cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Review of Mullerian Anomalies and Their Urologic Associations.

Abstract Structural anomalies of the female reproductive tract, known as Mullerian anomalies, can occur in isolation or in association with anomalies of other organ systems. Due to shared embryology, the most common association in up to 40% of patients is with renal, ureteral, and bladder anomalies. Affected girls can have a wide range of genitourinary symptoms with urologists playing an integral role in their diagnosis and treatment. To facilitate the recognition and management of these conditions, we provide a review of Mullerian anomalies including the embryology, classifications, syndromes, evaluation, and treatments with attention to their urologic applicability.
A Tutorial Introduction to Inverse Problems in Magnetic Resonance

There has been a tremendous increase in applications of the inverse problem framework to parameter estimation in magnetic resonance. Attempting to capture both the basics of this formalism and modern developments would require an article of inordinate length. Therefore, in the following, we provide basic material as a practical introduction to the topic and an entree to the literature. First, we describe the formulation of linear and nonlinear inverse problems, with an emphasis on signal equations arising in magnetic resonance. We then describe the Fredholm equation of the first kind as a paradigm for these problems. This is followed by much more detailed considerations for determining solutions in the linear case, including central concepts such as condition number, regularization, and stability. Solution methods for nonlinear inverse problems are described next, followed by a treatment of their stability and regularization. Finally, we provide an introduction to compressed sensing, with signal reconstruction formulated as the solution to an inverse problem, making use of much of the previous material. Throughout, the emphasis is on outlines of the theory and on numerical examples, rather than on mathematical rigor and completeness.
Father-daughter incest: a clinical view from the corrections field.

Effective handling of court cases of incest involving a child calls for an understanding of the dynamics of the child's family. This paper outlines characteristics of the parents involved. Language: en
Perioperative Care of the Complex Spine and Scoliosis Surgery Patient

Modern spinal surgery can range from relatively simple ambulatory micro-discectomy to complex front and back approaches to deformity correction and spine fusion. Patients are best served using a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, perioperative medical specialists, ENT surgeons, subspecialty trained anesthesiologists, nursing, and physical therapy. Complications are an intrinsic reality of complex modern spine surgery. Complications are observed more commonly as the complexity of the surgery is increased as well as in patients with preoperative medical comorbidities. The cardiopulmonary complications are the most common necessitating careful preoperative evaluation and optimization. Intra-operative neurologic monitoring has become the standard of care and has benefitted from recent technological advances such as the ability to monitor motor evoked potentials. Specialized anesthetic approaches including total intravenous anesthesia may improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the monitoring. Postoperative vision loss occurs infrequently following complex and prolonged spinal procedures. The most common cause is ischemic optic neuropathy. The etiology of postoperative ION at present is unknown and unpredictable. However, several possible pathogenic factors have been suggested including duration in the prone position, blood loss, anemia, hypotension, abnormal optic nerve blood supply, low cup-to-disc ratio, use of vasopressors, excessive crystalloid infusion, and patient comorbidities; particularly smoking, diabetes, and vascular disease. The ASA practice advisory on POVL recommends the use of both colloids and crystalloids to maintain intravascular volume in spine surgery patients who have substantial blood loss. Since ION occurs in the absence of vascular injury to other critical organs and in cases where neither hypotension or anemia are reported, optic nerve blood supply may be uniquely vulnerable to hemodynamic perturbances in the prone position. Blood management may include preoperative autologous donation. Antifibrinolytic agents have been demonstrated to be a useful adjunct in reducing peri-operative blood loss. Pain management can be a challenging problem for the complex spine patient. Patient controlled intravenous analgesia is associated with higher patient satisfaction. Specialized pain management teams will often provide for better resource and pain management utilization.
Cellulose hydrolysis using ionic liquids and inorganic acids under dilute conditions: morphological comparison of nanocellulose

The preparation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from cellulose extracted from cotton gin motes (CGM) using an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [BMIm]Cl) under dilute conditions is reported. The concurrent process involves minimal swelling of cellulose with an ionic liquid and hydrolysis of the cellulose initiated by the addition of either phosphoric (H3PO4), hydrochloric (HCl), or sulfuric (H2SO4) acid. The obtained nanocrystals had similar physical properties (e.g. crystallinity) to the counterparts prepared under conventional conditions and exhibited superior thermal properties for sulfate CNCs. Additionally, the obtained CNCs had low surface functionalization, yet were colloidally stable for >90 days, which is a desirable trait for post-functionalization of CNCs. This process represents a general strategy utilizing dilute ionic liquids in the preparation of nanocellulose under mildly acidic conditions.
Corrigendum to: “Nonlocal dispersal equations with almost periodic dependence. I. Principal spectral theory” [J. Differ. Equ. 295 (2021) 1–38]

Abstract This note is to fix some gaps in the proofs of some of the results in our paper [M.A. Onyido, W. Shen, J. Differ. Equ. 295 (2021) 1–38].
An overview of photovoltaics for space applications

Significant progress in both silicon and GaAs technology for photovoltaic applications has been made. As a result 50 micron silicon cells, incorporating all the recent processing advancements, have been produced which deliver over 19 mW/sq cm initial power. These cells also display impressive performance after exposure to 1 MeV electrons, delivering 15 mW/sq cm after a fluence of 1 x 10 to the 15th e/sq cm. GaAlAs cells are now being made which have conversion efficiencies and radiation resistance superior to the best silicon solar cells. A discussion of the work that led to this situation, as well as an attempt to project further progress in both silicon and GaAs technology is given.
Use of Health‐Related, Quality‐of‐Life Metrics to Predict Mortality and Hospitalizations in Community‐Dwelling Seniors

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores in a primary care population can be used as a predictor of future hospital utilization and mortality. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study measuring Short Form 12 (SF-12) scores obtained using a mailed survey. SF-12 scores, age, and a comorbidity score were used to predict hospitalization and mortality rate using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards during the ensuing 28-month period for elderly patients. SETTING: Intermountain Health Care, a large integrated-delivery network serving a population of more than 150,000 seniors. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were senior patients who had one or more chronic diseases, were community dwelling, and were initially treated in primary care clinics. MEASUREMENTS: SF-12 survey Version 1. RESULTS: Seven thousand seventy-six surveys were sent to eligible participants; 3,042 (43%) were returned. Of the returned surveys, 2,166 (71%) were complete and scoreable. For the respondent group, a multivariable analysis demonstrated that older age, male sex, higher comorbidity score, and lower mental and physical summary measures of SF-12 predicted higher mortality and hospitalization. On average, nonresponders were older and had higher comorbidity scores and mortality rates than responders. CONCLUSION: The SF-12 survey provided additional predictive ability for future hospitalizations and mortality. Such predictive ability might facilitate preemptive interventions that would change the course of disease in this segment of the population. However, nonresponder bias may limit the utility of mailed SF-12 surveys in certain populations.
Using Architectural Models at Runtime: Research Challenges

One crucial aspect of high quality software engineering is the development of a well- defined software architectural model. Such a model describes the runtime manifestation of a software system in terms of its high level components and their interconnections. A good architectural model can be used as the basis for design-time analysis to determine whether a software system will meet desired quality attributes.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)

Realistic statistical models often give rise to probability distributions that are computationally difficult to use for inference. Fortunately, we now have a collection of algorithms, known as Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), that has brought many of these models within our computational reach. MCMC is a simulation technique that allows one to make (approximate) draws from complex, high dimensional probability distributions. Over the last 10 years a staggering amount of research has been done on both the theoretical and applied aspects of MCMC. This article does not intend to be a complete overview of MCMC but only hopes to get the reader started in the right direction. To this end, this article begins with a general description of the types of problems that necessitate the use of MCMC. It then introduces the fundamental algorithms and addresses some general implementation issues. Any discussion of the Markov chain theory underpinning MCMC algorithms, have intentionally been avoided.
Bypassing Spermiogenesis for Several Generations Does Not Have Detrimental Consequences on the Fertility and Neurobehavior of Offspring: A Study Using the Mouse

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine whether the omission of spermiogenesis and all prefertilization events for five generations in mice affects the fertility or behavior of offspring. Methods: Fifth-generation hybrid (C57BL/6 X DBA/2) mice were produced using round spermatid injection (ROSI). Control groups consisted of mice born after natural mating with and without sham operation. The growth, fertility, and behavior of offspring were compared. Behavior tests conducted assessed elementary reasoning (Krushinsky test), emotionality (Mouse Defense Test Battery), and spatial learning and memory (Morris water maze). Results: There were no significant differences in the growth and fertility of fifth-generation ROSI mice compared to natural fertilization mice. We also found no evidence of significant learning or behavioral deficits of the fifth-generation ROSI mice. Conclusions: In this study, we found no evidence that bypassing the natural biological processes involved in spermiogenesis produces adverse effects on the growth, fertility, or behavior of mouse offspring.
Lip dubbing on YouTube: Participatory culture and cultural globalization

In the phenomenon of lip dubbing online, music fans throughout the world mime along with their favorite (usually Western) pop songs, and distribute videos of the performances to web video sites like YouTube. Two popular examples of the form are examined: China's Back Dorm Boys, and Moymoy Palaboy, from the Philippines. The dozens of videos produced by each group speak to issues of cultural imperialism and globalization, as well as broader concerns about participatory culture within the YouTube space.
Titration Studies on Adenosine Triphosphate-Creatine Phosphotransferase

The histidine titration for creatine kinase is isolated from the total titration curve of this protein by calculation of the apparent heat of ionization. Twenty-five titrable groups are found with a pKint of 6.31. A value of 0.0576 for w is derived. On the basis of data previously reported, the carboxyl side chains exhibit a pKint of 4.36, and the value of w for the respective pH range is 0.0121. A definite change of w occurs at approximately pH 5.1 to 5.4. Thus, expansion of the protein observed by hydrodynamic methods is confirmed by titration data.
Is Today's International Human Rights System a Global Governance Regime?

Enthusiasts of the idea of globalization often view international human rights institutions as part of an emerging global governance regime. They claim that these institutions illustrate how state sovereignty is being diminished. This paper looks at the international system for thepromotion and protection of human rights aspart of normative globalization. It arguesthat this system does not constitute a systemof global governance, although in some areas itcomes close.
Human Protein Requirements: Interrelationships between Energy Intake and Nitrogen Balance in Young Men Consuming the 1973 FAO/WHO Safe Level of Egg Protein, with Added Non-Essential Amino Acids

Our recent studies have shown that the 1973 FAO/WHO "safe level of intake" of egg protein (0.57 g/kg/day) is inadequate for maintaining protein nutritional status in young men receiving generous energy intakes. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine nitrogen (N) balance and the energy intake needed to support it when supplementary N, equivalent to 0.23 g of protein (N X 6.25)/kg/day from a nonessential amino acid mixture, was added to a diet containing 0.57 g of egg protein/kg/day. Four young men, 20 to 21 years old, participated in the 58- to 79-day metabolic N balance study. This group required significantly lower energy intakes to maintain N balance than a previously studied group fed only 0.57 g of egg protein under identical conditions. The energy intakes predicted to maintain N balance were approximately 10 to 15% less than the requirements estimate from body weight and N balance data. Present results, although based on a limited number of subjects, suggest that total N may be the limiting factor in short-term N balance at the 1973 FAO/WHO egg protein intake level for a significant proportion of young adult male populations. Long-term metabolic studies will be necessary before the practical significance of the observations can be determined.
Refuting the Myth of the “Violent Schizophrenic”: Assessing an Educational Intervention to Reduce Schizophrenia Stigmatization Using Self-Report and an Implicit Association Test

The goal of this study was to determine whether an educational intervention designed to reduce stigmatization of individuals with schizophrenia improves implicit attitudes, in addition to the improvements in explicit attitudes that have been demonstrated in past research. Participants were 94 undergraduate students randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the experimental group received education about low rates of violence in individuals with schizophrenia; the control group read facts unrelated to mental health. Participants completed an Implicit Attitudes Test measuring unconscious attitudes about schizophrenia and violence before and after reading their assigned information; participants then reported the social distance they desired from individuals with schizophrenia. The intervention improved explicit but not implicit attitudes about schizophrenia, suggesting that educational interventions may not be sufficient to improve the lives of people with schizophrenia by reducing stigmatization against ...
ECPD should look ahead: A report to the boards of the constituent bodies by the chairman of the council

Irrespective of the extremities of individual opinions about it, Engineers' Council for Professional Development admittedly occupies a position of strategic potentialities in the very broad field of engineering endeavors. Because of the magnitude and the magnificence of its accomplishment in the surveying and accrediting of engineering curricula throughout the United States, ECPD is all too widely thought of as being primarily an accrediting agency. Quite to the contrary, as Doctor Doherty here points out, ECPD provides a channel for the effective coordination of engineering efforts in many directions of public as well as professional significance. AIEE President Sorensen also comments on this topic in his message to the Institute's membership that appears elsewhere in this issue. THE engineering profession faces a great challenge and opportunity. It faces the imperative challenge of the unstable new world it has helped to create, and the opportunity to take a hand in stabilizing that world. But if it plans to meet this clear obligation and assume such a role in the life of the country, it should look ahead, measuring the implied responsibilities alongside its capacities for discharging them. Doing this, it would find one fundamental deficiency to be in the capacity for joint action, and another in the character and extent of the engineer's preparation. It is my conviction that these deficiencies are vital and that concerted thought must be given to their correction; otherwise the profession will probably receive and justly deserve the unhappy distinction of having let its next generation down and failed in its national mission.
In-continuity hepatic resection for advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of patients undergoing concomitant hepatectomy and bile duct excision for advanced Klatskin tumors. Methods Thirty-one patients, 16 men and 15 women, with an average age of 64 years, underwent concomitant biliary and hepatic resections for Klatskin tumors. Outcomes, including complications and survival, are reported. Results Fifteen patients had postoperative courses free of complications. Sixteen patients experienced a total of 50 complications; 13 patients experienced 1 or more major complications (including hemorrhage [n = 1], pneumonia [n = 5], intra-abdominal abscess [n = 8], hepatic failure [n = 3], and myocardial infarction [n = 2]). Five patients died perioperatively, 1 from adult respiratory distress syndrome and 4 from multisystem organ failure precipitated by hepatic failure. One-, 3-, and 5-year survival after resection was 69%, 33%, and 26%, respectively. American Joint Committee on Cancer stage and margin status did not impact long-term survival after resection. Conclusions Concomitant hepatic and biliary resections for Klatskin tumors carry relatively high risk but offer hope for long-term survival. This study supports in-continuity hepatectomy and extrahepatic biliary resection for advanced Klatskin tumors even when microscopically negative margins cannot be obtained.
Use of ω-aminohexyl-sepharose in the fractionation of escherichia coli B aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Abstract The usefulness of aminohexyl-Sepharose in purification of E. coli B amino-acyl-tRNA synthetases is presented. The purification factors for 14 synthetases lie in the range 3- to 94-fold and the recoveries of the enzymatic activity were 30-80%, depending on the enzyme.
Toward a social educational psychology—With Soviet help☆

In discussing these six papers on Soviet pedagogical psychology, I will not comment on the representativeness of these ideas in Soviet educational practice, nor on how well substantiated these ideas are in Soviet educational research. With respect to the first limitation, the position of our Soviet colleagues is no different from our own: We would not want the degree of acceptance of our ideas to be a criterion of their validity, and so we can sympathize when Davydov makes it clear (as he did in a conversation in Moscow in December, 1978) that the Ministry of Education is responsible for dissemination, not himself. With respect to the second limitation, firm data on children’s learning would be extremely interesting, but we just don’t have it. Instead, I will highlight what I see as the importance of the Soviet work for the development of educational psychology here in the United States. A fundamental question in all Soviet psychology is what kind of experience produces what kind of changes in, or transformations of, human consciousness. The theory of activity discussed by Pick is one answer to this question. And when simplistic (and mechanical materialist) answers such as the now discredited motor-copy theory are avoided, Soviet psychologists offer many imaginative designs for both psychological research and instruction. I remember when I was teaching first grade in the late 1950s trying an idea from one of the first books that reprinted Soviet psychology for English audiences (Simon, 1957): According to Slavina (in the Simon volume), when “Voya” could do simple sums if he had objects to manipulate but could not do the sums in his head, an intermediate stage was introduced: After manipulating the objects and counting out loud, Voya was asked to do the same operations out loud, but without looking at the objects which were still arrayed before him. Slavina found, as did I, that this intermediate activity seemed to help children form a mental representation of the objects and aid their progress toward a completely covert computation. One important category of activity for young children is play. Pick describes El’konin’s idea about the development of play itself. But in other Soviet works, play is considered as a setting of special importance
Microtubule Treadmilling in Vivo

In vivo, cytoplasmic microtubules are nucleated and anchored by their minus ends at the centrosome and are believed to turn over by a mechanism termed dynamic instability: depolymerization and repolymerization at their plus ends. In cytoplasmic fragments of fish melanophores, microtubules were shown to detach from their nucleation site and depolymerize from their minus ends. Free microtubules moved toward the periphery by treadmilling—growth at one end and shortening from the opposite end. Frequent release from nucleation sites may be a general property of centrosomes and permit a minus-end mechanism of microtubule turnover and treadmilling.
The Incidence of Out-Of-Body Experiences in Hospitalized Patients

Study exploring out-of-body experiences (OBEs), cultural differences in reporting those OBEs, and associations between OBEs and frequency of dream recall in 100 white and 100 black adults hospitalized in a university medical center.
The coregistration, calibration, and interpretation of multiseason JERS-1 SAR data over South America

The Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere (LBA) experiment in Amazonia represents a unique opportunity to make a comprehensive study of the Amazon region and its component ecosystems. To make sense of the field studies and to generalize the results from them, remote sensing techniques and comprehensive mapping are critical elements for producing region-wide science results. In this paper, we present the processing work done for one such mapping campaign, that of the JERS-1 L-band two season (low and high-flood) SAR data collected in 1995 and 1996. Specifically, to make a useable resource for other LBA researchers to explore, the datasets from the two seasons had to be coregistered (to a sub-pixel level), radiometrically calibrated, and interpreted to verify the quality of the data. This paper describes the techniques used to achieve these goals and an estimate of the land cover based on a simple classification of the data.
A framework for handling errors during the execution of trigger rules for an active object-oriented DBMS

As trigger systems in active object-oriented database management systems (OODBMS) become increasingly complicated, handling the errors, such as failures and aborts, that may occur during the execution of trigger rules becomes an important issue. The authors present a framework for handling this type of error. It extends the existing error handling mechanisms by modeling failures, aborts and other error situations as events in the event-condition-action (ECA) paradigm. Thus, the contingency plans for handling error events can be modeled as trigger rules. Reuse of the DBMS functionalities; uniform treatment of data objects, trigger rules and contingency plans; and the flexibility for users to declaratively define a contingency plan to suit a particular application are among the main benefits of this error handling framework. >
Insulin Assay Standardization: Leading to measures of insulin sensitivity and secretion for practical clinical care

Diabetes, primarily type 2 diabetes, has increased in prevalence throughout the world and current projections suggest a continued rise worldwide for at least the next quarter century. Insulin resistance, which frequently accompanies obesity, is known to be a key factor in the pathogenic development of type 2 diabetes (1–6). Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin secretion is no longer sufficient to compensate for the resistance to the actions of insulin. Measurements of insulin sensitivity and secretion are currently done only for research purposes and are only comparable in individual studies. There are no clinical applications for these measures. In fact, there are no criteria by which an individual could be classified as being insulin sensitive or resistant or as having mild, moderate, or severe impairment of insulin secretion. In theory, one could envision that knowledge of an individual's response to insulin or the ability to secrete insulin might be useful for selecting patients for intensified prevention efforts, in the choice of initial therapy upon onset of overt hyperglycemia, or in evaluating the response to therapy beyond glycemia. For example, if a person newly diagnosed with diabetes could be determined to be very insulin resistant, the choice of initial therapy could be a drug that primarily improves insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, if the person was only moderately insulin resistant but had more of a defect in insulin secretion, a drug that improves insulin secretion might …
A small world on feet of clay? : A comparison of empirical small-world studies against best-practice criteria

Small-world studies were introduced by Milgram and others in the 1960s and 1970s. These studies, and a majority of variants conducted by others, display a number of methodological weaknesses that bias their results. While no explicit methodological standard exists for these studies, here I derive a number of best-practice criteria for small-world studies by pointing out mistakes of previous studies, and by applying methodological standards from other empirical research areas. Improving the methodology of letter referral studies is important, because such studies could still be useful in a number of contexts today, especially for the exploration of factors affecting targeted search processes.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of CO2 and CH4 Dissolved in Water and Seawater Using Laser Raman Spectroscopy

Laboratory experiments have been performed using laser Raman spectroscopy to analyze carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) dissolved in water and seawater. Dissolved CO2 is characterized by bands at ∼1275 and 1382 Δcm−1. Dissolved CH4 is characterized by a dominant band at ∼2911 Δcm−1. The laboratory instrumentation used for this work is equivalent to the sea-going Raman instrument, DORISS (Deep Ocean Raman In Situ Spectrometer). Limits of quantification and calibration curves were determined for each species. The limits of quantification are ∼10 mM for CO2 and ∼4 mM for CH4. A ratio technique is used to obtain quantitative information from Raman spectra: the gas bands are referenced to the O–H stretching band of water. The calibration curves relating band height ratios to gas concentration are linear and valid for a range of temperatures, pressures, and salinities. Current instrumentation is capable of measuring the highest dissolved gas concentration observed in end-member hydrothermal fluids. Further development work is needed to improve sensitivity and optimize operational configurations.
Measuring and Improving Quality in Emergency Medicine

The findings are presented of a consensus committee created to address the measuring and improving of quality in emergency medicine. The objective of the committee was to critically evaluate how quality in emergency medicine can be measured and how quality improvement projects can positively affect the care of emergency patients. Medical quality is defined as "the care health professionals would want to receive if they got sick." The literature of quality improvement in emergency medicine is reviewed and analyzed. A summary list of measures of quality is included with four categories: condition-specific diseases, diagnostic syndromes, tasks/procedures, and department efficiency/efficacy. Methods and tools for quantifying these measures are examined as well as their accuracy in assessing quality and adjusting for differences in environment, and patient populations. Successful strategies for changing physician behavior are detailed as well as barriers to change. Examples are given of successful quality improvement efforts. Also examined is how to address the emergency care needs of vulnerable populations such as older persons, women, those without health insurance, and ethnic minorities.
The role of blood glucose in activity related self-starvation

Rats in the experimental group lived in activity wheels on a 23-h deprivation schedule, while those in the control group lived in laboratory cages on the same feeding schedule. Blood-glucose determinations made on the 1st, 3rd, and 6th days of deprivation indicated that, while both groups were hypoglycemic on Days 1 and 2, by Day 6 the experimental Ss were still hypoglycemic, while control Ss’ blood-glucose levels approached normal ad lib levels. The results are in opposition to the hypothesis of glucocorticoid involvement in activity-related self-starvation.
A Refractive Image Slicer for Astronomical Spectroscopy

The refractive image slicer, using small sapphire prisms as slicing elements, cuts off two side sections of a small image falling on the entrance slit. The central section, of width equal to the entrance slit-width, proceeds through the slicer. The cutoff left and right sections of width, equal to or less than the entrance slit, are reimaged above and below the central section and reflected so that the chief rays from each section are all parallel as they proceed to the collimator. The f/number of the relocated image sections is only slightly changed. Thus, for the restricted spectral band (1.115–1.136 μ), all of the energy falling on the slicer, of width three times that of the entrance slit, enters the spectrometer and yields a spectral resolving power as determined by the central section width and the exit slit-width.
A multisite evaluation of supported housing: Lessons learned from cross-site collaboration

The Center for Mental Health Services Housing Initiative illustrates the benefits of prior research, a phased approach, and strong collaboration in tackling difficult multisite issues.
Comparison of the Response of Heliothis virescens to Parasitism by Euplectrus comstockii and Euplectrus plathypenae

Abstract Two major similarities were observed in larvae of Heliothis virescens parasitized by either Euplectrus comstockii or Euplectrus plathypenae . Parasitism by either parasitoid arrested larval-larval ecdysis and caused comparable alterations in the titer of storage proteins found in the host hemolymph. However, each larval stadium responded differently to parasitism. Parasitized 3rd-instar larvae increased in weight to ca. twice that of control larvae while parasitized 4th- and 5th-instar larvae increased in weight to ca. 1.3 times the maximum observed in control larvae for that stadium. The titer of storage proteins present in the hemolymph increased in parasitized 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae but decreased in parasitized 5th-instar larvae, by comparison to the titers found in control 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-instar larvae, respectively. Feeding by the parasitoids did not cause further alteration in the composition of the hemolymph proteins of the host. A plausible explanation for the increase in weight and/or increase in the storage protein titer in the younger host larvae is to provide a sufficient nutritional source to extend the viability of the host while it remains in that stadium and is fed upon by the developing parasitoids.
Experimental evaluation of an elastic foundation model to predict contact pressures in knee replacements.

Abstract Computational wear prediction is an attractive concept for evaluating new total knee replacement designs prior to physical testing and implementation. An important hurdle to such technology is the lack of in vivo contact pressure predictions. To address this issue, this study evaluates a computationally efficient simulation approach that combines the advantages of rigid and deformable body modeling. The hybrid method uses rigid body dynamics to predict body positions and orientations and elastic foundation theory to predict contact pressures between general three-dimensional surfaces. To evaluate the method, we performed static pressure experiments with a commercial knee implant in neutral alignment using flexion angles of 0, 30, 60, and 90° and loads of 750, 1500, 2250, and 3000 N. Using manufacturer CAD geometry for the same implant, an elastic foundation model with linear or nonlinear polyethylene material properties was implemented within a commercial multibody dynamics software program. The model's ability to predict experimental peak and average contact pressures simultaneously was evaluated by performing dynamic simulations to find the static configuration. Both the linear and nonlinear material models predicted the average contact pressure data well, while only the linear material model could simultaneously predict the trends in the peak contact pressure data. This novel modeling approach is sufficiently fast and accurate to be used in design sensitivity and optimization studies of knee implant mechanics and ultimately wear.
Overprinting faulting mechanisms in high porosity sandstones of SE Utah

Normal faults in sandstone of the Jurassic Entrada Formation, South-East Utah formed by two mechanisms: (1) deformation band faulting overprinted by (2) jointing and subsequent shearing along joints. Fundamental structural elements of deformation band faults are single deformation bands, zones of deformation bands, and slip surfaces. Joint-based faults are composed of joints, sheared joints, splay fractures, fragmentation zones, breccia, and fine-grained fault rock. We demonstrate that both mechanisms contribute to slip in a single fault zone with joint-based faulting consistently postdating deformation band faulting at a given location along a fault. The occurrence, distribution, and geometric arrangement of structures formed by the two mechanisms resulted in faults with distinct fault architecture. This fault architecture is related to the relative contributions of each deformation mechanism to the total offset and to their relative timing. Overprinting of a deformation band-based fault by a joint-based mechanism introduces extensive localized structural heterogeneity with a distinct hydraulic signature. Whereas deformation bands tend to act as fluid baffles, joints may act as preferred fluid conduits. Therefore, fluid flow properties such as the permeability of the faults with overlapping mechanisms are expected to change over time accompanying the overprinting process.
Signaling through CD43 regulates CD4 T-cell trafficking

The mucin-like protein CD43 is excluded from the immune synapse, and regulates T-cell proliferation as well as T-cell migration. While the CD43 cytoplasmic domain is necessary for regulation of T-cell activation and proliferation, the mechanism via which CD43 regulates trafficking is not well defined. To investigate whether CD43 phosphorylation regulates its function in T cells, we used tandem mass spectrometry and identified Ser76 in murine CD43 as a previously unidentified site of basal phosphorylation. Interestingly, mutation of this single serine to alanine greatly diminishes T-cell trafficking to the lymph node, while CD43 exclusion and CD43-mediated regulation of T-cell proliferation remain intact. Furthermore, the CD43 extracellular domain was also required for T-cell trafficking, providing a hitherto unknown function for the extracellular domain, and suggesting that the extracellular domain may be required to transduce signals via the cytoplasmic domain. These data reveal a novel mechanism by which CD43 regulates T-cell function, and suggest that CD43 functions as a signaling molecule, sensing extracellular cues and transducing intracellular signals that modulate T-cell function.
Fidelity of PostScript-generated masks for diffractive optics fabrication

A page description language such as PostScript provides inexpensive and rapid output to high-resolution graphics engines for generating binary masks. However, the limitations of this technology have not been considered beyond a statement of the resolution of the output device. Measurements of three high-resolution laser image setters to quantify the limitations inherent to this type of mask fabrication show that the spot size and spot placement affect the performance of the final element. The expression of the graphics figure within the illustration program used to print the masks must also be considered. Strategies for compensating for print errors are described.
Quantum interactive dualism: From Beck and Eccles tunneling model of exocytosis to molecular biology of SNARE zipping

We commence this review by outlining the challenges faced by physical theories of consciousness and briefly describe the two main approaches based on classical or quantum mechanics. Next, we provide a detailed exposition of the motivation, the theoretical construction and experimental falsification of the celebrated model due to Beck and Eccles concerning mind-brain interaction purported to operate at the sites of neurotransmitter release in the brain. Finally, we propose our own model of a vibrationally assisted quantum tunneling mechanism involving a Davydov soliton propagating along the hydrogen bonds in the protein four-α-helix bundle of the SNARE complex (soluble NSF attachment protein receptor; NSF, N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion proteins) that drives synaptic vesicle fusion. We also discuss the possible experimental tests that could falsify our model. Since erasure of consciousness by volatile anesthetics results from binding to the hydrophobic core of the SNARE four-α-helix bundle, our model is well suited to support quantum interactive dualism. Biomedical Reviews 2014; 25: 15-24.
Need to Test the Arterial Inflammation Hypothesis

Despite intensive basic and clinical investigation, coronary artery disease remains the principal cause of death and disability in the United States. In recent years, the appreciation of arterial inflammation as an important risk factor has had considerable implications for changing our approach to managing these patients.1,2⇓ Arterial inflammation has emerged as central to the progression of atherothrombosis.3 Of the markers of inflammation, the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) is the most studied, with evidence that it may also play a direct pathogenic role in atherosclerotic lesion formation.4– 11⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓ In the absence of active infection, measurements of CRP are reasonably reproducible, comparable to measurements of total cholesterol.12,13⇓ Additionally, elevated CRP appears to be a more potent risk factor than other mediators of inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, or serum amyloid A.4,14⇓ A group of pharmacotherapies that are currently available, such as aspirin, statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), thienopyridines, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists have been shown, in addition to their other properties, to reduce CRP and/or arterial inflammation. Although it is clear that elevated CRP denotes increased risk and emerging evidence suggests that there are novel therapies that result in lowering of CRP, the most important unanswered question is whether suppression of inflammation and consequent lowering of CRP will translate into a decrease in clinical events.15 Surprisingly, despite the importance of the question, the “inflammation hypothesis” of intentional CRP suppression as compared with standard care has not yet been tested. Such a prospective study of patients with established cardiovascular disease and elevated baseline CRP in which incremental pharmacotherapy would be guided by reassessments of the CRP marker could allow formulation of a rational therapeutic strategy instead of an approach of “polypharmacy” for …
On the use of affected controls to address recall bias in case‐control studies of birth defects

Inferences regarding causes of birth defects in humans are often based on results of case-control studies conducted after birth. To address bias in these studies caused by potential differential recall of past exposures between case and control mothers, many investigators have advocated the use of affected controls (babies with birth defects other than the one of interest). To evaluate whether the use of affected controls is warranted for a wide range of scenarios, we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study of birth defects in Atlanta, in which there were 4,918 babies with serious defects ascertained in the first year of life and 3,029 babies without defects. We compared the magnitude of the odds ratios for 10 specific defects--risk factor associations between normal and affected controls. These associations included demographic factors (e.g., advanced maternal age and Down syndrome), chronic maternal illnesses (e.g., diabetes and cardiac defects), chronic exposures (e.g., multivitamins and neural tube defects), and acute exposures (e.g., flu and neural tube defects). In all instances, the use of affected controls did not change etiologic inferences derived from using normal controls and there were only moderate changes in odds ratios. On the basis of theoretical considerations, we show that recall bias can lead to spurious inferences only under extreme conditions. We conclude that concerns about recall bias are overrated in birth defects studies and that the use of normal controls is acceptable unless evidence of substantial recall bias exists.
Macshapa: Software Support for Exploratory Sequential Data Analysis

This paper outlines the need for better conceptual and methodological tools for performing observational data analysis in support of cognitive engineering research and practice and presents a tool, MacSHAPA, that has been designed to support such work. MacSHAPA is particularly suited for cognitive engineering studies of complex real-world decisionmaking. MacSHAPA lets users (1) enter or import data into a spreadsheet-like viewing medium, (2) annotate, manipulate, and visualize data in various ways, (3) carry out statistical analyses of various kinds, and (4) export data and results to other applications. MacSHAPA controls video devices, capturing timecode and inserting it into the database, and using timestamps in the database to locate events of interest on videotape. MacSHAPA's statistical routines include content and duration analysis, transition analysis (with some Markov statistics), lag sequential analysis, cycles reports, and some kinds of sequential pattern matching. The paper concludes with sever...
Paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus. Association with medullary thyroid carcinoma and review of the literature.

• The syndrome of opsoclonus-myoclonus (OM) is an infrequent but well-known "remote effect" of neuroblastoma in children. The OM syndrome is even less frequent in adults. A few cases of adult paraneoplastic OM have been described in association with several systemic neoplasms. We report the unique case of a 29-year-old man with metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma in whom OM developed as part of a generalized transient encephalopathy. We outline the postulated anatomic lesions and pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the OM syndrome, as well as examine the possible connections between the neuroendocrine derivation of medullary thyroid carcinoma and the neurotoxic and/or autoimmune theories of the causation of the OM syndrome in patients with systemic neoplasms.
On the reactivity of corneal collagen and subcomponent C1q of the complement system with human platelets and IgG-coated latex particles

Collagen was isolated from bovine cornea and tested for reactivity towards platelets and IgG-coated polystyrene latex particles. The corneal collagen caused a dose- and temperature-dependent platelet aggregation in all human platelet-rich plasmas studied. As little as 0 . 31 micrograms of purified corneal collagen could trigger platelet activation. Human C1q, a subcomponent of the first complement component (C1), which shares extensive chemical-structural similarities with collagen, was able to inhibit the platelet aggregation provoked by corneal collagen. This blocking effect could be, however, overcome by increasing collagen doses. In a slide method or in aggregometry both corneal collagen and C1q agglutinated IgG-coated latex particles in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of such latex particles to platelet-rich plasmas or preincubation of the particles with collagen reduced or prevented the platelet action of collagen, suggesting that due to their reactivity with collagen immune complexes may play an inhibitory role in collagen-caused platelet aggregation. The results are discussed in relation to pathological events that lead to collagenolysis and also with respect to wound healing in the injured cornea.
Ipsilateral Neglect: Reversal of Bias or Exaggerated Cross-Over Phenomenon?

When right brain injury produces contralesional neglect (CN), patients typically misbisect lines to the right. However, others demonstrate so-called "ipsilateral neglect" (IN) with misbisection to the left of midpoint. Paradoxically, most patients with CN also demonstrate a 'cross-over' phenomenon whereby they misbisect short lines to the left. It is not known whether patients with IN actually have a contralesional bias opposite the ipsilesional bias observed with CN, or if their performance reflects an exaggerated cross-over. These alternatives can be distinguished by power function analysis which evaluates the relationship between magnitude of perception and stimulus magnitude. Using line bisection tasks to derive a power function, an IN patient showed a reduced exponent (beta = 0.841), falling outside 95% confidence intervals (CI) for controls but within the CI for CN patients. The IN patient showed a greatly increased constant (K = 7.82), extending outside the CI for both controls and CN patients. The results suggest that the anomalous leftward misbisection with IN is associated with an exaggerated cross-over point and not simply reversal of spatial bias.
A NEW COMPONENT OF SOLAR DYNAMICS: NORTH-SOUTH DIVERGING FLOWS MIGRATING TOWARD THE EQUATOR WITH AN 11 YEAR PERIOD

Time-distance helioseismology analysis of Dopplergrams provides maps of torsional oscillations and meridional flows. Meridional flow maps show a time-varying component that has a banded structure that matches the torsional oscillations with an equatorward migration over the solar cycle. The time-varying component of meridional flow consists of a flow diverging from the dominant latitude of magnetic activity. These maps are compared with other torsional oscillation maps and with magnetic flux maps, showing a strong correlation with active latitudes. These results demonstrate a strong link between the time-varying component of the meridional flow and the torsional oscillations.