cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF A MODEL OF SIMULATED VERTEBRAL CEMENT AUGMENTATION: INFLUENCE OF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE SHAPE OF THE CEMENT DOMAIN ON BIOMECHANICAL PARAMETERS

Vertebral cement augmentation is rapidly becoming the modality of choice for treating patients who are experiencing severe and persistent pain because of osteoporosis-induced vertebral compression fracture(s). The resulting cement domain (the part of the vertebral body (VB) filled with the cement) has an irregular or complicated shape. In literature reports of finite element analysis (FEA) of models of simulated vertebral cement augmentation, a variety of representations of the shape of the cement domain have been used. In the literature, only very limited attention has been given to the issue of the influence of cement domain shape representation on biomechanical parameters for a given combination of model and loading. This issue is the subject of the present work, with the model being of the L1-L3 motion segments. Augmentation of an unfractured L2 (prophylactic augmentation) was simulated, three cement domain shapes were considered — namely, solid cylinder, with rounded edges; two prolate spheroids; and...
Implementing functional logic languages using multiple threads and stores

Recent functional logic languages such as Curry and Toy combine lazy functional programming with logic programming features including logic variables, non-determinism, unification, narrowing, fair search, concurrency, and residuation. In this paper, we show how to extend a conventional interpreter for a lazy functional language to handle these features by adding support for reference cells, process-like and thread-like concurrency mechanisms, and a novel form of multi-versioned store. Our interpretation scheme is practical, and can be easily extended to perform compilation. The language specified by our interpreter is designed so that programs are deterministic in a novel and useful sense.
Nano sensory device utilizing intermolecular communication on lipid membrane

We have constructed a nano sensory device for detection of biologically important molecules through intermolecular communication between a synthetic receptor and a natural enzyme. The sensory device was fabricated on a liposome as an artificial cell membrane by self-organization of each component. Selective recognition of the biologically important amines by the receptor having a pyridoxal moiety was clarified by means of electronic absorption spectroscopy. The selectivity was mainly depending on the hydrophobicity of the amine signals. The signal recognition event was transmitted to the enzyme by a metal ion as a signal mediator, and followed by amplification of the signal output as the catalytic activity of the enzyme.
Phylogenetic placement of the ectomycorrhizal genus Cenococcum in Gloniaceae (Dothideomycetes)

Cenococcum is a genus of ectomycorrhizal Ascomycota that has a broad host range and geograph- ic distribution. It is not known to produce either mei- otic or mitotic spores and is known to exist only in the form of hyphae, sclerotia and host-colonized ectomy- corrhizal root tips. Due to its lack of sexual and asexual spores and reproductive structures, it has proven dif- ficult to incorporate into traditional classification within Ascomycota. Molecular phylogenetic studies of ribo- somal RNA placed Cenococcum in Dothideomycetes, but the definitive identification of closely related taxa remained elusive. Here we report a phylogenetic anal- ysis of five nuclear loci (SSU, LSU, TEF1, RPB1, RPB2) of Dothideomycetes that placed Cenococcum as a close relative of the genus Glonium of Gloniaceae (Pleospor- omycetidae incertae sedis) with strong statistical sup- port. Glonium is a genus of saprobic Dothideomycetes that produces darkly pigmented, carbonaceous, hyster- iate apothecia and is not known to be biotrophic. Evolution of ectomycorhizae, Cenococcum and Dothi- deomycetes is discussed.
Immunity to Salmonella Infection

Immunity to typhoid fever has been of interest since the turn of the century, principally because of a desire to develop optimal vaccines for use by military personnel. The British were the first to try vaccination under the direction of Wright and Semple in 1897.(1) The United States Army adopted compulsory vaccination in 1911, using the British method, which involved three injections of heat-killed organisms, spaced 1 week apart.(2) The results were a stunning success, with the number of cases falling from over 350/100,000 to less than 25/100,000 once compulsory vaccination was instituted.(2) At that time the causative organism was designated as Eberthella typhosa, the name being changed later to Salmonella typhosa, and finally to Salmonella typhi. Initially, the major antigens on the organism were determined to be the O (somatic antigens) and the H antigens (flagellar). In 1934 the Vi capsular antigen was discovered by Felix and Pitt(3) and shown to be a major virulence factor of S. typhi. Considerable research was invested in trying to assess the relative contribution of the O and Vi antigens to the protection conferred by vaccination. Since the Vi antigen was preserved better by alcohol than by heat, alcohol-preserved whole-cell vaccines were also tested. In 1953 Landy introduced acetone-killed and dried cells. These various whole killed-cell formulations were compared in extensive double-blind field trials carried out in the late 1950s and 1960s in British Guyana, Yugoslavia, Poland, and Russia under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).(5,6)
Identification of CHE-13, a novel intraflagellar transport protein required for cilia formation.

Abstract Cilia are present on cells of many eukaryotic organisms and recent data in the mouse suggest that ciliary defects can cause severe developmental abnormalities and disease. Studies across eukaryotic systems indicate that cilia are constructed and maintained through a highly conserved process termed intraflagellar transport (IFT), for which many of the proteins involved have yet to be identified. IFT describes the movement of large protein particles consisting of an A and a B complex along the cilia axoneme in anterograde and retrograde directions. Herein we describe a novel C. elegans gene, F59C6.7/9, that is required for cilia assembly and whose function is disrupted in che-13 ciliogenic mutants. As previously shown for all IFT complex B genes identified to date, expression of che-13 (F59C6.7/9) is regulated by the RFX-type transcription factor DAF-19, suggesting a conserved transcriptional pathway in ciliogenesis. Fluorescent-tagged CHE-13 protein concentrates at the base of cilia and moves along the axoneme as expected for an IFT protein. Furthermore, loss of che-13 differentially affects the localization of two known IFT complex B proteins, OSM-5 and OSM-6, implying that CHE-13 functions as part of this complex. Overall, our data confirm that CHE-13 is an IFT protein and further that the IFT particle assembles in an ordered process through specific protein–protein interactions.
Single sign-on in In-VIGO: role-based access via delegation mechanisms using short-lived user identities

Summary form only given. Single sign-on (SSO) is an essential desired feature of computational grids. Its implementation is challenging because resources cross administrative domains and are managed by heterogeneous access schemes. We present an approach for single sign-on in a deployed functioning grid called In-VIGO. The approach relies on decoupling grid user accounts from local user accounts and making use of role-based access control lists. Role-based accesses via delegation mechanisms using short-lived user identities enable In-VIGO to handle interactive applications and application-specific authentication mechanisms. This capability is not present in existing grid architectures. SSO implementations for usage scenarios in In-VIGO are described to highlight the applicability of the proposed approach. In particular, access to interactive applications with their own security mechanisms, such as VNC, and access to remote data can be achieved using proxies that delegate In-VIGO user access via short-lived user identities.
Dopaminergic reduction of excitability in nucleus accumbens neurons recorded in vitro

Dopamine (DA) receptor activation has been shown to affect the striatal complex in a multidimensional manner. However, the question of whether its net effect on postsynaptic targets in the nucleus accumbens and striatum is excitatory or inhibitory in nature has been a topic of controversy for some time. This study focuses on the effects of DA agonists on indices of postsynaptic cell membrane excitability in nucleus accumbens neurons, such as the amount of intracellular current injection required to elicit spike firing and the membrane potential at which action potentials are evoked. Administration of the nonspecific D1/D2 DA agonist apomorphine induced a membrane depolarization that was not mimicked by the D1 agonist SKF 38393, by the D2 agonist quinpirole, or by the combined administration of both drugs. On the other hand, subsets of neurons responded to apomorphine or combined D1/D2 agonist administration with a response that reversed near –90 mV. Following the administration of apomorphine or the combined administration of the D1 and D2 agonists, nucleus accumbens neurons required significantly higher amplitudes of depolarizing current injection to elicit spike firing. These results suggest that coactivation of D1 and D2 receptors on accumbens neurons causes a reduction in their membrane excitability.
A low-voltage supply optoelectronic detector-receiver in a commercial silicon-based process

With the increasing demand for interconnection bandwidth, there is a tremendous interest in low cost optoelectronic integration for high speed interconnects. We present an important step towards this end through our design of a fully integrated opto-electronic detector-receiver circuit. We believe our low voltage supply opto-electronic circuit is the first to be completely integrated in a silicon-based commercial logic process. We obtain operation at 250MHz in 0.25/spl mu/m technology with a power consumption of 4mW.
Modular structure of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters

Mammalian genomes contain 10 SLC4 genes that, between them, encode three Cl–HCO3 exchangers, five Na+-coupled HCO3 transporters (NCBTs), one reported borate transporter, and what is reported to be a fourth Cl–HCO3 exchanger. The NCBTs are expressed throughout the body and play important roles in maintaining intracellular and whole-body pH, as well as contributing to transepithelial transport processes. The importance of NCBTs is underscored by the genetic association of dysfunctional NCBT genes with blindness, deafness, epilepsy, hypertension and metal retardation. Key to understanding the action and regulation of NCBTs is an appreciation of the diversity of NCBT gene products. The transmembrane domains of human NCBT paralogs are 50–84% identical to each other at the amino acid level, and are capable of a diverse range of actions, including electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransport (i.e. NBCe1 and NBCe2) and electroneutral Na/HCO3 cotransport (i.e. NBCn1 and NBCn2), as well as Na+-dependent Cl–HCO3 exchange (i.e. NDCBE). Furthermore, by the use of alternative promoters and alternative-splicing events, individual SLC4 genes have the potential to generate multiple splice variants (as many as 16 in the case of NBCn1), each of which could have unique temporal and spatial patterns of distribution, unitary transporter activity (i.e. flux mediated by one molecule), array of protein-binding partners, and complement of regulatory stimuli. In the first section of this review, we summarize our present knowledge of the function and distribution of mammalian NCBTs and their multiple variants. In the second section of this review we consider the molecular consequences of NCBT variation.
Getting to know substance use disorders: What you can do

Addiction is the compulsive, drug-seeking behavior, representing a loss of control that leads a person to continually acquire and use the drug/substance, despite serious medical and/or social consequences. In 2009, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported an estimated 20.8 million adults were classified with substance use disorders, defined as dependence on or abuse of an illicit drug or alcohol. Among those adults with substance use disorders, 42.8% (8.9 million adults) had a co-occurring mental illness. The use of illicit drugs was more likely in adults with any mental illness compared to no mental illness (26.5% vs. 11.6%). Similarly, adults with mental illness were more likely than those with no mental illness to be binge alcohol users in the past month (29.8% vs. 24.1%, respectively) or to have heavy alcohol use in the past month (9.4% vs. 6.8%, respectively). Adults having co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders were more likely to have made suicide plans than those with serious mental illness alone (15.8% vs. 10.2%, respectively) and more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year (8.4% vs. 3.9%, respectively). The implications, in terms of pathophysiology and treatment, of co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness, are not fully understood and remain a mystery. In this issue of the Mental Health Clinician, Dr. Christian Teter discusses this very issue in his review of his recent publication in Psychiatry Research on the implications of comorbid bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues on medication adherence and ultimately patient care.
Blood corticotropin (ACTH) levels in Cushing's disease.

The present study was undertaken in search of a definitive answer to the question of whether the pituitary secretes abnormal quantities of corticotropin (ACTH) in Cushing’s disease (hypercortisolism due to bilateral adrenal hyperfunction). It was postulated that if the primary disorder in Cushing’s disease were a derangement of pituitary function it should not be corrected by removal of the adrenal glands. In such patients it should then be possible to control plasma cortisol levels while observing plasma ACTH levels. Two groups of patients were studied: 10 who had been treated for Cushing’s disease by bilateral adrenalectomy, and 8 who had Addison’s disease without prior history of Cushing’s disease. Although the amounts of cortisol administered and the plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid values were similar for the two groups, blood ACTH levels were consistently higher in the patients with Cushing’s disease. It is concluded that for any given level of plasma cortisol, the patient with Cushing’s disease main...
Pollen Dispersal and Deposition on the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

The relatively young science of tropical ice-core palynology has proven effective in the study of paleoenvironments by its ability to produce long-term and highresolution paleoclimatic data. Howeve...
The P300 component in sleep

Abstract The present investigation utilized the P300 component of the auditory evoked potential as an index of information processing (discrimination) in sleep. Auditory evoked potentials were recorded to target and nontarget stimuli during sleep stages 3 4 , 2 and REM under two probability conditions. Corresponding “nontone” waveforms were generated in each sleep stage, representing averaged EEG activity with no tones presented. Target P300 amplitude was higher than both corresponding “nontone” targets and tone nontargets. Probability did not affect the target-nontarget relationship. Latency of P300 increased and amplitude decreased from wakefulness through sleep; however, neither amplitude nor latency differed among sleep stages. Amplitude and latency of N200 increased during sleep. While N200 amplitude was highest in Stage 3–4, N200 latency did not differ among sleep stages. These findings suggest that the P300 recorded in sleep indexes similar cognitive processes as the P300 recorded in wakefulness. That P300 as well as N200 latency increased in sleep suggests that processes indexed by these components may slow during sleep.
Roles of Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-Sensitive Na+ Current, TTX-Resistant Na+ Current, and Ca2+ Current in the Action Potentials of Nociceptive Sensory Neurons

Nociceptive sensory neurons are unusual in expressing voltage-gated inward currents carried by sodium channels resistant to block by tetrodotoxin (TTX) as well as currents carried by conventional TTX-sensitive sodium channels and voltage-dependent calcium channels. To examine how currents carried by each of these helps to shape the action potential in small-diameter dorsal root ganglion cell bodies, we voltage clamped cells by using the action potential recorded from each cell as the command voltage. Using intracellular solutions of physiological ionic composition, we isolated individual components of current flowing during the action potential with the use of channel blockers (TTX for TTX-sensitive sodium currents and a mixture of calcium channel blockers for calcium currents) and ionic substitution (TTX-resistant current measured by the replacement of extracellular sodium by N-methyl-d-glucamine in the presence of TTX, with correction for altered driving force). TTX-resistant sodium channels activated quickly enough to carry the largest inward charge during the upstroke of the nociceptor action potential (∼58%), with TTX-sensitive sodium channels also contributing significantly (∼40%), especially near threshold, and high voltage-activated calcium currents much less (∼2%). Action potentials had a prominent shoulder during the falling phase, characteristic of nociceptive neurons. TTX-resistant sodium channels did not inactivate completely during the action potential and carried the majority (58%) of inward current flowing during the shoulder, with high voltage-activated calcium current also contributing significantly (39%). Unlike calcium current, TTX-resistant sodium current is not accompanied by opposing calcium-activated potassium current and may provide an effective mechanism by which the duration of action potentials (and consequently calcium entry) can be regulated.
Streamlined Strategies to Better Visualize Southern Blotting

In this article, I describe an animated slideshow of Southern blotting that I have made freely available to other instructors. My hope is to provide a clear visualization of the logistics behind the technique so that instructors have a solid basis – as well as time freed up – to discuss its applications with students.
The effect of an irrigated buckwheat cover crop on grape vine productivity, and beneficial insect and grape pest abundance in southern California

Abstract The effect of an irrigated buckwheat cover crop on populations of beneficial insects and grape pests, vine growth, grape yield, and berry quality was investigated over 1 year in a commercial organic vineyard in southern California, USA. Buckwheat was grown in the spring and summer with additional irrigation that supplemented prevailing vine watering regimens. Treatments replicated four, three and six times respectively were: (1) buckwheat cover crop with supplemental irrigation between vine rows; (2) supplemental irrigation with no buckwheat cover crop; and (3) control plots with no buckwheat cover crop or supplemental irrigation. Flowering buckwheat was extremely attractive to beneficial insects at the beginning of the trial, resulting in 27 times more insects captured from shake sampling, compared with grape foliage in control plots. Results from sticky trap and visual count data indicated that buckwheat may enhance the abundance of generalist predators at certain times. However, densities of pestiferous leafhoppers on grape leaves in August was significantly higher (129–240% greater) in irrigated buckwheat and irrigated plots lacking buckwheat when compared with control plots. This increase in leafhopper density may be attributed to these pests preferring well-irrigated, vigorously growing vines. Mean cane weight was 222% and 170% greater for vines in irrigated buckwheat and irrigated plots lacking buckwheat, respectively, compared with controls indicating that vine vigor increased with supplemental irrigation. An irrigated buckwheat cover crop increased berry size, on average, by 0.67 mm for berries harvested on the side of the row that contained buckwheat, and reduced sugar content of berries by 3.2° Brix, compared with non-irrigated controls. Additionally, the buckwheat cover crop was associated with reduced berry quality because of insect feeding damage. Under drought conditions and water shortages, supplemental irrigation to support cover crops may result in water use penalties. Irrigated cover cropping during summer months may not be a viable pest management option for grape growers in southern California.
Elective colectomy for severe ulcerative colitis may reduce mortality more than medical therapy

Commentary on : Bewtra M, Newcomb CW, Wu Q, et al. Mortality associated with medical therapy versus elective colectomy in ulcerative colitis: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2015;163:262–70.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] The management of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) is challenging, and the definition of successful treatment is unclear. Clinical practice is moving from symptomatic improvement to mucosal healing as this has shown to result in longer clinical remission, lower rates of hospitalisation and reduced need for surgery.1 Surgical management is reserved for patients refractory to medical therapy or in those that develop colorectal neoplasia. This study aims to assess whether patients with severe UC have improved survival after elective colectomy compared to those being treated with certain immunosuppressive therapies. A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D163%26rft.spage%253D262%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252FM14-0960%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26168366%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.7326/M14-0960&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=26168366&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F1%2F29.atom
Pictorial Report Form for Nerve Conduction Studies

Once a nerve conduction study is completed, the results must be communicated. Typical reports of nerve conduction studies contain tabular listings of latencies, electrode distances, potential amplitudes, and calculated conduction velocities, followed by an interpretation. This method of reporting is often unsatisfactory because the relationship of the data to anatomy is often unclear to clinicians. In addition, changes occurring on follow-up study are difficult for the referring clinician to understand. We developed a pictorial representation of the data from nerve conduction studies. Figures 1a and 1b show the form used for reporting the common nerve conduction studies of upper and lower extremities. This format has been well received by nonelectromyographers, who believe they are able to understand more clearly the results. Moreover, since introducing this form, we have found a more informed use of nerve conduction studies.
A Common Modeling Framework for Dynamic Traffic Assignment and Supply Chain Management Systems with Congestion Phenomena

This paper seeks to illustrate the ability of the graph theoretic cell transmission model (GT-CTM), previously developed by the authors, to address some dynamic supply chain management (SCM) problems with congestion phenomena using a simple graphical representation. It further shows the conceptual equivalence between SCM and dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) problems using the GT-CTM framework. Thereby, the GT-CTM provides a generalized modeling framework to address dynamic network problems with congestion phenomena
A Book for Academic Libraries: A History of the Faculty of Philosophy Columbia University

(1958). A Book for Academic Libraries: A History of the Faculty of Philosophy Columbia University. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 345-345.
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose of reviewHigh-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is an attractive alternative to conventional lung protective ventilation. Adequate gas exchange is achieved with very small tidal volumes cycling at a high mean airway pressure. This may prevent injury from inspiratory overdistention and
Regional observation of a nuclear test from a vertical hydrophone array

Abstract In order to evaluate the potential of water-column vertical hydrophone arrays for the measurement of continental events at regional distances, ocean acoustic data bases were examined for arrivals from these types of events. In 1987, the nuclear test LOCKNEY ( m b 5.7, 37.28°N 116.38°W) was observed in the deep-ocean water column at a range of 900 km by the Vertical Line Array (VLA) at 35° N 126° W. Although the hydrophone data were contaminated below 10 Hz by array suspension noise and ocean acoustic noise, adaptive array processing allows us to extract the P and T phases. The root-mean-square (rms) direct P -wave amplitude in the water column is 100.6 dB referenced to 1 μPa in the 4- to 8-Hz band in a 20-sec window, which suggests a detection threshold of m b 5.2 in a deep oceanic environment at this range for a single hydrophone. The arrival time of the T phase [i.e., the portion of seismic energy that has somehow coupled into, and propagated within, the deep ocean sound channel (Aki and Richards, 1980)] is consistent with a P -wave conversion at the continental margin, assuming a velocity of 6 km/sec from NTS to the continental margin and acoustic propagation at 1.5 km/sec in the water column from the continent to the array.
Luteal support with both estradiol and progesterone after clomiphene citrate stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Objective To determine if pregnancy rates (PRs) for clomiphene citrate (CC)-stimulated IVF-ET can be increased by luteal support with E 2 and P. Design Prospective randomized crossover clinical study. Setting Infertile women volunteers in an academic research environment. Patients Ninety-three infertile women underwent a total of 143 IVF-ET cycles using CC for ovulation induction. Interventions Each woman received either no luteal support (control group) or luteal support with both oral E 2 (2mg three times daily) starting on the day of retrieval and vaginal P suppositories (100mg twice daily) starting on the day of ET. Main Outcome Measure Clinical PR. Results In 79 of 143 (55%) of the cycles, at least one embryo was transferred. Compared with the control group (n=35cycles), the luteal support group (n=44cycles) had a significantly higher PR per retrieval (control: 2% versus luteal support: 16%) and were older (control: 33±4 versus luteal support: 35±4years; mean±SEM). They did not differ in terms of E 2 or P levels, endometrial thickness on the day of hCG, number of follicles>16mm in diameter, mature oocytes retrieved, or embryos transferred. Conclusions Luteal support with both E 2 and P significantly increases the clinical PRs for CC-stimulated IVF-ET.
The Application of B-Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Malformations of the Upper Alimentary Tract

Objective:To discuss the value of B-ultrasound in the malformations of upper alimentary tract.Methods:Compared and analyzed the methods and images of Ultrasonography in 27 cases with deformities of the upper alimentary tract.Results:Sixteen of the 17 cases with pyloric stenosis were diagnosed by B- ultrasound and 15 cases were confirmed by the surgery.Three of 4 the cases with hiatal hernia were diagnosed both by B-ultrasound and surgery.Two of 5 the cases with malrotation of the intestine were diagnosed by B- ultrasound and surgery,and other 3 cases were diagnosed by surgery.A case with esophageal diverticulum was diagnosed by B-ultrasound and barium swallow.Conclusions:The results showed that B-ultrasound is useful in the diagnose of malformations of the upper alimentary tract.
Regular polyhedra—old and new

Although it is customary to define polygons as certain families of edges, when considering polyhedra it is usual to view polygons as 2-dimensional pieces of the plane. If this rather illogical point of view is replaced by consistently understanding polygons as 1-dimensional complexes, the theory of polyhedra becomes richer and more satisfactory. Even with the strictest definition of regularity this approach leads to 17 individual regular polyhedra in the Euclidean 3-space and 12 infinite families of such polyhedra, besides the traditional ones (which consist of 5 Platonic polyhedra, 4 Kepler—Poinsot polyhedra, 3 planar tessellations and 3 Petrie—Coxeter polyhedra). Among the many still open problems that naturally arise from the new point of view, the most obvious one is the question whether the regular polyhedra found in the paper are the only ones possible in the Euclidean 3-space.
Downregulation of Oct-4 expression accelerates cardiomyocyte differentiation of rat bone marrow multipotent adult progenitor cells in vitro

Objective:To investigate whether bone marrow multipotent adult progenitor cells(MAPCs)undergo cardiac specification and its dependablity with octamer-binding transcription factor-4(Oct-4)expression during their cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro.Methods:MAPCs were isolated from rat bone marrow,treated with 5-azacytidine(5-aza,1 μmol/L)for 24 h,and cultured in a serum-free medium for cardiac differentiation for up to 35 days.Results:The cells started to express early cardiac-specific genes Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 with a significant increase in their mRNA level after 24h with 5-aza treatment.Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining revealed that the cardiac-specific proteins connexin-43 and troponin Ⅰ were expressed in the cells 7 days after 5-aza treatment.Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that over 37% of the cells were positive for troponin Ⅰ by 35 days of differentiation,though the cells did not display spontaneous contraction.Meanwhile,the undifferentiated MAPCs expressed a significant level of the stem-cell-specific marker Oct-4 that was dramatically decreased in the cells shortly after the initiation of cardiomyocyte differentiation as evaluated using real-time(RT)-polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,immunofiuorescence staining,and flow cytometry.Conclusion:Downregulation of Oct-4 expression effectively accelerate cardiomyocyte differentiation of rat MAPCs after 5-aza induction in in vitro culture.
Noncardioplegic myocardial preservation for coronary revascularization

Hypothermic potassium cardioplegia has become the most popular technique for myocardial preservation during coronary revascularization. However, an older technique continues to yield comparable results with some potential advantages. Myocardial preservation was achieved with systemic hypothermia to 28° C, pericardial cooling, elective ventricular fibrillation, maintenance of systemic perfusion pressure between 80 and 100 mm Hg, routine left ventricular venting, and local vessel isolation during distal anastomoses without aortic occlusion. Proximal anastomoses were performed prior to atrial cannulation and cardiopulmonary bypass. Nonemergency isolated bypass grafting was performed in 500 consecutive patients, of whom 51% had had a prior myocardial infarction, 24% had unstable angina, and 21% had left main coronary stenosis. Primary grafting was performed in 483 patients and reoperations in 17. The mean number of grafts per patient was 3.8. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in 1.8%. Hospital mortality was 0.4%. Late follow-up was obtained for all survivors at a mean postoperative interval of 17.8 months. All survivors were asymptomatic or improved over their preoperative status. The 3 year actuarial survival rate was 95.8%, equivalent to that for the matched general population. Of 287 male patients under age 65, 68.4% were working preoperatively and 69.5% postoperatively. This technique provides results comparable to bypass grafting with cardioplegia and may be useful when aortic occlusion or administration of cardioplegic solutions is not desireable.
Re-exploration for retroperitoneal lymph node metastases from testis tumors.

AbstractPrognosis has been poor for patients with retroperitoneal metastases from non-seminomatous testis tumors that are initially unresectable and persist after chemotherapy and irradiation or those that recur after initial lymphadenectomy. Eleven such patients have had re-explorations at our center and are described herein.In 4 patients only histologically benign teratoma and/or fibrosis was found. Therefore, the presence of a retroperitoneal mass in these circumstances does not necessarily mean that malignant tissue was present.The procedure provided an accurate diagnosis in all patients and permitted the elimination or reduction of subsequent chemotherapy or radiation in 4 patients who had no tumor. In addition, 5 of 7 patients with symptoms caused by bulky masses were improved and 3 patients with unresectable disease had radiopaque markers placed to facilitate subsequent radiotherapy.The operation was often difficult because of retroperitoneal adhesions from previous treatment but there was no signi...
The Management of Electrical Injuries of the Extremities

Unlike the usual forms of thermal injuries, the nature of electrical injuries is such that it is rarely possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy the extent and depth of the traumatic insult from the area of skin involved.
Pruning Forests to Find the Trees

The vast majority of phylogenetic databases do not support a declarative querying platform using which their contents can be flexibly and conveniently accessed. The template based query interfaces they support do not allow arbitrary speculative queries. While a small number of graph query languages such as XQuery, Cypher and GraphQL exist for computer savvy users, most are too general and complex to be useful for biologists, and too inefficient for large phylogeny querying. In this paper, we discuss a recently introduced visual query language, called PhyQL, that leverages phylogeny specific properties to support essential and powerful constructs for a large class of phylogentic queries. Its deductive reasoner based implementation offers opportunities for a wide range of pruning strategies to speed up processing using query specific optimization and thus making it suitable for large phylogeny querying. A hybrid optimization technique that exploits a set of indices and "graphlet" partitioning is discussed. A "fail soonest" strategy is used to avoid hopeless processing and is shown to produce dividends.
ACTH in Infantile Spasms

The relationship between dose of ACTH and the initial effect and long-term prognosis was investigated in 41 children with infantile spasms at the Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action.

Freshwater mussels, one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world, are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used for the development of ambient water quality criteria and other environmental guidance values. Acute 96-h toxicity tests were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of 5 species of juvenile mussels from 2 families and 4 tribes to 10 chemicals (ammonia, metals, major ions, and organic compounds) and to screen 10 additional chemicals (mainly organic compounds) with a commonly tested mussel species, fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea). In the multi-species study, median effect concentrations (EC50s) among the 5 species differed by a factor of ≤2 for chloride, potassium, sulfate, and zinc; a factor of ≤5 for ammonia, chromium, copper, and nickel; and factors of 6 and 12 for metolachlor and alachlor, respectively, indicating that mussels representing different families or tribes had similar sensitivity to most of the tested chemicals, regardless of modes of action. There was a strong linear relationship between EC50s for fatmucket and the other 4 mussel species across the 10 chemicals (r2 = 0.97, slope close to 1.0), indicating that fatmucket was similar to other mussel species; thus, this commonly tested species can be a good surrogate for protecting other mussels in acute exposures. The sensitivity of juvenile fatmucket among different populations or cultured from larvae of wild adults and captive-cultured adults was also similar in acute exposures to copper or chloride, indicating captive-cultured adult mussels can reliably be used to reproduce juveniles for toxicity testing. In compiled databases for all freshwater species, 1 or more mussel species were among the 4 most sensitive species for alachlor, ammonia, chloride, potassium, sulfate, copper, nickel, and zinc; therefore, the development of water quality criteria and other environmental guidance values for these chemicals should reflect the sensitivity of mussels. In contrast, the EC50s of fatmucket tested in the single-species study were in the high percentiles (>75th) of species sensitivity distributions for 6 of 7 organic chemicals, indicating mussels might be relatively insensitive to organic chemicals in acute exposures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:786-796. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Commercial Proposal Collaborative Writing Practices

More money and people are involved in writing commercial proposals, but current literature focuses on academic grants. I performed an auto-ethnography to explore: (1) how features of commercial proposals compare; and (2) what are effective practices. I analyzed (RQ1) 554 documents into a process map of actions, milestones, genres, and authors, finding that academic and commercial were similar except for competitive emphases; and (RQ2) 13,871 word changes, 68 communication nodes for a network; and 3 interviews to contextualize data. Effective techniques (that participants may know but not always practice) include communicating early and often; researching before writing; and reviewing purposively. Further research may explore the ability of pedagogy and business practice standardization to enhance such effective collaborative writing techniques.
Prospective assessment of positioning-related pain in robotic urologic surgery

This was a prospective study to assess positioning-related pain in 20 awake volunteers in the dorsal lithotomy (DL) and lateral decubitus (LD) positions. Each volunteer was put through the series of discrete, sequential steps used to achieve a final position; each step had two options. The Wong-Baker scale (WB) was used to rate pain for each option and the preferred option and ad lib comments were recorded. We found that awake volunteers could clearly and immediately distinguish differences in pain levels between position options. For the DL position, volunteers favored having the arms slightly flexed and pronated as opposed to being straight and supinated reflected by statistically less painful WB scores and option preference. Volunteers preferred having the neck flexed as opposed to being flat. For the LD position, volunteers reported statistically lower pain scores and preference for a foam roll for axilla support as opposed to a rolled blanket, the table flexed without the kidney rest as opposed to a raised kidney rest, and the over arm board as oppose to stacked blankets for contralateral arm support. Ad lib comments from the volunteers supported the above findings. To our knowledge, ours is the first study to demonstrate objective preferences for variations in surgical positioning using awake volunteers. This exercise with awake volunteers resulted in immediate changes in positioning for real robotic surgery patients in our practice.
Prospective analysis of radiation oncology image and plan‐driven peer review for head and neck cancer

Background Departmental “chart rounds” is an established form of review in radiation oncology, however, evidence is lacking that identifies links between features of a more subspecialized disease site-specific review and the likelihood and characteristics of recommendations made. We prospectively analyzed our head and neck group's review process to identify associations that could guide future practice. Methods Our group reviewed proposed management and treatment volumes for radiation simulated patients on a weekly basis, and we collected data encompassing recommendations made by individuals or group consensus. Results Changes in management, prescribed dose, radiation fractionation, clinical target volumes, or target contours were suggested in 85 of 182 cases. The most frequently recommended changes were adjustment of regions treated or target contours, and an inverse correlation was observed between the number of attending physicians present and specific changes suggested to the gross tumor volume (GTV). Conclusion We find that site-specific head and neck peer review results in frequent recommendations largely independent of the type of case reviewed.
Evaluation of the added value of imaging the pelvis in patients with hepatocellular cancer

Background and Aim To evaluate added value of the pelvic portion of the CT and MRI examination in patients with a primary diagnosis of HCC. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 478 patients with 881 examinations of the abdomen and pelvis who underwent treatment at our institution between March 2015 and March 2016. These patients were reviewed for presence of pathology in the pelvis, which were classified into 2 categories as new or old (already known on prior imaging). Results Of 478 patients, 230 underwent MRI examination of the abdomen and pelvis and the other 248 underwent CT scans of these regions. There were no findings on the CT or MR of the pelvis in 80.5% of patients (n=385), including 81.5% of those who had CT and 79.6% of those who had MRI. 93 patients had findings in the pelvis, the most common of which were bone metastases (31 patients), ascites (27 patients), implants (7 patients), and bladder wall thickening (5 patients). In only 7.9% of patients, the findings were related to metastatic disease. In 5.4% of all imaging studies revealed a new finding in the pelvis. Conclusion Imaging of the pelvis (CT or MRI) does not seem to provide additional information in the majority of cases with HCC. The results suggest that the follow-up evaluation of patients with HCC may not include a pelvis exam.
Impact of a hospital bounceback policy to reduce readmissions.

Abstract Background Bounceback policies for readmitted patients are commonly used by hospitals in the U.S., but to date there have been no studies of their impact on patient care or outcomes. In July 2011, a large, tertiary-care, academic medical center introduced a stronger bounceback policy for readmitted patients cared for by the resident service. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of the policy on readmission rates, length of stay (LOS), and LOS index. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of time within clinical rotations on the same outcomes. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients admitted to the resident and hospitalist medicine services from 6/15/09 to 6/16/13. Total number of hospitalizations analyzed was 66,118. Measures included 30-day readmission rates, LOS, and adjusted LOS index. Covariates included time within clinical rotation and patient-level characteristics. The hospitalist service was used as a control group. Results After the policy was implemented, the resident service had an 8% lower relative risk ratio of 30-day readmission compared to the hospitalist service (p =.05). There was no significant different in LOS or LOS index. LOS for patients on the resident service exhibited a weekly pattern, with LOS lowest on Mondays and increasing throughout the week. Conclusions A stronger bounceback policy resulted in a small decrease in 30-day readmission rates without increasing LOS. Implications Bounceback policies may be an effective and low-cost tool to reduce readmissions by leveraging non-financial incentives to change physicians’ behavior.
Secular Party Rule and Religious Violence in Pakistan

Does secular party incumbency affect religious violence? Existing theory is ambiguous. On the one hand, religiously motivated militants might target areas that vote secularists into office. On the other hand, secular party politicians, reliant on the support of violence-hit communities, may face powerful electoral incentives to quell attacks. Candidates bent on preventing bloodshed might also sort into such parties. To adjudicate these claims, we combine constituency-level election returns with event data on Islamist and sectarian violence in Pakistan (1988–2011). For identification, we compare districts where secular parties narrowly won or lost elections. We find that secularist rule causes a sizable reduction in local religious conflict. Additional analyses suggest that the result stems from electoral pressures to cater to core party supporters and not from politician selection. The effect is concentrated in regions with denser police presence, highlighting the importance of state capacity for suppressing religious disorder.
Anterior insula activation during inhibition to smoking cues is associated with ability to maintain tobacco abstinence

Relapse to smoking after initial abstinence is a major clinical challenge with significant public health consequences. At the brain and behavioral level, those who relapse to tobacco smoking have both greater cue-reactivity and lower inhibitory control than those who remain abstinent. Little is known about neural activation during inhibitory control tasks in the presence of drug-related cues. In the current study, tobacco smokers (SMK; n = 22) and non-smoking controls (CON; n = 19) completed a Go/NoGo task involving smoking cues during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. Following the scan session, smokers were required to quit smoking, and maintenance of abstinence was evaluated as part of a 12-week smoking cessation trial. We evaluated pre-cessation brain activity during NoGo trials in smokers who were versus were not able to quit smoking. We then compared fMRI and inhibitory control measures between smokers and non-smokers. We did not find differences between SMK and CON in performance or activation to smoking or neutral cues. However, compared to SMK who relapsed, SMK who attained biochemically-validated abstinence at the end of the smoking cessation trial had greater neural activation in the anterior insula during NoGo trials specifically with smoking-related cues. Results indicate that within SMK, decreased inhibitory control activation during direct exposure to drug-related stimuli may be a marker of difficulty quitting and relapse vulnerability.