cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A microtiter plate assay for factor XIII A-chain-fibrin interactions

Factor XIII A-chain-fibrin interactions regulate factor XIIIa formation and fibrin cross-linking. A microtiter plate assay was developed for studying these interactions. Microtiter plate wells were coated with fibrinogen and converted to fibrin by thrombin. After blocking the wells with bovine serum albumin, factor XIII A-chain was added and binding was monitored by incubating first with anti-factor XIII followed by anti-rabbit IgG-alkaline phosphatase. Enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate was quantitated by the absorbance at 405 nm. BInding was specific, sensitive, rapid, saturable, and reversible, requiring only nanograms of either factor XIII or fibrin. Binding was time- and concentration-dependent and independent of divalent cations. The bound material was identified as factor XIII A-chain by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Factor XIII binding was inhibited > 75% by 250 mM sodium chloride or 250 nM anti-factor XIII IgG. The method was also suitable for demonstrating binding using 0.8% plasma or with r-factor XIII expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli. This method is suitable for identifying the binding sites that are important for plasma factor XIII activation and factor XIIIa activity.
An Ankle-Foot Orthosis for Dymanic Alteration of Varus/Valgus Knee Moments

Historically, knee-ankle-foot orthoses have been used for the non-operative treatment of Genu-Varum/Valgum deformities. Such orthoses apply static bending moments to the knee and are not well tolerated by patients because they require fixed full knee extension. This paper describes an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that allows free knee motion and provides dynamic correction of pathologic knee moments by controlling the medio-lateral location of the foot support on the floor.
Inequalities for Critical Indices near Gas–Liquid Critical Point

By studying behavior of the cell‐pair correlation function χ(R) near the critical point we deduce the following new inequality under a plasusible assumption on χ(R): [φ(n)]2[φ(1)]−n−1+(n−1)d/(2−η) < ∞, n = 1, 2, ···, where d is the dimensionality of the system under study, and φ(n) denotes ρn[∂n−1ρ−1(∂βP / ∂ρ)β / ∂ρn−1]β [ρ = number density, P = pressure, β = 1 / (kBT), T = temperature, kB = Boltzmann constant]. The quantity η is a correction factor from the Ornstein–Zernike behavior of the leading term of χ(R) at the critical point at large distance R[χ(R) ∼ R2−d−η]. The above inequality unifies further inequalities for the critical indices which can be generated from it by tracing different thermodynamic paths. Using Fisher's notations for the critical indices, we find the following relations from the above inequality: η ≥ 2 − d(δ − 1) / (δ + 1), 2Δn ≤ γ + dν, 2Δn′ ≤ γ′ + dν′, and 2β ≤ dν′ − γ′.
Structure of Serine Acetyltransferase in Complexes with CoA and its Cysteine Feedback Inhibitor

Serine acetyltransferase (SAT, EC 2.3.1.30) catalyzes the CoA-dependent acetylation of the side chain hydroxyl group of l-serine to form O-acetylserine, as the first step of a two-step biosynthetic pathway in bacteria and plants leading to the formation of l-cysteine. This reaction represents a key metabolic point of regulation for the cysteine biosynthetic pathway due to its feedback inhibition by cysteine. We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of Haemophilus influenzae SAT in complexes with CoA and its cysteine feedback inhibitor. The enzyme is a 175 kDa hexamer displaying the characteristic left-handed parallel beta-helix (LbetaH) structural domain of the hexapeptide acyltransferase superfamily of enzymes. Cysteine is bound in a crevice between adjacent LbetaH domains and underneath a loop excluded from the coiled LbetaH. The proximity of its thiol group to the thiol group of CoA derived from superimposed models of the cysteine and CoA complexes confirms that cysteine is bound at the active site. Analysis of the contacts of SAT with cysteine and CoA and the conformational differences that distinguish these complexes provides a structural basis for cysteine feedback inhibition, which invokes competition between cysteine and serine binding and a cysteine-induced conformational change of the C-terminal segment of the enzyme that excludes binding of the cofactor.
Corotating Twin-Screw Extrusion Reactive Extrusion-Devolatilization Model and Software

The modular corotating twin-screw extruder is an increasingly widely used polymer processing machine. This paper describes analyses of reactive extrusion and devolatilization in a modular corotating twin-screw extruder. The results of the analyses are intergrated into a comprehensive model and computer software for the modular corotating twin-screw extrusion process.
Cultural Content in Introductory Linguistics

Beyond acquainting students with language structure, an undergraduate survey course in anthropological linguistics must trace the cross-fertilizing relationships that bind it to other specialties within anthropology. In particular, it must show how linguistic data illuminate cultural phenomena and how social factors constrain language usage. To accomplish the objective of integrating cultural with linguistic content, Ifavor a holistic approach that views language and culture as forming a continuum of coded communication. HOLISTIC ANIn an undergraduate anthropology program that surveys a representative array of topical and area specialties, an introductory course in anthropological linguistics has two missions to fulfill. First, it must delineate the elements of language structure and their rule-governed interrelationships. Second, it must underscore the links that bind linguistics to the other anthropological subdisciplines. Above all, the course should demonstrate how linguistic data and research illuminate cultural phenomena and, conversely, how knowledge of the social context of speech is essential for a complete understanding of language behavior. This article focuses on this second mission, the relationship of language to its social and cultural environment. In order to realize this objective, I favor a holistic approach that views language and other cultural signs as constituting a vast communications network within which a variety of codes or sign systems function to transmit cultural information. When they operate together, the respective codes typically act as extensions of one another, each complementing the others in the process of message making. Where the information conveyed by one code leaves off, another system takes over to complete the message. This holistic view of linguistic and cultural signing is communicated to students most effectively by means of examples. Ethnographic accounts of rituals and other complex cultural routines offer ample material to illustrate the point (Silverstein 1976:13; Tambiah 1981). More common examples are provided by situations like the interplay of verbal and nonverbal signals at a supermarket or traffic intersection. A traffic officer's hand gestures and whistle operate in conjunction with traffic lights and road signs (with their several verbal and iconic com
Bias Correction in Panel Data Models with Individual Speciflc Parameters

In correlated random coefficient models, standard OLS and IV estimators do not estimate the average population effect. This problem can be fixed with panel data by estimating a different coefficient for each individual, and then using the sample moment of the individual coefficients to estimate the corresponding population moment of interest. These estimates, however, can be severily biased in short panels due to the incidental parameters problem. The bias arises if some of the regressors are endogenous, or if the moments to estimate are nonlinear functions of the coefficients, e.g., variances of the individual effects. This paper introduces a class of bias-corrected fixed effects estimators for these correlated random coefficient models, which do not impose restrictions on the coefficients heterogeneity. The new estimators are based on moment conditions that can be nonlinear functions in parameters and variables, encompassing both linear and nonlinear random coefficients models and allowing for the presence of endogenous regressors. The corrections are derived from large-T expansions of the finite-sample bias, and reduce the order of this bias from O(T^{-1}) to O(T^{-2}) for model parameters and other quantities of interest, such as moments of the individual-specific coefficients. The asymptotic distribution of the bias-corrected estimators are centered at the true parameter values under asymptotic sequences where n = o(T^{3}). These methods are illustrated through an analysis of earnings equations for young men allowing the effect of the union status to be different for each individual. The results suggest the presence of important heterogeneity in the union premium.
Marine magnetotellurics for petroleum exploration Part I: A sea-floor equipment system

Induction in electrically conductive seawater attenuates the magnetotelluric (MT) fields and, coupled with a minimum around 1 Hz in the natural magnetic field spectrum, leads to a dramatic loss of electric and magnetic field power on the sea floor at periods shorter than 1000 s. For this reason the marine MT method traditionally has been used only at periods of 103 to 105 s to probe deep mantle structure; rarely does a sea‐floor MT response extend to a 100-s period. To be useful for mapping continental shelf structure at depths relevant to petroleum exploration, however, MT measurements need to be made at periods between 1 and 1000 s. This can be accomplished using ac-coupled sensors, induction coils for the magnetic field, and an electric field amplifier developed for marine controlled‐source applications. The electrically quiet sea floor allows the attenuated electric field to be amplified greatly before recording; in deep (1-km) water, motional noise in magnetic field sensors appears not to be a proble...
Reconsolidation from negative emotional pictures: Is successful retrieval required?

Finn and Roediger (Psychological Science 22:781–786, 2011) found that when a negative emotional picture was presented immediately after a successful retrieval, later test performance was enhanced as compared to when a neutral picture or a blank screen had been shown. This finding implicates the period immediately following retrieval as playing an important role in determining later retention via reconsolidation. In two new experiments, we investigated whether successful retrieval was required to show the enhancing effect of negative emotion on later recall. In both experiments, the participants studied Swahili–English vocabulary pairs, took an intervening cued-recall test, and were given a final cued-recall test on all items. In Experiment 1, we tested a distinctiveness explanation of the effect. The results showed that neither presentation of a negative picture just prior to successful retrieval nor presentation of a positive picture after successful retrieval produced the enhancing effect that was seen when negative pictures were presented after successful retrieval. In Experiment 2, we tested whether the enhancing effect would occur when a negative picture followed an unsuccessful retrieval attempt with feedback, and a larger enhancement effect occurred after errors of commission than after errors of omission. These results indicate that effort in retrieving is critical to the enhancing effect shown with negative pictures; whether the target is produced by the participant or given by an external source following a commission error does not matter. We interpret these results as support for semantic enrichment as a key element in producing the enhancing effect of negative pictures that are presented after a retrieval attempt.
Isomerization of herpes simplex virus 1 genome: identification of the cis-acting and recombination sites within the domain of the a sequence

Summary Previous studies have shown that the a sequence located at the termini and at the junction between the L and S components is the site-specific, cis -acting sequence mediating the inversions of herpes simplex virus 1 DNA. We constructed mutated a sequences, inserted them into the thymidine kinase gene, and recombined them into the L component of the viral genome. Deletion of U c or U b domains of the a sequence did not affect inversions, whereas the deletion of direct repeat #4 (DR4) drastically reduced their frequency. Deletion of both direct repeat #2 (DR2) and DR4 abolished inversions. Recombinational events leading to inversions appear to occur through DR2, and possibly DR4. These results complement previous studies showing that most of one DR1 sequence can also be dispensed with and are consistent with the hypothesis that DR4 and possibly DR2 are the cis -acting sites for the inversions mediated by the a sequence.
Zebra mussel colonisation of soft sediments facilitates invertebrate communities

Summary 1. We examined the effect of zebra mussel colonisation on invertebrate communities inhabiting soft sediments in two bays along the Vermont shoreline of Lake Champlain, U.S.A. 2. In summer 2001, we conducted manipulative experiments (addition and removal of zebra mussel colonies) with respective controls to assess the effect of colonies on invertebrate abundance, richness, and position within sediments (within colony versus underlying colony) and compared these data to comparative studies of natural communities in summer 2002. 3. Split core samples were taken two months after the manipulation and the following year so that we could quantify individuals and species inhabiting zebra mussel colonies separately from those in sediments underlying zebra mussel colonies and adjacent sediments lacking zebra mussels. 4. Zebra mussel-covered sediments supported more abundant and richer invertebrate communities than adjacent sediments lacking zebra mussels. 5. Abundance and richness patterns in zebra mussel-addition and removal treatments closely paralleled those in natural communities. 6. Despite severe oxygen depletion at the interface of underlying sediments and overlying zebra mussel colonies, most infaunal invertebrates responded positively to zebra mussel colonisation either by remaining in sediments underlying zebra mussel colonies or by migrating into zebra mussel colonies.
AN APPLICATION OF THE MATCHING LAW TO EVALUATE THE ALLOCATION OF TWO- AND THREE-POINT SHOTS BY COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

We applied the matching equation to evaluate the allocation of two- and three-point shots by male and female college basketball players from a large Division 1 university. The matching law predicts that the proportion of shots taken from three-point range should match the proportional reinforcement rate produced by such shots. Thus, we compared the proportion of three-point shots taken relative to all shots to the proportion of three-point shots scored relative to all shots scored. However, the matching equation was adjusted to account for the greater reinforcer magnitude of the three-point basket (i.e., 1.5 times greater than the two-point basket reinforcer magnitude). For players with substantial playing time, results showed that the overall distribution of two- and three-point shots was predicted by the matching equation. Game-by-game shot distribution was variable, but the cumulative proportion of shots taken from three-point range as the season progressed was predicted almost perfectly on a player-by-player basis for both male and female basketball players.
The Effective Application of Biased Signaling to New Drug Discovery

The ability of agonists to selectively activate some but not all signaling pathways linked to pleiotropically signaling receptors has opened the possibility of obtaining molecules that emphasize beneficial signals, de-emphasize harmful signals, and concomitantly deemphasize harmful signals while blocking the harmful signals produced by endogenous agonists. The detection and quantification of biased effects is straightforward, but two important factors should be considered in the evaluation of biased effects in drug discovery. The first is that efficacy, and not bias, determines whether a given agonist signal will be observed; bias only dictates the relative concentrations at which agonist signals will appear when they do appear. Therefore, a Cartesian coordinate system plotting relative efficacy (on a scale of Log relative Intrinsic Activities) as the ordinates and Log(bias) as the abscissae is proposed as a useful tool in evaluating possible biased molecules for progression in discovery programs. Second, it should be considered that the current scales quantifying bias limit this property to the allosteric vector (ligand/receptor/coupling protein complex) and that whole-cell processing of this signal can completely change measured bias from in vitro predictions.
Observational Studies on Association between Eastward Equatorial Jet and Indian Ocean Dipole

Association between weakening/strengthening of the eastward equatorial jet (EEJ) in both seasons and the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) was investigated using two independent observational datasets (October 1992 to September 2007): (a) the dipole mode index I(t) and (b) the 5-day Ocean Surface Current Analyses-Realtime (OSCAR) obtained from satellite altimetry and scatterometer data, which has strong seasonal variability, with the EEJ occurrence in spring and fall, shown from the time-longitude cross-section of equatorial zonal velocity (1°S-1°N). The association is detected in two ways. First, time series of averaged zonal velocity over (1°S-1°N, 42°E-100°E) U(t) shows a close association to the dipole mode index: positive IOD events (1994, 1997, 2006) correspond to negative U (westward equatorial current), and negative IOD events (1994, 1995, 1999, 2005) correspond to positive U (eastward equatorial current). Second, the EEJ weakening/strengthening is represented by the streamfunction anomaly relative to its climatological monthly mean fields. The streamfunction anomaly is further analyzed using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) method. The first EOF mode accounts for 55% of the variance with corresponding principal component A (1)(t) showing evident pattern of EEJ strengthening and weakening. The correlation coefficient between I(t) and A (1)(t) is around 0.49. This may confirm the linkage in some sense (only EOF-1 considered) between the positive (negative) IOD events and the weakening (strengthening) of the EEJ. The dipole pattern of lag-correlation between the sea surface temperature anomaly and U confirms the connection between the EEJ weakening/strengthening and the IOD events.
A Study of Mechanical Behavior and Morphology of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced UHMWPE/Nylon 6 Hybrid Polymer Nanocomposite Fiber

We report a phenomenal increase in strength, modulus, and fracture strain of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber by 103 %, 219 %, and 108 %, respectively through hybridizing this fiber with Nylon 6 as a minor phase and simultaneously reinforcing it with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Loading of Nylon 6 and SWCNTs into UHMWPE was 20.0 wt% and 2.0 wt%, respectively. Hybridized fibers were processed using a solution spinning method coupled with melt mixing and extrusion. We claim that the enhancement in strain-to-failure of the nanocomposites is due to induced plasticity in the hybridized Nylon 6-UHMWPE polymers. The enhancement in strength and stiffness in the nanocomposites is attributed to the load sharing of the SWCNTs during deformation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies showed that changes in percent crystallinity, rate of crystallization, crystallite size, alignment of nanotubes, sliding of polymer interfaces and strong adhesion of CNT/polymer blends were responsible for such enhancements.
Methodological Research Priorities in Palliative Care and Hospice Quality Measurement

Quality measurement is a critical tool for improving palliative care and hospice, but significant research is needed to improve the application of quality indicators. We defined methodological priorities for advancing the science of quality measurement in this field based on discussions of the Technical Advisory Panel of the Measuring What Matters consensus project of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and a subsequent strategy meeting to better clarify research challenges, priorities, and quality measurement implementation strategies. In this article, we describe three key priorities: 1) defining the denominator(s) (or the population of interest) for palliative care quality indicators, 2) developing methods to measure quality from different data sources, and 3) conducting research to advance the development of patient/family-reported indicators. We then apply these concepts to the key quality domain of advance care planning and address relevance to implementation of indicators in improving care. Developing the science of quality measurement in these key areas of palliative care and hospice will facilitate improved quality measurement across all populations with serious illness and care for patients and families.
Differential Associations Between Depression, Risk Factors for Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Incidence in a Large U.S. Sample.

Background Depression frequently co-occurs with diabetes. The associations between risk factors for insulin resistance and depression and diabetes can help determine the relative importance of factors that contribute toward the comorbidity. Method Analyses of the NHANES I (n = 10,025) to examine the cross-sectional relationships between depression and risk factors for insulin resistance at baseline using logistic regression and to explore the longitudinal relationships between risk factors for insulin resistance and diabetes incidence using Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Many risk factors for insulin resistance were associated with depression and diabetes incidence. Depression was cross-sectionally associated with diabetes, but did not increase the risk for diabetes incidence.These counterintuitive results can be explained primarily by the differing relationships between risk factors for insulin resistance, depression, and diabetes. Limitations Lack of repeated measures of depression. Conclusions Lack of physical activity, hypertension, and inadequate sleep were the risk factors for insulin resistance with the highest associations with both depression and diabetes incidence.
Oxycodone with an opioid receptor antagonist: A review

The rationale for putting opioid antagonists with an agonist is to improve pain control, to reduce side effects, and/or to reduce abuse. The combination of prolonged release (PR) oxycodone and naloxone reduces constipation as demonstrated in multiple studies and has been designated a tamper-resistant opioid by the Food and Drug Administration. Bioequivalence of the combination product compared with PR oxycodone has not been established. Several of the pivotal studies provided suboptimal laxative support in the control arm of the randomized trials. Two noninferiority trials have demonstrated equivalent analgesia between PR oxycodone and the combination product at doses of less than 120 mg of oxycodone per day. There appears to be an analgesic ceiling above 80-120 mg of oxycodone per day. Safety monitoring during randomized trials was not been well described in published manuscripts. Benefits appear to be better for those with chronic noncancer pain compared with individuals with cancer when constipation was the primary outcome.
Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Risk for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

This paper summarizes a conference during which a cardiologist and internists discuss how they would treat an individual patient whose risk factors and individual characteristics place them in a gr...
A phase II trial of diaziquone (AZQ) in mixed mesodermal sarcomas of the uterus. A Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

AZQ was given intravenously to 23 patients with mixed mesodermal sarcoma of the uterus refractory to conventional treatment at a dose of 22.5–30 mg/m2 q three weeks. There was one partial reponse lasting seven weeks and one drug-related death. Based upon the activity observed in this trial, there does not appear to be a significant role for AZQ as a salvage agent for mixed mesodermal sarcomas of the uterus at the dose and schedule tested.
The legal environment for forestry prescribed burning in the South: regulatory programs and voluntary guidelines

Southem states vary widely in their approaches to regulation and liability protection for prescribed buming. Most state air quality laws exempt prescribed burning from many open burning rules; however, monetarypenaltiesare establishedfor the rules thatdo apply. Forestprotection lawsaddress escaped fire and requirepermits ornotijication in al1 but two states. So-called "certified burner " laws have beenpassed in six states to limit liability for experienced burners who attend training courses and adhere to applicable air quality and forest protection laws and regulations. South. J. Appl. For. 16(3):170-l 74. Prescribed burning is a valuable land management and protection tool and a well accepted professional forestry practice. Landowners use prescribed burning for site prepa- ration, vegetation control, tire hazard abatement, wildlife habitat improvement, and other benefits. In recent years, an average of 4.4 million ac/yr has been prescribed-burned across the South for silvicultura1 pur- poses, roughly 7% of the area in the pine forest type. Proponents cal1 for increased burning to enhance fire- dependent ecosystems and commercial forests and to pre- vent future wildfires (Mutch 1994). However, as a source of air pollutants, traffic hazards, and escaped wildfires, prescribed burning is being increasingly scrutinized and regulated. The Ameritan people as a whole derive benefits from burning, such as reduced frequency and severity of wild- fires and associated smoke emissions, control of forest insects and diseases, and enhancement of wildlife and endangered species habitat. The social costs of prescribed burning include human health hazards and highway acci- dents associated with smoke. Some of these costs are shifted back to the burner through: (1) regulations and permits, (2) liability claims for personal injury or property loss, (3) insurance costs, and (4) opportunity costs borne by landowners who restrict or abandon burning. This article will describe the legal environment for prescribed burning in the southern statesl and explore policy options to remove barriers to burning.
Epidemiological characteristics of viral hepatitis in Mentougou district of Beijing

Objective To understand epidemiological characteristics of viral hepatitis to provide scientific evidence for its prevention and control. Methods Data of viral hepatitis cases reported in 2009 at Mentougou district,Beijing were collected to analyze their characteristics of temporal,spatial and personal distributions,types and clinical features. Results Incidence of viral hepatitis at Dayu subdistrict ranked the highest,Yongding town the second and Dongxinfang subdistirct the third,with total cases of 137 (58. 30% ) in 2009,one case of hepatitis A (0. 29 /100 000),185 cases of hepatitis B (54. 10 /100 000),41 case of hepatitis C (11. 99 /100 000),five cases of hepatitis E (1. 46 /100 000) and three cases of type unidentified (0. 88 /100 000). There was no cases of viral hepatitis reported in children of 0 ～ 10 years old,with the top three incidence at age groups of 85 ～ ,75 ～ ,80 ～ years. The top five incidence by occupation was housework and the unemployed ( 34. 04% ),retirees (22. 98% ),farmers (13. 19% ),workers (11. 91% ) and staff (7. 66% ),accounting for 89. 78 percent of the total cases of viral hepatitis. Conclusion Viral hepatitis mainly occurs in adults at Mentougou district,Beijing and less in teenagers and children,indicating use of hepatitis B vaccine has gained remarkable achievements in its prevention during recent years.
Literature review on trustworthy software acquisition and analysis

In recent years,there have been extensive studies and rapid progresses in requirement acquisition and analysis ( RAA) ,which is one of the hotspots in trustworthy software filed. This paper analyzed the research present situation of domestic and foreign RAA method firstly,then in particular,analyzed the requirement acquisition and analysis method which was suit for trustworthy software. Finally,gave out methods summary and outlook for RAA.
Zircon saturation and Zr diffusion in rhyolitic melts, and zircon growth geospeedometer

Zircon is a ubiquitous accessory mineral in silicic igneous rocks. We have carried out new zircon dissolution experiments to refine our understanding of Zr diffusion and zircon solubility in several rhyolitic melts. Zr diffusivity depends strongly on temperature and H 2 O content, and weakly on pressure and anhydrous melt composition. The diffusion data for each individual melt follows the Arrhenius relation. The dependence of Zr diffusivity on temperature, pressure, and melt composition (including H 2 O content) is modeled for different rhyolitic melts in this study and for the combined literature and our data. Our data on Zr concentration at zircon saturation in silicic melts show strong dependence on temperature and weak dependence on pressure and melt composition, and are somewhat off the trend based on existing zircon solubility models. The dissolution or growth rate of a freely falling zircon crystal in a specific hydrous rhyolitic melt is modeled. The controlling factors are mostly the temperature and Zr concentration in the melt. Typical zircon growth rate in wet rhyolitic melt is 0.01 to 1.0 μm/yr. The size of zircon crystals can be used to place limit on the cooling rate of its hosting magma. The presence of large indigenous zircon crystals in Bishop Tuff requires slow cooling of the Bishop Tuff magma chamber.
Ileal nipple for continence in cloacal exstrophy.

AbstractSince 1985, 7 children 2 to 17 years old with urinary incontinence from cloacal exstrophy underwent bladder augmentation and creation of a small bowel nipple at the bladder outlet. There were 3 genetic female and 4 genetic male patients being reared in the female role. In 3 early cases augmentation was done with small bowel, while gastric augmentation was used in 3 later cases and 1 had both types. Six patients became completely dry and they empty by intermittent selfcatheterization. In the youngest patient the operation failed because the nipple became infarcted and disappeared. Reoperation will be performed after at least 1 year has passed. In cloacal exstrophy if there is insufficient local tissue to create a bladder neck and urethra, a reversed, catheterizable bowel nipple may be an option to consider.
The Neurophysical Chemistry of Autism: Postulates from Intelligence Modeling

This chapter uses a unifying neuroscience theoretical paradigm called intelligence modeling (IM) and cognitive dynamics to connect the observable behaviors that both characterize and define the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to the underlying anatomical and biochemical mechanisms from which those behaviors emerge. The underlying principles of intelligence modeling that are derived from systems, information and cybernetic theories are described. This analysis is applied to the normal flow of information whose failure is hypothesized to give rise to the defining behaviors of autistic spectrum disorders. From the IM analysis the correlation between the energy needs required for computational solutions in the brain and the resulting behaviors when the energy needs cannot be met is examined. The chapter concludes with a novel model of the underlying neural substrate for ASD and suggests neuroanatomical and physiochemical mechanisms that might be investigated to test this model.
Prospective Evaluation of the Prevalence of Elevated Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity and Associated Clinical and Echocardiographic Factors in Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract Background: Echocardiography (ECHO)-determined tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity (TRV) ≥2.5 m/s occurs in about 30% of adults with sickle cell disease(SCD)and is associated with increased mortality. The frequency and significance of high TRV in children is not known. We determined the prevalence and risk factors of elevated estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressures in 228 patients with SCD and 39 controls. Methods: Patients with SCD (Hb SS, SC, SB thalassemia or other major sickling phenotypes) aged 3 to 20 years were evaluated clinically and with ECHO and six minute walk tests at their steady state. Healthy, non-SCD controls, matched for ethnicity, sex and age, were also evaluated. Results: A comparison of patients and controls is summarized in Table 1. 184 patients (81%) had hemoglobin SS phenotype and 28 (12%) had hemoglobin SC. TRV was measurable in 214 (94%) of the patients and 34 (87%) of the controls. In a multivariate logistic regression model, each 10 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure was associated with an estimated 2.0-fold increase in the odds of TRV≥2.5 m/sec (P = 0.002) and a 10-fold increase in LDH with a 25-fold increase in the odds (P = 0.015). Conclusion: This study of children with SCD who have limited iron overload and limited renal dysfunction compared with the aging SCD population provides a unique window into the early pathogenesis of PH in SCD. TRV and LVMI are significantly higher in children and adolescents with SCD at steady state than age-matched control participants. Among children with SCD, TRV elevation is independently associated with systolic BP and LDH concentration. In this analysis we find a strong association with hemolysis and systemic hypertension and surprisingly no associations with vaso-occlusive events or biomarkers (VOC, ACS, HU use, WBC and platelet counts). Table I . Comparison of SCD and control subjects. Results in mean (SD) unless otherwise stated. SCD(n=228) Control (n=39) p Age in years 12 (5) 12 (5) 0.7 Female (%) 48% 46% 0.8 Systolic BP (mm Hg) 112 (11) 116 (15) 0.1 Diastolic BP (mm Hg) 64 (9) 68 (10) 0.040 Six minute walk in meters 454 (76) 498 (84) 0.006 TRV in m/sec 2.3 (0.3) 2.1 (0.3) 0.003 TRV 2.5 m/sec (%) 21% 3% 0.012 LV intern. diastolic diam Z-score 1.2(1.4) −0.3(1.2) LV mass index 88 (25) 59 (13) Table II . Comparison of SCD patients according to TRV category. Results in mean (SD) unless otherwise stated. Variables TRV TRV ≥2.5 (n=45) p History of acute chest syndrome (%) 20% 40% 0.034 Hydroxyurea therapy 42% 44% 0.8 Hemoglobin in g/dl 9.3 (1.8) 8.9 (1.7) 0.071 LDH in U/L 393 (163) 474 (170) 0.009 Total Bilirubin in mg/dL 2.7 (1.9) 3.8 (2.2) 0.004
STUDIES ON THE BACTERIOPHAGE OF D'HERELLE : IV. CONCERNING THE ONENESS OF THE BACTERIOPHAGE.

Lytic filtrates, active against Bacillus dysenterioe Shiga, Bacillus coli, Bacillus pestis cavioe, and staphylococcus respectively, proved to be differently affected by changes in hydrogen ion concentration. Anti-staphylococcus lysin was the least resistant of the four, showing deterioration in 3 hours at 7 degrees C. beyond the zone of hydrogen ion concentration limited by C(H) = 6.3 x 10(-5) and C(H) = 1.6 x 10(-9). Under the same conditions, the zone of resistance of anti-coli filtrate lay between C(H) = 2.7 x 10(-3) and C(H) = 2.5 x 10(-11), and that of anti-Shiga between C(H) = 1-7 x 10(-4) and C(H) = 1-3 x 10(-11). Anti-pestis cavioe filtrate was most resistant of the four, retaining its full activity in the zone from C(H) = 1 x 10(-3) to C(H) = 3.5 x 10(-12). The fact that these differences in individual resistance persisted, notwithstanding the repeated passage of lytic filtrates through cultures of bacteria other than those against which they were primarily active, seems to offer evidence in favor of a multiplicity of bacteriophages.
Impact of TSV process on 14nm FEOL and BEOL reliability

This paper presents the impact of Through Silicon Via (TSV) process on wafer level reliability with respect to front-end of line (FEOL) and back-end of line (BEOL) reliability aspects. A TSV proximity study was performed by placing the TSV at various keep-out zone (KOZ) distances and different orientations of horizontal, vertical, and 45 degrees. FEOL and BEOL test structures were designed using stand-alone devices having TSV at KOZ distance of 2μm, 3μm, 5μm and 7μm and different orientations. Reliability tests show no impact on TSV KOZ on both FEOL and BEOL device performance. Additionally, we also performed a thinning study on the TSV wafers to characterize the impact of the wafer thinning process. We observed negligible difference between pre-thinning and post-thinning measurements and they fall within the expected wafer-to-wafer and lot-to-lot variability of the 14nm baseline process. As part of our ongoing reliability qualification for 14nm TSV reliability tests is currently being performed on these thin wafers.
Visual Diagnosis: A 3-week-old Girl with an Unusual Rash

1. Fatema Jaffery, MD* 2. Fatima Khan, MD, MBA* 3. Jose Bustillo, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ A 3-week-old girl presents to the pediatric outpatient department for evaluation of a rash that has been present since age 2 weeks. The rash is found on the infant’s face, arms, feet, and trunk and does not seem to bother her. No history of fever or other behavioral changes are noticed. There is no history of contact with anyone who has a similar rash. On presentation to the outpatient clinic, the infant appears well and is not in any distress. Her current weight is 3,674 g, length is 20 in (50.8 cm), and head circumference is 13.8 in (35 cm). On physical examination, she has multiple annular discoid lesions with central hypopigmentation with no discharge on various parts of the body. The sizes of the lesions vary from 1 to 3 cm (Figs 1–3). Figure 1. Annular discoid lesions found on sole of the foot. Figure 2. Annular discoid lesions found on sole of the trunk. …
The Brief Case: Confirmed Positive HIV-1 Serologic Screening but Undetectable RNA Virus Load in a Pregnant Woman.

A 37-year-old South Asian woman with one pregnancy and no live births presented to an obstetrics clinic for prenatal care at 9 weeks of gestation. Prenatal laboratory testing, including HIV screening, was performed at an outside reference laboratory. A fourth-generation HIV screening test (GS HIV 1/
Oxidative Modifications as Triggers of AMD Pathology

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly, is thought to be in part an inflammatory disease involving dysregulation of the complement system. The photooxidative environment in the retina facilitates the formation of oxidative modifications that contribute to the accumulation of cellular debris such as lipofuscin within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and drusen on Bruch’s membrane. A host of oxidative modifications have been found in AMD tissues, including carboxymethyllysine (CML), pentosidine, carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP), nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, levuglandin/isolevuglandin-phosphatidyl ethanolamine hydroxylactams, and other adducts involving iso[4]levuglandin E2, hydroxynonenal, and acrolein. Oxidative modifications also generate oxidation-associated molecular patterns recognized by pattern-recognition receptors such as the complement system, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and the toll-like receptors. CML is a strong activator of RAGE, colocalizes with RAGE in AMD ocular tissues, is elevated in AMD plasma, and stimulates expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis. CEP adducts activate toll-like receptor 2, are elevated in AMD Bruch’s membrane/RPE/choroid and AMD plasma, and stimulate neovascularization independent of VEGF. Mice immunized with CEP develop an AMD-like phenotype. Photoxidation of RPE lipofuscin can result in activation of complement and generation of advanced glycation end products. Mounting evidence implicates oxidative modifications as triggers and catalysts of inflammatory and immune responses in AMD pathology.
Effects of Neuromodulation on Excitatory–Inhibitory Neural Network Dynamics Depend on Network Connectivity Structure

Acetylcholine (ACh), one of the brain’s most potent neuromodulators, can affect intrinsic neuron properties through blockade of an M-type potassium current. The effect of ACh on excitatory and inhibitory cells with this potassium channel modulates their membrane excitability, which in turn affects their tendency to synchronize in networks. Here, we study the resulting changes in dynamics in networks with inter-connected excitatory and inhibitory populations (E–I networks), which are ubiquitous in the brain. Utilizing biophysical models of E–I networks, we analyze how the network connectivity structure in terms of synaptic connectivity alters the influence of ACh on the generation of synchronous excitatory bursting. We investigate networks containing all combinations of excitatory and inhibitory cells with high (Type I properties) or low (Type II properties) modulatory tone. To vary network connectivity structure, we focus on the effects of the strengths of inter-connections between excitatory and inhibitory cells (E–I synapses and I–E synapses), and the strengths of intra-connections among excitatory cells (E–E synapses) and among inhibitory cells (I-I synapses). We show that the presence of ACh may or may not affect the generation of network synchrony depending on the network connectivity. Specifically, strong network inter-connectivity induces synchronous excitatory bursting regardless of the cellular propensity for synchronization, which aligns with predictions of the PING model. However, when a network’s intra-connectivity dominates its inter-connectivity, the propensity for synchrony of either inhibitory or excitatory cells can determine the generation of network-wide bursting.
Capturing pair-wise epistatic effects associated with three agronomic traits in barley

Genetic association mapping has been widely applied to determine genetic markers favorably associated with a trait of interest and provide information for marker-assisted selection. Many association mapping studies commonly focus on main effects due to intolerable computing intensity. This study aims to select several sets of DNA markers with potential epistasis to maximize genetic variations of some key agronomic traits in barley. By doing so, we integrated a MDR (multifactor dimensionality reduction) method with a forward variable selection approach. This integrated approach was used to determine single nucleotide polymorphism pairs with epistasis effects associated with three agronomic traits: heading date, plant height, and grain yield in barley from the barley Coordinated Agricultural Project. Our results showed that four, seven, and five SNP pairs accounted for 51.06, 45.66 and 40.42% for heading date, plant height, and grain yield, respectively with epistasis being considered, while corresponding contributions to these three traits were 45.32, 31.39, 31.31%, respectively without epistasis being included. The results suggested that epistasis model was more effective than non-epistasis model in this study and can be more preferred for other applications.
Preservation of gonadal function in women undergoing chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the potential role for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists

To evaluate the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the literature investigating the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) co-treatment for ovarian preservation in women receiving chemotherapy. A systematic review of the literature was performed from 1960 through 2017 to identify relevant RCTs. Included patients had lymphoma, ovarian cancer, or breast cancer. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who retained ovarian function after chemotherapy. Extracted data points included study design, patient characteristics, and proportion of women who developed premature ovarian failure (POF). A risk of bias assessment was performed according to the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The pooled odds ratio was calculated, and outcomes of individual studies were compared using the random-effects model with the inverse-variance method and the DerSimonian-Laird estimator. Twenty-nine RCTs were identified, and 10 met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. An analysis of patients who did not develop POF after chemotherapy revealed eight studies supporting the use of GnRHa (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.34–2.49). The duration of benefit of GnRHa is unclear. An analysis of three studies with outcome data at 2 years revealed a non-significant OR of 0.53 (95% CI 0.22–1.30) for the preservation of ovarian function with GnRHa treatment. GnRHa may have a protective effect against the development of POF after gonadotoxic chemotherapy; however, the duration of benefit is unclear and requires further study.
Soft Tissue Reconstruction of Complex Blast Injuries in Military and Civilian Settings: Guidelines and Principles

The increasing use of explosive devices in recent military operations has introduced complex patterns of injury requiring new reconstructive considerations. Proper initial management, staging, traditional and advanced reconstruction methods, and the use of regenerative medicine can have a drastic effect on outcomes. Even when limb salvage is not achieved, an understanding of residual limb length preservation and peripheral nerve techniques can improve functionality within the amputee patient. Surgery utilizing regenerative modalities and peripheral nerve techniques has shown promising results in military injuries with extensive soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurovascular damage. Improved understanding of the hybrid reconstructive ladder, the increased use of innovative surgical strategies, and further study into the benefits of regenerative medicine may lead to improvements in care for both military and nonmilitary trauma patients suffering from blast injuries.
History: Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Jewish History

Recalling, reviewing, reconsidering, and/or remembering the Jewish past plays a central role in most contemporary preK-12 Jewish schools the world over.1 In North American Jewish day high schools––the main focus of this chapter––teaching and learning Jewish history normally occurs through formal classroom instruction in Jewish history, Judaics, and/or general history courses, as well as through informal educational experiences including holiday celebrations, commemorations, and historical field trips. When taught chronologically, the course of study typically covers some or all of the following topics: the Hebrew Bible’s historical narratives; the ancient Israelite settlements in Palestine; the dispersion of Jews into the diaspora; Jewish life in medieval Europe, North Africa, and the Near East; modernity, enlightenment, and emancipation in western and eastern Europe; Jewish life in North America; the Holocaust; Zionism and the State of Israel; and the contemporary Jewish community. Methods for teaching Jewish history are mostly the same as in any history course, namely primary source analysis, discussion, debate, lecture, roleplay, simulation, and inquiry.