cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Affected in the Transport of Proteins From the Endoplasmic Reticulum to the Golgi Complex

We have isolated new temperature-sensitive mutations in five complementation groups, sec31-sec35, that are defective in the transport of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex. The sec31-sec35 mutants and additional alleles of previously identified sec and vacuolar protein sorting (vps) genes were isolated in a screen based on the detection of α-factor precursor in yeast colonies replicated to and lysed on nitrocellulose filters. Secretory protein precursors accumulated in sec31-sec35 mutants at the nonpermissive temperature were core-glycosylated but lacked outer chain carbohydrate, indicating that transport was blocked after translocation into the ER but before arrival in the Golgi complex. Electron microscopy revealed that the newly identified sec mutants accumulated vesicles and membrane structures reminiscent of secretory pathway organelles. Complementation analysis revealed that sec32-1 is an allele of BOS1, a gene implicated in vesicle targeting to the Golgi complex, and sec33-1 is an allele of RET1, a gene that encodes the α subunit of coatomer.
Secondary Aortoenteric Fistulas Versus Paraprosthetic Erosions: Is Bleeding Associated with a Worse Outcome?

Background Direct communication between an aortic prosthesis and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may present with GI bleeding (aortoenteric fistulas [AEF]) or be incidental to a graft infection (paraprosthetic erosions [PPE]). The purposes of this study were to compare the outcomes of AEF versus PPE and to determine predictors of mortality associated with these lesions. Study Design Since 1992, 38 patients (23 men, 15 women; mean age 67 years) presented with AEF (n=16) or PPE (n=22). Results After complete graft excision, 26 patients (8 AEF, 18 PPE) underwent in situ revascularization using femoral vein (n=24) or rifampin-soaked prosthetic graft (n=2); 12 (8 AEF, 4 PPE) underwent extraanatomic bypass. There was no significant difference in mortality for AEF versus PPE (38% versus 36%). Postoperative complications developed in 25 (66%) patients, including 10 (26%) with GI complications requiring reintervention (5 colon necrosis, 5 duodenal bleed or leak). There were no differences between AEF and PPE in operative transfusions, operative times, GI complications, ICU stay, hospital stay, or final discharge status. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that GI complications (odds ratio [OR], 52.5; 95% CI, 3.5 to 781; p=0.004) and age (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.3; p=0.026) were the only independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Surgical management of AEF and PPE should be tailored to patient illness and the extent of graft infection. Mortality from both lesions is dependent on patient and technical factors, not on the mode of presentation.
Medical management of the comatose, vegetative, or minimally responsive patient

This review outlines the range of medical problems occurring in brain injured patients in coma or emerging from coma, including the population of vegetative and minimally responsive patients. This range of medical problems includes those associated with the original brain injury or associated injuries, those representing complications of bedrest, and those caused by the use of medications that may retard recovery or contribute to an obtunded or comatose state. The review is organized by organ systems, each section including a brief discussion with reference to more indepth discussions in other sources. A number of algorithms are included to define approaches to evaluation of common clinical presentations which may be helpful to clinicians treating this population in acute or subacute settings.
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is evolving toward a powerful new paradigm of functional restoration. With the ethical use of gene therapy or through the manipulation of autologous tissues, improved tissue replacements may soon be available. The promise of engineered whole organs, although fraught with technical hurdles, remains on the horizon. As these advances occur, physicians and surgeons of the twenty-first century will possess ever more powerful tools to restore form and function.
Automatic Control System of a Microfluidic Blood Sampler for Quantitative microPET Studies in Small Laboratory Animals

Quantitative microPET imaging provides the capability of performing biochemical and physiological investigations. The collection of multiple blood samples over time is necessary for quantitative analysis. The procedure is challenging because the amount of blood volume is small in rats and mice. To overcome this issue, an automatic blood sampling system was developed using a novel microfluidic chip design to take serial blood samples (<0.25 muL per sample; 18 blood samples in current design) at precise times from rats and mice. In this work, we utilize a National Instruments DAQPad 6507 digital output computer interface to control the sampling on the chip via mini-pneumatic valves. The system provides a user-friendly GUI programmed by LabVIEW to setup the sampling information, which includes mouse ID, tracer selection and sampling volume and time sequences. It can be easily reconfigured to utilize new microfluidic chip designs as well as changes in the sampling protocol. Real-time sampling status and the output of sampling information is continually displayed. Our initial implementation of this design can automatically collect ~0.185 muL blood samples within less than 2 second intervals from a small rodent.
A sustainable model for OpenCourseWare development

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine the cost of converting BYU Independent Study’s e-learning courses into OpenCourseWare, (b) assess the impact of opening those courses on paid enrollment in the credit-bearing versions of the courses, and (c) use these data to judge whether or not an OpenCourseWare program could be financially self-sustaining over the long-term without grant monies or other subsidies. The findings strongly suggest that the BYU Independent Study model of publishing OpenCourseWare is financially self-sustaining, allowing the institution to provide a significant public good while generating new revenue and meeting its ongoing financial obligations.
Models of designing: understanding software engineering education from the bottom up

We present a model of software designing that can be used to help understand what skills need to be developed by students of software engineering. Regardless of who, what or whether, if people are going to design software, it is imperative that educators understand what to teach students of software design. To teach it we must know what skills and knowledge are needed by students learning to design software. The paper touches on one part of developing the skill set, which is how those skills are cognitively constructed and used by students. We look at learning to design software as a staged developmental process and we examine the stages from the bottom up. We attempt to confirm our intuitive understandings of what software engineers need in an undergraduate program by examining verbal protocols of practicing designers and student designers. We develop a model of design knowledge and skill to uncover what students need to learn to be able to design software and use our protocols to determine if our model appropriately reflects the skills and knowledge of designers.
Profiling internet backbone traffic: behavior models and applications

Recent spates of cyber-attacks and frequent emergence of applications affecting Internet traffic dynamics have made it imperative to develop effective techniques that can extract, and make sense of, significant communication patterns from Internet traffic data for use in network operations and security management. In this paper, we present a general methodology for building comprehensive behavior profiles of Internet backbone traffic in terms of communication patterns of end-hosts and services. Relying on data mining and information-theoretic techniques, the methodology consists of significant cluster extraction, automatic behavior classification and structural modeling for in-depth interpretive analyses. We validate the methodology using data sets from the core of the Internet. The results demonstrate that it indeed can identify common traffic profiles as well as anomalous behavior patterns that are of interest to network operators and security analysts.
Incorporation of lipids into subcellular fractions of brain of quaking mutant.

— The synthesis of lipids and their assembly into subcellular membrane fractions of the myelin deficient Quaking mutant and control brains was studied in 18-, 24- and 41-day-old animals using a double label methodology with14C and 3H acetate as precursors. As a general procedure, Quaking mutants were injected intracranially with 50 μCi [14C]acetate and their littermate controls with 300 μCi [3H]acetate. The animals were killed 3 h post-injection, their brains were pooled and subcellular fractions prepared from the common homogenate. An 80-90% decrease in the incorporation of acetate into eleven lipids of myelin in the Quaking mutant was found. This occurred in the face of apparent normal incorporation (relative to microsomes) into lipids of the other main subcellular fractions (nuclear. mitochondrial and synaptosomal) with the exception of decreased incorporation into the myelin-like fraction at 18 and 24 days. Cholesterol and cerebroside were less readily incorporated into Quaking myelin than the other lipids. Although the microsomal synthesis of cholesterol and cerebroside was depressed by about 30% in the Quaking mutant, the incorporation of cholesterol into nuclear, synaptosomal and mitochondrial fractions was unaffected in the mutant. This indicates that sufficient cholesterol is synthesized for the normal assembly of these organelles. In contrast the incorporation of acetate into cholesterol and cerebroside of Quaking myelin was decreased much more than microsomal synthesis. This latter result is consistent with a defect in the process of myclin membrane assembly
Protein-based identification of quantitative trait loci associated with malignant transformation in two HER2+ cellular models of breast cancer

Background: A contemporary view of the cancer genome reveals extensive rearrangement compared to normal cells. Yet how these genetic alterations translate into specific proteomic changes that underpin acquiring the hallmarks of cancer remains unresolved. The objectives of this study were to quantify alterations in protein expression in two HER2+ cellular models of breast cancer and to infer differentially regulated signaling pathways in these models associated with the hallmarks of cancer. Results: A proteomic workflow was used to identify proteins in two HER2 positive tumorigenic cell lines (BT474 and SKBR3) that were differentially expressed relative to a normal human mammary epithelial cell line (184A1). A total of 64 (BT474-184A1) and 69 (SKBR3-184A1) proteins were uniquely identified that were differentially expressed by at least 1.5-fold. Pathway inference tools were used to interpret these proteins in terms of functionally enriched pathways in the tumor cell lines. We observed “protein ubiquitination” and “apoptosis signaling” pathways were both enriched in the two breast cancer models while “IGF signaling” and “cell motility” pathways were enriched in BT474 and “amino acid metabolism” were enriched in the SKBR3 cell line. Conclusion: While “protein ubiquitination” and “apoptosis signaling” pathways were common to both the cell lines, the observed patterns of protein expression suggest that the evasion of apoptosis in each tumorigenic cell line occurs via different mechanisms. Evidently, apoptosis is regulated in BT474 via down regulation of Bid and in SKBR3 via up regulation of Calpain-11 as compared to 184A1.
Hybrid assembly technology for flip-chip-on-chip (FCOC) using PBGA laminate assembly

Component integration is becoming more and more popular to achieve reduction of space with increasing performance of electronic packages. Dual-Chip-Stack (DCS) is the direct, face to face joining of two (or more) semiconductor devices. It improves significantly component integration by leveraging flip-chip technology processing, standard wirebond packaging and plastic ball grid array (PBGA) processes. High bandwidth interconnections between devices of various process technologies allow the construction of unique, high margin component assemblies. In this paper, the authors describe the assembly development work of a DCS package using a logic device attached to a DRAM device over a PBGA chip-up type carrier. Proposed packaging flow is discussed with process modifications to obtain a robust product. The processes discussed are: flip-chip dicing, device to device joining, wirebond to laminate carrier, and encapsulation (Underfill and Globtop). Some reliability results will also be shown and discussed.
Using global consistency to recognise Euclidean objects with an uncalibrated camera

A recognition strategy consisting of a mixture of indexing on invariants and search, allows objects to be recognised up to a Euclidean ambiguity with an uncalibrated camera. The approach works by using projective invariants to determine all the possible projectively equivalent models for a particular imaged object; then a system of global consistency constraints is used to determine which of these projectively equivalent, but Euclidean distinct, models corresponds to the objects viewed. These constraints follow from properties of the imaging geometry. In particular, a recognition hypothesis is equivalent to an assertion about, among other things, viewing conditions and geometric relationships between objects, and these assertions must be consistent for hypotheses to be correct. The approach is demonstrated to work on images of real scenes consisting of polygonal objects and polyhedra. >
Management of Hypertension in Renal Transplant Patients: A Comprehensive Review of Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatment Strategies

Objective:To review the guidelines and literature for the treatment of hypertension in renal transplant patients and to provide guidance to practitioners in the selection of appropriate nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options.Data Sources:A PubMed search (January 1948–March 2010) was performed using the search terms hypertension, antihypertensive agents, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, in combination with renal transplant and kidney transplant. The search was limited to articles published in English. All relevant peer-reviewed original studies, meta-analyses, guidelines, consensus statements, and review articles were examined. In addition, reference citations from publications identified were reviewed.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All literature found was evaluated for inclusion. Review articles as well as prospective and retrospective original research articles were reviewed.Data Synthesis:Hypertension after solid organ transplantation is a problem commonly encountered in p...
Polishing Jig for Infrared-Cell Windows

Frequent hand-polishing of infrared-cell windows, particularly the softer materials such as cesium iodide and bromide, can easily result in a convex surface and a wedge shape instead of flat, parallel sides. A simple jig has been used in this laboratory for some time to prevent this occurrence during grinding of the crystal blanks and polishing to final finish.
Editorial: Sex matters in preclinical research.

In recent months, there has been a flurry of discussion regarding the importance of considering the sex of animals, primary cells, and even cell lines when performing preclinical studies. These conversations were highlighted in a recent editorial in Nature by Janine A. Clayton, Director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health, and Francis S. Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (1). In their editorial, Drs Clayton and Collins point out that sex differencescanbetremendouswithrespecttomanydiseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and other neurological disorders. Specific to endocrinology, diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disordersandthyroidnodules are significantly more common in women than in men. The editorial in Nature serves as a wellneededcalltoarmsforpreclinical researchers that they must pay more attention to sex and gender when both performing and reporting their research. The authors make specific suggestions regarding how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to help the scientific community better equalize studies in males and females. These include a requirement for grant applicants to “report their plans for the balance of male and female cells and animals in preclinical studies in all future applications, unless sex-specific inclusion is unwarranted” (1). In fact, the Research for All Act of 2014 is now making its way on Capitol Hill. This legislation calls for an increase in the study of female animals, tissues, and cells in basic research conducted or supported
A direct boosting algorithm for the k-nearest neighbor classifier via local warping of the distance metric

Though the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) pattern classifier is an effective learning algorithm, it can result in large model sizes. To compensate, a number of variant algorithms have been developed that condense the model size of the k-NN classifier at the expense of accuracy. To increase the accuracy of these condensed models, we present a direct boosting algorithm for the k-NN classifier that creates an ensemble of models with locally modified distance weighting. An empirical study conducted on 10 standard databases from the UCI repository shows that this new Boosted k-NN algorithm has increased generalization accuracy in the majority of the datasets and never performs worse than standard k-NN.
A persistent (amino)(ferrocenyl)carbene

Deprotonation of N,N-diisopropyl-C-ferrocenylaldiminium triflate 2 cleanly leads to the corresponding 1,2-diamino-1,2-diferrocenylethene 3, the dimer of the desired (amino)(ferrocenyl)carbene. Fulvene 6, obtained by addition of the lithium salt of tetramethylcyclopentadiene to methoxyformamidinium methylsulfate 5, reacts with dicarbonylcyclopentadienylbromoiron(II), and with a mixture of FeCl2 and Cp* lithium salt, affording the corresponding tetramethylferrocenylaldiminium salt 7, and nonamethylferrocenylaldiminium salt 8, respectively. Although the deprotonation of 7 gives a complex mixture of products, the treatment of 8 at −78 °C with sodium hexamethyldisilazide allowed for the isolation of the corresponding (amino)(ferrocenyl)carbene 9 as a yellow powder. However, even in the solid state, it is stable for less than 48 h at −20 °C. In addition to NMR spectroscopy, evidence for the carbene nature of 9 was found by a trapping experiment with sulfur that leads to the corresponding adduct 10, which was characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study.
Power-law vein-thickness distributions and positive feedback in vein growth

The thicknesses of veins of a single generation from the Kodiak accretionary complex show a power-law distribution with an exponent of D = 1.33. This value ( D >1) indicates that a significant portion of the vein-related extension is accommodated by the thinnest veins. Thick vein segments are typically confined to southeast-dipping brittle-ductile shear zones. Textural observations of veins within these zones indicate a progressive evolution from crack-seal to euhedral growth of quartz with an increase over time in the duration that fractures remained open. Model simulations of vein-thickness distributions show that a constant growth model results in a negative-exponential distribution and that it is necessary to assume size-proportional growth to produce a power-law distribution. Textures and power-law thickness distributions for the Kodiak veins are thus consistent with an increasing time-averaged growth rate as vein thickness increased, comprising a positive feedback. The positive feedback resulted in the progressive evolution from fractures to brittle-ductile shear zones and ultimately to faults.
Cooperative localization for autonomous underwater vehicles

Self-localization of an underwater vehicle is particularly challenging due to the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS) reception or features at known positions that could otherwise have been used for position computation. Thus Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) applications typically require the pre-deployment of a set of beacons. This thesis examines the scenario in which the members of a group of AUVs exchange navigation information with one another so as to improve their individual position estimates. We describe how the underwater environment poses unique challenges to vehicle navigation not encountered in other environments in which robots operate and how cooperation can improve the performance of self-localization. As intra-vehicle cornmunication is crucial to cooperation, we also address the constraints of the communication channel and the effect that these constraints have on the design of cooperation strategies. The classical approaches to underwater self-localization of a single vehicle, as well as more recently developed techniques are presented. We then examine how methods used for cooperating land-vehicles can be transferred to the underwater domain. An algorithm for distributed self-localization, which is designed to take the specific characteristics of the environment into account, is proposed. We also address how correlated position estimates of cooperating vehicles can lead to overconfidence in individual position estimates. Finally, key to any successful cooperative navigation strategy is the incorporation of the relative positioning between vehicles. The performance of localization algorithms with different geometries is analyzed and a distributed algorithm for the dynamic positioning of vehicles, which serve as dedicated navigation beacons for a fleet of AUVs, is proposed. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Submillimeter-wave harmonic gyrotron experiment

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the operation of a harmonic gyrotron at submillimeter wavelengths is reported. Using a waveguide cavity with an iris at the output end of the straight section, 14 different second-harmonic modes were observed with frequencies of 301-503 GHz, output powers of 1-22 kW, and a 12-MHz emission frequency bandwidth. The highest output power was 22 kW, with a total efficiency of 3.5% at 467 GHz, and an output power of 15 kW with a 6% efficiency was obtained at 417 GHz. Research was conducted using a 65-75 kV up to 10-A electron gun with a 1/1.5- mu s pulse length and a 4-Hz repetition rate, which produced a helical electron beam in magnetic fields of up to 14 T. These results represent the first operation of a high-power harmonic gyrotron in the submillimeter region. >
Humidity and Heat Effects on the Coefficient of Energy Dissipation

Six varieties of cotton are heat treated at temperatures of 100°C, 140°C, and 180°C. Frictional parameters, via coeffi cicnts of energy dissipation, are measured on each of these and control samples (20°C) at a number of consecutive relative humidities (30%, 45%, 55%, 65%, 80%, 65%, 55%, 45%, and 30%). The results for all combinations are discussed. Comparisons between these findings and those of other investigators are made.
The American Middle Class: A Cultural History. By Lawrence R. Samuel. (New York, NY: Routledge, 2014. Pp. 174. $29.95.)

In this book, the author traces a cultural history of the idea of the middle class in the United States over the last half century. In so doing, he offers a much‐needed historical perspective on th...
BACULUM OF THE WEDDELL SEAL WITH COMPARISONS TO OTHER PHOCID SEALS

Bacular development is described for the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddelli, based on specimens from 1 to 18 years of age. The bacular apex, cross-sectional configuration of the shaft, base, and other aspects are described and compared with other genera of phocids. The anterior dorsal aspect of the baculum of Leptonychotes is unique among phocids in development of a pronounced crest as an adult.
Bringing the physical environment back into neighborhood research: The utility of RTM for developing an aggregate neighborhood risk of crime measure

Abstract Purpose The current research examines the utility of risk terrain modeling (RTM) in developing an aggregate neighborhood risk of crime (ANROC) measure. RTM is often employed at the micro-place, forecasting future crime by street segment from attributes of the physical environment. Controlling for concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage and residential stability, we examine the ability of RTM to forecast neighborhood-level violent crime rates in Little Rock, Arkansas. Methods Grounded in the extant literature and our knowledge of the area, we identified 14 risk factors expected to influence violent crimes. Once a RTM was constructed on 2013 violent crimes, the risk of crime per cell was averaged by neighborhood (Census tract), developing an aggregate neighborhood risk of crime measure. The ANROC measure was used to predict 2014 neighborhood violent crime rates. Results This measure significantly increases the understanding of variation in neighborhood violent crime rates. The regression analyses indicated all three measures were significant predictors of neighborhood violent crime rates in Little Rock. Conclusions The overall pattern of results supported our contention that the development of a macro- or neighborhood-level measure reflecting risk for criminal opportunities contributes substantively to the neighborhoods and crime literature.
Characterizing the thermal infrared spectral effects of optically thin surface dust: Implications for remote-sensing and in situ measurements of the martian surface

Abstract A spectral contribution different from that observed for thick dust mantles has been identified in many of the in situ measurements of rocks and regolith acquired by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) instruments on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER). This spectral contribution is thought to be caused by optically thin surface dust and if not corrected can greatly hinder the mineralogical interpretation of rock surfaces. The focus of this study is the characterization of key radiative processes that are necessary to understand the spectral contributions produced by optically thin surface dust. An understanding of these radiative processes is important to be able to reproduce, predict, and correct their contribution in thermal infrared (TIR; ∼200–2000 cm−1; 5–50 μm) datasets. By combining TIR spectroscopic laboratory measurements and radiative transfer (RT) modeling, we have reproduced and quantified the spectral contributions produced by optically thin surface dust in the TIR spectral range. TIR laboratory measurements were acquired of basaltic rocks and gold diffuse reflectors (GDR) mantled with varying amounts of optically thin dust. The spectral contributions of optically thin dust as observed by Mini-TES were not observed in the laboratory measurements of the dusty basaltic rocks, but were observed in the measurements of the dusty GDR’s. For the dust to contribute spectral features the dust must maintain a thermal contrast with the underlying surface. This thermal contrast was not achieved for the dusty basaltic rocks. Using our RT model, laboratory spectra of the dusty basaltic rocks and GDR’s were reproduced. Our RT model appears to reproduce the spectral features attributed to the dust in the laboratory measurements to first order and can quantify the relationship between dust coatings and measured radiance. After validating the RT model against the TIR laboratory measurements, it was then used in an initial application to reproduce measurements acquired by the Mini-TES. By characterizing the spectral behavior of the dust, including the potential for thermal contrast between the dust and the substrate, it is possible to better understand and interpret TIR spectra of dust mantled surfaces.
Venous status ulcers due to congenital agenesis of the inferior vena cava in a 16-year-old male.

We report a case of agenesis of the infrarenal inferior vena cava in a 16-year-old male presenting with venous stasis dermatitis and ulceration in the gaiter region bilaterally. Duplex imaging was ...
Ability of Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) to Acquire, Maintain, and Transmit Lyme Disease Spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi)

The ability of the immature stages of three tick species from the southeastern United States to acquire, maintain, and transmit Borrelia burgdorferi was determined under laboratory conditions. Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblyomma americanum (L.) acquired spirochetal infection as larvae, but infection in D. variabilis (9% infected) and A. americanum , (1% infected) was inefficient and short lived. In contrast, Ixodes scapularis Say infected as larvae maintained spirochetal infection transstadially, and infected I. scapularis nymphs transmitted spirochetes to hamsters in four out of four trials. Although I. scapularis was a competent laboratory vector, natural populations of this tick taken from white-tailed deer and white-footed mice in Alabama were not infected with spirochetes.
Excitonic Many-Body Interactions in Two-Dimensional Lead Iodide Perovskite Quantum Wells

While the perovskite fever has focused on three-dimensional crystalline solids, this class of material can also self-assemble into two-dimensional (2D) layered structures that are natural quantum wells with tunable thickness and optoelectronic properties. Here we apply femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to study the many-body optical responses of 2D perovskites with the general formula of (C4H9NH3I)2(CH3NH3I)n−1(PbI2)n, where n = 1, 2, 3) is the number of lead iodide unit cells in the direction perpendicular to the 2D quantum well. In the thinnest quantum well (n = 1), above-gap optical excitation induces a blue shift but no population bleaching at the excitonic resonance; this is similar to the many-body optical response of conventional inorganic quantum wells. In contrast to inorganic quantum wells, we find the excitonic blue-shift in 2D perovskites to be independent of excitation power density. We take this as evidence for a Mott-Wannier exciton localizing into a “puddle”, which only exerts ...
Chronic hydronephrosis: observations on the mechanism of the defect in urine concentration.

SummaryThe renal concentrating and diluting mechanism was examined in dogs with unilateral chronic hydronephrosis and compared to the contralateral normal side. Urine concentrating ability and concentrating capacity were markedly impaired in the chronically hydronephrotic kidney. However, as previously reported, fractional free water clearance over a large range of distal delivery was identical in both kidneys. Significant reductions in papillary and medullary nonurea solute concentration were present in the hydronephrotic kidneys as compared to controls during both hydropenia and hydration.It is postulated that reduction in the number of functioning nephrons in the medulla results in a decrease in sodium transport into the interstitium and, therefore, in reduced medullary hyper tonicity. This, by decreasing free water back diffusion out of the collecting duct, would result in the impaired urinary concentrating ability and capacity observed in chronic hydronephrosis.
Ovine fetal protein metabolism during decreased glucose delivery.

During decreased fetal glucose delivery, endogenous substrates increasingly support metabolic rate. If oxidation of fetal amino acid stores (i.e., protein) is to provide such substrate, either protein synthesis must decrease or protein breakdown must increase. Both of these changes would diminish fetal protein accretion, an important component of fetal growth. This study was performed, therefore, to find if decreased glucose delivery alters fetal leucine metabolism. Catheters were placed in six sheep fetuses under maternal general anesthesia, and, after 6 days recovery, fetal leucine metabolism was measured by infusion of [1-14C]leucine before and after fetal glucose delivery was decreased by infusing insulin to the ewe. Later (2 days) the experiment was repeated in reverse order. Decreased fetal glucose delivery was associated with a 19% decrease in the rate of fetal leucine disposal (P < 0.001), a 42% decrease in the rate of exogenous leucine uptake (P < 0.01), and no change in the rate of fetal leucine...
The purgative plan of James Hamilton, Senior: therapeutic philosophy in the early nineteenth century.

Au debut du XIX e siecle, James Hamilton, medecin britannique du XVIII e siecle, publie un memoire dans lequel il decrit les traitements purgatifs de certaines maladies et substitue la medecine rationaliste par une medecine empirique
The Calotype and the Photographer

AbstractCalotypist Calvert R. Jones corresponded frequently with William Henry Fox Talbot. These letters provide outstanding insight into the problems which were encountered by photographers using that process. Those difficulties had a direct bearing on the popularity of calotyping compared to daguerreotyping.
Reconsidering Contentious Argument: Augustus DeMorgan on Fallacy

This essay examines Augustus DeMorgan's chapter on fallacy in his Formal Logic (1847) in order to show how DeMorgan's treatment represents an expansion and advance upon Aristotle. It is important that Aristotle clearly distinguishes among dialectical, didactic, demonstrative, and contentious types of argument, based upon the acceptability of premises and the aims of participants. Appropriating Aristotle's list of fallacies, DeMorgan discusses examples that reveal how the charge and countercharge of fallacy function in contentious argument, which is more widespread than Aristotle imagined. DeMorgan's treatment of fallacy is in the spirit of Aristotle because of its focus on dialogue arguments, but it represents an advance because it expands the possible scenes of contention and shows how unshared premises and the will to win inform many argument situations. The emphasis on contention in natural-language argument puts DeMorgan in the company of his l9th century peers, Mill and Whately.
How Do Female Candidates Affect Voter Turnout? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Approach

How does the presence of a woman on the ballot impact election outcomes, aggregate turnout, and the voting behavior of particular groups of voters? Using a regression discontinuity approach, I exploit quasi-random variation in the presence of a female candidate in US House elections stemming from narrowly won primary elections between candidates of different genders. I find that the presence of a female candidate leads to lower overall turnout, but otherwise has no bearing on the outcome of the election. The change in turnout is driven entirely by male voters, which falls uniformly for (male) voters of both parties.
Circuit Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Learning

The relationship between the brain and the environment is flexible, forming the foundation for our ability to learn. Here we review the current state of our understanding of the modifications in the sensorimotor pathway related to sensorimotor learning. We divide the process into three hierarchical levels with distinct goals: (1) sensory perceptual learning, (2) sensorimotor associative learning, and (3) motor skill learning. Perceptual learning optimizes the representations of important sensory stimuli. Associative learning and the initial phase of motor skill learning are ensured by feedback-based mechanisms that permit trial-and-error learning. The later phase of motor skill learning may primarily involve feedback-independent mechanisms operating under the classic Hebbian rule. With these changes under distinct constraints and mechanisms, sensorimotor learning establishes dedicated circuitry for the reproduction of stereotyped neural activity patterns and behavior.
Bioenergy experts and their imagined “obligatory publics” in the United States: Implications for public engagement and participation

Abstract Science, Technology and Society (STS) research on the social dimensions of technology development emphasizes how imagined publics who play passive roles in technology systems influence technology design and public engagement. It further documents expert adherence to deficit models for conceptualizing publics’ responses to technology development. Building on this literature, this paper examines two related questions that have received little attention. First, how do experts conceptualize publics whose direct participation with technology development, rather than quiescence toward technology development, is framed by experts as mandatory for the technology project’s success? Second, given both the prevalence and problematic outcomes of expert and institutional adherence to deficit models, what might an alternative model for conceptualizing publics look like? To address these questions, we draw from a case study of 30 “bioenergy experts” in the Northeastern U.S. and their imagined landowning publics. Our analysis provides two contributions. First, we develop the concept “obligatory publics” to examine expert imaginaries of publics whose direct participation is seen as mandatory for successful renewable energy technology (RET) development. And second, we suggest a “hermeneutic-dialectic” approach, which emphasizes the role of dialogue between experts and publics for achieving new and mutually agreed upon understandings, as one possible alternative to public deficit models.
Was the Dalkon Shield a safe and effective intrauterine device? The conflict between case-control and clinical trial study findings.

Objective To compare the findings of the case-control and cohort studies used to indict the Dalkon Shield (A.H. Robins Company, Inc., Richmond, VA) with the findings of the Dalkon Shield clinical trials. Data Identification All published reports on the Dalkon Shield were identified through MEDLARS system (United States National Library of Medicine) searches and by cross checking all references in these reports. The same approach was used to identify all case-control and cohort studies of the purported relationship between intrauterine devices (IUDs) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Study Selection Only studies of interval patients that included 50 or more women and 6 or more months of follow up that computed standard IUD event rates (rates of pregnancy and expulsion and removal for pain and bleeding) were selected for this study. All case-control and cohort studies identified were included except two case-control studies that included women with sterile chronic salpingitis. Results The 16 case-control and 2 cohort studies found or suggested that the Dalkon Shield increased the risk of PID. The 71 clinical trials of the Dalkon Shield show that when this device is inserted by an experienced clinician it is a safe and effective contraceptive method, comparable with other IUDs used at the time. There was no evidence of an increased risk of PID found in these clinical trials. Conclusions This study offers convincing evidence that the indictment of the Dalkon Shield was a mistake. Additionally, this study shows that physician skill and experience is far more important to successful IUD insertion than previously recognized, a finding with considerable implications for IUD study designs and for marketing strategies.
Ferroelectric Behavior of Organic Terahertz Radiating DAST Crystal

Bulk terahertz emitting and technologically advanced DAST crystal is grown using a simple, cost effective and efficient seed rotation technique from a saturated methanol solution. The grown crystal is identified by a single crystal XRD analysis and powder X-ray diffraction studies. HRXRD experiments substantiate a good crystalline perfection without interior grain boundaries. The ferroelectric nature of the crystal has been described by P–E hysteresis loop analysis, which corroborates with better ferroelectric behavior than other benchmarked inorganic materials. The hardness, elastic stiffness, and yield strength shows decreasing trend for increasing loads and the work hardening coefficient confirm that the DAST is a soft material. Two-dimensional nucleation growth with minimum dislocation is evident from the etch patterns.
What to Tweet when the Top Is Toxic? Gauging References to the 2016 Presidential Candidates in House Members’ Social Media Posts

Election 2016 saw two historically unpopular presidential candidates atop the major party tickets. For both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, casting one’s fate with their party’s presidential nominee carried an unusual amount of risk in 2016. This raises the question as to whether incumbent members of the House of Representatives avoided talking about their own party’s nominee and instead focused on the out-party’s nominee. A dataset of congressional tweets collected during the final month of the campaign was analyzed to answer this question. Findings indicate that tweeting about the tops of the tickets was limited. While Democrats tweeted about both presidential candidates, Republicans largely avoided tweeting about their nominee, Donald Trump.
Rational Inference: The Lowest Bounds

A surge of empirical research demonstrating flexible cognition in animals and young infants has raised interest in the possibility of rational decision-making in the absence of language. A venerable position, which I here call “Classical Inferentialism”, holds that nonlinguistic agents are incapable of rational inferences. Against this position, I defend a model of nonlinguistic inferences that shows how they could be practically rational. This model vindicates the Lockean idea that we can intuitively grasp rational connections between thoughts by developing the Davidsonian idea that practical inferences are at bottom categorization judgments. From this perspective, we can see how similarity-based categorization processes widely studied in human and animal psychology might count as practically rational. The solution involves a novel hybrid of internalism and externalism: intuitive inferences are psychologically rational (in the explanatory sense) given the intensional sensitivity of the similarity assessment to the internal structure of the agent's reasons for acting, but epistemically rational (in the justificatory sense) given an ecological fit between the features matched by that assessment and the structure of the agent's environment. The essay concludes by exploring empirical results that show how nonlinguistic agents can be sensitive to these similarity assessments in a way that grants them control over their opaque judgments.
Coming Out and Leaving Home: A Policy and Research Agenda for LGBT Homeless Students:

Each year, it is estimated between 320,000 and 400,000 LGBT youth encounter homelessness. They are at increased risk of victimization and abuse and face stigmatization for being both homeless and a sexual or gender minority. These youth are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to become homeless after being forced out of their homes. Because of this, it is important to consider the wide array of backgrounds and identities of LGBT homeless youth when studying their lived experiences and creating public policies and tools to help them succeed. Accordingly, the authors examine the literatures on LGBT and homeless students and then explore the intersection of these communities. Based on the current research, the authors propose educational policy and research agendas that include theoretical and methodological considerations. By examining the LGBT community collectively, the authors take a pragmatic approach to understanding and aiding this unique subset of homeless students.
Language and style: A barrier to neurosurgical research and advancement in Latin America.

Background The neurosurgical burden in Latin America is understudied and likely underestimated, thus it is imperative to improve quality, training, and delivery of neurosurgical care. A significant aspect of this endeavor is for Latin America to become an integral aspect of the global neurosurgical community, however, there is a paucity of ideology and literature coming from Central and South America. We sought to explore neurosurgical dialogue originating from Latin America as well as barriers to the advancement of neurosurgery in this region. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review exploring research originating in Latin America in three international neurosurgical journals - Journal of Neurosurgery, Surgical Neurology International, and World Neurosurgery. We utilized PubMed search algorithms to identify articles. Inclusion criteria included publication within the three aforementioned journals, author affiliation with Latin American institutions, and publication within the specified time frame of January 2014 to July 2017. Results There were 7469 articles identified that met the search criteria. Of these 7469 articles, 326 (4.4%) were from Latin American nations. Conclusion Our data suggests a relatively low percentage of neurosurgical research originating from Latin America, suggesting a significant lack of participation in the global neurosurgical community. Barriers to global scientific communication include language, rhetorical style, culture, history, biases, funding, and governmental support. Despite challenges, Latin America is making strides towards improvement including the development of neurosurgical societies, as well as international collaborative training and research programs. We consider our report to be a valid initiation of discussion of the broader issue of neurosurgical communication.
Reviews of Science for Science Librarians: Patient Decision Aids

ABSTRACTPatient Decision Aids (PDAs) are an important part of a movement towards truly informed consent and shared decision making (SDM) in medicine. The best PDAs are produced using readily understood terms and depictions but are nonetheless backed by the best available scientific evidence and most current clinical consensus. Ideally, but not always, PDAs are distributed by knowledgeable professionals working in doctor's offices, outpatient clinics, or hospitals, and carefully matched to the particular medical issues the patient is most likely facing. After having viewed or read an appropriate PDA, patients can more meaningfully discuss with their medical practitioners, what their options are for diagnostic tests, medications, treatments, or surgeries, and make their own preferences clearly understood with the full expectation that their wishes will be followed. The formats, sources, and standards by which PDAs are evaluated by experts are reviewed here so that librarians can assist patrons who often fin...
MDCT and MRI of bowel obstruction and ischemia

Bowel obstruction and ischemia are common causes of the acute abdomen, with potential for morbidity and mortality if not recognized promptly. Multidetector computed tomography is the current imaging standard for establishing these diagnoses, but emerging techniques including dual-energy computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography are being utilized with increased frequency. Radiologists must understand the imaging techniques available for evaluating intestinal obstruction and ischemia in order to provide effective and timely care to patients in the emergency and acute inpatient setting.
Revisions on Alpha Plane for Enhanced Sensitivity of Line Differential Protection

Line current differential protection based on the traditional alpha plane may block internal faults with outfeed when providing higher security for external faults under current transformer (CT) saturation. This letter proves analytically that the external faults under CT saturation plot away from the negative real-axis of the complex plane and accordingly proposes revisions of the alpha plane characteristics. The modified alpha plane enhances the sensitivity of line current differential protection by unblocking more space along the negative real-axis where internal faults with outfeed are plotted.