cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LUNG CANCER WITH CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS

Malignant pericardial disease in the setting of lung cancer portends a grave prognosis. We present a case of malignant pericardial tamponade and subsequent complications. A 61-year-old man presented with acute pericardial tamponade after having undergone a video-assisted left upper lobe
Imaging of the Central Airways with Bronchoscopic Correlation: Pictorial Essay

A wide variety of pathologic processes, both benign and malignant, affect the central airways. These processes may be classified into 4 distinct groups: anatomic variants, lesions that result in focal or diffuse airway narrowing, and those that result in multinodular airway disorder. Key to the accurate assessment of the central airways is meticulous imaging technique, especially the routine acquisition of contiguous high-resolution, 1-mm to 1.5-mm images. These images enable high-definition axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstructions, as well as advanced imaging techniques, including minimum intensity projection images and virtual bronchoscopy. Current indications most commonly include patients presenting with signs and symptoms of possible central airway obstruction, with or without hemoptysis. In addition to diagnosing airway abnormalities, computed tomography (CT) also serves a critical complementary role to current bronchoscopic techniques for both diagnosing and treating airway lesions. Advantages of CT include noninvasive visualization of the extraluminal extent of lesions, as well as visualization of airways distal to central airways obstructions. As discussed and illustrated later, thorough knowledge of current bronchoscopic approaches to central airway disease is essential for optimal correlative CT interpretation.
Chiral Ketone-Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of 2,2-Disubstituted Vinylsilanes

R,â-Epoxysilanes are very useful synthetic intermediates.1 New epoxides can be obtained from R,â-epoxysilanes by alkylation2 or desilylation.3 The silicon group also provides a controlling group for regioselective opening of the epoxide, generating a number of other useful intermediates.4 Asymmetric epoxidation of vinylsilanes can provide, in principle, an effective approach to prepare chiral R,â-epoxysilanes. Recently we reported a highly enantioselective epoxidation method for transand trisubstituted olefins using the fructose-derived ketone 1 as catalyst and Oxone as oxidant.5 In our efforts to expand the scope of this epoxidation method, we found that 2,2disubstituted vinylsilanes were quite complimentary substrates, producing 2,2-disubstituted R,â-epoxysilanes with high enantioselectivity (eq 1). Upon desilylation, 1,1-
Sex Differences in the Amygdala Resting-State Connectome of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract Background Multifactorial liability models predict greater dissimilarity in the neural phenotype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in female individuals than in male individuals, while gender incoherence and extreme male brain models predict attenuated sex differences in ASD. The amygdala is an informative target to explore these models because it is implicated in both the neurobiology of ASD and sex differences in typical development. Methods This study investigated amygdala resting-state functional connectivity in a cohort of 116 children with ASD (36 female) and 58 typically developing children (27 female) 2 to 7 years of age during natural sleep. First, multivariate distance matrix regression assessed global sex and diagnostic differences across the amygdala connectome. Second, univariate general linear models identified regions with mean connectivity differences. Results Multivariate distance matrix regression revealed greater differences between typically developing children and those with ASD in females than in males, consistent with multifactorial liability models, and attenuated sex differences in the left amygdala connectome of children with ASD in a pattern consistent with the gender incoherence model. Univariate analysis identified similar sex differences in dorsomedial and ventral prefrontal cortices, lingual gyrus, and posterior cingulate cortex, but also noted that lower amygdala connectivity with superior temporal sulcus is observed across sexes. Conclusions This study provides evidence that compared with sex-matched control subjects, ASD manifests differently in the brain at the time of diagnosis and prior to the influence of compensatory mechanisms in male and female children, consistent with multifactorial liability models, and that ASD is associated with reduced sex differences in a pattern consistent with gender incoherence models.
Index Fund Enforcement

Corporate America today is astonishingly beholden to three large financial institutions: BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Global Advisors. As investors have moved their money into low cost, highly-diversified investment vehicles known as index funds, the so-called “Big Three” institutional fund managers that dominate the index fund industry have grown rapidly and accumulated unprecedented economic power and influence. For instance, these three institutions now vote one out of every four shares of stock issued by large U.S. companies. Policymakers and scholars have begun to sound the alarm about this concentration of corporate ownership, and have proposed reforms to reduce or eliminate these institutions’ influence over portfolio companies. But concentrated power has its benefits, too. In this paper, I argue that the remarkable size, permanence, and cross-market scope of the Big Three’s ownership stakes gives them the capacity and, in some cases, the incentive to punish and deter fraud and misconduct by portfolio companies. Corporate governance and securities regulation scholars have argued that these institutions have generally overriding incentives to refrain from meaningful corporate stewardship, but the facts on the ground tell a somewhat different story. Drawing on a comprehensive review of the Big Three’s enforcement activities and interviews with key decision-makers for these institutions, I show how they have been using engagement, voting, and litigation to discipline culpable companies and managers. I also identify the “pro-enforcement” incentives that explain these actions. Policymakers and scholars are now engaging in a heated debate over indexation and the future of the Big Three. To date, however, participants have overlooked the potentially beneficial role these institutions may play in the enforcement ecosystem. This paper corrects this oversight, bringing Index Fund Enforcement into focus. Policymakers should embrace regulatory reforms designed to enhance Index Fund Enforcement, not weaken it.
Paraneoplastic and Other Autoimmune Disorders

The world of neurology is rapidly expanding, with new diagnostic and treatment tools continually updating and advancing the field. Some of the most radical recent changes have occurred in the diagnosis and treatment of paraneoplastic and autoimmune neurological disorders. Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders are a group of conditions in which a malignant process causes neurologic symptoms that are distant from the primary site of malignancy. These conditions are primarily autoimmune in nature. In many cases, a single antibody can cause a multitude of different syndromes. Conversely, specific syndromes can be caused by many different antibodies. Antibody types are further subdivided into those that act against intracellular versus neuronal surface antigens. The management of the former is targeted toward the underlying malignancy, and unfortunately, the prognosis is poor. On the other hand, paraneoplastic disorders and autoimmune neurologic syndromes associated with neuronal surface antibodies respond remarkably well to immunotherapy. This chapter breaks down the intricately complicated pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of paraneoplastic and related autoimmune neurologic syndromes.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring As a Behavior Modification Tool

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use may lead to behavioral modifications in food selection and physical activity, but there are limited data on the utility of CGM in facilitating lifestyle changes. This article describes an 18-item survey developed to explore whether patients currently using CGM believe the technology has caused them to change their behavior.
Craniosynostosis: Clinical Presentation, Genetics, and Prenatal Diagnosis.

Importance Craniosynostosis is a fetal condition caused by premature closure of the cranial sutures. Through provider awareness, we can raise suspicion in high-risk individuals, increase prenatal detection, optimize genetic testing, perform appropriate antenatal surveillance and delivery planning, and allow for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Objective The aim of this study was to review what is currently known regarding the genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of craniosynostosis for the obstetric care provider. Evidence acquisition A comprehensive literature review was performed using the PubMed database with the search term "craniosynostosis." The search was limited to the English language. Results A total of 220 articles were identified, and a total of 53 were used in completion of this article. The results highlight the multiple factors involved with abnormal suture formation, including various genetic factors. Although rare at this time, prenatal detection can allow families to prepare and practitioners to provide appropriate clinical treatment. Both 3-dimensional sonography and magnetic resonance imaging have been identified as modalities to aid in detection for high-risk individuals. Early referral allows for less-invasive surgical outcomes with lower complication rates. Results Familiarity with craniosynostosis among obstetric providers can improve patient counseling, prenatal detection rates, and appropriate antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum counseling.
Bougie-assisted endotracheal intubation in the pragmatic airway resuscitation trial

Abstract Objective Paramedics may perform endotracheal intubation (ETI) while treating patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The gum elastic Bougie (Bougie) is an intubation adjunct that may optimize intubation success. There are few reports of Bougie-assisted intubation in OHCA nor its association with outcomes. We compared intubation success rates and OHCA outcomes between Bougie-assisted and non-Bougie ETI in the out-of-hospital Pragmatic Airway Resuscitation Trial (PART). Methods This was a secondary analysis of patients receiving ETI enrolled in the Pragmatic Airway Resuscitation Trial (PART), a multicenter clinical trial comparing intubation-first vs. laryngeal tube-first strategies of airway management in adult OHCA. The primary exposure was use of Bougie for ETI-assistance. The primary endpoint was first-pass ETI success. Secondary endpoints included overall ETI success, time to successful ETI, return of spontaneous circulation, 72-h survival, hospital survival and hospital survival with favorable neurologic status (Modified Rankin Score ≤3). We analyzed the data using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox Regression, adjusting for known confounders. Results Of the 3004 patients enrolled in PART, 1227 received ETI, including 440 (35.9%) Bougie-assisted and 787 (64.1%) non-Bougie ETIs. First-pass ETI success did not differ between Bougie-assisted and non-Bougie ETI (53.1% vs. 42.8%; adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.97–1.39). ETI overall success was slightly higher in the Bougie-assisted group (56.2% vs. 49.1%; adjusted OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01–1.32). Time to endotracheal tube placement or abandonment was longer for Bougie-assisted than non-Bougie ETI (median 13 vs. 11 min; adjusted HR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45–0.90). While survival to hospital discharge was lower for Bougie-assisted than non-Bougie ETI (3.6% vs. 7.5%; adjusted OR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.92–0.96), there were no differences in ROSC, 72-h survival or hospital survival or hospital survival with favorable neurologic status. Conclusion While exhibiting slightly higher ETI overall success rates, Bougie-assisted ETI entailed longer airway placement times and potentially lower survival. The role of the Bougie assistance in ETI of OHCA remains unclear.
Perspectives of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women on Participating in Longitudinal Mother-Baby Studies Involving Electronic Health Records: Qualitative Study

Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) hold great potential for longitudinal mother-baby studies, ranging from assessing study feasibility to facilitating patient recruitment to streamlining study visits and data collection. Existing studies on the perspectives of pregnant and breastfeeding women on EHR use have been limited to the use of EHRs to engage in health care rather than to participate in research. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of pregnant and breastfeeding women on releasing their own and their infants’ EHR data for longitudinal research to identify factors affecting their willingness to participate in research. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with pregnant or breastfeeding women from Alachua County, Florida. Participants were asked about their familiarity with EHRs and EHR patient portals, their comfort with releasing maternal and infant EHR data to researchers, the length of time of the data release, and whether individual research test results should be included in the EHR. The interviews were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were organized and coded using the NVivo 12 software (QSR International), and coded data were thematically analyzed using constant comparison. Results: Participants included 29 pregnant or breastfeeding women aged between 22 and 39 years. More than half of the sample had at least an associate degree or higher. Nearly all participants (27/29, 93%) were familiar with EHRs and had experience accessing an EHR patient portal. Less than half of the participants (12/29, 41%) were willing to make EHR data available to researchers for the duration of a study or longer. Participants’ concerns about sharing EHRs for research purposes emerged in 3 thematic domains: privacy and confidentiality, transparency by the research team, and surrogate decision-making on behalf of infants. The potential release of sensitive or stigmatizing information, such as mental or sexual health history, was considered in the decisions to release EHRs. Some participants viewed the simultaneous use of their EHRs for both health care and research as potentially beneficial, whereas others expressed concerns about mixing their health care with research. Conclusions: This exploratory study indicates that pregnant and breastfeeding women may be willing to release EHR data to researchers if researchers adequately address their concerns regarding the study design, communication, and data management. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should be included in EHR-based research as long as researchers are prepared to address their concerns. Trial Registration:
Nonadiabatic transitions in Landau-Zener grids: Integrability and semiclassical theory

We demonstrate that the general model of a linearly time-dependent crossing of two energy bands is integrable. Namely, the Hamiltonian of this model has a quadratically time-dependent commuting operator. We apply this property to four-state Landau-Zener (LZ) models that have previously been used to describe the Landau-St\"uckelberg interferometry experiments with an electron shuttling between two semiconductor quantum dots. The integrability then leads to simple but nontrivial exact relations for the transition probabilities. In addition, the integrability leads to a semiclassical theory that provides analytical approximation for the transition probabilities in these models for all parameter values. The results predict a dynamic phase transition, and show that similarly looking models belong to different topological classes.
ANCA-associated Vasculitis Management in the United States: Data From the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry.

Objective The management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) has evolved substantially over the last 2 decades. We sought to characterize AAV treatment patterns in the United States. Methods We identified patients with AAV in the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry who had at least 2 rheumatology clinician visits between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. Demographics, medications, laboratory test results, and billing codes were extracted from the medical record. Demographic and prescription trends were assessed overall and across US regions. Results We identified 1462 patients with AAV, 259 (18%) with new or relapsing AAV. The majority were classified as having granulomatosis with polyangiitis (75%). The mean age was 59.8 years and 59% were female. The majority of patients were in the South (45%) followed by the Mid-West (32%), West (12%), and Northeast (8%). Patients had a median of 3 visits and follow-up of 579 days. The most commonly prescribed medications during the study period were glucocorticoids (86%) followed by rituximab (45%), methotrexate (33%), azathioprine (32%), and mycophenolate mofetil (18%); cyclophosphamide (CYC) was rarely used (7%). At the most recent visits in RISE, 47% of patients were on glucocorticoids. Prescription trends were similar across regions. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the demographics and management of AAV by rheumatologists outside of major referral centers. Management strategies vary widely, but CYC is rarely used. These observations can be used to inform future research priorities. Additional studies are needed to characterize AAV severity in RISE as well as patient and provider treatment preferences.
Proportionality Review in Pennsylvania Courts

Courts around the world protect constitutional rights by conducting a form of judicial review known as proportionality review. Judges performing proportionality review run challenged government action through a series of legal tests to determine whether the government has overreached. The U.S. Supreme Court’s “Lochner-era” jurisprudence was a form of rights review that resembled proportionality, but today that Court favors a tiered approach to rights, applying strict scrutiny, rational basis review, and intermediate scrutiny to different claims. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, like many other state supreme courts, has to a significant extent patterned its approach to rights after the federal jurisprudence, notwithstanding important institutional differences between constitutional review at the state and federal levels. We argue that Pennsylvania has much to gain from expanding and regularizing the use of proportionality review in constitutional rights claims.
Penile Fracture Associated with Urethral Rupture and Its Complex Repair

Sexual activity provides great enjoyment and is very important for quality of life, but sometimes can be disastrous for a man. This occurred to our patient who fractured his penis during sexual intercourse when his extremely rigid penis slipped out of the vagina hitting the pubis of his female partner. The result of this accident was penile fracture with concomitant complete urethral rupture.
Uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor gene of bacteriophage PBS2 encodes a binding protein specific for uracil-DNA glycosylase.

The uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor gene (ugi) of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage PBS2 has been subcloned to a 720-base pair DNA fragment contained in pZW2-0.7 and its nucleotide sequence determined. Using nucleotide deletion analysis, we have located the cloned ugi gene along with potential regulatory elements. A promoter-like region (−10 and −35 consensus sequences) similar to other B.subtilis genes and the Shine-Dalgarno sequence characteristic of Gram-positive bacteria were both identified upstream from the initiator AUG codon. A 17-nucleotide exact inverted repeat followed by runs of adenine and thymine residues was positioned almost immediately downstream of the ochre codon. The ugi gene product was identified on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels using Escherichia coli minicells containing pZW2-0.7 and by recovering uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor activity following electrophoresis. The ugi gene codes for an acidic polypeptide of 9,477 molecular weight (84 amino acids) whose electrophoretic mobility was greater than predicted for a protein of this size. The mode of inhibition did not appear to involve a catalytic process nor did it directly involve inhibitor-DNA interaction. Rather, the inhibitor protein was shown to bind physically to the E. coli uracil-DNA glycosylase, forming a 36,000 molecular weight complex. This complex seems to be reversible, since inhibitor activity was recovered after heat treatment of the complex. In addition, we demonstrated that the inhibitor protein is active against uracil-DNA glycosylases isolated from several diverse biological sources but inactive against E. coli deoxyuridine triphosphatase, DNA polymerase I, and DNA polymerase α, β, and γ.
Factors affecting direction discrimination of moving tactile stimuli

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an account of the responses of peripheral afferents in human subjects that signal information about touch, finger movement, and cutaneous force. The chapter explores factors that affect normal human capacity to discriminate direction. Direction discrimination is typically defined as the perceptual capacity to distinguish opposing directions of stimuli moving across the skin in an otherwise identical or very similar manner. This capacity depends highly upon the exact manner in which the skin is contacted. The precise relationship among a stimulus' mechanical action, the peripheral neural encoding of information about direction, and psychophysical performance is poorly understood. The chapter describes the diverse modes of moving stimulus delivery that have been employed to study direction discrimination. The impact of variation in the parameters of stimulation is reviewed in the chapter in relation to the hypothetical neural mechanisms by which information about direction is encoded.
Heavy-Section Steel Technology Program: Fracture Issues (Survey Paper)

Large-scale fracture mechanics tests have resulted in the identification of a number of fracture technology issues. Identification of additional issues has come from the reactor vessel materials irradiation test program and from reactor operating experience. This paper provides a review of fracture issues with an emphasis on their potential impact on a reactor vessel pressurized thermal shock (PTS) analysis. Mixed mode crack propagation emerges as a major issue, due in large measure to the poor performance of existing models for the prediction of ductile tearing. Rectification of ductile tearing technology deficiencies may require extending the technology to include a more complete treatment of stress state and loading history effects. The effect of cladding on vessel fracture remains uncertain to the point that it is not possible to determine at this time if the net effect will be positive or negative. Enhanced fracture toughness for shallow flaws has been demonstrated for low-strength structural steels. Demonstration of a similar effect in reactor pressure vessel steels could have a significant beneficial effect on the probabilistic analysis of reactor vessel fracture. Further development of existing fracture mechanics models and concepts is required to meet the special requirements for fracture evaluation of circumferential flaws inmore » the welds of ring-forged vessels. Fracture technology advances required to address the issues discussed in this paper are the major objective for the ongoing Heavy Section Steel Technology (HSST) program at ORNL.« less
Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling in Xenopus retinal axon extension

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and N-cadherin both regulate axon extension in developing Xenopus retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Cultured cerebellar neurons have been shown to require FGFR activity for N-cadherin–stimulated neurite outgrowth, raising the possibility that N-cadherin is a FGFR ligand. To investigate this possibility in the developing visual system, retinal neurons were transfected with a dominant-negative FGFR (XFD) and plated on purified N-cadherin substrates. XFD-expressing neurons extended markedly shorter processes than control GFP-expressing neurons, implicating a role for FGFRs in N-cadherin–stimulated neurite outgrowth. To examine whether N-cadherin and FGFRs share the same pathway or use distinct second messenger pathways, specific inhibitors of implicated signaling molecules were added to neurons stimulated by N-cadherin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), or brain-derived nerve factor (BDNF) (which stimulates RGC outgrowth by a FGFR-independent mechanism). Diacylglycerol (DAG) lipase and Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II inhibitors both significantly reduced outgrowth stimulated by N-cadherin or bFGF but not by BDNF. Furthermore, we show that inhibiting DAG lipase activity in RGC axons extending in vivo toward the optic tectum reversibly slows axon extension without collapsing their growth cones. Thus, a common second-messenger signaling pathway mediating both N-cadherin– and bFGF-stimulated neurite extension is consistent with a model in which N-cadherin directly modulates the FGFR or a model whereby both FGFR and N-cadherin regulate the same second-messenger system. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 37: 633–641, 1998
Declarative bias for structural domains

ABSTRACT We present a formal solution to the problem of situation identification in learning of structural concepts. Structural concepts are characterized by the interrelationships and attributes of their parts , rather than by just their own direct attributes. Our solution extends the declarative approach to bias of (Russell and Grosof, 1987) by formalizing the beliefs about relevancy in a more complex form that expresses the preservation of properties under mappings, using second-order logic to express the existence of isomorphisms. Concept learning, including prediction, analogical inference and single-instance generalization, then emerges as deduction from such isomorphic determinations plus instance data.
In vivo bone strain and finite-element modeling of the craniofacial haft in catarrhine primates

Hypotheses regarding patterns of stress, strain and deformation in the craniofacial skeleton are central to adaptive explanations for the evolution of primate craniofacial form. The complexity of craniofacial skeletal morphology makes it difficult to evaluate these hypotheses with in vivo bone strain data. In this paper, new in vivo bone strain data from the intraorbital surfaces of the supraorbital torus, postorbital bar and postorbital septum, the anterior surface of the postorbital bar, and the anterior root of the zygoma are combined with published data from the supraorbital region and zygomatic arch to evaluate the validity of a finite-element model (FEM) of a macaque cranium during mastication. The behavior of this model is then used to test hypotheses regarding the overall deformation regime in the craniofacial haft of macaques. This FEM constitutes a hypothesis regarding deformation of the facial skeleton during mastication. A simplified verbal description of the deformation regime in the macaque FEM is as follows. Inferior bending and twisting of the zygomatic arches about a rostrocaudal axis exerts inferolaterally directed tensile forces on the lateral orbital wall, bending the wall and the supraorbital torus in frontal planes and bending and shearing the infraorbital region and anterior zygoma root in frontal planes. Similar deformation regimes also characterize the crania of Homo and Gorilla under in vitro loading conditions and may be shared among extant catarrhines. Relatively high strain magnitudes in the anterior root of the zygoma suggest that the morphology of this region may be important for resisting forces generated during feeding.
Prompt Gamma-Ray Activation Analysis: Fundamentals and Applications

Prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) is an important nuclear analytical technique that complements conventional neutron activation analysis (NAA). When a target is placed in a beam of neutrons, gamma-rays emitted upon neutron capture are measured by a shielded germanium detector, yielding quantitative elemental analysis. The radiation is penetrating and the analysis both nondestructive and independent of the chemical form of the element(s) being measured. The technique is most useful for measurement of light elements (H, B, C, N, Si, P, S, Cl) which can not be easily measured by other methods. Best sensitivity is achieved with neutron beams from research reactors. Although sample preparation is minimal, care must be taken to select proper standards and blanks, and numerous corrections must sometimes be applied to the data from the complex spectra. PGAA has proven useful for multielement analysis of a wide variety of different materials spanning a broad range of scientific disciplines. Of particular importance has been the measurement of hydrogen in materials.
Mass Appraisal: An Introduction to Multiple Regression Analysis for Real Estate Valuation

(2004). Mass Appraisal: An Introduction to Multiple Regression Analysis for Real Estate Valuation. Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 65-77.
Fragmentation of arylated medium-ring compounds. The question of rearrangement of molecular-ion precursors to [C4Ar4]+˙

Rearrangement of the molecular ions of tetracyclone, tetraphenylquinone, tetraphenylthiophene dioxide and pentaphenylcyclopentadienol prior to decomposition, rather than formation of a symmetrical [C4Ar4]+˙ ion, is considered as an alternative method for the production of [C2Ar2]+˙. The p-fluoro substituent is used to elicit information about the positional origins of the [C2Ar2]+˙ fragments. Operation of a double focusing mass spectrometer in the defocused mode reveals that the integrity of the molecular ion in different systems is affected to varying degrees, ranging from total lack of rearrangement to virtually complete scrambling.
Confirmation of T1-Bright Vein of Galen Aneurysm Spontaneous Thrombosis by Subtraction Magnetic Resonance Venography: A Case Report

Spontaneous thrombosis of a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VOGM) is rare. We describe a 2-month-old patient with a patent VOGM and hydrocephalus, also confirmed patent at 6 months, but with subsequent lack of filling on preembolization catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at 9 months' age. Due to the presence of T1- and T2-bright signal, noncontrast T1-weighted images (T1WI), T2-weighted images (T2WI), two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance venography (MRV), and postcontrast T1WI were ambiguous for patency. However, subtracting the pre- from the postcontrast MRV images confirmed closure compared to subtracted images at 6 months' age. The factors contributing to thrombosis were likely a combination of a disproportionately small straight sinus, ventriculostomy, and contrast medium from DSA.
Complications and outcomes of surgery for spinal meningioma: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample analysis from 2003 to 2010

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to analyze the practice patterns, complications and outcome following surgery for spinal meningioma in the United States. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2003 to 2010. In-patient mortality and discharge disposition were the outcome predictors. Results A total of 13,792 admissions for surgically managed spinal meningioma were identified. The number of admissions increased from 12.6% in 2003 to 14.7% in 2010. 1.2% patients were ≤18 years and 28.4% ≥70 years. 8.3% patients had high co-morbidity score. The total in-hospital complication rate was 6.4%. 42% of the admissions were discharged to facilities other than home or self-care. Patients in the pediatric and adult age groups had a significantly higher rate of adverse outcome. There was no difference in complication rates and adverse discharge disposition between the hospitals with varying case volumes. Conclusions Caucasian patients with private insurance without co-morbidity had significantly lower complication rate and good outcome. Occurrence of spinal meningioma in the pediatric and adult age groups does not carry worse prognosis.
Contribution of the consultant pharmacist to rational drug usage in the long-term care facility.

: In a rural 116-bed skilled nursing facility, a study was made of the influence of a Consultant Pharmacist on drug usage over a one-year period. Lines of communication were established with the six attending physicians by means of work rounds, telephone calls, and both official and unofficial memoranda. Daily pharmacy rounds were conducted with health-care students and the nursing supervisor, who facilitated physician-pharmacist communication. The physician-nurse-pharmacist team studied each patient's problems, the status of the therapeutic endpoint, and the need of and usage of each regularly scheduled or pro re nata (PRN) drug. Stop-order and standing-order protocols were developed. During the one-year period, the number of regularly scheduled drugs per patient was reduced from 3.30 to 2.66 (19.4 percent decrease), and of PRN drugs from 3.92 to 2.12 (45.9 percent decrease). The overall reduction was from 7.22 to 4.78 drugs per patient (33.8 percent decrease). The most significant reduction was associated with the protocol and stop-order discontinuances of routinely scheduled drugs, and with the duplicated orders for drugs to relieve pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, colds and cough. Implications for optimal care of the patients, and for the economics of this federally-mandated system of consultant pharmacists are discussed.
Parathormone-stimulated resorption of devitalised bone by cultured osteoclast-type bone cells

WE recently reported the isolation from mouse calvaria of two different bone cell populations that express unique changes in metabolism when exposed in culture to parathormone and calcitonin1–3. In one cell type, termed CT, parathormone increased the synthesis of hyaluronate and the activity of acid phosphatase. In the second cell type, termed PT, parathormone inhibited citrate decarboxylation and decreased the activities of prolyl hydroxylase and alkaline phosphatase. Calcitonin blocked the effects of parathormone in the CT cells but not in the PT cells. Since the changes elicited in the separate populations by parathormone closely resembled those exhibited by calvaria maintained in organ culture4, it seemed probable that the isolated cells retained unique properties in culture that are characteristic of their function in the intact tissue. On the basis of these results the CT cells were provisionally identified as osteoclasts and the PT cells as osteoblasts3. The major physiological result of the action of parathormone on bone in vivo or in culture is resorption of the calcified extracellular matrix, so we evaluated this function in the isolated bone cells. Should either the CT or PT cells promote resorption in vitro, this would further demonstrate that they retain differentiated function in culture and would aid in establishing their identity. We describe here a procedure which allowed us to test for resorptive properties of our isolated bone cell populations. We found that parathormone markedly stimulated the capacity of CT, but not PT, cells to resorb a calcified bone matrix substrate—a property in keeping with the identification of the CT cells as osteoclasts.
Growth instability in helium films.

We study the growth of liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ films on weakly attractive substrates. Close to the substrate the film grows by formation of well defined liquid layers. Above a minimum stable coverage, a liquid monolayer uniformly covers the surface. Upon increasing the coverage a second liquid layer begins to grow by the formation of two-dimensional liquid ``clusters.'' Above a certain coverage, the second layer leaves vacuum-cluster coexistence, and the system regains the full planar symmetry. The scenario is repeated for a third liquid layer. The results are interpreted in terms of recent experiments of helium on graphite.
An analysis of the retinal afferents to the cat's medial interlaminar nucleus and to its rostral thalamic extension, the “geniculate wing”

The retinal afferents to the medial interlaminar nucleus and to its rostro-dorsal extension at the edge of the pulvinar have been studied in cats by fiber degeneration and autoradiographic methods. Fiber degeneration following section of one optic nerve shows two distinct retinal inputs: One is coarse-fibered and goes to the medial interlaminar nucleus itself; the second, which is fine-fibered, goes to the rostral and medial borders of the medial interlaminar nucleus and continues into the pulvinar. The regions in receipt of these fine fibers have been called the “geniculate wing”. The topography of retinal representations and the degree of binocular overlap within the medial interlaminar nucleus and the wing have been studied by combining intraocular injections of 3H proline with local lesions of the injected eye, or with removal of the non-injected eye. In the medial interlaminar nucleus three distinct laminae are recognizable and are particularly clearly shown in horizontal sections. Rostrally and medially, lamina 1 maps the contralateral nasal retina as a mirror reversal of lamina A. Posterior and lateral to this, lamina 2 maps the ipsilateral temporal retina as a mirror reversal of lamina A1. Lamina 3 lies closest to the optic tract and receives crossed afferents from the temporal retina. In this lamina, which is the smallest, vertical retinal dimensions map as in the other layers, but we were unable to determine the mapping of the horizontal dimensions. In the geniculate wing, as in the other geniculate layers, vertical lines of the visual field are mapped as corresponding vertical diencephalic dimensions; horizontal retinal dimensions are mapped as horizontal lines in the wing, with central retinal areas represented furthest from the optic tract. In the geniculate wing the contralateral nasal and ipsilateral temporal retina are mapped with considerable binocular overlap. The crossed temporal retina has no demonstrable representation in the wing.
Effect of Patient and Family Insight on Compliance of Schizophrenic Patients

Insight on the part of both patients and their significant others is thought to be an important factor influencing compliance with medication and treatment of schizophrenic patients. Using the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder, the insight and the awareness of patients and of their significant others were studied with respect to symptoms, behaviors, and medication effects. The participants who were more aware of their mental illnesses and of the beneficial effects of medication were more likely to be compliant with prescribed medications. Both awareness and insight of the patient and their family members appears to have a beneficial impact on compliance. Participants whose significant others subsequently failed to cooperate with scheduled interviews had less awareness of their illnesses, and less appreciation of the beneficial effects of medications. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for the patients who had no medication side effects to be compliant with prescribed medications. Abuse of alcohol or other substances in this population was low; only marijuana use was associated with noncompliance. Educating both patients and their family members to identify disease symptoms, drug effects and side effects has the potential to improve compliance in schizophrenic patients.
Estimating the Proportion of American Marriages That End in Divorce

This paper reviews and develops techniques of estimating the proportion of marriages that end in divorce which are based on disruption rates observed during a particular period of time. A source of...
Phenotypic plasticity of the introduced New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, compared to sympatric native snails

Phenotypic plasticity is likely to be important in determining the invasive potential of a species, especially if invasive species show greater plasticity or tolerance compared to sympatric native species. Here in two separate experiments we compare reaction norms in response to two environmental variables of two clones of the New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, isolated from the United States, (one invasive and one not yet invasive) with those of two species of native snails that are sympatric with the invader, Fossaria bulimoides group and Physella gyrina group. We placed juvenile snails in environments with high and low conductivity (300 and 800 mS) in one experiment, and raised them at two different temperatures (16°C and 22°C) in a second experiment. Growth rate and mortality were measured over the course of 8 weeks. Mortality rates were higher in the native snails compared to P. antipodarum across all treatments, and variation in conductivity influenced mortality. In both experiments, reaction norms did not vary significantly between species. There was little evidence that the success of the introduced species is a result of greater phenotypic plasticity to these variables compared to the sympatric native species.
Electrochemical oxidation of 9β-D-ribofuranosyluric acid in basic solution

Abstract The electrochemical oxidation of 9-β-D-ribofuranosyluric acid (UA-9-R) has been studied at the pyrolytic graphite electrode at pH 9.2. The peak I a reaction is a 2 e − −1 H + quasi-reversible process giving an unstable quinonoid which is rapidly attacked by water to give one and perhaps two tertiary alcohol intermediates. In the absence of phosphate these intermediates decompose to give a mixture of 5-hydroxyhydantoin-5-carboxamide-3-riboside, ribose and 4-amino-4-carboxy-2,5-diketo-imidazole. In the presence of phosphate the putative tertiary alcohol intermediate undergoes a ring contraction to an electrooxidizable bicyclic carboxylic acid which decomposes to an allantoin riboside. The carboxylic acid is partially responsible for the second, more positive oxidation peak of UA-9-R (peak II a ) and in a 2 e − −1 H + reaction gives 1-hydroxy-2,4,6,8-tetraaza-3,7-dioxo-5-ene-bicyclo(3.3.0)-octane-4-riboside. A stable peak I a product also contributes to the peak II a reaction. It is speculated that this species is a phosphorylated derivative of the bicyclic carboxylic acid. At pH 9.2, in the presence of phosphate, type VIII peroxidase is capable of oxidizing UA-9_R in a reaction chemically equivalent to the peak I a electrochemical process.
Solid-state extrusion of nylons 11 and 12: processing, morphology and properties

Monofilaments of poly(11-amino-undecanoic acid) (nylon 11), and poly(laurylactam) (nylon 12) have been produced using solid-state extrusion methods in an Instron capillary rheometer. The resulting morphology, physical and mechanical properties were investigated. For nylon 11, at an extrusion ratio (ER) of 12, the crystalline melting-point temperature increased by 16° C, over the undrawn material, while the per cent crystallinity,Xc, increased by 23%. Nylon 12, extruded to a maximum ER of 6, realized an increase inTm of 4° C at ER=5 and anXc increase of 14%. Young's modulus for nylon 11 increased from 3 GPa at an ER=3 to 5.5 GPa at an ER=7 and levelled off at greater ER. For nylon 12, the Young's modulus climbed from 2.5 GPa at ER=3 to about 3.3 GPa at E R=5.5. Conventionally melt-spun and cold-drawn nylon 11 and nylon 12 fibres exhibited Young's modulus values of 2.7 GPa and 2.9 GPa respectively. Atmospheric moisture loss was found not to affect solid-state extrusion of these higher nylons. Increases in extrusion temperature and/or pressure increased the extrusion rate. The flow activation energy of nylon 11 was 73 kcal mol−1 at 0.24 GPa extrusion pressure, and 124 kcal mol−1 at 0.49 GPa extrusion pressure. Calculated apparent viscosities were about 1014 poise and 1015 poise, respectively. The morphologies were shown by electron microscopy to be microfibrillar and the resulting monofilaments were transparent to visible light.
Young Children's Understanding of a Biological Basis for Parent-Offspring Relations

2 experiments evaluated whether young children understand that kinship implies, but does not guarantee, physical resemblance among family members. In Experiment 1, preschoolers expected adopted babies to share physical properties, but not beliefs and preferences, with their biological parents rather than with their adoptive ones. However, preschoolers in Experiment 2 recognized that shared properties per se do not guarantee kinship: a baby who looks like and lives with a woman is not her biological baby if he or she initially grew inside someone else, whereas a baby may neither resemble nor live with its biological parents. Overall, the results suggest that children expect parents and offspring to share physical properties, but understand that shared properties do not necessarily entail kinship. In both experiments, the extent of this understanding increased with age. However, preschoolers' overall performance supports the claim that some children at this age have a naive theory of biology. The results further suggest that the critical development in an understanding of kinship is acquisition of factual knowledge rather than structural change.
Nonlinear Landau damping of Alfven waves.

Demonstration that large-amplitude linearly or elliptically polarized Alfven waves propagating parallel to the average magnetic field can be dissipated by nonlinear Landau damping. The damping is due to the longitudinal electric field associated with the ion sound wave which is driven (in second order) by the Alfven wave. The damping rate can be large even in a cold plasma (beta much less than 1, but not zero), and the mechanism proposed may be the dominant one in many plasmas of astrophysical interest.
Learning Factors in the University Classroom: Faculty and Student Perspectives.

We examined faculty and student perspectives on variables relating to the instructor, student, and physical environment that affect student learning. Tenured faculty members and university students...
MMP-10 Regulates Collagenolytic Activity of Alternatively Activated Resident Macrophages

Matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) is expressed by macrophages and epithelium in response to injury, but its functions in wound repair are unknown. We observed increased collagen deposition and skin stiffness in Mmp10 −/− wounds, with no difference in collagen expression or reepithelialization. Increased collagen deposition in Mmp10 −/− wounds was accompanied by less collagenolytic activity and reduced expression of specific metallocollagenases, particularly MMP-8 and MMP-13, where MMP-13 was the key collagenase. Ablation and adoptive transfer approaches and cell-based models demonstrated that the MMP-10-dependent collagenolytic activity was a product of alternatively activated (M2) resident macrophages. These data demonstrate a critical role for macrophage MMP-10 in controlling the tissue remodeling activity of macrophages and moderating scar formation during wound repair.
Conversational Topics of 4-Year-Olds

Young children's ability to participate in conversation has been of particular interest in the study of pragmatic aspects of language. In this study, topics of conversation were investigated by vid...
The divided woman and generic doubleness in The Bell Jar

(1976). The divided woman and generic doubleness in The Bell Jar. Women's Studies: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 127-146.
Artificial hand for minimally invasive surgery: design and testing of initial prototype

Background Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery may improve recovery and patient satisfaction while maintaining surgical principles. Laparoscopic, single incision, natural orifice, and robotic approaches hold their own appeal. However, they lack the ability to manipulate organs as easily as the human hand. Advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques require new tools with increased functionality of the end effectors. Multifunctional tools with greater dexterity than those currently available are highly desired.