cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bladder neck fistula after the complete primary repair of exstrophy: A multi-institutional experience

Purpose: The major goals of complete primary repair of exstrophy (CPRE) are the re-creation of normal anatomy which allows bladder cycling and to reduce the number of future procedures necessary to achieve continence. It is unclear whether CPRE is associated with a higher bladder neck fistula rate than the traditional staged repair. We review a multi-institutional experience with the CPRE technique to evaluate the rate of bladder neck fistula. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 18 boys and 4 girls who underwent CPRE at 4 tertiary pediatric urology referral centers during the last 6 years was performed. All pertinent technical aspects were reviewed, including timing of procedure, whether osteotomies were performed, and number of layers used to reconstruct the bladder neck and urethra. Complications were noted, especially that of bladder neck fistula. Results: Mean followup was 22.6 months. Of the patients 14 (64%) underwent primary closure within the first 48 hours of life and only 1 required osteotomies. The remaining 8 patients underwent closure between 5 days and 3 months of age (mean 24.6 days) and all required osteotomies. Bladder neck fistula occurred postoperatively at the pubic junction in 9 males (41%). Four cases had a 2 layer closure that was covered with a single layer small intestinal submucosa onlay (Surgisis®) and no patient had a fistula. Fistulas developed in 62.5% of patients with delayed closure vs 29% of those with immediate closure (p 0.135). Two fistulas closed spontaneously and 7 required surgical closure at a mean of 7.5 months after the fistula occurred. Conclusions: This multi-institutional study demonstrates that bladder neck fistulas occur in almost half of patients following CPRE by experienced pediatric urologists. While spontaneous closure is possible, most will eventually require repair. The long-term implications of this finding with regard to continence and the need for additional bladder neck procedures remain to be seen. We are encouraged by the preliminary results of small intestinal submucosa coverage and will continue to evaluate its use at the time of primary exstrophy closure.
GELATIN EMBEDDING ON THE TISSUE CARRIER FOR THIN SERIAL SECTIONS IN THE CRYOSTAT.

For rapid handling of amphibian and reptilian skin biopsies, specimens were first frozen on a tissue carrier, then surrounded by an open-ended box of plastic-coated paper. This box was filled with cool but still fluid 5% gelatin solution, and the whole frozen for cryostat sectioning. Thus, serial sections could be obtained for the demonstration of a water-soluble (pteridine) and an oil-soluble (carotenoid) component in the same section. Sections that were stained for skin components were attached to the slides with an adhesive fixative, which, allowed the gelatin matrix to be removed with water before staining.
Approaches to the identification of angiosperm leaf remains

During the past 125 years the history of early angiosperms, interpreted through the fossil leaf record has been largely an exercise in paleofloristic studies, ignoring evolution. Imprecise identifications of ancient leaves “matched” to extant genera and families have been used as the basis for reconstructions of paleocommunities and paleoclimates. However, as the result of careful morphological studies of leaf form, venation and cuticular features new insights into the evolution of angiosperms are now available. In this paper considerations are given to the usefulness and shortcomings of leaf form, venation and cuticular analysis as diagnostic tools of plant identification. Many techniques for the study of the morphology of modern and fossil leaves are included in this paper as well as tables outlining features of leaf venation and the epidermis. Careful morphological studies of leaf form (such as the venation and epidermal characters emphasized in this paper) will provide better understanding of the relationships of living angiosperms and transform the fossil leaf record into useful data that can be used to study the evolution of the angiosperms.
The economics of golf course condition and beauty

This paper reports on the statistical relationships between golf course condition and beauty and the relationship of these with revenues and maintenance expenditures. Using interviews from more than 900 golfers at 46 public access golf courses, measures of the golfers' ratings of golf course condition and beauty were obtained. Both beauty and condition positively influence golf course revenue. Furthermore, the marginal cost of condition is of the same magnitude as the marginal revenue of condition, indicating that golf course management is optimizing regarding golf course condition. Beauty, however, may be more closely related to scenic vistas and golf course design and not to yearly maintenance expenditures.
Multiplex qPCR assay for ultra sensitive detection of JCV DNA with simultaneous identification of genotypes that discriminates non-virulent from virulent variants

Abstract Background JC virus (JCV) is the etiologic agent for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease occurring in the brain of patients with underlying immune compromised states. All viable JCV genomes contain a conserved region in the T protein coding nucleotide sequence that when detected by PCR in CSF is a confirmatory diagnostic marker for PML along with clinical and neuroradiological evidence. The non-coding regulatory region (NCRR) is hypervariable, as evidenced by nucleotide sequence of the non-virulent variant, which is predominantly excreted in urine, versus that of virulent variants found in brain and CSF of PML patients. All variants can be found in blood. Objective A single assay that quantifies and identifies JCV DNA in clinical samples and discriminates between variants has significant value to physicians and patients at risk for PML. Study design Separate primer pairs were tested together to quantitatively detect conserved viral DNA nucleotide sequence in patient samples, while simultaneously detecting the NCRR specific for the non-virulent variant. Results In testing using control plasmids and patients’ CSF, blood, and urine, PML patients predictably demonstrated the non-virulent, archetype NCRR in urine, but virulent NCRR variants in CSF and blood. Conclusion The JCV qPCR multiplex assay targets two regions in JCV genomes to simultaneously identify and measure viral DNA, as well as distinguish between variants associated with PML and those that are not. The multiplex results could signal risk for PML if patients are viremic with JCV variants closely associated with PML pathogenesis.
Latinos' Economic Recovery: Postsecondary Participation and Hispanic-Serving Institutions

The majority of Latinos currently enrolled in colleges and universities attend Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs), or those institutions where Latino undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment equals or exceeds 25% of the student population. While HSIs only make up 7% of colleges and universities in the U.S., they enroll more than half of all Latino undergraduates. Given the concentration of Latino students in such a small (but quickly growing) number of colleges and universities, HSIs are critical institutions to examine to understand how to promote Latinos' postsecondary opportunity—and, by extension, create the conditions for their economic recovery and success.
Electrospray ionization multiple stage quadrupole ion-trap and tandem quadrupole mass spectrometric studies on phosphatidylglycerol from arabidopsis leaves

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is the major phospholipid of plant chloroplasts. PG from Arabidopsis thaliana has an unusual fatty acyl chain, 3-trans-hexadecenoyl (Δ316:1) in the sn-2 position of the major 18:3/Δ316:1-PG species, as well as in 18:2/Δ316:1-PG and 16:0/Δ316:1-PG. Upon low-energy collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) in a tandem quadrupole or in an ion-trap mass spectrometer, the [M - H]− ions of the PG molecules containing Δ316:1 give product-ion spectra that are readily distinguishable from those arising from PGs without the Δ316:1 species. The Δ316:1-fatty acyl-containing PGs are characterized by MS2 product-ion mass spectra that contain predominant [M - H - 236]− ions arising from loss of the Δ316:1-fatty acyl substituent as a ketene. This is attributable to the fact that the α-hydrogen of the Δ316:1-fatty acid substituent involved in the ketene loss is an allylic hydrogen, which is very labile. This leads to preferential neutral loss of 236 and drastic decline in the neutral loss of 254 (i.e., loss as a fatty acid), the unique features that signify the presence of Δ316:1-fatty acyl containing PGs. The neutral loss scan of 236, thus, provides a sensitive tandem quadrupole mass spectrometric means to identify Δ316:1-containing PG species in lipid mixtures. This low-energy tandem mass spectrometric approach also permits the structures of the Arabidopsis PGs that consist of two isomeric structures to be unveiled.
Intra- or extrauterine transport? Comparison of neonatal outcomes using a logistic model

In a retrospective study a comparative analysis of mortality by way of transport (maternal, neonatal, or not referred) was performed on 163 liveborn newborns with a gestational age of less than 32 wk or a birth weight of less than 1500 g. The occurrence of potential mortality risk factors in the subgroups was taken into account. Of these, caesarean section, sex, Apgar score, intubation after delivery, birth weight and gestational age showed a relationship with mortality. Logistic regression analysis regarding the relationship between mortality and way of transport revealed that mortality in the neonatal transport group was significantly higher than in the maternal transport group, taking into account the confounding risk factors sex, caesarean section, fetal growth retardation, birth weight and gestational age.
Foetal dose conversion coefficients for ICRP-compliant pregnant models from idealised proton exposures.

Protection of pregnant women and their foetus against external proton irradiations poses a unique challenge. Assessment of foetal dose due to external protons in galactic cosmic rays and as secondaries generated in aircraft walls is especially important during high-altitude flights. This paper reports a set of fluence to absorbed dose conversion coefficients for the foetus and its brain for external monoenergetic proton beams of six standard configurations (the antero-posterior, the postero-anterior, the right lateral, the left lateral, the rotational and the isotropic). The pregnant female anatomical definitions at each of the three gestational periods (3, 6 and 9 months) are based on newly developed RPI-P series of models whose organ masses were matched within 1% with the International Commission on Radiological Protection reference values. Proton interactions and the transport of secondary particles were carefully simulated using the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended code (MCNPX) and the phantoms consisting of several million voxels at 3 mm resolution. When choosing the physics models in the MCNPX, it was found that the advanced Cascade-Exciton intranuclear cascade model showed a maximum of 9% foetal dose increase compared with the default model combination at intermediate energies below 5 GeV. Foetal dose results from this study are tabulated and compared with previously published data that were based on simplified anatomy. The comparison showed a strong dependence upon the source geometry, energy and gestation period: the dose differences are typically less than 20% for all sources except ISO where systematically 40–80% of higher doses were observed. Below 200 MeV, a larger discrepancy in dose was found due to the Bragg peak shift caused by different anatomy. The tabulated foetal doses represent the latest and most detailed study to date offering a useful set of data to improve radiation protection dosimetry against external protons.
Effect of extraneous cognitive activity on dissonance reduction.

The hypothesis was rested that cognitive work in the form of reevaluation of alternatives is necessary for post-decision dissonance reduction. It was predicted that magnitude of dissonance reductio...
First course in computer science, a small survey

In many disciplines, the introductory courses are well standardized as to what should be covered, how the subject is to be taught, and how student's performance is to be measured. Such is certainly not the case in Computer Science, where we constantly debate what should be taught, what programming language is to be used, the nature of assignments to be given, etc.We wanted to see how other schools were teaching this first course, so we sent questionnaires to all the Universities listed in the ACM Graduate Assistantship Directory. From the 44 schools responding to the survey, we want to share some interesting facts concerning the manner in which Computer Science is taught.
SU(3) x SU(2) x U(1) model with Fritzsch mass matrices.

Discrete symmetries associated with the roots of unity are employed to construct Fritzsch-type mass matrices for the three generations of fermions in the standard model with SU(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1) gauge symmetry. The model requires four conventional Higgs doublets to account for the hierarchy of fermion masses and mixings.
The kinetics of diiodotyrosine metabolism in normal human subjects.

Abstract The kinetics of I 131 -labeled DIT deiodination has been studied in normal human subjects, and a kinetic model has been formulated for use in future comparisons of DIT deiodination in subjects with various metabolic disorders. By employing the equations offered in this model, the plasma concentration of DIT at any time and the rate of DIT deiodination can be calculated. The model also predicts that the amount of iodide-I 131 secreted by the salivary glands, excreted by the kidneys, and accumulated by the thyroid gland is a function of the plasma concentration of iodide-I 131 and the respective tissue rate constant.
The effect of phytoplankton and suspended sediment on the growth of Corbicula fluminea (bivalvia)

Juvenile Corbicula fluminea Muller (1774) were cultured at 15.3 °C in the laboratory on eight combinations of suspended sediment and phytoplankton. Sediment concentrations were 2.6, 25, 50, and 150 mg l−1. Chlorophyll a levels were 15.6 and 62.5 µg l−1. Clam tissue growth was found to be independent of silt concentration but increased at the higher chlorophyll level (p < 0.05). The growth experiment was repeated at 24 °C with chlorophyll a concentrations of 18.9 and 112.6 µg l−1. Growth was again greater at the higher phytoplankton level (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that Asiatic clam populations are food-limited most of the growing season in the Northern and Western portions of California's eutrophic Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta where chlorophyll a levels average less than the lower of these values. Comparisons of clam growth in the laboratory and estuary support the food limitation hypothesis as at the higher food concentration laboratory tissue growth was 2.3 and 3.8 times greater during the high and low temperature evaluations than in the estuary.
Bombesin inhibits stress-induced eating

Abstract Bombesin administered both intracerebroventricularly and parenterally suppressed stress-induced eating in the rat (using the mild tail pinch model). Intraventricular administration of bombesin resulted in hyperglycemia, which was abolished by adrenalectomy. The satiety-inducing effect of bombesin was independent of the hyperglycemia it produces as suppression of stress-induced eating was still present in adrenalectomized animals.
The production of private space and its implications for urban social relations

Abstract The paper focuses on what has been termed the privatization of urban public space and the negative consequences attributed to this transformation. The first part examines this dichotomy between public and private space and finds it to be more apparent than real, insofar as it is difficult to claim a sharp conceptual distinction between the two; moreover, the social benefits of public space are shown to be overdrawn, while those of private space are shown to be commonly overlooked. Having begun to dismantle the dichotomy, the second part of the paper discusses the public–private spaces in a rapidly growing metropolitan area in the Southwestern US and explores their implications for social relations. Given that these newer spaces are less different than is sometimes claimed, it is not surprising that they display some familiar forms of social interaction.
A distributed repository for immutable persistent objects

Jasmine is an object-oriented system for programming-in-the-large. Jasmine describes software using system model objects. These objects are persistent (they have lifetimes of days or decades) and immutable (since system models act as historical records). This paper describes JStore, a distributed, replicated repository for system model objects. JStore provides robust, transactional, write-once storage.Designs are presented for the serialization, location, and replication of objects. Description procedures serialize objects for network transmission and permanent storage. An expanding ring multicast search algorithm locates saved objects. JStore replicates objects using a lazy replication algorithm built on top of the location mechanism. Decision procedures determine the replication policy used at each storage site.
Presbyterianism and the American Revolution in the Middle Colonies

After the Revolution, Thomas Jones, an embittered loyalist exile, identified the culprits he deemed responsible for the rebellion in New York: the Whig “triumvirate” of Presbyterians—William Livingston, William Smith, and John Morin Scott. Jones averred that in the Independent Reflector (1752–53) and Watch Tower (1754–55), which they authored, “the established Church was abused, Monarchy derided, Episcopacy reprobated, and republicanism held up, as the best existing form of government.” The three wrote “with a rancor, a malevolence, and an acrimony, not to be equaled but by the descendants of those presbyterian and repulblican fanatics, whose ancestors had in the preceding century brought their Sovereign to the block, subverted the best constitution in the world, and upon its ruins erected presbyterianism, republicanism, and hypocrisy.”
THE RURAL POOR

The rural poor made especially great strides in the 1970s; unlike earlier decades. Primarily as a result of federal income transfer programs, rural poverty has lost much of its harsh personal impact. Nonetheless, the residual hard core of the poor still exist, being too costly and too difficult to reach.
Hindcasting Nitrogen Deposition To Determine An Ecological Critical Load

Using an estimated background nitrogen (N) deposition value of 0.5 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1) in 1900, and a 19-year record of measured values from Loch Vale (Colorado, USA; NADP site CO98), I reconstructed an N-deposition history using exponential equations that correlated well with EPA-reported NO(x) emissions from Colorado and from the sum of emissions of 11 western states. The mean wet N-deposition values for the period 1950-1964 was approximately 1.5 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1), corresponding to the reported time of alteration of diatom assemblages attributed to N deposition in alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park (USA). This value becomes the critical load defining the threshold for ecological change from eutrophication. Thus if an N-deposition threshold for ecological change can be identified, and the date at which that threshold was crossed is known, hindcasting can derive the amount of atmospheric deposition at the time of change, at least for alpine lakes. Independent support for the technique and the deposition amount comes from experimental studies, ecosystem modeling, and paleolimnological records from northern Wyoming (USA).
Dissociation of retinoblastoma gene protein hyperphosphorylation and commitment to enter S phase.

Abstract Mitogenic activities of simian virus 40 large T and small t antigens were studied in serum-deprived human diploid fibroblasts. Wild-type large T and small t cooperated in stimulating DNA synthesis and in inducing hyperphosphorylation of the Rb gene product (pRb). In contrast, a T antigen mutant defective for pRb binding (Rb- T) possessed no detectable mitogenic activity alone and failed to complement small t in stimulating DNA synthesis. Surprisingly, Rb- T and small t cooperated as strongly as wild-type T and small t with respect to pRb hyperphosphorylation. As a consequence, in two closely related conditions (i.e., stimulation by small t plus wild-type T versus small t plus Rb- T), the fraction of pRb in hyperphosphorylated forms dissociated from the fraction of cells in the S phase. These results indicate that pRb hyperphosphorylation is not always tightly coupled with a commitment to initiate DNA replication.
Detection of medical errors in kidney transplantation: A pilot study comparing proactive clinician debriefings to a hospital-wide incident reporting system

Background Rates of medical errors and adverse events remain high for patients who undergo kidney transplantation; they are particularly vulnerable because of the complexity of their disease and the kidney transplantation procedure. Although institutional incident-reporting systems are used in hospitals around the country, they often fail to capture a substantial proportion of medical errors. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of a proactive, web-based clinician safety debriefing to augment the information about medical errors and adverse events obtained via traditional incident reporting systems. Methods Debriefings were sent to all individuals listed on operating room personnel reports for kidney transplantation surgeries between April 2010 and April 2011, and incident reports were collected for the same time period. The World Health Organization International Classification for Patient Safety was used to classify all issues reported. Results A total of 270 debriefings reported 334 patient safety issues (179 safety incidents, 155 contributing factors), and 57 incident reports reported 92 patient safety issues (56 safety incidents, 36 contributing factors). Compared with incident reports, more attending physicians completed the debriefings (32.0 vs 3.5%). Discussion The use of a proactive, web-based debriefing to augment an incident reporting system in assessing safety risks in kidney transplantation demonstrated increased information, more perspectives of a single safety issue, and increased breadth of participants.
Politics Matters: Political Events as Catalysts for Preadult Socialization

We propose that (1) the preadult socialization of longstanding, stable predispositions is catalyzed by exogenous political events; (2) such events socialize attitudes selectively, only in the specific domains they make salient; and so (3) longstanding predispositions tend to be socialized episodically rather than incrementally. This theory is applied to the socialization of partisanship during a presidential campaign, examining gains in information, affective expression, and attitude crystallization. Adolescents (aged 10 to 17) and their parents were interviewed in a three-wave panel study, at the beginning of a presidential campaign, at the end, and a year later. The campaign induced substantial preadult socialization gains regarding attitude objects central to the campaign (candidates and parties), particularly in the stability of preadults' partisanship. There were few gains in attitude domains peripheral to the campaign or during the postcampaign period. These findings suggest that periodic political events catalyze preadult socialization, generating predispositions that persist into later life stages.
Differential effects of tolbutamide on first and second phase insulin secretion in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Immunoreactive insulin responses to a 20-g iv glucose challenge during a 7.5 mg/nr/min tolbutamide infusion were studied in 21 untreated noninsulin-dependent male diabetics. All data were analyzed by paired t tests. During the tolbutamide infusion, compared to the saline control period in the same subjects, glucose levels were lowered [217 ± 17 vs. 196 ± 16 mg/dl (mean ± SEM); P < 0.005], and there was an increase in both first phase (2 ± 1 vs. 16 ± 4 /zU/ml; P < 0.005) and second phase insulin responses (296 ± 71 vs. 499 ± 101 jttU · min/ml; P < 0.05; n = 21). However, when the prestimulus glucose level was lowered by an insulin infusion (214 ± 20 vs. 145 ± 17 mg/dl; P < 0.001), no effect on first phase insulin secretion was observed, and the second phase response decreased (290 / 78 vs. 124 ± 55 μU-min/ml; P < 0.005; n = 11; saline control vs. insulin infusion). In 8 subjects, the plasma glucose level during the tolbutamide infusion was kept constant by a concurrent variable glucose infusion. First phas...
Priority based channel assignment with pair-wise listen and sleep scheduling for wireless sensor networks

Plethora of anticipated applications and ease of deployment have influenced researchers and disseminated the importance of sensor networks in the research community. Energy (battery-power) is an important and meager resource in sensor networks. We attempt to conserve energy in the sensor network and posit a priority based channel assignment with pair-wise listen and sleep scheduling scheme. The scheme uses distinct channels in one-hop neighborhood of a node. In case of non-availability of any new channel, we intelligently reuse the existing channels to guarantee that the node with minimum energy in one-hop neighborhood has more chance of getting a dedicated channel. We also incorporate periodic listen and sleep methodology in a pair-wise fashion to conserve battery-power of each node. Simulation results show that the proposed strategy fends to conserve reasonable amount of battery power and avoids collisions.
Construct Validity and Reading Research: Some Comments with a Data Simulation Exemplar:

Various models of assessing construct validity are considered and found to be lacking. In addition to the two dimensions of (a) trait to be assessed; and, (b) method of assessment, a third dimension of time or age is offered as a logical extension when involved in reading research. A computer simulation for learning performance on five hierarchically arranged skills is offered as an illustration. The results of the simulation suggest that assessment specifically based on hierarchical models requiring prior skill development should take into account the point in time at which the assessment is made and that, more generally, all settings requiring the learning of data are time related.
RipA, a Cytoplasmic Membrane Protein Conserved among Francisella Species, Is Required for Intracellular Survival

Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent bacterial pathogen that invades and replicates within numerous host cell types, including macrophages and epithelial cells. In an effort to better understand this process, we screened a transposon insertion library of the F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) for mutant strains that invaded but failed to replicate within alveolar epithelial cell lines. One such strain isolated from this screen contained an insertion in the gene FTL_1914, which is conserved among all sequenced Francisella species yet lacks significant homology to any gene with known function. A deletion strain lacking FTL_1914 was constructed. This strain did not replicate in either epithelial or macrophage-like cells, and intracellular replication was restored by the wild-type allele in trans. Based on the deletion mutant phenotype, FTL_1914 was termed ripA (required for intracellular proliferation, factor A). Following uptake by J774.A1 cells, F. tularensis LVS ΔripA colocalized with LAMP-1 then escaped the phagosome at the same rate and frequency as wild-type LVS-infected cells. Electron micrographs of the F. tularensis LVS ΔripA mutant demonstrated the reentry of the mutant bacteria into double membrane vacuoles characteristic of autophagosomes in a process that was not dependent on replication. The F. tularensis LVS ΔripA mutant was significantly impaired in its ability to persist in the lung and in its capacity to disseminate and colonize the liver and spleen in a mouse model of pulmonary tularemia. The RipA protein was expressed during growth in laboratory media and localized to the cytoplasmic membrane. Thus, RipA is a cytoplasmic membrane protein conserved among Francisella species that is required for intracellular replication within the host cell cytoplasm as well as disease progression, dissemination, and virulence.
Observations of terrestrial far UV emissions by the Faust Telescope

The Far Ultraviolet Space Telescope ('FAUST') furnishes precise photometry for extended astronomical objects in the 1400-1800 A wavelength interval, and constitutes a part of the Atlas-1 mission. On several occasions during this flight, FAUST was turned toward the earth in order to obtain terrestrial nightglow, auroral and Shuttleglow emissions. It is found that auroral precipitation activity dominates in the high magnetic latitude; outside it, diffuse emission is seen to slowly vary over the nightside.
Laparoscopic Paraesophageal Hernia Repair

Influential studies published by Belsey in 1967 and Hill in 1973 convinced surgeons for many years that all paraesophageal hernias should be repaired when identified, regardless of symptomatology [1, 2]. The rationale for this approach was prophylactic, based largely on a concern for life-threatening hernia-related complications such as strangulation and gastric ischemia. This notion has been challenged in recent years and now many asymptomatic hernias are managed expectantly [3]. When a hernia becomes more than mildly symptomatic, it should be repaired in most cases. Typical symptoms related to a paraesophageal hernia can include dysphagia, early satiety, epigastric pain, and even dyspnea. Some patients may suffer from significant medically refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease necessitating repair. Cameron’s ulcers can develop from chronic mucosal ischemia and mechanical irritation from twisting of the stomach, typically at the hiatus. These ulcers may lead to chronic insidious blood loss with resultant anemia or less commonly frank hematemesis. Operative correction should be considered in these patients, as well.
Bradykinin Activates a Phospholipase D that Hydrolyzes Phosphatidylcholine in PC12 Cells

: In PC12 pheochromocytoma cells whose phospholipids had been prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid, bradykinin increased the production of [3H]phosphatidic acid. The increase in [3H]phosphatidic acid occurred within 1–2 min, before the majority of the increase in [3H]diacylglycerol. When the phospholipids were prelabeled with [3H]choline, bradykinin increased the intracellular release of [3H]choline. The production of phosphatidic acid and choline suggests that bradykinin was increasing the activity of phospholipase D. Transphosphatidylation is a unique property of phospholipase D. In cells labeled with [3H]palmitic acid, bradykinin stimulated the transfer of phosphatidyl groups to both ethanol and propanol to form [3H]phosphatidylethanol and [3H]phosphatidylpropanol, respectively. The effect of bradykinin on [3H]phosphatidic acid and [3H]phosphatidylethanol formation was partially dependent on extracellular Ca2+. In cells treated with nerve growth factor, carbachol also increased [3H]phosphatidylethanol formation. To investigate the substrate specificity of phospholipase D, cells were labeled with [14C]stearic acid and [3H]palmitic acid, and then incubated with ethanol in the absence or presence of bradykinin. The 14C/3H ratio of the phosphatidylethanol that accumulated in response to bradykinin was almost identical to the 14C/3H ratio of phosphatidylcholine. The 14C/3H ratio in phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol was higher than the ratio in phosphatidylcholine. These data provide additional support for the idea that bradykinin activates a phospholipase D that is active against phosphatidylcholine. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D accounts for only a portion of the phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol that accumulates in bradykinin-stimulated cells; bradykinin evidently stimulates several pathways of phospholipid metabolism in PC12 cells.
A novel method for online training of dynamic neural networks

A fast, efficient, and novel way of online training of dynamic neural networks is presented in this paper. The method is based on a combination of recursive least-squares and backpropagation; in a large number of cases, backpropagation can be avoided altogether. The proposed method would be suitable for real-time identification, fault detection, and control of uncertain dynamic systems.
Beyond society: the evolution of organismality.

The evolution of organismality is a social process. All organisms originated from groups of simpler units that now show high cooperation among the parts and are nearly free of conflicts. We suggest that this near-unanimous cooperation be taken as the defining trait of organisms. Consistency then requires that we accept some unconventional organisms, including some social insect colonies, some microbial groups and viruses, a few sexual partnerships and a number of mutualistic associations. Whether we call these organisms or not, a major task is to explain such cooperative entities, and our survey suggests that many of the traits commonly used to define organisms are not essential. These non-essential traits include physical contiguity, indivisibility, clonality or high relatedness, development from a single cell, short-term and long-term genetic cotransmission, germ–soma separation and membership in the same species.
The Relationship among Depressive and Alcoholic Symptoms and Aggressive Behavior in Adult Male Emergency Department Patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which depressive and alcoholic symptoms are related to aggressiveness in male emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was conducted in a Midwest urban ED. A convenience sample of 302 noncritical male patients completed the survey. Self-reported aggressiveness, anger problems, Zung depressive symptoms, CAGE alcoholic dependence, and demographics were collected. A conceptual causal model was tested with structural equation (SEQ) modeling. Regression analyses examined the extent to which the Zung scale, CAGE inventory, and demographics explained aggressiveness. RESULTS: The SEQ modeling found that both depressive and alcoholic symptoms linked significantly to aggressiveness. Depressive symptoms linked three times more strongly than alcoholic symptoms to aggressiveness. Model fit statistics suggested that depressive and alcoholic symptoms are plausible causal factors for male aggressiveness. Regression analyses revealed that four items from the Zung scale (irritable, can't sleep, "better off dead," indecisive) and two items from the CAGE inventory (annoyed when criticized about drinking, need to cut down) explained aggressiveness. CONCLUSIONS: In this urban ED population, depressive symptoms linked to aggressiveness three times more strongly than alcoholic symptoms. An abbreviated screening tool that could be used in EDs incorporating Zung and CAGE items may identify males who would benefit from further evaluation for depression, alcoholism, and aggressive behavior. Language: en
The waveform browser, an interactive and intuitive tool for exploring seismic event data

Online Material: Technical details on running the Waveform Browser and format of the input variables, with Matlab, GUI, and sample dataset files. Seismic waveforms carry much information about the source that generated them and the material properties of the media through which they propagated. Systematic changes in waveform character offer clues that can help us understand earthquake rupture processes as well as heterogeneous velocity structure. To find these systematic changes, record sections are often constructed. However, the character of the waveforms normally changes as a function of many variables, including epicentral distance, azimuth, exit point on the focal sphere, and recording station site effects, among others, all acting simultaneously. It is therefore useful to view the waveforms in their geographic/geologic context. Recognizing this, many recent publications dealing with waveform character plot waveforms distributed over a map in the location of the station that recorded them (examples are abundant; a recent one that uses this type of figure extensively is Sun and Helmberger, 2011). This is a very useful representation, but it becomes problematic if station spacing is small, when it becomes difficult to separate the waveform plots. In addition, by necessity, the plotted waveforms must be small, because they must all fit inside the map. This makes it difficult to assess details and more subtle effects when trying to analyze the data. An intimately related issue is the increase of data availability in recent years. For a single seismic event, we may now have access to hundreds of records. Such large volumes of data can reveal complex, but predictable, behavior of the waveforms, which would otherwise be obscured by the sparseness of the observations. An abundance of data provides many opportunities, but organizing, aggregating, and visualizing large volumes of data in a meaningful and useful way poses its own challenges …
Multiscale investigation of shear bands in sand: Physical and numerical experiments

SUMMARY In many geotechnical systems, it is not uncommon to observe failure in zones of high localized strain called shear bands. The existing models predict the existence and the extent of these localizations, but provide little insight into the micromechanics within the shear bands. This research captures and compares the variation in microstructure both inside and outside of shear bands that formed in physical laboratory plane strain and companion numerical two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) biaxial compression experiments. Unsheared and sheared laboratory specimens of Ottawa 20–30 sand of varying dilatancy were solidified using a two-stage resin impregnation procedure. The solidified specimens were sectioned and the resulting surfaces were prepared for microstructure observation using optical bright-field microscopy and stereological analysis. Statistical properties of microstructural parameters for sub-regions in a grid pattern and along predefined inclined zones were determined. Similar measurements were performed on 2D DEM simulation specimens at varying strain levels to characterize the evolution of microstructure with increasing strain. The results showed how differences evolved in the mean, standard deviation, and entropy of void distributions with increasing global strain levels. The results indicate how disorder increases and that the material within the shear band does not adhere to the classical concept of critical state, but reaches a terminal void ratio that is largely a function of initial void ratio. Furthermore, there appears to be a transition zone between the far field and the fully formed shear block, as opposed to an abrupt delineation as is traditionally inferred. Copyright q 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spontaneous Ischemic Infarction of the Spinal Cord with Traumatic Sequela

What is believed to have been spontaneous infarction of the spinal cord is reported in two individuals with known chronic cardiovascular disease apparently causing paraparesis while driving motor vehicles. Although blunt trauma to the spinal cord cannot be ruled out, there was no objective evidence of such. The history of spontaneous onset of paraplegia prior to trauma is clear in the first case but could only be inferred in the second case.
Everolimus: a new treatment option for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

OBJECTIVE:To present the current clinical evidence on everolimus for use in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET).DATA SOURCES:A literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE (1946-March 2012). Search terms were everolimus, RAD001, mTOR inhibitor, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2000-2012 meetings and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews were searched to obtain otherwise unpublished data. The national clinical trials registry was searched for current and future studies of everolimus in pNET.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Clinical studies available in the English language describing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical activity, and safety of everolimus in pNET were included. All peer-reviewed, clinically relevant publications were reviewed for inclusion.DATA SYNTHESIS:Everolimus is an oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor approved by the FDA in May 2011 for the treatment of progressive, advanced pN...
Understanding emotional suffering

In responding to insightful commentaries from 7 scholars, for which I am grateful, I offer new thoughts on whether animals can conceptualize and express signs of grief. I also discuss why I included both weak and strong examples of animal mourning, and how this work may help us think about enhanced welfare for animals, including freedom from emotional suffering.
Evidence from surface microscopy for recognition of fleshy and tendinous muscle insertion in extant vertebrate femora: implications for muscle reconstruction in fossils

Recognition of muscle attachment sites and their modification has been an important tool in anthropologic and paleontologic research, but has been compromised by limited ability to recognise sites of tendinous attachments. We investigated bone–tendon (three sites) and bone–muscle (six sites) interfaces in six pairs of femora across a broad taxonomic spectrum of higher amniote archosaurs (both recent and fossil) by epi-illumination microscopy. Direct fleshy and indirect tendinous muscle attachments were identified by dissection of fresh specimens and examination of fossils and the surface microscopic changes identified at those locations. Examination revealed bone modifications specific to each type of muscle insertion, allowing them to be identified and distinguished. Application of a surface microscopy technique not only permits more confident localisation of tendinous attachments, but for the first time allows recognition of sites of direct fleshy muscle attachments – in a reproducible manner across phy...
The use of quality metrics in health care: primum non nocere and the law of unintended consequences

Quality and the law of unintended consequences into 5 domains: process of care, patient safety and out“Healthcare in the United States is not as safe as it should be..” With these words, the Institute of Medicine launched their wake-up call to the US health care industry regarding the need for improvement in the quality of the care that we provide to our patients. Since this publication, government organizations, professional organizations, hospitals, and health care providers have worked diligently to increase the quality of the product that we provide to our patients on a daily basis. In an effort to increase the pace of quality improvement, the Affordable Care Act included 3 value-based purchasing programs: the hospital value-based purchasing program, the hospital readmissions reduction program (HRRP), and the hospital-acquired condition (HAC) reduction program. Each of these programs utilize financial incentives and penalties that are based on the performance of health care organizations on predetermined quality metrics. As a further stimulus to improve, hospital performance on these quality metrics are publically reported on the Hospital Compare WorldWide Web site (http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare). In fiscal year 2013, as a result of data obtained by these 3 collective value-based purchasing programs, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changes to the inpatient prospective payment system payments to hospitals resulted in a “redistribution of almost 1 billion dollars among hospitals.” These payments are a redistribution of money because most of these programs are budget neutral, which is accomplished by removing money from payments to poorly performing hospitals and increasing the payments to high performers. With this amount of money involved, it is incumbent on each hospital and physician to have an understanding of the basics of these programs.
Ignoring Implementation Costs of the Clean Air Act: A Costly Mistake

This paper describes the economic analyses such as benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and risk-risk analysis that could be used to improve environmental rulemaking if Congress were to implement the Clean Air Act such that EPA could consider costs when setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). I show that setting NAAQS without considering costs could eventually lead to scenarios where US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policies reduce human health and welfare. Every time the EPA sets a new ambient air quality standard, the resources devoted to compliance with the standard are necessarily taken away from other uses. Because a 2001 Supreme Court ruling upheld the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act that EPA may not consider costs when setting NAAQS, Congress should amend the Clean Air Act to state that the EPA Administrator should consider costs when setting NAAQS. Allowed to consider such information, the EPA would be better equipped to choose regulatory actions that are most cost-beneficial or cost-effective.
Effects of mechanical factors on growth and maturation of the lung in fetal sheep

Previous fetal studies indicated that endocrine factors control surfactant maturation, whereas mechanical forces affect lung growth, but not surfactant. We altered mechanical forces in fetal sheep lungs at 100-108 days gestation by tracheal ligation (TL, n = 15, 7 successful studies) to accelerate lung growth, transection of cervical spinal cord (TCSC, n = 17, 6 successful studies) to produce lung hypoplasia, or sham operation (n = 11, 6 successful studies). The reasons for the high mortality rates are not known. At delivery (130-142 days), groups were similar in gestational age, weight, and cortisol. Effects on lung growth were similar to, but effects on surfactant differed from, previous reports. TL increased lung growth but decreased saturated phosphatidylcholine (SatPC) and surfactant protein (SP)A and apparently decreased SP-B and relative numbers of alveolar type II cells (based on immunohistochemical studies of 1 animal in each group); TCSC had opposite effects. In contrast to a previous study (J. A. Kitterman, G. C. Liggins, G. A. Campos, J. A. Clements, C. S. Forster, C. H. Lee, and R. K. Creasy, J. Appl. Physiol, 51: 384-390, 1981), SatPC did not correlate with cortisol. We conclude that altering mechanical forces in fetal lung affects not only lung growth but also surfactant maturation and possibly alveolar epithelial differentiation and disturbs the normal correlation between cortisol and surfactant. Associated changes in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; increased by TL, P = 0.003) suggest a possible role for IGF-I in these effects.
Moral and Ethical Framework Appraisal: A Counsellors Ethical Responsibilities in Reporting Clients/Tarasoff Case

The following papers will provide a discussion of an ethical dilemma followed by an appraisal of your moral and ethical framework.
DETERMINISTIC APPROACH TO WATERSHED MODELING

Physically-based, deterministic models, are considered in this paper. Physically-based, in that the models have a theoretical structure based primarily on the laws of conservation of mass, energy, or momentum; deterministic in the sense that when initial and boundary conditions and inputs are specified, the output is known with certainty. This type of model attempts to describe the structure of a particular hydrologic process and is therefore helpful in predicting what will happen when some change occurs in the system.