cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizing Principles for Development of Primate Cerebral Cortex

If the elegant and detailed experiments presented at this meeting have taught us any lesson it is that we cannot explain brain development solely in reductionist terms by dealing with minute details of its component elements and without giving a proper account of properties of the system as a whole. In my presentation, I will emphasize development of the cellular and modular organization of the primate neocortex where the principle of integrality can readily be appreciated. The accumulated evidence indicates that precise neuronal organization of such a complex cellular structure depends, to a large degree, on epigenetic or intercellular rather than in rigid genetic ‘intracellular’ developmental programs. Here I am using the term epigenesis in Waddington’s definition to denote a process by which “development is brought about through a series of control interactions between the various parts” (Waddington, 1956).
A memetic approach for the knowledge extraction

This paper provides a memetic approach in order to extract comprehensible and accurate classification rules. Indeed to construct a model of classification we need to extract not only accurate rules but comprehensible also, to help the human interpretation of the model and the decision make process. In this paper we describe a purely genetic approach, then a tabu search approach and finaly a memetic algorithm to extract classification rules. The memetic approach is a hybridization of a genetic algorithm and a local search based on a tabu search algorithm. Many conducted tests on the well-known UCI (University of California Irvine) benchmarks are presented and a comparative study of the obtained results with the three approaches is also presented. The paper will conclude by giving a discussion on the obtained results for the three approaches and some future works.
Persulfate oxidizing system for biomass pretreatment and process optimization

Abstract The functions of radicals in the pretreatment of lignocellulose remain a fascinating topic about which there are more questions than answers. The effect of persulfate-based radical species on lignin degradation and carbohydrate yield was investigated. Wheat straw was pretreated with three persulfate activation systems which generated OH•, SO42−•, and O2•−. Radical species were monitored using nitrobenzene, anisole, and hexachloroethane, respectively. Pretreatment variables affecting sugar yield were optimized by using the response surface method based on central composite design. Enzymatic hydrolysis and compositional analysis were performed to quantify changes in biomass composition, lignin removal, and glucan yield. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the effect of pretreatment on biomass structure. The maximum sugar yields were 66.8%, 49.4%, and 41.7% in base, heat, and hydrogen peroxide activated persulfate, separately, while untreated material showed only 3.7% glucan yield. The radical analysis confirmed the existence of radicals in these three systems. The results from compositional analysis and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopic provided proof that parts of lignin and hemicellulose were degraded after the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy indicted that radical pretreatment converted the smooth surface of wheat straw to that of scattered, uneven morphology. Base-activated persulfate, capable of producing sulfate radical, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion radical was demonstrated as an efficient radical system to treat biomass.
ReEL: Review Aware Explanation of Location Recommendation

The Location-Based Social Networks (LBSN) (e.g., Facebook, etc.) have many attributes (e.g., ratings, reviews, etc.) that play a crucial role for the Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendations. Unlike ratings, the reviews can help users to elaborate their consumption experience in terms of relevant factors of interest (aspects). Though some of the existing systems have exploited user reviews, most of them are less transparent and non-interpretable (as they conceal the reason behind recommendation). These reasons have motivated us towards explainable and interpretable recommendation. To the best of our knowledge, only a few of the researchers have exploited user reviews to incorporate the sentiment and opinions on different aspects for personalized and explainable POI recommendation. This paper proposes a model termed as ReEL (Review aware Explanation of Location Recommendation) which models the review-aspect correlation by exploiting deep neural network, formulates user-aspect bipartite relation as a bipartite graph, and models the explainable recommendation by using dense subgraph extraction and ranking-based techniques. The major contributions of this paper are: (i) it models users and POIs using the aspects posted on user reviews, and it provisions incorporation of multiple contexts (e.g., categorical, spatial, etc.) in POI recommendation, (ii) it formulates preference of users' on aspects as a bipartite relation, represents it as a location-aspect bipartite graph, and models the explainable recommendation with the notion of ordered dense subgraph extraction using bipartite cores, shingles, and ranking-based techniques, and (iii) it extensively evaluates the proposed models using three real-world datasets and demonstrates an improvement of 5.8% to 29.5% on F-score metric, when compared to the relevant studies.
Chapter 22 Public-sector labor markets

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses public-sector labor markets. One unique aspect of public-sector labor markets is that the laws governing impasse resolution vary across states. This provides an opportunity for researchers to estimate their effects on union/nonunion wage differentials, on wage levels, on the demand for labor, and on public/private pay differentials. However, other aspects of the legal environment that influence bargaining also differ across states; these include budget referenda requirements, expenditure and/or tax limitation legislation, balanced budget requirements, and agency shop provisions. Studies are required that consider all of these forces simultaneously and allow for the possibility that many of them are endogenously determined. A second unique aspect is that the unit of observation in public-sector studies often tends to be a bargaining unit, and the underlying union contracts in areas where bargaining takes place are typically available to researchers. Third, in spite of the rapid growth of collective bargaining in the public sector and the variety of institutional arrangements for determining wages in the sector, many studies of public-sector labor markets make no mention of the role of unions and/or the effects of the institutional arrangements.
Effects of Multicomponent Hydrocarbon Feed on Hydrocarbon Adsorption–Desorption and Oxidation Light-Off Behavior on a Pd/BEA Hydrocarbon Trap

A model hydrocarbon trap material consisting of palladium promoted zeolite beta on a monolith core was studied with a multicomponent hydrocarbon feed. Dodecane and ethylene adsorption, followed by temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), was used in the presence of CO in wet and dry conditions to study the impact of various species on hydrocarbon storage, oxidation, and desorption. Low temperature adsorption experiments were used to quantify hydrocarbon storage capacity, while temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and TPO studies were used to investigate both oxidation and desorption of the various hydrocarbon species. The low temperature adsorption experiments suggest a moderate impact of water on dodecane uptake as dry experiments adsorbed more dodecane overall than those under wet conditions. Additionally, the presence of CO and ethylene also impaired dodecane uptake. TPD studies indicated a coupled relationship between hydrocarbon oxidation light-off and desorption. By varying the composition of the feed, specifically via the inclusion of CO or ethylene, dodecane oxidation light-off was delayed, which actually increased the overall hydrocarbon trap efficiency.
A Robust Linear Control Strategy to Enhance Damping of a Series Elastic Actuator on a Collaborative Robot

Dealing with the physical interaction between humans and robots, Series Elastic Actuators (SEAs) are identified as one solution to overcome many limits, such as reducing contact forces or detect collisions. Nevertheless, the low-damping dynamic of a SEA can lead to undesired behaviours, especially during particular applications where a high level of precision is required. In this paper, a linear control architecture to enhance the damping performance of a SEA is presented. The proposed structure consists in a cascade control where loops are regulated using three types of controllers: PI, PD and a generalized controller specifically designed to damp oscillations. A frequency-domain approach with related constraints could not satisfy the time-domain goal in term of oscillation damping, for this reason an optimization problem able to consider them both is taken into account. A robust design is mandatory to the model mismatch introduced by neglecting coupling between motor. Therefore, robustness constraints are introduced in the optimization procedure. Indeed, the effectiveness of the control architecture is tested on a real compliant robot with six degrees of freedom equipped with as many SEAs. Each test aims to highlight the damping performance of the controlled system while the robot performs various tasks or it is subject to external disturbances.
A Case of Essential Thrombocythemia and IgA Nephropathy with Literature Review of the Concurrence

Myeloproliferative neoplasms such as essential thrombocythemia (ET) have been associated with glomerular disease on rare instances. A case of ET associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is described in a 57-year-old man with a history of hypertension. Progressively worsening renal function was noted in the patient along with unexplained mild thrombocytosis. Pathological review of renal biopsy identified IgAN concurrently with newly diagnosed JAK2-mutated ET. The patient was started on aspirin therapy and closely monitored for his renal function. A literature review of the association of ET and renal disease revealed nine cases of ET associated with IgAN, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Comparison of the pathological features of the renal biopsies within the cases noted mesangial proliferation as a common finding, which has been described to be potentiated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). This commonality may represent a link between ET and glomerular disease which deserves further attention in future cases. Improved management of such cases depends on the recognition of the combined occurrence of ET and glomerular diseases and uncovering the shared pathogenesis between platelets and glomeruli.
Diagnostic yield of intravascular ultrasound in patients with clinical signs and symptoms of lower extremity venous disease.

Abstract Background Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination has a higher sensitivity compared with venography in the assessment of obstructive venous disease. However, at most venous centers, both modalities continue to be used concomitantly. This study evaluated the diagnostic clinical yield of IVUS examination as a singular intraoperative investigative modality in patients in whom clinical signs and symptoms of venous disease were severe enough to merit such an examination and in whom a venogram was not performed simultaneously. Methods From January, 2013, to December, 2018, there were 31 limbs (29 patients) who only had IVUS planimetry without concomitant venogram. Clinical parameters such as pain, swelling and Venous Clinical Severity Score were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. The degree of stenosis noted on intraoperative IVUS was compared with the preoperative duplex. Incidence of complications, technical success, and clinical yield of IVUS examination were noted. Results The etiology of venous lesion was post thrombotic in the majority of patients (74%). All patients (100%) were either in Clinical, Etiologic, Anatomic, and Pathologic class C3 or higher. In all patients (100%) taken to the operating room, IVUS examination identified stenosis in at least one of the following three veins: common iliac vein, external iliac vein, and common femoral vein. Intervention was in the form of angioplasty with endovenous stenting. There was significant improvement in pain, swelling and Venous Clinical Severity Score after the intervention. Conclusions IVUS is an effective diagnostic tool that displays high quality, real-time cross-sectional anatomy during venous interventions. When used as the sole intraoperative diagnostic modality, it seems to have a high clinical yield in patients in whom signs and symptoms of venous disease are severe enough to merit intervention.
Hemispheric asymmetry in the human brain and in Parkinson’s disease is linked to divergent epigenetic patterns in neurons

Hemispheric asymmetry in neuronal processes is a fundamental feature of the human brain and drives symptom lateralization in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but its molecular determinants are unknown. Here, we identify divergent epigenetic patterns involved in hemispheric asymmetry by profiling DNA methylation in isolated prefrontal cortex neurons from control and PD brain hemispheres. DNA methylation is fine-mapped at enhancers and promoters, genome-wide, by targeted bisulfite sequencing in two independent sample cohorts. We find that neurons of the human prefrontal cortex exhibit hemispheric differences in DNA methylation. Hemispheric asymmetry in neuronal DNA methylation patterns is largely mediated by differential CpH methylation, and chromatin conformation analysis finds that it targets thousands of genes. With aging, there is a loss of hemispheric asymmetry in neuronal epigenomes, such that hemispheres epigenetically converge in late life. In neurons of PD patients, hemispheric asymmetry in DNA methylation is greater than in controls and involves many PD risk genes. Epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic differences between PD hemispheres correspond to the lateralization of PD symptoms, with abnormalities being most prevalent in the hemisphere matched to side of symptom predominance. Hemispheric asymmetry and symptom lateralization in PD is linked to genes affecting neurodevelopment, immune activation, and synaptic transmission. PD patients with a long disease course have greater hemispheric asymmetry in neuronal epigenomes than those with a short disease course. Hemispheric differences in DNA methylation patterns are prevalent in neurons and may affect the progression and symptoms of PD.
Whose Dance Is It Anyway?: Property, Copyright and the Commons:

Until recently, dance was not considered to warrant copyright protection because it existed only as a live performance that was not fixed in a ‘tangible medium of expression’. Not being an object, ...
A prospective comparative study of routine versus deferred pelvic drain placement after radical prostatectomy: impact on complications and opioid use.

To evaluate the association of post-RP drain placement with post-operative complications and opioid use at a high-volume institution. A prospective, comparative cohort study of patients undergoing robot-assisted or open RP was conducted. Patients for two surgeons did not routinely receive pelvic drains (“No Drain” arm), while the remainder routinely placed drains (“Drain” arm). Outcomes were evaluated at 30 days including Clavien–Dindo complications and opioid use. Intention-to-treat primary analysis and additional secondary analyses were performed using appropriate statistical tests and logistic regression. Of 498 total patients, 144 (28.9%) were in the No Drain arm (all robot-assisted) and 354 (71.1%) in the Drain arm. In the No Drain arm, 19 (13.2%) intraoperatively were chosen to receive drains. There was no difference in overall or major (Clavien ≥ 3) complications between groups (p = 0.2 and 0.4, respectively). Drain deferral did not predict complications on multivariable analysis adjusted for age, BMI, comorbidities, clinical risk, surgical approach, operating time, lymphadenectomy, and number of nodes removed [OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.34–1.11, p = 0.10]; nor did it predict symptomatic fluid collection, adjusting for lymphadenectomy and nodes removed [OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.43–3.60, p = 0.8]. Drain deferral did not decrease opioid use (p = 0.5). Per protocol analysis and restriction to robot-assisted cases demonstrated similar results. There was no difference in adverse events, complications, symptomatic collections, or opioid use with deferral of routine drain placement after RP. Experienced surgeons may safely defer drain placement in the majority of robot-assisted RP cases.
Thermal Ablation, Embolization, and Selective Internal Radiation Therapy Combined with Checkpoint Inhibitor Cancer Immunotherapy: Safety Analysis

Abstract Purpose To describe interventional oncology therapies combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy targeting the programmed death 1 pathway in patients with different neoplasms. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent tumor-directed thermal ablation, embolization, or selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) between January 1, 2011, and May 1, 2019, and received anti–programmed death 1/PD-L1 agents ≤ 90 days before or ≤ 30 days after the interventional procedure. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and procedural complications ≤ 90 days after the procedure were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. The study included 65 eligible patients (49% female; age 63 years ± 11.1). The most common tumors were metastatic melanoma (n = 28) and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (n = 12). Patients underwent 78 procedures (12 patients underwent > 1 procedure), most frequently SIRT (35.9%) and cryoablation (28.2%). The most common target organs were liver (46.2%), bone (24.4%), and lung (9.0%). Most patients received ICI monotherapy with pembrolizumab (n = 30), nivolumab (n = 22), and atezolizumab (n = 6); 7 patients received ipilimumab and nivolumab. Results Seven (10.8%) patients experienced an irAE (71.4% grade 1–2), mostly affecting the skin. Median time to irAE was 33 days (interquartile range, 19–38 days). Five irAEs occurred in patients with melanoma, and no irAEs occurred in patients with NSCLC. Management required corticosteroids (n = 3) and immunotherapy discontinuation (n = 1); all irAEs resolved to grade ≤ 1. There were 4 intraprocedural and 32 postprocedural complications (77.8% grade Conclusions No unmanageable or unanticipated toxicities occurred within 90 days after interventional oncology therapies combined with ICIs.
SNOPA and the PPA: Do You Know What it Means for You? If SNOPA (Social Networking Online Protection Act) or PPA (Password Protection Act) Do Not Pass, the Snooping Could Cause You Trouble

Overview of the need for proposed legislation that would afford protection for applicants to avoid being forced to provide their credentials to potential employers and/or schools for access to the applicants' social networking profiles.
Changes in cigarillo availability following implementation of a local flavoured tobacco sales restriction.

Introduction Providence, Rhode Island (RI) was among the first US jurisdictions to enact a policy (effective 3 January 2013) restricting the retail sale of non-cigarette tobacco products with a characterising flavour other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen. We used scanner data to assess the impact of this sales restriction on retail availability of cigarillos, flavoured and otherwise, in Providence and a rest-of-state (ROS) comparison area. Methods Every unique cigarillo product—each indicated by a universal product code (UPC)—available for sale in RI from January 2012 to December 2016 was assigned to an exclusive flavour-name category (tobacco; explicit or concept flavour; or menthol/mint) based on characteristics in the scanner dataset and, as necessary, information from online websites. We calculated weekly unique cigarillo UPC counts and market share by flavour category and used difference-in-difference regression to assess prepolicy and postpolicy changes in counts and share in Providence relative to ROS. Results The prepolicy to postpolicy decrease in the number of unique cigarillo products available in Providence was 28.64 (±5.83) UPCs greater than the comparable decrease in ROS (p Conclusions After policy implementation, Providence consumers were exposed to fewer cigarillo UPCs but a greater variety and proportion of concept-named flavoured cigarillos in the retail marketplace.
Positivity-preserving and energy-dissipative finite difference schemes for the Fokker-Planck and Keller-Segel equations.

In this work, we introduce semi-implicit or implicit finite difference schemes for the continuity equation with a gradient flow structure. Examples of such equations include the linear Fokker-Planck equation and the Keller-Segel equations. The two proposed schemes are first order accurate in time, explicitly solvable, and second order and fourth order accurate in space, which are obtained via finite difference implementation of the classical continuous finite element method. The fully discrete schemes are proven positivity-preserving and energy-dissipative: the second order scheme can achieve so unconditionally; the fourth order scheme only requires a mild time step and mesh size constraint. Furthermore, the fourth order scheme is the first high order spatial discretization that can achieve both positivity and energy decay properties, which is suitable for long time simulation and to obtain accurate steady state solutions.
A novel dc-offset cancellation technique for even-harmonic direct conversion receivers

We present a novel dc-offset cancellation technique in antiparallel diode pair even-harmonic mixers for direct conversion receivers. Using fundamental equations we describe the contributions of diode mismatch to dc-offset and present a novel method for dc-offset cancellation using the 2/sup nd/ harmonic of the LO. Measurements confirm the equations and verify complete dc-offset cancellation using the proposed method.
Some Considerations of Film Cooling for Rocket Motors

It is demonstrated experimentally tha t increasing the film-cooled length of a cylindrical sect ion requires more t h a n a proportional increase in the film-coolant How rate. It is shown that if the heat transfer rate to the l iquid film is known, an ideal film-coolant flow rate may readily be calculated, which is proportional to the average filmcooled length . The actual film-coolant flow rate may then be determined from the graphs presented in the paper. Circumferential variations in the length of the l iquid film are taken into account by means of the profile effectiveness which depends upon the design of the film-coolant injector and the m a i n propellant injector. A method for es t imat ing the heat transfer to the film coolant is presented. Experimental data are also presented for the loss in specific impulse when water is used as the filmcoolant. The rocket motor experiments reported herein were conducted wi th a 500-lb-thrust, 500-psia combust ion pressure rocket motor using white fuming nitric acid and jet engine fuel (JP-4) as the propellants.
The Neuritogenic Effect of Gangliosides in Cell Culture

Gangliosides have long been suspected of playing a key role in neuronal differentiation, owing in part to the striking changes in concentration and pattern that have been shown to occur in vivo (for review: Ledeen, 1983). The same phenomenon has been observed in vitro, e.g. with primary neuronal cultures from 8-day-old chick embryonic brain (Dreyfus et al, 1980). The endogenous gangliosides of these neurons showed two discrete phases: the first involving cell division, in which ganglioside content increased only slightly while retaining a relatively simple pattern, and a second corresponding to cell maturation in which total content increased markedly due to appearance and rapid accumulation of ganglio-type structures*. Similar observations have been made with primary neuronal cultures from fetal rat hippocampus (Seifert and Fink, 1984). The discovery that exogenously administered gangliosides have neuritogenic and neuronotrophic properties, capable of influencing neuronal differentiation in vitro and neuronal repair in vivo (for review: Ledeen, 1984) has provided new paradigms for studying this aspect of ganglioside function. One approach to the general question of mechanism is to study the effects of structural variation, i.e. the range of gangliosides and ganglioside-related structures that produce neuritogenesis in culture. We report here initial findings in which we employed primarily neuroblastoma cells as the test system.
SPECTRAL SPATIALIZATION - AN OVERVIEW

Several frequency-domain spatialization techniques ranging from spectral delays to the use of emergent systems for the mapping of more sophisticated spatial movements are described and a recently developed stochastic spatializaion technique is also presented. Interface design considerations are described and perceptual issues of spectral spatialization are discussed throughout. Musical applications of the techniques by the author and by other composers are also
α-1 adrenergic input to solitary nucleus neurones: calcium oscillations, excitation and gastric reflex control

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) processes substantial visceral afferent input and sends divergent projections to a wide array of CNS targets. The NST is essential to the maintenance of behavioural and autonomic homeostasis and is the source, as well as the recipient, of considerable noradrenergic (NE) projections. The significance of NE projections from the NST to other CNS regions has long been appreciated, but the nature of NE action on NST neurones themselves, especially on the α-1 receptor subtype, is controversial. We used a combination of methodologies to establish, systematically, the effects and cellular basis of action of the α-1 agonist, phenylephrine (PHE), to control NST neurones responsible for vago-vagal reflex regulation of the stomach. Immunocytochemical and retrograde tracing studies verified that the area postrema, A2, A5, ventrolateral medulla and locus coeruleus regions are sources of catecholaminergic input to the NST. In vivo electrophysiological recordings showed that PHE activates physiologically identified, second-order gastric sensory NST neurones. In vivo microinjection of PHE onto NST neurones caused a significant reduction in gastric tone. Finally, in vitro calcium imaging studies revealed that PHE caused dramatic cytosolic calcium oscillations in NST neurones. These oscillations are probably the result of an interplay between agonist-induced and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-mediated intracellular calcium release and Ca2+-ATPase control of intracellular calcium storage pumps. The oscillations persisted even in perfusions of zero calcium–EGTA Krebs solution suggesting that the calcium oscillation is mediated principally by intracellular calcium release–reuptake mechanisms. Cyclical activation of the NST may function to increase the responsiveness of these neurones to incoming afferent input (i.e., elevate the ‘gain’). An increase in gain of afferent input may cause an amplification of the response part of the reflex and help explain the powerful effects that α-1 agonists have in suppressing gastric motility and producing anorexia.
Mehr Daten, andere Sichten geben uns mehr Sinn

Was nicht als Zahl oder Faktum klar vor Augen liegt, existiert in dieser Zeit nicht recht. Wer aber nicht zufrieden ist, nur so wenig von der Welt sehen zu durfen, muss also beginnen, endlich das Wesentliche auch in Zahlen zu fassen. Dann ist es da.
Fischer and Ravizza on Moral Sanity and Weakness of Will

This essay evaluates John Martin Fischer and Mark Ravizza'smature semi-compatibilist account of moral responsibility, focusingon their new theory of moderate reasons-responsiveness as a model of``moral sanity.'' This theory, presented in Responsibility andControl, solves many of the problems with Fischer's earlier weakreasons-responsiveness model, such as its unwanted implication thatagents who are only erratically responsive to bizarre reasons can beresponsible for their acts. But I argue that the new model still facesseveral problems. It does not allow sufficiently for non-psychoticagents (who are largely reasons-responsive) with localized beliefsand desires incompatible with full responsibility. Nor does it take intoaccount that practical ``fragmentation of the self'' over time may alsoreduce competence, since moral sanity requires some minimum level ofnarrative unity in our plans and projects. Finally, I argue that actual-sequenceaccounts cannot adequately explain sane but weak-willed agency. This isbecause without libertarian freedom, such accounts have no way to modelthe perverse agent's determination to be irrational or weak.
Core pathways controlling shoot meristem maintenance.

Essential to the function of shoot meristems in plants to act as sites of continuous organ and tissue formation is the ability of cells within the meristem to remain undifferentiated and proliferate indefinitely. These are characteristics of the stem cells within meristems that are critical for their growth properties. Stem cells are found in tight association with the stem cell niche—those cells that signal to maintain stem cells. Shoot meristems are unique among stem cell systems in that the stem cell niche is a constantly changing population of recent daughter stem cells. Recent progress from Arabidopsis and other systems have uncovered a large number of genes with defined roles in meristem structure and maintenance. This review will focus on well-studied pathways that represent signaling between the stem cells and the niche, that prevent ectopic differentiation of stem cells, that regulate the chromatin status of stem cell factors, and that reveal intersection of hormone signaling and meristem maintenance. WIREs Dev Biol 2013, 2:671–684. doi: 10.1002/wdev.110 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
The structure of 209Bi

Excitation functions for the 209Bi(p, p′) reaction have been measured for incident proton energies from 14.0 to 15.5 MeV to study the population of states in 209Bi via decay of the isobaric analog resonances in the compound nucleus 210Po. The analogs correspond to parent states in the lowest one MeV of excitation in 210Bi. Strong resonances are observed in the excitation functions for twenty proton groups corresponding to levels between 2.75 and 3.65 MeV in 209Bi. From these results, levels which possess microscopic 2p-1h structure involving the h92π, g92ν and p12−1ν orbitals are identified and their 210Bi parentage determined. The resonant scattering results together with other direct inelastic scattering data allow the spins and parities for many of the levels to be deduced. The results of a microscopic calculation, in which empirical two-body matrix elements are employed to describe the interactions between the h92π, g92ν and p12−1ν orbitals, are also reported and compared with the experimental results for levels in 209Bi. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment demonstrates that the general character of these levels can be understood microscopically in terms of their 2p-1h structure.
Influence of near-ultraviolet radiation on reproductive and immunological development in juvenile male Siberian hamsters.

The aim of this study was to characterize the lenticular ultraviolet transmission of the Siberian hamster ( Phodopus sungorus ) and to probe the range of near-ultraviolet (UV-A, 315–400nm) and visible wavelengths (400–760nm) for modulating the photoperiodic regulation of its reproductive and immune systems. Ocular lenses from adult hamsters were found to transmit UV-A wavelengths at similar levels to visible wavelengths, with a short-wavelength cut-off of 300nm. Five separate studies compared the responses of juvenile male hamsters to long photoperiods (16h:8h L:D), short photoperiods (10h:14h L:D) and short photoperiods interrupted by an equal photon pulse of monochromatic light of 320, 340, 360, 500 or 725nm during the night. The results show that UV-A wavelengths at 320, 340 and 360nm can regulate both reproductive and immune short-photoperiod responses as effectively as visible monochromatic light at 500nm. In contrast, long-wavelength visible light at 725nm did not block the short-photoperiod responses. These results suggest that both wavelengths in the visible spectrum, together with UV-A wavelengths, contribute to hamster photoperiodism in natural habitats.
An evaluation of post-sclerotherapy laser compression and its efficacy in the treatment of leg telangiectasias:

Objective: The use of graduated compression stockings is presently indicated in both surgical and non-surgical treatment of varicose veins. The role that it plays in therapeutic efficacy or the complication profile is yet to be determined. The present study examined the role of compression in the treatment of class I–II venulectasia, utilizing the Pulsed Dye Laser.Methods: Thirteen patients with leg vein size 0.5–1.0 mm in diameter were treated with the Long-Pulse Tuneable Dye Laser (Vbeam®). A surface area of 5 cm2 of vessels on bilaterally symmetric thighs was treated. Class II compression hose was applied immediately following treatment to the left thigh only and were left on during waking hours for a period of 7 days. Post-sclerotherapy results and complication profiles were analysed and graded after one treatment session by two independent blinded observers.Results: There was no significant difference in treatment-clearing parameters or side-effect profiles in the compressed versus non-compressed or ...
Placental and milk transfer of hexachlorophene in the rat.

Abstract The placental transfer of hexachlorophene (HCP) in albino rats was studied using material labeled with 14C in the methylene bridge. Pregnant rats were treated orally (10 mg/kg) and dermally (8 mg/kg) with a single dose of the material in an aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose suspension. Animals were killed at various times posttreatment and the concentration of HCP (based on 14C activity) in maternal blood, placental tissue, amniotic fluid, and the fetus was determined. Measurable amounts of HCP were detected in all tissues as early as 0.5 h following oral treatment. Placental transfer of HCP was demonstrated following both routes of administration. The transfer of HCP into milk was measured by dosing lactating rats and determining the HCP concentration of the milk coagulate of suckling rats. HCP was detected in the milk taken 1 hr or more after maternal treatment.
HLA Sensitization in Pediatric Pre-transplant Cardiac Patients Supported by Mechanical Assist Devices: the Utility of Luminex

Background HLA sensitization rates in children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricular assist devices (VADs) are unknown. In addition, panel-reactive antibody (PRA) assessment is increasingly being performed by Luminex, whose role in comparison to other conventional methods is unclear. We investigated HLA sensitization of mechanically supported children using established PRA methods and then retested stored serum using Luminex to assess its impact on initial PRA results and post–heart transplant (post-HTx) outcomes. Methods Data on 22 pre-HTx ECMO or VAD patients (0 to 18 years of age) included: age; duration of mechanical support; use of homograft; red cell transfusion volume; PRAs; and outcome. Comparative data were collected from 10 non-supported, age-matched controls. Results Median age of the 13 ECMO and 9 VAD patients was 1.4 and 192 months ( p 10% ( p = 0.7). No ECMO but 6 VAD patients were sensitized after 50 ± 51 days of support ( p = 0.02). Compared with ECMO, VAD patients had higher Class I PRAs according to enzyme-linked immunoassay ( p = 0.03). VAD patients had higher final vs initial PRAs for Class I ( p = 0.05) and II ( p = 0.04) antigens. HLA sensitization was independent of transfusion volume. Only complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) Class I PRAs were different from their respective Luminex values ( p = 0.03). Four HTx patients with initially low PRAs but elevated post hoc Luminex assays had no rejection at 3.8 ± 1.6 years post-HTx. Conclusions Infants supported with ECMO are at low risk for HLA sensitization. Because it provides full antibody specificity disclosure, Luminex complements more conventional PRA assays by quantitatively identifying potential donor-specific antibodies, which should facilitate the virtual crossmatch process, thereby minimizing post-HTx humoral rejection risk.
Statin and Stromal Cell‐Derived Factor‐1 Additively Promote Angiogenesis by Enhancement of Progenitor Cells Incorporation into New Vessels

Angiogenesis requires the mobilization of progenitor cells from the bone marrow and homing of progenitor cells to ischemic tissue. Statins facilitate the former, and the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) enhances the latter. Their combined influence on angiogenesis was studied in vivo in the ischemic hindlimb C57BL/6 mouse model. The ischemic to non-ischemic perfusion ratio increased from 0.29 +/- 0.02 immediately after femoral excision to 0.51 +/- 0.10 three weeks after the surgery in the mice treated with either fluvastatin or SDF-1 alone, which is significantly better than the control (0.38 +/- 0.05, p < .05, n = 6). The combined use of fluvastatin and SDF-1 further improved the reperfusion ratio (0.62 +/- 0.08, p < .05). More cell proliferation, less apoptosis, enhanced bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) incorporation and higher capillary density were observed in ischemic tissue treated with both statin and SDF-1. In vitro mono-treatment with either fluvastatin (100 nM) or SDF-1 (100 ng/ml) facilitated EPC proliferation and migration, inhibited EPC apoptosis, enhanced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9), and increased Akt phosphorylation and nitric oxide production. These effects were significantly augmented by the two agents together and ablated by inhibitors of either Akt or nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In conclusion, statin and SDF-1 additively enhance progenitor cell migration and proliferation and down-regulate EPC apoptosis, resulting in improved reperfusion via activation of the Akt/NOS pathway and up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression.
Bringing Engineering Design into High School Science Classrooms: The Heating/Cooling Unit

Infusing engineering design projects in K-12 settings can promote interest and attract a wide range of students to engineering careers. However, the current climate of high-stakes testing and accountability to standards leaves little room to incorporate engineering design into K-12 classrooms. We argue that design-based learning, the combination of scientific inquiry and engineering design, is an approach that can be used to meet both K-12 educators’ and engineering advocates’ goals. This paper describes an 8-week high school curriculum unit, the Heating/Cooling System, in which engineering design is used to teach students central and difficult chemistry concepts such as atomic interactions, reactions, and energy changes in reactions. The goals of the paper are to (1) describe this successful design-based unit, (2) provide guidelines for incorporating design-based learning into other science topics, and (3) provide some evidence of its value for teaching difficult chemistry concepts and increasing interest in engineering careers.
Molecular signatures of anti-nuclear antibodies--contribution of heavy chain framework residues.

Abstract It is clear that besides the CDR residues, framework residues (particularly those on FR1 and FR3) can contribute towards antigen reactivity. This study was designed to compare the immunoglobulin heavy chain FR regions of anti-nuclear antibodies (comprised of 142 anti-ssDNA, 103 anti-dsDNA and 23 anti-nucleosome Abs) with those of non-nuclear antibodies ( N =165), all drawn from the GenBank. The anti-nuclear antibodies depicted residue-usage differences that reached statistical significance in their FR1 (at H1 and H29), FR2 (at H40), and FR3 (at H69, H73, H76, H80 and H87) regions. Interestingly, these residue-usage differences were intimately linked to differences in the usage frequencies of different V H germline genes between the different groups of antibodies; thus, whereas J558.4 , J558.47 , J558.m , and 7183.9 germline genes were over-utilized among the ANAs, J558.17 , V130 , V H 36–60 and VGk1a were over-represented among the non-ANAs. In conclusion, although the framework regions of ANAs exhibited distinctly different residue-usage patterns, they may simply be markers of associated germline-encoded CDR differences that appear to have been co-selected. Further studies are warranted to ascertain if any of the observed framework residue differences do actually contribute to nuclear antigen reactivity.
Isolated Loss of Consciousness in Children With Minor Blunt Head Trauma

Importance A history of loss of consciousness (LOC) is frequently a driving factor for computed tomography use in the emergency department evaluation of children with blunt head trauma. Computed tomography carries a nonnegligible risk for lethal radiation-induced malignancy. The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) derived 2 age-specific prediction rules with 6 variables for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI), which included LOC as one of the risk factors. Objective To determine the risk for ciTBIs in children with isolated LOC. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a planned secondary analysis of a large prospective multicenter cohort study. The study included 42 412 children aged 0 to 18 years with blunt head trauma and Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 14 and 15 evaluated in 25 emergency departments from 2004-2006. Exposure A history of LOC after minor blunt head trauma. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome measures were ciTBIs (resulting in death, neurosurgery, intubation for >24 hours, or hospitalization for ≥2 nights) and a comparison of the rates of ciTBIs in children with no LOC, any LOC, and isolated LOC (ie, with no other PECARN ciTBI predictors). Results A total of 42 412 children were enrolled in the parent study, with 40 693 remaining in the current analysis after exclusions. Of these, LOC occurred in 15.4% (6286 children). The prevalence of ciTBI with any history of LOC was 2.5% and for no history of LOC was 0.5% (difference, 2.0%; 95% CI, 1.7-2.5). The ciTBI rate in children with isolated LOC, with no other PECARN predictors, was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.2-0.8; 13 of 2780). When comparing children who have isolated LOC with those who have LOC and other PECARN predictors, the risk ratio for ciTBI in children younger than 2 years was 0.13 (95% CI, 0.005-0.72) and for children 2 years or older was 0.10 (95% CI, 0.06-0.19). Conclusions and Relevance Children with minor blunt head trauma presenting to the emergency department with isolated LOC are at very low risk for ciTBI and do not routinely require computed tomographic evaluation.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of raised intracranial pressure of unknown etiology. For overweight or obese patients with IIH, weight reduction of 5% to 10% of total body weight at diagnosis is a long-term treatment strategy. Though not proven, the initiation of acetazolamide can assist in symptom reduction and resolution. In patients with either fulminant IIH or those on maximal medical management with progressive vision loss, intravenous steroids and acetazolamide can be initiated while surgical options are urgently arranged. Because of its lower complication rate, I prefer to use optic nerve sheath fenestration in settings of precipitous visual decline, but I have used cerebrospinal fluid diversion surgery in settings of vision loss with severe, intractable headache. Often, the choice of surgical intervention is individualized for the patient and the available expertise. In the future, results from the ongoing multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT) will provide important data regarding the efficacy of acetazolamide and the utility of diet and exercise.
Stereospecific Formation of Interstrand Carbinolamine DNA Cross-Links by Crotonaldehyde- and Acetaldehyde-Derived α-CH3-γ-OH-1,N2-Propano-2‘-deoxyguanosine Adducts in the 5‘-CpG-3‘ Sequence

The crotonaldehyde- and acetaldehyde-derived R- and S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts were monitored in single-stranded and duplex oligodeoxynucleotides using NMR spectroscopy. In both instances, the cis and trans diastereomers of the alpha-CH3 and gamma-OH groups underwent slow exchange, with the trans diastereomers being favored. In single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides, the aldehyde intermediates were not detected spectroscopically, but their presence was revealed through the formation of N-terminal conjugates with the tetrapeptide KWKK. When annealed into 5'-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3'.5'-d(GGACTCYCTAGC)-3' containing the 5'-CpG-3' sequence context (X = R- or S-alpha-CH3-gamma-13C-OH-PdG; Y = 15N2-dG) at pH 7, partial opening of the R- or S-alpha-CH3-gamma-13C-OH-PdG adducts to the corresponding N2-(3-oxo-1-methyl-propyl)-dG aldehydes was observed at temperatures below the T(m) of the duplexes. These aldehydes equilibrated with their geminal diol hydrates; higher temperatures favored the aldehydes. When annealed opposite T, the S-alpha-CH3-gamma-13C-OH-PdG adduct was stable. At 37 degrees C, an interstrand DNA cross-link was observed spectroscopically only for the R-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct. Molecular modeling predicted that the interstrand cross-link formed by the R-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct introduced less disruption into the duplex structure than did the cross-link arising from the S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct, due to differing orientations of the R- and S-CH3 groups. Modeling also predicted that the alpha-methyl group of the aldehyde arising from the R-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct is oriented in the 3'-direction in the minor groove, facilitating cross-linking. In contrast, the alpha-methyl group of the aldehyde arising from the S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct is oriented in the 5'-direction within the minor groove, potentially hindering cross-linking. NMR revealed that for the R-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-PdG adduct, the carbinolamine form of the cross-link was favored in duplex DNA with the imine (Schiff base) form of the cross-link remaining below the level of spectroscopic detection. Molecular modeling predicted that the carbinolamine linkage maintained Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding at both of the tandem C.G base pairs. Dehydration of the carbinolamine cross-link to an imine, or cyclization of the latter to form a pyrimidopurinone cross-link, required disruption of Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding at one or both of the cross-linked base pairs.
Vibrational Excitation Can Control Tropospheric Chemistry

Earth's atmosphere is often compared to a low-temperature combustion system. Reactive hydrocarbons are emitted from both natural and anthropogenic sources and then oxidized by hydroxyl radicals (OH) through a complex chain of reactive free radicals. It is usually assumed that the molecules and radicals involved are all in their lowest energy states. However, on page 1066 of this issue, Glowacki et al. ( 1 ) show that a strikingly different product distribution can be obtained in the oxidation of acetylene depending on whether the radicals contain high amounts of internal (vibrational) energy or are fully relaxed. The study used a combination of experiment and theory to provide a complete description of the reaction of OH radicals with acetylene in the presence of varying amounts of O2 and N2.