cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative Repair Strategies for Ductal-Dependent Tetralogy of Fallot and Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes, A Multicenter Analysis

Our aim was to evaluate postoperative morbidity and mortality following initial intervention, comparing primary repair versus palliative shunt in the setting of ductal-dependent tetralogy of Fallot. When neonatal surgical intervention is required, controversy and cross-center variability exists with regard to surgical strategy. The multicenter Pediatric Health Information System database was queried to identify patients with TOF and ductal-dependent physiology, excluding pulmonary atresia. Eight hundred forty-five patients were included-349 (41.3%) underwent primary complete repair, while 496 (58.7%) underwent initial palliation. Palliated patients had significantly higher comorbid diagnoses of genetic syndrome and coronary artery anomalies. Primary complete repair patients had significantly increased morbidity across a number of variables compared to shunt palliation, but mortality rate was equal (6%). Second-stage complete repair was analyzed for 285 of palliated patients, with median inter-stage duration of 231 days (175-322 days). In comparison to primary complete repairs, second-stage repairs had significantly decreased morbidity and mortality. However, cumulative morbidity was higher for the staged patients. Median adjusted billed charges were lower for primary complete repair ($363,554) compared to staged repair ($428,109). For ductal-dependent TOF, there is no difference in postoperative mortality following the initial surgery (6%) whether management involves primary repair or palliative shunt. Although delaying complete repair by performing a palliative shunt is associated with a shift of much of the morbidity burden to outside of the newborn period, there is greater total postoperative morbidity and resource utilization associated with the staged approach.
Environmental Public Health Tracking: Success Stories from a Collaborative Surveillance System.

The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program facilitates the linkage of environmental information to health outcomes through development of a national standards-based public health surveillance system that provides useful information to improve where we live and work. State tracking programs have successfully used their tracking networks to identify and educate at-risk communities. Other success stories include endeavours to improve surveillance, support epidemiologic studies, target prevention efforts, and inform policymakers. Future directions include identifying knowledge gaps, developing plans for adding new data sources and collaborators to fill those gaps, and improving application and utility of the Tracking Networks.
Inhibition of message for FcεRI α chain blocks mast cell IL-4 production induced by co-culture with Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Abstract We have previously described the activation of RBL-2H3 mast cells for IL-4 production by Mycoplasma pneumoniae but the mechanism remains unclear. M. pneumoniae binds eukaryotic cells primarily through sialoglycoproteins on the target cell surface. This study was undertaken to determine whether the sialated FceRI α chain on RBL cells is important for M. pneumoniae -induced IL-4 production. We found that IgE-mediated IL-4 release by a series of RBL sublines correlated with the release induced by M. pneumoniae . Further, aggregation of FcγRII (CD32) in RBL cells using a monoclonal antibody inhibited both IgE-mediated and mycoplasma-induced IL-4 production, providing further evidence for an Fc receptor-mediated mechanism of activation. To examine the role of FceRI in mycoplasma-induced IL-4 release, we created stably transfected RBL sublines using a vector expressing a short hairpin sequence designed to inhibit message for the FceRI α chain. IgE-induced IL-4 production by the transfected sublines was reduced in similar proportion to the degree of message suppression. M. pneumoniae -induced IL-4 production in the four transfected sublines was completely blocked in contrast to results with the controls or parent RBL cells. We conclude that the heavily glycosylated FceRI α chain is required for activation of mast cells for IL-4 production by M. pneumoniae.
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF DEHYDRATED APPLES AS AFFECTED BY MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE

Dielectric properties directly influence microwave drying characteristics of food products. A knowledge of dielectric properties of foods as a function of moisture content and temperature is essential in the design and control of microwave drying systems. Dielectric constant   and loss factor   of Red Delicious apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) were measured over a moisture content range of 4% to 87.5% at 22  C and 60  C. At high moisture content (>70%), free water dispersion and ionic conduction accounted for the dielectric behavior. At medium moisture (  23%), ionic conduction played a major role. At low moisture contents (  4%), bound water accounted for the major dispersion mechanism. A decrease in moisture content resulted in a decrease in   and   . Based on this study, we expect a strong moisture leveling effect when drying apples from 50% to 4% at elevated temperatures in 915 MHz or 2.45 GHz microwave drying systems.
When Asking Questions is Not Enough: An Observational Study of Social Communication Differences in High Functioning Children with Autism

This investigation examined communication patterns between high functioning children with autism and their families and typically developing children and their families within traditional dinner time conversation. Twenty families with a child with autism (3.5-7 years.) and ten families with typically developing children (3.5-6 years) were video recorded during dinner and their interactions were coded. Results revealed that children with autism initiated fewer bids for interactions, commented less often, continued ongoing interactions through fewer conversational turns, and responded less often to family member communication bids. Results are interpreted with respect to how communication patterns may be indicative of social communication deficits not previously examined in high functioning children with autism. Strategies for social communication interventions within the family and other natural contexts are discussed.
Effect of periodic blowing on attached and separated supersonic turbulent boundary layers

Periodic blowing at frequencies up to 5 kHz was used to control the unsteadiness of two-dimensional shockwave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions. Two separate experiments were performed. In the first case, periodic blowing was introduced through a spanwise slot in the wall to produce an unsteady shock-wave/boundarylayer interaction boundary layer on the tunnel wall. In the second case, periodic blowing was introduced into the shock-induced separation bubble formed by a 24-deg compression corner interaction. The incoming flow conditions for both experiments were My. = 2.84, Rejl = 6.5 x 10 7/m, and 80 = 26 mm. Measurements of the fluctuating mass flux and wall pressure were made, and the unsteady flowfield was visualized through stroboscopic schlieren videography. The measurements were conditionally sampled based on the phase of the blowing cycle. The results suggest that (at least in this case) the naturally unsteady shock motion in the compression ramp interaction does not contribute significantly to the turbulence amplification, as had been previously thought. Instead, there is strong evidence to suggest that large-scale motions associated with the maxima in the angular momentum profiles in the downstream boundary layer are responsible for the large mixing observed.
Role of nociceptor estrogen receptor GPR30 in a rat model of endometriosis pain.

Abstract Endometriosis, the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain, is an estrogen-dependent disease in which classic estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ) play an important role. Although recent evidence suggests that the novel G protein–coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30) also plays a key role in the progression of endometriosis, whether it is also involved in endometriosis pain is still unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that GPR30 expressed by nociceptors contributes to endometriosis pain. Intramuscular injection of the GPR30 agonists raloxifene or 17β-estradiol produced a fast-onset, persistent, mechanical hyperalgesia at the site of the injection. Intrathecal antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), but not mismatch (MM) ODN, targeting mRNA for GPR30 markedly inhibited its protein expression in nociceptors and attenuated the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by local raloxifene or 17β-estradiol. Pretreatment with the GPR30 antagonist G-36 also inhibited the hyperalgesia induced by raloxifene or 17β-estradiol in naive control rats. Surgical implant of autologous uterine tissue onto the gastrocnemius muscle, which induces endometriosis-like lesions, produced local mechanical hyperalgesia. Intrathecal AS, but not MM, ODN targeting GPR30 mRNA reversibly inhibited the mechanical hyperalgesia at the site of endometriotic lesions. Finally, intralesional injection of the GPR30 antagonist G-36 also inhibited the mechanical hyperalgesia at the site of ectopic uterine tissue. We conclude that local GPR30 agonists produce persistent mechanical hyperalgesia in naive female rats, whereas local GPR30 antagonists inhibit mechanical hyperalgesia in a model of endometriosis pain. Thus, GPR30 expressed by nociceptors innervating ectopic uterine lesions might play a major role in endometriosis pain.
Molecular Biology of Androgen Receptors in Prostate Cancer Cells

Androgenic hormones regulate the development and growth of many normal and tumor cells. It is clear that the androgen receptor (AR) plays a key role in the mechanism of androgen action. Activation of the androgen receptor by binding of the male hormone (either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone) results in the differential regulation of both mRNA and protein synthesis in target cells (1-5). Cloning of the androgen receptor cDNA, (the last of the known steroid receptor genes) has been achieved in several laboratories, including our own (6-10). Sequence comparison with the other steroid hormone receptor genes has revealed that the androgen receptor gene contains two highly conserved regions. Functional analysis of the estrogen- (11), progesterone- (12), and glucocorticoid receptor cDNA’s (13) has demonstrated that these two discrete regions correspond to DNA-binding and steroid-binding, respectively.
Liquidity Constraints, Household Wealth and Entrepreneurship

Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we show that the propensity to become a business owner in the United States is a non-linear function of wealth. The relationship between wealth and entry into entrepreneurship is essentially flat over the majority of the wealth distribution. It is only at the top of the wealth distribution - after the 95th percentile - that a positive relationship can be found. Segmenting businesses into industries with high and low starting capital requirements, we find no evidence that wealth matters more for businesses requiring higher initial capital. We exploit the regional variation in house prices as an instrument for liquidity. Households who lived in regions where housing prices appreciated strongly were no more likely to start a business than households in other regions. We conclude that, while liquidity constraints may be important for some households, they are not a deterrent to the majority of small business formation in the United States.
A high bandwidth analog heterodyne RF optical link with high dynamic range and low noise figure

We demonstrate a 1.55-/spl mu/m wavelength 5-GHz analog heterodyne optical link employing an integrated balanced photodiode (BPD) with a noise figure of (20/spl plusmn/1) dB and spurious-free dynamic range of (102/spl plusmn/2) dB/spl middot/Hz/sup 2/3/. A wide-band rectifier narrow-band receiver architecture is employed to allow for phase noise cancellation. The advantage of BPD over a single photodiode is also explored.
Temporal and Spatial Variation in Survivorship of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin)

Abstract The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a species of conservation concern that has experienced noticeable declines throughout its range. Mark–recapture studies have been conducted on terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, since 1983, and during the early 1990s, this population began to decline. Our objectives were to evaluate current spatial and temporal variation in survivorship and compare current estimates of survivorship with those calculated from 1983 to 1999 in a previous study. We used an 11-year data set (2003 to 2013) in a capture–mark–recapture analysis to estimate the survivorship of terrapins in 5 creeks. Among creeks, annual survivorship estimates ranged from 61% to 82% with no difference between the sexes. Survivorship was lower than that documented for this population in the early 1990s. Recent anthropogenic habitat modification, such as the construction of docks, roads, and housing developments, as well as activities such as crab-trapping, likely play a role in low ...
A systematic review of school-based smoking prevention trials with long-term follow-up

Abstract Background Several systematic reviews of school-based smoking prevention trials have shown short-term decreases in smoking prevalence but have not examined long-term follow-up evaluation. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of rigorously evaluated interventions for school-based smoking prevention with long-term follow-up data. Methods We searched online bibliographic databases and reference lists from review articles and selected studies. We included all school-based, randomized, controlled trials of smoking prevention with follow-up evaluation to age 18 or 12th grade and at least 1 year after intervention ended, and that had smoking prevalence as a primary outcome. The primary outcome was current smoking prevalence (defined as at least 1 cigarette in the past month). Results The abstracts or full-text articles of 177 relevant studies were examined, of which 8 met the selection criteria. The 8 articles included studies differing in intervention intensity, presence of booster sessions, follow-up periods, and attrition rates. Only one study showed decreased smoking prevalence in the intervention group. Conclusions Few studies have evaluated the long-term impact of school-based smoking prevention programs rigorously. Among the 8 programs that have follow-up data to age 18 or 12th grade, we found little to no evidence of long-term effectiveness.
Accelerating SQL database operations on a GPU with CUDA

Prior work has shown dramatic acceleration for various database operations on GPUs, but only using primitives that are not part of conventional database languages such as SQL. This paper implements a subset of the SQLite command processor directly on the GPU. This dramatically reduces the effort required to achieve GPU acceleration by avoiding the need for database programmers to use new programming languages such as CUDA or modify their programs to use non-SQL libraries. This paper focuses on accelerating SELECT queries and describes the considerations in an efficient GPU implementation of the SQLite command processor. Results on an NVIDIA Tesla C1060 achieve speedups of 20-70X depending on the size of the result set.
Picosecond Time-Resolved Amorphization Velocities in Silicon

Transient time-resolved picosecond reflectivity measurements were performed on silicon melted by a 40 ps ultraviolet (308 nm) beam. These were compared to simulations of reflectivity versus amorphous and liquid layer depth and of amorphous interface velocity for various models including transition state theory and density limited growth, both with and without thermal activation.
Image destabilization: Programmable defocus using lens and sensor motion

We propose a novel camera setup in which both the lens and the sensor are perturbed during the exposure. We analyze the defocus effects produced by such a setup, and use it to demonstrate new methods for simulating a lens with a larger effective aperture size (i.e., shallower depth of field) and methods for achieving approximately depth-independent defocus blur size. We achieve exaggerated, programmable, and pleasing bokeh with relatively small aperture sizes such as those found on cell phone cameras. Destabilizing the standard alignment of the sensor and lens allows us to introduce programmable defocus effects and achieve greater flexibility in the image capture process.
In Vivo Imaging of Immune Rejection in Transplanted Pancreatic Islets

As islet transplantation becomes an acceptable clinical modality for restoring normoglycemia in type 1 diabetic patients, there is a crucial need for noninvasive assessment of the fate of the grafts. In spite of the success of the Edmonton Protocol, a significant graft loss occurs due to immunological and nonimmunological events immediately after transplantation. Allogeneic rejection in graft recipients is one of the major reasons for islet death and graft failure. Therefore, monitoring the islet rejection using reliable noninvasive methods would significantly aid in clinical assessment of graft success. We have previously developed a method to detect transplanted islets noninvasively using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For this procedure, human pancreatic islets are labeled with an MRI contrast agent that enables their visualization on magnetic resonance images. In our present study, we not only detected labeled human islets in a preclinical intrahepatic model of human islet transplantation in mice but also showed that islet rejection can be monitored noninvasively and repeatedly in real time by MRI. In addition, in this study, we have adapted, for islet cell labeling, a Food and Drug Administration-approved commercially available contrast agent, Feridex, that is used clinically for liver imaging. We believe that this agent, in combination with our preclinical model of islet transplantation, will facilitate the transition of imaging immune rejection to clinical trials.
The effects of serum depletion and dexamethasone on growth and differentiation of human neuroblastoma cell lines

Abstract Background/Purpose: Neuroblastoma is the most solid common extracranial malignancy in childhood. Despite multimodality treatment, high-risk disease continues to carry a poor prognosis. Glucocorticoids have been shown previously to induce differentiation in murine neuroblastoma cell lines, but no such effect has been documented in human neuroblastoma cells. Glucocorticoids are known to be active in the differentiation process of the neural crest. These studies describe the effects of dexamethasone on 6 human neuroblastoma cell lines. Methods: Dexamethasone was added to cultured neuroblastoma cell lines (LA1-5S, LA1-15N, BE[2]S, BE[2]N, SH-EP-1, SH-SY5Y) maintained in media supplemented with either normal serum or charcoal-depleted serum. Proliferation assays were performed, and flow cytometry was used to assess alterations in cell cycle. Cells were closely monitored for morphological changes with serial phase-contrast microscopy. Immunohistochemistry (3F8, NF-1, TRK-A) of cultured cells was used to evaluate differentiation. Glucocorticoid receptor levels was assessed using immunoblotting. Results: Dexamethasone decreased the rate of cellular proliferation in both standard and charcoal-depleted conditions. Flow cytometry showed a G 1 accumulation. Increased expression of the differentiation-associated antigens was found in cells cultured in charcoal-depleted media, and a further augmentation was seen with the addition of dexamethasone. In standard media, dexamethasone had no detectable effect on the expression of these antigens. Glucocorticoid receptor expression was found to be comparable in all cell lines. Conclusions: Human neuroblastoma cells are sensitive to the differentiating effects of dexamethasone in an environment of charcoal-depleted serum. This phenomenon may be caused by the existence of growth and mitogenic factors in serum that are inhibiting differentiation. J Pediatr Surg 35:465-472. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
PCA-based face recognition in infrared imagery: baseline and comparative studies

Techniques for face recognition generally fall into global and local approaches, with the principal component analysis (PCA) being the most prominent global approach. We use the PCA algorithm to study the comparison and combination of infrared and typical visible-light images for face recognition. We examine the effects of lighting change, facial expression change and passage of time between the gallery image and probe image. Experimental results indicate that when there is substantial passage of time (greater than one week) between the gallery and probe images, recognition from typical visible-light images may outperform that from infrared images. Experimental results also indicate that the combination of the two generally outperforms either one alone. This is the only study that we know of to focus on the issue of how passage of time affects infrared face recognition.
THE GRADED LEVATOR HINGE PROCEDURE FOR THE CORRECTION OF UPPER EYELID RETRACTION (AN AMERICAN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SOCIETY THESIS)

Purpose Many surgical techniques have been developed to address eyelid retraction with varying results. Identifying and evaluating the anatomical and pathophysiological factors involved will assist in its surgical treatment. This prospective study evaluated the graded levator hinge procedure, in combination with a Mullerectomy and/or lateral canthoplasty when indicated, in an attempt to precisely and selectively target the pathophysiology responsible for the various causes of eyelid retraction in only one surgical session.
Cystic medionecrosis of the pulmonary arteries.

Cystic medionecrosis (CMN) characteristically affects the aorta. That it also may involve vessels in the lung is not widely appreciated. Two patients are presented in whom cystic medionecrosis of the pulmonary arteries accounted for dramatic clinical and pathologic findings. One had massive dilatation of both main pulmonary arteries together with a healed dissecting aneurysm extending from the aortic arch to the iliac bifurcation. The other had an enormous saccular aneurysm of the left main pulmonary artery.
Effect of Temperature on Modulus of Elasticity of Porcelain Enameled Steel

The modulus of elasticity of porcelain enameled steel specimens was measured at different temperatures. A dynamic test (the sonic method) was used for the determination of the modulus of the metal and of the metal-enamel composites. Equations and constants are presented by which the elastic constant can be calculated for any enamel thickness in the temperature range from room temperature to 500° C. Graphs are also presented to show the relationship of the modulus of elasticity, temperature, and enamel-metal thickness ratio for ground-coated, white cover-coated, and direct white enameled steel specimens.
Chlorophyll fluorescence measured using the Fraunhofer line‐depth principle and relationship to photosynthetic rate in the field

Abstract. A field study was conducted to determine the relationship of solar-excited chlorophyll a fluorescence to net CO2 assimilation rate in attached leaves. The Fraunhofer line-depth principle was used to measure fluorescence at 656.3 nm wavelength while leaves remained exposed to full sunlight and normal atmospheric pressures of CO2 and O2. Fluorescence induction kinetics were observed when leaves were exposed to sunlight after 10 min in darkness. Subsequently, fluorescence varied inversely with assimilation rate. In the C4Zea mays, fluorescence decreased from 2.5 to 0.8 mW m-2 nm-1 as CO2 assimilation rate increased from 1 to 8 μmol m-2 s-1 (r2= 0.520). In the C3Liquidambar styraciflua and Pinus taeda, fluorescence decreased from 6 to 2 mW m-2 nm-1 as assimilation rate increased from 2 to 5 or 0 to 2 μmol m-2 s-1 (r2= 0.44 and 0.45. respectively). The Fraunhofer line-depth principle enables the simultaneous measurement of solar-excited fluorescence and CO2 assimilation rate in individual leaves, but also at larger scales. Thus, it may contribute significantly to field studies of the relationship of fluorescence to photosynthesis.
Singular approximation in polydiscs by summability process

In this paper, we approximate a continuous function in a polydisc by means of multivariate complex singular operators which preserve the analytic functions. In this singular approximation, we mainly use a regular summability method (process) from the summability theory. We show that our results are non-trivial generalizations of the classical approximations. At the end, we display an application verifying the singular approximation via summation process, but not the usual sense.
In Vivo Imaging of Human Sarcomere Twitch Dynamics in Individual Motor Units

SUMMARY Motor units comprise a pre-synaptic motor neuron and multiple post-synaptic muscle fibers. Many movement disorders disrupt motor unit contractile dynamics and the structure of sarcomeres, skeletal muscle’s contractile units. Despite the motor unit’s centrality to neuromuscular physiology, no extant technology can image sarcomere twitch dynamics in live humans. We created a wearable microscope equipped with a microendoscope for minimally invasive observation of sarcomere lengths and contractile dynamics in any major skeletal muscle. By electrically stimulating twitches via the microendoscope and visualizing the sarcomere displacements, we monitored single motor unit contractions in soleus and vastus lateralis muscles of healthy individuals. Control experiments verified that these evoked twitches involved neuromuscular transmission and faithfully reported muscle force generation. In poststroke patients with spasticity of the biceps brachii, we found involuntary microscopic contractions and sarcomere length abnormalities. The wearable microscope facilitates exploration of many basic and disease-related neuromuscular phenomena never visualized before in live humans.
Real-time Sonographically Guided Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Using a Long-Axis Approach Compared to the Landmark Technique

OBJECTIVES Sonographic evaluation of neck anatomy before performing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has been shown to predict PDT success. In this study, we compared the real-time, long-axis, in-plane approach to the traditional bronchoscopically guided landmark technique. METHODS Data were analyzed from a prospectively maintained PDT database at a university tertiary care medical intensive care unit. A convenience sample of adult patients requiring PDT for prolonged mechanical ventilation dependence was enrolled. Critical care fellows, under direct supervision of an attending intensivist, performed all PDTs. Tracheostomy performance from the sonographically guided and landmark techniques was compared. RESULTS Twenty-three patients were enrolled: 11 in the sonography group and 12 in the landmark group. Initial midline introducer needle puncture was achieved in 72.7% in the sonography group compared to 8.3% in the landmark group (P< .001). The mean number of introducer needle punctures ± SD was significantly lower in the sonography group compared to the landmark group (1.4 ± 0.7 versus 2.6 ± 0.9; P < .001). The total tracheostomy time was 11.4 ± 4.2 minutes in the sonography group versus 15.3 ± 6.8 minutes in the landmark group (P = .12). Sonography accurately predicted tracheal ring space insertion in 90.9% of patients. Procedural complications did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy under real-time sonographic guidance using a long-axis approach may increase the rate of midline punctures and decrease the number of needle punctures when compared to the landmark technique. Sonographic guidance can also help guide accurate and efficient placement of a tracheostomy tube into the desired tracheal ring space.
Melanophore Hormone of the Pituitatry Gland and Metabolic Stimulation.

Collip and coworkers have recently reported metabolic stimulation in rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats occurring within a few hours following injection of certain pituitary extracts.1, 2, 3 The substance in the extracts producing this stimulation was called the “specific metabolic principle” of the pituitary. From the similarity in chemistry and occurrence in extracts, as well as from certain differences between these and other known pituitary hormones, it was suggested that the specific metabolic principle and the melanophore hormone might be identical. In view of the previous report of Zondek and Krohn4 that “Intermedin” did not affect the metabolism of rabbits, it seemed worth while to study the subject further.Accordingly, the effect on oxygen consumption of various melanophore hormone preparations was studied in rats. A modified Benedict spirometer was used to measure oxygen consumption. The rats were kept at room temperature but the metabolism was measured at 28°C. Comparable results were obtained with...
The Role of the Spleen and the Dynamics of Hemolysin Production in Homologous Anamnesis

Our previous studies on the dynamics of hemolysin production in rabbits after single (1950) and multiple (1951) intravenous injections of sheep red cells have been extended to include a study of the homologous anamnestic response following single and multiple reinjections with the same antigen into intact rabbits and into rabbits splenectomized either at the time of the initial injection or of the reinjection. After an induction period, hemolysin begins to be produced rapidly at one continuous rate of accumulation (cf. fig. 8B) or at two (cf. fig. 12) or more rates to peak titer and thereafter generally declines at several varying rates. Our results indicate that peak antibody titer after both the initial rise and anamnestic rise is due chiefly to the activity of the spleen after a single injection of antigen and is due, relatively, more to the activity of nonsplenic sources after repeated injections of antigen. A review of the literature and a dis-
W493R Gain of Function Mutation in Atypical Cystic Fibrosis Rewires the Epithelial Sodium Channel Dynamics

Sodium absorption in epithelial cells is rate-limited by the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity in lungs, kidney and the distal colon. Pathophysiological conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and Liddle syndrome, result from water-electrolyte imbalance partly due to malfunction of ENaC's molecular regulation. The molecular mechanism(s) of pathologically implicated mutations in ENaC subunits are largely unknown due to absence of structural models for ENaC's oligomers. Here, we propose a dynamics-driven mechanism of the gain of function mutation αW493R implicated in atypical cystic fibrosis. We utilize a combination of discrete molecular dynamics simulations (DMD) of the extracellular region of ENaC's heterotrimer αβγ and functional data from whole-cell electrophysiology experiments. Structure-function studies suggest that tetramers and trimers are the major characterized functional oligomeric states of ENaC. Using the crystal structure of the acid sensing ion channel, ENaC's structural homolog in the ENaC/degenerin mechanosensitive ion channel family, we have constructed homology models of ENaC subunits alpha, beta and gamma, in addition to the heterotrimers αβγ, αγβ and the heterotetramer αβαγ. Electrophysiology data show constitutive activity of αW493Rβγ in oocytes indicated by higher open probability and elevated basal activity compared to WT. Our DMD simulation provides an allosteric framework, which agrees with experimental data. W493R rewires the electrostatically mediated inter-residue interaction network in close proximity to W493, resulting in widening of the pore geometry in the outer mouth of the pore in the extracellular region. Rewiring effect of inter-residue interactions in 493R mutant pocket allosterically propagates across the channel resulting in a more stabilized global conformational ensemble of the channel. These findings predict a novel mechanism of ENaC's constitutive activity, in which changes in local dynamics can affect the relative population of the channel's active states and its open probability.
The Effect of Insemination on the Egg-laying Behavior of Honey Bees

When laying in worker comb, queen honey bees, Apis mellifera L., that were inseminated with live semen laid eggs in 3.0-9.6 times more cells than did queens that were not inseminated or were inseminated with frozen (nonfunctional) semen. Also when queens inseminated with live semen laid in a small colony, 0-7% of the cells with eggs had an egg positioned sideways or on the side of the cell. In contrast, this percentage rose to 33-94% when queens were not inseminated or were inseminated with frozen semen. These differences in behavior may arise from a disruption of the egg fertilizing phase of egg laying.
"Schistosoma mansoni infection in rhesus monkeys: changes in egg production and egg distribution in prolonged infections in intact and splenectomized monkeys.

(1969). Schistosoma mansoni infection in rhesus monkeys: changes in egg production and egg distribution in prolonged infections in intact and splenectomized monkeys. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology: Vol. 63, No. 1, pp. 83-93.
An overview of the monitoring program design for the FutureGen 2.0 CO2 storage site

Abstract As part of the FutureGen 2.0 Project, a design was developed for a first-of-its-kind, commercial-scale, near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant that includes carbon capture and storage (CCS) in a deep saline reservoir. To assess storage site performance and meet the regulatory requirements of the Class VI Underground Injection Control Program for CO2 Geologic Sequestration, the FutureGen 2.0 Project evaluated, selected, and designed a suite of monitoring technologies for use in (1) evaluating CO2 mass balance, (2) detecting significant loss of CO2 containment, (3) tracking the spatial extent of the CO2 plume and advancement of the pressure front within the storage reservoir, and (4) identifying the occurrence and location of injection-related induced seismicity. The monitoring program design includes direct monitoring of the injection process (above ground and in the injection wells), injection-zone monitoring, early-leak-detection monitoring directly above the primary confining zone, and compliance monitoring within the lowermost underground source of drinking water (USDW); it also includes measurements of formation pressure and other geochemical/isotopic signatures that provide an indication of changes in CO2 concentration and/or brine composition, both within the injection zone and immediately above the primary confining zone. In addition to these direct measurements, several indirect geophysical monitoring technologies were included in the monitoring program design such as passive seismic and integrated surface deformation monitoring. Although the FutureGen 2.0 Project was suspended by the U.S. Department of Energy prior to implementation of the monitoring program design, this overview is provided with the hope that other current or future CCS projects will derive benefit from consideration of the approach and monitoring network configuration adopted by the project.
When the Body Intrudes: Psychotherapy with Older and Medically Ill Adults

Mainstream analysts following Freud have tended to emphasize that patients who cannot communicate symbolically are not good candidates for psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. Although many theorists since Freud have addressed some of the challenges in working with less symbolic patients, there are a number of conceptual, technical, and practical difficulties related to working with medical and aging patients. People who are ill and struggling with the impact of aging and bodily demands can result in therapists feeling helpless and lost, or worse, assuming that the patient is beyond help. First, I will briefly discuss why we should consider psychodynamic approaches in the first place. There is now a great deal of research indicating that this way of working is as effective if not more effective for a number of patients, especially those with complex physical and psychological problems. I will follow this discussion by describing some of the obstacles that have beset the application of psychoanalytic approaches for patients in these populations. Next, I will expand on some of the basic technical and conceptual challenges of working with medically ill and older patients and introduce some of the major dynamics we find in treating these individuals, with an emphasis on how contemporary theory and approaches can help. I will suggest that working with ill and aging patients requires us to retain some of the original ideas within mainstream psychoanalysis. However, by using contemporary psychoanalytic approaches, we can increase the chances of successfully engaging these populations in therapy and provide a more empathic and thoughtful engagement with them. Although other therapeutic interventions outside of psychoanalytic approaches (such as cognitive–behavioral therapy, or CBT) have been suggested for working with older and medically ill patients, these methods have limitations that do not fully address many important aspects of psychological functioning, including the influence of the unconscious. Therefore, I will briefly highlight some of the shortcomings of other theoretical approaches to make a case that, despite some of the perceptions that Freudian and mainstream psychoanalysis are not useful, a modern and integrated psychodynamic orientation can be the most comprehensive approach for appreciating the complexities of the people we try to help.
Screening of polypeptide toxins as adulteration markers in the food containing wild edible mushroom by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Abstract An accurate and sensitive method was established for the determination of polypeptide toxins amanitins and phallotoxins in the food containing wild edible mushrooms by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The toxins in sample matrix were extracted with hydrochloric acid solution (0.5% in water, v/v ), cleaned by HLB cartridge and separated by C18 chromatographic column under basic condition (pH = 10.5). Amanitins and phallotoxins were monitored by an electrospray ionization source (ESI) under negative and positive modes, respectively, in one injection cycle. Basic mobile phase condition was applied to suppress the ionization efficiency of sodium ion adducts and improve that of the hydrogen ion adducts under ESI mode. The calculated limits of detection in sample matrix were 0.002–0.005 mg kg −1 and the limits of quantification were 0.005–0.01 mg kg −1 . The linear range was 0.01–2 mg kg −1 with a correlation coefficient >0.996. The average recoveries at three spiking levels were 72.6%–91.8% with relative standard deviations of 5.2%–10.1% (n = 6). The developed method was applicable for the adulteration screening of inedible Amanitas in the food containing wild edible mushroom and the applicable adulteration markers were α-amanitin, β-amanitin and phallacidin.
The Role of the Cover-Neck Bundle in Multi-Motor Transport against Load in Cells

Kinesin motor proteins share a highly-conserved catalytic motor domain responsible for coupling the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis to force generation and microtubule-directed functions. Previous studies of kinesin-1 suggested that ATP binding to the motor domain induces the formation of the cover-neck bundle (CNB), a beta-sheet between β0 at the N-terminus (the coverstrand) and β9 in the first half of the necklinker. The CNB was shown to contribute to force generation by single kinesin-1 motors under purified conditions and has been predicted to function in force generation across the kinesin superfamily. However, differences in coverstrand and necklinker sequences make the role of the CNB across different kinesin families unclear. We adapted artificial cargo systems to delineate key features of the CNB during multi-motor transport against low and high loads in cells. Our results indicate that in teams, kinesin-1 motors can robustly transport cargo against high- and low-load in cells. Molecular modeling was used to predict mutations in the coverstrand and necklinker that disrupt and shorten beta-sheet formation. Experimental testing of these mutations shows that impaired beta-sheet formation compromised the capacity for teams of kinesin-1 motors to transport high-load cargo but not low-load cargo to the periphery of cells. Surprisingly, truncation of the region N-terminal to the coverstrand, predicted to have a minimal role in CNB formation, severely crippled the capacity for teams of kinesin-1 motors to transport both low- and high-load cargoes in cells. We plan to extend these studies to additional kinesin families to identify distinct motility dependencies on formation of the CNB.
Patterns of postpartum contraceptive use among Somali immigrant women living in Minnesota

The postpartum period is a crucial time to provide family planning counseling and can decrease incidence of adverse reproductive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to characterize patterns of postpartum contraception and to investigate long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) use among Somali women living in a metropolitan area of Minnesota in an effort to provide better family planning and reproductive health counseling in this growing immigrant population. A retrospective chart review was conducted of Somali women who delivered between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014. Information was collected regarding family planning counseling provided and contraceptive methods chosen at the postpartum clinic visit. Of the 747 Somali women who delivered during this time period, 56.4% had no postpartum follow up visit. At the postpartum visit, 88.3% of women received family planning counseling and 80.8% chose a contraceptive method with the remainder declining. The intrauterine device (IUD) was the most popular contraceptive method, chosen by 39.7% of women. Other than parity, no statistically significant differences were observed between women who chose LARC versus other contraceptive methods. Of the women that chose a LARC, 39.4% had it placed at the time of their postpartum visit; immediate placement was statistically significantly more likely with more recent delivery, lower BMI and obstetrician as the provider type. The IUD was the most popular method of postpartum contraception. There was a trend toward increase in LARC use with increasing parity. Same-day LARC placement was uncommon, but should be encouraged in this population given high loss to follow up rate.
Correlation in the application of the triple-to-double coincidence ratio method with unequal photomultiplier tube efficiencies

Counting data from the triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) method are by their nature highly correlated. In the general case of unequal phototube detection efficiencies, the highly correlated nature of the data combined with the need to apply methods to solve a system of equations makes proper uncertainty analysis difficult. Removing the correlations from the data prior to analysis may assist in this endeavor. This paper describes the de-correlation of TDCR data by the application of a particular linear transform, the Mahalanobis transform. A programming example in MATLAB is given and a practical example of the use of this technique in the analysis of TDCR data is presented.
The Impact of Institutional Context and Gender on Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper contributes to the debate concerning the dynamic relationship between politics, gender and business activity by investigating the influence of the state political environment on positive...
Understanding Sampling and Recruitment in Social Work Dissertation Research

The field of social work has increasingly focused on improving the quantity and rigor of its research. For many social work doctoral students, their first independent research experience begins with their dissertation, and yet, little is known about the factors that facilitate students’ success during this process. Sample recruitment is one step where significant and unexpected challenges can occur. As social justice is the central value of the profession, social work doctoral students may focus on research with vulnerable or marginalized populations; however, little research has been done that focuses on social work dissertations, samples used, and the process of recruitment. In this study, 215 doctoral-level social work graduates who completed their degree within the past ten years were surveyed about their dissertation research, with a focus on the sampling strategy and recruitment processes. Findings show that students have a wide diversity of experiences with the dissertation process. While 64.6% anticipant challenges around recruitment and sampling, only 54.9% encounter challenges. Less than half (44.7%) of study participants received guidance during this process and most (80.5%) felt the dissertation experience impacted subsequent research, both positively (40.5%) and negatively (9.8%). Based on these findings, doctoral programs are encouraged to increase supports available to dissertating students, particularly those recruiting study participants from vulnerable and marginalized populations. These supports include community connections, skills for obtaining gatekeeper buy-in, and both relational support and advice from dissertation committees and other colleagues.
Care of the Elderly Critical Care Patient

Critical care poses significant challenges for all patients. However, the elderly population requires extra vigilance owing to age-related changes in physiology, multiple medical comorbidities, polypharmacy, and deconditioning. The elderly, defined here as persons 65 years or older, account for 14.5% of the population and account for 42–52% of ICU admissions. The impact of the elderly will dramatically increase as their population will double to 70 million in 2030. Given increasing life expectancy (78.8 years in the United States), and the fact that this segment of the population accounts for 42–52% of ICU admissions [1, 2], the impact on health care and critical care is immense. Mortality is increased in the elderly, and studies demonstrate an 18.7% mortality for surgical patients, up to 26.5% ICU mortality for medical cause, and up to 50% mortality 1 year after discharge [1–3]. Aging affects every system in the body, and combined with comorbidities, multiple medications, and frequent end-of-life ethical issues, caring for these patients poses significant challenges in today’s health-care environment [4–13]. Knowing how to care for this special population with age-related physiologic changes and a lack of physiologic reserve compared to the general population is of paramount importance.
A Review of Los Angeles Unified Data Following the OCR Compliance Investigation

In 2011, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) conducted a compliance review of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to examine the district’s provision of resources and opportunities to scho...