cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreas graft back-table surgery technique

Abstract Pancreas benching preparation is of crucial importance for the success of transplantation. It is a complex and time-consuming procedure requiring stapling, many suture ligations, and vessel reconstruction. Organ damage occurs in more than 50% of pancreas procurement. Therefore, a profound knowledge of the pancreas anatomy and variations is necessary to avoid and to recognize lesions during both pancreas procurement and bench work. The back-table preparation of the pancreas involves the following stages: (1) inspection of the graft, (2) duodenal dissection/shortening with stapler, (3) suture/ligation of the vessels at the root of the mesentery and inferior mesenteric vein, (4) removal of the excess fat surrounding the pancreas and ligation of small vessels and lymphatics, (5) limited dissection and mobilization of the splenic and superior mesenteric arteries and portal vein and removal of excess ganglion tissue, (6) vascular reconstruction with the Y graft, and (7) spleen can be removed before or after graft implantation.
Estimation of point source fugitive emission rates from a single sensor time series: A conditionally-sampled Gaussian plume reconstruction

Emerging mobile fugitive emissions detection and measurement approaches require robust inverse source algorithms to be effective. Two Gaussian plume inverse approaches are described for estimating emission rates from ground-level point sources observed from remote vantage points. The techniques were tested using data from 41 controlled methane release experiments (14 studies) and further investigated using 7 field studies executed downwind of oil and gas well pads in Wyoming. Analyzed measurements were acquired from stationary observation locations 18–106 m downwind of the emission sources. From the fluctuating wind direction, the lateral plume geometry is reconstructed using a derived relationship between the wind direction and crosswind plume position. The crosswind plume spread is determined with both modeled and reconstructed Gaussian plume approaches and estimates of source emission rates are found through inversion. The source emission rates were compared to a simple point source Gaussian emission estimation approach that is part of Draft EPA Method OTM 33A. Compared to the known release rates, the modeled, reconstructed, and point source Gaussian controlled release results yield average percent errors of −5%, -2%, and 6% with standard deviations of 29%, 25%, and 37%, respectively. Compared to each other, the three methods agree within 30% for 78% of all 48 observations (41 CR and 7 Wyoming).
Intrinsically patterned electrical systems: physical requirements and experimental demonstration

This paper introduces a method of replicating electrical circuits through a series of specific requirements as part of a design methodology referred to as Intrinsically Patterned Electrical Systems (IPES) processing methodology. IPESs are unique in that they allow for replication of a circuit directly using the circuit as a pattern for molding, without the use of an intermediate mold. In this study, the IPES processing methodology requirements have been met by using a set of specific mechanical manipulations and a combination of paraffin wax as a substrate and liquid gallium to form a conductive layer. The intent of the IPES methodology is twofold; it could be used for rapid, lower-cost manufacturing or in the repair of damaged printed circuit boards since the damaged circuit can be replicated through the mechanical manipulations detailed by IPES processing methodology requirements. Specifically, this paper investigates the possibility of IPES methodology to meet manufacturing requirements, which is demonstrated through the conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies. This paper also includes a short physical example of a simplistic circuit which is replicated using the IPES processing methodology.
Sleep Problems and Posttraumatic Stress: Children Exposed to a Natural Disaster

OBJECTIVE Sleep plays a critical role in children's growth and development. This study examined the frequency and persistence of children's sleep problems following a natural disaster, risk factors for children's sleep problems, and the bidirectional relationship between children's sleep problems and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) over time. METHODS This study assessed 269 children (53% female, M = 8.70 years, SD = 0.95) exposed to Hurricane Ike at 8 months (Time 1) and 15 months (Time 2) post-disaster. Children completed measures of hurricane exposure and related stressors, stressful life events, sleep problems, and PTSS. RESULTS Children's sleep problems were significantly correlated from Time 1 to Time 2 (r = .28, p < .001). Risk factors for sleep problems at Time 2 were younger age, sleep problems at Time 1, and PTSS, not including sleep items, at Time 1. Examinations of the bidirectional relationship between sleep problems and PTSS indicated that PTSS significantly predicted later sleep problems, but sleep problems did not significantly predict later PTSS. CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrate that PTSS may contribute to the development and course of children's sleep problems post-disaster.
Effectively Using Remote I/O For Work Composition in Distributed Workflows

Distributed scientific workflows are becoming more important with the interest in incorporating AI into their loops. A critical programming and performance question is how to compose workflow tasks when data is produced on one system but must be consumed on another. Since the dominant technique is composition with remote I/O, this paper explores its performance expectations. We describe BigFlowSim, a workflow I/O simulator that captures key implementation choices for remote I/O, including intensity, reuse, locality, access pattern, and data movement. With BigFlowSim, we generate a synthetic benchmark. We quantify the effects of each parameter with a performance sensitivity study. We explain trends in terms of data movement reduction and show that, under certain conditions, it is possible to establish a total order among most parameters.
Cutaneous hyalohyphomycosis due to Petriella setifera following traumatic inoculation in an immunocompetent host.

Abstract A common cause of subcutaneous mycoses in immunocompetent patients is traumatic inoculation. This is the first reported case of cutaneous infection with Petriella setifera in a human host. A 49-year-old immunocompetent man sustained a splinter from his wooden deck, which resulted in a chronic cutaneous lesion. Originally identified as Scedosporium species on microscopic examination, genome sequencing of the internal transcribed spaces (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) identified the mold as Petriella setifera, a common environmental fungus responsible for wood rot. The patient underwent excision and antifungal therapy with cure.
Biased Gradient Estimators in Simulation Optimization

Within the simulation community, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that when solving a simulation optimization problem, biased gradient estimators should not be used to guide a local-search algorithm. On the contrary, we argue that for certain problems, biased gradient estimators may still provide useful directional information. We focus on the infinitesimal perturbation analysis (IPA) gradient estimator, which is biased when an interchange of differentiation and expectation fails. Although a local-search algorithm guided by biased gradient estimators will likely not converge to a local optimal solution, it might be expected to reach a neighborhood of one. We test such a gradient-based search on an ambulance base location problem, demonstrating its effectiveness in a non-trivial example, and present some supporting theoretical results.
Genome annotation with long RNA reads reveals new patterns of gene expression in an ant brain

Abstract Functional genomic analyses rely on high-quality genome assemblies and annotations. Highly contiguous genome assemblies have become available for a variety of species, but accurate and complete annotation of gene models, inclusive of alternative splice isoforms and transcription start and termination sites remains difficult with traditional approaches. Here, we utilized full-length isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq), a long-read RNA sequencing technology, to obtain a comprehensive annotation of the transcriptome of the ant Harpegnathos saltator. The improved genome annotations include additional splice isoforms and extended 3’ untranslated regions for more than 4,000 genes. Reanalysis of RNA-seq experiments using these annotations revealed several genes with caste-specific differential expression and tissue-or caste-specific splicing patterns that were missed in previous analyses. The extended 3’ untranslated regions afforded great improvements in the analysis of existing single-cell RNA-seq data, resulting in the recovery of the transcriptomes of 18% more cells. The deeper single-cell transcriptomes obtained with these new annotations allowed us to identify additional markers for several cell types in the ant brain, as well as genes differentially expressed across castes in specific cell types. Our results demonstrate that Iso-Seq is an efficient and effective approach to improve genome annotations and maximize the amount of information that can be obtained from existing and future genomic datasets in Harpegnathos and other organisms.
Comparing crystal structures with symmetry and geometry

Measuring the similarity between two arbitrary crystal structures is a common challenge in crystallography and materials science. Although there are an infinite number of ways to mathematically relate two crystal structures, only a few are physically meaningful. Here we introduce both a geometry-based and a symmetry-adapted similarity metric to compare crystal structures. Using crystal symmetry and combinatorial optimization we describe an algorithm to arrive at the structural relationship that minimizes these similarity metrics across all possible maps between any pair of crystal structures. The approach makes it possible to (i) identify pairs of crystal structures that are identical, (ii) quantitatively measure the similarity between crystal structures, and (iii) find and rank structural transformation pathways between any pair of crystal structures. We discuss the advantages of using the symmetry-adapted cost metric over the geometric cost. Finally, we show that all known structural transformation pathways between common crystal structures are recovered with the mapping algorithm. The methodology presented in this study will be of value to efforts that seek to catalogue crystal structures, identify structural transformation pathways or prune large first-principles datasets used to parameterize on-lattice Hamiltonians.
The paradoxical association between tension-reduction alcohol outcome expectancies and tension following alcohol consumption.

Background Behavioral models suggest that strong tension-reduction alcohol-outcome expectancies (TREs) among drinkers should be associated with greater tension reduction after drinking. Yet, the few studies investigating this have found either no relationship or the opposite relationship. Objectives We sought to explore this relationship by building upon the limitations of past studies and employing a placebo-controlled, within-subject experimental design. Methods Sixty social drinkers (26 M, 34 F) visited the lab on two occasions spaced one week apart. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive alcoholic drinks targeting a BAC of 0.05% on one testing day and placebo drinks on the other, with the order counter-balanced. On both testing days, participants completed measures of state anxiety and fear both before drinking and following a drinking/absorption period. While completing the self-report measures, participants were anticipating an impending, mildly stressful heartbeat perception task. Results Multilevel modeling revealed that the more strongly individuals believed that alcohol reduces tension, the less the pharmacologic properties of alcohol did so (p = .02 for the state anxiety outcome measure; p = .001 for the fear outcome measure). This was the case even with anxiety sensitivity - a known predictor of stress-response dampening - controlled for. Conclusions These results provide further evidence for the paradoxical association of TREs and the dampening of anxiety. Additionally, the findings are consistent with the basis of expectancy challenges that aim to reframe inaccurate TREs among drinkers.
Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity postpartum: A qualitative systematic review.

Abstract Background Postpartum weight retention increases the risk of long-term overweight and obesity and associated comorbidities. Healthy eating and physical activity are important lifestyle behaviors for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. However, these habits may be hard for women to adopt or maintain in the postpartum period. Objective To identify and describe barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity among postpartum women in the United States. Methods A qualitative systematic review was conducted. Qualitative studies on women’s experiences with weight loss, healthy eating, and physical activity in the postpartum period were identified using a comprehensive search strategy. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Data were qualitatively analyzed using thematic synthesis. Resulting themes were mapped onto components of the Social-Ecological Model for Food and Physical Activity Decisions. Results Thirteen qualitative studies were included in the review. Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity in the postpartum period included individual factors (emotional and mindless eating, physical limitations, and social support), settings and sectors (food environments, childcare needs, and structured information and support), and social and cultural norms (time constraints, and prioritization of maternal responsibilities). Conclusions Researchers and practitioners should consider how factors within various levels of the Social-Ecological Model may influence healthy eating and physical activity in the postpartum period.
Coagulase Positive Staphylococci as Indicators of Potential Health Hazards From Water

Coagulase-positive staphylococci are synonymous with the species Staphylococcus aureus. They are normal inhabitants of the nose, skin, and intestinal tract of healthy individuals as well as a cause of purulent infections of the skin, eyes, and ears. They are a major component of the bacterial flora of swimming pools and recreational waters that have a high density of swimmers and are potentially a good index of the health hazard associated with bathing in such waters. The major obstacle to their use as an indicator organism is the lack of a medium and method that is sufficiently selective and reliable forthe quantitative recovery of these bacteria from aquatic habitats.
Roots of Unity

The simplest field extensions of a field F are those in which we adjoin an nth root of an element c ∈F. To investigate these, it will be valuable for us to consider roots of unity. After all, if α n = c, then the other nth roots of c are of the form ωα, where ω is some nth root of unity, and so it will be relevant whether or not F contains such roots of unity. Note that R, for example, contains the square roots of unity, namely, 1 and — 1, but it contains no higher roots of unity (other than 1) because they are all complex.
FISH ASSEMBLAGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRESENCE OF DAMS IN THREE EASTERN IOWA RIVERS

Fish assemblages in rivers of the Midwestern United States are an important component of the region's natural resources and biodiversity. We characterized the physical environment and presence of dams in a series of reaches in three eastern Iowa rivers tributary to the Mississippi River and related these characteristics to the fish assemblages present. Some physical characteristics were similar among the 12 study reaches, whereas others differed substantially. We found a total of 68 species across the 12 study reaches; 56 in the Turkey River, 51 in the Maquoketa River and 50 in the Wapsipinicon River. Seventeen species could be described as ‘downstream-distributed’; 15 being found only in the lowest reach of one or more rivers and the other two being found only in the lowest reaches or two or more contiguous reaches including the lowest reach. Two species could be described as ‘upstream-distributed’, being found only in an uppermost reach. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination illustrated similarities among reaches, and five physical variables were significantly correlated with assemblage similarities. Catchment area and number of dams between reaches and the Mississippi River were strongly correlated with assemblage similarities, but the directions of their effects were opposite. Catchment area and number of dams were confounded. The collective evidence to date suggests that the pervasiveness of dams on rivers significantly alters fish assemblages, making underlying patterns of species change and relationships with naturally varying and human-influenced physical characteristics along a river's course difficult to discern. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Half-Dose Immunization for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis

In Reply.— I am afraid the Red Book Committee can give no encouragement to the practice of reducing the dosage of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine. Although giving six doses might result in good immune responses, the risk of sensitization may also be increased. Moreover, if a child has the mild reactions described by Dr Rogers, why not give full doses? Low-grade fever occurs in almost half of the recipients of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine, and about half also have fretfulness.
Solution parameters modulating DNA binding specificity of the restriction endonuclease EcoRV.

The DNA binding stringency of restriction endonucleases is crucial for their proper function. The x-ray structures of the specific and non-cognate complexes of the restriction nuclease EcoRV are considerably different suggesting significant differences in the hydration and binding free energies. Nonetheless, the majority of studies performed at pH 7.5, optimal for enzymatic activity, have found less than a 10-fold difference between EcoRV binding constants to the specific and nonspecific sequences in the absence of divalent ions. We used a recently developed self-cleavage assay to measure EcoRV-DNA competitive binding and to evaluate the influence of water activity, pH and salt concentration on the binding stringency of the enzyme in the absence of divalent ions. We find the enzyme can readily distinguish specific and nonspecific sequences. The relative specific-nonspecific binding constant increases strongly with increasing neutral solute concentration and with decreasing pH. The difference in number of associated waters between specific and nonspecific DNA-EcoRV complexes is consistent with the differences in the crystal structures. In spite of the large pH dependence of the sequence specificity, the osmotic pressure dependence indicates little change in structure with pH. The large osmotic pressure dependence means that measurement of protein-DNA specificity in dilute solution cannot be directly applied to binding in the crowded environment of the cell. In addition to divalent ions, water activity and pH are key parameters that strongly modulate binding specificity of EcoRV.
Sugar Transport VI. PHOSPHORYL TRANSFER IN THE LACTOSE PHOSPHOTRANSFERASE SYSTEM OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Abstract The reaction catalyzed by the phosphoenolpyruvate:β-galactoside phosphotransferase system of Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The four protein components of this system were required for the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of lactose and its analogues, and the over-all reaction proceeded by an ordered sequence of phosphoryl transfer steps, each of which was studied in detail. The initial phosphoryl transfer from phosphoenolpyruvate to the phosphocarrier protein HPr was catalyzed by Enzyme I; phospho-Enzyme I appears to be an intermediate in this reaction. Only one phosphoryl group was transferred to each HPr molecule; the Keq for phospho-HPr formation was about 10. The subsequent reversible phosphoryl transfer from phospho-HPr to the sugar-specific phosphocarrier protein Factor IIIlac was entirely self-catalyzed. Since this novel reaction, shown with homogeneous HPr and Factor IIIlac, did not require any additional protein component, it appears that each protein (when phosphorylated) served as a substrate for the other. The Keq for this phosphoryl transfer is approximately 0.3. The phosphoryl groups in both phospho-carrier proteins are linked to the imidazole moieties of histidine residues, to N-1 in HPr and N-3 in Factor IIIlac. The final step, formation of galactoside 6-phosphate, was catalyzed by the membrane-bound Enzyme IIlac. Kinetic studies indicated that the reaction did not proceed by a "ping-pong" mechanism, but that a ternary complex was formed by the two substrates, phospho-Factor IIIlac and lactose, and Enzyme IIlac. No evidence for a phospho-Enzyme IIlac intermediate was obtained. Direct binding of lactose by Enzyme IIlac (Kd ≅ 2.5 x 10-7 m) in the absence of other components was shown.
Isolation and fractionation of the Tetrahymena cytoskeleton and oral apparatus.

Publisher Summary Tetrahymena has all ciliary basal bodies firmly anchored in a cortically disposed cytoskeleton, which can be isolated intact. This has been outlined in this chapter through method I. The major basal body-associated structures in this preparation are cortical microtubules, tetrin filaments, and kinetodesmal fibers (striated rootlets). The structures present in this preparation have been characterized and some of the major proteins have been identified as to structure. The membrane skeleton contains three major proteins (125, 135, and 235 kDa), and the tetrin filaments are composed of four subunit proteins (79–89 kDa). α- and β-tubulin are also present. It has recently been found that an antibody to the striatedrootlets recognizes a 26-kDa protein, and anticentrin recognizes a 20-kDa protein in this preparation. Method 2 can be used when microtubule protein is not required. Microtubules, including basal bodies, are absent from this preparation, and centrin is not present. On the other hand, the membrane skeleton proteins, the striated rootlet protein, and the tetrin filament proteins are enriched. Special proteins (K-antigens) that anchor basal bodies in the membrane skeleton have been identified in this preparation. Method 3 is used for the direct isolation of assembly-purified tetrin from Tetrahymena . Tetrin has also been found in Paramecium and Trypanosoma, where it is also basal body associated. There may be tetrin-related proteins in higher cells. The methods—purification of the cortical cytoskeleton, isolation of membrane skeletons with striated rootlets and tetrin filaments, and isolation of tetrin filaments—have been described; the solutions and procedure detailed. There are suggestions on the alternative solutions and/or apparatuses that can be used for the methods.
Plasmids of Azotobacter vinelandii

Four laboratory strains and two isolates of Azotobacter vinelandii were found to contain plasmids. Twenty-five laboratory strains which could fix nitrogen did not have free, covalently closed circular plasmid DNA. The plasmids varied in size from 9 to 52 megadaltons, and each strain yielded only one plasmid. No discernible differences in ability to fix nitrogen were found between plasmid-bearing and cured cultures.
Coupled-mode and FDTD analysis of transverse Bragg resonance (TBR) waveguides

A coupled-mode approach to analysing a transverse Bragg resonance (TBR) waveguide is compared to a two dimensional finite difference time domain calculation. We show the coupled-mode formalism can provide an intuitive method to analyse TBR waveguides even for large index contrasts.
Nurse work environment and quality of care by unit types: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Nursing unit is the micro-organization in the hospital health care system in which integrated patient care is provided. Nursing units of different types serve patients with distinct care goals, clinical tasks, and social structures and norms. However, empirical evidence is sparse on unit type differences in quality of care and its relation with nurse work environment. Nurse work environment has been found as an important nursing factor predicting nurse and patient outcomes. Objectives To examine the unit type differences in nurse-reported quality of care, and to identify the association between unit work environment and quality of care by unit types. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using nurse survey data (2012) from US hospitals nationwide. The nurse survey collected data on quality of care, nurse work environment, and other work related information from staff nurses working in units of various types. Unit types were systematically classified across hospitals. The unit of analysis was the nursing unit, and the final sample included 7677 units of 14 unit types from 577 hospitals in 49 states in the US. Multilevel regressions were used to assess the relationship between nurse work environment and quality of care across and by unit types. Results On average, units had 58% of the nurses reporting excellent quality of care and 40% of the nurses reporting improved quality of care over the past year. Unit quality of care varied by unit types, from 43% of the nurses in adult medical units to 73% of the nurses in interventional units rating overall quality of care on unit as excellent, and from 35% of the nurses in adult critical care units to 44% of the nurses in adult medical units and medical–surgical combined units reporting improved quality of care. Estimates from regressions indicated that better unit work environments were associated with higher quality of care when controlling various hospital and unit covariates; and this association persisted among units of different types. Conclusions Unit type differences exist in the overall quality of care as well as achievement in improving quality of care. The low rates of nurses reporting improvement in the quality of nursing care to patients suggest that further interventions focusing at the unit-level are needed for achieving high care quality. Findings from our study also suggest that improving nurse work environments can be an effective strategy to improve quality of care.
Selective hydrolysis of peptides promoted by metal ions: a positional scanning approach

Rapid, microplate-based fluorogenic screening of a positional scanning combinatorial library accurately predicts the sequence specificity of metal-assisted peptide hydrolysis.
Broken Clamp on a Cuffed Tunneled Catheter—Are All Catheters Equal?

The use of a cuffed tunneled catheter (CTC) as an initial access in the incident hemodialysis population in the United States remains high. Several different brands of catheters are available for clinical use. Their mechanical problems (such as broken clamps, hubs or leaking and cracked extension tubes) are seldom reported in the literature, even though they add to morbidity and higher health care expense. This study highlights issues related to commonly used catheters and suggests, in the interest of patient safety, a need for improved regulatory oversight in the manufacturing of CTCs.
The effect of visual information on word initial consonant perception of dysarthric speech

Disabled individuals can realize many benefits from automatic speech recognition (ASR). To date, most ASR research has focused on normal speech. However, many individuals with physical disabilities also exhibit speech disorders. While limited research has been conducted focusing on dysarthric speech recognition, the preliminary results indicate that additional study is necessary. Recently, increasing attention has been given to multimodal speech recognition schemes that utilize multiple input sources-most commonly audio and video. This multimodal approach has been applied to normal speech with demonstrated effectiveness. Through studying the effect of audio and visual information in a human perception experiment, this study attempts to discover whether such an approach would be useful for dysarthric speech recognition. Results of a closed-vocabulary perception test are presented. In this test, 15 normal-hearing viewers were presented with video-tapes of three dysarthric speakers (with cerebral palsy) speaking a series of one-syllable nonsense words. These words differed only in the initial consonant. The words were presented in both audio-only and audio-visual modes. Perception rates in both modes were measured. The results are analyzed and compared to other studies of visual speech perception and dysarthric speech articulation.
Modelling Transport, Reaction, and Pore Structure Evolution During Densification of Cellular or Fibrous Structures

A mathematical model is developed to describe mass transport, reaction., and structure evolution during densification of porous media of initially fibrous or cellular structure. The use of Monte Carlo simulation procedures for determining the variation of the local (average) structural properties of the porous structure and of the effective diffusion coefficients in the porous medium with the porosity is also discussed, and results are presented for Knudsen diffusion in cellular or fibrous media. The model is used to theoretically study the transient behavior of the densification process during preparation of SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of porous preforms. Particular emphasis is placed on the investigation of the effects of pressure pulsing on the density gradients in the densifying structure.
Verb Forms in Plavtvs

This account of the verb forms in Plautus proceeds in the same direction as my earlier papers on noun, adjectival, and adverbial forms ( Classical Review , July, December, 1902, July, 1903). I feel strongly that something is needed on Plautine forms that shall be more complete and accurate than anything that yet exists. The statements that one meets with, that this or that form is “common,” or “regular,” in Plautus, are frequently misleading, or even incorrect, and are usually unsatisfying. I do not think it is of much import whether a word occurs fifty times or fifty-five, but it often is important to know whether it occurs fifty times, or five, or once, or not at all.
The prevalence and nature of orgasmic dysfunction after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE To define the type of orgasmic dysfunction in men after radical prostatectomy (RP), as absence of orgasm and orgasmic pain are recognized complaints, and changes in orgasm may lead to significant sexual dissatisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS Using an unvalidated questionnaire, demographic, erectile function and orgasmic function questions were answered by 239 patients who had previously undergone a retropubic RP. RESULTS Of the 239 patients, 22% had no change in orgasm intensity, 37% reported a complete absence of orgasm, 37% had decreased orgasm intensity and 4% reported a more intense orgasm after RP than before. Pain during orgasm (dysorgasmia) occurred in 14% of the patients; in these respondents the pain reportedly occurred always (with every orgasm) in 33%, frequently in 13%, occasionally in 35%, and rarely in 19%. Most patients (55%) had orgasm-associated pain for <1 min. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that orgasmic functional changes are relatively common after RP and are worth considering by clinicians and researchers.
Making a better worm

The excretory systems of closely related worm species have distinct morphological and functional features. A new study now shows that evolutionary gain of lin-48 expression in the excretory duct cell in Caenorhabditis elegans is responsible for the unique excretory system innovations present in this species.
Vitamin B12 Biosynthesis: in vitro formation of cobinamide from cobyric acid and L-threonine.

Abstract The cobalamin-producing bacterium Propionibacterium shermanii incorporates l -threonine into corrinoids most vigorously during the early growth phase. An in vitro system, utilizing cell-free extracts from the early-growth bacteria has been obtained which in the presence of l -threonine converts cobyric acid into cobinamide and biosynthetic products formed from cobinamide. Since in crude extracts l -threonine functions not only as the source of the corrinoid constituent (R)-1-amino-2-propanol but undergoes extensive metabolic changes unrelated to corrinoid formation, the study of the in vitro system required the use of 14 C-labeled Coβ-adenosylcobyric acid and unlabeled l -threonine. This in vitro conversion of cobyric acid to cobinamide is increased when a reductant such as glutathione and an energy source such as ATP, or phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate kinase, are present as well. With a partially purified enzyme fraction cobinamide formation could be studied using 14 C-labeled l -threonine and unlabeled Coβ-adenosylcobyric acid.
Making Connections for Success: A Networking Exercise

Networking is important, and it is a skill. The authors have developed an exercise that provides students with a realistic networking experience within the safe environment of the classroom. The exercise provides a lead-in to the discussion of networking techniques, active listening, the cultivation of secondary networks, appropriate ways to prepare for a networking opportunity, and tactics for cultivating relationships after a networking event. This exercise has an experiential learning and reflective assessment component so that it is aimed at giving students concrete experience, feedback, and an opportunity to reflect on ways to improve their current skill level.
Reconnaissance survey of the abyssal plain south of Newfoundland

Abstract This paper presents a new chart of the abyssal plain south of Newfoundland, contoured in 5-fathom intervals, based on a survey with a newly developed precision depth recorder. The area is of interest in connection with the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake. The abyssal plains are flat, nearly level areas which occupy the deepest portions of many of the ocean basins. The development of a precision depth recorder with an accuracy better than ± 1 fathom was required before an effective study of the abyssal plains could be made. In 1953 a reconaissance survey was run with such a recorder on the abyssal plain south of Newfoundland. The gradient of the plain decreases from 1:1,000 at its northern margin near 41°N to 1:5,000 near latitude 32°N. South of 32°N the gradient probably flattens still more before the southern margin of the plain is reached. The plains have been interpreted by various writers as: (1) atectonic areas; (2) subaerial erosion surfaces; (3) lava plains; (4) areas of long continued sedimentation; (5) surfaces produced by the spreading of extremely fine sediments by bottom currents; (6) areas in which the original relief has been buried by the deposit of turbidity currents. Every core obtained from the abyssal plains to date contains evidence of turbidity currents either in the form of graded bedding, shallow water foraminifera or excessively high calcium carbonate content. The plains slope away from areas adjacent to sediment sources. The present writers consider it likely that all abyssal plains represent areas in which most of the original relief is buried beneath the deposits of turbidity currents. Only the partly buried isolated hills and seamounts which rise from the abyssal plain remain of the original topography. Continued turbidity current transport of material into the basins continually extends the abyssal plains.
The role of mitochondrial alterations in the combined toxic effects of human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein and methamphetamine on calbindin positive-neurons.

The use of methamphetamine (METH) continues to increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission within both homosexual and heterosexual drug abuser groups. Neurological studies indicate that the progression of HIV encephalitis is also enhanced by illicit drug use. Recently, the authors’ studies in the postmortem brains of HIV-positive METH users have shown that the combined effects of HIV and METH selectively damage calbindin (CB)-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons, which may contribute to the behavioral alterations observed in these patients. To better understand the mechanisms of toxicity associated with exposure to HIV and METH, neuronal survival, phenotypic markers, levels of oxidative stress, and mitochondrial potential were assessed in vitro in the hippocampal neuronal cell line, HT22, and in primary human neurons exposed to the HIV Tat protein and/or METH. Both Tat and METH were toxic to neurons in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Neurons exposed to a combination of Tat and METH displayed early evidence of neuronal damage at 6 h, characterized by a decrease in CB and microtubuleassociated protein 2 (MAP2) immunoreactivity followed by more extensive cell death at 24 h. Loss of CB immunoreactivity associated with the combined exposure to Tat and METH was accompanied by mitochondrial damage with increased levels of oxidative stress. The toxic effects of Tat and METH were inhibited by blocking mitochondrial uptake of intracellular calcium, whereas blocking calcium flux in the endoplasmic reticulum or from the extracellular environment had no effect on Tat and METH toxicity. These studies indicate that in vitro, when combined, the HIV protein Tat and METH damage CB-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons by dysregulating the mitochondrial calcium potential. In combination, Tat and METH may increase cell injury and death, thereby enhancing brain metabolic disturbances observed in HIV-positive METH users in clinical populations.
Large-Eigenvalue Global Existence and Regularity Results for the Navier–Stokes Equation

Recently Raugel and Sell obtained global existence results for the Navier–Stokes equation requiring that certain products involving the size of the data and the thinness of the domain be small. Thus the initial and forcing data could actually be quite large if the domain was thin enough. These results were obtained for periodic, and a case of homogeneous mixed periodic-Dirichlet, boundary conditions. We develop integral-equation techniques that allow us to obtain similar results in the case of purely homogeneous-Dirichlet boundary conditions. Our results are fairly simple to state and hold in a general setting, whereby we replace the role of the thinness of the domain by the reciprocal of the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian. We show further utulity of the integral-equation techniques by bootstrapping globalH1-bounds, whenever available in 2-dor 3-d, into higher-order global bounds with slightly smoother forcing functions than those assumed by Guillope, but otherwise more general in thatLp-integrable singularities in time are allowed.
Millennials and the World of Work: The Impact of Obesity on Health and Productivity

Purpose Thirty states now report one in three children between 10–17 years of age are either overweight or obese. This disturbing trend will have lasting implications for our children, specifically those known as the Millennial generation born between 1982 and 1993.
Another casualty of sibling fixed-effects analysis of education and health: an informative null, or null information?

Reducing educational inequalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) will not be achieved by increasing educational attainment. That seems to be the conclusion of Madsen et al.’s discordant-twin study of the relation between educational attainment and cardiovascular disease (Madsen et al., 2014), and virtually all prior studies that used the same approach of comparing the health outcomes of siblings (or twins) with different levels of educationd-they also found that educational effects on health were substantially reduced or eliminated entirely when compared to general population estimates (Amin et al., 2013; Behrman et al., 2011; Fujiwara and Kawachi, 2009; Gatz et al., 2001; Gilman et al., 2008; Lawlor et al., 2006; Madsen et al., 2010, 2014, 2011; Naess et al., 2012; Osler et al., 2007; Sondergaard et al., 2013, 2012; Webbink et al., 2010). Madsen et al. used data from the Danish Twin Registry to compare the risk of CVD between 32,432 monozygotic and dizygotic twins with different attained educations (either primary, secondary, or tertiary). Their “intra-pair” analyses yielded no statistically significant associations between education and heart disease. Importantly, Madsen et al.’s paper carefully reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of the within-sibling (i.e., sibling fixed-effects) approach to causal inference, strengths and weaknesses that have been commented on previously at great length (Donovan and Susser, 2011; Frisell et al., 2012; Gilman and Loucks, 2012; Kaufman, 2008; Kaufman and Glymour, 2011; Keyes et al., 2013; Lahey and D’Onofrio, 2010; Madsen and Osler, 2009; McGue et al., 2010; Susser et al., 2010). How definitive are Madsen et al.’s results? The answer hinges on the question posed in our title: does a null finding arising from a study using within-sibling comparisons prove the absence of a causal effect? And the answer to that question can be addressed from the perspectives of precision and bias.
A Module Interchange Placement Machine

The interchange of pairs of modules is used in a number of popular automatic placement routines in which it is the most time-consuming computation. A system for automatic placement based on iterative placement improvement algorithms which use module interchange is presented. The major attribute of this system is in the hardware implementation of the computation of the cost increment for the new placement resulting from the interchange of two modules. The system was constructed and its results indicate that a speed-up could be achieved of one order of magnitude or better in comparison with software implementations.
Impacts of Mercury Contamination in the Southeastern United States

Mercury (Hg) contamination from a variety of point and non-point sources, including atmospheric inputs, is currently considered to be the most serious environmental threat to the well being of fish and wildlife resources in the southeastern United States. Fish consumption advisories have been issued in all ten states comprising the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Region. Both freshwater and marine species have been affected with levels ranging as high as 7.0 ppm in some individuals. Many other species, including various species of reptiles, birds and mammals (including humans) are also contaminated. Impacts noted range from reproductive impairment to mortality.
Experimental Demonstration of Optical TTL Based Selective-3R in OLS Network Testbed with Label Rewriting

We demonstrate optical-TTL-based selective-3R regeneration in an OLS testbed with OLS routers, which intelligently apply 3R only when necessary. The experiment achieves error-free operation with all-optical burst-mode clock recovery.
Postpartum regression rates of antepartum cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II and III lesions.

Objective: To study the histologic regression and progression rates of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II and III after delivery and the effect the route of delivery has on the regression rates of CIN. Methods: Pregnant patients with satisfactory colposcopic examinations and biopsy-proven CIN II and III were identified. Delivery information and postpartum biopsy results were obtained by chart review. Results: Two hundred seventy-nine patients had antepartum biopsies of CIN II or CIN III. Of these, 126 women were excluded for the following reasons: lost to follow-up (75), human immunodeficiency virus positive (two), cesarean hysterectomy (four), and inadequate postpartum follow-up (45). This yielded a study group of 153 patients consisting of 82 with CIN II and 71 with CIN III. The regression rates were 68% and 70% among CIN II and CIN III patients (P 5 .78), respectively. Seven percent of patients with CIN II progressed to CIN III on postpartum evaluation. Twentyfive percent of those patients with CIN II and 30% of those with CIN III remained the same postpartum. No CIN lesions progressed to invasive carcinoma. There were no differences in regression rates or progression rates among the women who had vaginal deliveries (130), women who labored and then underwent cesarean (17), or women who proceeded to a cesarean without laboring (six). Conclusion: We found similar high postpartum regression rates despite the route of delivery. We recommend conservative antepartum management with postpartum colposcopic evaluation regardless of route of delivery because we are unable to predict which of these lesions are more likely to regress. (Obstet Gynecol 1999;93:359 ‐ 62. © 1999 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.)
Recent results from the Los Alamos free electron laser

Abstract Accelerator improvements have been made that allow beams to be produced with higher charge, better pulse shape, and better emittance and energy spread. Record levels of efficiency and optical power have resulted. We could achieve higher levels except for problems with mirror damage at these power levels and growth of emittance and energy spread caused by wakefield effects.
Nanoengineering Catalyst Supports via Layer-by Layer Surface Functionalization

Recent progress in the layer-by-layer surface modification of oxides for the preparation of highly active and stable gold nanocatalysts is briefly reviewed. Through a layer-by-layer surface modification approach, the surfaces of various catalyst supports including both porous and nonporous silica materials and TiO2 nanoparticles were modified with monolayers or multilayers of distinct metal oxide ultra-thin films. The surface-modified materials were used as supports for Au nanoparticles, resulting in highly active nanocatalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation. Good stability against sintering under high-temperature treatment was achieved for a number of the Au catalysts through surface modification of the support material. The surface modification of supports can be a viable route to control both the composition and structure of support and nanoparticle interfaces, thereby tailoring the stability and activity of the supported catalyst systems.