cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ClustAGE: a tool for clustering and distribution analysis of bacterial accessory genomic elements.

The non-conserved accessory genome of bacteria can be associated with important adaptive characteristics that can contribute to niche specificity or pathogenicity of strains. High degrees of structural and compositional diversity in genomic islands and other elements of the accessory genome can complicate characterization of accessory genome contents among populations of strains. Methods for easily and effectively defining the distributions of discrete elements of the accessory genome among bacterial strains in a population are needed to explore the relationships between the flexible genome and bacterial adaptive traits. We have developed the open-source software package ClustAGE. This program, written in Perl, uses BLAST to cluster nucleotide accessory genomic elements from the genomes of multiple bacterial strains and to identify their distribution within the study population. The program output can be used in combination with strain phenotype data or other characteristics to detect associations. Optional graphical output is available for visualizing accessory genome gene content and distribution patterns. The capabilities of the software are demonstrated on a collection of 14 Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome sequences. The ClustAGE software and utilities are effective for identifying characteristics and distributions of accessory genomic elements among groups of bacterial genomes. The ability to easily and effectively characterize the accessory genome of a sequence collection may provide a better understanding of the accessory genome’s contribution to a species’ adaptation and pathogenesis. The ClustAGE source code can be downloaded from https://clustage.sourceforge.io and a limited web-based implementation is available at http://vfsmspineagent.fsm.northwestern.edu/cgi-bin/clustage.cgi .
Torsades de Pointes

Abstract Torsades de pointes (torsades), is a type of ventricular tachycardia associated with long QT. Three major gene mutations are responsible for most of the disorders. Mutiple other gene mutations are linked to the remaining cases of long QT and torsades. It is often precipitated by stress. Chronic treatment often includes pacing with a pacemaker or implanted cardioverter-defibrillator. Beta adrenergic receceptor blockers are also helpful in many of the cases.
GER and Aspiration in Children

Whether gastroesophageal reflux (GER) directly causes lung disease in children is often debated within and among pediatric pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, and otolaryngologists [1, 2]. Respiratory symptoms are quite common in infants and children, and reflux is very common in infants and children. Determining whether respiratory disease and reflux are related or just coexistent processes is an inherently difficult task. Often, there is little or no supporting literature in children to support or refute the implication that GER causes or exacerbates certain lung diseases. Furthermore, while treatment for GER is effective in controlling the symptoms of GER, there are few studies in children that show a significant improvement in lung disease when coexistent GER is treated.
A principal component analysis-based framework for statistical modeling of bone displacement during wrist maneuvers.

Abstract We present a method for the statistical modeling of the displacements of wrist bones during the performance of coordinated maneuvers, such as radial-ulnar deviation (RUD). In our approach, we decompose bone displacement via a set of basis functions, identified via principal component analysis (PCA). We utilized MRI wrist scans acquired at multiple static positions for deriving these basis functions. We then utilized these basis functions to compare the displacements undergone by the bones of the left versus right wrist in the same individual, and between bones of the wrists of men and women, during the performance of the coordinated RUD maneuver. Our results show that the complex displacements of the wrist bones during RUD can be modeled with high reliability with just 5 basis functions, that captured over 91% of variation across individuals. The basis functions were able to predict intermediate wrist bone poses with an overall high accuracy (mean error of 0.26 mm). Our proposed approach found statistically significant differences between bone displacement trajectories in women versus men, however, did not find significant differences in those of the left versus right wrist in the same individual. Our proposed method has the potential to enable detailed analysis of wrist kinematics for each sex, and provide a robust framework for characterizing the normal and pathologic displacement of the wrist bones, such as in the context of wrist instability.
Nonviral Gene Therapy: Peptiplexes

Abstract This chapter will discuss cationic polymers containing ɛ-amine groups and immine or amide linkages that are being used as nanocarriers for nonviral gene delivery. We will focus particularly on cationic peptides. Cationic peptides, free or complexed with self-assembling moieties, have been proposed as carriers of small-molecule drugs as well as nucleic acids and are emerging as an alternative tool for gene delivery. This chapter is organized into two basic sections: cationic polymeric nanocarriers that are chemically synthesized as monomers and those nanocarriers that self-assemble into active structures from smaller synthetic elements. While these chemically synthesized molecules form numerous structures and have been intensely studied for more two decades, very few have entered clinical trials and just one is available to clinicians. In this chapter, we will highlight the unmet needs in this field and also provide insight into the most promising systems for gene delivery.
Robust mapping of polyadenylated and non-polyadenylated RNA 3' ends at nucleotide resolution by 3'-end sequencing

Abstract 3′-end poly(A)+ sequencing is an efficient and economical method for global measurement of mRNA levels and alternative poly(A) site usage. A common method involves oligo(dT)19V reverse-transcription (RT)-based library preparation and high-throughput sequencing with a custom primer ending in (dT)19. While the majority of library products have the first sequenced nucleotide reflect the bona fide poly(A) site (pA), a substantial fraction of sequencing reads arise from various mis-priming events. These can result in incorrect pA site calls anywhere from several nucleotides downstream to several kilobases upstream from the bona fide pA site. While these mis-priming events can be mitigated by increasing annealing stringency (e.g. increasing temperature from 37 °C to 42 °C), they still persist at an appreciable level (∼10%) and computational methods must be used to prevent artifactual calls. Here we present a bioinformatics workflow for precise mapping of poly(A)+ 3′ ends and handling of artifacts due to oligo(dT) mis-priming and sample polymorphisms. We test pA site calling with three different read mapping programs (STAR, BWA, and BBMap), and show that the way in which each handles terminal mismatches and soft clipping has a substantial impact on identifying correct pA sites, with BWA requiring the least post-processing to correct artifacts. We demonstrate the use of this pipeline for mapping pA sites in the model eukaryote S. cerevisiae, and further apply this technology to non-polyadenylated transcripts by employing in vitro polyadenylation prior to library prep (IVP-seq). As proof of principle, we show that a fraction of tRNAs harbor CCU 3′ tails instead of the canonical CCA tail, and globally identify 3′ ends of splicing intermediates arising from inefficiently spliced transcripts.
Implementation of an enhanced recovery program for bariatric surgery

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been successfully implemented in several surgical fields; however, there have been mixed results observed in bariatric surgery. Our institution implemented an enhanced recovery program with specific pre-, intra-, and post-operative protocols aimed at patients, nursing staff, and physicians. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of the ERAS program. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery prior to the implementation of the enhanced recovery program in the calendar year 2015 were compared to those who had surgery after implementation in 2017. Data for our institution was drawn from the Premier Hospital Database. Poisson and quantile regressions were used to examine the association between ERAS protocol and LOS and cost, respectively. Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of ERAS on 30-day complications and readmissions. 277 bariatric surgical procedures were performed in the pre-ERAS group, compared to 348 procedures post-ERAS. While there was a 25.6% increase in volume, there was no statistical difference between the patient populations or the type of procedure performed between the 2 years. A decrease in length of stay was observed from 2.77 days in 2015 to 1.77 days in 2017 (p < 0.001), while median cost was also cut from $11,739.03 to $9482.18 (p < 0.001). 30-day readmission rate also decreased from 7.94% to 2.86% (p = 0.011). After controlling for other factors, ERAS protocol was associated with decreased LOS (IRR 0.65, p < 0.001), cost (− $2256.88, p < 0.001), and risk of 30-day readmission (OR 0.37, p = 0.011). The implementation of a standardized enhanced recovery program resulted in reduced length of stay, cost, and 30-day readmissions. Total costs saved were greater than $800,000 in one calendar year. This study highlights that the value of an enhanced recovery program can be observed in bariatric surgery, benefiting both patients and hospital systems.
Pregnancy success rates for lesbian women undergoing intrauterine insemination.

Objective To compare the pregnancy outcomes of lesbian women undergoing donor sperm intrauterine insemination (IUI) with that of heterosexual women undergoing IUI using partner or donor sperm. Design Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting Two academic fertility practices. Patient(s) All IUI cycles between 2007 and 2016. Intervention(s) None. Main outcome measure(s) Primary outcomes included clinical pregnancy (CP) rates and live birth/ongoing pregnancy (LB) rates. The baseline characteristics and cycle characteristics were compared between the two groups using absolute standardized differences (ASDs). To account for the correlation between cycles per patient, a generalized estimating equation method for multivariable logistic regression was used. Results A total of 11,870 IUI cycles were included, of which 393 were in lesbian women using donor sperm and 11,477 were in heterosexual women with infertility using either partner or donor sperm. The CP rates were similar between the lesbian and heterosexual groups (13.2% vs. 11.1%, respectively, ASD = 0.06). In addition, the LB rates were similar between the two groups (10.4% vs. 8.3%, respectively, ASD = 0.10). After implementing the generalized estimating equation in a multivariable logistic regression, the lesbian group had an overall higher odds of CP (adjusted odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval: [1.04–1.88]) and LB (adjusted odds ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval [1.15–2.20]) compared with the heterosexual group. The clinical miscarriage rate was higher in the heterosexual group compared with that in the lesbian group (23.8% vs. 15.4%, respectively, ASD = 0.21). Conclusion Although the unadjusted rates were similar between the two groups, the adjusted CP and LB odds were significantly higher for lesbian women undergoing IUI for procreative management than those for heterosexual women undergoing IUI for infertility.
SERF engages in a fuzzy complex that accelerates primary nucleation of amyloid proteins

The assembly of small disordered proteins into highly ordered amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients is closely associated with dementia and neurodegeneration. Understanding the process of amyloid formation is thus crucial in the development of effective treatments for these devastating neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, a tiny, highly conserved and disordered protein called SERF was discovered to modify amyloid formation in Caenorhabditis elegans and humans. Here, we use kinetics measurements and native ion mobility-mass spectrometry to show that SERF mainly affects the rate of primary nucleation in amyloid formation for the disease-related proteins Aβ40 and α-synuclein. SERF's high degree of plasticity enables it to bind various conformations of monomeric Aβ40 and α-synuclein to form structurally diverse, fuzzy complexes. This structural diversity persists into early stages of amyloid formation. Our results suggest that amyloid nucleation is considerably more complex than age-related conversion of Aβ40 and α-synuclein into single amyloid-prone conformations.
Physician Barriers and Facilitators for Screening for Congenital Heart Disease With Routine Obstetric Ultrasound: A National United States Survey.

Objectives Prenatal detection of congenital heart disease with obstetric screening remains at less than 50% in most population studies, far from what is thought to be achievable. We sought to identify barriers/facilitators for screening from the perspective of interpreting physicians and to understand how these barriers/facilitators may be associated with interpretation of screening images. Methods Our mixed-methods studies included 4 focus groups in centers across the United States with obstetric, maternal-fetal medicine, and radiology providers who interpreted obstetric ultrasound studies. Themes around barriers/facilitators for fetal heart screening were coded from transcripts. A national Web-based survey was then conducted, which quantitatively measured reported barriers/facilitators and measured physicians' ability to interpret fetal heart-screening images. Multivariable generalized linear random-effect models assessed the association between barriers/facilitators and the accuracy of image interpretation at the image level. Results Three main themes were identified in the focus groups: intrinsic barriers (ie, comfort with screening), external barriers (ie, lack of feedback), and organizational barriers (ie, study volumes). Among 190 physician respondents, 104 interpreted ultrasound studies. Perceptions of barriers varied by practice setting, with nontertiary providers having lower self-efficacy and perceived usefulness of cardiac screening. Facilitators associated with the odds of accurate interpretation of screening images were knowledge (odds ratio, 2.54; P = .002) and the volume of scans per week (odds ratio, 1.01 for every additional scan; P = .04). Conclusions Some of the main barriers to cardiac screening identified and prioritized by physicians across the United States were knowledge of screening and minimal volumes of scans. Targeting these barriers will aid in improving prenatal detection of congenital heart disease.
Endovascular Repair of Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm using Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Flow Reversal Technique

Carotid artery aneurysm overall is a rare occurrence with <1% formed after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Several methods of repair have been described including open and endovascular techniques. Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with stenting using the reverse flow technique has been used in patients with carotid artery stenosis with neck irradiation, previous neck surgeries, or for those who are at high risk for open surgery. We describe a patient with a post-CEA pseudoaneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery that was repaired using the TCAR flow reversal approach with coiling of the external carotid artery.
Continuous Rate Infusion of Ketamine Hydrochloride and Dexmedetomidine for Maintenance of Anesthesia during Laryngotracheal Surgery in New Zealand White Rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ).

New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are an established in vivo model for the study of structural and functional consequences of vocal-fold vibration. Research design requires invasive laryngotracheal procedures, and the presence of laryngospasms or pain responses (or both) hinder phonation-related data collection. Published anesthesia regimens report respiratory depression and muscle tone changes and have been unsuccessful in mitigating autonomic laryngeal responses in our protocol. Infusion of ketamine hydrochloride and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride in pediatric medicine provides effective analgesia and sedation for laryngotracheal procedures including intubation and bronchoscopy; however, data evaluating the use of ketamine-dexmedetomidine infusion in rabbits are unavailable. This study reports a new infusion regimen, which was used in 58 male New Zealand white rabbits that underwent a nonsurvival laryngotracheal procedure to induce phonotraumatic vocal-fold injury. Animals were sedated by using ketamine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg IM) and dexmedetomidine (0.125 mg/kg IM). Maintenance anesthesia was provided by using continuous rate intravenous infusion of ketamine hydrochloride (343 μg/kg/min) and dexmedetomidine (1.60 μg/kg/min). A stable plane of anesthesia with no autonomic laryngeal response (laryngospasm) was achieved in 32 of the 58 rabbits (55%). Laryngospasms occurred in 25 of 58 animals (43%) and were controlled in 20 cases (80%) by providing 0.33 mL 2% topical lidocaine, incremental increase in infusion rate, or both. Continuous rate infusion of ketamine hydrochloride-dexmedetomidine with prophylactic topical lidocaine provides a predictable and adjustable surgical plane of anesthesia, with minimal confounding respiratory and autonomic laryngeal responses, during extended-duration laryngotracheal surgery in rabbits. This regimen should be considered as an alternative to injection maintenance for prolonged, invasive procedures.
Free tissue reconstruction of the anterior skull base: A review

Objective There has been a significant shift from open craniofacial resection of the anterior skull base to endoscopic approaches that accomplish the same outcomes in tumor ablation. However, when open resection is required, free flap reconstruction is often necessary to provide sufficient well-vascularized tissue for optimal wound healing as well as providing adequate tissue bulk for cosmesis. This articleaims to providea focused review of free flaps most commonly used in anterior skull base reconstruction. Methods This is a state-of-the-art review based on expert opinion and previously published reviews and journal articles, queried using PubMed and Google Scholar. Results & conclusion Anterior skull base reconstruction via free tissue transfer is imperative in limiting complications and promoting healing, particularly with large defects, post-radiation, and in at-risk patients. The type of free flap utilized for a particular anterior skull base reconstruction should be tailored to the patient and nature of the disease. This review offers insight into the numerous reconstructive options for the free flap surgeon.
Female Sexuality in Modernist Fiction: Literary Techniques for Making Women Artists

Female Sexuality in Modernist Fiction: Literary Techniques for Making Women Artists provides a chronological investigation of the innovative writing styles of canonical modernist writers to reveal a shift in gendered representations of sexual subjectivity. Positioned at the nexus of studies on the body and sexuality in modernist literature, this book addresses the complex ways that constructions of female sexuality are understood culturally, politically, and epistemologically. Using close reading strategies to identify how modernist authors challenge representations of female positionality as passive, case studies consider how canonical modernist authors – Virginia Woolf, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett – found new ways to represent women as embodied, sexual, desired, and desiring subjects through prose, poetry, and drama. This book addresses Woolf’s Orlando: A Biography (1928), Yeats’ The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933), Joyce’s Finnegans Wake (1939), Beckett’s Not I (1972), and other dramatic works. By rendering sexuality more obviously as a component of female character, these works of modernist literature shape our understanding of the artistic body as a structure for thinking about "woman" as a linguistic construct and material reality. This study is will be of great interest to scholars in English literature, women and gender studies, and sexuality studies.
From Crony Capitalism to Strategic Research and Development Investment, and Back Again

Mainly protective and reactive, current government financial intervention is contrasted with its more immediately post-war investment in technology boosting Research and Development. Investment that ushered in a technological revolution which, absent effective competition from other, recently war-torn, advanced economies enabled the financing of The Great Society program of enhanced welfare benefits, and from which R&D many major private corporations still benefit enormously. Government investment more usually characteristic, especially in the absence of competition, of socialist economies, which was largely scaled back by economic neo-liberals. Particularly unfortunate timing, coinciding as it did with the recovery of previously war-torn, largely government funded, competitors. Facts which invite comparison between the potential benefits of non-competitive government funded, and therefore essentially socialist, and privately funded and competitive, essentially capitalist, economies.
Performance of the Person Centered Primary Care Measure in Pediatric Continuity Clinic.

Abstract Objective Improvement efforts in pediatric primary care would benefit from measures that capture families’ holistic experience of the practice. We sought to assess the reliability and validity of the new Person-Centered Primary Care Measure (PCPCM) in a pediatric resident continuity clinic serving low-income families. Methods We incorporated the 11-item PCPCM, stems adapted to reflect a parent responding about their child's visit, into a telephone survey of 194 parents presenting for care in October 2019 at a pediatric resident continuity clinic in Cleveland Ohio (64% response rate). We evaluated PCPCM items using factor analysis and Rasch modeling, and assessed associations of the PCPCM with parents’ demographics and perceptions of specific elements of their child's care. Results In this sample of low-income families, the PCPCM had good reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.85). All items loaded onto a single factor in principal axes factor analysis. Of the 11 aspects of primary care represented in the scale, “shared experience” was most difficult for parents to endorse in Rasch modeling. All 11 items contributed significantly to the total scale score with corrected item-total correlations >0.4. The PCPCM score was independent of socio demographics and was associated with parent's report that their child's clinician spends enough time with them. Conclusions The PCPCM performs well in a pediatric continuity clinic setting, warranting consideration for its use as a parsimonious parent-reported measure of what patients and clinicians say matters most in pediatric primary care.
Decision support needs for shared clinical decision-making regarding HPV vaccination among adults 27-45 years of age.

Abstract Objective Identify HPV information needs and shared clinical decision-making preferences among adults 27–45 and describe differences in needs and preferences among underserved and vulnerable populations. Methods Participants 27–45 years old with no history of HPV vaccination completed a cross-sectional web-based survey between April-May 2020 (N = 702). Preferred role in shared clinical decision making was described across demographic groups and sociodemographic correlates of HPV vaccine information needs. Results Most (77.6%) reported a preference to make a medical decision on their own or after consulting with a healthcare provider, while the remaining respondents preferred to make a joint decision (17.0%) or for their doctor to make the decision (5.4%). Over 80% needed more information about safety, effectiveness, personal benefit, provider recommendation, side effects, and risks. Education was the strongest demographic factors associated with higher information needs (p Conclusion The majority of individuals across demographic groups were individually focused with regard to their healthcare decisions and wanted more information about HPV vaccine safety, side effects, and risks, in addition to personalized information about benefits from HPV vaccination. Practical implications Patient-centered interventions are needed to engage adults in shared decision-making regarding HPV vaccination.
Determinants of functional outcome following ankle fracture.

Objectives To assess the patient and injury characteristics that impact functional outcomes after ankle fracture. Design Retrospective study. Setting Urban level I trauma center. Patients/Participants One thousand patients underwent fixation of ankle fracture (AO/OTA 44) between 2006 and 2015. Four hundred sixteen completed functional outcome surveys by telephone or mail at a mean of 5.9 years after injury. Intervention Open reduction internal fixation. Main outcome measure Foot Function Index (FFI) and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Results Mean age was 46.7 years, with 46.2% male. Higher (worse) FFI scores were seen in tobacco users (38.9 vs 30.1), recreational drug users (45.9 vs 32.7), and the morbidly obese (52.0 vs 30.6), all P < .005. Higher (worse) SMFA dysfunction and bothersome scores were also seen in these groups, and in females and alcohol users. Multiple regression analysis identified female gender, obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, complications, secondary procedures, and multiple additional injuries as independent predictors of higher scores (all P < .04). Fracture patterns, open fracture, and development of arthritis had no impact on FFI or SMFA scores. Conclusion Patient characteristics, not under surgeon-control, such as female sex, obesity, and substance use, appear to contribute to patient-reported functional outcome scores more than injury characteristics. Level of Evidence Level 3, prognostic.
Case 47: Intraoperative “Oozing”

Today you are a volunteer faculty in a nearby university hospital. You have one senior resident and two medical students working with you. Your first case is a 3-year-old boy (10 kg) who is scheduled for removal of a Wilms’ tumor (nephroblastoma). The child has no medical problems other than a large mass in the loin. There is no history of drug allergy, previous general anesthesia, or any adverse family history of anesthetic complications. On examination, the child is found to be otherwise healthy. Vital signs are stable. General anesthesia is induced via face mask using sevoflurane in 100 % oxygen after all necessary monitoring equipment is placed on the child. After the child is asleep, an intravenous (IV) line is inserted and 0.15 mg atropine and 1 mg vecuronium are administered to facilitate tracheal intubation with a 5-mm internal diameter (i.d.) endotracheal tube (ETT). Bilateral air entry is heard, and the ETT is taped. Anesthesia is maintained with sevoflurane 2 % in air and 30 % in oxygen and fentanyl. The operation starts, but surgical difficulties are encountered. Significant blood loss (250 ml) is seen. The hematocrit (Hct) has fallen from 38 % to 20 %. There is blood in the urine. You call for the father’s directed blood and it arrives with an orderly. You give the blood to your resident to check and administer. You continue your discussion of airway management of children to the medical students. The blood transfusion starts and the surgeon states that he has the bleeding under control.
Chapter 5: Electrophysiological and behavioral experiments on the primate pulvinar

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the electrophysiological and behavioral experiments on the primate pulvinar. Most ideas about pulvinar function are based on the functions of those structures with which it is connected. Thus, the extensive connections with prestriate and inferior temporal cortex have suggested a role in visual learning or memory. A different view of pulvinar function, based on projections it receives from the superior colliculus, is that it serves as a thalamic link forwarding visual information from midbrain to extrastriate cortex. The critical afferent pathway to the colliculus, however, does seem to vary with the task. In trying to understand the role of the tectopulvinar system, the chapter uses both physiological and behavioral approaches. It may be that whatever function the pulvinar contributes by virtue of its thalamocortical relations, that function can be substituted adequately for, by direct cortico-cortical connections, thus making the lesion method useless.
Biochemical effects of tobacco etch virus infection on tobacco leaf tissue—II.

Abstract Intact chloroplasts isolated from leaf tissue of Nicotiana tabacum L. systemically infected with tobacco etch virus incorporated glycine-1,2- 14 C into a TCA insoluble product at the same rate as did chloroplasts from healthy plants. Tissue from infected plants, however, contained only about two thirds as many chloroplasts on a fresh weight basis as tissue from healthy plants. Total chlorophyll and protein per chloroplast were unaltered by infection.
Consideration of Ecosystem for ICME

As the Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) emerges as a hot topic, computation, experimentation, and digital database are identified as its three major components. Efforts are being actively made from various aspects to bring ICME to reality. However, many factors that would affect ICME development still remain vague. This paper is an attempt to discuss the needs for establishing a database centered ecosystem to facilitate ICME development.
MASS PRODUCTION OF THE BENEFICIAL NEMATODE STEINERNEMA CARPOCAPSAE UTILIZING A FED-BATCH CULTURING PROCESS

The present study deals with the batch and fed-batch mass production of Steinernema carpocapsae . S. carpocapsae is an entomoparasitic nematode that is used as a biological control agent of soil-borne crop insect pests. The ability and efficiency of fed-batch culture process was successful through the utilization of the nematode’s bacterial symbiont Xenorhabdus nematophila . Results from the fed-batch process were compared to those obtain from the standard batch process. The fed-batch process successively improved the mass production process of S. carpocapsae employing liquid medium technology . Within the first week of the fed-batch process (day six), the nematode density obtained was 202,000 nematodes mL −1 ; whereas on day six, batch culture mode resulted in a nematode density of 23,000 nematodes mL −1 . The fed-batch process was superior to that of batch production with a yield approximately 8.8-fold higher. In fed-batch process, the nematode yield was improved 88.6 % higher within a short amount of time compared to the batch process. Fed-batch seems to make the process more efficient and possibly economically viable.
Theory and Refinement of the Enhanced-PPP Model for Equilibrium Exchange Rates ---- With Estimates for Valuations of Dollar, Yuan and Others

This study establishes a rigorous theory for the recent popular enhanced-Purchasing-Power-Parity model for estimating the long run equilibrium exchange rates of currencies. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of the model are derived and proved. Based on the theory, this research takes into account the economic sizes of the countries along with the Balassa-Samuelson effect, and refines the Frankel-Rogoff specification. The refined model is applied to the data to estimate the under- or over-valuation of different currencies in the world. An empirical test to assess these estimation results further supports the validity of the model.
Preliminary tests of the optical diagnostics for the APS low-energy undulator test line particle beam

An alternate configuration of the injector linacs (low-energy undulator test line) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) combined with a thermionic rf gun is projected to provide low, normalized emittance electron beams ({var_epsilon}{sub n} {approximately} 5% mm mrad). By using the electron linac and the inline, rephased positron linac, beam energies from 250 to 650 MeV with bunch lengths sigma {sigma}{sub t} {approximately} 1 ps are possible. In order to characterize such beams, the present intercepting Chromox screens with limited spatial resolution and temporal response are being complemented by optical transition radiation (OTR) screens at selected positions in the beamline to provide sub-100 {micro}m spatial resolution and sub-ps response times. Initial OTR images have been obtained from a beam at 650 MeV using the conventional thermionic gun to generate a 30-ns-long macropulse. Micropulse bunch lengths as short as 3 to 4 ps ({sigma}) were also measured using a C5680 streak camera. Additionally, coherent transition radiation (CTR) and diffraction radiation (DR) based techniques will be evaluated. These beam characterizations will support self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) scaling experiments.
AN OBJECT-RELATIONS APPROACH TO THE PHENOMENON AND TREATMENT OF BATTERED WOMEN

Recently, a great deal of attention has been devoted to the issue of women who are battered by their mates (Martin, 1976; Roy, 1977a). Such women exhibit some contradictory and seemingly strange behavior, such as saying they love their husbands and ignoring or rationalizing away the times their husbands beat them. They stay with the battering husbands for years, often taking repeated and severe beatings. These battered women, who sometimes come from homes where they either were beaten or saw their mothers being beaten, may also use violence on their own children (Gelles, 1974). How may these apparently disparate feelings and behaviors of battered women be reconciled within the framework of contemporary psychoanaytic theory and practice?
On the combinatorial and topological complexity of a single cell

The problem of bounding the combinatorial complexity of a single connected component (a single cell) of the complement of a set of a geometric objects in R/sup k/, each object of constant description complexity, is an important problem in computational geometry which has attracted much attention over the past decade. It has been conjectured that the combinatorial complexity of a single cell is bounded by a function much closer to O(n/sup k-1/) rather than O(n/sup k/) which is the bound for the combinatorial complexity of the whole arrangement. Till now, this was known to be rule only for k/spl les/3 and only for some special cases in higher dimensions. A classic result in real algebraic geometry due to Oleinik-Petrovsky, Thom and Milnor, bounds the topological complexity (the sum of the Betti numbers) of basic semi-algebraic sets. However, till now no better bounds were known if we restricted attention to a single connected component of a basic semi-algebraic set. In this paper, we show how these two problems are related. We prove a new bound on the sum of the Betti numbers of one connected component of a basic semi-algebraic set which is an improvement over the Oleinik-Petrovsky-Thom-Milnor bound. This also implies that the topological complexity of a single cell, measured by the sum of the Betti numbers, is bounded by O(n/sup k-1/).
Nature of the scrapie agent. Evidence against a viroid.

Abstract The postulated viroid nature of scrapie agent was tested. Since the agent could not be recovered after a carefully controlled phenol extraction of infected mouse brains, it is suggested that this agent is not a viroid.
Gene expression in colon cancer: A focus on tumor site and molecular phenotype

Hundreds to thousands of genes are differentially expressed in tumors when compared to nontumor colonic tissue samples. We evaluated gene expression patterns to better understand differences in colon cancer by tumor site and tumor molecular phenotype. We analyzed RNA-seq data from tumor/normal paired samples from 175 colon cancer patients. We implemented a cross validation strategy with nonparametric tests to identify genes which displayed varying expression characteristics related to paired tumor/nontumor tissue across proximal and distal colon sites and by tumor molecular phenotypes, that is, TP53, KRAS, CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP), and microsatellite instability (MSI). We used Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to determine networks associated with deregulated genes in our data. Genes showed significant differences in expression characteristics at the 0.01 level in both validation groups between tumor subsite (116 genes), CIMP high versus CIMP low (79 genes), MSI versus microsatellite stable (MSS) (49 genes), TP53-mutated versus not mutated (17genes), and KRAS-mutated versus not mutated (1 gene). Deregulated genes for CIMP high and MSI tumors were often down-regulated. In contrast to CIMP high and MSI tumors, genes that were deregulated in TP53 were likely to be up-regulated. ERK1, WNT, growth factors and inflammation-related factors were focal points of both CIMP and MSI IPA networks. The MUC family of genes was up-regulated MSI networks. Numerous genes showed differences in expression between proximal and distal tumors, nontumor proximal and distal tissue, and tumor molecular phenotype. Deregulated mucin genes appear to play an important role in MSI tumors.
Measuring Surface Texture by the Sand-Patch Method

Components of variance were analyzed for 720 measures of concrete pavement texture depth obtained by the sand-patch method. The measurements were made in connection with a complete factorial field experiment involving four texturing methods used on two sections each of five different paving jobs. Each pavement section was tested at three different sites by three different operators performing two tests each. The analysis permitted estimates of the repeatability and reproducibility of the sand-patch test, as well as errors that can be expected in measuring the mean texture depths of a section of textured pavement.
The Female Breadwinner: Phenomenological Experience and Gendered Identity in Work/Family Spaces

Although female breadwinners (FBWs) are increasingly common in industrialized society and challenge traditional western gender norms, little research has focused specifically on the experiences of FBWs. These experiences impact individual, family, and organizational decision making. Thus, this project uses a phenomenological method to explore the experiences and gendered identity negotiations of 15 FBWs from the eastern and midwestern U.S. who were recruited via electronic message boards and personal contacts. The study asks how these women experience the phenomenon of being the breadwinner, seeking common elements. Results indicate six essential elements of FBWs’ experiences: (a) having control, (b) valuing independence, (c) feeling pressure and worry, (d) valuing partner’s contributions, (e) feeling guilt and resentment, and (f) valuing career progress.
Novel high voltage LDMOS using a variable fermi-potential field plate for best switching FOM and reliability tradeoff

In this paper, we discuss the fundamental design tradeoff among specific on-resistance (Ron, sp), gate charge (Cgg), quasi-saturation, and reliability characteristics for an integrated high voltage LDMOS. A novel patterned gate design is proposed and implemented in a 120V-rated NLDMOS. Optimal design characteristics are demonstrated with 30% improvement in switching FOM (Ron, sp*Qgg) and a robust Id, lin shift passing 15 years lifetime specification. The new design technique is proven to significantly improve the high voltage LDMOS design tradeoff.
A Circuit for Motor Cortical Modulation of Auditory Cortical Activity

Normal hearing depends on the ability to distinguish self-generated sounds from other sounds, and this ability is thought to involve neural circuits that convey copies of motor command signals to various levels of the auditory system. Although such interactions at the cortical level are believed to facilitate auditory comprehension during movements and drive auditory hallucinations in pathological states, the synaptic organization and function of circuitry linking the motor and auditory cortices remain unclear. Here we describe experiments in the mouse that characterize circuitry well suited to transmit motor-related signals to the auditory cortex. Using retrograde viral tracing, we established that neurons in superficial and deep layers of the medial agranular motor cortex (M2) project directly to the auditory cortex and that the axons of some of these deep-layer cells also target brainstem motor regions. Using in vitro whole-cell physiology, optogenetics, and pharmacology, we determined that M2 axons make excitatory synapses in the auditory cortex but exert a primarily suppressive effect on auditory cortical neuron activity mediated in part by feedforward inhibition involving parvalbumin-positive interneurons. Using in vivo intracellular physiology, optogenetics, and sound playback, we also found that directly activating M2 axon terminals in the auditory cortex suppresses spontaneous and stimulus-evoked synaptic activity in auditory cortical neurons and that this effect depends on the relative timing of motor cortical activity and auditory stimulation. These experiments delineate the structural and functional properties of a corticocortical circuit that could enable movement-related suppression of auditory cortical activity.
A bacterial study of human periapical pathosis employing a modified Gram tissue stain

Abstract The Johns Hopkins modified bacterial tissue Gram stain was employed to detect the presence of bacteria in the periapical tissues of teeth with necrotic root canals. Each of the fifteen extracted teeth used in the study had a periapical lesion attached to its apex, and these lesions were found to be intact by both clinical and histologic examination. Periapical granulomas were observed histologically in every case; there was also a periapical cyst in one case. In most of the cases, bacteria were found to be dispersed uniformly throughout the granulomas in slight to moderate concentrations.
Ethylene polymerization over a highly dispersed form of Cr(III) on silica

In this note the authors with to provide additional evidence for the role of Cr(III) ions as active centers for the polymerization of ethylene over a Cr/SiO/sub 2/ catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by an ion-exchange method that yields a material considerably more active than conventional catalysts prepared by impregnation. The term ion exchange is used here to distinguish the new catalyst from those prepared by the conventional impregnation method, although it is not clear whether the chromium has been introduced via a true ion-exchange process, strong adsorption, or an unidentified chemical reaction. The results of this study show that a highly dispersed form of Cr(III) on silica can be prepared in a manner such that essentially every chromium atom is active for ethylene polymerization. The higher dispersion results in larger specific activity, but the TOFs and activation energies are essentially the same as previously found for impregnated catalysts. Moreover, these new catalysts were active under high-pressure conditions. This high activity, together with the absence of an induction period, supports the view that Cr(III)/SiO/sub 2/ is an active polymerization catalyst under commercial conditions.
Supramolecular main-chain liquid crystalline polymers and networks with competitive hydrogen bonding: flexible bis-cinnamic acids as hydrogen bond donors in thermoreversible networks and polymers

A series of novel liquid crystalline supramolecular networks formed through competitive hydrogen bonding has been synthesised. These networks are composed of a flexible bis-cinnamic acid and two types of pyridyl species – a small rigid bipyridyl capable of forming liquid crystalline phases and polyfunctional non-mesogenic pyridyl species capable of forming thermoreversible networks. It was found that the networks display a monotropic nematic character at relatively high concentrations of disrupting netpoints – up to 30% for tetrapyridyls, 25% for tripyridyls and 15% for bipyridyls. Very strong crystallisation enthalpies occurred almost immediately after the formation of mesophases, in some cases masking the liquid crystalline phase during thermal analysis. It is believed that the increased mesogen length and rigidity is inducing crystallisation from the mesophase. Completely networked systems – containing no rigid bis-pyridyl – formed glassy materials with no anisotropy.
Nasotemporal asymmetry during teleost retinal growth: preserving an area of specialization.

Teleost fish retinas grow throughout adult life through both cell addition and stretching. Cell division occurs at the periphery of the retina, resulting in annular addition of all cell types except rod photore- ceptors, which are added in the central retina. Since many teleosts have a region of high cellular density at the temporal pole of the eye, we analyzed whether and how this specialized region of high visual acuity main- tained its relative topographical position through asym- metric circumferential growth. To do this, we measured the pattern of long-term retinal growth in the African cichlid Haplochromis burtoni. We found that the retina expands asymmetrically along the nasotemporal axis, with the nasal retina growing at a higher rate than the temporal, dorsal, or ventral retinae, whose growth rates are equal. This nasotemporal asymmetry is produced via significantly greater expansion of retinal tissue at the nasal pole rather than through differential cell prolifer- ation. The mechanisms responsible for this differential retinal enlargement are unknown; however, such asym- metric expansion very likely minimizes disruption in vision during rapid growth. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J
Applying Molecular Crowding Models to Simulations of Virus Capsid Assembly In Vitro

Virus capsid assembly has been widely studied as a biophysical system, both for its biological and medical significance and as an important model for complex self-assembly processes. No current technology can monitor assembly in detail and what information we have on assembly kinetics comes exclusively from in vitro studies. There are many differences between the intracellular environment and that of an in vitro assembly assay, however, that might be expected to alter assembly pathways. Here, we explore one specific feature characteristic of the intracellular environment and known to have large effects on macromolecular assembly processes: molecular crowding. We combine prior particle simulation methods for estimating crowding effects with coarse-grained stochastic models of capsid assembly, using the crowding models to adjust kinetics of capsid simulations to examine possible effects of crowding on assembly pathways. Simulations suggest a striking difference depending on whether or not a system uses nucleation-limited assembly, with crowding tending to promote off-pathway growth in a nonnucleation-limited model but often enhancing assembly efficiency at high crowding levels even while impeding it at lower crowding levels in a nucleation-limited model. These models may help us understand how complicated assembly systems may have evolved to function with high efficiency and fidelity in the densely crowded environment of the cell.
The Role of DNA Repair in Somatic Hypermutation of Immunoglobulin Genes

Immunoglobulin (Ig) genes are first modified through the V(D)J (V, variable; D, diversity; J, joining) recombination process in pre–B cells. The Rag1/Rag2-dependent V(D)J recombination generates a large repertoire of B lymphocytes, each expressing a unique antibody molecule. Rearranged Ig genes