cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron Impact Spectra of Several Aromatic Systems

In the process of investigation of several commercial preparations and formulations of pesticides and pesticide related compounds for contaminants this laboratory observed interesting evidence of ortho-para substituent effects in aryl systems. The subStituent of interest among these compounds is chlorine. The effect of the ortho-para aryl substituent was observed in the mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns. The compounds examined were phenyl ether, octach10rodiphenyl ether, 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrach10rodibenzo-p-dioxin, octachlorodibenzofuran, octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran.
Factored Evolutionary Algorithms

Factored evolutionary algorithms (FEAs) are a new class of evolutionary search-based optimization algorithms that have successfully been applied to various problems, such as training neural networks and performing abductive inference in graphical models. An FEA is unique in that it factors the objective function by creating overlapping subpopulations that optimize over a subset of variables of the function. In this paper, we give a formal definition of FEA algorithms and present empirical results related to their performance. One consideration in using an FEA is determining the appropriate factor architecture, which determines the set of variables each factor will optimize. For this reason, we present the results of experiments comparing the performance of different factor architectures on several standard applications for evolutionary algorithms. Additionally, we show that FEA’s performance is not restricted by the underlying optimization algorithm by creating FEA versions of hill climbing, particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm, and differential evolution and comparing their performance to their single-population and cooperative coevolutionary counterparts.
Politics and Merit: Can They Meet in a Public Service Model?

This analysis examines existing models of career bureaucrat and political appointee relationships and asks: to what extent is the broader purpose of public service for both politicals and careerists considered? Because most current models focus on career responsibilities, but exclude the special public responsibilities of political managers, a new “Public Service Model” is proposed. The new-model proposes a joint political-career commitment to serving the public interest and a heightened recognition of the value of both sets of public executives. Both have a critical role to play in democratic policy processes; joint action and cooperation are essential to effective governance.
Cranial Chordoma: A New Preoperative Grading System.

BACKGROUND Chordomas are rare but challenging neoplasms involving the skull base. A preoperative grading system will be useful to identify both areas for treatment and risk factors, and correlate to the degree of resection, complications, and recurrence. OBJECTIVE To propose a new grading system for cranial chordomas designed by the senior author. Its purpose is to enable comparison of different tumors with a similar pathology to clivus chordoma, and statistically correlate with postoperative outcomes. METHODS The numerical grading system included tumor size, site of the tumor, vascular encasement, intradural extension, brainstem invasion, and recurrence of the tumor either after surgery or radiotherapy with a range of 2 to 25 points; it was used in 42 patients with cranial chordoma. The grading system was correlated with number of operations for resection, degree of resection, number and type of complications, recurrence, and survival. RESULTS We found 3 groups: low-risk 0 to 7 points, intermediate-risk 8 to 12 points, and high-risk ≥13 points in the grading system. The 3 groups were correlated with the following: extent of resection (partial, subtotal, or complete; P < .002); number of operative stages to achieve removal (P < .014); tumor recurrence (P = .03); postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (P < .001); and with successful outcome (P = .005). The grading system itself correlated with the outcome (P = .005). CONCLUSION The proposed chordoma grading system can help surgeons to predict the difficulty of the case and know which areas of the skull base will need attention to plan further therapy.
In Reply: Minimally Invasive Exposure of the Maxillary Artery at the Anteromedial Infratemporal Fossa.

Background The maxillary artery (MA) has been described as a reliable donor for extracranial-intracranial high-flow bypass. Existing techniques to harvest MA require brain retraction and drilling of the middle fossa (with or without a zygomatic osteotomy), carrying the potential risks of venous bleeding, injury to the branches of the maxillary or mandibular nerves, muscular transection, or temporomandibular junction disorders. Objective To describe a novel technique to expose the MA without bony drilling and with minimal impact to surrounding structures. Methods A conventional curvilinear incision was performed in 10 cadaveric specimens, prior to elevating the scalp to expose the zygomatic root and lateral orbital rim. The sphenozygomatic suture was followed to the anterolateral edge of the inferior orbital fissure (IOF) to locate and harvest the pterygoid segment of the MA. Topographic anatomy was assessed using surrounding landmarks and 3D Cartesian coordinates to define the surgical area. The number of visible MA branches and their lengths were recorded. Results The MA was successfully exposed in all specimens. This approach allowed 6 branches of MA to be exposed. The average length of exposure was 23.3 ± 8.3 mm and the average surgical area was 2.8 ± 0.9 cm2. The IOF was 11.5 ± 4.2 mm from the MA. Conclusion Our technique provides landmarks to identify the distal pterygoid segment of MA as a donor for extracranial-intracranial bypasses without the need for additional craniectomies. Clear anatomical landmarks, including the sphenozygomatic suture, anterolateral edge of IOF, infraorbital artery, and the pterygomaxillary fissure defined a trajectory to efficiently localize the MA with minimal risk to surrounding structures.
The impact of conversion to International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) on an academic ophthalmology practice.

Author(s): Hellman, Justin B; Lim, Michele C; Leung, Karen Y; Blount, Cameron M; Yiu, Glenn | Abstract: Purpose:To determine the financial and clinical impact of conversion from International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) to ICD-10 coding. Design:Retrospective, database study. Materials and methods:Monthly billing and coding data from 44,564 billable patient encounters at an academic ophthalmology practice were analyzed by subspecialty in the 1-year periods before (October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015) and after (October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016) conversion from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Main outcomes and measures:Primary outcome measures were payments per visit, relative value units per visit, number of visits, and percentage of high-level visits; secondary measures were denials due to coding errors, charges denied due to coding errors, and percentage of unspecified codes used as a primary diagnosis code. Results:Conversion to ICD-10 did not significantly impact payments per visit ($306.56±$56.50 vs $321.43±$38.12, P=0.42), relative value units per visit (7.15±0.56 vs 7.13±0.84, P=0.95), mean volume of visits (1,887.08±375.02 vs 1,863.83±189.81, P=0.71), or percentage of high-level visits (29.7%±4.9%, 548 of 1,881 vs 30.0%±1.7%, 558 of 1,864, P=0.81). For every 100 visits, the number of coding-related denials increased from 0.98±0.60 to 1.84±0.31 (Pl0.001), and denied charges increased from $307.42±$443.39 to $660.86±$239.47 (P=0.002). The monthly percentage of unspecified codes used increased from 25.8%±1.1% (485 of 1,881) to 35.0%±2.3% (653 of 1,864, Pl0.001). Conclusion:The conversion to ICD-10 did not impact overall revenue or clinical volume in this practice setting, but coding-related denials, denied charges, and the use of unspecified codes increased significantly. We expect these denials to increase in the next year in the absence of Medicare's 1-year grace period.
Planning for Existing Polluting Industries and Parks Zoned for Industrial Development

Manufacturing and industrial parks, and businesses that sell them materials and services, provide employment and community benefits for citizens within urban centers or from nearby populations. Additionally, workers, manufacturers/industries, and businesses pay taxes to governments that are best used to serve citizens’ needs (e.g., maintain city infrastructure, social services) as well as municipal and state/national obligations (e.g., provide security for citizenry).
Abstract WP189: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Cerebral Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in Relation to Race and Stroke Severity

Purpose: Racial minorities have a higher prevalence of vascular risk factors (VRF), as well as higher incidence and greater severity of stroke. Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are considered a marker of small vessel disease reflecting the long term effect of VRF. We aim to determine the prevalence and burden of EPVS in racial minorities, and examine their association with VRF and stroke severity. Methods: We included 894 consecutive stroke patients who underwent brain MRI admitted to an academic stroke center. EPVS were rated in the basal ganglia (BG), centrum semiovale (CSO) and midbrain (MB) following a standardized method, and dichotomized for analyses (mild <20 vs severe ≥20). Race was assessed based on US census procedures and categorized as White, Black or Other racial groups (ORG). Stroke severity was determined at time of admission using the NIH stroke scale. We used univariate analysis to assess the relation of VRF and EPVS severity, and multivariable logistic regression analysis to relate EP...
Costs and effectiveness of damage management of an overabundant species (Sus scrofa) using aerial gunning

Context. Management of overabundant or invasive species is a constant challenge because resources for management are always limited and relationships between management costs, population density and damage costs are complex and difficult to predict. Metrics of management success are often based on simple measures, such as counts, which may not be indicative of impacts on damage reduction or cost-effectiveness under different management plans.Aims. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of aerial gunning for the management of wild pigs (Sus scrofa), and to evaluate how cost-effectiveness would vary under different relationships between levels of damage and densities of wild pigs.Methods. Repeated reduction events were conducted by aerial gunning on three consecutive days at three study sites. Using a removal model, the proportion of the population removed by each flight was estimated and population modelling was used to show the time it would take for a population to recover. Three possible damage–density relationships were then used to show the level of damage reduction (metric of success) from different management intensities and levels of population recovery, and these relationships were expressed in terms of total costs (including both damage and management costs).Key results. Populations were typically reduced by ∼31% for the first flight, ∼56% after two flights and ∼67% after three flights. When the damage relationship suggests high damage even at low densities, the impact of one, two or three flights would represent a reduction in damage of 2%, 19% and 60% respectively after 1 year. Different damage relationships may show considerable damage reduction after only one flight. Removal rates varied by habitat (0.05 per hour in open habitats compared with 0.03 in shrubby habitats) and gunning team (0.03 versus 0.05).Conclusions. Monitoring the efficacy of management provides critical guidance and justification for control activities. The efficacy of different management strategies is dependent on the damage–density relationship and needs further study for effective evaluation of damage reduction efforts.Implications. It is critically important to concurrently monitor density and damage impacts to justify resource needs and facilitate planning to achieve a desired damage reduction goal.
Composite Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma and T-Prolymphocytic Leukemia Presenting with Lymphocytosis, Skin Lesions, and Generalized Lymphadenopathy

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in Western countries with an incidence of 3-5 cases per 100,000 persons. Most patients follow an indolent clinical course with eventual progression and need for therapy. In contrast, T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare type of T-cell leukemia with most patients having an aggressive clinical course and a dismal prognosis. Therapies are limited for T-PLL patients and there is a high relapse rate. Morphologically, the cells of CLL and T-PLL can show overlapping features. Here, we report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with a clinically indolent CLL and T-PLL, initially diagnosed solely and followed as CLL, despite the presence of an associated but unrecognized aberrant T-cell population in blood. After 2 years, the T-PLL component became more apparent with cutaneous and hematologic manifestations and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunophenotypic and cytogenetic analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated an ATM deletion in both CLL and T-PLL components. Retrospective testing demonstrated that composite CLL and T-PLL were both present in skin and lymph nodes as well as in blood and bone marrow since initial presentation. This case is also unique because it highlights that a subset of T-PLL patients can present with clinically indolent disease. The concomitant detection of ATM mutation in CLL and T-PLL components raises the possibility of a common pathogenic mechanism.
Neuroplasticity of the sensorimotor neural network associated with walking aid training in people with multiple sclerosis

The objective of this pilot study was to identify neural descriptors and correlates of participation in a multicomponent walking aid program, the Assistive Device Selection, Training and Education Program (ADSTEP), in people with multiple sclerosis, as reflected by resting state functional MRI. Fourteen people with multiple sclerosis who used a walking aid at baseline and reported falling at least once in the prior year were recruited from the multiple sclerosis clinic in a Veterans Affairs and the surrounding community to participate in a trial of ADSTEP, a multicomponent program of walking aid selection, fitting and six weekly progressive task-oriented walking aid training sessions and undergo resting state functional brain MRI. The functional MRI was performed at baseline and at program completion to assess for changes in neural connectivity of the sensorimotor neural network. Compared to baseline, following ADSTEP participation, functional connectivity between the supplementary motor areas and both the primary somatosensory cortices and the putamen was increased; whereas functional connectivity between the supplementary motor areas and the cerebellum was decreased. This study provides preliminary support for supraspinal sensorimotor neuroplasticity in response to rehabilitation interventions such as task-oriented walking aid training, suggests specific neural targets for future mobility interventions, and supports the need for full-scale randomized controlled trials in this area.
The Nicotine Hypothesis

Abstract We hypothesize that dysfunction of the nicotinic acetylcholinergic neurotransmitter system plays a role in the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of a multitude of nervous and mental disorders and that novel analogues of nicotine will ameliorate both the positive and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and associated conditions. Multiple research findings suggest that nicotine may at least temporarily protect the human nervous system from the development of several neurological and psychiatric conditions. Additionally nicotine appears to reduce the symptoms of some people with certain nervous and mental disorders. Thus, nicotine and nicotine congeners may exert neuroprotective effects in healthy humans and in patients with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. The nicotine hypothesis posits that (1) dysfunction of nicotinic acetylcholinergic neurotransmission plays a key role in the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders and (2) novel therapies utilizing yet undiscovered congeners of nicotine will alleviate the positive and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Estimation of the density and the distribution of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the living human brain may provide (1) a basis to identify individuals at risk for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, (2) a means to quantify the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and (3) a tool to monitor novel targeted treatments. These items support the nicotine hypothesis that dysfunction of the nicotinic system in the brain plays a role in schizophrenia and other neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Reversing the gaze, insiders out, outsiders in: Stories from the ivory tower and the field

Western field-based university research places considerable value on objectivity and distancing researchers from the researched. This proves difficult in circumstances where research is long-term a...
Atomically Defined Nanopropeller Fe3Co6Se8(Ph2PNTol)6: Functional Model for the Electronic Metal–Support Interaction Effect and High Catalytic Activity for Carbodiimide Formation

Atomically defined interfaces that maximize the density of active sites and harness the electronic metal–support interaction are desirable to facilitate challenging multielectron transformations, b...
DROIDS 3.0—Detecting Genetic and Drug Class Variant Impact on Conserved Protein Binding Dynamics

The application of statistical methods to comparatively framed questions about the molecular dynamics (MD) of proteins can potentially enable investigations of biomolecular function beyond the current sequence and structural methods in bioinformatics. However, the chaotic behavior in single MD trajectories requires statistical inference that is derived from large ensembles of simulations representing the comparative functional states of a protein under investigation. Meaningful interpretation of such complex forms of big data poses serious challenges to users of MD. Here, we announce Detecting Relative Outlier Impacts from Molecular Dynamic Simulation (DROIDS) 3.0, a method and software package for comparative protein dynamics that includes maxDemon 1.0, a multimethod machine learning application that trains on large ensemble comparisons of concerted protein motions in opposing functional states generated by DROIDS and deploys learned classifications of these states onto newly generated MD simulations. Local canonical correlations in learning patterns generated from independent, yet identically prepared, MD validation runs are used to identify regions of functionally conserved protein dynamics. The subsequent impacts of genetic and/or drug class variants on conserved dynamics can also be analyzed by deploying the classifiers on variant MD simulations and quantifying how often these altered protein systems display opposing functional states. Here, we present several case studies of complex changes in functional protein dynamics caused by temperature, genetic mutation, and binding interactions with nucleic acids and small molecules. We demonstrate that our machine learning algorithm can properly identify regions of functionally conserved dynamics in ubiquitin and TATA-binding protein (TBP). We quantify the impact of genetic variation in TBP and drug class variation targeting the ATP-binding region of Hsp90 on conserved dynamics. We identify regions of conserved dynamics in Hsp90 that connect the ATP binding pocket to other functional regions. We also demonstrate that dynamic impacts of various Hsp90 inhibitors rank accordingly with how closely they mimic natural ATP binding.
Chapter 34 – The Guinea-pig Model of Legionnaires' Disease

Publisher Summary Legionnaires' disease is a type of acute bacterial pneumonia caused by bacteria of the genus Legionella, most commonly L. pneumophila. L. pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen, which is transmitted to man via water containing the bacterium. The most common route of infection is by aerosol inhalation, although there is also some evidence that microaspiration of contaminated water may on occasion cause the disease. Intraperitoneal inoculation of clinical material into guinea pigs was used for the isolation of Legionella species for several decades before the recognition of legionnaires' disease, when these bacteria were thought to be rickettsia-like bacteria. The guinea-pig model mimics legionnaires' disease as seen in immunocompromised humans, with high untreated fatality rates, and as such lends itself to studies of experimental chemotherapy. Guinea-pig infection is the most often used method to assess the relative virulences of different Legionella bacterial strains, and has also been used to study host immune defenses. Preoperative observation and conditioning of the animals for 4–7 days is required to ensure that all animals are healthy and have recovered from the stress of shipment. Supplementation of guinea-pig food with vitamin C is important to prevent naturally occurring pneumonia. Adequate anesthesia is crucial for the surgical success of this model. A mixture of ketamine and xylazine is given intramuscularly, followed by local anesthesia using lidocaine. Withholding of food or water before anesthetic administration is not required. Adequate ketamine/xylazine anesthesia causes unconsciousness but does not impair the rate or depth of respiration.
Rainout Shelter-Induced Water Deficit Negatively Impacts Peanut Yield and Quality in a Sub-Humid Environment

ABSTRACT Water deficit significantly reduces yield potential of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) worldwide. Availability of drought tolerant cultivars is essential, but their selection is difficult, in...
Freedom and Authority

Mella offers a summary of the differences between libertarians and authoritarians. He also explores the need for laws, how power changes the way people act, and the relationship between authority and dictatorships.
Association of Recreational Cannabis Legalization With Maternal Cannabis Use in the Preconception, Prenatal, and Postpartum Periods

Importance Recent studies have revealed increases in population-level cannabis use after legalization of recreational cannabis. However, the association of cannabis legalization with maternal cannabis use during important life stages remains unknown. Objective To investigate the association of legalization of recreational cannabis with maternal cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods. Design, Setting, and Participants This repeated cross-sectional study used state-level data on women who delivered live-born infants in the US from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from January 2004 to December 2018. Data from 2 states that had legalized recreational cannabis (Alaska and Maine) and 2 states that had not legalized recreational cannabis (New Hampshire and Vermont) were used. Women completed surveys 2 to 6 months after delivery, reporting preconception, prenatal, and postpartum cannabis use. Exposure State recreational cannabis legalization. Main Outcomes and Measures The 3 primary outcomes were self-reported cannabis use during the 12 months before pregnancy (preconception), during pregnancy (prenatal), and the 2 to 6 months after pregnancy (postpartum). A difference-in-differences analysis was used to compare changes in the prevalence of maternal cannabis use during each period before and after state legalization of recreational cannabis, controlling for maternal characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, educational level, income, cigarette smoking, and breastfeeding) and state fixed effects. State-specific survey weights were used. Results The analytic sample included 23 082 women in the preconception period, 23 859 in the prenatal period, and 26 610 in the postpartum period. In each analysis, most women were married (range among all groups, 63.9%-64.8%), aged 25 to 34 years (preconception, 55.4%; prenatal, 55.9%; postpartum, 56.1%), and had an annual household income less than $50 000 (preconception, 55.7%; prenatal, 56.3%; postpartum, 55.5%). In adjusted analyses, preconception and postpartum cannabis use increased significantly in states that had legalized recreational cannabis compared with states that had not legalized it (preconception risk difference, 0.0457 [95% CI, 0.0013-0.0900]; P = .04; postpartum risk difference, 0.0539 [95% CI, 0.0259-0.0818]; P < .001). The risk difference for prenatal cannabis use was not significant (0.0070; 95% CI, -0.0120 to 0.0260; P = .47). Conclusions and Relevance In this repeated cross-sectional study, recreational cannabis legalization was associated with changes in maternal cannabis use before and after pregnancy. The findings suggest that future studies should undertake an interdisciplinary approach to maximize benefit and application of findings to future public health, health care, and policy sectors.
Prefiguring Ontological Theory and Method beyond “The Human”: A Response to Clough’s Discussion of “Kittens in the Clinical Space”

This paper responds to Patricia Clough’s discussion of my “Kittens in the Clinical Space, Expanding Subjectivity through Dense Temporalities of Interspecies, Transcorporeal Becoming,” in this issue...
Impact of daytime light intensity on the central orexin (hypocretin) system of a diurnal rodent (Arvicanthis niloticus)

The neuropeptide orexin/hypocretin is implicated in sleep and arousal, energy expenditure, reward, affective state and cognition. Our previous work using diurnal Nile grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus) found that orexin mediates the effects of environmental light, particularly daytime light intensity, on affective and cognitive behaviours. The present study further investigated how daytime light intensity affects the central orexin system in male and female grass rats. Subjects were housed for 4 weeks in 12:12 hr dim light:dark (50 lux, dimLD) or in 12:12 hr bright light:dark cycle (1000 lux, brightLD). Day/night fluctuations in some orexin measures were also assessed. Despite similar hypothalamic prepro-orexin mRNA expression across all conditions, there were significantly more orexin-immunoreactive neurons, larger somata, greater optical density or higher orexin A content at night (ZT14) than during the day (ZT2), and/or in animals housed in brightLD compared to dimLD. Grass rats in brightLD also had higher cisternal CSF levels of orexin A. Furthermore, orexin receptor OX1R and OX2R proteins in the medial prefrontal cortex were higher in brightLD than dimLD males, but lower in brightLD than dimLD females. In the CA1 and dorsal raphe nucleus, females had higher OX1R than males without any significant effects of light condition, and OX2R levels were unaffected by sex or light. These results reveal that daytime light intensity alters the central orexin system of both male and female diurnal grass rats, sometimes sex-specifically, and provides insight into the mechanisms underlying how daytime light intensity impacts orexin-regulated functions.
Symmetry and Self-Organization of the Oculo-Motor Neural Integrator

Modeling and experiment support the assertion that the oculomotor neural integrator works through positive feedback via reciprocal inhibition. Clinical studies reveal that the integrator is operational immediately after birth, suggesting that it develops prenatally. Using facts and computational techniques from dynamic systems theory, it can be shown that self-organization of the oculomotor neural integrator could occur through the construction during development of symmetrically connected clusters of neurons. This method is neurobiologically plausible and robust, and networks designed using it reproduce the dynamics observed for brainstem neurons that are part of the actual oculomotor neural integrator.
12 - Murine and Guinea Pig Models of Tuberculosis

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews murine and guinea pig models of tuberculosis. Mice are the most widely used small animal model because of the broad availability of immunological reagents, relatively low cost and the availability of inbred and genetically engineered strains with well-defined genotypes. The one notable disadvantage of the mouse model is that the pulmonary and extra-pulmonary pathology following aerosol challenge lacks important morphologic features that are commonly seen in humans with untreated tuberculosis. To model these aspects the guinea pig low-dose aerosol infection model is developed because it shares these clinical features with the human disease. Further, the chapter highlights measuring the cellular response. Measuring the immune response to mycobacterial infections is now common place. It describes simple methods to detect responses by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), by various ELISA-based methods and by flow cytometry.
Some Remarks on Transportation Cost and Related Inequalities

We discuss transportation cost inequalities for uniform measures on convex bodies, and connections with other geometric and functional inequalities. In particular, we show how transportation inequalities can be applied to the slicing problem, and give a new log-Sobolev-type inequality for bounded domains in R^n.
Management and outcome of Class A diabetes mellitus

Patients who have a normal fasting serum glucose (FSG) and an abnormal glucose tolerance test, and who require little dietary regulation, have been designated as Class A diabetics by White. During the period 1970 through 1972, 261 Class A women were delivered at Los Angeles County (LAC) Women's Hospital. These patients were managed by a uniform protocol which included dietary supervision and continued surveillance for the onset of overt diabetes. Elective intervention prior to 40 weeks' gestation was to be avoided. Twenty-five per cent of the Class A patients--those who had had a previous stillbirth or who developed pre-clampsia--were considered at greater risk for perinatal death and were managed as if they had overt diabetes. The perinatal death rate for the entire Class A group was 19/1,000 as compared to 32/1,000 in the general population. Five perinatal deaths occurred, three associated with congenital malformations. There were no unexplained stillbirths or deaths due to trauma or iatrogenic prematurity. Our data thus indicate that as long as the FSG remains normal, an unexplained intrauterine death is a rare event. Twenty-five per cent of the infants did experience some morbidity.
Working through the patent problem

Interviews with personnel from firms, universities, and other organizations indicate that biomedical research typically proceeds despite challenges posed by a growing number of patents on research tools. Respondents address these challenges with licensing, inventing around patents, going offshore, the development and use of public databases and research tools, court challenges, and simply using the technology without a license (i.e., infringement), often informally invoking a de facto broad "research exemption."
Benign tumors and tumorlike conditions of the lung.

Abstract Context.—Benign tumors and tumorlike conditions of the lung are encountered in the pathologic evaluation of asymptomatic and symptomatic lung nodules. Since many of these lesions are uncommon, they can be diagnostically challenging. Objective.—To review the current classification of benign lung tumors, with emphasis on histopathology and useful ancillary studies. Data Sources.—The current World Health Organization classification system for lung neoplasms and review of relevant publications. Conclusions.—Despite improved imaging techniques, benign lung nodules are encountered in wedge biopsy and resection specimens. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular techniques ensure accurate pathologic diagnosis and have shed light on the histogenesis of these unusual lesions.
A semi-implicit integration scheme for a combined viscoelastic-damage model of plastic bonded explosives

SUMMARY This paper presents a new implementation of a constitutive model commonly used to represent plastic bonded explosives in finite element simulations of thermomechanical response. The constitutive model, viscoSCRAM, combines linear viscoelasticity with isotropic damage evolution. The original implementation was focused on short duration transient events; thus, an explicit update scheme was used. For longer duration simulations that employ significantly larger time step sizes, the explicit update scheme is inadequate. This work presents a new semi-implicit update scheme suitable for simulations using relatively large time steps. The algorithm solves a nonlinear system of equations to ensure that the stress, damaged state, and internal stresses are in agreement with implicit update equations at the end of each increment. The crack growth is advanced in time using a sub-incremental explicit scheme; thus, the entire implementation is semi-implicit. The theory is briefly discussed along with previous explicit integration schemes. The new integration algorithm and its implementation into the finite element code, Abaqus, are detailed. Finally, the new and old algorithms are compared via simulations of uniaxial compression and beam bending. The semi-implicit scheme has been demonstrated to provide higher accuracy for a given allocated computational time for the quasistatic cases considered here. Published 2014. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Transcriptional and post-translational modifications of B-Raf in quinol-thioether induced tuberous sclerosis renal cell carcinoma

Increased activity of B-Raf has been identified in approximately 7% of human cancers. Treatment of Eker rats (Tsc-2(EK/+) ), bearing a mutation in one allele of the tuberous sclerosis-2 (Tsc-2) gene, with the nephrocarcinogen 2,3,5-tris-(glutathion-S-yl) hydroquinone (TGHQ) results in loss of the wild-type allele of Tsc-2 in renal preneoplastic lesions and tumors. These tumors have increased protein expression of B-Raf, C-Raf (Raf-1), and increased expression and activity of ERK kinase. Similar changes are observed in Raf kinases following TGHQ-mediated transformation of primary renal epithelial cells derived from Tsc-2(EK/+) rats (QTRRE cells), cells that are also null for tuberin. Herein, we utilized LC-MS/MS to identify constitutive phosphorylation of S345 and S483 in both 100- and 95-kDa forms of B-Raf in QTRRE cells. Using microRotofor liquid-phase isoelectric focusing, we identified four fractions of B-Raf that contain different post-translational modification profiles in QTRRE cells. Amplification of the kinase domain of B-Raf from QTRRE cells, outer-stripe of the outer medulla of 8-month TGHQ- or vehicle-treated Tsc-2(+/+) and Tsc-2(EK/+) rats, as well as tumors excised from 8-month TGHQ-treated Tsc-2(EK/+) rats revealed three splice variants of B-Raf within the kinase domain. These splice variants differed by approximately 340, 544, and 600 bp; confirmed by sequencing. No point mutations within the kinase domain of B-Raf were identified. In addition, B-Raf/Raf-1/14-3-3 complex formation in the QTRRE cells was decreased by sorafenib, with concomitant selective decreases in p-ERK levels. Transcriptional and post-translational characterization of critical kinases, such as B-Raf, may contribute to the progression of tuberous sclerosis RCC. (246/250) © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Massive air embolus to the left ventricle: Diagnosis and monitoring by serial echocardiography

Air embolization is an unusual but potentially dangerous complication in left heart catheterization. Microbubbles can be detected with two-dimensional echocardiography, which is often used for this purpose during open heart and bypass surgeries. Permanent neurologic sequelae and hemodynamic collapse can result from embolization of air bubbles to the cerebral and coronary circulations, respectively. Hyperbaric oxygen is the treatment of choice for cerebral air embolization. We present a 39-year-old man who had air embolization during left ventriculography in the form of a large pocket of "pooled" air. The patient was treated with conservative therapy successfully. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was used to document the presence of the air and follow its dissolution.
ACTIVATION WITHOUT A VITAL INGREDIENT

The complicated machinery that initiates transcription of protein-coding genes contains components, known as TAFs, that are held to be generally required for gene activation. Experiments in vivo change that view.
Comments on “A Comparison of Tropical and Midlatitude Thunderstorm Evolution in Response to Wind Shear”

In a recent paper, Wissmeier and Goler (2009, hereafter WG09) presented the results of a numerical experiment meant to examine the different potential for convective storm splitting in the tropics versus the midlatitudes. WG09 found that simulated storms in tropical environments were less likely to undergo classical supercellular splitting because the storms’ outflow quickly spread out and cut the storms off from their source of inflow before the splitting process could occur. The main conclusion reached by WG09 is that higher vertical wind shear values are necessary for storm splitting to occur in the tropics than in the midlatitudes because the comparatively large vertical wind shear weakens and delays the convective outflow produced by storms. These are thought-provoking results and conclusions, but they hinge on some questionable assumptions and choices in the experimental design. The purpose of the present comment is to document and discuss several aspects of the study that bias WG09’s results and diminish the generality of their conclusions.
Modelling across millennia: Interdisciplinary paths to ancient socio-ecological systems

Agent-based modelling provides a means for understanding both contemporary and future systems, and also the archaeological past. This article explores the appeal of agent-based modelling for understanding archaeological societies. Taken from the 2011 American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings, this paper and the following papers help advance our understanding of both real and modelled systems.
Risk factors for aminoglycoside-associated nephrotoxicity in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Background : Aminoglycosides are commonly used antibiotics in the intensive care unit (ICU), but are associated with nephrotoxicity. This study evaluated the development of aminoglycoside-associated nephrotoxicity (AAN) in a single surgical intensive care unit. Materials and Methods : Adult patients in our surgical ICU who received more than two doses of aminoglycosides were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, serum creatinine, receipt of nephrotoxins [angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, vasopressors, vancomycin and intravenous iodinated contrast] and the need for dialysis. AAN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine >0.5 mg/dL on at least 2 consecutive days. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed. Results : Sixty-one patients (43 males) receiving aminoglycoside were evaluated. Mean age, weight, initial serum creatinine, and duration of aminoglycoside therapy were 58.7 (±15) years, 83.3 (±24.4) kg, 0.9 (±0.5) mg/dL, and 4 (±2.3) days, respectively. Thirty-one (51%) aminoglycoside recipients also received additional nephrotoxins. Seven aminoglycoside recipients (11.5%) developed AAN, four of whom required dialysis and all had received additional nephrotoxins. Only concurrent use of vasopressors (P = 0.041) and vancomycin (P = 0.002) were statistically associated with AAN. Receipt of vasopressors or vancomycin were independent predictors of acute kidney insufficiency (AKI) with odds ratios of 19.9 (95% CI: 1.6-245, P = 0.019) and 49.8 (95% CI: 4.1-602, P = 0.002), respectively. Four patients (6.6%) required dialysis. Conclusions : In critically ill surgical patients receiving aminoglycosides, AAN occurred in 11.5% of the patients. Concurrent use of aminoglycosides with other nephrotoxins increased the risk of AAN.
An Overview of the Political Regime Change Dataset

This article describes the conceptual foundations and coding procedures used in developing the Political Regime Change Dataset. This dataset identifies the dates of transition among democratic, semidemocratic, authoritarian, and transitional regimes in the 97 largest Third World countries, covering periods beginning with the date at which each country became independent or established a modern state and continuing through 1992. These transition dates can be used to generate time series indicating which of these types of regime existed in each country at any given time during the periods covered by the dataset. This article gives the distribution of regime changes across time and geographical regions and compares the Political Regime Change Dataset with several other widely used measures of regimes. A complete listing of the data is included in the appendix.
Blood nicotine, smoke exposure and tobacco withdrawal symptoms☆

Abstract The relationship between tobacco withdrawal symptoms and pre- and post-cigarette blood nicotine levels, pre-cigarette cotinine levels, change in nicotine level from pre- to post-cigarette, half-life for nicotine, and total smoke exposure was examined in 20 smokers. Subjects' reports of craving for cigaretts were significantly related to blood nicotine/cotinine levels and change in nicotine level from pre- to post-cigarette; questionnaire measures of confusion and number of awakenings during sleep was related to half-life for nicotine; and number of awakenings during sleep was related to behavioral measures of total smoke exposure. These results suggests some symptoms of tobacco withdrawal are related to nicotine deprivation while others are not.
Smoothing in occupational cohort studies: an illustration based on penalised splines.

Aims: To illustrate the contribution of smoothing methods to modelling exposure-response data, Cox models with penalised splines were used to reanalyse lung cancer risk in a cohort of workers exposed to silica in California’s diatomaceous earth industry. To encourage application of this approach, computer code is provided. Methods: Relying on graphic plots of hazard ratios as smooth functions of exposure, the sensitivity of the curve to amount of smoothing, length of the exposure lag, and the influence of the highest exposures was evaluated. Trimming and data transformations were used to down-weight influential observations. Results: The estimated hazard ratio increased steeply with cumulative silica exposure before flattening and then declining over the sparser regions of exposure. The curve was sensitive to changes in degrees of freedom, but insensitive to the number or location of knots. As the length of lag increased, so did the maximum hazard ratio, but the shape was similar. Deleting the two highest exposed subjects eliminated the top half of the range and allowed the hazard ratio to continue to rise. The shape of the splines suggested a parametric model with log hazard as a linear function of log transformed exposure would fit well. Conclusions: This flexible statistical approach reduces the dependence on a priori assumptions, while pointing to a suitable parametric model if one exists. In the absence of an appropriate parametric form, however, splines can provide exposure-response information useful for aetiological research and public health intervention.
Electronic interfaces switchable by logically processed multiple biochemical and physiological signals

Interdisciplinary research integrating biochemistry, electrochemistry, materials science and unconventional computer science has resulted in the development of electrodes and semiconductor devices functionalized with stimuli-responsive materials. Their coupling to biomolecular information processing systems allows biological control of electronics. Biochemical signals logically processed by cascades of enzyme-biocatalyzed reactions have enabled pre-programmed switching of bioelectronic interfaces. Concentration changes of biomarkers signaling medical dysfunctions have been transduced to amplified electronic signals at switchable bioelectronic interfaces. Multi-signal biosensors and switchable biofuel cells controlled by biochemical signals have thus been realized.
Recombination lifetime using the pulsed MOS capacitor

The pulsed MOS capacitor is routinely used to measure the generation lifetime. A new technique is described here in which the same device is used to obtain the recombination lifetime. The measurement technique is identical to the commonly used pulsed C-t method except that the device is operated at an elevated temperature of 70- 100°C, where quasi-neutral current originating below the space-charge region dominates over space-charge region currents. The new technique, coupled with established techniques, makes possible the simultaneous determination of τ g and τ r .
Mechanism of photoinhibition of photosynthetic water oxidation by chloride depletion and fluoride substitution: oxidation of a protein residue

New evidence on the chloride requirement for photosynthetic O2 evolution has indicated that Cl- facilitates oxidation of the manganese cluster by the photosystem II (PSII) Tyr-Z+ radical. Illumination above 250 K of spinach PSII centers which are inhibited in O2 evolution by either Cl- depletion or F- substitution produces a new EPR signal which has magnetic characteristics similar to one recently discovered in samples inhibited by depletion of Ca2+ only [Boussac et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 8984; Sivaraja et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 9459]. The physiological roles of Cl- and Ca2+ in water oxidation are thus linked. The characteristics include a nearly isotropic g = 2.00 +/- 0.005, a symmetric line shape with line width = 16 +/- 2 mT, almost stoichiometric spin concentration relative to Try-D+ = 0.6 +/- 0.3 spin/PSII, very rapid spin relaxation at all temperatures measured down to 6 K, and an undetectable change in magnetic susceptibility upon formation (less than 1 mu B2). The signal appears to originate from a spin doublet (radical) in magnetic dipolar contact with a transition-metal ion, most probably a photooxidized protein residue within 10 A of the Mn cluster (Mn-proximal radical). It is distinct from the three other protein-bound radical-type electron donors found in the PSII reaction center: Tyr-D+, Tyr-Z+, and C+. This signal photoaccumulates to a stable level under continuous illumination at 270 K and decays only after illumination stops.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Critical densities from coexisting density data: application to refrigerants R22, R134a, and R124

Abstract Based on a mass balance and the behavior of the critical liquid volume fraction, appropriate forms of the rectilinear diameter for coexisting densities are dervied. For the refrigerants R22, R134a, and R124, a single temperature-dependent term in the rectilinear diameter was necessary to fit experimental vapor and liquid coexisting densities to determine the critical density. Internal consistency tests of coexistence density data and critical density values are developed. Critical density values for R22, R134a, and R124 are in good agreement with published values and with values calculated from published coexistence density data. Critical density values found in this study are 523.65 &+- 1.07 kg m 3 for R22, 513.02 &+- 1.98 kg m 3 for R134a, and 559.76 &+- 1.54 kg m 3 for R124.