cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential Biomarkers of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify protein markers present in subjects with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) and clicking compared with the levels in controls. Materials and Methods This was a pilot case-control study, and we report the preliminary results. Samples of joint aspirate collected from patients with TMDs and controls who had undergone surgery for a problem other than TMDs were analyzed using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and biotin-labeled-based protein arrays. The data obtained from these techniques were used to identify the proteins of interest, which were then quantitated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patient samples studied included joint aspirate collected clinically from the controls and patients and included samples from both the right and the left sides of each patient with a TMD. Results The 8 TMJ aspirate samples from 6 subjects included 5 aspirate samples from 4 patients and 3 from 2 controls. The greatest standardized protein concentration of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor/prokineticin-1 (EG-VEGF/PK1) and D6 was found in both joints of the controls compared with the levels from the joints of the patients. With 1 exception, the standardized protein concentration was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. The lower levels of EG-VEGF/PK1 and D6 in the patients compared with the controls suggest that these cytokines might be possible biomarkers for TMDs. Conclusion In the present pilot study, greater levels of EG-VEGF/PK1 and D6 were found in the controls than in the patients with TMDs. Proteomic analysis of the proteins present in the diseased joints compared with those in the controls might help to identify proteins present when pain or degeneration of the joint occurs. The proteomic information might be useful in the development of future therapies.
The continuum of operating modes for a passive model neuron

Whether cortical neurons act as coincidence detectors or temporal integrators has implications for the way in which the cortex encodes information—by average firing rate or by precise timing of action potentials. In this study, we examine temporal coding by a simple passive-membrane model neuron responding to a full spectrum of multisynaptic input patterns, from highly coincident to temporally dispersed. The temporal precision of the model's action potentials varies continuously along the spectrum, depends very little on the number of synaptic inputs, and is shown to be tightly correlated with the mean slope of the membrane potential preceding the output spikes. These results are shown to be largely independent of the size of postsynaptic potentials, of random background synaptic activity, and of shape of the correlated multisynaptic input pattern. An experimental test involving membrane potential slope is suggested to help determine the basic operating mode of an observed cortical neuron.
Adaptive real-time advisory system for fuel economy improvement in a hybrid electric vehicle

In this paper, we present a fuzzy logic based adaptive algorithm with a learning mechanism that estimates driver's long term and short term preferences. The algorithm represents a significant advancement to the capability of our previous non-adaptive real-time fuel economy advisory system that was implemented in a Ford Escape Hybrid [8][9]. This real-time advisory system proposed in [8][9]achieved improved fuel economy by providing visual and haptic feedbacks to the driver to change his or her driving style or behavior for a given vehicle condition. It was tuned to maximize fuel economy without significantly impacting the performance of the vehicle. Some drivers may perceive it's feedback to be intrusive on one extreme while some other drivers may feel it ineffective on another extreme, depending on the driver's driving styles. The new adaptive algorithm learns driver's intentions by monitoring their driving styles and behaviors, and addresses the issues of intrusiveness of the advisory feedback. This proposed adaptive algorithm balances the competing requirements for improved fuel economy and drivability by maintaining vehicle performance that is acceptable to the current driver's driving style and behavior while providing mechanism to improve fuel economy. This system was developed and validated on the Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle. Experimental results show that the proposed adaptive algorithm is capable of improving driver's behavior and style without being perceived as ineffective or intrusive and achieves fuel economy improvements.
An analytic algorithm for unbalanced stripline impedance

This paper describes an approximation for the impedance of an unbalanced stripline with inner conductor thickness > 0 and compares it with solutions generated using the boundary element method.
Estimating three-dimensional motion parameters of a rigid planar patch, III: Finite point correspondences and the three-view problem

Two results are presented in this paper. First, it is shown that in estimating three-dimensional motion of a rigid planar patch, the eight pure parameters used in [1] and [2] are uniquely determined from the image correspondences of four points, no three collinear, and can be estimated by solving a set of linear equations. The second result concerns the three-view problem. It is proved that given four image point correspondences in three perspective views of a planar patch undergoing general three-dimensional rigid body motion, the number of solutions for the motion parameters is one, as opposed to two [2] when only two perspective views are given.
1.2.2 SE in a Cloud: Retiree Knowledge Capture and Consumption Optimization

Systems Engineers have a grand opportunity to leverage the Cloud for its collaborative environment capabilities where they can advance their Systems Engineering acumen, effectively articulate knowledge they possess about innovations or insights into existing systems, and effect knowledge transfer before retirement. This paper shares suggestions for authors, who possess good and valuable engineering knowledge, to prepare knowledge assets that are more easily consumed by other Systems Engineers, Specialty Engineers involved in the design, development and build of systems, and other stakeholders like funding source representatives, leadership, customers and end users. A proper balance of illustrations/diagrams/pictures with textual/verbal representations, following the dual-coding theory, in an interactive Cloud collaborative environment with user-subjective approaches enabled, will improve knowledge mobilization in the audience. The communication transfer function with human-in-the-loop systems, like retiree knowledge transfer systems, benefit from knowledge capture and consumption optimization. This results in systems that are easier use and therefore are more likely to be used and create value.
Individual differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment predict moral judgment

Abstract Dual process models of moral judgment propose that such judgments are produced by interacting neural systems: a controlled cognitive system and an automatic affective system. Individual differences in moral judgment may therefore arise from variation in cognitive control ability and/or from variation in affective sensitivity. Previous research indicates that individual differences in cognitive control, indexed by working memory capacity, predict moral judgment ( Moore, Clark, & Kane, 2008 ). Here we replicate group level findings from Moore et al. (2008) and demonstrate that individual differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment are strong predictors of moral judgment. Higher reward sensitivity positively correlates with willingness to sacrifice one life to save multiple others and moderates the impact of self-interest on participants’ judgments. Higher punishment sensitivity negatively correlates with willingness to kill, particularly when negative affective information is present. These results help to revise current dual process models of moral judgment.
Thermodynamics of the Corn-Ethanol Biofuel Cycle

This article defines sustainability and sustainable cyclic processes, and quantifies the degree of non-renewability of a major biofuel: ethanol produced from industrially grown corn. It demonstrates that more fossil energy is used to produce ethanol from corn than the ethanol's calorific value. Analysis of the carbon cycle shows that all leftovers from ethanol production must be returned back to the fields to limit the irreversible mining of soil humus. Thus, production of ethanol from whole plants is unsustainable. In 2004, ethanol production from corn will generate 8 million tons of incremental CO2, over and above the amount of CO2 generated by burning gasoline with 115% of the calorific value of this ethanol. It next calculates the cumulative exergy (available free energy) consumed in corn farming and ethanol production, and estimates the minimum amount of work necessary to restore the key non-renewable resources consumed by the industrial corn-ethanol cycle. This amount of work is compared with the ma...
A generalized Boltzmann equation for nuclear dynamics

Abstract We derive a generalized Boltzmann equation from an extended time-dependent mean-field theory, which is self-consistent and incorporates two-body collisions due to the residual interaction. Obtained from a systematic reduction of a more general, but complicated, many-body theory, this kinetic equation retains many of the quantum effects of the many-body system. Due to proper treatment of quantum causality, its collision integral contains terms which are associated with the principal-value parts of propagators in a quantum-mechanically correct memory kernel. Thus, it properly generalizes the Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation and provides a quantum kinetic theory for nuclear dynamics in both low- and intermediate-energy regions. The new features in this Boltzmann equation are investigated in a nuclear-matter model with a simple effective interaction. We solve for the small-amplitude solutions corresponding to the response of the system to an arbitrary weak external field. The results are contrasted with the collisionless limit and Uehling-Uhlenbeck limit and conclusions are drawn about the dynamical effects of the two-body collisions on the quasiparticles.
Probing the string landscape: Implications, applications, and altercations

In keeping with the "Perspectives" theme of this volume, this Chapter provides a personal perspective on the string landscape. Along the way, the perspectives of many other physicists are discussed as well. No attempt is made to provide a thorough and balanced review of the field, and indeed there is a slight emphasis on my own contributions to this field, as these contributions have been critical to forming my perspective. This Chapter is adapted from a Colloquium which I have delivered at a number of institutions worldwide, and I have attempted to retain the informal and non-technical spirit and style of this Colloquium presentation as much as possible.
The Changing Etiology of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis: Antigenic and Restriction Enzyme Analyses of Adenovirus Types 19 and 37 Isolated over a 10-Year Period

Strains of adenovirus types 19 (Ad-19) and 37 (Ad-37) isolated from cases of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) over a 10-year period were analyzed for differences in antigenic and restriction enzyme patterns. By restriction analysis, 35% of the isolates recovered between 1973 and 1981 and typed by hemagglutination-inhibition tests as Ad-19 were in fact Ad-37. This finding was confirmed by comprehensive serologic tests when Ad-37 reagents became available in 1981. All Ad-19 strains isolated between 1973 and 1980 were identical to the previously described genotype Ad-19A, and these Ad-19A strains exhibited a differential hemagglutination profile distinct from that of Ad-19 and Ad-37 prototypes. The earliest Ad-37 case found in the United States occurred in April 1976; Ad-37 then became the major agent of EKC from 1977 to 1983. Intermediate strains between types 19A and 37 were not detected by either antigenic or restriction fragment analyses. Thus, some genetic event appears to generate new genotypes such as Ad-19A and serotypes such as Ad-37.
The Melodic Structure And Form Of Norwegian Lullabies (Bansuller) From The Valleys Of Valdres, Gudbrandsdalen, And Osterdalen

THE MELODIC STRUCTURE AND FORM OF NORWEGIAN LULLABIES (B&NSULLER) FROM THE VALLEYS OF VALDRES, GUDBRANDSDALEN, AND 0STERDALEN
Understanding Green Content Strategies: An Analysis of Environmental Advertising Frames From 1990 to 2010

ABSTRACTThis content analysis examined the characteristics of environmental advertisements (N = 449) published in Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News and World Report in 1990, 2000, and 2010. Findings revealed that responsibility frames were dominant as the strategy used in environmental advertisements over time. The species/habitat protection issue was the dominant issue in 1990, and energy efficiency was the prevalent issue in 2000 and 2010. Advertisements primarily were sponsored by for-profit organizations and had a positive valence over time. Results have implications for future strategic environmental communication research exploring media content and effects, public opinion and persuasion, and policy implications.
Breath holding: an elusive obstacle

Actors and singers sometimes experience vocal fatigue, increased effort, and sometimes hoarseness that cannot be attributed to poor technique. Symptoms appear randomly. Voice coaches and trainers often are at a loss as to how to help. Laryngeal examination by a qualified laryngologist generally does not reveal any pathology so they are referred for voice therapy. Since these performers are experienced and have good technique, it is often difficult to get to the root of the problem. Very often the problem is related to breath holding or constriction of the airflow related to poor body dynamics and respiratory–phonatory coordination. Breath holding or restricting the airflow is difficult to identify because it can manifest in many different ways. The most obvious indications include audible release of air at the end of phrases such as we hear in some pop singing, squeezing, or “pushing” the sound at the ends of phrases sometimes disintegrating into a rough popping quality known as glottal fry. More subtle i...
Properly even harmonious labelings of disconnected graphs

Abstract A graph G with q edges is said to be harmonious if there is an injection f from the vertices of G to the group of integers modulo q such that when each edge x y is assigned the label f ( x ) + f ( y ) ( mod q ) , the resulting edge labels are distinct. If G is a tree, exactly one label may be used on two vertices. Over the years, many variations of harmonious labelings have been introduced. We study a variant of harmonious labeling. A function f is said to be a properly even harmonious labeling of a graph G with q edges if f is an injection from the vertices of G to the integers from 0 to 2 ( q − 1 ) and the induced function f ∗ from the edges of G to 0 , 2 , … , 2 ( q − 1 ) defined by f ∗ ( x y ) = f ( x ) + f ( y ) ( mod 2 q ) is bijective. This paper focuses on the existence of properly even harmonious labelings of the disjoint union of cycles and stars, unions of cycles with paths, unions of squares of paths, and unions of paths.
The Ideological Origins of the Second Amendment

Since its ratification in 1791 the Second Amendment has remained in relative obscurity. Virtually ignored by the Supreme Court, the amendment has been termed "obsolete," "defunct," and an "unused provision" with no meaning for the twentieth century by scholars dealing with the Bill of Rights.1 And yet, many Americans consider this amendment as vital to their liberties today as did the founders nearly two hundred years ago. Their sense of urgency arises from the current debate over gun control. Disagreements over gun legislation reveal disparate perceptions of American society that rest upon, or inspire, dissimilar interpretations of the Second Amendment. Opponents of restrictive measures emphasize the free individual's rights and privileges and adamantly contend that the "right to bear arms" phrase constitutes the essence of the amendment. Their bumper stickers-modern day cockades-declare: "When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns," or "Hitler got his start registering guns." These simplistic ideas, symbolic of much deeper and more complex ideological beliefs, gain sustenance from a wide variety of popular sources. It is the National Rifle Association (NRA), however, that transforms this popular impulse into one of the most powerful and active lobbies in Washington. Its magazine, The American Rifleman, clearly states the issue: "The NRA, the foremost guardian of the traditional American right to 'keep and bear arms,' believes that every lawabiding citizen is entitled to the ownership and legal use of firearms. a "2 For their part, advocates of restrictive gun legislation emphasize collective rights and communal responsibilities. In order to protect society from the violence they associate with armed individuals, these people stress the "well reg-
Inactivation of High and Low Molecular Weight Chicken Antibodies by Mercaptoethanol.

SummaryInactivation of 7S and 19S chicken antibodies was dependent on mercaptoethanol concentration and time. Papaindegraded high and low molecular weight chicken antibodies lost agglutinating ability.
Reconstructing Autobiographical Memories and Crafting a New Self Through Dialogic Literary Gatherings

This article uses the biographical method with communicative orientation to deepen into the life experiences of an individual living in poverty who experienced a turning point in her life as a result of engaging in a successful educational action called Dialogic Literary Gatherings. The stories told by Lola, a female homeless from a deprived neighborhood, shed light on the transformative power that reading and discussing classical literature had for her: Rejected by her family, sharing classical readings in an environment of egalitarian dialogue gave Lola new possible worlds, which brought her to recover hope in life and craft a new self. The gathering provided her strong social relations and a new “family,” and motivated her involvement in transformative personal and social struggles. Lola’s biography informs about how the Dialogic Literary Gatherings facilitate moving from a current to a possible self over a journey of autobiographical memory reconstruction.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy. Techniques and results.

Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has become an important adjunct in the management of patients with stages Ta and T1 transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder and carcinoma in situ (CIS). For BCG to be effective, patients should be assigned to the appropriate protocol. With proper treatment, tumor recurrences can be prevented in as many as 80% of patients, residual tumor eradicated in 60%, and CIS eliminated in 70% of appropriately selected patients.
Postpartum Ovarian Function and Fertility in Beef Cattle that Produce Twins

Summary A study was conducted to determine the effect of suckling on ovarian function and postpartum reproductive performance in beef cattle induced to produce twins by embryo transfer. This study involved 31 pluriparous Hereford, Angus and Hereford x Angus crossbred cows and 24 Hereford, Angus and Hereford x Angus crossbred heifers. Seventeen of the cows and 16 of the heifers calved twins, and the remainder produced single calves. From 45 d postpartum, the dams were exposed to three Hereford bulls until pregnancy was confirmed. The first postpartum ovulation was estimated from an increase in serum progesterone level. The interval to first postpartum ovulation was slightly, but not significantly longer for dams that calved and suckled twins than for dams that calved and suckled singles or calved twins and suckled singles (50.7 + 3.1, 43.5 + 3.4, and 37.7 + 5.6 d, respectively). This delay, however, did not significantly affect the number of days to conception for dams that suckled or calved twin or single calves. Once estrous cycles were initiated, the interval to conception for dams with twins was similar to that for dams with single calves. Under the management scheme used, postpartum ovulation and conception in beef heifers and cows were not significantly reduced by the production of twins.
4E-BP2 hardwires lymphocytes for rapamycin sensitivity.

The mTORC1 [mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 1] inhibitor rapamycin is a potent inhibitor of T and B lymphocyte growth and proliferation. In this issue of Science Signaling , So et al . found that the isoform of 4E-BP (4E-BP2) in lymphocytes that regulates messenger RNA translation is more sensitive to the effects of rapamycin than is the 4E-BP isoform found in nonlymphoid cells. Furthermore, inhibition of 4E-BP2 blocks both the growth and proliferation of lymphocytes.
Binding by TRBP-dsRBD2 Does Not Induce Bending of Double-Stranded RNA

Protein-nucleic acid interactions are central to a variety of biological processes, many of which involve large-scale conformational changes that lead to bending of the nucleic acid helix. Here, we focus on the nonsequence-specific protein TRBP, whose double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs) interact with the A-form geometry of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Crystal structures of dsRBD-dsRNA interactions suggest that the dsRNA helix must bend in such a way that its major groove expands to conform to the dsRBD's binding surface. We show through isothermal titration calorimetry experiments that dsRBD2 of TRBP binds dsRNA with a temperature-independent observed binding affinity (KD ∼500 nM). Furthermore, a near-zero observed heat capacity change (ΔCp = 70 ± 40 cal·mol(-1)·K(-1)) suggests that large-scale conformational changes do not occur upon binding. This result is bolstered by molecular-dynamics simulations in which dsRBD-dsRNA interactions generate only modest bending of the RNA along its helical axis. Overall, these results suggest that this particular dsRBD-dsRNA interaction produces little to no change in the A-form geometry of dsRNA in solution. These results further support our previous hypothesis, based on extensive gel-shift assays, that TRBP preferentially binds to sites of nearly ideal A-form structure while being excluded from sites of local deformation in the RNA helical structure. The implications of this mechanism for efficient micro-RNA processing will be discussed.
The Homeownership Crisis

U.S. housing prices soared in the 1990s and early 2000s. This was very good for the United States because a strong housing market has historically been a bellwether for the overall strength of the U.S. economy. House price appreciation was also good for existing homeowners, especially because most household wealth is concentrated in housing. Unfortunately, home appreciation was not good for the financially strapped renters who were struggling to become the homeowners envisioned in the Happy Homeownership Narrative. To ensure that Americans continued to buy homes, the United States intervened yet again in housing finance markets. Like the government’s massive intervention after the Great Depression, changes in the mortgage finance market during the 1990s and early 2000s succeeded in helping cash-strapped renters buy homes. Unlike the post-Depression interventions, however, these recent fixes were short-lived primarily because the government’s attempt to solve the problem of stalled homeownership rates mischaracterized the actual problem Americans faced: far too many people simply cannot afford to be homeowners. Stalled Homeownership Rates, Soaring Appreciation Rates As shown in Figure 4.1, even though overall homeownership rates now exceed 60 percent, less than 40 percent of U.S. households owned homes before the turn of the twentieth century. During the first few decades of the twentieth century, homeownership (mostly farm-ownership) rates remained relatively stable. Rates dipped only slightly in the first few years of the twentieth century as the United States shifted from a farming to a nonagrarian economy. Non-farm-ownership rates continued to have modest increases until the 1930s, when rates stalled and then fell because of the Great Depression.
Investigation of the influence of viscoelasticity on oncotripsy

Oncotripsy has recently been proposed as a means of selectively targeting cancer cells via resonant harmonic excitation (Heyden and Ortiz, 2016). The method makes use of aberrations in material properties of cancerous cells which allow to induce local resonance up to membrane lysis in cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Here, we explore the influence of viscoelasticity on the oncotripsy effect. Based on Rayleigh damping, we derive viscoelastic target frequencies and simulate the fully nonlinear transient response of healthy and cancerous cells at resonance. Results confirm the viability of oncotripsy with viscoelastic material behavior of cell constituents accounted for.
Thyroid Hormone Homeostasis in Weight Loss and Implications for Bariatric Surgery

Thyroid hormone (TH) action modulates energy metabolism, as indicated by the dramatic changes in energy expenditure in overt hypo- and hyperthyroidism. While severe hyperthyroidism is associated with dramatic weight loss, hypothyroidism contributes only marginally to weight gain. The thyroid axis is profoundly affected by bariatric surgery–induced weight loss. The reduction in leptin inhibits the secretion of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, while the catabolic state inhibits the peripheral conversion of TH, resulting in a reduction in triiodothyronine (T3) levels. The postsurgical changes in gastrointestinal motility may result in dysregulation in the absorption of exogenous TH therapy, and in the hepatobiliary recirculation of TH. Furthermore, micronutrient deficits caused by bariatric surgery procedures may result in thyroid dysfunction. Finally, new evidence indicates that bariatric surgery procedures may contribute to expansion of brown adipose tissue. Collectively, weight loss and bariatric surgery procedures affect the endogenous thyroid axis and the effectiveness of TH replacement therapy.
Ionic Intercalation in Two-Dimensional van der Waals Materials: In Situ Characterization and Electrochemical Control of the Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity of Black Phosphorus

Two-dimensional van der Waals materials have shown novel fundamental properties and promise for wide applications. Here, we report for the first time an experimental demonstration of the in situ characterization and highly reversible control of the anisotropic thermal conductivity of black phosphorus. We develop a novel platform based on lithium ion batteries that integrates ultrafast optical spectroscopy and electrochemical control to investigate the interactions between lithium ions and the lattices of the black phosphorus electrode. We discover a strong dependence of the thermal conductivity on battery charge states (lithium concentrations) during the discharge/charge process. The thermal conductivity of black phosphorus is reversibly tunable over a wide range of 2.45–3.86, 62.67–85.80, and 21.66–27.58 W·m–1·K–1 in the cross-plan, zigzag, and armchair directions, respectively. The modulation in thermal conductivity is attributed to phonon scattering introduced by the ionic intercalation in between the ...
Efficient and cooperative failure control in smart grid

Failures in the transmission network compromise the proper delivery of energy in a power grid. Control actions planned solely by a power utility (or operators) whose domain contains the failure cannot provide a strategy that guarantees the global stability of the grid. Such inappropriately addressed failures may develop a cascading behavior that can cause large-scale blackouts. In this paper we propose a distributed system to control failures based on cooperation agreements between different control domains of a Smart Grid. We design a control mechanism that generates low communication overhead and makes use of only local information (tie-lines) while providing a global stability. We also provide a guarantee for the system to cooperate to deliver as much energy as possible to meet the global demand. Our results show that our design can yield an increased amount of demand while maintaining low communications overhead compared to other distributed approaches.
Virtual Antenatal Encounter and Standardized Simulation Assessment (VANESSA): Pilot Study.

Background: Prenatal counseling at the limits of newborn viability involves sensitive interactions between neonatal providers and families. Empathetic discussions are currently learned through practice in times of high stress. Decision aids may help improve provider communication but have not been universally adopted. Virtual standardized patients are increasingly recognized as a modality for education, but prenatal counseling simulations have not been described. To be valuable as a tool, a virtual patient would need to accurately portray emotions and elicit a realistic response from the provider. Objective: To determine if neonatal providers can accurately identify a standardized virtual prenatal patient’s emotional states and examine the frequency of empathic responses to statements made by the patient. Methods: A panel of Neonatologists, Simulation Specialists, and Ethicists developed a dialogue and identified empathic responses. Virtual Antenatal Encounter and Standardized Simulation Assessment (VANESSA), a screen-based simulation of a woman at 23 weeks gestation, was capable of displaying anger, fear, sadness, and happiness through animations. Twenty-four neonatal providers, including a subgroup with an ethics interest, were asked to identify VANESSA’s emotions 28 times, respond to statements, and answer open-ended questions. The emotions were displayed in different formats: without dialogue, with text dialogue, and with audio dialogue. Participants completed a post-encounter survey describing demographics and experience. Data were reported using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data from open ended questions (eg, “What would you do?”) were examined using thematic analysis. Results: Half of our participants had over 10 years of clinical experience. Most participants reported using medical research (18/23, 78%) and mortality calculators (17/23, 74%). Only the ethics-interested subgroup (10/23, 43%) listed counseling literature (7/10, 70%). Of 672 attempts, participants accurately identified VANESSA’s emotions 77.8% (523/672) of the time, and most (14/23, 61%) reported that they were confident in identifying these emotions. The ethics interest group was more likely to choose empathic responses (P=.002). Participants rated VANESSA as easy to use (22/23, 96%) and reported that she had realistic dialogue (15/23, 65%). Conclusions: This pilot study shows that a prenatal counseling simulation is feasible and can yield useful data on prenatal counseling communication. Our participants showed a high rate of emotion recognition and empathy in their responses.
Fabrication and characterization of modulation masks for multimodal spatial frequency modulated microscopy

Spatial frequency modulated imaging (SPIFI) is a powerful imaging method that when used in conjunction with multiphoton contrast mechanisms has the potential to improve the spatial and temporal scales that can be explored within a single nonlinear optical microscope platform. Here we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that it is possible to fabricate inexpensive masks using femtosecond laser micromachining that can be readily deployed within the multiphoton microscope architecture to transform the system from a traditional point-scanning system to SPIFI and gain the inherent advantages that follow.
The impatient therapist: managed care and countertransference.

Psychotherapists in managed-care settings feel increased pressures to accomplish their work more quickly. These pressures can influence the conduct of therapy in a number of ways: by decreasing the...
Thiamin supplementation and the ingestive behavior of beef cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue.

Livestock grazing endophyte (Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams)-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) perform poorly due to tall fescue toxicosis, especially when animals are under heat stress. In order to determine whether thiamin promotes recovery from tall fescue toxicosis, 1 or 0 g of thiamin per day, as mononitrate, was fed orally to adult Angus (Bos taurus) cows (380 +/- 8 kg) grazing either tall fescue pasture with and without endophyte or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). A tethered grazing system employing a split-plot design was used to estimate intake and components of ingestive behavior. No significant differences attributable to thiamin supplements were seen in rates of intake and biting, grazing time and intake per bite when cows grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue during the first 4 d of exposure. When cows grazed endophyte-infected (greater than 95%) tall fescue with 2,091 micrograms/g loline alkaloids after 4 d of exposure, the untreated animals ingested herbage dry matter (DM) at 1.19 kg/h, whereas the cows receiving thiamin ate 1.57 kg/h (P less than .05). Cattle achieved these rates of DM intake by forming bites of 1.0 and 1.2 g DM at 24 and 26 bites/min when treated with 0 and 1 g of thiamin per day, respectively. Thiamin supplements had no effect on ingestive behavior of cows grazing endophyte-free tall fescue or alfalfa after exposure to these forages for 4 d. Responses to thiamin generally were greater when cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue were exposed to heat stress. Oral thiamin supplementation may alleviate tall fescue toxicosis of beef cattle during warm weather.
Health Services in Sparsely Settled Areas

Of the various public services which are provided in sparsely settled areas, few have as great an impact on the well-being of the rural population as health care. Health services affect rural regions both directly and indirectly. The direct effects are most apparent. Health services are one determinant of health status; at the extreme, the presence or absence of health services may determine whether individuals survive specific disease episodes. In the case of cardiac arrest or major motor vehicle trauma, the absence of adequate health services may result in almost immediate mortality, while the presence of health services may prevent individuals from dying.
Health Issues Associated with Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Children in the United States: A Systematic Review

This article reviews studies examining health issues associated with commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking (CSE/ST) of children in the United States. We searched five health and social sciences databases for peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 1990 and April 2017. After independent screening of the records, we identified 27 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Descriptions of the included studies and their definitions of CSE/ST are provided. Most of the studies sampled children and youth in urban, metropolitan areas and employed cross-sectional surveys or reviewed case files and medical records of convenience samples. Studies differed widely in their operationalization of CSE/ST, which limit systematic comparison across studies and the generalizability of findings. Qualitative analysis of the included studies shows that among commercially sexually exploited/trafficked children, there are elevated burdens of substance use and abuse, mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, suicidal behaviors, and sexual and reproductive health issues including STIs, HIV, and pregnancy. This review underscores the need for more empirical studies, to guide an evidence-based understanding of and response to the range and complexity of the health issues in this population. Of particular utility are studies that address some of the methodological limitations of prior research in this field (e.g., cross-sectional, convenience samples) and those that assess overlooked health issues (e.g., malnutrition, eating disorders, post-trauma growth, and long-term health consequences).
Fe-saponite growth on low-carbon and stainless steel in hydrothermal-bentonite experiments

Abstract Hydrothermal experiments on engineered barrier system (EBS) materials were conducted to characterize high temperature interactions between bentonite and candidate waste container steels (304SS, 316SS, low-C steel) for deep geological disposition of nuclear spent fuel. Hydrothermal experiments were performed using Dickson reaction cells at temperatures and pressure of up to 300 °C and 15–16 MPa, respectively, for four to six weeks. Wyoming bentonite was saturated with a 1900 ppm K-Ca-Na-Cl solution in combination with stainless and low-C steel coupons. Authigenic Fe-saponite precipitated utilizing steel as a growth substrate with Fe being supplied by steel corrosion. Concurrent with Fe-saponite formation, sulfides precipitated from sulfide-bearing fluids, from pyrite dissolution, near the steel interface. Sulfide mineral formation is dependent on the steel substrate composition: stainless steel produced pentlandite ((Ni, Fe)9S8) and millerite (NiS), whereas low C steel generated pyrrhotite (Fe7S8). The presence of sulfides suggests highly reduced environments at the steel-clay barrier interface potentially influencing overall steel corrosion rates and (re)passivation mechanisms. Results of this research show that nuclear waste steel container material may act as a substrate for mineral growth in response to corrosion during hydrothermal interactions with bentonite barriers.
Enclomiphene citrate: A treatment that maintains fertility in men with secondary hypogonadism.

Introduction: Hypogonadism is an important issue among the male population. Treatments such as exogenous testosterone have become very popular. One of the adverse effects of testosterone is its sup...
Activated carbon in mixed-matrix membranes

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have emerged as strong contenders to conventional membranes for gas and liquid separations. Although numerous studies on filler/matrix combinations have been conducted...
Promotion of Human Epidermal Keratinocyte Expansion in Feeder Cell Co-culture

Co-culture of human epidermal keratinocytes with mouse 3T3-J2 feeder cells, developed by Green and colleagues, has been used worldwide to generate skin autografts since the early 1980s. In addition, co-culture with 3T3-J2 cells has served as a fundamental tool in skin stem cell biology as it allows the evaluation of self-renewal capacity of epidermal stem cells. This chapter describes a recent improvement in the Green method to promote further the expansion of human epidermal keratinocytes utilizing a small-molecule inhibitor of TGF-β signaling. This new protocol enables more rapid expansion of human epidermal keratinocytes in co-culture with not only 3T3-J2 cells but also other feeder cells including human dermal fibroblasts and human preadipocytes, two major alternatives to 3T3-J2 cells, with a long-term goal of developing customized skin autografts.
Teaching Children with Autism Abduction-Prevention Skills May Result in Overgeneralization of the Target Response.

We replicated previous research using behavioral skills training (BST) to teach four children with autism to engage in a safety response following lures from civilian strangers. This study extends ...
Nonstationary effects of ocean temperature on Pacific salmon productivity

We tested the hypothesis that ocean temperature effects on productivity for northeast Pacific pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), and chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) change...
Tacrolimus and Sirolimus as GVHD Prophylaxis for HLA-MRD Allogeneic HCT Conditioned with 3 Regimens: Toxicity and Efficacy in 70 Patients.

Based on encouraging phase 2 data, we are prospectively testing the combination of tacrolimus and sirolimus (tacro/siro) as GVHD prophylaxis in patients undergoing HLA-MRD HCT. Seventy patients evaluable for this report (>100 days post-HCT) were stratified according to preparative regimen as follows: Fludarabine/melphalan (38), FTBI/VP-16 (23), and Bu/Cy (9). Regimens were given through day -4; tacro/siro was started on day -3 and dosed as published (Cutler et al, BBMT 10 (5), 328–336, 2004). Median age was 50 years (range, 10–67). Diagnoses by regimen were flu/mel: AML (16), NHL (7), MPD (4), HD (4), MM (3), MDS (2), ALL (1), CLL (1); FTBI/VP-16: ALL (12), AML (10), NHL (1); and Bu/Cy: CML (5), MDS (3), AML (1). Stem cell source was PB (n=66) and bone marrow (n=4). Donor gender F:M was 34:36. Median CD34+ cell dose was 5.1 x 106/kg. Median time to neutrophil >500/ml was 15 days (range, 10–26); median day 30 bone marrow MNC chimerism was 100% (65–100%). CTC toxicities >3 were low (2 DAH, 1 ARDS, 1 IP, 1 mucositis); as expected, mucositis was more common with FTBI/VP-16; however, therapeutic sirolimus level was similarly achieved with all conditioning regimens (median level 6.5 ng/ml, range 2.1–61 in the FTBI/VP-16 arm). Opportunistic infections included CMV reactivation (6), Aspergillus pneumonia (2), candidemia (3) and parainfluenza pneumonia (1). Reversible TTP/HUS (IWG definition) was diagnosed in 14 patients (20%) and was more common with Bu/Cy (55%) than with FTBI/VP-16 (22%) or flu/mel (11%); median tacro and siro level in patients with TTP was 9.8 and 15 ng/ml, respectively. Six patients died before day 100 from relapse (2), DAH (2) and multi-organ failure MOF (2), for a day 100 non-relapse mortality of 6%. With a median follow-up of 6 months, 60 patients are alive and 10 patients have died from progressive disease (6), MOF (2) and DAH (2). Disease-free and overall survival at day 100 are 88% and 91%, and at 1 year are 72% and 75%, respectively, with no significant differences by regimen. Acute GVHD grade 2–4 and 3–4 was observed in 25 (36%) and 13 patients (19%), respectively; by conditioning regimen, grade 2–4 acute GVHD incidence was: flu/mel, 11/38 (29%); FTBI/VP-16, 9/23 (39%); and Bu/Cy, 5/9 (56%). A temporal relationship between GVHD and TTP could not be established, with some patients developing GVHD before and others after TTP. Chronic GVHD has been diagnosed in 17/45 evaluable patients. This study shows a low TRM when tacro/siro is given with 3 different conditioning regimens; adequate sirolimus levels can be achieved even in patients with significant mucositis; a high incidence of TTP in patients conditioned with Bu/Cy suggests synergistic endothelial toxicity with this combination. Acceptable rates of acute GVHD in this study support plans for a national phase 3 study comparing tacro/siro with tacro/methotrexate.
Peyronie's disease.

Abstract Peyronie's disease is a localized fibrotic disorder involving the region adjacent to the erectile tissue of the penis. The pathogenesis, possible causes, and modes of therapy are fully discussed in this article. The urologist must consider the mental anguish often associated with this disease. Therefore, a plea is made to adopt an aggressive attitude in its treatment, and to include surgical correction as one possible mode of therapy.
204 Discriminating intrauterine growth-restricted piglets through near-infrared spectroscopy of amniotic fluids

The occurrence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a great concern in animal production systems, leading to substantial economic losses. The multifactorial causes of IUGR make their prediction before or during pregnancy a challenging task. The amniotic fluid, containing chemical secretions of both the developing fetus and the amnion-allantois membrane, may offer a unique opportunity to investigate the causes of IUGR in piglets. Here we applied near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a rapid tool to discriminate the chemical composition of the amniotic fluid from IUGR fetuses at different gestational ages. The uteri of gravid sows were dissected at 60% (n = 6 sows) and 90% (n = 6 sows) of gestational age. Amniotic fluids were collected with a sterile 10-mL syringe connected to an 18-G needle under visual guidance, and samples without blood contamination were kept at 4°C while the fetus was measured. Samples were selected according to fetal weight and were classified as small (mean − 2 SD), medium (mean), and large (mean + 2 SD) sizes in each litter. Selected samples were kept at −80°C until NIRS transmittance spectra collection (350-2500 nm). At 60% of gestational age, male fetuses weighed 96 ± 1.2, 133 ± 1.7, and 159 ± 1.9 g and female fetuses weighed 117 ± 1.1, 137 ± 1.8, and 152 ± 1.8 g for small, medium, and large groups, respectively. The fetal weights at 90% of gestational age averaged 517 ± 0.6, 757 ± 0.6, and 912 ± 0.7 g for males and 532 ± 0.6, 718 ± 0.9, and 911 ± 0.6 g for females for small, medium, and large sizes, respectively. Chemometric analysis of the amniotic fluid spectra was applied to the wavelength range 1300-1600 nm using a balanced data set (n = 425) with an 80/20 calibration/validation distribution for linear discriminant analysis (LDA-PCA). Overall, we were able to discriminate samples according to fetal size and gestational age; LDA-PCA showed the highest size classification occurring with spectra derived from the small fetuses with an accuracy of 94.5-100% and 100% and 70.6% for the calibration and validation processes from 60% and 90% of gestational age, respectively. By contrast, when the analysis considered each sex at 60% of gestational age, the medium and small fetuses presented the highest size classification for females and males correspondingly. At 90% of gestational age, the large fetuses presented the best discrimination for both sexes. In conclusion, we were able to detect and discriminate chemical changes of the amniotic fluid from different fetuses using NIRS, indicating that this fluid contains molecules that may characterise IUGR in piglets. These observations will permit future investigations to identify specific molecules associated with IUGR that would lead to possible real-time corrective actions before birth. This work was supported by USDA-ARS grant no. 58-6402-3-018.
Impact of Preclinical Labor and Delivery Shadowing on Student Perceptions of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a Specialty and Possible Career: A Prospective Cohort.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of preclinical shadowing on student interest and perceptions of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN). Methods We enrolled a prospective cohort of preclinical medical students who shadowed on labor and delivery (L&D). Students sent electronic surveys a week prior (presurvey), the week after (postsurvey), and three months after shadowing (far-survey). Responses compared using descriptive statistics. We analyzed common themes of free text responses. Results From July 2016 to April 2017, 41 students shadowed on LD 81% were female. Eighty percent responded to at least one survey, 37% completed all surveys, (presurvey: 76%, postsurvey: 51%, and far-survey: 46%). Prior to shadowing, 10% (3/31) planed a career in OBGYN compared with 24% (5/21) after shadowing (p = 0.42). Over 50% of students described the people and procedures as altering their perceptions of OBGYN in a positive way. Common themes explaining this change included: culture (n = 4), team interactions (n = 4), seeing deliveries (n = 3), and hands-on experiences (n = 3). Three months after shadowing, 79% described the experience as very worthwhile. Eighty-nine percent would recommend the experience to a friend not interested in OBGYN and 100% stated they would shadow again. Discussion Although shadowing may not increase students' desire to pursue OBGYN, it is nearly universally felt to be worthwhile and improves perceptions of the field.