cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging and Quantifying Carbohydrate Transport to the Developing Ovaries of Maize

• Background and Aims Shade or inadequate water can inhibit photosynthesis and limit the development of maize (Zea mays) ovaries around the time of pollination, potentially reducing the number of kernels at harvest. This study investigated whether the decreased photosynthesis diminished only the sugar supply or also altered the transport path to the ovaries. • Methods Photosynthesis and water potentials (Ψw) were measured in the leaves while dry matter delivery was monitored in the ovaries. Ovary glucose, starch and acid invertase activities were measured in situ. Stems were fed xylem-mobile safranin or phloem-mobile carboxyfluorescein (CF), and the dye transport to the ovaries was determined. • Key Results Under normal conditions, the ovaries gained in dry mass, and starch accumulated in the pedicel and ovary wall. Glucose accumulated in the pedicel, apparently in the apoplast where insoluble (cell-wall-bound) acid invertase acted on the arriving sucrose. A glucose gradient developed from pedicel to nucellus. Safranin moved in the xylem and did not reach the ovary, but CF moved in the phloem and arrived at the ovary. CF also spread into the pedicel but unlike glucose it did not enter the nucellus. Low Ψw or shade decreased leaf photosynthesis, ovary dry mass accumulation, invertase activities, pedicel glucose, starch accumulation and CF delivery. Removal of these treatments reversed the effects. • Conclusions The success of CF in tracing the general path and rate of carbohydrate transport gave visual evidence that phloem transport to the ovary decreased at low Ψw or in the shade but otherwise remained functional. The decreases indicated that losses in carbohydrate delivery are central features of failed ovary development under these conditions. The selectivity of transport into the nucellus resembled the situation later when embryo and endosperm are present and selective uptake occurs from the apoplast.
Neither size nor weight predicts survival in peritoneal dialysis patients

OBJECTIVE To determine if patient size or weight at the start of PD influences patient or technique survival. DESIGN A prospective cohort study of adult PD patients. SETTING A university and a Veterans Administration outpatient dialysis unit. PATIENTS 343 adults patients with 660 years on PD enrolled from 1979 to 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient survival (censoring for transplant, 60 days post-transfer to hemodialysis, and end of study) and technique survival (censoring for death, transplant, or end of the study) for patients as grouped by weight ( 64 kg or 82.7 kg) or BSA ( 2.0 m2). RESULTS Patient survival was 86.3% at one year, 77.0% at two years, 65.2% at three years, and 56.9% at 4 years. Technique survival was 84.9% at one year, 77.5% at two years, 63.5% at three years, and 58.3% at four years. The patient and technique survival curves were not significantly different for patients as grouped by weight or BSA. Using Cox proportional hazards model, age, diabetes, peritonitis rate, and albumin at the start of PD were independent predictors of patient survival, but BSA and weight were not. The only predictor of technique survival was the peritonitis rate. Larger patients had higher initial albumins, which may indicate better nutritional status that may offset the risk of underdialysis. CONCLUSIONS Large patients do as well as smaller patients on PD. Size alone should not preclude patients from PD.
Seeking Truth and Telling Stories in Cinema and the Courtroom: Reversal of Fortune’s Reflexive Critique

Based on attorney Alan Dershowitz’s Reversal of Fortune, Barbet Schroeder’s 1991 film centers on the attorney’s successful attempt to win an appeal for Claus von Bulow, who was convicted of twice attempting to murder his wife Sunny by insulin injection. Among the first to be televised, the 1982 trial drew extensive media coverage—much of it sensational, given the von Bulows’ social position and enormous wealth. The film’s interest lies in posing sometimes unanswerable questions about character, motive, and the law. Giving voice to the comatose Sunny through flashbacks and voice-over narration, and creating a complex interplay of differing versions of events, the film reflexively questions the very nature and processes of understanding truth. The film is, in effect, two movies in one: a relationship narrative, centered on Sunny and Claus, that departs from conventional form, and a legal process narrative, centered on Dershowitz, that strictly adheres to classical storytelling conventions while also offering a critique of those conventions. This structural interplay further allegorizes the adversarial configuration of Western law that, the film implies, closes out dimensions of truth that lie in between, a notion the film foregrounds by calling attention to Sunny’s body and her mind as objects of legal dispute that resist unambiguous interpretation. Through the intersecting lines of narrative and legal theories, this essay analyzes Reversal of Fortune’s critique of storytelling conventions as a means of accounting for, “containing,” or accessing truth—whether in the movie theater, the interrogation room, or the courtroom.
Improving Senior Capstone Design Student Performance Through Integration of Presentation Intervention Plan

This paper presents the findings of a study comparing the motivational factors and performance of two mechanical engineering senior capstone design course cohorts: 2014 and 2015 students. The study measures the motivation of students throughout capstone, a non-traditional course, and the impacts motivation had on their course performance (peer evaluations and team grade). The second cohort participated in an intervention plan during a design methodologies course completed the semester prior to senior capstone design. Quantitative data was collected at both the beginning and end of the course; whereas, qualitative data was collected at the end of the course. Our method utilizes an adapted version of the Motivational Student Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). The survey asks a variety of questions to measure the performance and motivation levels of the student. Performance factors studied are cognitive value and self-regulation. Motivation factors include presentation anxiety, intrinsic value, and self-efficacy. Statistical analysis is performed among the factors, cohort populations, and within the population (male versus females and domestic versus international) to identify if a correlation exists with student course performance. Amongst other findings, the results indicate the student’s experienced positive change due to participation in the intervention plan.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Atypical pneumonia and the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board.

What we know now as mycoplasma pneumonia, but what was called primary atypical pneumonia (PAP) for many years, has been an interest of mine for over 20 years, as has been the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board (AFEB) for over 30 years. It so happens that the history of PAP is inextricably bound and woven into the history of the AFEB. I could not resist the opportunity of talking to this audience about these two interests. I have other reasons for wanting to discuss these subjects as well. I suspect that there are many of the younger segment of the audience who know little, if anything, of the rich and interesting history of mycoplasma pneumonia. Since I find at my age that I am beginning to look back a little more than previously, I wanted to share some of this history with you. I also suspect that many of you are not familiar with the contributions to the field of infectious diseases made by the military and especially the AFEB. I should also like to share this appreciation with you. During the 1930s a form of pneumonia was recognized that had a different clinical expression from disease caused by the pneumococcus [1]. Outbreaks of the disease were reported among adolescents and young adults in schools and military installations. The syndrome was characterized by relatively mild symptoms and signs that were disproportionate to the degree of infiltration visible in chest X-rays. With the discovery of sul-
Regulation of chemoresistance by the bcl -2 oncoprotein in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia cell lines

Summary Background The bcl-2 gene becomes activated by 14;18 chromosomal translocations in the majority of low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) and is expressed at high levels in the absence of gene rearrangements in a high proportion of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLLs). The protein encoded by bcl-2 contributes to neoplastic cell expansion by prolonging cell survival through its ability to block programmed cell death (apoptosis). Because many chemotherapeutic drugs have been shown ultimately to kill tumor cells through mechanisms consistent with programmed cell death, we tested whether the relative levels of bcl-2 oncoprotein influence the sensitivity of lymphoma and leukemia cell lines to killing by conventional cytotoxic drugs commonly used in the treatment of cancer. Methods Leukemia cell lines with low levels of bcl-2 expression were stably infected with recombinant bcl-2 retroviruses to achieve elevations in bcl-2 protein levels. Lymphoma cell lines with high levels of bcl-2 expression as the result of 14; 18 translocations were either stably transfected with inducible bcl-2 antisense expression plasmids or treated with bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotides to achieve reductions in bcl-2 protein levels. The sensitivity of these genetically modified cells to killing by various antineoplastic drugs was then determined. Results Gene transfer-mediated elevations in bcl-2 protein levels in lymphocytic leukemia cell lines was correlated with markedly elevated resistance to killing by all cytotoxic drugs tested. Conversely, antisense-mediated reductions in bcl-2 protein levels in t(14;18)-containing NHL cell lines resulted in enhanced sensitivity to all anticancer drugs. Conclusions The relative levels of bcl-2 oncoprotein represent one of the key determinants of the sensitivity of lymphocytic cells to killing by essentially all drugs currently available for the treatment of cancer.
Product Branching Ratios of the NH2(X2B1) + NO2 Reaction

The reaction of NH2(X2B1) with NO2 was studied at 298 K using time-resolved infrared diode laser spectroscopy to detect N2O and NO products. The N2O + H2O channel was confirmed to be a rather minor contribution to the overall reaction, with a branching ratio of 0.24 ± 0.04. The branching ratio of the NO + H2NO channel was measured to be 0.76 ± 0.1.
Imaging for Preoperative Assessment and Staging of Thyroid Cancer

Long-term outcomes in thyroid cancer are heavily influenced by the quality of surgery, which is in turn dependent on thorough preoperative imaging. Neck ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality in the planning of both initial and subsequent surgery for thyroid cancer. Ultrasound is useful in characterizing both the primary tumor and suspicious cervical lymph nodes. Lymph nodes classified as abnormal based on size, shape, internal sonographic features, and blood flow patterns may be investigated further with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and/or targeted for compartmental clearance. In the vast majority of thyroid cancer cases, ultrasound alone is sufficient for surgical planning.
[Study of the efficiency of a quantitative coproscopic technic for the routine diagnosis and control of parasitic infestations of cattle, sheep, horses and swine].

Nous avons demontre chez les bovins, ovins, caprins, porcins et equins, que la technique de coproscopie que nous pratiquons est :polyvalente (elle detecte toutes les formes parasitaires eliminees : Cestodes, Trematodes, Nematodes, œufs ou larves), simple (un seul prelevement de 5 g de matieres fecales est manipule) rapide et relativement peu onereuse (car le liquide cher, l’Iodo Mercurate de K est partiellement recupere), precise (car l’utilisation de la lame de Mac Master le permet), enfin, sensible , car le seuil avec la lame de Mac Master est ameliore par l’examen simultane sur la meme suspension preparee d’une lame de flottaison.Il s’agit de coproscopie quantitative en lame de Mac Master, dont le coefficient de multiplication peut etre de X 15. Ce seuil est abaisse par l’examen complementaire d’une lame de flottaison qui apporte une information qualitative.Nous avons demontre que, sauf pour le cheval chez lequel la solution dense peut etre le SO 4 Mg , dans toutes les autres especes (bovins, ovins, caprins, porcins), il est recommande d’utiliser l’Iodo Mercurate de K .Cette technique est aussi bien conseillee pour les examens de routine precis que pour le controle quantitatif rigoureux.
Information is more than just the number

In order to be able to make informed choices, it is important that patients have transparent information about the pros and cons of treatment. When using the number unnecessarily treated (NUT) as information for patients, we should take the following into account. First, patients should understand that non-effective treatment may still do harm. This might be in contradiction with their ideas about the effects of treatment. Second, as many patients have difficulties understanding numbers and probabilities, the usefulness of NUT may be limited. Third, it is very important to use the proper presentation format to make the information intuitively meaningful for patients. A natural frequency tree and not a population diagram appears to be the optimal format for this purpose. When giving patient information the premise is that the form of the message is more important than the numbers.
Role of tumor suppressor genes in a multistep model of carcinogenesis.

Most cancers are clonal in origin, arising from a single aberrant cell1. The multistep nature of this process is now a widely accepted paradigm2, and is supported by several lines of evidence from both clinical oncology and experimental models. Among these are: 1) histopathological observations of human tumors reveal multiple stages of tumor progression such as dysplasia and carcinoma in situ3; 2) mathematical models based on age-specific tumor incidence curves are consistent with four to seven independent hits required for tumor formation4; 3) studies of genetic predisposition to cancer in some families suggest that one step in the carcinogenic process is a germline mutation and that additional somatic events are required for full neoplastic development5; 4) well documented experimental systems, including the two-stage model of chemical carcinogenesis in rodent skin6,7 and liver8, show that different chemicals affect qualitatively different stages in the carcinogenic process; 5) cell culture studies reveal that chemical carcinogen-induced neoplastic transformation of normal cells involves a progressive process9; 6) cell culture studies with viral and tumor-derived oncogenes show that the neoplastic conversion of normal cells generally requires multiple cooperating oncogenes10; and 7) studies on the development of tumors in transgenic mice carrying activated proto-oncogenes in their germline indicate that the tumors which arise are clonal in origin, suggesting that additional somatic events besides activation of two cooperating oncogenes are required for full malignant development11.
In vivo mapping of a dynamic ribonucleoprotein granule interactome in early Drosophila embryos

Macromolecular complexes and organelles play crucial roles within cells, but their native architectures are often unknown. Here, we use an evolutionarily conserved germline organelle, the germ granule, as a paradigm. In Drosophila embryos, we map one of its interactomes using a novel in vivo crosslinking approach that employs two interacting granule proteins and determines their common neighbor molecules. We identified an in vivo granule assembly of Tudor, Aubergine, motor and metabolic proteins, and RNA helicases, and provide evidence for direct interactions within this assembly using purified components. Our study indicates that germ granules contain efficient biochemical reactors involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
New records and within-species variability of Iberian tardigrades (Tardigrada), with comments on the species from the Echiniscus blumi-canadensis series

The present report describes the results obtained from a survey on the tardigrade communities of five microhabitats (leaf litter, and mosses and lichens on rocks and tree trunks) in the Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid, Spain). Sampling design was conducted according to a spatially mixed stratified-random procedure. A list with new records for Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and Madrid is provided. I have added two species to the European check list, increased number of known species in the Iberian Peninsula from 118 to 131, and duplicated the number of species known in the Madrid Province. Besides, some variations in morphological characters have been observed within-species, the majority related to structures of the buccal-pharyngeal apparatus and claws. More within-species variability studies are needed to determine their validity as diagnostic characters. A specific discussion is made about morphological variability within the Echiniscus blumi-canadensis series, as a result of observations among and within species from the series.
Presence of sulfonamide and carbapenem resistance genes in a sewage treatment plant in southeast Louisiana, USA

Abstract To date only sporadic studies have reported the occurrence of carbapenem and sulfonamide resistance genes in rural sewage treatment plants of USA. Most of the reports on this subject are from hospitals and urban aquatic habitats. Therefore, this study was conducted to find the presence of these genes in a rural sewage treatment plant in southeast Louisiana, USA. Raw and treated sewage samples were analyzed for five months in 2016 for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. The results showed the presence of carbapenem and sulfonamide resistance genes in both raw and treated sewage. Many sulfonamide and piperacillin resistant bacteria were consistently present in raw and treated samples. This is the first report on the presence of carbapenem resistance genes in a small town sewage treatment plant in USA. Carbapenem possesses potent antibiotic capabilities coupled with inhibition of bacterial enzymes and it has been the last resort of physician's medication to treat infection from many multidrug resistant bacteria. The presence of carbapenem resistance genes in treated sewage sample is a cause for concern and further research should be done to see how prevalent these genes are in many aquatic habitats including rural sewage treatment plants, which in many cases discharge the treated sewage into nearby streams and rivers and may act as a reservoir for these genes in the environment.
Management of post-stroke depression in the Middle East and North Africa: Too little is known

Stroke is among the most common disabilities among adults and most stroke victims live in developing countries. However, little is known about services delivered in these countries for post-stroke depression, a common comorbidity that influences functional outcomes of stroke. In this paper, a physician from Syria reviews the literature on post-stroke depression among patients living in countries of the Middle East and North Africa region in order to examine whether current practices can be improved. Studies of prevalence were found in six of the region's countries and only four studies described interventions for stroke patients with clinical depression. The limited studies on prevalence confirmed that stroke incidence and post-stroke depression are common although diagnosed depression appears to vary depending on the economic environment of the country. Hence, additional interventions in MENA countries may be warranted to increase recognition of depression in stroke patients and to ensure health professionals are prepared to deliver appropriate services to stroke patients and their family-caregivers for depression when it occurs.
Role of Aromatic Hydrocaronbons in Disclosing How Catecholestrogens Initiate Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes several studies to hypothesize that formation of N7guanine (N7Gua) adducts by reaction of estrogen-3,4-quinones with DNA is the tumor-initiating event in several human cancers including breast, prostate, ovarian, and, possibly, brain tumors. Comprehensive studies of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have led to understanding of their mechanism of tumor initiation. This basic knowledge has been instrumental in delineating the DNA adducts formed by quinones (CE-Qs) that represent the events leading to tumor initiation. PAHs are activated by two main pathways: one-electron oxidation to produce reactive intermediate radical cations and monooxygenation to yield bay-region diol epoxides. The reactive intermediates formed by these two mechanisms can bind to DNA to form adducts that initiate the tumor process. PAH-DNA adducts are obtained by reaction of the metabolically activated PAHs with the nucleophilic groups of the two purine bases, adenine (Ade) and Gua. These adducts can be either stable adducts or depurinating adducts. The studies suggest that the oncogenic mutations found in mouse skin papillomas induced by these PAHs are generated by misreplication of unrepaired apurinic sites derived from the loss of depurinating adducts. The level of apurinic sites arising from treatment with PAHs is, however, 15 to 120 times higher than those formed spontaneously. It suggests that this large increase in apurinic sites overwhelms the capacity of the cell to repair them before DNA replication occurs. In addition, the apparent nonrepair of apurinic sites induced by treatment with PAHs may also be because of the presence of stable adducts that interfere with error-free repair of apurinic sites. As estrogen-3,4-quinones specifically form the depurinating N7Gua adducts and their precursor CEs are carcinogenic in male Syrian golden hamsters, formation of these adducts is thought to be the initiating event that can lead to tumor development in several human cancers.
Leveraging learning innovations in cognitive computing with massive data sets: Using the offshore Panama papers leak to discover patterns

Abstract Exposing learners to cognitive computing concepts involves new learning strategies. Because cognitive computing is probabilistic, using massive sets of data is fundamental in understanding these concepts. One data set is the release of the Offshore Panama Papers Leaks Database (LeaksDB) in May 2016, in which researchers were able to access this graph database as part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Offshore Leaks investigation and to draw conclusions about companies, trusts, foundations, and funds incorporated in 21 tax havens. For the purpose of this research, GraphDB Server was installed and configured by faculty members from a mid-western university. In addition, DBPedia and GeoNames repositories were linked to LeaksDB, leading to the discovery of interesting patterns about these Geo facade relationships between Officers (persons or companies) and Countries.
Deck-pier connection detail for the simple for dead load and continuous for live load bridge system in seismic regions

Abstract The steel bridge system referred to as Simple for Dead Load and Continuous for Live Load (SDCL) has gained popularity in non-seismic regions of the United States of America. The system provides enhanced service life and lower inspection and maintenance costs as compared to conventional steel systems. To-date, no research studies have been carried out to evaluate the behavior of the SDCL steel bridge system in high seismic regions. The SDCL concept for seismic regions requires a suitable connection between the girder and pier. The research presented in this paper investigates an integral pier SDCL steel bridge system. The structural behavior and force resistance mechanism of a proposed seismic detail was evaluated through an analytical study. An equation was developed to predict the ultimate connection capacity under seismic loading. This paper presents the results of Phase I of an ongoing, three-phase effort, that will culminate in the development of a set of details and associated design provisions to develop a version of the SDCL steel bridge system suitable for use in high seismic regions.
N-METHYLBENZOMORPHANALKANONES. A COMPARISON OF THEIR STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS AND X-RAY CRYSTAL STRUCTURE WITH THOSE OF THE BRIDGED THEBAINE DERIVATIVES. AN OPIATE RECEPTOR PROPOSAL

Based on structure activity and X-ray crystallographic data an opiate receptor is proposed. The key features of the proposed receptor are a recognition subunit which binds the opiate pharmacophore and an action subunit which translates information con tained in the bound opiate's peripheral substituents into pharmacological action.
Bug Wars: a competitive exercise to find bugs in code

Software bugs are a common problem that students encounter in any Computer Science program. "Bug Wars" is a fun and competitive class exercise for student teams to identify bugs in code. To prepare for the competition, the instructor provides several code examples that contain bugs. Each student team also develops code that has a bug. All of the code examples are placed on a table in the classroom at the beginning of class. The competition then begins by each team taking one problem to solve and checking with the author of the respective code to ask whether they correctly identified the bug. If they solve the bug, we update the score and they swap the problem that they solved for a new problem. The team that identifies the most bugs wins the competition. The majority of students reported that this activity increased their interest in software testing and made them more aware of bugs that they should avoid on future assignments.
MECHANISMS OF SODIUM RETENTION IN CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

The mechanisms involved in sodium and water retention in congestive heart failure have not been clearly delineated. It has been shown by many observers that the renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate are decreased in congestive heart failure. The GFR is better preserved than the renal blood flow, thus an increase in filtration fraction (1–4). The role of aldosterone in sodium retention in congestive heart failure is not clear. The plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion and excretion rates are variable and not always increased even though sodium retention from the urine is nearly complete (5–8).
Report on the 5th International Workshop on Networking Meets Databases

The Workshop on Networking Meets Databases (NetDB) is a venue that aims to bring together researchers from the systems and networking community and the database community. Many current research areas, such as cloud computing, data-center networking, sensor networks, network management, or social networks, raise research problems that lie at the boundary between these two communities. The workshop’s goal is to foster an environment in which researchers from both communities can discuss ideas that will shape and influence these emerging research areas. The workshop encourages submissions of early work, with novel and interesting ideas. The expectation is that work introduced at NetDB, once fully thought through, completed, and described in a finished form, may be relevant to conferences such as SOSP, OSDI, SIGCOMM, SIGMOD, VLDB, NSDI, or ICDE. Traditionally, NetDB has been co-located with either the IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE’05, ICDE’06, ICDE’08) or the USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation (NSDI’08). This year is the first time when the workshop was co-located with the ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles (SOSP). By co-locating with SOSP, we aimed at raising the interest from the wider systems community on topics relevant to NetDB.
Fleshier Than Even Rubens' Palette

Poems and Commentaries by Amit Majmudar, Kelly Sievers, Bonnie Salomon, David Watts, Paul Boor, and Beth Lown. Jack Coulehan, Editor
Character Strings as Directed Euler Paths

Necessary and sufficient conditions are presented for the existence of a character string for which the number of occurences of all its two–character substrings is prescribed.
The time-course of bilateral changes in the reflex excitability of relaxed triceps surae muscle in human hemiparetic spasticity

Short, rapid dorsiflexion of the normal human ankle induces a single, synchronised reflex EMG response in the initially relaxed triceps surae muscle (TS). In subjects in whom hemiparesis is present as a result of a unilateral ischaemic cerebral lesion, a reflex EMG response can be elicited on either side with timing identical to that of the normal response. The magnitude of the response in hemiparetic subjects, however, differs from the normal on both the side contralateral and that ipsilateral to the causative lesion. Furthermore, the magnitude of this response varies over the time-course of spasticity. Contralaterally to the lesion, a gradual increase in the magnitude of the response to imposed displacement occurs. One year after stroke, the response has reached a level significantly larger than normal. Changes in the magnitude of the contralateral Achilles tendon jerk reflex EMG are apparent earlier than changes in the response to imposed displacement, with exaggerated tendon jerks already being apparent between 1 and 3 months after stroke. On the side ipsilateral to the lesion, a profound depression of the response to imposed displacement is visible as early as a month after stroke. This depression diminishes over the 1st year, but the response has not even then returned to normal values. These changes are not reflected in the ipsilateral tendon jerk response, which remains normal throughout this period. It is thus concluded that at least two processes are at work in determining the reflex excitability of the TS in hemiparetic humans: firstly, a unilateral increase in excitability at a low spinal level on the side contralateral to the lesions, appearing in the 1st month after stroke and producing the exaggerated tendon jerk response on this side; secondly, a bilateral depression mediated unlike the tendon jerk response, over a predominantly polysynaptic pathway and affecting the response to imposed displacement. This depression appears in the 1st month after stroke and gradually becomes less marked over the following year. On the contralateral side, owing to the increase in excitability at a lower level, this does not appear as a reduction in the magnitude of the response to imposed displacement, but rather is evident in the slower time-course of the development of hyperexcitability in this response, relative to that of the tendon jerk reflex.
Voluntarily Childfree Women: Experiences and Counseling Considerations

Traditional mothering continues to receive social sanctioning while women who choose not to have children are oftentimes ignored or criticized. Voluntarily childfree women participated in a qualitative investigation in which semi-structured interviews, journals, and a focus group were utilized to capture their experience of stigmatization. Data source triangulation, member checks, and consultation with a peer debriefer contributed to the authenticity of the results. Two broad themes capturing reasons for the choice not to have children and five categories of stigmatization were delineated from the participants' narratives. Considerations for mental health counselors who work with women who do not want children are offered.
The Role of the Physical Environment in Education

Abstract The bioecological model identifies schools as one of the microsystems that is a critical partner in children’s learning and overall development. Children have important interactions with other people and with the physical environment in school buildings. This chapter’s focus is the physical environment. Research is presented concerning the role of general building condition and design, as well as specific attributes (noise, density, lighting, and the ambient environment) in student academic and behavioral outcomes. In addition, gaps in the research and methodological issues are discussed as well as recommendations for future work in this field.
Abstract 39: Time to Detect Seizures Among Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Continuous EEG (cEEG) Monitoring

Objective: Stroke patient have a 13-19% risk of Electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures and frequently undergo continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring. It is unclear how long cEEG monitoring should be done in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients to exclude subclinical seizures. Our objective is to identify stroke patients who are at risk of delayed seizure detection (>24 hours) and therefore may benefit from prolonged cEEG monitoring. Methods: We identified all patients who had cEEG monitoring at a single tertiary center in 2016 (n=2425). Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Ranksum & chi square tests. Results: Among the 2425 patients who had EEG monitoring, 334 had seizures. 25 were excluded because of missing data. Among the 309 patients included, median time to seizure onset was 3 hours. Seizures were detected by 24 hours in 80% (n=248) and within 36 hours of cEEG monitoring in 90 % of all patients with seizures. Patients were divided into ischemic, hemorrhagic and non-vascular etiologies. 19% (n=60) had seizu...
Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy - Implications of Research Advances for Rheumatology Care

Despite advances in therapy for rheumatic diseases, hydroxychloroquine remains almost universally recommended for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and is often used in the management of other rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the major dose-limiting toxicity of hydroxychloroquine is retinopathy that can lead to loss of vision. New highly sensitive screening methods can identify early stages of retinopathy, and studies that include these modalities have indicated a substantially higher prevalence of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy than was previously recognized, resulting in revisions to ophthalmology guidelines and the recommendation of a low dose of hydroxychloroquine for many patients. However, the efficacy of low-dose hydroxychloroquine for treating SLE and other rheumatic diseases is unknown. Further studies are required to establish the effectiveness and retinal safety of the latest hydroxychloroquine treatment recommendations. Hydroxychloroquine is a front-line treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic diseases, but can cause retinopathy. Improved detection techniques for the early stages (pre-symptomatic) of retinopathy has led to recommendations for reduced dosing, but more data on the efficacy of low-dose hydroxychloroquine are needed.
Association between blood lead level and subsequent Alzheimer's disease mortality.

Background Previous studies suggest that cumulative lead exposure is associated with cognitive decline, but its relation with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the longitudinal association between blood lead level (BLL) and AD mortality. Methods This study included 8,080 elders (60 years or older) with BLL data from the 1999 to 2008 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mortality was determined from linked 1999-2014 National Death Index data. A causal diagram presented causal assumptions and identified a sufficient set of confounders: age, sex, poverty, race/ethnicity, and smoking. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between BLL and subsequent AD mortality. Impacts of competing risks and design effect were also assessed. Adjusted hazard rate ratio (HRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. Results Follow-up ranged from <1 to 152 months (median, 74). Eighty-one participants died from AD over 632,075 total person-months at risk. An increase in BLL was associated with an increase in AD mortality after adjusting for identified confounders. We estimated that those with BLL of 1.5 and 5 μg/dl had 1.2 (95% CI = 0.70, 2.1) and 1.4 (95% CI = 0.54, 3.8) times the rate of AD mortality compared to those with BLL of 0.3 μg/dl, respectively, after accounting for competing risks. Adjusted HRRs were 1.5 (95% CI = 0.81, 2.9) and 2.1 (95% CI = 0.70, 6.3), respectively, after considering design effect. Conclusions This longitudinal study demonstrated a positive, albeit not statistically significant, association between BLL and AD mortality after adjustment for competing risks or design effect.
Patients carrying CYP2C8*3 have shorter systemic paclitaxel exposure.

AIM First, evaluate if patients carrying putatively diminished activity CYP2C8 genotype have longer paclitaxel exposure (e.g., time above threshold concentration of 0.05 μM [Tc >0.05]). Second, screen additional pharmacogenes for associations with Tc >0.05. Methods: Pharmacogene panel genotypes were translated into genetic phenotypes for associations with Tc >0.05 (n = 58). RESULTS Patients with predicted low-activity CYP2C8 had shorter Tc >0.05 after adjustment for age, body surface area and race (9.65 vs 11.03 hrs, β = 5.47, p = 0.02). This association was attributed to CYP2C8*3 (p = 0.006), not CYP2C8*4 (p = 0.58). Patients with predicted low-activity SLCO1B1 had longer Tc >0.05 (12.12 vs 10.15 hrs, β = 0.85, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION Contrary to previous publications, CYP2C8*3 may confer increased paclitaxel metabolic activity. SLCO1B1 and CYP2C8 genotype may explain some paclitaxel pharmacokinetic variability.
Development of a combined, sequential real-time fMRI and fNIRS neurofeedback system to enhance motor learning after stroke.

Abstract Background After stroke, wrist extension dyscoordination precludes functional arm/hand. We developed a more spatially precise brain signal for use in brain computer interface (BCI's) for stroke survivors. New method Combination BCI protocol of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) sequentially followed by functional near infrared spectroscopy (rt-fNIRS) neurofeedback, interleaved with motor learning sessions without neural feedback. Custom Matlab and Python code was developed to provide rt-fNIRS-based feedback to the chronic stroke survivor, system user. Results The user achieved a maximum of 71 % brain signal accuracy during rt-fNIRS neural training; progressive focus of brain activation across rt-fMRI neural training; increasing trend of brain signal amplitude during wrist extension across rt-fNIRS training; and clinically significant recovery of arm coordination and active wrist extension. Comparison with existing methods Neurorehabilitation, peripherally directed, shows limited efficacy, as do EEG-based BCIs, for motor recovery of moderate/severely impaired stroke survivors. EEG-based BCIs are based on electrophysiological signal; whereas, rt-fMRI and rt-fNIRS are based on neurovascular signal. Conclusion The system functioned well during user testing. Methods are detailed for others' use. The system user successfully engaged rt-fMRI and rt-fNIRS neurofeedback systems, modulated brain signal during rt-fMRI and rt-fNIRS training, according to volume of brain activation and intensity of signal, respectively, and clinically significantly improved limb coordination and active wrist extension. fNIRS use in this case demonstrates a feasible/practical BCI system for further study with regard to use in chronic stroke rehab, and fMRI worked in concept, but cost and some patient-use issues make it less feasible for clinical practice.
Rate of return to schooling and business cycles

This paper examines the effects of the economic conditions – unemployment rate and unemployment change – on the rate of returns to schooling, as well as the effects on the gender difference in the ...
Development of a Quantification Method for Tendon Vibration Inducing Motion Illusion

This study aims to establish a new method for quantifying tendon vibration during motion illusion by measuring the acceleration of a 3D-printed contact head attached to the vibration device. This contact head was designed with a hole in the center in which a single-axis accelerometer was fixed. Moreover, the upper end of the head was designed to be bolted to the vibrator. This aids in investigating whether the contact area influences perceptual parameters such as strength of motion illusion. A second accelerometer was attached to the exterior of the vibrator. For five participants, the biceps brachii tendon of the right arm (the dominant side for all participants) was stimulated for 30 s at 100 Hz. The accelerations measured inside and outside the contact head were recorded at 1000 Hz, and the ratio of root-mean-square (RMS) values of the two accelerations was calculated. The results showed a maximum ratio of 1.02 and a minimum of 0.97. We conclude that the proposed method can quantify tendon vibration during motion illusion to within \( \pm 3 \)%. The use of a 3D printer to produce the contact head provides a convenient means of varying some parameters in these investigations. In future work, the size of the contact area could be changed by modifying this design, and we will examine the effect of the contact area in motion illusion. This is expected to be an extremely useful technique to provide a kinesthetic sensation in virtual reality.
The Promise and Challenge of Activity-Based Crime Rates: a Comparison of the USA, Canada, and Australia

Alternatives to population-based crime rates were first introduced in 1965. Activity-based crime rates derive numerator data from activity-specific crime events, then match these to time spent in the same activities. Activity-based rates can produce a vastly different picture of risk, not captured by population-based rates. Given that numerator and denominator data may be drawn from different sources using different methods, these rates can create a matching challenge. Yet, dramatic results justify that effort. This paper offers new activity-based crime rate calculations for Canada and Australia, then relates these to prior estimates in the USA. Despite data variations among the three nations, activity-based crime rates give us an overall understanding of crime risk not captured by population-based rates.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Dependent COVID19 Hospital Transfers

Introduction The World Health Organization has recorded over 8 Million cases of COVID19 as of October 2020. Despite receiving appropriate lung protective ventilation and medical treatment, some of these patients develop refractory hypoxemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome . Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been recognized as a lifesaving therapy for patients with ARDS secondary to COVID19. There are few centers in the United States equipped with the necessary staff and the experience to take care of such critically ill patients. Some patients are too ill to be transferred with conventional mechanical ventilation, and they require interhospital transport while on ECMO. Case Report We have developed a highly specialized ECMO Deployment Team dedicated to the cannulation and transport of COVID19 patients while on venous-venous (VV) ECMO or venous-arterial (VA) ECMO. We use routine bedside ECMO cannulation via bilateral femoral vessels configuration at the outside hospital. The patient is stabilized and transported by air or ground to one of our affiliated hospitals.Here we present a series of five patients who were cannulated by our team at an outside institution and transported while on ECMO support to one of our three system hospitals. Patient ages ranged between 49-64 years old. Four patients required VV ECMO for severe hypoxemia secondary to COVID19 ARDS. One patient required VA ECMO due to viral myocarditis secondary to COVID19. Time on ECMO ranged from 9-33 days. Three of the five patients recovered successfully and were discharged home, rehab or LTAC. One patient is still currently on ECMO and one patient is deceased. There were no reported or documented transmission of COVID19 to the members of the ECMO deployment team. Summary The potential for survival of the critically ill due to COVID19 often demands a higher level of care. However, stable transport to an appropriate institution presents a limiting factor. Our method of a dedicated ECMO Deployment Team appears to provide favorable outcome for these patients.
Improving the Consumption Capacity of Wind Power in Distributed Network Using a Thyristor Controlled Phase Shifting Transformer

The randomness and uncertainty of wind power generation make it difficult to connect wind power to the grid, and the existing power grid structure also limits the utilization capacity of the wind power. To tackle this issue, this paper uses a thyristor-controlled phase shifting transformer (TCPST), which is able to improve the power distribution of the system and has the potential to improve the consumption capacity of the wind power. The mathematical model of the dual-core symmetrical discrete TCPST is established at first, and then the calculation model of the grid-connected wind power consumption capacity is constructed, via taking into account the transmission capacity of the network and the control ability of the controllable phase shifter. This method not only ensures the high-level consumption of wind power, but also guarantees the economy of system operation. Finally, the analysis as well as verification of the proposed method using TCPST is performed in Matlab via taking the IEEE 30-node system as an example.
Lipid Membrane Mimetics in Functional and Structural Studies of Integral Membrane Proteins

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) fulfill important physiological functions by providing cell–environment, cell–cell and virus–host communication; nutrients intake; export of toxic compounds out of cells; and more. However, some IMPs have obliterated functions due to polypeptide mutations, modifications in membrane properties and/or other environmental factors—resulting in damaged binding to ligands and the adoption of non-physiological conformations that prevent the protein from returning to its physiological state. Thus, elucidating IMPs’ mechanisms of function and malfunction at the molecular level is important for enhancing our understanding of cell and organism physiology. This understanding also helps pharmaceutical developments for restoring or inhibiting protein activity. To this end, in vitro studies provide invaluable information about IMPs’ structure and the relation between structural dynamics and function. Typically, these studies are conducted on transferred from native membranes to membrane-mimicking nano-platforms (membrane mimetics) purified IMPs. Here, we review the most widely used membrane mimetics in structural and functional studies of IMPs. These membrane mimetics are detergents, liposomes, bicelles, nanodiscs/Lipodisqs, amphipols, and lipidic cubic phases. We also discuss the protocols for IMPs reconstitution in membrane mimetics as well as the applicability of these membrane mimetic-IMP complexes in studies via a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology techniques.
Methods for the isolation and characterization of constituents of natural products: XIII. Regeneration of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones on a periodic acid column

Abstract A method is described for regenerating carbonyl compounds at room temperature from 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones. A column of MgSO4 impregnated with periodic and sulfuric acids is used as the regenerant and CCl4 is used as the solvent for the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. Examples are given for saturated aliphatic and aromatic ketones, saturated aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, keto- and aldehydo-esters, and a ketosteroid. Some oxidation of the double bond in unsaturated 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones occurs. The use of a low-viscosity silicone oil as solvent allows for odor evaluation of the regenerated carbonyl compound.