cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endovascular Treatment for Venous Sinus Stenosis in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: An Observational Study of Clinical Indications, Surgical Technique, and Long-Term Outcomes.

Background Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by increased intracranial pressure. IIH causes significant morbidity marked by incapacitating headaches and visual disturbances. This study investigated the long-term outcomes of venous sinus stenting in a large group of patients with IIH. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution who underwent venous sinus stenting for IIH over 6 years (July 1, 2012–June 30, 2018). A particular focus was dedicated to collecting demographic, clinical, radiologic, and outcomes data. All patients had failed medical management. Results Of the 110 patients evaluated for IIH, 42 underwent venous sinus stenting, with a mean follow-up of 25.6 months (range, 8.7–60.7 months). The mean age was 32 years (range, 15–52 years), 38 (90%) were women, and the mean body mass index was 35.6 kg/m2 (range, 18.6–47.5 kg/m2). Prior to the stenting procedure, all patients had headaches, visual disturbances, and papilledema. Of the 39 patients who had an ophthalmologic evaluation poststenting, 29 (74%) had resolution of their papilledema. Eighteen patients (43%) had complete resolution of their headaches after the stenting procedure, whereas 22 patients (52%) remained under a neurologist's care for chronic migraine and other types of headaches. Two patients underwent a restenting procedure for disease progression, and 1 patient experienced an in-stent thrombosis. Conclusions A multidisciplinary approach involving neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and neurologists is integral in the management of patients with IIH to prevent the complications of papilledema. Venous sinus stenting offers a safe and effective means of treating IIH.
Learning from External Network and a Firm’s New Product Innovation: An Abstract

Entrepreneurial orientation helps the firms pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and create competitive advantages in changing and dynamic environments by promoting innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness. However, inconsistent results were found in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance. The inconclusiveness motives the researchers to investigate the potential moderating variables in order to understand the boundary effect. One important moderator—learning—is still missing in the link of entrepreneurial orientation-new product innovation performance. Learning is viewed as a valuable asset to the firm’s innovation development, especially for high-technology firms.
Notes on the Meaning of Work: Labor, Work, and Action in the 21st Century:

There is growing evidence that the nature of work is evolving, with the emergence of new forms such as open innovation and crowdsourcing, freelancing and the gig economy and artificial intelligence...
Aftershock deficiency of induced earthquake sequences during rapid mitigation efforts in Oklahoma

Abstract Induced seismicity provides a rare opportunity to study earthquake triggering and underlying stress perturbations. Triggering can be a direct result of induced stress changes or indirect due to elastic stress transfer from preceding events leading to aftershocks. Both of these processes are observable in areas with larger magnitude induced events, such as Oklahoma. We study aftershock sequences of M2.5 to M5.8 earthquakes and examine the impact of targeted injection rate reductions. In comparing aftershock productivity between California and Oklahoma, we find similar exponential scaling statistics between mainshock magnitude and average number of aftershocks. For events with M≥4.5 Oklahoma exhibits several mainshocks with total number of aftershocks significantly below the average scaling behavior. The sequences with deficient aftershock numbers also experienced rapid, strong mitigation and reduced injection rates, whereas two events with M4.8 and M5.0 with weak mitigation exhibit normal aftershock productivity. The timing of when aftershock activity is reduced correlates with drops in injection rates with a lag time of several days. Large mainshocks with significantly reduced aftershocks may explain decreasing seismicity rates while seismic moment release was still increasing in Oklahoma in 2016. We investigate the expected poroelastic stress perturbations due to injection rate changes within a layered axisymmetric model and find that stresses are lowered by 10s to 100s kPa within the injection-affected zone. For earthquakes induced by poroelastic stress-increase at several kilometers from wells, the rapid shut-in of wells may lead to elastic stress reductions sufficiently high to arrest unfolding aftershock sequences within days after mitigation starts.
Bacterial Omptins Proteolytically Inactivate Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI).

Abstract Activation of the clotting system is an effector function of the immune response, resulting in extravascular fibrin deposition whose purpose appears to be to limit the spread of invasive microorganisms. Activation of the clotting cascade may also modulate inflammatory reactions. Some bacteria are known to counteract the host coagulant response by modulating specific components of the clotting system, thereby promoting fibrinolysis or inhibiting coagulation activation. Pla, a member of the omptin family of Gram-negative outer membrane proteases, is a known virulence factor for the plague agent, Yersinia pestis. Pla's ability to activate plasminogen by limited proteolysis is thought to facilitate the organism's escape from fibrin meshworks, promoting its dissemination through extravascular tissues. We now show that Pla, as well as its homologs OmpT in Escherichia coli and PgtE in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, abrogate the function of the endogenous anticoagulant, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). Using gene deletions, we found that bacterial inactivation of TFPI required the expression of these omptins. Consistent with prior studies of other omptin substrates, cleavage of TFPI by the Salmonella omptin was demonstrable only in rough LPS backgrounds. Western blotting experiments showed that proteolysis of TFPI correlated with loss of TFPI anticoagulant activity in clotting assays. The specificity of the omptin/TFPI interaction is supported by the finding that both common and distinct TFPI cleavage fragments are generated by the omptins in these three bacterial species. Furthermore, TFPI inactivation proceeds even in plasma where an abundance of competing protein substrates would be expected to render TFPI proteolysis almost non-existent if the reaction were not specific. We hypothesize that the sensitivity of TFPI to inactivation by bacterial omptins is a novel host-pathogen interaction that potentiates the procoagulant immune response to bacterial infection. With the heavy bacterial loads present in the circulation during the late stages of severe septicemia, this interaction may contribute to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation and end organ failure.
Macropinocytosis drives T cell growth by sustaining the activation of mTORC1.

Macropinocytosis is an evolutionarily-conserved, large-scale, fluid-phase form of endocytosis that has been ascribed different functions including antigen presentation in macrophages and dendritic cells, regulation of receptor density in neurons, and regulation of tumor growth under nutrient-limiting conditions. However, whether macropinocytosis regulates the expansion of non-transformed mammalian cells is unknown. Here we show that primary mouse and human T cells engage in macropinocytosis that increases in magnitude upon T cell activation to support T cell growth even under amino acid (AA) replete conditions. Mechanistically, macropinocytosis in T cells provides access of extracellular AA to an endolysosomal compartment to sustain activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) that promotes T cell growth. Our results thus implicate a function of macropinocytosis in mammalian cell growth beyond Ras-transformed tumor cells via sustained mTORC1 activation. Macropinocytosis has been implicated in the expansion of transformed cells when nutrient-depleted. Here the authors show that macropinocytosis also contributes to the expansion of primary T cells even under nutrient-replete conditions, potentially by providing access of extracellular amino acids to an endolysosomal compartment to sustain mTORC1 activation.
An Analysis of Univariate and Multivariate Electrocardiography Signal Classification

Heart diseases are mainly diagnosed by the electrocardiogram (ECG) or (EKG). The correct classification of ECG signals helps in diagnosing heart diseases. In this paper, we study and analyze the univariate and multivariate ECG signal classification problems to find the optimal classifier for ECG signals from existing state-of-the-art time series classification models.
Discrete modeling of a longwall coal mine gob for CFD simulation

Abstract One area of concern in longwall coal mines is the active gob directly behind the longwall face, where high concentrations of methane are likely to accumulate and active roof caving occurs. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate gas flows in and through the gob, most researchers have represented the entire gob as a porous medium governed by Darcy’s law. However, Darcy-type porous flow may not be applicable for the highly porous and unconsolidated fringes of the gob. In addition, porous medium models do not allow for representative combustion modeling to simulate in-gob ignition and flame propagation. This study presents a hybrid approach to modeling the gob using CFD: the outer part of the gob is modeled as discrete objects that simulate coarse rock rubble, while the gob center is modeled as a porous medium.
Trichotillomania in Children and the Different Approaches between Dermatological and Behavioral Health Professionals at an Urban Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Trichotillomania (TTM) is a complex disease with varying clinical characteristics, and psychosocial impairment is noted in many TTM patients. Despite its prevalence in childhood, there is limited research on pediatric TTM. Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiologic features of TTM in children evaluated by dermatologists and behavioral health specialists. Method: We performed a retrospective chart review of 137 pediatric patients seen at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with initial presentation of TTM at age 17 or younger. Patients were treated by dermatology or behavioral health. Results: The majority of the patients were females, with an average diagnosis age around 8 years. Over half had a psychiatric comorbidity, and over a quarter had a skin disorder. Skin disorders were more commonly present in those evaluated by dermatology, and psychiatric comorbidities were more commonly present in those evaluated by behavioral health. The most common form of treatment was behavioral therapy, with medications prescribed more often by dermatologists. Conclusions: TTM patients choose to present to behavioral health or dermatology; however, there are distinctive differences between the two cohorts. With behavioral and pharmacologic treatment options, a relationship between dermatologists and behavioral health specialists is necessary for multifactorial management of TTM.
Posterior Tibial Slope Increases Anterior Cruciate Ligament Stress in Bi-Cruciate Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty: In Vivo Kinematic Analysis.

The study design involved here is experimental in nature. The resection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been considered a potential factor leading to abnormal in vivo knee kinematics. Bi-cruciate retaining (BCR) TKA designs allow the preservation of the ACL with the potential to restore native knee kinematics. This study aimed to investigate the effect of posterior tibial slope (PTS) on stress experienced by the ACL during weight bearing sit-to-stand (STS) and single-leg deep lunge. The ACL elongation patterns were measured in 30 unilateral BCR TKA patients during weight-bearing STS and single-leg deep lunge using a validated dual fluoroscopic tracking technique. The minimum normalized stress within the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundle of the ACL during weight-bearing STS and single-leg deep lunge was found at a PTS of 3.7 degrees. The maximum AM and PL bundle stresses were observed at a PTS of 8.5 and 9.3 degrees, respectively during STS and at 8.4, and 9.1 degrees, respectively during single-leg deep lunge. There was a significant positive correlation between PTS and stress observed within the AM and PL bundle of the ACL during weight-bearing STS (R 2 = 0.37; p < 0.01; R2 = 0.36; p = 0.01) and single-leg deep lunge (R 2 = 0.42; p < 0.01; R 2 = 0.40; p
Redeploying junior doctors during a pandemic: reflections of a rota management team

Medical on-call rotas are found in every hospital, but what do you do when a pandemic occurs? This article describes the process of escalation, redeployment, de-escalation and the lessons learnt by...
Thermo-chemical conversion of cannabis biomass and extraction by pressurized liquid extraction for the isolation of cannabidiol

Abstract Cannabis plants produce acidic cannabinoids, however the neutral form is required to effectively bind to the human cannabinoid receptor. This research aimed to develop and validate methodology for thermo-chemical conversion of acidic cannabinoids during pressurized liquid extraction for the isolation of cannabidiol. Cannabinoid decarboxylation is typically performed by heating plant material or extract, however cannabinoids are thermolabile and can readily degrade or convert to undesired metabolites. Consequently, decarboxylation during the extraction process would minimize additional steps and potential for degradation and metabolite formation thereby proving beneficial in the isolation of neutral cannabinoids. A thermo-chemical conversion process was established to convert acidic cannabinoids to their neutral forms. Subsequent extraction with ethanol yielded a cannabidiol extract of 75.8 % purity. Purification with flash chromatography resulted in cannabidiol rich fractions being collected for liquid-liquid extraction and crystallization. The end product was 91.8 % pure. The loss over the extraction and purification process was analyzed and found to be 22 %, which can be reduced by reprocessing select fractions. The optimized pressurized liquid extraction method using water for thermo-chemical conversion of acidic cannabinoids prior to an ethanol extraction step is proposed. The extraction process combined with purification by flash chromatography and liquid-liquid extraction yields cannabidiol crystals of greater than 90 % purity.
Emergency Department-initiated High-flow Nasal Cannula for COVID-19 Respiratory Distress

Introduction: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can develop rapidly progressive respiratory failure. Ventilation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic seek to minimize patient mortality. In this study we examine associations between the availability of emergency department (ED)-initiated high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for patients presenting with COVID-19 respiratory distress and outcomes, including rates of endotracheal intubation (ETT), mortality, and hospital length of stay. Methods: We performed a retrospective, non-concurrent cohort study of patients with COVID-19 respiratory distress presenting to the ED who required HFNC or ETT in the ED or within 24 hours following ED departure. Comparisons were made between patients presenting before and after the introduction of an ED-HFNC protocol. Results: Use of HFNC was associated with a reduced rate of ETT in the ED (46.4% vs 26.3%, P <0.001) and decreased the cumulative proportion of patients who required ETT within 24 hours of ED departure (85.7% vs 32.6%, P <0.001) or during their entire hospitalization (89.3% vs 48.4%, P <0.001). Using HFNC was also associated with a trend toward increased survival to hospital discharge;however, this was not statistically significant (50.0% vs 68.4%, P = 0.115). There was no impact on intensive care unit or hospital length of stay. Demographics, comorbidities, and illness severity were similar in both cohorts. Conclusions: The institution of an ED-HFNC protocol for patients with COVID-19 respiratory distress was associated with reductions in the rate of ETT. Early initiation of HFNC is a promising strategy for avoiding ETT and improving outcomes in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health is the property of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Effects of Performance Feedback Reports on Adherence to Evidence-Based Guidelines in Use of CT for Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess whether implementing emergency department (ED) physician performance feedback reports improves adherence to evidence-based guidelines for use of CT for evaluation of pulmonary embolism (PE) beyond that achieved with clinical decision support (CDS) alone. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013, at an urban level 1 adult trauma center ED. Attending physicians were stratified into quartiles by use of CT for evaluation of PE in 2012 and were randomized to receive quarterly feedback reporting or not, beginning January 2013. Reports consisted of individual and anonymized group data on guideline adherence (using the Wells criteria), use of CT for PE (number of CT examinations for PE per 1000 patients), and yield (percentage of CT examinations for PE with positive findings). We compared guideline adherence (primary outcome) and use and yield (secondary outcomes) of CT for PE betw...
Teacher-Student Proximity and Interactions in a Computer Laboratory and Classroom

(1996). Teacher-Student Proximity and Interactions in a Computer Laboratory and Classroom. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 21-23.
Biomechanics of 4-point seat belt systems in farside impacts.

The biomechanical behavior of 4-point seat belt systems was investigated through MADYMO modeling, dummy tests and post mortem human subject tests. This study was conducted to assess the effect of 4-point seat belts on the risk of thoracic injury in frontal impacts, to evaluate the ability to prevent submarining under the lap belt using 4-point seat belts, and to examine whether 4-point belts may induce injuries not typically observed with 3-point seat belts. The performance of two types of 4-point seat belts was compared with that of a pretensioned, load-limited, 3-point seat belt. A 3-point belt with an extra shoulder belt that "crisscrossed" the chest (X4) appeared to add constraint to the torso and increased chest deflection and injury risk. Harness style shoulder belts (V4) loaded the body in a different biomechanical manner than 3-point and X4 belts. The V4 belt appeared to shift load to the clavicles and pelvis and to reduce traction of the shoulder belt across the chest, resulting in a reduction in chest deflection by a factor of two. This is associated with a 5 to 500-fold reduction in thoracic injury risk, depending on whether one assumes 4-point belts apply concentrated or distributed load. In four of six post mortem human subjects restrained by V4 belts during 40 km/h sled tests, chest compression was zero or negative and rib fractures were nearly eliminated. Submarining was not observed in any test with post mortem human subjects. Though lumbar, sacral and pelvic injuries were noted, they are believed to be due to the artificial restraint environment (no knee bolsters, instrument panels, steering systems or airbags). While they show significant potential to reduce thoracic injury risk, there are still many issues to be resolved before 4-point belts can be considered for production vehicles. These issues include, among others, potential effects on hard and soft neck tissues, of interaction with inboard shoulder belts in farside impacts and potential effects on the fetus of latch/buckle junctions at the centerline of pregnant occupants. Work continues at Ford Motor Company to resolve these issues.
ABA Explains Prosecutor's Ethical Disclosure Duty

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility recently issued an advisory ethics opinion explaining that the ethical duty of the prosecutor under Model Rule 3.8(d) to disclose exculpatory evidence and information to the defendant is separate from, and more expansive than, the disclosure obligations under the Constitution. This column reviews the opinion and its implications for discovery in criminal cases.
Patient considerations in the management of ulcerative colitis - role of vedolizumab.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease which causes inflammation of the large intestine and affects approximately 7.6–24.6 per 100,000 persons. The therapeutic goal for UC patients is inducing remission, maintaining remission, and ideally, obtaining mucosal healing. Vedolizumab, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in May 2014 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe UC and Crohn’s disease, is a newly developed anti-integrin therapy. This review focuses on the preclinical development of vedolizumab and data from early trials, and details the results of the landmark trails that led to its approval in the USA with a specific focus on the management of UC. Additionally, data on safety and the current UC management protocols are also discussed.
Controller design for TCSC using observed-state feedback method to damp SSR in DFIG-based wind farms

In this paper, sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) damping in a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind farm using thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) is studied. An SSR damping controller (SSRDC) is designed for the TCSC using the observed-state feedback method. Model reduction is applied to obtain a lower order model for the power system under study in order to make the SSRDC design simpler and practical. The IEEE first benchmark model modified to include a 100 MW doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) - based wind farm is employed as a case study. In this work, MATLAB/SIMULINK is used for eigenvalue analysis and PSCAD/EMTDC for time-domain simulations, respectively.
Using 'The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America' in the Classroom: A Note

This pedagogical note introduces The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America. We find the Essays are insightful and useful in the classroom. We also share our lesson plan in using the material for discussion on corporate governance and other issues. A survey result also reveals the positive feedback from students.
Neuropsychology of aging and dementia.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the neuropsychological detection of early Alzheimer's disease (AD), the impact of aging on the ability to detect the disease, cognitive changes that might presage the development of dementia in those with ‘preclinical’ AD, and differences in the cognitive manifestations of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders that can aid differential clinical diagnosis and provide important information about the neurological basis of memory, language, executive functions, and visuospatial processes. Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a degenerative brain disorder that usually begins in later life (e.g., ages 60–70) characterized by neuronal atrophy, synapse loss, and the abnormal accumulation of diffuse and neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The clinical detection of AD is particularly difficult in very elderly individuals (e.g., over the age of 80) because many of the cognitive abilities affected by the disease are also detrimentally affected by normal aging. The chapter also describes distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other age-related causes of dementia.
CHAPTER 146 – Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases

Signaling through PI3K is an evolutionarily conserved process that enables reversible membrane localization of cytoplasmic proteins. Three modular domains (PH, PX, and FYVE) that interact with D-3 phosphoinositides are broadly distributed among proteins of different function. The recruitment and activation of specific subsets of PI3K effectors in a receptor-specific and cell type-specific manner allows PI3K activation to be linked to different functional responses. Given the pleiotropic effects of pharmacological PI3K inhibitors, therapeutic modulation of PI3K signaling is likely to require targeting of specific effectors that govern particular responses. This chapter is intended to provide a brief summary of PI3K signaling with an emphasis on recent advances. Engagement of a great variety of cell surface receptors triggers the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). The lipid product of PI3K serve as second messengers by interacting with phosphoinositide-binding domains in certain cytoplasmic proteins, thereby recruiting these “PI3K effectors” to specific, sites in cellular membranes. PI3K and its effectors have been implicated in diverse cellular functions, including vesicle trafficking, cell proliferation, survival, cytoskeletal remodeling, migration, and glucose uptake. The importance of PI3K signaling in cellular and organismal function has been illustrated by the striking phenotypes of animals with genetic perturbations of PI3K signaling.
Identification of program modifications and its applications in software maintenance

It is pointed out that a major problem in software maintenance is the revalidation of a modified code. It is economically desirable to restrict that process only to those parts of the program that are affected by the modifications. Towards that goal, a formal method is needed to identify the modifications in an automatic way. Such a method is proposed in the present work. The modifications are localized within clusters in the flow graphs of the original and modified programs. Both flow graphs are transformed into reduced flow graphs, between which an isomorphic correspondence is established. Cluster-nodes in the reduced graphs encapsulate modifications to the original program. An algorithm to derive the reduced flow graphs has been implemented as an extension to the recently developed system for testing and debugging (STAD 1.0) and early experiments with the algorithm are reported. Potential applications in regression testing and reasoning about the program are discussed. >
Creating Critical Thinking Writers in Middle School: A Look at the Jane Schaffer Model

A key component of good writing is the use of critical thinking skills. Without deeper levels of reflection and thinking, writing becomes superficial, less interesting, and harder to follow. Too many essays do not reflect the use of critical thinking. This paper examines the effects of the Jane Schaffer method and the degree to which it has improved writing skills and critical thinking in my students. The sample consists of two classes of eighth grade students’ written response to literature essays. In looking at this widely used method of teaching essay writing, the paper evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the different strategies of writing insofar as how they create better, reflective thinkers. The research sought to determine how well students were able to create a thesis for a paper, and if they could create three topic sentences that support their thesis. Results indicated that students need more practice writing and more instruction in using critical thinking skills. Critical Thinking Writers in Middle School 6 Chapter
Effect of massage on percutaneous penetration and skin decontamination: man and animal

AbstractContext: At least 15 factors of percutaneous penetration exist that should be considered when investigating dermal absorption profiles of chemicals. Rubbing is one variable that has been understudied, but may play an important role in understanding overall exposure rates, chemical toxicity, dermal absorption and skin's barrier abilities.Objective: This reviews current data related to the role of massage in enhancing percutaneous penetration and skin decontamination as well as highlights the need for further investigation of its role.Results: An in vivo study in rhesus monkeys and guinea pigs measuring amount of drug excreted after being topically applied showed no effect with massage. However, studies measuring permeation rates directly through human and animal skin ex vivo showed rubbing increased flux, reduced skin impedance and increased drug retention in skin. Rubbing also increased effectiveness of reactive skin decontamination lotion (RSDL).Conclusion: Massage sometimes influences chemical p...
338 A NEW TYPE OF RICKETS: UNRESPONSIVENESS OF BONE AND INTESTINE TO HIGH LEVELS OF ENDOGENOUSLY SYNTHESIZED 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 |[lsqb]|1,25(0H)2D3|[rsqb]|

2 sisters, 3 (sib I) and 7 (sib II) years old, from consanguineous and normal parents, presented with active rickets, skeletal deformities and alopecia totalis after years of vitamin (vit) D2 therapy (50,000 IU/d). Representative levels in serum for sib I and II, respectively, were Ca, mg/dl: 9.8, 8.9; P, mg/dl: 4.0, 2.9; 25-OHD, ng/ml: 47, 42 (normal 27±5); parathyroid hormone (PTH), μl-eq/L: 42, 44 (normal = 300 (normal = 46) in both sibs. Both sibs had a calcemic response to PTH: ↑ Ca by 1.3 and 2.1 mg/d1 and normal renal responses (P and CAMP) to PTH. The TRP in both was 77-80%. The mean balances, mg/d, in sib I for Ca was -55 and for P-95, while in sib II the value for Ca was -140 and for P-190. 1,25(OH)aD3 treatment at doses of .04 and .06 μg/kg/d (.50μg and .75μg/d) failed to reverse the biochemical abnormalities or heal the ricketic lesions.
A note on the pure torsion of a circular cylinder for a compressible nonlinearly elastic material with nonconvex strain-energy

The large deformation torsion problem for an elastic circular cylinder subject to prescribed twisting moments at its ends is examined for a particular homogeneous isotropic compressible material, namely the Blatz-Ko material. For this material, the displacement equations of equilibrium in three-dimensional elastostatics can lose ellipticity at sufficiently large deformations. For the torsion problem, it is shown that this occurs when the prescribed torque reaches a critical value. For values of the twisting moment greater than this critical value, there is an axial core of the cylinder on which ellipticity holds, surrounded by an annular region where loss of ellipticity has occurred. The physical implications in terms of localized shear bands are briefly discussed.
Investigation of the age-at-onset heterogeneity in type 1 diabetes through mathematical modeling.

Abstract The heterogeneity between young- and adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) is well known, but not well understood. We approach this question through mathematical formulation and analysis of the dynamic interactions between the immune cells and the pancreatic islet β-cells that lead to the β-cell destruction. Utilizing the perturbation expansion method we investigate the dynamic stability of our system under fast and slow β-cell turnover limits. We find that if autoimmunity is initiated when the turnover is slow (adult age), a stable steady state can exist with reduced number of β-cells, where the β-cell regeneration balances the ongoing autoimmune destruction. This implies that a slow disease process is possible. In contrast, if autoimmunity occurs when the β-cell turnover is rapid (young age), such a stable state will never be attained and the destruction will progress unabated, leading to an acute disease onset. The major findings of our model are consistent with clinical observations, and it offers an explanation for the dynamic and phenotypic heterogeneity between young- and adult-onset T1D. More importantly, the model analyses point out that pathways regulating β-cell turnover can be new targets to interfere with the disease process of T1D.
Hypertension diagnosis and prognosis in chronic kidney disease with out-of-office blood pressure monitoring.

Purpose of reviewHypertension is an important risk factor for adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. This review compares blood pressure measurements obtained in the clinic with those obtained outside the clinic to predict cardiovascular and r
La crítica de la poesía lírica en la obra periodística de Larra

This article deals with Mariano Jose de Larra’s aesthetical ideas on lyrical poetry, studying all the articles in which Larra shows his opinions on the genre, as well as his articles on literature and his critical writing on the lyrical poetry of his time, such as Francisco Martinez de la Rosa’s Poesias , Juan Bautista Alonso’s Poesias and J.F. Diaz’s Blanca .
Genomic Views of Human History

New tools of genomic analysis shed light on historical puzzles. Migrations of ancient peoples, differences in migration patterns of males and females, historical demography of cultures with ancient roots, and patterns of human genetic diversity are increasingly the focus of integrated analysis by historians, anthropologists, and geneticists.
Estimation of Macromolecular Configurational Properties from Atomistic Simulations of Oligomers under Nonequilibrium Conditions

Multi-scale modeling requires the selection and preservation of information crucial to understanding the behavior of a system at appropriate length and time scales. For a full description of processed polymers, such a model must successfully link rheological properties with atomic-level structure. We propose a method for the calculation of an important rheological state descriptor, the polymeric configuration tensor (QQ), from atomistic simulations of oligomers. The method requires no adjustable parameters and can describe anisotropic polymer conformations at conditions of significant deformation. We establish the validity of the atomistic-to-macromolecular scaling by comparing the consistency of predictions of (QQ) among different polyethylene oligomer systems. We use this method with the previously reported semi-grand canonical Monte Carlo method to deduce macromolecular and atomic-level structural information interchangeably for systems with flow-induced orientation.
Promoting Diversity in the Field of Evaluation: Reflections on the First Year of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evaluation Fellowship Program

In this paper we describe an evaluation training program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and led by Duquesne University and OMG Center for Collaborative Learning designed to meet th...
Reverse engineering of clear solids using refractive index matching

A novel approach is used to reverse engineer polymeric parts in a low cost, non‐destructive manner. Solids created from polymers with an index of refraction matching that of an immersion liquid are reverse engineered using a CCD camera. Serial images are taken as the part is immersed into the liquid or taken out of the liquid. The images are then used to create digital solid models from the polymeric physical model. The concept of the process, the hardware as a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, and results to understand the accuracy and limitations of the process are described.
Cell–cell communication: Receptor function at the junction

Proteins associated with epithelial cell junctions regulate receptor tyrosine kinase activity by maintaining the basolateral localization of the receptor molecules.
Variations in normal human chromosomes.

Several statistical models were used to investigate differences in the measurements of chromosomes from normal people, and in particular, to gain evidence for either the genetic or non-genetic origin of these differences. Computer-aided measurements of size and centromeric index were made on the chromosomes of 1. five sets of monozygotic twins, 2. five sets of dizygotic twins, 3. three sets of repeat cultures from three different persons, and 4. a group of 15 normal unrelated people. Every chromosome had been identified by Q or G banding.
A Linguistic Comparison of Letters of Recommendation for Male and Female Chemistry and Biochemistry Job Applicants

Letters of recommendation are central to the hiring process. However, gender stereotypes could bias how recommenders describe female compared to male applicants. In the current study, text analysis software was used to examine 886 letters of recommendation written on behalf of 235 male and 42 female applicants for either a chemistry or biochemistry faculty position at a large U.S. research university. Results revealed more similarities than differences in letters written for male and female candidates. However, recommenders used significantly more standout adjectives to describe male as compared to female candidates. Letters containing more standout words also included more ability words and fewer grindstone words. Research is needed to explore how differences in language use affect perceivers’ evaluations of female candidates.
Electrochemistry of Copper in Aqueous Glycine Solutions

Potential-pH equilibria and potentiodynamic polarization studies were used to examine the electrochemical behavior of copper in aqueous glycine solutions. Potential-pH diagrams for the copper-water-glycine system were derived at different total copper {Cu T } and glycine {L T } activities. The diagrams show that glycine significantly extended the solubility range of copper. Polarization experiments were conducted in deaerated and aerated aqueous solutions of 10 -2 M glycine with 10 -3 M cupric nitrate and 10 -1 M glycine with 10 -4 M cupric nitrate at pH values between 9 and 12. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of the relevant potential-pH diagrams. Good correlations were observed.
Improved adhesion of photoresist to III-V substrates using PECVD carbon films

Amorphous PECVD carbon films have been investigated as a means to prepare III-V compound semiconductor substrates for improved photoresist adhesion. Results show that significant improvements in adhesive durability of patterned photoresist occurred for carbon primed GaAs and InGaAs wafers used in conjunction with both i-line and DUV lithography processes. These carbon layers, were 50-100 Angstrom in thickness, and varied in composition and morphology from a nitrogen-doped, diamond-like material (DLC), to a more hydrogen rich, polymer-like material (PLC). Adhesion durability tests performed in baths of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) in general showed superior performance compared to non-primed substrates. The sole exception was a failure of PLC priming on GaAs wafers used with a DUV anti-reflective coating. This same system, however, was shown to work extremely well when a DLC coating was substituted. Characterization of PLC and DLC films included use of AES, XPS, FTIR, AFM, and contact angle analysis. Results indicate that carbon films passivate III-V oxides, creating a stable, hydrophobic surface. This factor is proposed as a key reason for the improved resistance to aggressive aqueous environments. AFM results show that carbon films are extremely smooth and actually decrease surface roughness, indicating that mechanical adhesion is unlikely.
Thickness-dependent thermal reliability of low-dielectric constant polycrystalline PTFE submicron dielectric thin films

Abstract According to the SIA National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, interlevel dielectrics (ILDs) with a relative dielectric constant less than two will be needed for future integrated circuit devices beyond 0.1 μm generation. For possible low-dielectric constant (low- k ) candidates with a relative dielectric constant less than two, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has the lowest dielectric constant among nonporous low- k materials, and thus is a strong future ILD candidate. As the feature size decreases, the ILD thickness is also expected to decrease. Thus needs exist for characterizing and understanding the possible thickness-induced thermal reliability of PTFE thin films for deep-submicron multilevel interconnection applications. The majority of low-dielectric constant candidates for ULSI ILD applications are amorphous polymers; techniques exist for characterizing the glass transition temperatures of amorphous polymers, which is the critical measure of their thermal stability. However, a simple but reliable method remained to be introduced for characterizing the thermal stability of submicron crystalline thin films such as PTFE. It is determined in the present work that the directly measured ellipsometric angles Δ and ψ can be used for detecting the solid↔liquid transition temperatures of on-wafer polycrystalline thin films. The novel approach is applied for investigating the solid↔liquid transitions of on-wafer PTFE thin films. The results show that the solid–liquid transitions depend on the film thickness as a result of film/surface, film/substrate interactions and the thickness-dependent crystal size. The results can be well described by modifying a previous model for size dependent solid–liquid transitions of nanocrystals.
A note on thiospinel space group assignment

Abstract Single-crystal X-ray precession photographs of a synthetic and several natural thiospinels reveal the presence of hk0 reflections with h + k = 4n + 2 (200, 420, etc.). These reflections require that these thiospinels possess a symmetry lower than Fd3m, but are consistent with Grimes’ and Hwang, Heuer and Mitchell's placement of oxide spinels in space group F43m.
Design and Fabrication of FRP Grids for Aerospace and Civil Engineering Applications

This paper presents the results of experimental and analytical studies of the performance of composite grids as well as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grid reinforced concrete columns. FRP grids and FRP grid confined concrete cylinders were instrumented and tested under uniaxial compressive loading. Test variables included types of composite materials and the spacing of composite circular ribs. It is shown that the proposed FRP grids can be constructed by filament winding, the process can be automated, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Results show that the proposed FRP grids have substantial ultimate load that makes them attractive for use in aerospace applications, and that confinement of concrete by FRP grids can significantly enhance the strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity of concrete as compared to steel confined concrete. Equations to predict the compressive strength and failure strain were developed. Comparisons between the experimental and analytical results indicate that the proposed models provide satisfactory predictions of ultimate compressive strength and failure strain.
Is diabetes, even without retinopathy, a risk factor for glaucoma filtering surgery failure in the age of anti-fibrosis agents?

Trabeculectomy is the primary glaucoma surgery performed in patients whose disease is considered uncontrolled. Accepted risk factors for trabeculectomy failure include previous failed filtering surgery, aphakia or pseudophakia, neovascular glaucoma, uveitic glaucoma and paediatric glaucoma; some will also include race and youth.1 ,2 Neovascular glaucoma can be associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and the concomitant production of vascular endothelial growth factor. But should diabetes mellitus without retinopathy be considered a risk factor for trabeculectomy failure, even for trabeculectomy with adjunctive anti-fibrosis agents? Given the ongoing worldwide increase in the prevalence of diabetes,3 this is an important question, because the sheer number of diabetic persons could make diabetes the most commonly encountered risk factor for primary filtering surgery failure in the future, particularly in the developed countries of the world. Law and colleagues4 report on a case–control study of diabetic eyes without retinopathy that underwent primary trabeculectomy by the same two surgeons. Both groups received adjunctive intraoperative mitomycin at the time of surgery for a relatively short duration (average about 1 min—about half the dose typically used by the American Glaucoma Society members in primary trabeculectomy).5 An intraocular pressure (IOP) greater than 15 mm Hg was considered a …
Semen characteristics and chemistry from bulls before and after seminal vesiculectomy and after vasectomy.

Abstract Four normal Holstein bulls were surgically seminal vesiculectomized and vasectomized to determine the contribution of various parts of the genital tract to physical characteristics and chemistry of semen. Semen volume decreased after vesiculectomy and also after vesiculectomy and vasectomy. Total spermatozoa output and per cent motile sperm decreased after vesiculectomy. Hydrogen ion concentration increased after vesiculectomy and again after vasectomy. Protein, calcium, chloride, potassium, sodium, reducing substances contents, and alkaline phosphatase activity decreased after vesiculectomy while inorganic phosphate content and acid phosphatase activity decreased after each operation. Of these nine constituents, 61.5% were contributed from the seminal vesicles, 22.2% from the testes and epididymis, and 16.3% from the ampulla, prostate and bulbo-urethral glands. There was no significant change in free amino acids in semen after vesiculectomy, but there was a significant decrease in 16 amino acids studied after vasectomy. Total free amino acids were contributed 79.9% from the testes and epididymis, 14.5% from the seminal vesicles and 5.6% from the ampulla, prostate and bulbo-urethral glands.
A method for analysis of amino sugars: specificity and mechanism of the reaction.

Abstract Two methods for the analysis of amino sugars are presented. Ratios of the colorimetric values obtained with these two methods permit the preliminary characterization of several amino sugars and direct determination when they are in admixture with 2-amino-2-deoxy- d -glucose. The main features of the mechanism of the color reaction are outlined. Factors affecting the reproducibility of the Elson and Morgan analysis and the role of 2-methyl-pyrrole in the production of color are discussed.
The Nexus Between Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program Integrity and Drug Court Effectiveness Policy Recommendations for Pursuing Success

The literature supporting the efficacy of drug courts continues to grow. Much attention and research has focused on recidivism rates for participants, and generally address the question of, do drug courts work? The current state of drug court practice is a process that relies heavily on the drug and alcohol treatment services that are offered to clients. Many treatment programs, and the treatment philosophy that underlies their approach to solving substance abuse, offer vague and eclectic approaches that oftentimes do not meet the diverse needs of their clients related to gender, culture, and specific cognitive impacts on the brain caused by drug use. We argue that a move toward the use of evidence-based practice, coupled with quality assurance measures for treatment providers, will promote best practice and will ensure program integrity that leads to effective and long-lasting drug court programs.