cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantification of plasmid DNA standards for U.S. EPA fecal indicator bacteria qPCR methods by droplet digital PCR analysis.

Abstract An obstacle to establishing widely useful data acceptance criteria for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) qPCR methods has been the unavailability of standardized reference materials. Earlier versions of EPA Methods 1609 and 1611 for enterococci used cellular reference materials for quantifying enterococci in unknown test samples, however, EPA updates to these fundamentally DNA-based analysis methods have shifted toward the use of DNA standards. This report describes the application of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) analysis for the quantification of a set of synthetic plasmid DNA standards that have been made available for updated EPA Methods 1609.1 and 1611.1 as well as for EPA Draft Method C for Escherichia coli . To obtain the most accurate concentration estimates possible, part of this effort was to develop a data analysis model for determining the fluorescence thresholds that distinguish positive from negative droplets produced by the ddPCR reactions. Versions of this model are described for applications with individual reactions, multiple reactions within a ddPCR system run, and multiple reactions within and across different system runs. The latter version was applied toward determinations of error in the concentration estimates of the standards from replicate analyses of each standard in multiple ddPCR system runs. Mean concentration estimates for the five standards from the ddPCR analyses were 4.356, 3.381, 2.371, 1.641 and 1.071 log 10 copies/5 μL with associated standard deviations of 0.074, 0.082, 0.108, 0.131 and 0.188, respectively. These estimates contrasted with expected log10 concentrations of 4.6, 3.6, 2.6, 1.9 and 1.3 copies/5 μL, respectively, based on the yield of the plasmid reported by the vendor and spectrophotometric analysis of the initial stock solution of this material. These results illustrate how the analyses of original stocks may lead to potential bias(es) in the concentration estimates of final DNA standards and subsequently in the estimates of unknown test samples determined from these standards in qPCR analyses.
Critical aspects of the forward and inverse problems in electrocardiography

Selected model studies of various aspects of the electrocardiographic process are described. (1) A one-dimensional model of propagation in cardiac muscle which incorporates discontinuities on the cellular level (intercalated discs) was developed. The discrete structure causes propagation to be discontinuous, with small sources traveling inside the cell at 10 times the average velocity over many cells, and very large, persistent sources present at the discs. The discontinuous nature of propagation is reflected in the extracellular potential field close to the fiber, but these effects are smoothed-out at distances greater than 10 times the fiber radius. (2) The effects of the torso volume conductor on the electrocardiographic potential distribution were examined utilizing an eccentric spheres model. The effects of the blood cavity, lung region, and the surface muscle layer are described. The importance of interactions between the various torso compartments in determining the potential distribution is demonstrated. (3) Properties of the inverse reconstruction of epicardial potentials from body surface data are discussed. It is shown that epicardial potentials accurately reflect details of the underlying myocardial sources, and are only minimally affected by body shape and by torso inhomogeneities. Initial results demonstrate the ability of the inverse procedure to accurately reconstruct multiple local cardiac events from the low resolution, smooth surface potential data.
Heterotopic Digital Replantation

Reconstruction of the mutilated hand is one of the most difficult challenges for hand surgeons. Replantation of amputated digits is without doubt the best option to restore function, especially when multiple digits are involved. Refinements in microsurgical technique and effective postoperative monitoring have seen the survival rate of digital replantation approach 90 %. However, the challenge is not only to restore circulation to a digit but also to create a functional hand. To this end, restoration of an opposable thumb and at least two fingers to work against, each pain-free and sensate with mobile and stable joints, is the key priority when treating a mutilated hand. Orthotopic digital replantation (ODR) restores amputated digits in their original anatomical position. This is the most straightforward and established procedure following digital amputation. However, for cases where amputated parts or their recipient stumps are unsalvageable or unavailable, ODR cannot be performed. In such circumstances, heterotopic digital replantation (HDR), temporary ectopic implantation, or toe-to-hand transfer should be considered. HDR would seem the most practical and reliable method to reconstruct the mutilated hand in the acute setting. HDR is defined as replacing an amputated digit in a position other than its original anatomical site. The greatest advantage of HDR over ODR is the functional, rather than anatomical, approach to reconstruction. Another advantage is limiting donor site morbidity to the zone of trauma. Despite these advantages, the optimal replantation strategy in terms of where to position the amputated digits remains a topic for debate. In this article, the clinical results of our reconstructions are presented and used as a basis for a guideline for the management of mutilating hand injuries with HDR.
Stiffening Ring Design for Prevention of Storm-Surge Buckling in Aboveground Storage Tanks

AbstractThis paper proposes the use of an additional stiffening ring to prevent buckling of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) under storm-surge inundation and presents an approach to obtain an optim...
Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Meningoencephalitis-Associated Bilateral Optic Neuritis and Radiculitis

The most common ocular complication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is acute retinal necrosis. We present a rare case of a patient with HSV-2 meningoencephalitis that developed severe vision-threatening optic neuritis. The patient was treated with steroids and IVIG, which allowed a rapid improvement in her vision.
What Is New in Ovulation Induction?: Best Articles From the Past Year

This month we focus on current research in ovulation induction. Dr. Hansen discusses five recent publications, which are concluded with a "bottom-line" that is the take-home message. A complete reference for each can be found on on this page along with direct links to abstracts.
Eden and Its Discontents

This chapter begins toward the end of Hemingway’s life and art, with his second African safari. The central focus of inquiry is the problematic, ambivalent, yet generative relationship between nature, narration, and trauma which, by documenting the persistent effects of traumatic wounds, casts a retrospective light on their origins, whether in war, family, or love, in childhood, boyhood, or early adulthood—demonstrating that the forest of Ernest Hemingway is always and already a haunted forest. Hemingway’s second safari is read through the lens of Mary Hemingway’s memoir (How It Was), Hemingway’s Under Kilimanjaro and True at First Light, and trauma theory.
Sensorimotor Organoids for Neuromuscular Disease

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold substantial promise for modeling diseases in the relevant human genetic backgrounds. Here, we leverage the shared developmental pathways of spinal neuroectoderm and paraxial mesoderm via neuromesodermal precursors to produce a sensorimotor organoid model, which we validate with single-cell RNA sequencing and physiology in multiple control and diseased human stem cell lines. The organoids contain motor neurons and skeletal muscle connected by physiologically functional neuromuscular junctions. We also generate additional neuronal and mesodermal derivatives, identified by RNA-seq cluster analysis and verified by staining, electron microscopy, and physiology. These cell types include astrocytes, endothelial cells, microglia, and sensory neurons, the last from which we record tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and capsaicin-elicited calcium flux. The physiological resolution of the neuromuscular junction synapse combined with the generation of major cellular cohorts exerting autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects in motor and sensory diseases may prove valuable for more comprehensive disease modeling.
Property rights, entrepreneurship, and economic development

The disparity in economic progress across nations still confound economists. However, economists know that institutions play a significant role in economic growth. The entrepreneurial activity within a society is shaped by the institutional foundation, especially the property rights structure. However, if property rights are not well-defined and well-enforced, the substance of this entrepreneurial activity may not be welfare-enhancing or growth-enhancing. What is still unclear is the mechanism by which better property rights are adapted in order to facilitate more productive entrepreneurship. By synthesizing insights from the literatures on the market process, the emergence of property rights, and institutional entrepreneurship, this paper presents a mechanism, specifically the ‘property rights institutional entrepreneur,’ that is alert to opportunities to introduce, redefine, or eliminate property rights in order to better facilitate market exchange. By characterizing this specific form of institutional entrepreneur, our understanding of the layers of property rights’ definition, provision, and enforcement is clearer. Property rights are grounded in the norms and customs of a society, but they receive feedback from the market. This feedback is a necessary component to thinking about how property rights change occurs and facilitates economic growth.
Development of rare-earth-free bulk magnets with energy product up to 12 MGOe in field annealed Mn–Bi–Mg–In–Sb alloys

Abstract A treatment consisting of annealing in a moderately strong, ≤30 kOe, magnetic field was applied to arc-melted ingots and compacted melt-spun alloys with composition Mn50Bi50-x-y-zMgxInySbz. The high degree of texture of the magnetic α phase induced with annealing of the ingot samples (except the Mn–Bi–Sb one) allowed for accurate determination of the phase anisotropy field. Alloying was found to increase the anisotropy field from 45 kOe in the Mn50Bi50 alloy to 65 kOe in the Mn50Bi45Mg3In0.5Sb1.5 alloy. In the compacted melt-spun alloys subjected to field annealing, a higher degree of texture could be achieved after compaction which had involved less heating, when a smaller fraction of the metastable β′ phase had been converted into the α phase; compaction at room temperature allowed for the highest degree of texture in the Mn50Bi45Mg3In0.5Sb1.5 magnet. The addition of indium was found to decrease the solidus temperatures of the alloys, facilitating the development of the α phase during the field annealing and modifying the properties of the resulting magnets. Introduction of indium resulted in a higher coercivity Hc of the Mn–Bi–Mg–In magnets and in a better texture of the Mn–Bi–Mg–Sn–In magnets. The former effect allowed, in particular, for a viable maximum energy product (BH)max of 10 MGOe to be developed in the Mn50Bi46.5Mg3In0.5 magnet through annealing in a relatively low field of 15 kOe, whereas the latter effect allowed for an excellent combination of (BH)max = 11.6 MGOe and Hc = 8.5 kOe in the Mn50Bi45Mg3In0.5Sb1.5 magnet. The highest (BH)max of 12 MGOe was realized in the Mn50Bi46Mg3In0.5Sb0.5 magnet.
Association of Surgical Jacket and Bouffant Use With Surgical Site Infection Risk.

Importance Surgical site infections (SSIs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Various measures have been enacted decrease the occurrence of SSIs involving the regulation of the attire worn by the operating room staff, at times without sufficient peer-reviewed literature to support their implementation. Objective To evaluate whether the combination of mandated surgical jackets and bouffants in the operating room is associated with the risk of surgical site infection. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort study of 34 042 inpatient surgical encounters at a large academic tertiary care hospital was performed. Three periods between January 2017 and October 2018 were compared, corresponding with implementation of surgical jackets and the subsequent mandate of surgical jackets plus bouffant head covers. All inpatient surgical cases were included from University of Alabama at Birmingham University Hospital, a single-center, large academic tertiary care hospital. The study comprised a consecutive sample of all inpatient surgical cases over a 22-month period. Exposures No surgical jackets or bouffants mandated (8 months), surgical jackets mandated (6 months), both surgical jackets and bouffants mandated (8 months). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary study outcome was SSIs, which were collected from institutional infection control monthly summary reports, according to the National Healthcare Safety Network definitions for superficial incisional, deep incisional, and organ/space SSIs. Secondary outcomes included wound dehiscence, postoperative sepsis, death, and cost of interventions. Results A total of 34 042 inpatient surgical encounters cases were included in the analysis over the 22-month study period. Of the total patients, 16 380 were women (48%) and 17 638 were men (52%). There was no significant difference in the risk of SSI (1.01% vs 0.99% vs 0.83%;P = .28), mortality (1.83% vs 2.05% vs 1.92%;P = .54), postoperative sepsis (6.60% vs 6.24% vs 6.54%;P = .54), or wound dehiscence (1.07% vs 0.84% vs 1.06%;P = .20) between the 3 groups. Receipts from the first 6 months of the 2018/2019 fiscal year provided an estimated expenditure of more than $300 000 annually on surgical jackets. Bouffants were found to be less expensive than surgical skull caps. Conclusions and Relevance The results of this study suggest that surgical jackets and bouffants are neither beneficial nor cost-effective in preventing SSIs. Institutions should evaluate their own data to determine whether recommendations by outside governing organizations are beneficial and cost-effective.
Real-Time Video Inference on Edge Devices via Adaptive Model Streaming

Real-time video inference on compute-limited edge devices like mobile phones and drones is challenging due to the high computation cost of Deep Neural Network models. In this paper we propose Adaptive Model Streaming (AMS), a cloud-assisted approach to real-time video inference on edge devices. The key idea in AMS is to use online learning to continually adapt a lightweight model running on an edge device to boost its performance on the video scenes in real-time. The model is trained in a cloud server and is periodically sent to the edge device. We discuss the challenges of online learning for video and present a practical design that takes into account the edge device, cloud server, and network bandwidth resource limitations. On the task of video semantic segmentation, our experimental results show 5.1--17.0 percent mean Intersection-over-Union improvement compared to a pre-trained model on several real-world videos. Our prototype can perform video segmentation at 30 frames-per-second with 40 milliseconds camera-to-label latency on a Samsung Galaxy S10+ mobile phone, using less than 400Kbps uplink and downlink bandwidth on the device.
How Hands-On Pain Skills Intensive Trainings Complement ECHO Pain and Opioid Management Programs: A Program Evaluation with the Indian Health Service.

Objective To evaluate the impact of Pain Skills Intensive trainings (PSIs) as a complement to the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Chronic Pain and Opioid Management TeleECHO Program (ECHO Pain) collaboration. Design On-site PSIs conducted over two to three days were added to complement ECHO Pain at various IHS areas to enhance pain skills proficiency among primary care teams and to expand the reach of ECHO collaboration to ECHO nonparticipants. Setting This evaluation focuses on two PSI trainings offered to IHS clinicians in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Spokane, Washington, in 2017. Methods The mixed-methods design comprises CME surveys and focus groups at the end of training and 12 to 18 months later. Quality of training and perceived competence were evaluated. Results Thirty-eight participants attended the two PSI workshops. All provided CME survey results, and 28 consented to use of their postsession focus group results. Nine clinicians participated in the virtual follow-up focus groups. IHS clinicians rated the PSIs highly, noting their hands-on and interdisciplinary nature. They reported above-average confidence in their skills. Follow-up focus groups indicated they were pursuing expanded options for their patients, consulting other clinicians, serving as pain consultants to their peers, and changing prescribing practices clinic-wide. However, rurality significantly limits access to ancillary and complementary services for many. Clinicians reported the need for additional training in integrating behavioral health into their practice. Conclusions Hands-on pain skills and information on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are critical to the successful treatment of chronic pain and opioid use disorder. The PSIs provide clinicians with critical competencies in assessment and screening, pain management, and communication skills, complementing required IHS training and telementoring from ECHO Pain.
Appropriate and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Decompensated Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are prescribed numerous medications. Data are limited as to whether patients are receiving medications they need and avoiding those they do not. We examined a large national claims database (2010-2015) to characterize the complete medication profile as well as the factors associated with appropriate and potentially inappropriate medication use in 12,621 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS Clinical guidelines and existing literature were used to determine appropriate and potentially inappropriate medications in decompensated cirrhosis. The total medication days' supply was calculated from pharmacy data and divided by the follow-up period for each decompensation. Ascites was the most common (86.5%), followed by hepatic encephalopathy (HE; 37.8%), variceal bleeding (VB; 17.5%), hepatorenal syndrome (6.3%), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP; 6.1%). For patients with ascites, 55.8% filled a diuretic. For patients with HE, 32.4% and 63.3% filled rifaximin and lactulose, respectively. After VB, 60.3% of patients filled a nonselective beta blocker, and after an episode of SBP, 48.0% of patients filled an antibiotic for prophylaxis. The minority (4.5%-17.3%) had enough medication to cover >50% follow-up days. Potentially inappropriate medication use was common: 53.2% filled an opiate, 46.0% proton pump inhibitors, 14.2% benzodiazepines, and 10.1% nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Disease severity markers were associated with more appropriate mediation use but not consistently associated with less inappropriate medication use. CONCLUSIONS Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are not filling indicated medications as often or as long as is recommended and are also filling medications that are potentially harmful. Future steps include integrating pharmacy records with medical records to obtain a complete medication list and counseling on medication use with patients at each visit.
Association between rice consumption and risk of cancer incidence in the California Teachers Study

We evaluated the contribution of rice intake, a source of dietary arsenic, to cancer risk in a population of women with likely low arsenic exposure from drinking water and variable rice intake who participated in the California Teachers Study. Rice consumption was categorized into quartiles (< 9.6, 9.7–15.6, 15.7–42.7, and ≥ 42.8 g/day). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for incident cancer were estimated comparing rice consumption categories with bladder, breast, kidney, lung, and pancreatic cancer, with progressive adjustment for age, total calories, BMI, race, smoking status, physical activity, and cancer-specific covariates. The number of breast, lung, pancreatic, bladder, and kidney cancer cases was 7,351; 1,100; 411; 344; and 238, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) comparing the highest versus lowest rice intake quartiles were 1.07 (1.00–1.15); 0.87 (0.72–1.04); 0.95 (0.66–1.37); 1.11 (0.81–1.52) and 1.07 (0.72–1.59) for breast, lung, pancreatic, bladder, and kidney cancers, respectively. Results were consistent when rice was modeled as a continuous variable and in analyses stratified by smoking status. Rice consumption was not associated with risk of kidney, lung or pancreatic cancer, except maybe a small excess risk for breast cancer and a small non-significant excess risk for bladder cancer, comparing the highest versus lowest quartile of rice intake. Due to lower consumption patterns in this cohort, future studies should involve populations for which rice is a staple food and use of an arsenic biomarker.
CORP: Standardizing methodology for assessing spontaneous baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in humans

The use of spontaneous bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to assess arterial baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity has seen increased utility in studies of both health an...
Ara h 2-specific IgE is superior to whole peanut extract-based serology or skin prick test for diagnosis of peanut allergy in infancy.

Background Screening of high-risk infants for peanut allergy (PA) before introduction is now recommended in the United States, but the optimal approach is not clear. Objective We sought to compare the diagnostic test characteristics of peanut skin prick test (SPT), peanut-specific IgE (sIgE), and sIgE to peanut components in a screening population of infants before known peanut exposure. Methods Infants aged 4 to 11 months with (1) no history of peanut ingestion, testing, or reaction and (2) (a) moderate-severe eczema, (b) history of food allergy, and/or (c) first-degree relative with a history of PA received peanut SPT, peanut-sIgE and component-IgE testing, and, depending on SPT wheal size, oral food challenge or observed feeding. Receiver-operator characteristic areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared, and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results A total of 321 subjects completed the enrollment visit (median age, 7.2 months; 58% males), and 37 (11%) were found to have PA. Overall, Ara h 2-sIgE at a cutoff point of 0.1 kUa/L discriminated between allergic and nonallergic best (AUC, 0.96; sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 98%), compared with peanut-sIgE at 0.1 kUa/L (AUC, 0.89; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 78%) or 0.35 kUa/L (AUC, 0.91; sensitivity, 97%; specificity, 86%), or SPT at wheal size 3 mm (AUC, 0.90; sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 88%) or 8 mm (AUC, 0.87; sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 99%). Ara h 1-sIgE and Ara h 3-sIgE did not add to prediction of PA when included in a model with Ara h 2-sIgE, and Ara h 8-sIgE discriminated poorly (AUC, 0.51). Conclusions Measurement of only Ara h 2-sIgE should be considered if screening of high-risk infants is performed before peanut introduction.
Indicators Of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome In Patients With Portal Hypertension. Its Various Aetiologies, Clinical Presentations And Outcome.

BACKGROUND Hepatopulmonary syndrome is severe pulmonary vascular complication of chronic liver disease requiring liver transplant. This study was conducted to evaluate different indicators of HPS in patients with portal hypertension, its varied aetiologies, clinical features & outcome. METHODS Hospital based descriptive study, 203 patients were enrolled, divided in to 2 groups positive and negative on the basis of presence or absence of HPS as per diagnostic criteria. RESULTS It included 203 patients with portal Hypertension of varied aetiologies. Age range was 8.76±3.69 years. 54.7% were male & 45.3% female. Commonest diagnosis for portal hypertension was portal vein thrombosis in 48 (23.6%) while Least common was biliary atresia seen in 6 (3%) of cases. Fifteen patients were included in Positive group and 188 in negative group. Clinical & laboratory parameters in order of frequency in positive group were hypoxia & cyanosis in 100% & 93.3% followed by dyspnoea & grade 4 clubbing in 86.6% patients (p<0.001). Child scoring was also done in all patients. In negative group 7 (3.7%) had dyspnoea, I (0.53%) had grade 4 clubbing while none showed evidence of hypoxia or cyanosis (p<0.001). Three patients underwent successful liver transplant. One patient of biliary atresia & another of CHF expired. CONCLUSIONS In All children with CLD and/or PHT with unexplained dyspnoea, cyanosis and grade 4 clubbing, HPS should be suspected. It is an indication for early LT even in absence of liver failure.
Mechanisms of multielectron reactions at the plasma/water interface: Interfacial catalysis, RONS, nitrogen fixation, and plasma activated water

Abstract There are three major multi-electron reactions in nature: nitrogen fixation by bacteria, water oxidation in photosynthesis, and oxygen reduction during respiration. Here we found that a cold atmospheric pressure He-plasma jet (CAPPJ) can oxidize N2 to HNO3 and HNO2 at low temperature and atmospheric pressure at the plasma-air/water interface. Redox reactions induced by cold plasma occur not only at the plasma/air and plasma/water interfaces, but also in the volume of the aqueous phase. Analysis of the images which displayed the presence of pH indicators in the aqueous phase showed that redox reactions and acid formation occur at the plasma-air/water interface and the products of electrochemical reactions slowly diffuse into the bulk of the aqueous solution. Acidification of an aqueous solution during the CAPPJ treatment correlates with an increase in HNOx concentration in the aqueous phase. HNO2 is unstable and can be oxidized to HNO3 by plasma-generated H2O2 or ozone. The mechanisms of the interfacial multielectron reactions at the plasma-air/water interface are discussed and evaluated. Plasma-activated water can be used in medicine, food industry, and agriculture for disinfection, sterilization, and decontamination. Plasma-induced production of HNOx at the plasma/water interface at room temperature and atmospheric pressure can be used in the industry for nitrogen fixation and production of nitrogen compounds, replacing the expensive old technology processes.
Does the Retromolar Area Provide Adequate Space for an Oral Endotracheal Tube Without Interfering With Intermaxillary Fixation

Purpose Traumatic maxillofacial injuries requiring intermaxillary fixation (IMF) traditionally necessitate airway management via tracheostomy or submental intubation. The aim of this study is to understand whether the retromolar space can accommodate passage of a reinforced endotracheal tube (ETT) without interfering with establishing IMF, a technique previously described as retromolar intubation. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was created including previously treated facial trauma patients by our department as the study sample. From this group, 3D reconstructed scans were created and used to estimate that dimensions of the retromolar space. The averages of these dimensions were calculated and compared to the area occupied by different sized reinforced ETTs (6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0). A 1-sample t-test was used to compare the retromolar areas to each ETT size for all patients and by gender. Results Forty-one patients, ages 19-69 years old, treated from July 2010 to November 2018 were included in this study. This included 24 males (21-69yo) and 17 females (19-60yo), with a total of 80 characteristics measured. The retromolar areas calculated were statistically bigger than the reinforced ETT sizes 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 compared to the average retromolar space area, but not statistically significant for reinforced oral ETT sizes 7.5 and 8.0. Conclusion Our study results suggest the use of 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 reinforced ETTs can be positioned in the retromolar space, allowing the surgeon to place a patient in IMF without occlusal interference. This technique could provide an alternative option to submental intubation or tracheostomy.
Innovation Futures, The Nature of Speculation, and Stock Valuations

This study provides formal theoretical evidence that, in of itself, and subsequent to the first day of trading, applications of the Gordon Growth Model to pricing of publicly traded equity incorporate informational `noise' and/or `shading of information' that, theoretically, are unbounded. Introduction of pricing of `innovation futures' of publicly traded firms mitigates unboundedness of pricing effects of either of noise or shading of information, for arrival at stock prices that are less prone to extreme swings in value. Pricing of innovation futures of publicly traded firms induces speculation on innovation futures of said firms. The formal theoretical model demonstrates that speculation on innovation futures does not coincide with either of speculation that derives from heterogeneity of information (noise), or speculation that derives from heterogeneity of risk preferences (demand for insurance). In presence of interest for improvement of workings of stock markets, development of models for pricing of innovation futures of publicly traded firms is an important frontier for new research activity.
Episcopal power and ecclesiastical reform in the German Empire : tithes, lordship and community, 950-1150

Introduction: bishops, power and medieval society: a comparative approach 1. The social worlds of the ecclesiastical tithe 2. Tithes, bishops and society in Frankish Europe 3. Landscapes of episcopal authority: Lucca, Mainz and Salzburg 4. Diabolic contracts: the leasing of Pievi and perceptions of order and power in early medieval Italy 5. Piety, power and memory: bishops and tithes in the diocese of Salzburg 6. The struggle for tithes in an age of transition Conclusion Bibliography.
Therapeutic Aspects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescence

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation, and insulin resistance. The syndrome manifests with hirsutism, irregular menses, infertility, dyslipidemia, as well as a higher risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. PCOS has a pubertal onset. The clinical signs and neuroendocrine features of adolescents with PCOS resemble those found in adult women with the syndrome. Early recognition and prompt treatment in adolescents is essential for preventing long-term consequences. This chapter reviews the clinical, hormonal, and metabolic features of PCOS in adolescence and current treatment options.
VORPAL as a Tool for the Study of Laser Pulse Propagation in LWFA

The dimension-free, parallel, plasma simulation code VORPAL, has been used to study laser pulse propagation in Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA). VORPAL is a hybrid code that allows multiple particle models including a cold-fluid model. The fluid model implements a simplified flux corrected transport in the density update but solves the momentum advection directly to allow for simulations of zero density. An implementation of Zalesky's algorithm for FCT is in development. VORPAL simulations predict the rate of loss of energy by pulses propagation through plasma due to Raman scattering. A PIC model for the plasma particles is in development.
DNA Repair in Yeast

DNA repair comprises a series of biochemical processes by which alterations of the chemical structure of DNA are eliminated and the DNA is restored to its native state. By strict definition, the term excludes cellular responses by which DNA damage is tolerated but not eliminated from the genome. However, popular usage has incorporated DNA damage tolerance as a mode of DNA repair in a biologically meaningful sense. Hence, for completeness, a particular mode of damage tolerance called translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) is included in this discussion. DNA repair occurs by a variety of distinct biochemical pathways. These differ primarily on the basis of the particular type of damage under consideration. The damage can affect both, the nitrogenous bases and the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA. The most important form of DNA damage in the latter category is strand breaks. However, this discussion is confined to the repair of damage to the nitrogenous bases in DNA, the informational components of the genetic material. The detailed mechanisms of known DNA repair pathways vary in different organisms. This article considers DNA repair pathways in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Keywords: Enzymatic Photoreactivation; DNA Photolyase; Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers; O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; Base Excision Repair; Nucleotide Excision Repair; Mismatch Repair; DNA Damage Tolerance
Nonlinear optical properties of LaCa(4)O(BO(3))(3).

We have grown LaCa(4)O (BO(3))(3) (LaCOB), an isostructural member of GdCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (GdCOB) family and characterized its nonlinear optical properties. At 1064nm, d(eff) of 0.52+/-0.05 pm /V and an angular sensitivity of 1224+/-184(cm rad)(-1) for type I frequency doubling in LaCOB were determined relative to those of KTiOPO(4) , beta-BaB(2)O(4) , KD(2)PO(4) , LiB(3)O(5) , YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (YCOB), and GdCOB. The d(alphabetabeta) and d(gammabetabeta) coefficients of the nonlinear optical tensor for LaCOB, GdCOB, and YCOB were determined to be equivalent within the experimental uncertainty and have values of ?0.26+/-0.04?pm/V and ?1.69+/-0.17?pm /V , respectively. From phase-matching angle measurements at 1064 and 1047nm, we predict that LaCOB is noncritically phase matched at 1042+/-1.5 nm .
Requirement for Sodium in the Anaerobic Growth of Aerobacter aerogenes on Citrate

Abstract Anaerobic growth of Aerobacter aerogenes on citrate as a carbon source required the presence of Na+. The growth rate increased with increasing Na+ concentration and was optimal at 0.10 m Na+. The requirement was specific for Na+, which could not be replaced by K+, NH4+, Li+, Rb+, or Cs+. K+ was required for growth in the presence of Na+, the optimal K+ concentration being 0.15 mm. Enzyme profiles were determined on cells grown in three different media: (i) intermediate Na+, high K+ concentration, (ii) high Na+, high K+ concentration, and (c) high Na+, low K+ concentration. All cells contained the enzymes of the citrate fermentation pathway, namely, citritase and the Na+-requiring oxalacetate (OAA) decarboxylase. All of the enzymes of the citric acid cycle were present, except α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase which could not be detected. The incomplete citric acid cycle was, in effect, converted into two biosynthetic pathways leading to glutamate and succinate, respectively. The specific activities of citritase and OAA decarboxylase were lowest in medium (i), and under these conditions the activity of OAA decarboxylase appeared to be limited in vivo by the availability of Na+. Failure of A. aerogenes to grow anaerobically on citrate in the absence of Na+ can be explained at the enzymatic level by the Na+ requirement of the OAA decarboxylase step of the citrate fermentation pathway and by the absence of an alternate pathway of citrate catabolism.
Visual compatibility of amiodarone hydrochloride injection with various intravenous drugs

(March 15, 2001, Note). In Table 1 on page 505, the second concentration for calcium chloride should be \``100 mg/mL (U),'' \`\`Ciprofloxacin (as the hydrochloride)'' should be \`\`Ciprofloxacin,'' and the concentration for methylprednisolone (as the sodium succinate) should be \``125 mg/mL (U).''
An enhanced model of the contemporary and long‐term (200 ka) sublimation of the massive subsurface ice in Beacon Valley, Antarctica

A massive ice body buried under several decimeters of dry regolith in Beacon Valley, Antarctica, is believed to be more than 1 Ma old and perhaps over 8.1 Ma; however, vapor diffusion models suggest that subsurface ice in this region is not stable under current climate conditions. To better understand the controls on sublimation rates and stability of this massive ice, we have modeled vapor diffusion using 12 years of climate and soil temperature data from 1999 to 2011, including field measurements of episodic snow cover and snowmelt events that have not been represented in previous models of ground ice sublimation. The model is then extended to reconstruct the sublimation history over the last 200 ka using paleotemperatures estimated from ice core data from nearby Taylor Dome and a relationship between atmospheric temperature and humidity derived from our meteorological records. The model quantifies the impact of episodic snow events; they account for a nearly 30% reduction in the massive ice loss. The sublimation rate of ground ice averages 0.11 mm a−1 between 1999 and 2011 in Beacon Valley. Parameterized with past environmental conditions and assuming the same regolith thickness, the modeled sublimation rate of ground ice in Beacon Valley averages 0.09 mm a−1 for the last 200 ka, comparable to the long-term average rate estimated independently from various studies based on cosmogenic isotopes. This study provides a realistic estimate of the long-term sublimation history and supports the inference that the buried ice in Beacon Valley is older than 1 Ma.
Targeting NADPH Oxidase Decreases Oxidative Stress in the Transgenic Sickle Cell Mouse Penis

Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a state of chronic vasculopathy characterized by endothelial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress, but the sources and mechanisms responsible for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the penis are unknown.
TERRITORIAL POLITICS AND EQUALITY: DECENTRALIZATION IN THE MODERN STATE

The growth of the public sector over the past two decades has not eliminated the importance of local government, and may have actually increased conflict over policies affecting local government. To understand these changes a more articulated concept of centralization is needed which can encompass the reciprocal relationships of various levels of government, and which takes into account their shared claim on national revenues. Using national accounting data, the effect of the growth of public spending from 1963 to 1973 is compared with the relative share allotted to local government in five countries. These trends in the distribution of resources are then compared with the fiscal and financial policies affecting each local government system. The conclusion is that the alternative ways that countries chose to provide resources to the local level may be a better way of gauging relative degrees of centralization over time than the more commonly used absolute measures.
Toxic Effect of Various Concentrations of Bile on Dog's Gall Bladder.∗

Summary1. Concentration of ox bile more than half, has a marked toxic effect on the dog's gall bladder, causing death and bile peritonitis in many instances. 2. The foreign matter in bile is not the cause of these changes since the gall bladder is not affected by bile which is not concentrated. 3. Redilution of concentrated bile makes the bile ineffective, proving that infection is not responsible for the change.
Origin of cardiac disorders in thiamine-deficient cats.

SummaryElectrocardiographic changes in cats with acute thiamine deficiency fall into two categories: (1) disorders of rate, regularity, and impulse formation, which yield promptly to thiamine treatment; (2) changes in the ventricular complex, which respond more slowly to treatment.
Structural proteins of Semliki Forest virus and its nucleocapsid

Abstract The structural proteins of Semliki Forest virus and its nucleocapsid were investigated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified virus gives rise to three electrophoretically distinct bands of protein, and two of these bands are found in purified nucleocapsids. However, the protein in the minor nucleocapsid band probably represents a dimer of the major nucleocapsid protein. The minor band protein has twice the molecular weight of the protein in the major band, and contains the same relative proportions of lysine, valine, and leucine as the major band protein. The minor band occurs in varying amounts depending on the preparation analyzed. The nucleocapsid protein, with a molecular weight of ~32,000, is relatively rich in lysine, a basic amino acid; the envelope protein, which has a molecular weight of ~51,000, is relatively rich in leucine and valine, hydrophobic amino acids. There are approximately 2.5 molecules of envelope protein per molecule of nucleocapsid protein in Semliki Forest virus particles.
1119 INFECTION WITH MULTIPLE EB VIRUS (EBV) GENOTYPES IN AN INFANT WITH AIDS AND HIS MOTHER

Children develop AIDS if a parent or household member falls into one of the high-risk groups. Infections with EBV are common in these patients and are responsible for some of the severe complications of the disease. We have studied a child with AIDS and his mother; both harbor EBV. We wished to determine whether they were infected with the same strain. We examined cellular DNA from lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL's) derived from the child and his mother for different EBV isolates using Southern blot analysis with probes prepared from cloned segments of the EBV genome. A LCL derived from lymph node biopsy tissue and one from the patient's peripheral blood contained two different genotypes of EBV. A LCL that arose spontaneously from mother's blood contained the same two EBV genotypes. A single cell subclone of the mother's LCL contained only one of these strains; thus the mother's LCL was shown to be polyclonal. After one year of observation the infant developed a CNS lymphoma which was shown to contain yet a third EBV genotype. These results indicate that, at least in AIDS patients, simultaneous infections with more than one EBV strain is possible. Whether this is also true of immunocompetent hosts is presently unknown. These data also raise the possibility of vertical transmission of EBV from mother to infant.
A neural network approach for the determination of interhospital transport mode

Abstract We report on the construction of neural networks for determining whether pediatric patients requiring transport to a tertiary care center should be moved by air or by ground. The networks were based on the functional-link net architecture. In two experiments, feedfonvard supervised-learning neural nets were trained with examples of an expert's decisions and then were used in a consulting mode to provide advice on cases not previously encountered. Training and validation were performed by a combination of the k-fold cross-validation and leaving-one-out sampling methods. Use of the functional-link net rather than the customary backpropagation net enabled us to carry out the training with fairly large amounts of data in realistically short time periods. In the first experiment, capillary refill, skin color, and stridor were consistently the input variables that were most strongly associated with the decision output. In both experiments, the networks were validated by comparing their performance retrospectively against the determination of an expert pediatric transport physician. The network was trained based on the expert's opinion about the correct mode of transport for each case with error rates of less than 10-5.
Computation of topological indices of certain networks

Abstract There are certain types of topological indices such as degree based topological indices, distance based topological indices and counting related topological indices etc. Among degree based topological indices, the so-called atom-bond connectivity ( ABC ) , geometric–arithmetic ( GA ) are of vital importance. These topological indices correlate certain physico-chemical properties such as boiling point, stability and strain energy etc. of chemical compounds. In this paper, we compute ABC 4 and GA 5 indices for certain networks like silicate, chain silicate, hexagonal, oxide and honeycomb networks. The atom-bond connectivity index (ABC index) and geometric–arithmetic index (GA index) for oxide and chain silicate networks are also computed in this paper.
The Application of Reduced-Wattage Fluorescent Lamps and High-Efficiency Ballasts to General Lighting Systems

The introduction of new energy-saving lamps and ballasts for fluorescent lighting has focused attention on the electrical and performance characteristics of the lamp/ballast/luminaire system. To obtain optimum efficiency the lighting designer must now consider not only catalog and nameplate ratings, but also hard-to-obtain thermal and field factors which can substantially affect energy input and light output values. A discussion of these factors is presented along with practical design information for a number of lamp/ballast combinations are used in a variety of standard luminaires. Also included is the expected impact on system energy use and economics.
Melanotropin-daunomycin conjugate shows receptor-mediated cytotoxicity in cultured murine melanoma cells.

MELANOTROPIN (MSH) binds to specific receptors at the surface of mouse melanoma cells, preferentially in the G–2 phase of the cell cycle1. On prolonged incubation, a fluorescein–MSH conjugate is internalised and appears intracellularly in small vesicles2. The same phenomenon has been demonstrated by electron microscopy with an MSH–ferritin–fluorescein conjugate3. Although a role for the internalisation of MSH receptors in the execution of the hormonal message is still open to question, the fact that these conjugates of MSH are specifically recognised and internalised by melanoma cells offers a possibility for specific, site-directed chemotherapy of melanomas. We have therefore assumed that MSH–toxin conjugates might be specifically recognised and internalised and thereby have a selective toxic effect on cells that display MSH receptors on their surface. Even though the principle of site-directed chemotherapy has been known for a long time, it is only recently that this field became active4. Conjugates of specific antibodies and cytotoxic substances5–7, as well as a DNA–daunomycin complex8 have been used in an attempt to increase the selectivity of the toxic agents. In this report we describe the synthesis of a melanotropin–daunomycin conjugate and its MSH receptor mediated cytotoxic effect on mouse melanoma cells in vitro.