cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
testosterone and triiodothyronine in franklin's gull (leucophaeus pipixcan) eggs

maternally derived hormones are known to influence the growth and development of offspring. the differential deposition of these maternally derived hormones into egg yolk is one way by which females can alter their chicks' growth or survival. yolk constituents, especially testosterone, have been described for a wide variety of species. however, few studies have focused on multiple maternally derived hormones regulated by independent axes in the endocrine system, and those studies that have, mainly focus on corticosterone and testosterone. in this study, within and among female variation in testosterone and triiodothyronine concentrations in egg yolks were measured in three free-living franklin's gull (leucophaeus pipixcan) populations. testosterone (t), but not triiodothyronine (t3), concentrations increase within a female's clutch such that eggs laid later in the clutch have increasingly higher concentrations (from a mean of 1.97 log pg t/mg yolk for the first egg to 2.98 log pg t/mg yolk for the third egg compared to a mean of 0.14 log pg t3/mg yolk for the first egg to 0.31 log pg t3/mg yolk for the third egg). both testosterone and triiodothyronine concentrations increase among females across the breeding season such that eggs laid later in the season have significantly higher hormone concentrations (mean of 2.37 log pg t/mg yolk and mean of -0.03 log pg t3/mg yolk) than eggs laid early in the season (mean of 1.95 log pg t/mg yolk and mean of -0.17 log pg t3/mg yolk).
Considering Kingsolver’s “Great Barrier” for Beyond the Pastoral

Looking at stories, we can begin imagining processes of reworlding, processes that involve un-learning and re-learning our relationships with the environment in a more-than-human world, and I wonder, too, if poetry can lead us to a similar place, poetry offering an approach toward a collaboration with the nonhuman in a more than human world. Barbara Kingsolver's poem, "Great Barrier," generally and broadly responds to climate change and the anxiety surrounding our limited amount of time to dramatically address climate change. I argue that she allows the potential for completely reimagining new practices and processes toward approaching the Anthropocene through the genre of poetry that does not return to something familiar.
Training and Credentialing the Robotic Bariatric Surgeon

Robotic surgery is gaining popularity across various surgical specialties, including bariatric surgery. Training the robotic bariatric surgeon involves two separate components: robotic surgery training and bariatric surgery training. Although requirements for robotic surgery certification have been established by Intuitive Surgical, there are currently no formal guidelines for robotic bariatric surgery training. Once robotic certification is obtained, it is up to the particular program to determine the optimal method of training the robotic bariatric surgeon. Credentialing is institution dependent and may vary.
Abstract ES2-3: Guiding selection of RT approach after lumpectomy

Level I evidence supports the usage of adjuvant radiation therapy following breast conserving surgery for early stage breast cancer. Historically, this was typically delivered using standard fractionation whole breast irradiation. We will review multicenter, randomized controlled trials that support the use of hypofractionation in this setting. More recent level I data has also demonstrated excellent local control with partial breast irradiation for select, early stage breast cancers. In this educational talk we will review the local control and toxicity data for partial breast irradiation. International guidelines on the use of hypofractionated whole breast irradiation and partial breast irradiation will be discussed. We will aim to provide a framework for decision making when electing radiation technique in this setting. Citation Format: SF Shaitelman. Guiding selection of RT approach after lumpectomy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr ES2-3.
Comprehensive phenotyping of 3q29 deletion syndrome: recommendations for clinical care

Purpose: To understand the consequences of the 3q29 deletion on medical, neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurological sequalae by systematic evaluation of affected individuals. To develop evidence-based recommendations using these data for effective clinical care. Methods: 32 Individuals with the 3q29 deletion were evaluated using a defined phenotyping protocol and standardized data collection instruments. Results: Medical manifestations were varied and reported across nearly every bodily system, with congenital heart defects (25%) the most severe and heterogeneous gastrointestinal symptoms (81%) the most common. Physical exam revealed a high proportion of musculoskeletal findings (81%). Neurodevelopmental phenotypes represent a significant burden and include intellectual disability (34%), autism spectrum disorder (38%), executive function deficits (46%), and graphomotor weakness (78%). Psychiatric illness manifests across the lifespan with schizophrenia prodrome (15%), psychosis (20%), anxiety disorders (40%) and ADHD (63%) . On neurological exam study subjects displayed only mild or moderate motor difficulties. Conclusions: By direct evaluation of 3q29 deletion study subjects, we document common features of the syndrome, including a high burden of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Evidence-based recommendations for evaluation, referral, and management are provided to help guide clinicians in the care of 3q29 deletion patients.
Incidence and management of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema in COVID-19

Background:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reached NewYork City in March 2020 leading to a state of emergency. Patients who contracted the disease presented with different phenotypes.Multiple reports have described the findings of pneumothoraces, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema on computed tomography (CT) scans of these patient. Research Question:To describe the incidence and management of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema related to COVID-19 found on radiologic imaging. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all confirmed Covid-19 patients admitted between early March to mid May to two hospitals in New York City. Patient demographics, radiological imaging and clinical courses, were documented. Results:Between early March and mid May, a total of 1970 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the two hospitals included in the study. 65/386 intubated patients developed the study specific complications, for an overall incidence of 16.8%;36 developed pneumothorax, 2 patients developed pneumomediastinum, 1 had subcutaneous emphysema and 26 had a combination of both. 87.5% were men and (age 28 to 81). Distribution of comorbidities included: hypertension (55.2%), diabetes(35.7%) , morbid obesity (21.5%) , underlying respiratory disease (12.5%) while 14.3% had no comorbidities. Average duration of intubation was 14 days (0-46). Mean highest PEEP within 72 hours of complication was 11 cmH220 (5-24). Mean highest peak inspiratory pressure within 72 hours of complication was 35.3 cmH2O (17-52). Incidence of spontaneous pneumothorax was 0.45%. Discussion:To our knowledge, this is the largest series of patients documenting these complications in the COVID-19 population. Given a mean duration of 14 days, it is theorized that it is the progression of the inflammation and lung destruction results in cyst development that are prone to rupture. Low lung compliance and high BMI leading to restrictive lung disease and higher peak airway pressures, and the need for high PEEP due to severe hypoxia, likely contributed to a higher incidence of these complications. In comparison to our intubated patients, there were no identifiable risk factors in our patients with spontaneous complications. Most of our patients had a pigtail catheter placed, however patients with small pneumothoraces with no hemodynamically instability were managed conservatively with a higher FiO2 concentration to help with re-absorption. Conclusions:Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia are high risk for pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema both while intubated and spontaneously. These should be considered in differential diagnosis of shortness of breath or hypoxia in a patient with new diagnosis COVID-19 or worsening hemodynamics in an ICU setting.
Energy Storage as an Equity Asset

This review offers a discussion on how energy storage deployment advances equitable outcomes for the power system. It catalogues the four tenets of the energy justice concept—distributive, recognition, procedural, and restorative—and shows how they relate to inequities in energy affordability, availability, due process, sustainability, and responsibility. Energy storage systems have been deployed to support grid reliability and renewable resource integration, but there is additional emerging value in considering the connections between energy storage applications and equity challenges in the power system. Through a thorough review of the energy justice and energy transitions literature, this paper offers the equity dimensions of storage project design and implementations. Emerging energy programs and projects are utilizing energy storage in pursuit of improved equity outcomes. Future research and policy design should integrate energy justice principles to align storage penetration with desired equity outcomes.
On the Benefits of Randomly Adjusting Anytime Weighted A.

Anytime Weighted A*---an anytime heuristic search algorithm that uses a weight to scale the heuristic value of each node in the open list---has proven to be an effective way to manage the trade-off between solution quality and computation time in heuristic search. Finding the best weight, however, is challenging because it depends on not only the characteristics of the domain and the details of the instance at hand, but also the available computation time. We propose a randomized version of this algorithm, called Randomized Weighted A*, that randomly adjusts its weight at runtime and show a counterintuitive phenomenon: RWA* generally performs as well or better than AWA* with the best static weight on a range of benchmark problems. The result is a simple algorithm that is easy to implement and performs consistently well without any offline experimentation or parameter tuning.
Possible Role for Allelic Variation in Yeast MED15 in Ecological Adaptation

The propensity for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast to ferment sugars into ethanol and CO2 has long been useful in the production of a wide range of food and drink. In the production of alcoholic beverages, the yeast strain selected for fermentation is crucial because not all strains are equally proficient in tolerating fermentation stresses. One potential mechanism by which domesticated yeast may have adapted to fermentation stresses is through changes in the expression of stress response genes. MED15 is a general transcriptional regulator and RNA Pol II Mediator complex subunit which modulates the expression of many metabolic and stress response genes. In this study, we explore the role of MED15 in alcoholic fermentation. In addition, we ask whether MED15 alleles from wine, sake or palm wine yeast improve fermentation activity and grape juice fermentation stress responses. And last, we investigate to what extent any differences in activity are due to allelic differences in the lengths of three polyglutamine tracts in MED15. We find that strains lacking MED15 are deficient in fermentation and fermentation stress responses and that MED15 alleles from alcoholic beverage yeast strains can improve both the fermentation capacity and the response to ethanol stresses when transplanted into a standard laboratory strain. Finally, we find that polyglutamine tract length in the Med15 protein is one determinant in the efficiency of the alcoholic fermentation process. These data lead to a working model in which polyglutamine tract length and other types of variability within transcriptional hubs like the Mediator subunit, Med15, may contribute to a reservoir of transcriptional profiles that may provide a fitness benefit in the face of environmental fluctuations.
Small Fiber Neuropathy Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

INTRODUCTION/AIMS The development and persistence of neurological symptoms following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is referred to as "long-haul" syndrome. We aimed to determine whether small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS We retrospectively studied the clinical features and outcomes of patients who were referred to us between May 2020 and May 2021 for painful paresthesia and numbness that developed during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection and who had nerve conduction studies showing no evidence of a large fiber polyneuropathy. RESULTS We identified 13 patients, Eight women and five men with age ranging from 38-67 y. Follow-up duration ranged from 8 to 12 mo. All patients developed new-onset paresthesias within 2 mo following SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an acute onset in seven and co-existing autonomic symptoms in seven. Three patients had pre-existing but controlled neuropathy risk factors. Skin biopsy confirmed SFN in six, all of whom showed both neuropathy symptoms and signs, and two also showed autonomic dysfunction by autonomic function testing (AFT). Of the remaining seven patients who had normal skin biopsies, six showed no clinical neuropathy signs and one exhibited signs and had abnormal AFT. Two patients with markedly reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber densities and one with normal skin biopsy had severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); the remainder experienced mild COVID-19 symptoms. Nine patients received symptomatic neuropathy treatment with paresthesias controlled in seven (77.8%). DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that symptoms of SFN may develop during or shortly after COVID-19. SFN may underlie the paresthesias associated with long-haul post-COVID-19 symptoms.
Comparison of the Construction of Unmarked Deletion Mutations in Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv by Allelic Exchange

Until recently, genetic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, was hindered by a lack of methods for gene disruptions and allelic exchange. Several groups have described different methods for disrupting genes marked with antibiotic resistance determinants in the slow-growing organisms Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and M. tuberculosis. In this study, we described the first report of using a mycobacterial suicidal plasmid bearing the counterselectable marker sacB for the allelic exchange of unmarked deletion mutations in the chromosomes of two substrains of M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Rv. In addition, our comparison of the recombination frequencies in these two slow-growing species and that of the fast-growing organism Mycobacterium smegmatis suggests that the homologous recombination machinery of the three species is equally efficient. The mutants constructed here have deletions in the lysA gene, encoding meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase, an enzyme catalyzing the last step in lysine biosynthesis. We observed striking differences in the lysine auxotrophic phenotypes of these three species of mycobacteria. The M. smegmatis mutant can grow on lysine-supplemented defined medium or complex rich medium, while the BCG mutants grow only on lysine-supplemented defined medium and are unable to form colonies on complex rich medium. The M. tuberculosis lysine auxotroph requires 25-fold more lysine on defined medium than do the other mutants and is dependent upon the detergent Tween 80. The mutants described in this work are potential vaccine candidates and can also be used for studies of cell wall biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism.
Histone acetyltransferase proteins contribute to transcriptional processes at multiple levels.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the current understanding of histone acetyltransferas (HAT) complex functions in transcription. Associations between chromatin modifiers and remodelers raise questions about functional interaction among complex types, while pointing toward a model of sequential occupancy or cooperativity at specific promoters. The model of sequential occupancy attempts to answer which type of complex, modifier or remodeler, is required first at a specific promoter to initiate transcription. HATs and histone acetylation have been historically implicated in transcriptional initiation; however, new evidence reveals additional important roles for HATs at multiple levels of transcriptional regulation. There are multiple examples of chromatin-modifying complexes found in association with chromatin-remodeling complexes (remodelers). SWI/SNF is a remodeler that uses adenosine triphosphate-hydrolysis to alter histone–DNA interactions, resulting in the histone octamer sliding along DNA or a complete removal of the octamer from DNA. Specific HAT and HAT-associated proteins contain important functional domains—RING, SANT, PHD, bromo, and chromo domains, which confer varying levels of HAT regulation. These domains are found in many chromatin-remodeling complexes and may serve as a central element in chromatin modifying complex recruitment of chromatin-remodeling complexes. Furthermore, research on these specialized domains may lead to deeper insights into coordinated modifier and remodeler activity at many promoters. New evidence reveals a role for HATs in additional cellular processes beyond transcriptional initation. HAT activity in transcriptional elongation likely facilitates RNA polymerase II during promoter clearance and transcription through coding regions. Data indicate that HATs play an active role in DNA repair, revealing that modifiers may play an important part in any chromatin-template process.
Technical Modifications in the Repair of Acute Ischemic Posterior Ventricular Septal Defect Without Ventriculotomy

Objective Transventricular repair for acute ischemic posterior ventricular septal defect is challenging and is associated with high operative morbidity and mortality. We have adopted the alternative technique of transatrial repair and recently have added technical modifications that result in less residual or recurrent septal shunt. This study reports those modifications and the related outcomes. Methods Retrospective review of 10 patients with acute ischemic posterior ventricular septal defect operated from November 2006 through March 2013. The septal defect was repaired through the right atrium with a prosthetic patch. Interlocking sutures and an additional continuous suture line buttress around the perimeter of the patch were added to the repair in four (40%) patients. Results Killip class IV heart failure was present in nine (90%) of the patients, and all received preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy. No patient who received the recent technical modifications experienced a residual or recurrent shunt. However, three (50%) patients who did not undergo this modification developed either a residual septal shunt (n = 1), an early recurrent septal shunt (n = 1), or a ventricular rupture (n = 1). There was no 30-day or in-hospital mortality after surgery, but a single patient died two years after operation due to congestive heart failure. The remaining patients are alive after surgery at a median of 2.0 years. Conclusions The transatrial repair of an acute ischemic posterior ventricular septal defect is a safe technique. The addition of interlocking pledgetted sutures and a patch suture line buttress decreases the incidence of residual and recurrent septal shunt. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12498 (J Card Surg 2015;30:233–237)
Daily tropical cyclone intensity response to solar ultraviolet radiation

[1] An inverse relationship between hurricane activity over the Caribbean and the number of sunspots has recently been identified. Here we investigate this relationship using daily observations and find support for the hypothesis that changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation rather than changes in other concomitant solar and cosmic variations are the cause. The relationship is statistically significant after accounting for annual variation in ocean heat and the El Nino cycle. A warming response in the upper troposphere to increased solar UV forcing as measured by the Mg II index (core-to-wing ratio) decreases the atmosphere's convective available potential energy leading to a weaker cyclone. The response amplitude at a cyclone intensity of 44 m s−1 is 6.7 ± 2.56 m s−1 per 0.01 Mg II units (s.d.), which compares with 4.6 m s−1 estimated from the heat-engine theory using a temperature trend derived from observations. The increasing hurricane response sensitivity with increasing strength is found in the observations and in an application of the theory.
Session B2 Management for sustainable use — Managing grazing pressure for sustainable rangelands

Herbivory is a major activity in rangelands and is the basis for cultures, profit making and conservation. Governments, conservation groups and managers are concerned about keeping grazing pressure within certain limits. Identifying when these limits may be exceeded remains a challenge for researchers and managers. New knowledge of plant-animal interactions, practice of managing total grazing pressure and methods for integrating systems involving different herbivore species will be explored in order to identify limits to sustainable grazing pressure. African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2003, 20(2): 131-146
Critiquing the Critics, on Teleparody: Predicting/Preventing the TV Discourse of Tomorrow, edited by Angela Hague and David Lavery

_Teleparody: Predicting/Preventing the TV Discourse of Tomorrow_ Edited by Angela Hague and David Lavery London: Wallflower Press, 2002 ISBN 1-903364-39-6 198 pp
Direct Induction of Embryonic Diapause in Colonized Aedes dorsalis

A laboratory breeding colony of Aedes dorsalis (Meigen) was used to test the roles of photoperiod and temperature on the direct induction of diapause in the embryonic stage. Induction of diapause was found to be dependent upon photoperiod. The critical photoperiod (50% diapause response) was 12.25:11.75 (h photo:scotophase). Temperature had no modifying effect upon the role of photoperiod throughout a constant temperature range of 5° to 20°C. The diapause inducing role of short photophase (long scotophase) was nullified by a constant 30°C temperature. There was no significant difference in response of incompletely and fully developed embryos to photoperiod. Diapause was terminated only under a combination of long day photophase and high temperature. The effect commenced after 24 h exposure and reached maximum response by 7 days.
Bevacizumab in combination with fluoropyrimidine-irinotecan- or fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for first-line and maintenance treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Despite a slight decrease in mortality rates, recent advances in screening methods, diagnosis and overall improved therapeutic options, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains among the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The major cause is the mortality related to metastatic status of CRC. Increasing clinical evidence derived from randomized trials strongly suggests that the efficacy of standard cytotoxic agents, including various combinations of 5-fluoouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV), capecitabine, irinotecan and oxaliplatin, may be significantly augmented with concomitant administration of molecular agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways, such as bevacizumab. Herein, we critically discuss the current data on the efficacy and safety profile of bevacizumab in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for first-line and maintenance treatment of metastatic CRC and briefly comment on existing controversies and future perspectives.
Assembly test chips and circuits for detecting and measuring mechanical damage in packaged ICs

Die cracking and stress induced damage to metal conductors in plastic package integrated circuits have become major reliability issues in recent times. Test chips with structures which can detect cracking or metal damage can be used to qualify new types of packaging. The Sandia stress sensing chip, ATC04, can make quantitative measurements of in-plane shearing stress which can in turn be related to the shearing stresses which produce metal motion. Recent stress measurements with liquid encapsulated ATC04 parts are reviewed and accuracy limits discussed. Other types of test chips attempt to detect thin film cracking or delamination by electrical detection of damage to conductor structures in or near chip corners. Several designs of such chips are discussed.
A Sacramental Vision: Environmental Degradation and the Aesthetics of Creation

This article contends that Hans Urs von Balthasar's theological focus on seeing the form of God's glory in creation constitutes a critical resource for elaborating a contemporary Christian theology responsive to the crisis of environmental degradation. In particular, in this article Martin Heidegger's reflections on the environmental dangers present in modern technology provide the framework for analyzing the ecological significance of Balthasar's retrieval of a Christian sacramental ontology.
A comparison of the effects of parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein on osteocalcin in the rat

We compared the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH1-34) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrp1-34) on osteocalcin release in the isolated rat hindlimb and in intact and thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats. PTH1-34 suppressed osteocalcin release from perfused rat hindquarters, while PTHrp1-34 had no effect on osteocalcin release, despite comparable stimulation of cAMP production. Similarly, serum osteocalcin declined in the intact and TPTX animals by 5 h after a single dose of PTH1-34, while there was no response to PTHrp1-34. Chronic administration of PTH1-34 or PTHrp1-34 produced comparable hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia in sham-operated and TPTX animals. Chronic PTH1-34 administration produced significant increases in serum osteocalcin both in the sham-operated rats and in the TPTX animals. However, in animals chronically treated with PTHrp1-34, there was no change at any time point in osteocalcin in either sham-operated or TPTX rats. These differences could be inherent or merely due to potency differences between the two peptides.
Experimental Study of Tip-Gap Turbulent Flow Structure

Experimental results are presented from a study of the tip-gap turbulent flow structure in a low-speed linear compressor cascade wind tunnel at Virginia Tech by utilizing surface oil flow visualization, endwall pressure measurements, and instantaneous velocity measurements with a custom-made 3-orthogonal-velocity-component fiber-optic laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) system. Tip gap flows are pressure-driven and highly skewed three-dimensional turbulent flows. The crossflow velocity normal to the blade chord is nearly uniform in the mid tip gap and changes substantially from the pressure to suction side due to the local tip pressure loading while the TKE does not vary much across the mid tip gap. The tip gap flow correlations of streamwise and wall normal velocity fluctuations decrease significantly from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade due to flow skewing.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Lepton flavor violation at the CERN LHC

Recent results from Super Kamiokande suggest ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ mixing and hence lepton flavor violation. In supersymmetric models, this flavor violation may have implications for the pattern of slepton masses and mixings. Possible signals for this mixing in the decays of sleptons produced at the CERN LHC are discussed. The sensitivity expected is compared to that of rare decays such as $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\tau}}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\gamma}.$
Childhood obesity: a societal problem to solve.

Summary In contrast to other threats to American children's health, the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity are considered the responsibility of individual children and their parents. This pressure exists in the context of the societal stigmatization of overweight children and the powerful environmental inducements aimed directly at children to eat nutritionally poor foods. Parents of overweight children are left in the difficult position of fearing the social and health consequences of their child's obesity, and fighting a losing battle against the omnipotent presence of the media and constant exposure to unhealthy foods. This paper brings together several literatures to provide a comprehensive examination of the major challenges facing obese children and their families. In particular, this paper documents the extent of stigmatization towards overweight children and reviews evidence of the conflicting advice given to parents about how to help children develop healthful eating in the face of biological and learned food preferences. We conclude with a call for a shift in thinking about the role of our society in the aetiology, treatment and prevention of childhood obesity.
Consequences of Malalignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Few if Any-Opposes

"Failure" in TKA remains multifactorial. Alignment plays an important role in loading of the underlying bone and has been associated with osseous failure and implant loosening in both metal backed and all poly tibial components in long term studies on large cohorts of total knee arthroplasties. Importantly, varus malalignment of a TKA in obese patients (BMI >33) has resulted in early tibial component loosening via medial tibial osseous collapse. Furthermore, in a multivariate analysis, varus limb alignment has been associated with accelerated poly wear in both TKA and UKA. Certainly not all knees in varus coronal alignment fail. We have further examined implant, surgical, and patient factors associated with this pathophysiology both clinically and in our laboratory.
Dynamics of an elastic ellipsoid

The present investigation is an attempt to provide a dynamical basis for the kinematical scheme employed previously for the empirical correlation of certain nuclear data. The primary purpose of this paper is the delineation of the dynamical system itself. Particular attention is paid to the following points: 1) The basic assumptions required for the specification of the system. These may be divided roughly into two groups, those employed in the definition of the independent degrees of freedom chosen for the description of the system and those required for at least partial characterization of relevant potentials. The former are of principal importance in the formulation of the kinetic energy operators appropriate to the choice of degrees of freedom and are dealt with in detail. The latter, being less germane to the purpose of this paper, are treated more or less summarily. 2) The detailed development of the kinetic energy of this model. It is carried out without approximation ;i.e., the formulation of this aspect of the physical implications of the model is quite rigorous. Calculations within the model must ultimately, of course, require resort to approximation. 3) The physical significance of two different representations employable for partial diagonalization of the Hamiltonian. 4) The close kinematical connection between the system considered herein and the hydrodynamical model. 5) The extent to which the dynamical system incorporates the kinematical scheme previously used for data correlation. Directions of feasible, and perhaps fruitful, generalization are indicated with the suggestion of possibly significant implications for the description of nuclear collective behavior in regions in which neither purely vibrational nor purely rotational characteristics are to be expected.
An immunophilin-binding assay for sirolimus

Abstract Objective This review examines the performance of 4 assays for sirolimus in terms of their ability to meet 6 guidelines determined by a panel of experts. Background Four methods have been described to date for the analysis of sirolimus concentrations in whole blood: high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS); microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA); p70 S6 kinase inhibition; and an immunophilin-binding assay (IBA). Methods A MEDLINE® search of the literature was performed to identify relevant studies. Results The HPLC methods suffer from precision problems because of the substantial specimen preparation required, and HPLC-MS methods are not practical for clinical use. Initial studies of the MEIA have found overestimation of sirolimus concentrations that may be caused by antibody cross-reactivity with sirolimus metabolites. Monitoring of sirolimus effects by p70 S6 kinase inhibition is as yet possible only theoretically, and the assay itself is not yet optimal. With the IBA, use of a T-cell protein that binds to sirolimus and that may be the intracellular target of the drug as the assay binding protein allows the assay to measure sirolimus selectively, even in the presence of structurally similar metabolites. Conclusion More than 200 clinical samples have been analyzed by the IBA, and correlation with HPLC values has been good, with a regression line slope near 1.0. In addition, the assay is easier to perform and more precise than HPLC, and has the potential to be automated. Thus, the IBA appears to have certain clear advantages over the other assays.
Crystal Structure of a Pore Only Sodium Channel

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) are central to neuromuscular physiology generating the leading phase of action potentials in excitable cells. A variety of marine bacteria produce voltage gated sodium channels that share features with eukaryotic VGSCs and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). These bacterial channels provide tractable subjects for detailed structural analysis of common features that impact VGSC and VGCC selectivity and gating. We previously reported a structural based design approach in which dissection of the ion conducting module of bacterial VGSCs from the voltage sensor domain created a set of stand-alone ‘pore only’ channels (Shaya et al. PNAS 2011). These ‘pore-only’ channels self-assemble as tetramers and form functional, ion selective channels when incorporated into lipid vesicles.Here, we present the crystal structure of a bacterial ‘pore-only’ sodium channel. The structure encompasses both the transmembrane and the cytoplasmic parts of the protein and reveals new features that impact channel assembly, gating, and ion permeation.
Arteriovenous Communication Associated with Obstructive Arteriosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction

An arteriovenous fistula from the anterior descending coronary artery to the great cardiac vein was detected by coronary cineangiography in a 53-year-old man. The fistula was believed acquired secondary to occlusive arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease. Clinical findings and cardiac catheterization revealed evidence of left ventricular failure, and a surgical procedure was undertaken to close the fistula and re-establish normal hemodynamic parameters.
Temperature-dependent paramagnetism in melanin polymers

Abstract Electron spin resonance measurements on hydrated suspensions of melanin polymers at neutral pH have revealed that their spin concentrations are temperature dependent. It is shown that changes in spin concentration with temperature are rapid and completely reversible. This novel behavior is not found in frozen or dried melanin preparations. The implications of these findings with respect to melanin organization and monomer-monomer interactions are discussed. It is argued that the spin concentration in melanin suspensions is largely governed by an intragranular equilibrium involving quinone, hydroquinone, and semiquinone units on the polymer.
Indoor localization based on feed-forward Neural Networks and CIR fingerprinting techniques

Many solutions to accurate localization in indoor environments are based on the combination of Channel Impulse Response (CIR), as fingerprinting, and Neural Networks (NN) technique. Suitable there is no theory to indicate the neural network structure for a given problem. It must be done only experimentally. Then, this paper aims to identify the neural network structure and the accompanied algorithm which are suitable for indoor localization. For this purpose, different NN structures accompanied with various algorithms are compared and discussed in order to identify the most appropriate.
Writing the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Historical Bias and the Use of History in Political Science

When doing political science research, how do we know that one story is not just as good as the next? Every historical school of thought purports to provide a “true” account of its subject matter. But contradictory schools of thought can not all be given equal weight. While much has been written on the epistemological question of objectivity in history, remarkably little work has been done regarding the practical problem encountered by political scientists faced with multiple narratives and historical bias. This essay develops a pragmatic method, which aims to evaluate historical narratives according to their utility in solving analytic and political problems. I illustrate the approach through the case of the Arab-Israeli conflict, where multiple, conflicting accounts of the “story” are vivid and copious. I conclude that while historical objectivity is elusive, some narratives are better than others at adjudicating both political science debates and “real-world” political problems.Jonathan B. Isacoff is assistant professor of political science at Gonzaga University (isacoff@gonzaga.edu). The author thanks Jennifer Hochschild, Bob Vitalis, Ian Lustick, and four anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts.
When two Worlds collide

The boundaries between cyberspace and physical reality are getting ever more blurred. William J. Mitchell looks at a bold attempt to make sense of it all
A Shuttle Upper Atmosphere Mass Spectrometer /SUMS/ experiment

A magnetic mass spectrometer is currently being adapted to the Space Shuttle Orbiter to provide repeated high altitude atmosphere data to support in situ rarefied flow aerodynamics research, i.e., in the high velocity, low density flight regime. The experiment, called Shuttle Upper Atmosphere Mass Spectrometer (SUMS), is the first attempt to design mass spectrometer equipment for flight vehicle aerodynamic data extraction. The SUMS experiment will provide total freestream atmospheric quantitites, principally total mass density, above altitudes at which conventional pressure measurements are valid. Experiment concepts, the expected flight profile, tradeoffs in the design of the total system and flight data reduction plans are discussed. Development plans are based upon a SUMS first flight after the Orbiter initial development flights.
Update of clinical and basic science research on prostate cancer from the department of defense center for prostate disease research (DOD-CPDR).

Update of clinical and basic science research on prostate cancer from the department of defense center for prostate disease research (DOD-CPDR)
Health problems of women with severe mental illness.

Purpose To provide a review of the health problems of women with severe mental illness (SMI) that are related to their psychiatric disorders and disabilities, prolonged use of psychotropic medications, and high-risk lifestyle practices. Data Sources Review of current literature uncovered through MEDLINE, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Psychological Abstracts as well as the authors' clinical experiences. Conclusions Women with SMI are at increased risk for obesity as well as cardiovascular, endocrine, and infectious disorders. They also experience psychotropic medication-related disorders such as amenorrhea, galactorrhea, sexual dysfunction, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. High-risk lifestyle practices, excessive weight gain, low physical activity, substance abuse and unprotected sexual activity increase risk for health problems. The mental illness, residual disabilities, sequelae of childhood abuse, poverty, limited social support and health knowledge deficits affect their ability to maintain optimum health. Implications for Practice Knowledge about women with SMI and their health problems will enable nurse practitioners to better meet the needs of this vulnerable population.
STRATEGIES AND LEARNING SET IN CONCEPT ATTAINMENT

Thirty-six Ss solved six concept attainment problems. An objective rational procedure was developed for identifying the strategies that Ss employ in concept attainment tasks. Total-card-choices and time-to-criterion were found to show evidence of learning set. Further, it was found that Ss by and large utilized low risk strategies quite consistently, and when they did change them, the direction of change was from risky to less risky. There was also some evidence for a relationship between performance variables and strategy utilization.
Synthesis of isotactic, syndiotactic, and heterotactic poly(tributyltin methacrylate) and poly(tributyltin methacrylate-co-styrene)

Pure isotactic and enriched syndiotactic poly(tributyltin methacrylate) were synthesized by the reaction of the respective poly(methacrylic acid) with tributyltin oxide. The heterotactic polymer was prepared in a similar manner and from free radical initiated (AIBN or BPO) polymerization of tributyltin methacrylate. In each case, polymer configuration was confirmed by 1H-NMR of the hydrolyzed/esterfied product. The relatively large 119Sn-NMR linewidth of the isotactic tributyltin containing polymer suggests an intra-molecular exchange of the pendant tin groups. Tg, Td, and Mv data are also reported. Poly(tributyltinmethacrylate-co-styrene) was prepared by free radical polymerization and reactivity ratios [r(styrene) = 0.51, r(TBTM) = 0.49] and Q-e values for TBTM (0.78, 0.38) were determined.
Microstructure Control of Titanium Aluminide Powder Compacts by Thermochemical Processing

Powder metallurgy of ordered alloys is not only a method to obtain net-shape products but is also an effective approach to microstructural refinement for improvement of some properties such as tensile ductility and fatigue strength. In the present study, prealloyed plasma rotating electrode process (PREP) powder was used to produce compacts with an ultrafine grain structure by employing conventional and hydrogen thermochemical processing routes. These processes are capable of producing a wide range of alpha-2 (α2) structures, including an ultrafine microstructure with a grain size on the order of a micron. This paper will discuss some of the mechanisms leading to microstructure refinement with an emphasis on the role of hydride formation.
Detection of soil erosion within pinyon-juniper woodlands using Thematic Mapper (TM) data☆

Multispectral measurements collected by Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) were correlated with field measurements, direct soil loss estimates, and Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) estimates to determine the sensitivity of TM data to varying degrees of soil erosion in pinyon-juniper woodland in central Utah. TM data were also evaluated as a predictor of the USLE Crop Management C factor for pinyon-juniper woodlands. TM spectral data were consistently better predictors of soil erosion factors than any combination of field factors. TM data were more sensitive to vegetation variations than the USLE C factor. USLE estimates showed low annual rates of erosion which varied little among the study sites. Direct measurements of rate of soil loss using the SEDIMENT (Soil Erosion DIrect measureMENT) technique, indicated high and varying rates of soil loss among the sites since tree establishment. Erosion estimates from the USLE and SEDIMENT methods suggest that erosion rates have been severe in the past, but because significant amounts of soil have already been eroded, and the surface is now armored by rock debris, present erosion rates are lower. Indicators of accelerated erosion were still present on all sites, however, suggesting that the USLE underestimated erosion within the study area.
Impact of Over-the-Counter Medication Use on Patients’ Health-Related Quality of Life: Development and Psychometric Validation of Over-the-Counter Medication Impact Scale

Background and Objective Over-the-counter (OTC) medication use can impact an individual’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, there is no instrument specifically developed to measure the impact of OTC medication use on patients’ HRQoL. The aim of the study was to develop an OTC Medication Impact Scale (OTC-MIS), a generic patient-reported outcome measure to assess the impact of OTC medication use on patients’ HRQoL.
Electronics and sample cell for the collection of time-resolved X-ray absorption spectra

Abstract We have recently obtained time-resolved X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra of iron in the protein myoglobin during recombination with CO proceeding laser photolysis, with a temporal resolution of hundreds of microseconds. In order to obtain this data, a computer interface and flow cell had to be developed. These will be described and the initial data collected with this equipment will be presented.
Earthquake rate analysis

Abstract Earthquake rate analysis explores the quantitative relationship between earthquake occurrence rates and geological deformation rates. One application is the estimation of tectonic deformation rates from seismicity, for comparison with tectonic models. Another application is the use of geological models to help quantify seismic hazards. Seismicity is described by a catalog of the largest earthquakes in the region. The contribution of small earthquakes towards causing geological deformation is insignificant, although the occurrence rate of small events may be predictable from the occurrence rate of large events by a b value relationship. The critical information about each earthquake is its seismic moment, or, better still, its seismic moment tensor. When moment is not available directly, it can be estimated from the earthquake magnitude, although this increases uncertainties considerably. The average annual moment from all the earthquakes in the catalog is the seismic moment rate. Uncertainties in seismic estimates of moment rate arise from the short time period of observations, from the magnitude-moment relationship, from the shape of the distribution function giving number of earthquakes as a function of magnitude and from uncertainties in the physical properties of the Earth near the source. Geological models for deformation rates are described by slip rates on individual faults or by regional strain rates. A regional strain rate can be derived as a limiting case where there are numerous individual faults. Such a strain rate is a particularly useful concept where information about each of the faults is limited. In the case of either faulting or regional strain, the average seismic moment rate is proportional to the deformation rate. Geological uncertainties arise from difficulties in estimating slip rates or strain rates, from fault creep and other aseismic deformation, from uncertainty in the part of the fault that fails during earthquakes and boundaries of the deforming region and from uncertainty about the Earth's physical properties. The seismic moment rate is the critical factor for relating the earthquake occurrence rate and the geological deformation rate. Using this intermediate parameter, one can infer earthquake occurrence rates from deformation rates, or infer deformation rates from earthquake occurrence rates. Generally, it is found that deformation rates and earthquake occurrence rates are consistent within uncertainties. Where both are well constrained, they are generally consistent within a factor of two or three.