cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Team Work is Legal Work: Using Firms to Develop the Case

Real client problems are rarely tidy. Real clients seek legal assistance when they face complex, three-dimensional challenges. This article suggests that professors in first-year lawyering courses can help students develop their problem solving skills by engaging them in collaborative case development. Using a simulation model, students work in teams to identify and fill case holes through fact development and legal research. This framework infuses the traditional hypothetical model with the dynamism of real life legal problem solving.
A preliminary study of the plasma concentrations of orally administered fluconazole in alpacas (Vicugna pacos).

Alpacas residing in the region endemic for Coccidioides spp. are susceptible to serious, disseminated coccidioidomycosis that may result in death. There is currently no oral antifungal dose recommendation for this species. We used a steady-state study design to assess the pharmacokinetics of oral generic fluconazole in alpacas dosed q 24 h for 14 days. Cohorts of 2-3 animals received fluconazole from 6 to 15 mg/kg/day, and pharmacokinetic analysis was performed after each group of animals in order to make dose adjustments for the next group. The final three animals were used as confirmation of our dose recommendation. The median Tmax was 7 h, and the median Cmax was 1.25 µg/ml per mg/kg dose. The mean dose-normalized 24-h AUC was 41.7 µg h/ml per mg/kg dose (CV = 72%). Based on these results, we recommend alpacas receive a starting dose of oral fluconazole at 10-15 mg/kg/day based on the fluconazole AUC in humans (313-625 µg h/ml). Testing to ascertain putative therapeutic plasma concentrations and monitoring of serum transaminases should be performed.
Why packing adjustment cannot stop leakage: Case study of a ball valve failing to seal after packing adjustment during fugitive emission as per ISO 15848–1

Abstract Valves are the main cause of fugitive emission in industrial plants, and leakage from valves occurs primarily from the stem. In this study, a 1″ ball valve in 10 bar of pressure was subjected to a fugitive emission test as per the ISO 15848–1 standard. This was the only valve required to be qualified for fugitive emission. The valve failed to provide the required sealing after 100 mechanical cycles, and excessive leakage occurred from the stem sealing. Consequently, the valve stem packing was tightened and the test was repeated. However, the leakage from the valve increased even after tightening the stem sealing through the gland. The valve was disassembled and the cause of the failure was identified as a deposit of graphite packing on the stem due to the roughness of the stem surface. After brainstorming with the valve manufacturer, the seven key causes of valve stem sealing failure during fugitive emission testing were identified, and the probability of each cause of failure was found. The question that remained was whether packing adjustment could reduce the probability of each kind of failure. We found that stem packing adjustment could mitigate three out of the seven factors that could cause valve stem leakage during the test. It was concluded that adjusting the gland could reduce the failure rates of stem emission 23.5% in the best and just 3% in the worst-case scenario.
The Transplant Procedure: Surgical Techniques and Complications

Contrary to the way transplant surgery is portrayed on popular television shows, transplantation in the real world is less glamorous, less exciting, and when done correctly, quite routine. While the success or failure of the surgical procedure rests primarily on the shoulders of the transplant surgeon, the ingredients necessary to create a positive outcome rely on a team of specialists from a variety of fields. Matching the right patient with the right organ is an art developed by years of experience. The decisions involved in offering kidneys to patients, while highly regulated, are influenced greatly by nephrologists, surgeons, transplant coordinators, and social workers. Organ allocation is more fully discussed in Chapter 5.
107: STAT3 interacts with Cyclophilin D in cancer cells to regulate the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been closely associated with cellular transformation, and promoting and sustaining tumorigenesis. Elevated ROS levels have been shown to trigger opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), which can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and ultimately, cell death. In cancer cells the MPTP appears to be less susceptible to opening, which may account for their ability to proliferate in a more oxidative environment. It is well established that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), is constitutively activated in numerous human cancers. Recent studies indicate that STAT3 is also present in the mitochondria where it controls the activity of the electron transport chain, the production of ROS, Ras transformation of cells and growth of breast cancer cells. We now provide evidence that in response to oxidative insult, mitochondrial STAT3 interacts with Cyclophilin D (CypD), the key regulator and activator of the MPTP. Treatment of a variety of cells with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) induces a rapid cycling of mitochondrial STAT3 where we have observed both its loss and re-accumulation in the mitochondria. We hypothesize that binding of CypD with STAT3 protects against oxidative stress induced cell death in cancer cells by preventing activation of the MPTP. We also provide evidence that mitochondrial STAT3 may play an important role in cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. Consistent with this possibility, we observe a robust and selective increase in mitochondrial STAT3 levels following chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer cells. While prior reports have focused on the nuclear function of STAT3 in mediating tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance, these results suggest a previously unappreciated and analogous role of STAT3 in the mitochondria.
ADJUNCTIVE TREATMENTS FOR SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS (SCHIZOPHRENIA)

Publisher Summary All psychosocial treatments for severe mental illnesses besides medication can be considered “adjunctive.” This chapter provides the distinct historical and philosophical perspective that surrounds the treatment of severe mental illnesses over the years. It discusses six evidence-based treatments that include Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Supported Employment, Family Psychoeducation, Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for persistent symptoms, and illness management and recovery (IMR), which is a treatment package that contains several strategies shown to improve illness self-management. It uses the term severe mental illness to describe a range of psychiatric disorders associated with significant functional disability, primarily including schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and treatment-refractory major depression. Individuals with schizophrenia have the ability to be active participants in their own treatment, and by doing so they can gain better control of their illness, improve their relationships, work, and lead more rewarding and fulfilling lives. The majority of adjunctive interventions that are shown to improve the course of schizophrenia are not implemented on a routine basis. The net result is that schizophrenia is not treated nearly as effectively as it could be. Continued problems in funding of psychosocial treatments have been a significant roadblock to the availability of effective treatment packages. With the continued improvement and evaluation of interventions for schizophrenia, coupled with increased success in implementation and dissemination, it is hoped that these empirically supported treatments will become more firmly integrated in the mental health system. In the near future, a major aspiration is that these interventions will shift in status from “adjunctive” to that of “standard practice” for individuals with schizophrenia.
The impact of thought self-leadership on individual goal performance: A cognitive perspective

The purpose of this paper is to apply an existing self‐leadership theory to goal‐setting theory in order to propose a mechanism to enhance the effectiveness of individual goal performance. An integral part of self‐leadership is the concept of thought self‐leadership (TSL). This perspective suggests that individuals can influence themselves by utilizing specific cognitive strategies. This article develops a cognitive explanation of how TSL can enhance individual goal performance.
Changing our culture.

Today, a great challenge of our profession is to envision how we will deliver exemplary neurosurgical care in the future. To accomplish this requires anticipating how economic, political, and societal influences will affect our ability to provide the highest quality of patient care in an arena that will look increasingly different from today's world of medicine. Already, our profession is battling a relentless assault as numerous sectors implement change that impacts us and our community every day. Surviving this requires an effective strategy that will involve significant cultural change. To accomplish this, neurosurgery must take an honest look inward and then commit to being the agents of positive cultural change. Such a path will not be easy but should reap important benefits for all of neurosurgery and our patients. Several practical and proven strategies can help us to realize the rewards of changing our culture. Vital to this process is understanding that effecting behavioral change will increase t...
Optimization of MM-wave distribution networks using silicon-based CPW

This paper describes work relating to the optimization of silicon-based, coplanar waveguide (CPW) air-bridge and bend discontinuities. Experimental results shown here verify that the return loss is improved by introducing a step-compensation into the CPW center conductor. The technique is demonstrated in the design of an asymmetric coplanar-strip Wilkinson power divider at 45 GHz.
The use of magnetic resonance imaging for studying female sexual function: A review

Many would agree that there are two quintessential sexual organs in the female: the clitoris and the brain. Using non-invasive techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators have gained insight into the mental and physical factors involved in female sexual function. Since only the external clitoral glans is easily accessible for direct measurement, the complete anatomy of the clitoris (including the internal components-paired corpora, crura, and bulbs) has only recently been described, with MRI providing the most sensitive way of distinguishing among the various soft tissue planes. Average sizes of clitoral structures and average distances between the clitoral complex and other pelvic landmarks have been measured. These measurements have been correlated with female sexual function: a longer distance between the clitoral complex and the vaginal lumen correlates with poorer sexual function, consistent with prior imaging studies. However, whether clitoral size influences function is debatable, so further studies are needed. Physiological investigations have demonstrated that female arousal disorder is unlikely to be due to inadequate genital engorgement. Some consider the brain to be the ultimate sexual organ, and several recent studies have used functional MRI (fMRI) to reveal sexual excitability in the brain. The normal sexual response requires deactivation of the frontal lobe and activation of the instinctual limbic system of the midbrain. As MR technology continues to improve, the mysteries of female sexuality will be further unraveled.
Directly Finite Modules of &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2&#x1d521;

In this article, we define and construct directly finite modules of &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2&#x1d521;, an (ℕ, max)-graded infinite dimensional analogue of &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2 that arises naturally in deep matrix Lie algebras and their equivalent formulations (&#x1d49e;*-algebras, Leavitt algebras). Constructing &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2&#x1d521; as the direct limit of , we use direct limits of modules to define directly finite modules, and give several results refining the direct limit construction. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions for when a -module is cyclic. This is then used to determine all directly finite and cyclic &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2&#x1d521;-modules. Lastly, we give explicit formulas for irreducible highest weight modules of &#x1d530;&#x1d529;2&#x1d521;.
Dimensions of Student Success in Online Learning

Online learning has become a popular method of education. This transition is not a trivial matter, and while faculty members may have support in making this transition in their teaching style and methods, they may know little about how to assist students in succeeding in a new learning environment. Similarly, students may not be prepared to tackle the new demands put upon them. This research sought to identify the characteristics and qualifications of successful online learners, by examining primary screening documents from institutions, mapping these dimensions to the literature base, and weaving personal research projects through the resulting information.
Distinct mechanisms of integrin binding by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis adhesins determine the phagocytic response of host macrophages.

Summary The enteropathogenic yersiniae express two outer membrane adhesins, invasin and YadA, that contribute to pathogenesis. While invasin binds directly to β1 integrin receptors with high affinity, YadA binds indirectly through extracellular matrix (ECM) components. In this study, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis inv and yadA mutants were used to investigate how these distinct binding mechanisms compare and potentially compete in activating signalling pathways and promoting bacterial uptake by host macrophages. The efficiency of adhesin-mediated phagocytic responses was found to be dependent on the relative expression of invasin and YadA on the bacterial surface as well as the expression of ECM proteins in the extracellular milieu. Under conditions of low concentrations of ECM, invasin was found to be the dominant adhesin, promoting high levels of phagocytosis coincident with robust and sustained activation of the protein tyrosine kinases Fak and Pyk2, phosphorylation of the adaptor molecule Cas and activation of the small GTPase Rac1. In the presence of higher concentrations of ECM, YadA became the dominant functional adhesin through its ability to engage integrin receptors via an ECM bridge. We propose a model whereby invasin promotes robust and prolonged activation of phagocytic signalling cascades by inducing a ‘high-affinity’ integrin conformation as well as integrin clustering. We postulate that YadA–ECM promotes phagocytosis through a more transient activation of signalling cascades that arises from integrin clustering in the context of a cross-linked fibrillar ECM network.
Agricultural Production and the Nutritional Status of Family Members in Tanzania

The paper studies the effect of crop output value and livestock ownership on the nutrition of children, adolescents and adults in agricultural households. Using anthropometric data to measure nutri...
Testing sea‐level rise impacts in tidal wetlands: a novel in situ approach

Summary Predictions of coastal wetland loss depend on reliable estimations of sea-level rise (SLR) and biological feedbacks to geomorphology, yet it is difficult to manipulate SLR to generate empirical data of impacts on wetland processes. Typically, data have been generated through small-scale mesocosm experiments, an approach that may not fully capture biological responses to SLR. Using passive and active weirs, we manipulated inundation depths and times in situ and at larger spatial scales than possible in mesocosms. In June 2013, we simulated three flooding scenarios (low, intermediate and high) using passive weirs designed to increase mean low water (MLW) by approximately 8–9, 12–13 and 16–18 cm, respectively, relative to controls. In March 2014, we also conducted a proof-of-concept exercise to demonstrate that active weirs equipped with a pump can increase both MLW and mean high water (MHW), thereby achieving changes in both inundation depth and inundation time. When compared to controls for the three flooding scenarios, passive weirs increased MLW in the low marsh by 9.1 ± 0.8, 11.8 ± 1.1 and 15.65 ± 0.8 cm, respectively, and in the high marsh by 6.3 ± 3.0, 17.0 ± 4.6 and 8.3 ± 2.5 cm, respectively. Passive weirs increased inundation time in low marsh by 0.4 ± 0.0 hd−1 and 2.9 ± 0.0 hd−1 to 24 hd−1 in both weirs for low and intermediate flooding, respectively, but not for high flooding where the control and weirs were both inundated 24 hd−1. At greater elevations, however, passive weirs increased inundation time in high marsh by 0.9 ± 2.2, 5.1 ± 4.1 and 4.0 ± 0 hd−1, respectively. Weirs slowed drainage rates by 5.6 ± 1.4, 3.8 ± 1.4 and 6.1 ± 0.1 cmh−1, respectively. The active weir increased MLW by 25.4 cm, MHW by 10.5 cm and inundation time by 10.7 hd−1 and slowed the drainage rate by 9.6 cmh−1. Weirs can be used to increase inundation depths and times to study SLR impacts on tidal wetlands, and are advantageous because they minimize disturbance; allow for larger-scale studies within tidal wetlands; and can be maintained at little cost and effort, thereby providing more robust estimates of SLR impacts on tidal wetland processes.
Embodied evolution: embodying an evolutionary algorithm in a population of robots

We introduce Embodied Evolution (EE) as a methodology for the automatic design of robotic controllers. EE is an evolutionary robotics (ER) technique that avoids the pitfalls of the simulate-and-transfer method, allows the speed-up of evaluation time by utilizing parallelism, and is particularly suited to future work on multi-agent behaviors. In EE, an evolutionary algorithm is distributed amongst and embodied within a population of physical robots that reproduce with one another while situated in the task environment. We have built a population of eight robots and successfully implemented our first experiments. The controllers evolved by EE compare favorably to hand-designed solutions for a simple task. We detail our methodology, report our initial results, and discuss the application of EE to more advanced and distributed robotics tasks.
Carbon storage potential by four macrophytes as affected by planting diversity in a created wetland.

Wetland creation has become a commonplace method for mitigating the loss of natural wetlands. Often mitigation projects fail to restore ecosystem services of the impacted natural wetlands. One of the key ecosystem services of newly created wetlands is carbon accumulation/sequestration, but little is known about how planting diversity (PD) affects the ability of herbaceous wetland plants to store carbon in newly created wetlands. Most mitigation projects involve a planting regime, but PD, which may be critical in establishing biologically diverse and ecologically functioning wetlands, is seldom required. Using a set of 34 mesocosms (∼1 m(2) each), we investigated the effects of planting diversity on carbon storage potential of four native wetland plant species that are commonly planted in created mitigation wetlands in Virginia - Carex vulpinoidea, Eleocharis obtusa, Juncus effusus, and Mimulus ringens. The plants were grown under the four distinctive PD treatments [i.e., monoculture (PD 1) through four different species mixture (PD 4)]. Plant biomass was harvested after two growing seasons and analyzed for tissue carbon content. Competition values (CV) were calculated to understand how the PD treatment affected the competitive ability of plants relative to their biomass production and thus carbon storage potentials. Aboveground biomass ranged from 988 g/m(2) - 1515 g/m(2), being greatest in monocultures, but only when compared to the most diverse mixture (p = 0.021). However, carbon storage potential estimates per mesocosm ranged between 344 g C/m(2) in the most diverse mesocosms (PD 4) to 610 g C/m(2) in monoculture ones with no significant difference (p = 0.089). CV of E. obtusa and C. vulpinoidea showed a declining trend when grown in the most diverse mixtures but J. effusus and M. ringens displayed no difference across the PD gradient (p = 0.910). In monocultures, both M. ringens, and J. effusus appeared to store carbon as biomass more effectively than the other species, suggesting that the choice of plant species may play an important role in facilitating the development of carbon accumulation/storage in created wetlands. Plant community diversity provides many ecosystem services (e.g., habitat and floristic quality) other than carbon storage function. Thus, a further study is needed that will focus on investigating how other design elements such as microtopography and hydrologic connectivity may interact with PD in terms of enhancing the carbon storage potential of newly created wetlands.
Ravel-XL: a hardware accelerator for assigned-delay compiled-code logic gate simulation

We describe the design of Ravel-XL, a hardware accelerator for assigned-delay compiled-code logic gate simulation. After a brief review of the underlying Ravel simulation algorithm, we describe the major factors that influenced the hardware design, particularly the interaction between the instruction execution and operand bandwidth requirements. The initial CMOS VLSI implementation of the accelerator contains a 2K word data cache, occupies approximately 1.9 cm/sup 2/ of die area with 256 pins and approximately 900,000 transistors. Simulation results predicts operation at a clock rate of 33 MHz. This provides a speedup of about 50 over the software implementation of Ravel, about 50 over a compiled event-driven simulator, and about 500 over an interpreted event-driven simulator. We conclude with some planned design improvements that will allow an approximate doubling of the clock rate. >
Progress and pitfalls: bipolar molecular linkage studies

This paper reviews the history of molecular genetic linkage studies of bipolar disorder. The topic is introduced with a brief discussion of various genetic concepts, including linkage, lod scores and non-parametric statistics. It is emphasized that criteria for declaring linkage must include independent confirmation by a second group of investigators. Given that the inherited susceptibility for bipolar disorder is most likely explained by multiple genes of small effect, simulations indicate that universal confirmation of valid linkages cannot be expected. With this background, several valid linkages of BP disorder to genomic regions are reviewed. These valid linkages include 18p11, 18q22, 21q21, Xq26 and 4pter. The issue of anticipation and expanding triplet repeats is discussed. Finally, there is a brief section on recommendations for future genetic linkage studies of bipolar disorder.
Treatment Strategies for the Prevention of Heart Failure

With the astounding morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure (HF), preventive approaches have been explored. Controlling hypertension to prevent HF is well-established, especially with sodium restriction and thiazide-based antihypertensive therapies showing potential advantages. Control of dyslipidemia with aggressive statin therapy is particularly beneficial in preventing HF in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. The HOPE study also established the benefit of ACE inhibitors in the prevention of HF in high-risk subjects. Meanwhile old data supporting tight glycemic control in preventing HF have not been confirmed, suggesting the complexity of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Avoiding tobacco use and other known cardiotoxins are likely helpful. While there has been substantial development in identifying biomarkers predicting future development of HF, therapeutic interdiction guided by biomarker levels have yet to be established, even though it offers hope in modulating the natural history of the development of HF in at-risk individuals.
Whisper: analysis and design for a community event service

We present an analysis of what we call the community event space, looking at how social events are planned and organized. Based on a series of interviews, field studies, and a focus group, we introduce a framework outlining six phases of events: proposition, polling, participation, parting, perpetuation, and persuasion. We also present the design of Whisper, a web-based event service that addresses the planning and organizational challenges identified in this framework. This analysis and design serves as a blueprint for existing and future community event services.
The histone peptide H4 71-94 alone is more effective than a cocktail of peptide epitopes in controlling lupus: immunoregulatory mechanisms.

Tolerance therapy with nucleosomal histone peptides H471–94, H416–39, or H1′22–42 controls disease in lupus-prone SNF1 mice. It would be clinically important to determine whether a cocktail of the above epitopes would be superior. Herein, we found that compared with cocktail peptides, H471–94 monotherapy more effectively delayed nephritis onset, prolonged lifespan, diminished immunoglobulin G autoantibody levels, reduced autoantigen-specific Th1 and Th17 responses and frequency of TFH cells in spleen and the helper ability of autoimmune T cells to B cells, by inducing potent CD8 Treg cells. H471–94 therapy was superior in “tolerance spreading,” suppressing responses to other autoepitopes, nucleosomes, and ribonucleoprotein. We also developed an in vitro assay for therapeutic peptides (potentially in humans), which showed that H471–94, without exogenous transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, was efficient in inducing stable CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells by decreasing interleukin 6 and increasing TGF-β production by dendritic cells that induced ALK5-dependent Smad-3 phosphorylation (TGF-β signal) in target autoimmune CD4+ T cells.
Beam halo definitions based upon moments of the particle distribution

Two different parameters for the quantitative description of beam halo are discussed. Both are based on moments of the particle distribution and represent a convenient and model-independent method for quantifying the magnitude of beam halo observed in either spatial or phase-space projections. One parameter is a measure of spatial profile of the beam and has been defined by Wangler and Crandall previously. The current authors defined a new parameter using kinematic invariants to quantify halo formation in 2D phase space. Here we expand the development and present detailed numerical results. Although the spatial-profile parameter and the phase-space halo parameter both reduce to the same value when the distribution has the elliptical symmetry, in general these parameters are not equal. Halo in the 1D spatial profiles is relatively easily measured, but is variable as the beam distribution evolves and can hide as it rotates in phase space. The 2D phase-space halo is more difficult to measure, but it varies more smoothly as the halo evolves. It provides a more reliable characterization of the halo as an intrinsic property of the beam.
Surface Impedance of Superconducting Tin, Mercury, and Lead at 9200 Mc/Sec.

Surface resistance and the change of surface reactance of three superconducting metals (Sn, Hg, Pb) have been measured. The results were evaluated in terms of the penetration depth $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ of Londons' theory (Figs. 6, 8) and the limiting values of $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ for $T=0$ were obtained (Table I).
Ridge-based retinal image registration algorithm involving OCT fundus images

This paper proposes an algorithm for retinal image registration involving OCT fundus images (OFIs). The first application of the algorithm is to register OFIs with color fundus photographs; such registration between multimodal retinal images can help correlate features across imaging modalities, which is important for both clinical and research purposes. The second application is to perform the montage of several OFIs, which allows us to construct 3D OCT images over a large field of view out of separate OCT datasets. We use blood vessel ridges as registration features. The brute force search and an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm are employed for image pair registration. Global alignment to minimize the distance between matching pixel pairs is used to obtain the montage of OFIs. Quality of OFIs is the big limitation factor of the registration algorithm. In the first experiment, the effect of manual OFI enhancement on registration was evaluated for the affine model on 11 image pairs from diseased eyes. The average root mean square error (RMSE) decreases from 58 μm to 40 μm. This indicates that the registration algorithm is robust to manual enhancement. In the second experiment for the montage of OFIs, the algorithm was tested on 6 sets from healthy eyes and 6 sets from diseased eyes, each set having 8 partially overlapping SD-OCT images. Visual evaluation showed that the montage performance was acceptable for normal cases, and not good for abnormal cases due to low visibility of blood vessels. The average RMSE for a typical montage case from a healthy eye is 2.3 pixels (69 μm).
Of parts and relationships: an unending quest

Systems biology is a field which focuses on the interpretation of large, diverse sets of biological measurements in order to elucidate the complex mechanisms that underly important and (seemingly simple) macroscopic phenotypes. The problem at hand is hierarchical in nature, with the hierarchy spanning many levels. Each of these levels can be thought of as comprising multiple active agents that are diverse in their nature (e.g. genes, proteins, pathways, organelles, etc) and also in their behavior. It is within this setting that one seeks to build an integrated view of the system under study, as soon as the relevant units and the complex inter- and intra-level relationships in which these units participate have been characterized.Implicit in the above outline are the assumptions that a) a complete and presumably correct list of parts exists for the system that is being studied; and, b) most, if not all, of the relevant relationships involving these parts are available.Through the research work of my group and of others, there is increasing evidence that the situation is likely to be more complicated than initially estimated, and that one should be watchful when it comes to making or relying on the above two assumptions. In fact, more surprising and currently undiscovered things may be lurking in the ?genomics? box: support for this possibility will be provided through the brief summaries of recent advances that we have made in diverse areas such as association discovery, gene discovery, horizontal gene transfer and RNA interference. Throughout this quest, repositories of biological information will continue to remain our guiding light, whereas time-honored computational methods will continue to be the mainstay of our arsenal.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, pyridoxine, and the work place

Carpal tunnel syndrome has become a major source of work-related impairment. Recent studies have suggested pyridoxine deficiency may be a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, but all studies on this relationship have been flawed by lack of scientific design. Given the available evidence, pyridoxine is not likely to be a significant cause of carpal tunnel syndrome in the work place. Ergonomic measures are more likely to be effective than pyridoxine in reducing the incidence and cost of carpal tunnel syndrome in the work place.
Correlation between an email based board review program and American Board of Pediatrics General Pediatrics Certifying Examination scores.

Objective: To investigate the impact of a weekly email based board review course on individual resident performance on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) General Pediatrics Certifying Examination for pediatric residents and, specifically, residents with low ABP In-training Examination (ITE) scores. Methods: Weekly board-type questions were emailed to all pediatric residents from 2004_2007. Responses to board-type questions were tracked, recorded, and correlated with ITE scores and ABP General Pediatrics Certifying Examination Scores. Results: With regard to total number of questions answered, only total number of questions answered correctly had a significant positive correlation with standard board scores (n_71, r_ 0.24, p_0.047). For ‘‘at risk’’ residents with ITE scores5200 (n_21), number of questions answered in PL 3 year (r_0.51, p_0.018) and number of questions answered correctly for all PL years (r_0.59, p_0.005) had significant positive correlations with standard board scores. Conclusions: Participating regularly in the email-based board review course, answering board style questions, and answering correctly to board style questions were associated with higher standard board scores. This benefit existed for all but was especially prominent among those with poor in-training examination scores. Keywords: Pediatrics, Board Review, Board Certification Exam, Email
Criminological theory and criminal justice policy: In search of pedagogical connections

In most criminal justice curricula, criminology is the major course that deals with abstract issues. A reciprocal relationship exists between criminology and other criminal justice courses. When dealing with crime causation theory, criminology has implications for policy formulation. In the author's experience, students seem unaware of these connections or are unable to articulate them. Recommendations for illustrating this connection include incorporating a policy orientation into the criminology course, raising relevant theoretical concerns in other criminal justice courses and developing a course that specifically connects theory with policy.
Mercury in streams at Grand Portage National Monument (Minnesota, USA): assessment of ecosystem sensitivity and ecological risk

Mercury (Hg) in water, sediment, soils, seston, and biota were quantified for three streams in the Grand Portage National Monument (GRPO) in far northeastern Minnesota to assess ecosystem contamination and the potential for harmful exposure of piscivorous fish, wildlife, and humans to methylmercury (MeHg). Concentrations of total Hg in water, sediment, and soil were typical of those in forest ecosystems within the region, whereas MeHg concentrations and percent MeHg in these ecosystem components were markedly higher than values reported elsewhere in the western Great Lakes Region. Soils and sediment were Hg-enriched, containing approximately 4-fold more total Hg per unit of organic matter. We hypothesized that localized Hg enrichment was due in part to anthropogenic pollution associated with historic fur-trading activity. Bottom-up forcing of bioaccumulation was evidenced by MeHg concentrations in larval dragonflies, which were near the maxima for dragonflies sampled concurrently from five other national park units in the region. Despite its semi-remote location, GRPO is a Hg-sensitive landscape in which MeHg is produced and bioaccumulated in aquatic food webs to concentrations that pose ecological risks to MeHg-sensitive piscivores, including predatory fish, belted kingfisher, and mink.
2260 AN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF ANESTHETIC TIMES FOR URINARY STONES IN PREGNANT WOMEN

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Management options for urolithiasis during pregnancy include trial of passage, temporizing ureteral stent or nephrostomy tube, and definitive treatment with ureteroscopy. Prior research suggests children can suffer adverse long term effects from exposure to medications used for general anesthesia. Specifically, anesthesia exposure greater than two hours or greater than two separate anesthesia exposures prior to the age of four years has been associated with the development of learning disabilities. The goal of this study is to compare the potential anesthesia risk to the fetus when temporizing stents are placed compared to definitive management with ureteroscopy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with urolithiasis during pregnancy who underwent surgical intervention from 1997 to 2012. Patients were evaluated for a confirmed stone event, defined as a stone visualized on imaging or at surgery, along with management strategy including duration and frequency of anesthetic events. RESULTS: We identified 26 women with urolithiasis during pregnancy who met our inclusion criteria, of which 15 (58%) were managed with stents and 11 (42%) underwent ureteroscopic intervention. In the stent group 6 (40%) required multiple stent exchanges for a mean of 1.47 (range 1-3) anesthetic events and median anesthetic time of 70 minutes (range 29-208 min). Seven (47%) of the women managed with ureteral stent exchange were induced prior to term due to inability to tolerate the stent. Overall the ureteroscopy group had a mean of 1.18 anesthetic events (range 1-2) and 80 minutes (range 37-126 min) of anesthetic exposure. Two (18%) required two procedures either for infection or narrow ureter. None were induced early for pain. Comparing the two groups, there was no significant difference in number of events (p 0.208) or total anesthetic time (p 0.503). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopic intervention appears safe and effective in treating acute stone events with equivalent if not less anesthetic exposure to the fetus compared to temporizing ureteral stents. Furthermore, early induction of labor due to pain is not a concern with ureteroscopy, as it has been shown to be with ureteral stenting. Our study provides further support to the role of definitive stone management instead of temporizing measures during pregnancy.
Functional human insulin-degrading enzyme can be expressed in bacteria.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) has been shown to degrade a number of biologically important peptides, including insulin and the amyloid-beta protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease. However, lack of a facile method to generate purified enzyme and related mutants has made it difficult to study the precise role of IDE in the clearance of these peptides. Therefore, we determined whether recombinant wild-type and mutant human IDEs can be overexpressed as functional enzymes in bacteria. Three vectors carrying cDNAs encoding N-terminally polyhistidine-tagged recombinant IDEs were constructed, and the proteins expressed in Escherichia coli were purified by metal affinity chromatography (final yield approximately 8 mg per liter of culture). The recombinant IDEs, like the endogenous mammalian enzyme, migrate with 110-kDa apparent molecular masses in SDS-polyacrylamide gels and as a approximately 200-kDa species in gel filtration. Further analysis by native PAGE indicates that IDE can form multimers of different complexities. The wild-type recombinant endopeptidase degrades insulin with an efficiency similar to that of the enzyme purified from mammalian tissues. Purified IDEs are stable at 4 degrees C for at least 1 month. Purified recombinant protein was used to raise specific polyclonal antibodies that can immunoprecipitate native mammalian IDE. Thus, the procedure described allows the rapid production of large amounts of purified IDE and demonstrates that IDE can be produced in an active form in the absence of other potential interacting mammalian proteins.
Top issues in providing successful undergraduate research experiences

Undergraduate research is becoming increasingly common in colleges and universities, and, to support this, there is a need to have best practices and forums for promoting exchange of ideas. In particular, a working group at a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites PI's meeting identified four important issues in undergraduate research: 1) how to design a good research project, 2) how to prepare students for research, 3) how to measure outcomes of undergraduate research and 4) incentives for undergraduates to publish as result of their participation in research. The panelists have all served as PIs or Co-PIs on NSF REU projects in computing and have mentored many undergraduates in a large variety of research projects both in REU settings as well as during the regular academic year. They will each address one of the issues identified above, and share their expertise in addressing the issue, providing solid guidance to anyone interested in promoting undergraduate research. A significant amount of time will be set aside for audience participation and discussion.
Genomic and network analysis to study the origin of ovarian cancer

Characterizing the origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer has significant practical importance for advancing biological knowledge and improving clinical treatments. Rapid advances in molecular profiling technologies and machine learning based data analytics provide new opportunities to investigate this important question using data-driven approaches at the molecular and network levels. We now report novel analytic results in assessing the origin of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Using genome-wide gene expression data and effective machine learning approaches, we design proper statistical significance tests and perform both genomic and network analyses to discriminate among three possible origins. The experimental results are consistent with recent scientific hypothesis and independent findings.
An Extremely Sensitive in Vitro Model for Elucidating Structure-Activity Relationships of Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analogs*

An improved rat anterior pituitary primary cell culture technique for studying GH-releasing activity of human pancreatic GH-releasing factor (hpGRF) and its analogs is described. Male pituitaries, dispersed by a combination of trypsin digestion and mechanical agitation, were plated at a density of 200,000 cells per well and cultured for 4 days. The attached cells were then stimulated with synthetic hpGRF which was comprised of the first 29 residues of the larger, originally isolated forms and which was amidated at the C-terminal (hpGRF-29). Analogs of hpGRF-29 which were modified in positions 1, 2, 3, or 7, and other secretagogues were similarly tested. Medium was collected after 3 h, and secreted hormone was measured by RIA. The cells were extremely sensitive to hpGRF-29 stimulation, and this effect was specific. The minimal effective dose of hpGRF-29 was an unprecedented 0.4 × 10–15 M. No stimulation of LH, FSH, or PRL by hpGRF-29 was observed. Bombesin and vasoactive intestinal peptide were ineffective...
Methanol decomposition fuel processor for portable power applications

Abstract A new fuel processor approach for portable fuel cell power sources significantly improves upon microreformers by overcoming the difficulties with heat deficiencies and contaminants in the product hydrogen. Instead of reforming, the processor uses methanol decomposition to enable the byproduct, carbon monoxide (CO), to be used as the heat source. A hydrogen permselective membrane segregates the CO for combustion in an integrated burner, maximizes the decomposition conversion, and provides pure hydrogen for a fuel cell. Discharging the CO-rich retentate through an ejector to draw combustion air into the burner greatly simplifies the system. High and stable hydrogen yields are attained with optimized catalysts and fuel compositions. The resultant simple, efficient, and self-heating processor produces 85% of the hydrogen content of the fuel. A 20 W autonomous power source based on this novel fuel processor demonstrates a fuel energy density >1.5 Wh g−1(electrical), nearly twice as high as microreformer power sources.
Molecular approach to analyzing the human 5p deletion syndrome, cri du chat

DNA unique or low-copy fragments were isolated from a genomic DNA library specific for the short (p) arm of human chromosome 5. These chromosome 5p-specific DNA fragments were used to analyze, by Southern blot experiments, somatic cell hybrids that retained either a normal chromosome 5 homolog or a homolog with a partial deletion of 5p, which was derived from either of two persons with the common human deletion syndrome, cri du chat or 5p− syndrome. In these studies, two classes of DNA fragments were identified, those located outside the region deleted in the persons with cri du chat and those located within the deleted region. This latter class of DNA probes will help to define, at the molecular level, a region of 5p that is critical in producing the phenotype associated with the cri du chat syndrome.
Time budgets of grassland herbivores: body size similarities

The summer (May–September) time budgets of 14 generalist herbivore species living in the same grassland environment are presented in terms of various component activities (e.g., walking, feeding, resting, etc.). All the species exhibit a decrease in activity as average daily air temperature increases. Greater body size and variety of habitats used by a species lead to increased time spent active. Use of a greater variety of habitats may increase activity time because different habitats provide suitable thermal conditions for activity at different times of the day. Body size affects sn herbivore's thermal balance through metabolism, body surface area and thermal inertia. The time spent feeding, exclusive of time spent searching for foods, is less for large than small herbivores. This may arise because large species must spend more time walking in the search for food to satisfy their energy requirements. The observed feeding time differences for species composing a common trophic level in a single environment may help to explain their diet choice because feeding time constrains the variety of foods an herbivore can select. Diet differences, in turn, can explain the potential competition for food if food is in short supply.
Regulation of c-fos expression and TGF-β production by gonadal and adrenal androgens in normal human osteoblastic cells

Although the role of estrogens in bone formation is becoming clarified, the function of androgens in this process remains to be defined. Consequently, we have explored the mechanism of action for both gonadal and adrenal androgens in normal human osteoblastic (hOB) cells, which are responsible for the synthesis and mineralization of bone. Changes in the steady-state mRNA levels for two nuclear proto-oncogenes (c-fos and c-jun) and one cytokine (TGF-beta 1) were quantified in response to short (30 min) and long (24-48 h) treatments of these cells with physiologic concentrations of steroids. In addition, the levels of TGF-beta protein in the hOB cells conditioned-media were measured using a bioassay. The results indicated that neither 10 nM dihydrotestosterone, 10-20 nM testosterone, nor 10-100 nM androstenedione had a significant effect on the steady-state levels of c-fos, c-jun, or TGF-beta 1 mRNAs. Interestingly, 10-1000 nM dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 1-10 microM DHEA-sulfate rapidly reduced the steady-state level of c-fos mRNA by 60-80% in a dose-dependent manner within 30 min. In contrast, neither of these adrenal steroids had a significant effect on the message levels for c-jun or TGF-beta 1. Surprisingly, although TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels remained unchanged, the total amount of TGF-beta activity in the hOB cell conditioned-media increased 2-5-fold in response to 24-48 h treatments of the cells with gonadal or adrenal androgens. This increase in TGF-beta activity by DHEA-sulfate was both time- and dose-dependent, and was not blocked by cotreatment with the specific aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (1 microM). Immunoprecipitations of the hOB cell conditioned-media with isoform-specific TGF-beta neutralizing-antibodies indicated that TGF-beta 2 was predominantly produced by the cells in response to DHEA-sulfate treatment. These results demonstrate that differences exist between the actions of estrogens and androgens on normal human osteoblasts with regard to the regulation of c-fos expression and TGF-beta production. Moreover, these data suggest that DHEA and DHEA-sulfate may play a distinct role in the regulation of human osteoblast function via the rapid repression of c-fos message levels and the slower increase in TGF-beta 2 protein levels.