cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Routine BK virus surveillance in renal transplantation--a single center's experience.

Abstract Background We started a universal screening of all our kidney transplant recipients for BK virus in 2005. This review of our experience includes patients with ≥6 months' posttransplantation follow-up. Methods We performed a retrospective chart evaluation of all kidney transplants from January 2005 to February 2010. Urine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BK virus was done on all patients starting from 4 weeks after transplantation. If negative, it was repeated monthly for the first 6 months and then every 3–4 months. If the test was positive, a urine and blood BK virus PCR done on the next visit was repeated every 2–4 weeks with a slow reduction in immunosuppression. Results From January 2005 to February 2010 we performed 173 kidney transplantations with 12 graft losses within the first 6 weeks which were excluded from the analysis. Induction immunosuppression consisted of anti–interleukin-2 receptor antibody (n = 102) or antithymoglobulin (ATG; n = 59). In 112 patients (70%), the urine BK virus PCR remained negative; 18 (11%) only the urine was positive and among an additional 31 (19%) BK virus PCR was positive in blood. There was no difference in incidence according to induction therapy. Delayed graft function was observed among 39 patients (24%); there was no difference in the incidence of BK virus with versus without DGF. The mean time to first detection was shorter with ATG induction (mean, 199 days; median, 90 days; range, 26–1198 days) compared with anti–IL-2 (mean, 321 days; median, 195 days; range, 23–1077 days). Urine-only positivity was first detected from 37 to 1198 days (mean, 366 days; median, 227 days) and blood positivity from 23 to 1069 days (mean, 216 days; median, 90 days). Among BK-positive patients, 26 (53%) were detected within the first 6 months and 38 (76%) within the first year. With reduction in immunosuppression, there was gradual reduction or elimination of positive PCR tests in all cases except one, which resulted in graft failure. Conclusions Routine BK virus surveillance is effective; it tends to detect BK virus replication early, allowing reduction of immunosuppression, which results in good outcomes with renal preservation.
Active/active replication for highly available HPC system services

Today's high performance computing systems have several reliability deficiencies resulting in availability and serviceability issues. Head and service nodes represent a single point of failure and control for an entire system as they render it inaccessible and unmanageable in case of a failure until repair, causing a significant downtime. This paper introduces two distinct replication methods (internal and external) for providing symmetric active/active high availability for multiple head and service nodes running in virtual synchrony. It presents a comparison of both methods in terms of expected correctness, ease-of-use and performance based on early results from ongoing work in providing symmetric active/active high availability for two HPC system services (TORQUE and PVFS metadata server). It continues with a short description of a distributed mutual exclusion algorithm and a brief statement regarding the handling of Byzantine failures. This paper concludes with an overview of past and ongoing work, and a short summary of the presented research.
Geologic types of glass-sand deposits and some North American representatives

Although the major glass-sand deposits of the midwestern United States are of the classic blanket marine sandstone type, throughout the United States and Canada a wide variety of geological types of silica deposits is available as glass-sand sources and potential sources. These include: (I) Unconsolidated sands: (A) Littoral — Cohansey Formation, New Jersey; (B) Alluvial plain — Citronelle Formation, Florida; (C) Marine dunes — Pacific Grove, California; (D) Lake dunes — Redcliff, Alberta; (E) Stream channel — Ravensdale, Washington. (11) Arkosic sands: Idaho Formation, Idaho. (III) Consolidated sandstones and orthoquartzites: (A) Marine and littoral — St. Peter Formation, Oriskany Formation, Potsdam Sandstone; (B) Alluvial — Pottsville Formation, Pennsylvania. (IV) Quartzites: Lorrain–north shore Lake Huron, Ontario; Grenville — Baie Comeau, Quebec. (V) Hydrothermal veins: Quartz Mountain, Washington; Carson City, Nevada. (VI) Tectonically crushed rocks: (A) Sandstone — Moberly Mountain, British Columbia; (B) Quartzite — St. Donat and St. Remi, Quebec. (VII) Weathering products — Oriskany Formation, Goshen, Virginia. Another, nongeological category would be waste sands — leftovers from other mining operations, such as the residual sands from the Fort McMurray, Alberta, tar sands operations. The chief deposits of the north-central United States are the St. Peter (Ordovician) and Sylvania (Devonian) sandstones. The St. Peter is believed to have been derived from Precambrian quartzites of the Canadian Shield (which themselves originally may have been second-generation sandstones), and the Sylvania probably was derived from St. Peter outcrops, making it a third- (or fourth-) generation sandstone.
Diffusion of phenol through a biofilm grown on activated carbon particles in a draft-tube three-phase fluidized-bed bioreactor

Diffusion of phenol through a biofilm attached to activated carbon particles was investigated. The biofilm was grown on activated carbon particles in a draft-tube three-phase fluidized-bed bioreactor operating in a fed-batch mode. It was found that phenol did not adsorb on the biofilm and that the diffusion coefficient of phenol within the biofilm varied from 13 to 39% of its corresponding value in water. The diffusion coefficient of phenol within the biofilm was reduced by increasing the biofilm density. An extensive literature review of diffusion of substrates through biofilms indicated that this conclusion could be extended to biofilms grown on flat surfaces, rotating cylinders, and even bioflocs.
Religion and Intragroup Cooperation: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Analysis of Utopian Communities

Several authors have argued that religious beliefs are a way of communicating commitment and loyalty to other group members. The advantage of commitment signals is that they can promote intragroup cooperation by overcoming the free-rider problems that plague most cooperative pursuits. In this article, the author tests this idea using a database on 19th century utopian communes. The economic success and survival of utopian communes is dependent upon solving the collective-action problem of cooperative labor. If religious beliefs foster commitment and loyalty among individuals who share those beliefs, communes formed out of religious conviction should survive longer than communes motivated by secular ideologies such as socialism. Preliminary results from survivorship analysis support this hypothesis; religious communes are more likely than secular communes to survive at every stage of their life course. These results are discussed with reference to a modern communal movement, the Israeli kibbutz.
Probing neural circuitry and function with electrical microstimulation

Since the discovery of the nervous system's electrical excitability more than 200 years ago, neuroscientists have used electrical stimulation to manipulate brain activity in order to study its function. Microstimulation has been a valuable technique for probing neural circuitry and identifying networks of neurons that underlie perception, movement and cognition. In this review, we focus on the use of stimulation in behaving primates, an experimental system that permits causal inferences to be made about the effect of stimulation-induced activity on the resulting behaviour or neural signals elsewhere in the brain.
A Live Baby or Your Money Back: The Marketing of In Vitro Fertilization Procedures

Many clinics that offer in vitro fertilization (IVF) have begun to market the following options to couples: (1) an a la carte program where the couple pays $7,500 per attempt regardless of the outcome; or (2) a money-back-guarantee program where the couple pays a $15,000 fee that covers up to three attempts, however, if after three cycles there is no live-birth delivery, then the full $15,000 is refunded.We assess the a la carte versus the money-back-guarantee programs, and find the surprising result that the money-back-guarantee program appears (for the patients) to be "too good to be true." That is, the money-back guarantee yields a substantialnegative expected profit per couple for the clinics. More importantly from the patients' perspective, the money-back guarantee is the better option for all couples with less than 0.5 success probability per cycle. Virtually all traditional IVF patients have had per-cycle success probabilities below 0.5.A detailed analysis of the key variables--i.e., success rate per attempt, heterogeneity of couples' rates of success, individual couples' "learning" on successive attempts, and cost to the clinic per attempt--shows that these money-back guarantees are unprofitable for the clinics. Since presumably clinics are not in business to lose money, the standard analysis must be missing something major. We suggest that the marketing of money-back guarantees is inducing couples who would previously have used--successfully--other less invasive procedures with fewer side effects and less risk of multiple births to decide to proceed directly to IVF, and that this scenario makes the money-back guarantees profitable for the clinics.The implications of earlier use of IVF are then considered from an overall public policy point of view. Just as mothers everywhere tell their children, "When something looks too good to be true, then it is too good to be true!"
Method of Nitrogen Application in Summer Affects Plant Growth and Nitrogen Uptake in Autumn in Young Fuji/M.26 Apple Trees

Abstract Effects of foliar vs. soil nitrogen (N) application during the summer and the autumn were studied in young Fuji apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) on Malling 26 (M.26) rootstock. One‐year‐old bench‐grafted trees were potted in 3.8‐liter pots in a mix of perlite, peat moss, and loam soil (1:1:1 by volume) and were treated weekly from late June to early September with 0.5% urea either by foliar or soil application or soil application of water (control). At the end of September, five trees from each treatment were harvested, and shoot and root growth and leaf N concentration were determined. In mid‐October of the same year, trees from each treatment were randomly divided into three subgroups. One group received soil application of water (control), and the other groups received either a foliar or soil application of 3% 15N‐urea. After natural leaf defoliation, trees were harvested, and total N and 15N concentration of stems (all aboveground tissue) and roots was determined. Regardless of application...
His or Her Parents? : Perceived Parental Approval of Romantic Relationships Among College Students and Their Partners

Using social capital theory, this study of 194 dating couples examined the connection between parents’ approval of the dating relationship (reported by each couple member forhis/her own parents and the partner’s parents) and participants’ relationship distress. The Actor-Partner-Interdependence Model within Structural Equation Modeling served as the data-analytic tool. Results showed that, in support of the theory, relationship approval from strong ties (one’s own parents) and from weak ties (one’s partner’s parents) manifested themselves differently in romantic relationships. Specifically, both men’s and women’sperception of relationship approval from their own parents (strong ties) and from their partner’s parents (weak ties) negatively predicted couple members’ own relationshipdistress. Moreover, path coefficients between men’s and women’s strong ties and their own relationship distress were roughly twice as large as those between men’s and women’sweak ties and their relationship distress. Findings were less clear for the association between perceptions of relationship approval from one’s own and one’s partner’s parents and the dating partners’ relationship distress. The findings are discussed in light of prior research and theory on social capital.
Individual versus community level processes and pattern formation in a model of sand dune plant succession

Abstract A cellular automata model of a sand dune plant community on Galveston Island, Texas, USA was utilized to test hypotheses regarding individual plant interactions and their impact upon community organization. Simulations demonstrated that both an environmental gradient and facilitative succession resulted in the formation of characteristic sand dune patterns. The results showed that the plant patterns were due to individual plant responses to their environment within their local neighborhood, yet these responses were constrained by the global history of the community. The local neighborhood was related to the “zone of influence” concept, “field of neighborhood” models, and “ecological field” theory. It is proposed that plants responded individualistically to environmental conditions within the local neighborhood and that plants were constrained by the community-unit beyond the local neighborhood. The ratio of the scale of environmental variability versus the scale of a plant's local neighborhood determined the relative importance of the individual and the community in forming pattern. This work makes important contributions to the Gleasonian–Clementsian debate, sand dune successional theory, and in pattern-based, deductive hypothesis testing with cellular automata models.
The Moral Competence Test: An Examination of Validity for Samples in the United States.

The Moral Competence Test (MCT) was designed over 30 years ago to provide a resource for educators interested in conducting cross-cultural studies of moral development and education. Since its origin, it has been translated into at least 30 languages and used in hundreds of studies. However, few studies provide evidence to support the use of the test in the US. The test’s designer identified three criteria for evaluating the construct validity of the test and its primary scores: do correlations of stage scores reflect a simplex structure, do ratings follow the theoretical order of stages, does the test differentiate preferences and structures of reasoning. We use these criteria and evidence of criterion and content validity to assess the validity of the MCT. We present results from two US samples (n = 772). Results analyzing the test author’s criteria support the semantic validity of the test, however, evidence of criterion validity raise questions about the C-score as a measure of moral competence. After...
Land Ecology Essay II: Thresholds, Novel Ecosystems, and the Sanctity of History

Dr. Brandon Bestelmeyer is a research ecologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Jornada Experimental Range and the Jornada Basin LTER at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He regularly writes about rangeland issues on the Land Ecology blog. To read more of Brandon’s essays, visit http://landecology.org/. “Land ecology” honors the holistic approach to the knowledge needed to support land stewardship into our increasingly uncertain future. Here we share an expanded version of one of Brandon’s recent essays.
Atypical accessory intraparietal sutures mimicking complex fractures in a neonate

Partial or complete division of the parietal bones resulting in anomalous cranial sutures is a rare entity and may raise concern for fracture and potential abuse when identified on radiological examination in young children. We present a case of a 4-week-old male found to have anomalous intraparietal sutures originally interpreted as fractures during a comprehensive evaluation for nonaccidental trauma. Our goal is to raise awareness of a complex branching pattern of accessory intraparietal sutures, which has not been previously described. Additionally, we will review the characteristics that aid in the radiologic differentiation of accessory cranial sutures and fractures.
Middle school students’ reactions to a 1:1 iPad initiative and a paperless curriculum

In this study, 676 middle school students in grades 6, 7 and 8 were asked to complete a survey online, during class time, which asked them their opinions on using iPads in school. Responses to the survey questions were generally positive however comments written at the end were very critical of the initiative. Significant differences were found when comparing the responses of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Seventh grade students, who had been using the iPad since 6th grade, were significantly more positive than the 6th or 8th grade students. Also, the younger students in grade 6 were significantly more positive about using iPads than students in 8th grade. Gender differences were also found, with boys being more positive in their opinions than girls. Distraction and technical problems were among the problems students commented on, as well as eye strain from using the iPad for long periods of time. Increased engagement was evident from the high percentage of students who either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that “the iPad makes learning more fun and interesting”.
Detection of LINE-1 RNAs by Northern Blot

Repetitive genetic elements have had an unprecedented success populating phylogenetically diverse species making them a common feature of most genomes. Hundreds of thousands of copies of active and non-functional transposable elements representing different classes and families can reside within and outside of host genes. In addition to creating structural variations in genomic DNA, some of these loci are expressed to contribute to the continuing amplification cycle. Transposable elements, specifically Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) produce a spectrum of RNAs, some of which are important for their mobilization, while others are processed forms of LINE-1 transcription that may or may not play relevant functions. Additionally, many LINE-1 sequences integrated into cellular genes are included into cellular transcripts creating substantial background when L1-related RNA expression is detected by some conventional methods. This chapter provides an in-depth description of the complexity of L1-generated mRNAs as well as sources of cellular transcripts containing L1 sequences. It also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of conventional methods used to detect LINE-1 expression.
Using fuzzy-trace theory to understand and improve health judgments, decisions, and behaviors: A literature review.

Objective Fuzzy-trace theory is a dual-process model of memory, reasoning, judgment, and decision making that contrasts with traditional expectancy-value approaches. We review the literature applying fuzzy-trace theory to health with 3 aims: evaluating whether the theory's basic distinctions have been validated empirically in the domain of health; determining whether these distinctions are useful in assessing, explaining, and predicting health-related psychological processes; and determining whether the theory can be used to improve health judgments, decisions, or behaviors, especially compared to other approaches. Method We conducted a literature review using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science to identify empirical peer-reviewed papers that applied fuzzy-trace theory, or central constructs of the theory, to investigate health judgments, decisions, or behaviors. Results Seventy nine studies (updated total is 94 studies; see Supplemental materials) were identified, over half published since 2012, spanning a wide variety of conditions and populations. Study findings supported the prediction that verbatim and gist representations are distinct constructs that can be retrieved independently using different cues. Although gist-based reasoning was usually associated with improved judgment and decision making, 4 sources of bias that can impair gist reasoning were identified. Finally, promising findings were reported from intervention studies that used fuzzy-trace theory to improve decision making and decrease unhealthy risk taking. Conclusions Despite large gaps in the literature, most studies supported all 3 aims. By focusing on basic psychological processes that underlie judgment and decision making, fuzzy-trace theory provides insights into how individuals make decisions involving health risks and suggests innovative intervention approaches to improve health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record
U.S. Inclusion in the Era of Neoliberal Educational Reforms

In this chapter, we examine a range of recent U.S. standards-based neoliberal educational reforms and their impact on students with disabilities, particularly in relation to inclusion. Although U.S. accountability measures included within standards-based reform (SBR) are generally credited with increased school district accountability for students with disabilities in terms of their achievement, in many ways these policies have also intensified existing inequalities, including increased drop out rates and intensified segregation of students with disabilities.
MyoHMI: A low-cost and flexible platform for developing real-time human machine interface for myoelectric controlled applications

EMG pattern recognition has been studied for control of prostheses and rehabilitation systems for decades. Existing research platforms for developing EMG pattern recognition algorithms are typically based on MATLAB and the collection of EMG signals is often done by expensive, non-portable data acquisition systems. The requirement of these resources usually limits the use of these platforms in the lab environments and prohibits their widespread to other fields and applications. To address this limitation, this paper presents a low-cost, easy to use, and flexible platform called MyoHMI for developing real-time human machine interfaces for myoelectric controlled applications. MyoHMI facilitates the interface with a commercial EMG-based armband Myo, which costs less than $200 and can be easily worn by the user without the need of special preparation. MyoHMI also provides a highly modular and customizable C/C++ based software engine which seamlessly integrates a variety of interfacing and signal processing modules, from data acquisition through signal processing and pattern recognition, to real-time evaluation and control. The experimental results on able-bodied human subjects for controlling two evaluation platforms in real time verified the merit of the MyoHMI platform and demonstrated the feasibility of a low-cost solution for the development of myoelectric controlled applications.
Coherent hemodynamics spectroscopy: initial applications in the neurocritical care unit

We used coherent hemodynamics spectroscopy (CHS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral autoregulation efficiency of a patient with intraventricular hemorrhage in the neurocritical care unit. Mean arterial pressure oscillations were induced with cyclic thigh cuff inflations at a super-systolic pressure. The oscillations in oxyhemoglobin ([HbO2]) and deoxyhemoglobin ([Hb]) cerebral concentrations were used to compute CHS amplitude and phase spectra that were fit with the frequency-domain equations of our hemodynamic model. From the fitted parameters, we obtained measures of local autoregulation efficiency (cutoff frequency: 0.07 ± 0.02 Hz) and absolute regional CBF (33 ± 9 ml/100g/min). We introduce a new approach for computing CHS spectra using coherence criteria and time-varying transfer function analysis. We show that with this approach we can maximize the number of frequency points in the CHS spectra for more effective fitting with our hemodynamic model. Finally, we show how absolute measurements of the cerebral concentrations of [HbO2] and [Hb] at baseline can be used to further enhance the fitting procedure.
Integration of melanoma genotyping in clinical care.

9095 Background: Molecularly targeted therapy is improving response rates and overall survival in subsets of melanoma patients. However, targeted therapy for “triple negative” patients (BRAF, NRAS ...
Associations Between Parenting Factors, Motivation, and Physical Activity in Overweight African American Adolescents

Positive parenting practices and environmental supports have been linked to physical activity (PA) levels in youth, yet factors associated with positive parenting styles have been understudied in African American adolescents. This study expands on previous literature by examining associations between motivation, parenting factors associated with Self-Determination Theory’s psychological needs (competence, autonomy, and relatedness) including authoritative parenting, autonomy support and emotional and tangible support, and adolescent moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and light PA (LPA). Participants were African American adolescents (N = 148; M age = 13.6 years; M BMI% = 96.6) and their caregivers (M age = 43.4 years; M BMI = 37.4) enrolled in the Families Improving Together for Weight Loss trial. Parenting factors were measured using self-report surveys, and PA minutes were measured using 7-day accelerometry estimates. Regression analyses indicated that overall models for MVPA (F(11,134) = 4.35; R 2 = 0.26) and LPA (F(11,134) = 5.84, R 2 = 0.32) were significant. Adolescent motivation for PA (B = 0.58, SE = 0.16) was positively associated with MVPA minutes. Authoritative parenting (B = 15.71, SE = 4.38) and tangible support (B = 8.53, SE = 4.02) were positively associated with adolescent LPA minutes. Unexpectedly, emotional support was negatively associated with both MVPA (B = −0.47, SE = 0.17) and LPA (B = −11.22, SE = 4.79), with follow-up analyses showing this relationship stronger in males. Findings highlight the importance of adolescent motivation for PA on MVPA and positive parenting styles and tangible supports on adolescent LPA in overweight African American youth. Recommendations for integrating these factors within the context of intervention studies are discussed.
Aortic valve replacement in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% performed via a minimally invasive right thoracotomy.

Background: We evaluated the outcomes of patients with aortic valve pathology in the setting of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR), with or without concomitant mitral valve (MV) surgery. Methods: All minimally invasive AVR in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, performed via a right thoracotomy for aortic stenosis or regurgitation between January 2009 and March 2013, were retrospectively evaluated. The operative characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and 30-day mortality were analyzed. Results: There were 75 patients identified: 51 who underwent isolated AVR, and 24 who had combined AVR plus MV surgery for moderate to severe mitral regurgitation. In patients undergoing MV surgery, there were 22 (91.7%) MV repairs [ring annuloplasty =7 (37.5%), transaortic edge-to-edge repair =15 (62.5%)], and 2 (8.3%) replacements. No patient required conversion to sternotomy for inadequate surgical field exposure. The median total mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit length of stay were 14 (IQR, 8–20) and 42 hours (IQR, 26–93 hours) in the isolated AVR group, and 16.5 hours (IQR, 12–61.5 hours) and 95.5 hours (IQR, 43.5–159 hours) in the AVR plus MV surgery group, respectively. The most common post-operative complication was new-onset atrial fibrillation, which occurred in 15 (29.4%) isolated AVR and 4 (16.7%) AVR plus MV surgery patients. The median hospital length of stay and 30-day mortality was 7 days (IQR, 5–12 days) and 1 (2%) in the isolated AVR group, and 10.5 days (IQR, 5–21 days) and 1 (4.3%) for AVR plus MV surgery. Conclusions: In patients with aortic valve pathology in the setting of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, minimally invasive AVR can be performed, with or without concomitant MV surgery, with a low morbidity and mortality.
Concomitant ion effects on isotope ratio measurements with liquid sampling – atmospheric pressure glow discharge ion source Orbitrap mass spectrometry

In an effort to understand and improve the accuracy and precision of the liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD)/Orbitrap system, effects of concomitant ions on the acquired mass spectra are examined and presented. The LS-APGD/Orbitrap instrument system is capable of high quality isotope ratio measurements, which are of high analytical interest for nuclear non-proliferation detection applications. The presence of background and concomitant ions (water clusters, matrix, and other analytes) has presented limitations in earlier studies. In order to mitigate these effects, an alternative quadrupole-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer was employed in this study. This instrument configuration has a quadrupole mass filter preceding the Orbitrap to filter-out undesired non-analyte ions. Results are presented for the analysis of U in the presence of Rb, Ag, Ba, and Pb as concomitants, each present at 0.5 μg mL−1 concentration. Progressive filtering of each concomitant ion shows steadily improved U isotope ratio performance. Ultimately, a 235U/238U ratio of 0.007133, with a relative error of −2.1% and a relative standard deviation of 0.087% was achieved using this system, along with improved calibration linearity and lowered limits of detection. This performance is surprisingly good for an ion trap type mass spectrometry instrument.
The Anatomy of Pain and Its Implications for Regional Anesthesiology Practice

In years past, the prevailing approach to providing pain control was focused on identifying underlying etiologies or pathologic syndromes, e.g., low back pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and cancer pain, that produce the pain. While treating the presumed source of the pain, attempts to improve the accompanying discomfort relied largely on the use of non-opioid medications and the limited use of opioid and adjuvant analgesics. Over the past 25 years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in our understanding of the nervous system and how stimuli associated with actual or potential tissue injury are transduced, transmitted, modulated, perceived, and interpreted to form the basis for initiating appropriate evasive or protective behavior, thereby avoiding or limiting injury. Our current bank of knowledge has led to the recognition that (1) pain in the chronic state is in itself a disease deserving consideration, assessment, and management; (2) pain is not a single entity but a complex, multifaceted experience that warrants detailed and comprehensive evaluation to elucidate symptoms that may reflect specific associated mechanisms amenable to targeted treatment (Woolf and Decosterd, Pain 6(Suppl), S141–7, 1999; Woolf and Max, Anesthesiology 95, 241–9, 2001); and (3) treatment modalities and management approaches not heretofore considered can be effective and can improve the quality of life for those suffering with pain. This chapter will provide a brief overview of the anatomy of pain that forms the basis for current practice.
Template and primer requirements for DNA Pol θ-mediated end joining.

DNA Pol θ-mediated end joining (TMEJ) is a microhomology-based pathway for repairing double-strand breaks in eukaryotes. TMEJ is also a pathway for nonspecific integration of foreign DNAs into host genomes. DNA Pol θ shares structural homology with the high-fidelity replicases, and its polymerase domain (Polθ) has been shown to extend ssDNA without an apparent template. Using oligonucleotides with distinct sequences, we find that with Mg 2+ and physiological salt concentrations, human Polθ has no terminal transferase activity and requires a minimum of 2 bp and optimally 4 bp between a template/primer pair for DNA synthesis. Polθ can tolerate a mismatched base pair at the primer end but loses >90% activity when the mismatch is 2 bp upstream from the active site. Polθ is severely inhibited when the template strand has a 3′ overhang within 3–4 bp from the active site. In line with its TMEJ function, Polθ has limited strand-displacement activity, and the efficiency and extent of primer extension are similar with or without a downstream duplex.
Lymphocytic Subpopulations in the Normal Human Conjunctiva: A Monoclonal Antibody Study

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies were used to analyze the lymphocytic subpopulations in frozen tissue sections of normal human conjunctiva (epibulbar, tarsal, and forniceal). The overwhelming majority of lymphocytes were T-cells (Leu1 + and OKT8 + ). In the epithelium, the predominant cell type was the OKT8 + cytotoxic/suppressor cell, whereas in the substantia propria, helper T-cells (Leu3a/3b + ) equalled suppressor T-cells. T-cells outnumbered B-cells 20-fold; the latter cells were detected only in the substantia propria, particularly in the fornices, and not in the epithelium. Plasma cells, as identified by OKT10 staining, were completely absent except in the accessory lacrimal glands of Krause. Langerhans' cells, identifed by OKT6 and HLA-DR (la) staining, were observed in the epithelium of all conjunctival regions. Our findings suggest that the reactivity of B-lymphocytes and plasma cells is heavily damped down by T-lymphocytes, thus allying the conjunctiva to other mucosal membranes and the skin as heavily immunoregulated tissues.
The sail sign.

Radiological terminology includes a number of interesting and often amusing terms intended to help us understand and remember the pathological abnormality being described. What radiological sign is illustrated in Fig. 1 and what condition does it represent?
The Chiari Malformations and Hydrocephalus

The association of hydrocephalus and the Chiari malformations has been described from the time of Hans Chiari’s initial report in 1891. Whether hydrocephalus is the cause of or the result of hindbrain herniation remains a subject of long-standing controversy, but recent advances in vascular and volumetric imaging may eventually provide definitive information to settle the debate. Though there is a wide range of hindbrain herniations that fall under the Chiari rubric, most authors would agree that coexisting hydrocephalus should be managed with CSF diversion first, either by shunting or endoscopic ventriculostomy, before consideration is given to posterior fossa decompression. It is crucial to keep in mind that pseudotumor cerebri may also present with symptoms that mimic those seen in Chiari malformation, making it critical that the neurosurgeon strive to differentiate these two groups prior to surgical intervention for optimal outcome.
Influence of signal filtering and sample rate on isometric torque - time parameters using a traditional isokinetic dynamometer.

Abstract Isometric force- or torque-time parameters are commonly reported in the research literature. The processing methods of the electronic dynamometer-derived signal may influence the outcome measures. This study determined the influence of filtering and sample rate (SR) on isometric torque-time parameters and provides specific signal processing recommendations for future studies. Twenty-three subjects performed 49 isometric maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the knee extensors on an isokinetic dynamometer. Outcome measures included peak torque (PT), and rate of torque development at peak (RTDPEAK), 50 (RTD50) and 200 (RTD200) ms for seven filter conditions including low-pass filter cutoffs at 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 150 Hz and a notch filter at 100 and 200 Hz. Comparisons were also made across four SR conditions at 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz. The RTDPEAK variable was markedly changed (−5.4 to −37.9%) for all filter frequencies compared to the 150 Hz condition and the RTD50 variable was altered for all frequencies between 50 and 5 Hz. No differences were found for RTD200. For SR, compared to the 2000 Hz condition, differences were revealed for the 100 Hz condition for the RTDPEAK and RTD50 variables. The filtering or SR did not alter PT across any of the conditions. The filter and SR applied to the signal was capable of distorting the MVC signal and skewing the torque–time parameters, specifically for the early and maximum RTD variables of the MVC curve (RTD50 and RTDPEAK). For traditional isokinetic dynamometers, a low-pass filter cutoff of 150 Hz and a SR of at least 1000 Hz is recommended when assessing early isometric force- or torque-time MVC parameters.
Early Changes in Cement-Bone Fixation Using a Novel Rat Knee Replacement Model.

Trabecular resorption from interdigitated regions between cement and bone has been found in postmortem-retrieved knee replacements, but the viability of interdigitated bone, and the mechanism responsible for this bone loss is not known. In this work, a Sprague-Dawley (age 12 weeks) rat knee replacement model with an interdigitated cement-bone interface was developed. Morphological and cellular changes in the interdigitated region of the knee replacement over time (0, 2, 6, or 12 weeks) were determined for ovariectomy (OVX) and Sham OVX treatment groups. Interdigitated bone volume fraction (BV/TV) increased with time for Sham OVX (0.022 BV/TV/wk) and OVX (0.015 BV/TV/wk) group, but the rate of increase was greater for the Sham OVX group (p = 0.0064). Tissue mineral density followed a similar increase with time in the interdigitated regions. Trabecular resorption, when it did occur, started at the cement border with medullary-adjacent bone in the presence of osteoclasts. There was substantial loss of viable bone (~80% empty osteocyte lacunae) in the interdigitated regions. Pre-surgical fluorochrome labels remained in the interdigitated regions, and did not diminish with time, indicating that the bone was not remodeling. There was also some evidence of continued surface mineralization in the interdigitated region after cementing of the knee, but this diminished over time. Statement of clinical significance: Interdigitated bone with cement provides mechanical stability for success of knee replacements. Improved understanding of the fate of the interdigitated bone over time could lead to a better understanding of the loosening process and interventions to prevent loss of fixation. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2163-2171, 2019.
Silly rubber: an implicit material point method for simulating non-equilibrated viscoelastic and elastoplastic solids

Simulating viscoelastic polymers and polymeric fluids requires a robust and accurate capture of elasticity and viscosity. The computation is known to become very challenging under large deformations and high viscosity. Drawing inspirations from return mapping based elastoplasticity treatment for granular materials, we present a finite strain integration scheme for general viscoelastic solids under arbitrarily large deformation and non-equilibrated flow. Our scheme is based on a predictor-corrector exponential mapping scheme on the principal strains from the deformation gradient, which closely resembles the conventional treatment for elastoplasticity and allows straightforward implementation into any existing constitutive models. We develop a new Material Point Method that is fully implicit on both elasticity and inelasticity using augmented Lagrangian optimization with various preconditioning strategies for highly efficient time integration. Our method not only handles viscoelasticity but also supports existing elastoplastic models including Drucker-Prager and von-Mises in a unified manner. We demonstrate the efficacy of our framework on various examples showing intricate and characteristic inelastic dynamics with competitive performance.
Polymeric heart valves

Abstract Current technology for heart valve replacement, which is the second most common cardiac operation performed in the United States, is limited to mechanical and bioprosthetic valves that suffer from poor hemocompatibility and durability, respectively. Polymeric heart valves (PHVs) have promise as a potential solution, ideally providing a prosthetic valve replacement that is both as durable and long-lasting as a mechanical valve but does not require anticoagulation therapy. PHV prototypes have made significant improvements from their start in the 1950s, thanks to the advances in polymeric materials, surface modification technologies, and increasing knowledge of modes of failure. Equipped with these advances, the design and development of a novel PHV for clinical heart valve replacement is not far off. Here, we will discuss the design considerations and challenges that must be overcome before a clinically successful PHV becomes a reality.
IT WAS PERSONAL: POLITICS AND MILITARY PROMOTIONS IN THE SECOND SPANISH REPUBLIC (1931–1936)

One key step in the process of development is the transition from the personalistic rules and privileges that characterise developing societies to open access orders and rational–legal bureaucracies sustaining impersonal rules. This article uses a micro-data set of Spanish officers to study the politicisation of the army during the Second Republic (1931–1939) taking Franco's Africanist faction as the case study. The military reforms during 1931–1933 increased the impersonality of rules determining the promotion of officers, but executive discretionary powers persisted. The results suggest that changes in the government affected the dynamics of the army. Under conservative governments (1934–1935), Africanists were promoted more rapidly. Centre-left governments during the period of 1931–1933 did not systematically promote Africanists differently, but the revision of promotions in 1933 slowed their careers. The politicisation of the army was one of the factors contributing to the military coup that started the Spanish Civil War.
Inflammatory Biomarkers and Growth Factors in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid of E‐cigarette users, Cigarette smokers, and Dual smokers: A pilot study

Background Cigarette smoking remains one of the leading public health threats worldwide. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) provide an alternative to conventional cigarette smoking; however, the evidence base of risks and benefits of e-cig use is new and growing. In this cross-sectional pilot study, the effect of e-cig use on biological profiles in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was assessed and compared with the profiles of cigarette smokers (CS), dual users, and non-users. The systemic inflammatory mediators between e-cig users (EC) and these other groups were also assessed. Methods This pilot cross-sectional study recruited volunteer participants consisting of four groups, non-smokers (NS), CS, EC, and dual EC and cigarette smokers (DS). Saliva and GCF samples were collected and analyzed for biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, tissue injury and repair, and growth factors with immunoassay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Luminex). Results Smoking status was confirmed via salivary cotinine. Prostaglandin E2 level was significantly increased in CS compared with EC and DS, but not significantly different in EC and DS groups compared with non-smokers (NS). Statistically significant differences were observed between groups of EC and NS (myeloperoxidase [MPO], matrix metalloproteinase-9) as well as between DS and EC for biomarkers of inflammatory mediators (receptor for advanced glycation end products [RAGE], MPO, uteroglobin/CC-10); between groups of DS and NS for extracellular newly identified RAGE binding protein and between CS and NS for MPO. No statistically significant differences in biomarkers of immunity (S100A8, S100A9, galectin-3), tissue injury and repair (Serpine1/PAI-1) and growth factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factors, platelet-derived growth factor-AA, vascular endothelial growth factor, and others) were found between any of groups. Conclusion Statistically significant differences in measurable health outcomes were found between different smoking status groups, suggesting that smoking/vaping produces differential effects on oral health.
Tropical Endomyocardial Fibrosis

Tropical endomyocardial fibrosis is a common cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy worldwide, but is relatively rare in developed countries. We present a case of tropical endomyocardial fibrosis with right ventricular involvement initially mistaken as Ebstein's anomaly. We highlight the need for timely and accurate diagnosis to ensure appropriate management. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Paraclinical serum markers as aids in the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis.

Expert opinion suggests the presence ANA and thyroid antibodies may be helpful to diagnosis autoimmune encephalitis (AE). This study investigates the sensitivity of these serum markers in a cohort of 26 patients with AE. TPO-Ab, TG-Ab and ANA (titer ≥1:320) were present in 45%, 35% and 32% of patients tested, respectively. The prevalence of TPO-Ab (11.3%), TG-Ab (10.4%) and ANA ≥1:320 (3.3%) has been previously reported in disease-free populations. Although these antibodies represent non-specific markers of autoimmunity, this study demonstrated that TPO-Ab, TG-Ab and ANA were significantly elevated in AE compared to disease-free populations (p < .001, p = .003, p < .001, respectively).
Evaluation of Cerebral Tissue Oximeters Using Multilayered Dynamic Head Models

Cerebral tissue oximetry (CTO) based on near-infrared spectroscopy provides clinically relevant information on tissue perfusion and has been used specifically in infant monitoring and during cardiac surgeries. With different sensor designs in the selection and configuration of light sources and detectors and implemented analysis algorithms in tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) extraction, substantial differences were observed between different commercially available CTO device measurements. Tissue models (phantoms) mimicking a human head both optically and anatomically provide the controllable, safe, universally agreeable, and reproducible environment for the evaluation of CTO device performances. In this article, we implemented our realistic and dynamic multilayer mixed solid and liquid phantom design with controlled and repeatable test procedures in the evaluation of multiple commercially available CTO devices. Performances were evaluated for each CTO device within themselves, across each other and a reference device simultaneously under continuously changing oxygen saturation conditions. Results indicated the feasibility of our phantoms in CTO device performance testing and suggested that in general, CTO device measurements were very precise ( $S_{\mathrm {res}} %) and highly correlated ( $R^{2} > 0.89$ and $p ) but had varying levels of accuracy, sensitivity, static, and proportional bias ( $15.4{\%} %, 0.31 5, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) >80%.
Quantifying chromosomal instability from intratumoral karyotype diversity using agent-based modeling and Bayesian inference

ABSTRACT Chromosomal instability (CIN) — persistent chromosome gain or loss through abnormal karyokinesis — is a hallmark of cancer that drives aneuploidy. Intrinsic chromosome mis-segregation rates, a measure of CIN, can inform prognosis and are a likely biomarker for response to anti-microtubule agents. However, existing methodologies to measure this rate are labor intensive, indirect, and confounded by karyotype selection reducing observable diversity. We developed a framework to simulate and measure CIN, accounting for karyotype selection, and recapitulated karyotype-level clonality in simulated populations. We leveraged approximate Bayesian computation using phylogenetic topology and diversity to infer mis-segregation rates and karyotype selection from single-cell DNA sequencing data. Experimental validation of this approach revealed extensive chromosome mis-segregation rates caused by the chemotherapy paclitaxel (17.5±0.14/division). Extending this approach to clinical samples revealed the inferred rates fell within direct observations of cancer cell lines. This work provides the necessary framework to quantify CIN in human tumors and develop it as a predictive biomarker.