability to select, plan and enact action plans.
Influence of preshipment management on the adrenal response of beef calves to ACTH before and after transit.

The influence of preshipment management, transit (965 km) and postshipment management upon the ability of the adrenal gland to respond to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was evaluated in 60 beef calves (47 bulls and 13 steers). Adrenal response to ACTH treatment was quantified before shipment (PRE), about 24 h (POST) and 3 wk after transit (3 WK). Calves were assembled for 4 or 10 d before shipment and fed either a hay or a high energy diet (HE). The area under the plotted curve for the plasma corticoid concentration response to ACTH was used as an adrenal response test (ART). The feeding of hay during the first 4 d of assembly resulted in a greater (P less than .05) PRE ART value than feeding of the HE diet, but after 10 d of assembly, the ART was similar for animals on the two diets. The ART at 24 h after transit was similar to that before shipment. The HE group had a greater (P less than .05) ART than the hay group 3 wk after arrival, however, values were dependent upon postshipment management. Placement of calves on winter wheat pasture soon after arrival resulted in greater ART (P less than .05) values after the 3 wk recovery period than for calves that grazed native range for 10 or 20 d before grazing winter wheat pasture. These data indicate that the ability of the adrenal gland to respond to ACTH is increased at preshipment if the assembly period is 4 d compared to 10 d and the adrenal response at 3 wk after arrival is greater if a HE diet is fed during assembly instead of hay.
Direct C2 Pedicle Screw Fixation for Axis Body Fracture

Background Acute complex C2 vertebral body fracture specifically does not involve the odontoid process or C2 pars interarticularis. External stabilization can be effective but may prolong healing and increase morbidity. Many traditional surgical techniques can achieve internal stabilization at the expense of normal cervical motion. We describe direct surgical C2 pedicle screw fixation as an option for managing acute complex C2 vertebral body fracture. Case Description Three patients were treated with direct pedicle screw fixation of acute traumatic complex C2 vertebral body fractures. All fractures were coronally oriented Benzel type 1. None of the patients sustained neurological injury. Stereotactic navigation with intraoperative computed tomography scanning was used for each procedure. Surgery provided immediate internal orthosis and stability, as judged by intraoperative dynamic fluoroscopy. Rigid cervical collar bracing was used for 1 month after surgery when the patients were out of bed. Initial radiographs showed acceptable screw placement and fracture alignment. Dynamic radiographs at 3 months showed structural stability at the fracture site and adjacent levels, and complete bony union was confirmed with late computed tomography scanning (>1 year) in each case. Each patient reported resolution of trauma-related and postsurgical pain at 30-day follow-up. Postoperative Neck Disability Index questionnaires for each patient suggested no significant disability at 1 year. Conclusions Direct pedicle screw fixation of acute complex C2 vertebral body fracture appeared to be safe and effective in our 3 patients. It may provide a more-efficient and less-morbid treatment than halo brace or cervical collar immobilization in some patients.
Needs in Alloy Design for Nuclear Applications

In developing reactor-core alloys for current light-water-reactor systems, which operate at relatively low temperatures, primary consideration has been given to compatibility with the coolant environment, nuclear economy, reasonable strength at the operating temperature, and fabricability to both exacting product specifications and quality control standards. These criteria alone, however, have narrowly limited the choice of candidate alloy systems. Furthermore, thermal stability of the alloy system has not been a serious problem for these reactors, and it has been generally possible to design around radiation-induced changes in properties.
Arthur Smith Woodward: His Life and Influence on Modern Vertebrate Paleontology

ARTHUR SMITH WOODWARD: HIS LIFE AND INFLUENCE ON MODERN VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY, by Zerina Johanson, Paul M. Barrett, Martha Richter, and Mike Smith (editors), 2016. The Geological Society of Londo...
Software for HTML indexing: a comparative review

This article reviews and compares the features of various software programs for the creation of website or HTML indexes. The different categories of software programs are discussed, and specific attention is given to the programs HTML/Prep, XRefHT32, and HTML Indexer.
Role of Enterococci in Cheddar Cheese: Proteolytic Activity and Lactic Acid Development1

Eight lots of Cheddar cheese were manufactured by using two strains of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus durans in combination with a commercial lactic culture. Each lot consisted of a control vat of cheese, manufactured with lactic starter only, and an experimental vat of cheese containing the lactic starter and one of the enterococcus strains. Combinations of two curing temperatures (7.2 and 12.8 C) and two early cooling treatments (air vs. brine cooling) were used for cheeses from each vat to determine the effects of these handling procedures, as well as of enterococcus addition, on proteolysis and lactic acid development. These characteristics were monitored from milling to up to 6 months of curing. Cheeses manufactured with S. faecalis exhibited more protein breakdown than did the control cheeses and those made with S. durans, the latter two being nearly identical in the extent of proteolysis. More proteolysis was consistently observed in those cheeses cured at 12.8 C. No statistical differenc...
Economic Assessment for Recycling Critical Metals From Hard Disk Drives Using a Comprehensive Recovery Process

Since the 2011 price spike of rare earth elements (REEs), research on permanent magnet recycling has blossomed globally in an attempt to reduce future REE criticality. Hard disk drives (HDDs) have emerged as one feasible feedstock for recovering valuable REEs such as praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium. Nevertheless, current processes for recycling electronic waste only focus on certain metals as a result of feedstock and metal price uncertainties. In addition, there is a perception that recycling REEs is unprofitable. To shed some light on the economic viability of REE recycling from U.S. HDDs, this article combines techno-economic information of an electro-hydrometallurgical process with end-of-life HDD availability in a simulation model. The results showed that adding REE recovery to an HDD base and precious metal recovery process was profitable given current prices. Recovered REEs from U.S. HDDs could meet up to 5.2% rest-of-world (excluding China) neodymium magnet demand. Feedstock, aluminum, and gold prices are key factors to recycling profitability. REEs contributed 13% to the co-recycling profit.
What do patients want? Correlates of patient satisfaction and treatment engagement

Introduction Motivation and ability to engage with treatment may deteriorate or falter if a patient is not satisfied with their protocols or provider. Improving patient satisfaction may more effectively strengthen treatment engagement. Objectives 1) Determining what patients want from their provider relationship; and 2) identifying means for a provider to effectively assess and evaluate patient satisfaction in relation to treatment engagement. Methods A systematic review of published meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and literature reviews between 1996 and 2016 was conducted across three databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL). Using variations of the search terms patient; satisfaction; medication, medical and psychiatric treatment; and engagement/adherence, a total of 1667 articles were identified. After removing duplications, 1582 articles were independently screened for eligibility (e.g. conceptual focus, methodological limitations) by two research assistants, resulting in the final inclusion of 50 meta-analysis, systematic review, or literature review articles that focused on predictors or barriers to patient satisfaction and/or predictors or barriers affecting engagement/adherence. Results Barriers and predictors of patient satisfaction centered on two fundamental domains: – relationship with Provider (sub-factors: multicultural competence, shared decision making, communication skills, continuity of care, empathy) and; – outcomes (sub-factors: therapeutic outcome, patient expectations). Eight treatment engagement/adherence barrier and predictor domains were identified, specifically treatment regimens; illness beliefs, emotional/cognitive factors; financial and logistic; social support; symptom/illness characteristics; demographics and patient-provider relationship. Conclusions Key findings highlight actions psychiatrists and other clinical providers may consider in addressing barriers and highlighting promoters to improve patient satisfaction and overall engagement and adherence.
THE USE OF MACHINE LEARNING TO PREDICT DOXORUBICIN CARDIOTOXICITY

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (CTX) occurs in 10 to 15% of patients. As such, there is an important need to improve our understanding of the relevance of cardiac mechanics in predicting CTX. The overall objective of our study was to use machine learning algorithms to identify new patterns in
Chemical and Biomolecular Interactions in the Assembly of Nanowires

Over the past decade, there has been remarkable progress in the synthesis of inorganic materials as high aspect ratio nanoparticles. In addition to nanotubes and nanowires derived from carbon and other group IV elements, numerous metals, oxides, and compound semiconductors have now been made as wires, tubes, scrolls, and ribbons. High quality single crystals of many of these nanomaterials can be obtained by solution or vapor phase syntheses. In fact, our understanding of these synthetic processes has now advanced to the point where it is possible to exert control over not only the physical dimensions (size and aspect ratio) of nanoparticles, but also to control their shape [1]. Thus, in addition to essentially one-dimensional nanostructures, numerous interesting shapes such as arrowheads, teardrops, tetrapods [2], prisms [3], and stars [4] have recently been synthesized.
Hastings Center Project on the Teaching of Ethics: Summary Recommendations

American higher education is in the throes of many difficulties at present. They include declining enrollments, increasing financial pressure, the inability of many promising teachers and scholars to gain employment or tenure, and some degree of public criticism. It may not be an auspicious moment to urge the introduction of new courses and programs, whether in ethics or in any other subject. Nonetheless, we do not hesitate to propose that the teaching of ethics be given a far more central role in the curriculum than it has had in recent decades. Although many of the current problems of higher education are practical and financial, others bear on the nature and role of the university itself. Few would openly contend that the main purpose of higher education, even of an explicitly professional education, is simply that of preparing students for better jobs and higher incomes. Yet, for many students, that is the perceived reality. Nor would many contend that questions of ethics and values should have no place in the university. Most would in a very general way assert just the opposite. Yet, the formal opportunities to pursue moral questions are often scant and episodic. Few would argue that the professions do not have moral purposes and traditions, or deny that professionals ought to serve goals that transcend the merely technical. Yet, the opportunities to examine the nature of the professions and their moral purposes are scanty.
Molecular dynamics simulation studies on mechanical properties of standalone ligaments and networking nodes, a connection to nanoporous material

Structurally, nanoporous (NP) materials can be regarded as a network of interconnected nanowires. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are employed to investigate the deformation behavior of individual ligaments and isolated three-fold nodes, which are the two main structural components in NP materials. The shear strain tensor analysis is used to quantitatively differentiate deformation mechanisms accommodating strain among structures and capture onset of necking during stretching. Ligaments and nodes behave differently in both elastic regime and plastic regime. Our results suggest that node structure is brittle with low stiffness and yield strength, similar to NP structure, while ligament structure is ductile and exhibits high stiffness and yield strength. In isolated three-fold nodes and NP network structure, we observed similar deformation behavior exists; formation of pyramidal shape defects consisted of twinning partials and Shockley partials on different {111} planes at node region. The similarity of mechanical properties and deformation behavior between node structure and NP structure indicates that the role of node components is substantially significant in controlling structure–property relationships of NP materials. Enhancing node components is proposed as a potential method for improving mechanical properties of NP materials.
Outcomes of Living-donor Liver Transplantation Using Grafts Heterozygous for α-1 Antitrypsin Gene Mutations.

Background.Patients heterozygous for an abnormal α-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) mutation may have an increased risk of liver disease in the setting of a secondary contributing factor.Methods.This single-center retrospective cohort study compared donor and recipient outcomes of A1AT heterozygous versus norma
Comparison of plotting system outputs in beginner analysts

The R programming language is built on an ecosystem of packages, some that allow analysts to accomplish the same tasks. For example, there are at least two clear workflows for creating data visualizations in R: using the base graphics package (referred to as "base R") and the ggplot2 add-on package based on the grammar of graphics. Here we perform an empirical study of the quality of scientific graphics produced by beginning R users. In our experiment, learners taking a data science course on the Coursera platform were randomized to complete identical plotting exercises in either the base R or the ggplot2 system. Learners were then asked to evaluate their peers in terms of visual characteristics key to scientific cognition. We observed that graphics created with the two systems rated similarly on many characteristics. However, ggplot2 graphics were generally judged to be more visually pleasing and, in the case of faceted scientific plots, easier to understand. Our results suggest that while both graphic systems are useful in the hands of beginning users, ggplot2's natural faceting system may be easier to use by beginning users for displaying more complex relationships.
Elliptic, Hyperbolic, Pseudoelliptic, and Pseudohyperbolic Geometries

In 0.8.8 we have seen that the groups of rotations of hyperspheres in the real Euclidean and pseudo-Euclidean spaces R n+1 and R l n+1 are imprimitive and that the classes of primitivity of these hyperspheres are pairs of their antipodal points. Therefore, if we identify pairs of antipodal points of these hyperspheres we obtain homogeneous spaces with primitive groups of transformations.
A Random-Feature Based Newton Method for Empirical Risk Minimization in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space.

In supervised learning using kernel methods, we encounter a large-scale finite-sum minimization over a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). Often times large-scale finite-sum problems can be solved using efficient variants of Newton's method where the Hessian is approximated via sub-samples. In RKHS, however, the dependence of the penalty function to kernel makes standard sub-sampling approaches inapplicable, since the gram matrix is not readily available in a low-rank form. In this paper, we observe that for this class of problems, one can naturally use kernel approximation to speed up the Newton's method. Focusing on randomized features for kernel approximation, we provide a novel second-order algorithm that enjoys local superlinear convergence and global convergence in the high probability sense. The key to our analysis is showing that the approximated Hessian via random features preserves the spectrum of the original Hessian. We provide numerical experiments verifying the efficiency of our approach, compared to variants of sub-sampling methods.
Heterogeneous expression of the ammonium transporter AgAmt in chemosensory appendages of the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae

Ammonia is one of the principal kairomones originating from human and other animal emanations and in that context, plays an essential role in the host-seeking behaviors of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Nevertheless, despite its importance in directing host-seeking, the mechanisms underlying ammonia detection in the mosquito olfactory system remains largely unknown. In addition to ongoing efforts to identify and characterize the molecular receptors that underlie ammonia sensitivity, previous studies have revealed a prominent role for ammonium transporters (Amt) in modulating antennal and behavioral responses in Drosophila melanogaster and An. gambiae. In the former, localization of DmAmt in antennal sensilla to auxiliary cells surrounding the ammonia sensory neurons led to the hypothesis that its role was to clear excess ammonium ions in the sensillar lymph. In the latter, RT-PCR and heterologous expression have been used to examine the expression and functional characteristics of the An. gambiae ammonium transporter, AgAmt. We now employ advanced transgenic tools to comprehensively examine AgAmt spatial localization across the peripheral chemosensory appendages in larvae and adult female An. gambiae. In the larval antennae, AgAmt appears localized in both neuronal and auxiliary cells. In contrast to D. melanogaster, in the adult antennae, AgAmt-derived signals are observed in both non-neuronal auxiliary cells and in sensory neurons in ammonia-responsive basiconic and coeloconic sensilla. In the maxillary palps, labella, and tarsi, AgAmt appears restricted to sensory neurons. We have also characterized the responses to ammonia of adult antennal coeloconic sensilla and maxillary palp capitate pegs revealing a correlation between sensillar AgAmt expression and ammonia sensitivity. Taken together, these data suggest that AgAmt may play heterogeneous roles in the adult and larval chemosensory apparatus and potentially broad utility as a supra-receptor target in mosquito control.
Extramedullary multiple myeloma in the spermatic cord: A case report

Abstract Background Tumors arising from the spermatic cord are typically lipomas or sarcomas, and treatment with radical orchiectomy and high ligation of the spermatic cord is the standard of care. Very few cases of metastatic spread to the spermatic cord from other malignancies have been described. Herein we report a case of a patient with a spermatic cord tumor that was found after radical orchiectomy to be an extramedullary site of a known multiple myeloma. Case A 62-year-old man undergoing Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE) therapy for relapsing multiple myeloma was found on surveillance imaging to have a new enhancing mass in his left spermatic cord. He underwent left radical orchiectomy. Pathologic examination revealed the tumor to consist of neoplastic plasma cells consistent with extramedullary spread of multiple myeloma and a paucity of T-cells. There was no involvement of the left testicle. He had no surgical complications but was found to have systemic disease progression despite ongoing therapy. He ultimately elected for palliative care and died six months after surgery. Discussion This is a case of relapsing multiple myeloma manifesting as an enlarging spermatic cord tumor. Although proceeding to radical orchiectomy is the standard approach to most spermatic cord tumors, this scenario highlights a potential need for further diagnostic workup when the spermatic cord tumor is found in a patient with another active pre-existing malignancy. If metastasis is high on the differential, obtaining a tissue diagnosis via biopsy should be considered, especially in patients for whom testosterone production and fertility preservation are a high priority.