cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormality Detection via Iterative Deformable Registration and Basis-Pursuit Decomposition

We present a generic method for automatic detection of abnormal regions in medical images as deviations from a normative data base. The algorithm decomposes an image, or more broadly a function defined on the image grid, into the superposition of a normal part and a residual term. A statistical model is constructed with regional sparse learning to represent normative anatomical variations among a reference population (e.g., healthy controls), in conjunction with a Markov random field regularization that ensures mutual consistency of the regional learning among partially overlapping image blocks. The decomposition is performed in a principled way so that the normal part fits well with the learned normative model, while the residual term absorbs pathological patterns, which may then be detected through a statistical significance test. The decomposition is applied to multiple image features from an individual scan, detecting abnormalities using both intensity and shape information. We form an iterative scheme that interleaves abnormality detection with deformable registration, gradually improving robustness of the spatial normalization and precision of the detection. The algorithm is evaluated with simulated images and clinical data of brain lesions, and is shown to achieve robust deformable registration and localize pathological regions simultaneously. The algorithm is also applied on images from Alzheimer’s disease patients to demonstrate the generality of the method.
Evaluation of immune effect of Tianjin Binhai New Area of varicella vaccine

Objective: To observe the incidence of varicella vaccine after breaking through the case of varicella vaccine,immunization strategy,popularized in the city. Inoculation Population living in the Binhai New Area of full age to 12 years old children in December,has been vaccinated or who have had chickenpox varicella vaccine except. Controls were four districts around the city girls without varicella in children. Methods: Implementation of vaccination for the target population. All vaccinees was observed from 42 days to2 and a half years later,the incidence of varicella break cases. In the observation group and the control group was observed in two groups of varicella vaccine protection rate calculation. Results: The gelatin free attenuated varicella vaccine breakthrough in 134 cases,the incidence rate was 0. 35%; no gelatin attenuated varicella vaccine protection rate of 80. 92%,with domestic and foreign reports consistent. Conclusion: After vaccination from 42 to 2 and a half years,varicella vaccine can effectively protect children from the onset,while reducing the prevalence of childrens pain and the economic burden of the family. Varicella vaccine is still a breakthrough occurred,therefore to consider two inoculations,with further observation of two times after inoculation the body to produce antibody level and epidemiological protection effect.
The Children of Immigrants’ Bonding to School: Examining the Roles of Assimilation, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Bonds

Social bonds to school (i.e., attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief) can influence educational progress and success for students; however, the children of immigrants’ bonding to school re...
Model After-School Programs

In this chapter, four engaging after-school programs are examined: (a) PeaceJam (community service and social action program), (b) The Young Women Leaders Program, (c) The Center for Family Life’s Lifelines Community Art Project, and (d) Project Explore (Science exploration program). For each, a description of the program is presented, followed by observations made upon visiting the program and summary of research finding demonstrating a high level of youth engagement among participants. The after-school models presented in this chapter illustrate that self-directed learners are motivated by flow, discovery, choice, and other intrinsic rewards. This type of learning thrives on active exploration followed by structured reflection. Intentional strategies to infuse and enrich opportunities for engagement and learning with academic content can help us to move beyond “more of the same” traditional academic models for both academic and nonacademic programming in schools. As with the programs discussed in this chapter, art programs in which students work alongside adult artists or science programs in which youth participate in archeological digs alongside scientists can provide powerful, rich, and real-world ways of meeting learning goals, especially when learning about cultural heritage along the way. Such activities were experienced much more positively than the traditional curricula, offering students the experience of challenge, deep concentration, and heightened motivation characteristic of flow experiences.
The Emergence of Mental Health Self-Direction: An International Learning Exchange

Self-direction has emerged worldwide as a promising practice for persons with serious mental health conditions and as a means toward creating more person-centered service systems. In self-direction, service users control an individualized budget, purchasing goods or services that can help them achieve personal recovery goals. This Open Forum describes an international learning exchange meeting, held in September 2015, in which experts in self-direction and mental health from seven nations convened for sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and laying the groundwork for a learning community to support the continued development of self-direction. Meeting participants identified three themes that represent next steps toward ensuring that the promise of self-direction is realized. First, self-direction involves creating a culture shift for value-based systems change. Second, people with lived experience must be involved and supported at every level, including direct support, leadership, and oversight....
Positive Traits in the Bipolar Spectrum: The Space between Madness and Genius

Bipolar disorder is a severe, lifelong mood disorder for which little is currently understood of the genetic mechanisms underlying risk. By examining related dimensional phenotypes, we may further our understanding of the disorder. Creativity has a historical connection with the bipolar spectrum and is particularly enhanced among unaffected first-degree relatives and those with bipolar spectrum traits. This suggests that some aspects of the bipolar spectrum may confer advantages, while more severe expressions of symptoms negatively influence creative accomplishment. Creativity is a complex, multidimensional construct with both cognitive and affective components, many of which appear to reflect a shared genetic vulnerability with bipolar disorder. It is suggested that a subset of bipolar risk variants confer advantages as positive traits according to an inverted-U-shaped curve with clinically unaffected allele carriers benefitting from the positive traits and serving to maintain the risk alleles in the population. The association of risk genes with creativity in healthy individuals (e.g., NRG1), as well as an overall sharing of common genetic variation between bipolar patients and creative individuals, provides support for this model. Current findings are summarized from a multidisciplinary perspective to demonstrate the feasibility of research in this area to reveal the mechanisms underlying illness.
The Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument (MMQL): Reliability and validity of the Adult Form (AF).

9570 Background: Cancer survivors are at risk for deficits in health-related quality of life (HRQL). Youth (8-12y) and adolescent (13-20y) versions of the MMQL have been developed to address surviv...
Broad ion energy distributions in helicon wave-coupled helium plasma

Helium ion energy distributions were measured in helicon wave-coupled plasmas of the dynamics of ion implantation and sputtering of surface experiment using a retarding field energy analyzer. The shape of the energy distribution is a double-peak, characteristic of radiofrequency plasma potential modulation. The broad distribution is located within a radius of 0.8 cm, while the quartz tube of the plasma source has an inner radius of 2.2 cm. The ion energy distribution rapidly changes from a double-peak to a single peak in the radius range of 0.7–0.9 cm. The average ion energy is approximately uniform across the plasma column including the double-peak and single peak regions. The widths of the broad distribution, ΔE, in the wave-coupled mode are large compared to the time-averaged ion energy, ⟨E⟩. On the axis (r = 0), ΔE/ ⟨E⟩ ≲ 3.4, and at a radius near the edge of the plasma column (r = 2.2 cm), ΔE/ ⟨E⟩ ∼ 1.2. The discharge parameter space is scanned to investigate the effects of the magnetic field, input ...
Investigation of performance degradation in thermally aged cascode GaN power devices

In this paper, performance degradation of thermally aged cascode GaN devices is presented in detail. For this purpose, an accelerated aging setup is designed which operates within safe operating area (SOA) to mimic the power cycling in real applications as much as possible. The parametric variations are measured via a curve tracer at certain intervals to find out critical signatures for incipient fault diagnostics. Among those, the on-state resistance gradually increases throughout the power cycles, which can be identified as one of the most reliable failure precursor. Devices with different failure modes are decapsulated to investigate the causes of the failures. Some of failed cascode GaN devices show a high drain-source leakage current, gate-source leakage current and different reverse conduction characteristic compared to other thermally aged single die devices. Through measuring the two detached dies, a failure model is built in LTspice to simulate the failed device characteristics. Finally, weak points of the devices are pointed out based on the failure analysis.
When Caring Leaders Are Constrained: The Impact of LMX Differentiation on Leader Empathic Concern in Predicting Discretionary Work Behaviors

Empathic leaders often create high-quality relationships with their subordinates, and these relationships are suggested to increase several beneficial outcomes for employees and organizations alike...
Leadership in Computer-Mediated Communication: Implications and Research Directions

Despite the importance of interpersonal influence processes in computer-mediated communication (CMC) environments, the emergence and functioning of leaders in CMC settings remains unstudied. An initial model and propositions address the possible extension of selected leadership models beyond face-to-face (FTF) communications and into the non-face-to-face CMC environment. We (1) model relevant variables for CMC leadership, (2) briefly review the implications of selected leadership models regarding these CMC variables, and (3) extend leadership models into the CMC sphere.
HORMONAL REGULATION OF PHOSPHOENOLPYRYVATE CARBOXYKINASE (GTP) SYNTHESIS

ABSTRACT The level of the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (E.C.4.1.1.32) in the cytosol of rat tissues is controlled by hormones and related factors which cause changes in the synthesis rate of the enzyme. In studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of the hormonal regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis, the level of mRNA coding for the enzyme was measured in liver and kidney after various dietary and hormonal manipulations. 1. The level of functional phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in the liver falls precipitously when fasted rats are refed carbohydrate. 2. Functional enzyme mRNA increases rapidly during induction of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by cyclic AMP. 3. Functional enzyme mRNA increases in the kidney during induction by glucocorticoids. In all cases, changes in mRNA level are commensurate with the changes in rate of enzyme synthesis in vivo. These findings are discussed in reference to “transcriptional” and “translational” theories of hormonal regulation of genetic expression.
Immunologic tests in the diagnosis of pulmonary infection.

Advances in immunologic testing have provided new methods for diagnosing pulmonary infections. These techniques have improved the clinical management of fungal, bacterial, and viral infections of the lung by permitting more sensitive and specific detection of antibody and the rapid identification of antigenic and chromosomal microbial constituents. The newer tests of antibody concentration that include immunodiffusion, immunoassay, and latex agglutination assays are a principal means of diagnosing histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, psitticosis, and Q fever. The new direct identification methods that use immunofluorescence to detect antigens andin situ hybridization to detect DNA and RNA, are a major means for detecting respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and Legionnaires’ bacillus. Because these tests identify pathogens in hours, they have great clinical promise. It is not too optimistic to believe that improvements in present methodologies will soon permit the precise and immediate identification of most known respiratory pathogens.
Love and Justice in Christian Biomedical Ethics

My task is to identify and analyze some major themes in biomedical ethics from a Christian standpoint. In particular, I want to indicate the importance of the distinctions and relations between the principles of love and justice in several different areas of biomedical ethics, to suggest that more careful analytical and constructive attention to these norms — their content, their distinctions, and their relations — would clarify and perhaps resolve some of the debates in biomedical ethics, and to underline the impossibility of either clarifying or resolving these disputes without attention to their broader theological, metaphysical, and anthropological contexts. My analysis of both problems and theologians will be selective. Although I will mention several problems and identify several major issues in schematic form, I will concentrate on debates about the relation of agape (neighbor-love) to justice in the distribution of the bur-dens of research involving human subjects and the benefits of medical care. I will concentrate on the writings of Paul Ramsey, Richard McCormick, S.J., and Gene Outka, with some attention to discussions by Arthur Dyck and Joseph Fletcher, among others.
Localization and Itô’s Integral

If f: ℝ → ℝ is a continuous function, then any truly convenient theory of stochastic integration should have no trouble with the definition of the integral $$\int\limits_0^T {f({B_t})d{B_t}}$$ (7.1) .
Application of Monoclonal Antibodies to Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation

A number of studies in animal models have suggested that serotherapy might be capable of eliminating small numbers of tumor cells in vivo. Therapeutic activity has been documented using antisera against leukemias, lymphomas, and some solid tumors (Bernstein et al., 1982). However, for many years, trials of serotherapy for human cancer have been limited by the lack of availability of sufficient amounts of high-titered antiserum that does not react with vital host tissues. Recently, some success has been achieved in treating mycosis fungoides and other T-cell neoplasms using heteroantisera reactive with T-cell differentiation antigens (Fisher et al., 1978). Anecdotal accounts have noted responses after the infusion of some alloantisera, but in general serotherapy has had little demonstrable impact on most human cancers (Bernstein et al., 1982).
Technique for examining the internal ultrastructure of pulp fibres

A preparative technique is presented which allows simultaneous examination of the surface and internal ultrastructure of refined and unrefined pulp fibres. Fractured cross sectional surfaces of frozen fibres are replicated and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Possible applications of the procedure to anatomical studies of wood are outlined.
Weedy adaptation in Setaria spp: genetic diversity, population genetic structure and variation in herbicide resistance

vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Dissertation Organization 1 Overview 1 The Biology and Ecology of Setaria spp. 3 Review of Weed Population Biology 7 Materials and Methods 14 WEEDY ADAPTATION IN SETARIA SPP.: I. ISOZYME ANALYSIS OF THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE IN SVIRIDIS 24 Abstract 24 Introduction 25 Materials and Methods 27 Results 31 Discussion 42 Acknowledgments 48 Literature Cited 4824 Introduction 25 Materials and Methods 27 Results 31 Discussion 42 Acknowledgments 48 Literature Cited 48 WEEDY ADAPTATION IN SETARIA SPP.: II. ISOZYME ANALYSIS OF THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE IN g. GLAUCA. S. FABERII AND SGENiCUlATA 53 Abstract 53 introduction 54 Materials and Methods 56 Results 56 Discussion 73 Acknowledgments 79 Literature Cited 79 WEEDY ADAPTATION IN SETARIA SPP.: III. VARIATION IN HERBICIDE RESISTANCE IN SETARIA SPP. 83 Abstract 83 introduction 84 Materials and Methods 86 Results 92 Discussion 111 Acknowledgments 116 Literature Cited 11683 introduction 84 Materials and Methods 86 Results 92 Discussion 111 Acknowledgments 116 Literature Cited 116
Supporting Students With Disabilities, Families, and Professionals to Collaborate During the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract Collaboration among students and their families, educators, and service providers is an expectation of secondary transition services for young adults with disabilities. Such collaboration is outlined in special and general education policies, and research demonstrates the positive influence of collaboration on postsecondary outcomes for young adults with disabilities. However, too often, collaboration among these stakeholders does not occur, leaving students and their families struggling to access needed supports after leaving high school. In this chapter, we review the transition planning process, policy related to collaboration and transition planning, and research supporting collaboration during transition to adulthood for young adults with disabilities. We also describe researched transition programs that increase collaboration among students, families, educators and service providers to support successful transitions to adulthood. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
The Development and Proliferation of Trust in Small Groups

The chapter affirms necessary reciprocal dyadic trust as a fundamental aspect among leader/follower relations—through the view of Moses in Exodus 18. An essential staple within reveals that the faithfulness of God provides toward the faithfulness of those transformed into the image of Jesus, therefore faithfulness and trustworthiness follow. The research supports the theories that trust between leader/follower remains beneficial toward personnel, leader, and organizational betterment. This chapter provides research, which concerns an evaluation of organizational trust among collectivist and individualist cultures. This research specifically reveals differences in collectivist versus individualist cultures. This is supported through studies involving social identity, Organizational Citizen Behavior (OCB), and reciprocal dyadic trust.
Civil Case Processing in the Oregon Courts: An Analysis of Multnomah County

This report represents the third stage of an extended study of civil litigation in the State of Oregon by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver (IAALS). The first two stages examined, respectively, civil case processing in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon (as well as other federal district courts), and perceptions of the Oregon bench and bar about the civil justice system in that state. The instant study focused on the processing of contract and tort cases in the Circuit Court of Multnomah County, Oregon. IAALS researchers examined the dockets of nearly 500 cases that closed between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006, and recorded critical events and other information from the life of each case. In particular, researchers tracked motion practice, requests to deviate from scheduled events, the time between key events in the case, and the overall time from filing to disposition for each case.
The Effect of Right Ventricular Arterial Uncoupling on Mortality in Cardiogenic Shock

Purpose The resistance compliance (RC) time describes the relationship between the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and the pulmonary artery compliance (PAC) reflecting right ventricular (RV) afterload. Increased left atrial pressure shifts this relationship, lowering PAC for any given PVR leading to ventricular-arterial uncoupling and increased RV afterload. We hypothesize that decreased RC time is associated with increased in-hospital mortality due to poor right heart compensation in acute shock. Methods Admission right heart catheterization (RHC) data were analyzed in consecutive patients from 2014 to 2016 with cardiogenic shock as defined by a cardiac index Results We studied 235 patients with 265 unique encounters, where 15.3% died during the hospitalization. The mean RC time in our study sample was 0.33 (SD ±0.21). The hazard ratio (HR) for in-hospital mortality risk with the RC time was 0.161 (p-value = 0.07). Compared to the highest tertile, the lowest tertile of RC time was associated with increased mortality (HR 0.323, p-value = 0.045). The mortality risk persisted when adjusted for the RAP (HR 0.344, p-value = 0.056). The mean PAPi was 3.08 (SD ±3.79). The HR of in-hospital mortality with the PAPi was 0.806 (p-value = 0.166). Compared to the highest tertile, the lowest tertile of PAPi was associated with an increased mortality (HR 0.382, p-value = 0.045). This association was non-significant when adjusted for the RAP (HR 0.461, p-value = 0.202). Conclusion We demonstrate that a low RC time and increased RV afterload is associated with increased mortality in patients admitted with cardiogenic shock. In contrast to the PAPi, this association is independent of right atrial pressure, suggesting that the RC time may be a better marker of outcomes independent of central venous pressure. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of these markers in cardiogenic shock.
Embroidering the microscopic world.

I have always found an interesting correlation between working in fibers and the microscopic world. When working with fibers, much of the same terminology is used as with the body, such as capillaries and veins.
Mixed iron-manganese oxides as redox catalysts for chemical looping–oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with tailorable heat of reactions

Abstract The chemical looping-oxidative dehydrogenation (CL-ODH) of ethane is investigated in this study. In CL-ODH, a redox catalyst donates its lattice oxygen to combust hydrogen formed from ethane dehydrogenation (ODH reactor). The reduced redox catalyst is then transferred to a separate reactor (regenerator), where it is re-oxidized with air. Typically, the ODH step is endothermic, due to the high endothermicity to reduce the redox catalyst. This energy demand is met through sensible heat carried by the redox catalyst from the regenerator, which operates at a higher temperature. This temperature difference between the two reactors leads to exergy losses. We report an Fe-Mn redox catalyst showing tunable exothermic heat of reduction. Promotion with Na2WO4 resulted in high ethylene yields due to the suppression of surface Fe/Mn. ASPEN Plus® simulations indicated that Fe-Mn redox catalysts can lower the temperature difference between the two reactors. This can lead to efficiency improvements for CL-ODH.
Predictors of Opioid Administration in the Acute Postoperative Period.

OBJECTIVES Our primary objective was to evaluate age as a predictor of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) opioid administration in women undergoing reconstructive pelvic surgery. Our secondary objective was to identify additional predictors of PACU opioid administration. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing outpatient urogynecologic surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence between September 2015 to October 2016 at 1 academic medical center. We compared 2 cohorts (1) women older than 65 years and (2) women older than 65 years. Our primary outcome was any opioid medication administered during the PACU admission. RESULTS A total of 183 women were included in the study; 124 (68%) were younger than 65 years, and 59 (32%) were 65 years or older. For our primary outcome, women younger than 65 years were more likely to be given any opioids in PACU than women 65 years (70% vs 54%, P = 0.04, respectively). Women younger than 65 years were also given higher total amounts of opioid narcotics postoperatively (9.0 ± 8.3 vs 5.1 ± 6.0 mg, P < 0.05). For our secondary outcome, we found that PACU opioid administration was associated with midurethral sling (MUS) surgery (70% MUS vs 30% no MUS, P = 0.04) and high maximum PACU pain score (97% high vs 3% low, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In women undergoing urogynecologic surgery, age younger than 65 years is a predictor of high PACU pain score and resultant PACU opioid dispensation. This population should be targeted in future studies addressing the use of nonopioid multimodal therapies in the treatment of postoperative pain.
Patients with a Solid Organ Transplant

Patients with solid organ transplants are living longer, are increasing in number, and frequently undergo surgery that is unrelated to their transplant. These patients may be many years out from transplantation, and while they still may require specialty care, they are often primarily managed by generalists. The perioperative medicine consultant should have a working knowledge of care of such patients.
Single-Feed Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna With Bethe Holes on the Radiating Patch

A novel single-feed (SF) circularly polarized (CP) microstrip antenna with Bethe holes on the radiating patch is introduced. The proposed antenna provides a small axial ratio (AR) over a relatively large frequency range and the CP quality is good over a wide range of radiation angle. The structure is of a single layer, providing easy fabrication at low cost.
Chaotic Instability in Mechanical Systems

So far the random vibrations in mechanical systems, and particularly, in structures, are being considered only as a result of random loading. For instance, stationary random loadings are caused by the pressure from a wind gust, by the forces originated under the effect of waves on the structure of vehicles, by the pressure due to atmospheric turbulence, or acoustic radiation from operating jet engines. Non-stationary random loadings are caused by seismic and explosive effects. The problem of structural analysis in these cases is posed as follows: knowing the parameters of the statistical distribution of random loadings, find the corresponding parameters for quantities describing the behavior of the structure. This problem is well treated by using the usual deterministic structural models, i.e., a set of differential equation, with random inputs on the right-hand side.
Value of provocative electrophysiology testing in the management of pediatric patients after congenital heart surgery.

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of provocative electrophysiology testing in postoperative congenital heart disease (CHD) patients on the management of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and clinical outcomes. METHODS This is a retrospective study including patients <18 years of age with surgery for CHD who had postoperative SVT between 2006 and 2017. Postoperative outcomes were compared between patients with and without postoperative electrophysiology testing using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher's exact test, Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS From 341 patients who had SVT after surgery for CHD, 65 (19%) had postoperative electrophysiology testing. There was no significant difference in baseline patient characteristics or surgical complexity between patients with and without electrophysiology testing. Patients with inducible SVT on electrophysiology testing were more likely to have recurrence of SVT prior to hospital discharge with an odds ratio 4.0 (95% confidence interval 1.3, 12.0). Patients who underwent postoperative electrophysiology testing had shorter intensive care unit (12 [6, 20] vs 16 [9, 32] days, HR 2.1 [95% CI 1.6, 2.8], P < .001) and hospital (25 [13, 38] vs 31 [18, 54] days, HR 1.8 [95% CI 1.4, 2.4], P < .001) length of stay. CONCLUSION Postoperative electrophysiology testing was associated with improved postoperative outcomes, likely related to the ability to predict recurrence of arrhythmia and tailored antiarrhythmic management.
Chapter 3 – Device Operation

A step-by-step presentation of the physics and operating characteristics of solar photovoltaic cells is presented in Chapter 3 including topics such as the relationship between bandgap energy and power conversion efficiency, detailed balance, photogenerated current density, open circuit voltage, free energy, hot carrier relaxation, and multiple junction cell architecture and its benefits.
Chapter 69 – Osteopetrosis

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on osteopetrosis, which results from a reduction in bone resorption relative to bone formation, leading to an accumulation of excessive amounts of bone. This imbalance leads to a thickening of the cortical region and a decrease in the size of the medullary space in the long bones, with sclerosis of the base of the skull and vertebral bodies. A reduced marrow space results in decrease in hematopoiesis even to the point of complete bone marrow failure. Extramedullary hematopoiesis occurs but is unable to compensate for the reduction in medullary blood cell production. A decrease in the caliber of the cranial nerve and vascular canals leads to nerve compression and vascular compromise. Dense, poorly vascularized bones are subject to fracture and, being vascularized, are predisposed to necrosis and infection. Osteopetrosis has been divided into a fatal infantile malignant form, Albers-Schrnberg Disease, and a milder adult form of osteopetrosis with long-term survival. Patients with osteopetrosis presenting at birth or in early infancy are usually referred to as having the severe, malignant form. The intermediate form of osteopetrosis is frequently “silent” at birth with few or no obvious clinical abnormalities. These patients tend to have fractures toward the end of the first decade and frequently have repetitive fractures with very minor trauma. Infections of the bone can be difficult to eradicate, especially if the mandible is involved. A subgroup of patients with the intermediate form of osteopetrosis have a carbonic anhydrase II deficiency and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. The adult forms of osteopetrosis are usually diagnosed symptomatically in the second decade, and they rarely significantly alter hematopoiesis. Defects in type I disease result in cranial nerve compression, but fractures are rare. In type II disease, fractures are common, but nerve compression is rare.
Implementing Microsoft Bookings for Liaison Librarian Appointments

In January 2020, liaison librarians at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) adopted the online appointment scheduling tool “Microsoft Bookings” for student research consultations. We ...
Repetitive Ozone Exposures and Evaluation of Pulmonary Inflammation and Remodeling in Diabetic Mouse Strains.

Background: Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that diabetes alters pulmonary responses to air pollutants like ozone (O3). The mechanism(s) underlying these associations and potential l...
Social Marketing: An Impact Strategy for School Libraries in Times of Change

Social marketing as a concept was developed in the 1970s to help improve overall society and to bring about positive social changes. The concept of social marketing was first presented by Zaltman, Kotler, and Kaufman, in their 1972 book, Creating Social Change. This paper addresses the role of social marketing with specific examples of how social marketing associated with educational research can be applied to school libraries. Social marketing is based on general marketing principles and strategies aimed at selling products and services to consumers but with the purpose of improving society by providing socially relevant information; changing existing actions; and improving individual or group behaviors, attitudes or beliefs; and reinforcing desired behaviors. Since the 1970s, social marketing has been used widely in the United States to promote a variety of pro-social behaviors including: reducing smoking, reducing drug abuse, preventing heart disease, promoting contraceptive use, and promoting organ donation. In recent years the U.S. government has used social marketing to encourage enrollment in the controversial Affordable Health Care program. These marketing approaches are theoretically encased in well-conceived educational and public information programs and management. This paper will provide examples of social marketing research methods and results as used by the presenter in school and public libraries youth services. The paper will likewise highlight resources helpful to school librarians in designing and implementing social marketing strategies.
Transition metal cation inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis esterase RV0045C.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence is highly metal-dependent with metal availability modulating the shift from the dormant to active states of M. tuberculosis infection. Rv0045c from M. tuberculosis is a proposed metabolic serine hydrolase whose folded stability is dependent on divalent metal concentration. Herein, we measured the divalent metal inhibition profile of the enzymatic activity of Rv0045c and found specific divalent transition metal cations (Cu2+ ≥ Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+ ) strongly inhibited its enzymatic activity. The metal cations bind allosterically, largely affecting values for kcat rather than KM . Removal of the artificial N-terminal 6xHis-tag did not change the metal-dependent inhibition, indicating that the allosteric inhibition site is native to Rv0045c. To isolate the site of this allosteric regulation in Rv0045c, the structures of Rv0045c were determined at 1.8 A and 2.0 A resolution in the presence and absence of Zn2+ with each structure containing a previously unresolved dynamic loop spanning the binding pocket. Through the combination of structural analysis with and without zinc and targeted mutagenesis, this metal-dependent inhibition was traced to multiple chelating residues (H202A/E204A) on a flexible loop, suggesting dynamic allosteric regulation of Rv0045c by divalent metals. Although serine hydrolases like Rv0045c are a large and diverse enzyme superfamily, this is the first structural confirmation of allosteric regulation of their enzymatic activity by divalent metals.
An Optical Parametric Amplifier for seeding femtosecond Fe:ZnSe lasers at 4.1 µm

Mid-infrared pulses with 200 nJ energy and 200 nm bandwidth were generated at 4.1 µm and 60 kHz repetition rate. The highly-stable LiGaS 2 -based Optical Parametric Amplifier was pumped by a turn-key, commercially available Yb:KGW laser.
Endovenous microfoam ablation of below knee superficial truncal veins is safe and effective in patients with prior saphenous treatment across a wide range of CEAP classes.

Abstract Objective Patients requiring thermal or chemical ablation of below knee (BK) truncal veins often have their proximal saphenous veins treated initially and comprise a study population with multilevel, refractory chronic venous insufficiency. The study objective was to assess the outcomes after microfoam ablation of BK truncal and tributary veins in patients with a history of proximal great saphenous vein (GSV) ablation or stripping. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. All the patients who had undergone endovenous chemical ablation with commercially manufactured polidocanol microfoam for symptomatic BK truncal vein reflux after a previous saphenous ablation or stripping were identified. The patients had undergone duplex ultrasound scanning 48 to 72 hours after the procedure; those who had not adhered to the recommended follow-up protocol were excluded. The demographic data, CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) classification, venous clinical severity score (VCSS), procedure details, adverse thrombotic events, and follow-up data were abstracted. Results Between April 2018 and April 2021, 201 limbs were treated for symptomatic superficial truncal vein reflux with microfoam ablation. Of the 201 limbs, 68 in 49 patients met the inclusion criteria for the present study. The veins treated included the BK GSV (n = 45) and small saphenous vein (n = 23). The median follow-up was 97 days (range, 33-457 days) for the entire cohort. Most patients (63%) had a preoperative CEAP classification of C4 to C6. The median preoperative VCSS was 12.5. All the limbs that had undergone microfoam ablation in this cohort had a previously treated proximal ipsilateral GSV, with either thermal ablation or stripping. The median postoperative VCSS after BK treatment decreased to 10 (P Conclusions Endovenous chemical ablation with commercially manufactured polidocanol microfoam of BK truncal veins is a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe, refractory chronic venous insufficiency and prior saphenous interventions. This technique results in excellent overall closure rates and symptomatic relief with low adverse venous thrombotic events, across a wide range of CEAP classes.
Effect of the spatial-temporal specific theca cell Cyp17 overexpression on the reproductive phenotype of the novel TC17 mouse.

Background In the ovarian follicle, the Theca Cells (TCs) have two main functions: preserving morphological integrity and, importantly, secreting steroid androgen hormones. TCs express the essential enzyme 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-desmolase (CYP17), which permits the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone into androgens. Dysregulation of CYP17 enzyme activity due to an intrinsic ovarian defect is hypothesized to be a cause of hyperandrogenism in women. Androgen excess is observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) resulting from excess endogenous androgen production, and in transgender males undergoing exogenous testosterone therapy after female sex assignment at birth. However, the molecular and morphological effects of Cyp17 overexpression and androgen excess on folliculogenesis is unknown. Methods In this work, seeking a comprehensive profiling of the local outcomes of the androgen excess in the ovary, we generated a transgenic mouse model (TC17) with doxycycline (Dox)-induced Cyp17 overexpression in a local and temporal manner. TC17 mice were obtained by a combination of the Tet-dependent expression system and the Cre/LoxP gene control system. Results Ovaries of Dox-treated TC17 mice overexpressed Cyp17 specifically in TCs, inducing high testosterone levels. Surprisingly, TC17 ovarian morphology resembled the human ovarian features of testosterone-treated transgender men (partially impaired folliculogenesis, hypertrophic or luteinized stromal cells, atretic follicles, and collapsed clusters). We additionally assessed TC17 fertility denoting a perturbation of the normal reproductive functions (e.g., low pregnancy rate and numbers of pups per litter). Finally, RNAseq analysis permitted us to identify dysregulated genes (Lhcgr, Fshr, Runx1) and pathways (Extra Cellular Matrix and Steroid Synthesis). Conclusions Our novel mouse model is a versatile tool to provide innovative insights into study the effects of Cyp17 overexpression and hyperandrogenism in the ovary.
The Utility of the Omentum Flap for Complex Intrathoracic Problems

Introduction:Omentum flap is a viable reconstructive option for complex chest wall and mediastinal reconstruction. The impact of vasoconstrictors and the laminar pattern of blood flow associated wi...
The ancillary effects of nanoparticles and their implications for nanomedicine.

Nanoparticles are often engineered as a scaffolding system to combine targeting, imaging and/or therapeutic moieties into a unitary agent. However, mostly overlooked, the nanomaterial itself interacts with biological systems exclusive of application-specific particle functionalization. This nanoparticle biointerface has been found to elicit specific biological effects, which we term ‘ancillary effects’. In this Review, we describe the current state of knowledge of nanobiology gleaned from existing studies of ancillary effects with the objectives to describe the potential of nanoparticles to modulate biological effects independently of any engineered function; evaluate how these effects might be relevant for nanomedicine design and functional considerations, particularly how they might be useful to inform clinical decision-making; identify potential clinical harm that arises from adverse nanoparticle interactions with biology; and, finally, highlight the current lack of knowledge in this area as both a barrier and an incentive to the further development of nanomedicine. Nanoparticles used for biomedical applications might elicit unexpected adverse or beneficial biological effects unrelated to the function for which they were designed. In this Review, the authors describe some of these ‘yin and yang’ ancillary effects, and discuss their implications for nanomedicine development.
Effect of low temperature exposure on the supercooling point of oriental cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattidae).

A system constructed with thermocouples and a conventional refrigerating bath was used to measure the freezing and melting points of various developmental stages of oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis L., after exposure to different pre-freezing temperature conditions. Low temperature exposure of the oriental cockroach was not consistently effective in enhancing the supercooling capacity at various stages. There were minimal differences among the various developmental stages, and freezing points ranged −6.85 to −11.18°C. A significant lowering of freezing point (P< 0.05) was observed only from the first and second nymphal stages; freezing points were below −11°C after exposure at 5°C after 2 wks at 10°C. The melting points were consistently around 0°C (range of −0.19 to 0.31 °C). The relatively limited supercooling capacity of oriental cockroaches suggest that freezing avoidance by microhabitat selection is a major mechanism for overwintering of this insect.
Verifying smart card applications: an ASM approach

Abstract. We present PROSECCO1, a formal model for security protocols of smart card applications, based on Abstract State Machines (ASM) [BS03],[Gur95], and a suitable method for verifying security properties of such protocols. The main part of this article describes the structure of the protocol ASM and all its relevant parts. Our modeling technique enables an attacker model exactly tailored to the application, instead of only an attacker similar to the Dolev-Yao model. We also introduce a proof technique for security properties of the protocols. Properties are proved in the KIV system using symbolic execution and invariants. Furthermore we describe a graphical notation based on UML diagrams that allows to specify the important parts of the application in a simple way. Our formal approach is exemplified with a small e-commerce application. We use an electronic wallet to demonstrate the ASM-based protocol model and we also show what the proof obligations of some of the security properties look like.
Separation of various B-cell subpopulations from mouse spleen: I. Depletion of B cells by rosetting with glutaraldehyde-fixed, anti-immunoglobulin-coupled red blood cells

Abstract Mouse spleen cells were depleted of immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing B cells by rosetting with glutaraldehyde-fixed, tannic acid-treated RBC coupled with antibody to mouse Ig (anti-Ig) and removing the rosetted cells by density gradient centrifugation. The method was routinely greater than 90% effective in removing B cells as assayed by the failure of anti-Ig rosette-depleted primed spleen cells to generate antibody-producing cells in vitro in response to specific antigen or of anti-Ig rosette-depleted nonprimed spleen cells to generate a polyclonal antibody response. T cells were not removed by the rosetting procedure as measured by helper T-cell activity. The greater effectiveness of the rosetting procedure in removing potential IgG-secreting, non-IgM-bearing B cells is shown relative to other commonly used B-cell depletion procedures. Because the RBC in the rosetting reagent are fixed with glutaraldehyde, the rosetting reagent is stable for many months. Such stability makes constantly available a convenient means for B-cell removal, as well as reducing consumption of antisera.
Improved purification of glicentin and its use in a PCSK2 cleavage assay (753.3)

Glucagon is cleaved from a larger precursor, proglucagon, by the proprotein convertase PCSK2. This enzyme is believed to cut multiple sites within proglucagon, and it is also able to cleave at least one site within the insulin precursor, proinsulin. By using glicentin, an intermediate in the processing of proglucagon to glucagon, as a substrate, we hope to learn more about the specificity of prohormone maturation. Our previous procedure for bacterial expression and purification of glicentin was difficult to reproduce because of sample overloading and poor peak shape. These problems were solved by performing solid-phase extraction on the bacterial extract, altering the anion-exchange chromatography gradient, and changing the type of bead used during reversed-phase chromatography. The purified glicentin was then incubated with PCSK2, as were proglucagon and proinsulin. Approximately 280 nM PCSK2 was incubated with 10 μM of each prohormone substrate at pH 5.0 for 2 hours at 37°C. Under the conditions used, a...
Enhanced Performance of Organic Solar Cells with Increased End Group Dipole Moment in Indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-Based Molecules

Four new molecular donors are reported using a D1-A-D2-A-D1 structure, where D1 is an oligiothiophene, A is a benzothiadiazole, and D2 is indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene. The resulting materials provide efficiencies as high as 6.5% in organic solar cells, without the use of solvent additives or thermal/solvent annealing. A strong correlation between the end group (D1-A) dipole moment and the fill factor (FF), mobility, and loss in the open-circuit voltage (VOC) is observed. Indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-fluorobenzothiadiazole-terthiophene (IDTT-FBT-3T) possesses the largest end group dipole moment, and in turn, has the highest mobility, FF, and power conversion efficiency in devices. It also has a similarly high VOC (0.95 V) to the other materials (0.93–0.99 V), despite possessing a much higher highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level.