cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
4634 Ercp, mrcp, iocg or expectant management for suspected cbd stone? a cost-utility analysis.

Background: The optimal approach for initial testing in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis (CDL) is uncertain. Availability, cost and technical considerations may influence the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and intraoperative cholangiogram (IOCG); the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be limited by the risk of complications. Methods: A decision analysis model (TREEAGE version 3.5) utilizing estimates from a published time tradeoff analysis, life table estimates, pooled probability estimates and local costs were used to determine the cost-utility of initial testing strategies in patients with choledocholithiasis: immediate ERCP, IOCG, MRCP or expectant management (EM). Our base case assumed a CDL prevalence of 30% and MRCP sensitivity/specificity of >90%, MRCP/ERCP cost ratio of 0.6 and IOCG/ERCP cost ratio of 0.5. The model was subjected to appropriate one and two-way sensitivity analysis. Results: At our base case, the optimal option for initial investigation of choledocholithiasis was essentially a "toss-up" between IOCG, MRCP and ERCP. If the prevalence of stone was less than 10.2 %, EM was the optimal choice. At prevalence of stone between 10.2% and 25.2%, IOCG was the optimal strategy. A prevalence of 25.2 to 33.3% marginally favored MRCP. ERCP was the dominant cost effective strategy at all prevalence of stone >33.3%. The model was sensitive to the probability of severe ERCP complications. ERCP was clearly dominant if the sensitivity/ specificity of MRCP was less than 90% or if MRCP/IOCG costs were >64%/51% of the cost of an ERCP respectively. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that the likelihood of CDL should determine the optimal management strategy. Validated predictive models using biochemical and non-invasive imaging characteristics may be particularly helpful in this regard. Cost-efficacy can be further improved by tailoring the management strategy to local costs and availability of local expertise
Longitudinal Relationship between Dentin Lead Levels in Childhood and Bone Lead Levels in Young Adulthood

Abstract A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine the relationship between tooth lead in children and bone lead levels in young adults. Members of a cohort of young adults were reassessed 13 y after initial examination at an ambulatory clinical research center. Dentin lead levels were measured by anodic stripping voltammetry during the years 1975–1978, and bone lead levels of the tibia and patella were measured by K-x-ray fluorescence technique during 1989 and 1990. A total of 63 subjects who had no history of chelation or had no missing information on potential confounders were studied. The median follow-up interval was 13.2 y. Dentin lead levels averaged 13.4 μg/g (standard deviation [SD] = 10.7 μg/g, range = 2.9–51.8 μg/g), and bone lead levels averaged 1.3 μg/g (SD = 4.4 μg/g, range = −9–13 μg/g) for tibia and 5.4 μg/g (SD = 8.4 Mu;g/g, range = −10–25 Mu;g/g) for patella. The authors controlled for age, sex, race, and mother's socioeconomic status, and dentin lead levels were predictive o...
Visualizing NISTIR 7628, Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security

The National Institute of Standards and Technology Interagency Report (NISITR) 7628, Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security, provides an analytical framework that stakeholders can use to develop effective Smart Grid related characteristics, risks, and vulnerabilities. NISTIR 7628 spans more than 600 pages and is densely packed with technical information drawn from multiple disciplines, which to many readers is difficult to broadly conceptualize and apply. This paper explores methods for visualizing the complexities of NISTIR 7628's cyber security guidelines for the nascent Smart Grid and aiding readers to better synthesize the information presented.
Top Management Compensation and Shareholder Returns: Unravelling Different Models of the Relationship

In order to further examine the relationship between executive pay and company performance, this paper investigates the linkage between two separate components of executive compensation (i.e. cash compensation and stock options) and market return performance, among a selected sample of US pharmaceutical company CEOs and COOs. In the surveyed sample, changes in cash compensation were found to exhibit a between-firm relationship with lagged market returns, while Δ stock option grants displayed a within-firm relationship. The former result suggests a commonality in practices across all firms, while the latter denotes idiosyncratic firm-specific practices. These contrasts represent different degrees of the agency problem in the contracts for cash compensation as compared to the stock option components. Levels of cash compensation were affected primarily by firm size. Market returns were not instrumental influences on the levels of both compensation components
Power law in properties of sulfur near the polymerization transition

Sound velocity and attenuation in liquid sulfur have been measured at temperatures from 80 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C in the super cooled state through the melting temperature (about 120 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) to 200 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C under saturated pressure. The measurements were performed with a pulsed phase sensitive technique at frequencies from 5 to 22 MHz. Accuracy of the sound velocity measurements was 0.1%. A distinct feature in sound velocity was found near 159 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C where sulfur experiences an equilibrium polymerization. However, neither dispersion in the sound velocity nor any appreciable change in sound attenuation was observed. Excess sound velocity (with respect to the monomeric liquid) was extracted from the data and used to estimate the extent of polymerization as a function of the temperature. Both quantities exhibit a similar power law behavior with the exponent close to 0.77.
Entropy calculation beyond the harmonic approximation: Application to diffusion by concerted exchange in Si.

We present a formulation for calculating entropy based on the application of classical transition-rate theory to quantum-mechanical energy surfaces. Using this approach, which avoids difficulties due to anharmonicity and large energy barriers, we calculate the entropy of concerted exchange (CE) in Si and find it to be 3.3k in the high-temperature regime. The relatively high entropy of CE is traced to multiple equivalent exchange paths and to a a combination of a stiff mode at the equilibrium and a soft mode at the saddle-point configurations. Comparison to harmonic-approximation results shows substantial differences, in both the low- and in the high-temperature limits.
Danger on the Streets Marginality and Victimization Among Homeless People

Data from a national survey are used to examine the relationship between marginality and criminal victimization among the homeless. The results show that homeless people are victimized disproportionately often both in absolute and relative terms (i.e., compared to members of the domiciled population)and that the modal pattern entails multiple forms of victimization. Conventional demographic antecedents of victimization receive little support in the analysis. However, measures representing different dimensions of marginality—disaffiliation, health problems, traumatic events, and lifestyle-exposure—all significantly increase the odds of being victimized, as hypothesized. The failure of the lifestyle-exposure variables to mediate the effects of the other predictors suggests that distal factors should be considered along with proximate ones if the vulnerability of disadvantaged groups to crime is to be adequately understood. Implications of the present research for the victim-offender relationship and the mea...
Disseminated Cutaneous Varicella Zoster Virus Infections During Infliximab Therapy for Crohn’s Disease: Case Report of Two Pediatric Patients at One Institution

Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) that has been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. It is used in steroid-sparing regimens for patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. There are a number of studies that have shown an increased risk of infections with bacteria, fungi, mycobacterium, and more recently, chronic viral infections in patients receiving TNF-a antagonists. We report 2 cases of pediatric patients on infliximab therapy for Crohn’s disease who presented with disseminated cutaneous varicella zoster and primary varicella infections. Despite prompt and appropriate antiviral therapy both patients continued to manifest clinical findings of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and ultimately required hospitalization.
Indications for prescribing spectacles

Indications for spectacle correction are reviewed in the context of symptoms, pathophysiology, and prognostic efficacy. Criteria include improving acuity, restoring comfortable vision, enhancing visual efficiency, preventing progression, and assorted miscellaneous goals. Alternatives to spectacles and side effects are analyzed. Specific guidelines for individualized management are evaluated in terms of current research.
Further Notes On the Distribution of Portunus Xantusii Affinis and Euphylax Dovii (Decapoda Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific 1)

Deux especes de crabes pelagiques ont ete recueillies dans le Pacifique tropical oriental pendant l'expedition "Eastropac", fevrier 1967-avril 1968. Portunus xanthusii affinis a ete recueilli en 26 localites differentes et Euphylax dovii en 21. Aucune femelle ovigere des deux especes n'a ete rencontree dans les recoltes pelagiques. On suppose donc que ces portunides pelagiques trouves loin en mer ne font pas partie de la population reproductive. Dix specimens de P. x. affinis et un specimen de E, dovii portaient des cirripedes pedoncules, Conchoderma virgatum, attaches a leur carapace.
Regulation of hepatocyte fate by interferon-γ

Interferon (IFN)-γ is a cytokine known for its immunomodulatory and anti-proliferative action. In the liver, IFN-γ can induce hepatocyte apoptosis or inhibit hepatocyte cell cycle progression. This article reviews recent mechanistic reports that describe how IFN-γ may direct the fate of hepatocytes either towards apoptosis or a cell cycle arrest. This review also describes a probable role for IFN-γ in modulating hepatocyte fate during liver regeneration, transplantation, hepatitis, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and highlights promising areas of research that may lead to the development of IFN-γ as a therapy to enhance recovery from liver disease.
Acoustic resonance testing

Acoustic Resonance Testing (ART) is a nondestructive test that uses the vibrational characteristics of an object to find defects. It is a whole-part test, so measurements taken in one place can indicate defects anywhere. It can be done quickly and requires minimal equipment. ART can be completely automated and make objective, quantitative judgments, eliminating human error. ART uses the fact that a part's physical structure causes it to have a distinct and unique set of characteristic frequencies. Every part with the same physical properties will have the same vibration properties, and any flaw will cause this vibration “fingerprint” to change. After a hammer impact, the characteristic frequencies of the part will be excited and every other frequency will quickly attenuate. By measuring the location and amplitude of several peaks of the part's dynamic response and comparing these values to a database of acceptable values, parts with defects can be quickly separated. ART can be used to find parts with out-of-tolerance dimensions, voids, and cracks, among other things. While the test will not determine the cause of rejection, with appropriate transducer sensitivity and software it can reliably find faults anywhere in a part. Currently Gassco is researching ways to use ART for in-line inspection of gas pipelines. ART is also being used on some automotive production lines to ensure 100% compliance with specifications. It is well-suited for quality assurance on drive train parts, piping sections, shielding and containment hardware, and other applications where fast and dependable flaw detection is critical.
Recent research on the heavy transuranium elements

Abstract This review is devoted to recent research (performed in the 1980s) on the heavy transuranium elements, defined as the transcurium elements (with some reference to related work on lighter elements). This includes description of the synthesis and identification (i.e., discovery) of the three heaviest transuranium elements (107, 108, 109), the discovery of several transuranium nuclides (including 261 Lr, 262 Lr, 262 No, 260 Md, 258m Md) and new modes of decay (bimodal spontaneous fission), and work in heavy ion nuclear reaction mechanisms (transfer reactions, cold fusion, hot fusion). Much attention is given to research on chemical and related properties of all the elements from curium (atomic number 96) to hahnium (number 105), inclusive. Included are 100 references to the publications of the authors whose work is reviewed.
Liverpool: City of Radicals. Edited by John Belchem and Bryan Biggs . (Liverpool, England: Liverpool University Press, 2011. Pp. xii, 207. $32.00.)

This is a book that Liverpudlians will deeply appreciate. Most of the rest of us can appreciate the idea of it but probably not enough to want to look into it very closely. A worthy civic endeavor,...
Reversible integer-to-integer transforms and symmetric extension of even-length filter banks

The recent JPEG2000 image coding standard includes a lossless coding mode based on reversible integer to integer filter banks, which are constructed by inserting rounding operations into the filter bank lifting factorisation. The baseline (Part 1) of the JPEG2000 standard supports a single reversible filter bank, the finite length input to which is symmetrically extended to avoid difficulties at the boundaries. While designing support for arbitrary filter banks for Part 2 of the standard, we discovered that reversibility is not always possible for even length integer to integer filter banks combined with symmetric pre-extension.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advancing a partnership: patients, families, and medical educators.

Background: Medical educators must impart not only an immense quantity of knowledge and technical skills but also an essential collection of values, attitudes, and ways of relating that fall under the rubric of professionalism. Along with technical skills and knowledge, becoming a physician requires caring about patients and interacting in ways that meet practical needs. Summary: One way to meet the challenges of teaching about professionalism and communication is to involve experienced patients and families as partners in education. Patients and family members have participated in health care quality assessment, health care advisory groups, and efforts to implement family-centered care. Medical educators have written competencies for communication and professionalism and have begun to involve patients and families in medical education activities. Conclusions: Increased involvement of patients and families in full partnership with medical educators is a logical outgrowth of changes in relationships betwee...
Neuroscience findings in AIDS: A review op research sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health

1. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infects cells in both the immune system and the brain, but these effects are not independent. 2. Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has been directed at identifying some of the mechanisms by which HIV-1 infects the brain, produces pathology, causes behavioral changes, and alters immune responses. 3. HIV-1-associated peptides have been shown to produce immunological changes without active virus present and there is also evidence that neurological damage may result not from direct viral action, by via excitotoxin production. 4. Rhesus macaque monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) are proving to be a useful model of the neurological and behavioral changes identified in human AIDS patients; behavioral changes observed in monkeys are similar to those seen in humans infected with HIV-1. 5. Studies examining the relationship between the brain and immune system are identifying the role that the macrophage cytokine interleukin-1 may play in suppressing T-lymphocyte activity by two pathways, both mediated by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). 6. One pathway involves the pituitary-adrenal axis and release of glucocorticoids while the other involves direct interaction with the sympathetic noradrenergic nervous system, which has been shown to innervate T-lymphocytes in the spleen and thymus. 7. These observations are relevant because macrophages infected with HIV-1 infiltrate the brain and may release substances that damage the brain. 8. Stress may affect these pathways via the CRF-mediated release of glucocorticoids; a model of stress has also demonstrated that stress can suppress the cellular immune response.
T-Lymphocyte-Antigen Interactions in Transplant Rejection

THE replacement of malfunctioning tissues and organs has long been a clinical objective in medicine. Modern transplantation has been made possible by improved clinical care, a better understanding of immunogenetics, cross-matching of antibodies, and the development of several nonspecific immunosuppressive agents, including corticosteroids, azathioprine, antilymphocyte serum, cyclosporine, and monoclonal antibodies. The combination of HLA matching and immunosuppression has greatly improved both graft and patient survival, but several complications persist: infection, hypertension, drug toxicity, recurrence of disease, and psychosocial problems. Identifying more specific modes of immunosuppression therefore remains a challenge for clinical medicine. A thorough understanding of the cellular, biochemical, and . . .
CONSIDERATIONS IN ESTIMATING LARVAL DISPERSAL DISTANCES FROM OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA

Determination of larval dispersal distances and larval origins is a central challenge in contemporary marine ecology. In this work, the larval dispersal problem is discussed from the perspective of oceanography. Following formulation of the advection- diffusion model, the importance of scale is argued. When considering dispersion parameters at the appropriate population scales, advection is usually weaker than initially anticipated (and often used), and diffusion is stronger than typically used in model studies. Focusing attention on coastal populations, the importance of retention zones is described, and the more general existence of a coastal boundary layer is discussed. The coupling of cross- shore and alongshore dispersion results in a nonlinear relation between alongshore dispersal distance and larval planktonic period for dispersion in a sheared flow. Thus, small changes in cross-shore dispersal, whether due to environmental differences or larval behavior result in significant differences in alongshore dispersal. Finally, the interplay between advection and diffusion is explored, showing the importance of adequately representing the diffusive effects that mitigate alongshore advection. In most cases, diffusion acts to prevent ''wash- out'' of a population and allows for more flexibility in the size and spacing of effective marine reserves. Future challenges must bring oceanographers and ecologists together around specific dispersal problems if there is to be a significant improvement in the notable absence of hard data in this field of enquiry.
Online Algorithms for Handling Skew in Parallel Joins

When the work involved in a join is partitioned among multiple processors in the parallel join, the skew in the operand relations can result in significant imbalance in the work assigned to the different processors. This imbalance can cause significant degradation in the response time for the join operation.
Automated XY plots from Microsoft Excel

Abstract We present a macro program which greatly simplifies the process of making X–Y (scatter) and triangular plots using the spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel®. The program draws on user-defined “type-plots” to establish plot format, allowing a great amount of flexibility in style and presentation. Predefined templates can be used to define fields or lines for specific purposes and these can be retained easily from plot to plot facilitating rapid comparison of different data sets. The program requires only the addition of some simple control characters to be able to draw data from existing spreadsheets with little or no reformatting.
Microbes on the edge of Occam’s razor

Our body harbors hundreds of microbial species and contains many more bacterial than human cells. These microbes are not passive riders but rather a vital component of the organism. The human microbiota affects our health in multiple ways, both positively and negatively. One of the new attractive directions in microbiome biology is the "microbiome-brain axis". Several groups of researchers have described the ability of the gut microbiota to communicate with the brain and thus modulate human behavior. These limited experimental data became the foundation of the "biomeme hypothesis" of possible microbial origin of some religious rituals that has recently appeared in Biology Direct. Here I propose a critical analysis of this hypothesis. I conclude that there is no evidence of the microbial origin of religious practices but there are strong indications of their psychological and social roots.
Driving times and distances to hospitals with percutaneous coronary intervention in the United States: implications for prehospital triage of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background— The success of prehospital triage protocols for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) will depend, in part, on how patients are geographically distributed around hospitals that perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Accordingly, we determined the proportion of the adult population in the United States with timely access to PCI hospitals using driving times and distances. Methods and Results— We performed a cross-sectional study using hospital-level data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Census tract-level data on adults 18 years of age or older from the 2000 United States Census. Our aims were to determine the proportion of the adult population who (1) lived within 60 minutes of a PCI hospital and (2) had additional transport times within 30 minutes if directly referred to a PCI hospital as opposed to a closer, non-PCI hospital. Median times and distances to the closest PCI hospital were 11.3 (interquartile range [IQR] 5.7 to 28.5) minutes a...
Ultrastructural localization of a diprenylated isoflavone in Rhizobium lupini-Lupinus albus symbiotic association

Polyclonal IgGs raised against the diprenylated isoflavone, 2'-hydroxylupalbigenin were used in an immunocytochemical study of the root and nodule tissues of white lupin (lupinus albus L.). In the roots, the antigen was detected in the secondary walls of both xylem vessels and pericycle cells. Examination of nodules revealed the presence of the antigen in the inner cortex, associated with a neoparietal material which is deposited as globules on the cell wall and occluding the intercellular spaces. The discrete location of the diprenylated isoflavone in specialized cytoplasmic organelles suggests that its compartmentation within the wall is mediated by membrane vesicles. In the infected cells, more than half of the bacteroids exhibited a specific labelling of their inner core associated with a central fibrillar system, and sometimes surrounding an electron-dense nucleoid region. These results suggest that 2'-hydroxylupalbigenin, and possibly other prenylated isoflavones, may play an important role as a biochemical factor in early symbiotic events other than nod gene induction or inhibition. Its putative biological functions in the post-infectional phases of symbiosis are discussed
"YEAH RIGHT": SARCASM RECOGNITION FOR SPOKEN DIALOGUE SYSTEMS

The robust understanding of sarcasm in a spoken dialogue system requires a reformulation of the dialogue manager’s basic assumptions behind, for example, user behavior and grounding strategies. But automatically detecting a sarcastic tone of voice is not a simple matter. This paper presents some experiments toward sarcasm recognition using prosodic, spectral, and contextual cues. Our results demonstrate that spectral and contextual features can be used to detect sarcasm as well as a human annotator would, and confirm a long-held claim in the field of psychology – that prosody alone is not sufficient to discern whether a speaker is being sarcastic. Index Terms: dialogue, user modeling, sarcasm, speech acts
ATP-dependent adenophostin activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor channel gating: kinetic implications for the durations of calcium puffs in cells

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) receptor (InsP(3)R) is a ligand-gated intracellular Ca(2+) release channel that plays a central role in modulating cytoplasmic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). The fungal metabolite adenophostin A (AdA) is a potent agonist of the InsP(3)R that is structurally different from InsP(3) and elicits distinct calcium signals in cells. We have investigated the effects of AdA and its analogues on single-channel activities of the InsP(3)R in the outer membrane of isolated Xenopus laevis oocyte nuclei. InsP(3)R activated by either AdA or InsP(3) have identical channel conductance properties. Furthermore, AdA, like InsP(3), activates the channel by tuning Ca(2+) inhibition of gating. However, gating of the AdA-liganded InsP(3)R has a critical dependence on cytoplasmic ATP free acid concentration not observed for InsP(3)-liganded channels. Channel gating activated by AdA is indistinguishable from that elicited by InsP(3) in the presence of 0.5 mM ATP, although the functional affinity of the channel is 60-fold higher for AdA. However, in the absence of ATP, gating kinetics of AdA-liganded InsP(3)R were very different. Channel open time was reduced by 50%, resulting in substantially lower maximum open probability than channels activated by AdA in the presence of ATP, or by InsP(3) in the presence or absence of ATP. Also, the higher functional affinity of InsP(3)R for AdA than for InsP(3) is nearly abolished in the absence of ATP. Low affinity AdA analogues furanophostin and ribophostin activated InsP(3)R channels with gating properties similar to those of AdA. These results provide novel insights for interpretations of observed effects of AdA on calcium signaling, including the mechanisms that determine the durations of elementary Ca(2+) release events in cells. Comparisons of single-channel gating kinetics of the InsP(3)R activated by InsP(3), AdA, and its analogues also identify molecular elements in InsP(3)R ligands that contribute to binding and activation of channel gating.
How Staphylococcus aureus Breaches Our Skin to Cause Infection

Recent extensive research on USA300 virulence factors identified a series of molecular determinants that affect the capacity of this clone to cause abscess formation in animal models [3]. Among these determinants, toxins with the potential to lyse human neutrophils received most attention. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) was initially believed
Integrating electromagnetic compatibility laboratory exercises into undergraduate electromagnetics

A state-of-the art high-frequency laboratory is being developed for pursuing laboratory exercises in EMC. These exercises are being integrated into three undergraduate electromagnetics courses. Two of the courses are a required introductory sequence. The laboratory exercises are designed to stimulate students interest, motivate them to learn concepts, and provide them with exposure to practical EMC applications. Laboratory exercises are also an integral part of an EMC elective course. This paper do scribes the laboratory development and discusses experiments that can be integrated into these three courses for teaching fundamental electromagnetics as well as EMC.
Defining Religious Pluralism in America: A Regional Analysis

In any given time and place, religious pluralism reflects a set of cultural attitudes about the nature and role of religion in society. Prior to World War II, religious pluralism in the United States was conceived as a two-tiered system, with nondenominational Protestantism in the top tier and other legitimate religious groups—Catholics, Jews, Eastern Orthodox, Mormons—relegated to a second tier. Since the war, American society has experimented with several different models, each of which derives from an approach to religious pluralism rooted in a particular region of the country.
Statistical tests of neutrality of mutations

Mutations in the genealogy of the sequences in a random sample from a population can be classified as external and internal. External mutations are mutations that occurred in the external branches and internal mutations are mutations that occurred in the internal branches of the genealogy. Under the assumption of selective neutrality, the expected number of external mutations is equal to theta = 4Ne mu, where Ne is the effective population size and mu is the rate of mutation per gene per generation. Interestingly, this expectation is independent of the sample size. The number of external mutations is likely to deviate from its neutral expectation when there is selection while the number of internal mutations is less affected by the presence of selection. Statistical properties of the numbers of external mutations and of internal mutations are studied and their relationships to two commonly used estimates of theta are derived. From these properties, several new statistical tests based on a random sample of DNA sequences from the population are developed for testing the hypothesis that all mutations at a locus are neutral.
In vitro toxicity of zamifenacin (UK-76,654) and metabolites in primary hepatocyte cultures

1. We compared the sensitivities of primary hepatocytes from rat, dog and monkey to zamifenacin and two major metabolites, the methylenedioxy ring-opened catechol, UK80,178 and its methylated product, UK-82,201. Toxicity was determined both via neutral red uptake and enzyme leakage data. 2. Canine hepatocytes were most sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of zamifenacin during 24-h exposure. Significant decreases in medium concentrations of zamifenacin in the presence of primary hepatocytes verified cellular uptake during the initial 2-h incubation. All three cell types were much more sensitive to UK-82,201 than to the catechol metabolite or parent drug. 3. The rapid onset of cytotoxicity indicated by elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and other markers in the medium after UK82,201 exposure, the delayed but substantial cytotoxic response to the parent drug which was suggestive of biotransformation to a reactive moiety, in vivo and in vitro drug metabolism results ...
Coastal Eddies in the Ocean Wind Field as Observed by Single and Multifrequency HF Radars on Monterey Bay, California

Coastal wind eddies at the 10-40 km scale have been studied over Monterey Bay, California by Archer, Ludwig et al. using shore and buoy anemometers and satellite images. Most frequent in the evening and early morning hours, these, typically cyclonic, eddies are often responsible for fog in the Santa Cruz area. We have previously demonstrated the ability of multifrequency HF radar (4.8 to 21.8 MHz) to map the ocean wind field. Observations over a year time span indicate standard errors of prediction of 1.7 m/s for wind speed and 25deg for direction with biases of 0.1 m/s and 0.3deg respectively. By combining HF radar wind vector estimates with shore based anemometer data in the WOCSS surface wind field model we are able to form detailed (3 to 5 km resolution) images of eddies over Monterey Bay and to follow their development and decay. We discuss the requirements for making wind field maps with HF radars and demonstrate how the changing array of multiple radar sites can be used to produce HF radar wind field maps. We report observations of 10-20 km cyclonic eddies in the northern and eastern parts of Monterey Bay.
Partnership Status and Socioeconomic Factors in Relation to Health Behavior Changes after a Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Background: Change in health behaviors can occur among women newly diagnosed with DCIS. We sought to understand whether partnership status and socioeconomic status (SES) impacted behavioral changes in body weight, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Methods: The Wisconsin In Situ Cohort (WISC) study comprises 1,382 women diagnosed with DCIS with information on demographics, SES factors, and pre- and post-DCIS diagnosis health-related behaviors. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between partnership status, education, and income with change in behavior variables. Results: Higher educational attainment was associated with lower likelihood of stopping physical activity (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32-0.63, college vs high school degree), or starting to drink alcohol (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.80). Results suggested that higher family income was associated with lower likelihood of gaining >5% body mass index (P=0.07) or stopping physical activity (P=0.09). Living with a partner was not strongly associated with behavior changes. Conclusion: Higher educational attainment and higher income, but not living with a partner, were associated with positive health behaviors after a DCIS diagnosis. Impact: The associations between higher educational attainment and, to a lesser extent, higher income with positive health behaviors underscore the importance of considering SES when identifying those at risk for negative behavioral change after DCIS diagnosis.
The progress of membrane protein structure determination

The rate of membrane protein (MP) structure determination has been examined for the 18-year period following the publication of the first high-resolution crystal structure. The growth is solidly exponential, but lags behind the rate for soluble proteins during the equivalent time period.
Lithospheric shear zones as constant stress experiments

Below the seismogenic zone, plate boundaries are defi ned by lithospheric ductile shear zones. These localize strain, and are the main reason that convective motions in the Earth’s interior are expressed at the surface as plate tectonics. We argue here that lithospheric shear zones operate at approximately constant stress, equal to the yield strength of the surrounding rocks. This places constraints on the bulk strength of the lithosphere, and allows us to calculate the cumulative width of the shear zones as a function of depth. The concept applies most clearly to strike-slip shear zones, but is also applicable to thrust- and normal-sense shear zones, although these evolve with time due to temperature changes associated with burial or exhumation. If shear zones operate at constant stress, this affects their microstructural evolution, and hence their rheology. Decreases in grain size due to dynamic recrystallization may cause a switch in the dominant deformation mechanism to grain-size‐sensitive creep, leading to weakening and strain localization. A common argument, based on a constant strain rate approach, has been that such transitions will be inhibited by grain growth. In a constant stress shear zone, however, dynamic recrystallization continues to maintain the low grain size even after the switch has occurred. Grain growth is inhibited under these conditions, and hence the switch is permanent as long as the boundary conditions remain the same. Grain-size reduction in shear zones is therefore a critical factor in maintaining plate tectonic processes.
Character‐Principlism and the Particularity Objection

This paper is a response to particularist critics of the normative force of moral principles. The particularist critique, as I understand it, is a rejection not only of principle-based accounts of moral deliberation and justification, but also of accounts of character in which principles play a central role. I focus on the latter challenge and counter it with a view I call character-principlism. I begin by discussing in a general way what motivates the particularity objection to principles and then contrast two views – both of which insist on the importance of attentiveness to particularity – about the relative normative status of principles and particular cases. I present some reasons for believing that we need a more normatively robust conception of the role of moral principles than the particularists provide. In the main portion of the paper, I discuss how character-principlism sees principles functioning in our lives and the lives we lead with others. I contrast this with some other accounts of desirable character that particularists can embrace, and argue that these are seriously flawed because, unlike character-principlism, they cannot satisfactorily explain how a person could possess the constancy of character that moral integrity requires.
Foxa2 mediates critical functions of prechordal plate in patterning and morphogenesis and is cell autonomously required for early ventral endoderm morphogenesis

Axial mesendoderm is comprised of prechordal plate and notochord. Lack of a suitable Cre driver has hampered the ability to genetically dissect the requirement for each of these components, or genes expressed within them, to anterior patterning. Here, we have utilized Isl1-Cre to investigate roles of the winged helix transcription factor Foxa2 specifically in prechordal plate and ventral endoderm. Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Isl1-Cre mutants died at 13.5 dpc, exhibiting aberrations in anterior neural tube and forebrain patterning, and in ventral foregut morphogenesis and cardiac fusion. Molecular analysis of Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Isl1-Cre mutants indicated that Foxa2 is required in Isl1 lineages for expression of notochord and dorsal foregut endoderm markers, Shh. Brachyury, and Hlxb9. Our results support a requirement for Foxa2 in prechordal plate for notochord morphogenesis, axial patterning, and patterning of dorsal foregut endoderm. Loss of Foxa2 in ventral endoderm resulted in reduced expression of Sox17, Gata4, and ZO proteins, accounting at least in part for observed lack of foregut fusion, cardia bifida, and increased apoptosis of ventral endoderm.
Skeletal Muscle Evaluated by MRI

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 MR Techniques 3 Normal Muscle Anatomy and Physiology 4 MRI of Muscle Pathology 5 Conclusion 6 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Gender Differences in Coronary Risk Factors and Risk Interventions

Although women experience initial cardiovascular events approximately 10 years later than men, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also the leading cause of death in women worldwide [1,2]. As menopause escalates CVD risk, the lifetime risk for women to develop and die from CVD is almost equal to that of men [1,3]. Although it remains elusive which mechanisms protect premenopausal women from CVD, it has become apparent that the premenopausal cardiovascular risk profile impacts subclinical atherosclerosis after menopause [4]. With progressive aging of the US population, more women are surviving to older age; they will incur a high incidence of CVD unless preventive strategies are instituted early and across their life span [5]. This is also reflected in the fact that, since 1984, more US women than men died annually of CVD [1] and underscores the need to commence preventive interventions early in a woman’s life. Regardless of age, the majority of women who experience CVD has at least one traditional cardiovascular risk factor [6]. Nevertheless, the reduction in coronary risk factors has been less prominent among women [7], and the decrease in cardiovascular and coronary mortality has been less pronounced in women than in men [1] during the past few decades. A 1998 Centers for Disease Control National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that, in office practice, fewer women than men were counseled about exercise, nutrition, and weight reduction [8]. Recently reported studies show substantial benefit of selected interventions designed to reduce coronary risk in women.
The Determination of Organic Phase–Air Partition Coefficient and Henry’s Law Constant for Volatile Organic Compounds Using Large Volume Vacuum Headspace Sampling

Sampling the gas phase over peanut oil provided the means to determine the oil phase–gas phase partition coefficients (Koa) and the Henry’s law constant (HLCO) at temperatures between 10 °C and 98.5 °C. For the 123 compounds in the study the linear range of natural logarithm of Henry’s law constants by temperature was determined. The enthalpies of phase change of the compounds from the peanut oil were derived from the HLCO over the linear range. The experimental Koa values of the compounds correlated well with those generated when 1-octanol was the organic phase (r2 = 0.97 with intercept at 0).
The needle autopsy. A retrospective evaluation of 394 consecutive cases.

A series of 394 consecutive needle autopsies, including 357 unlimited ones and 37 limited to one or two organs, is analyzed. In each case, written permission to retrieve tissue with a biopsy needle had been secured from the nearest of kin after all efforts to obtain consent for a regular autopsy had failed. Liver tissue was recovered in 92 %, heart in 55%, lung in 46%, and kidney in 34% of the 357 unlimited needle autopsy cases. Measures to improve the organ yield in future cases are suggested. Meaningful pathologic findings were observed in over 77% of all specimens and are discussed in detail. The needle autopsy is not considered a substitute for a complete postmortem examination, but it can be a valuable procedure in cases where permission for a full autopsy cannot be obtained.
Safe AI: creating a health care expert system

This paper describes the process of creating a health care expert system (ES) step-by-step. An expert system, a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), will be designed using rule-based method to indicate the most possible diagnosis for upper respiratory infections (URI) such as common cold, flu (influenza), croup, and sinus infection. The expert system presents the user with a list of possible diagnoses and their corresponding explanations depending on certain user's information: age, gender, procedence region, and medical history. It is a hands-on example that can be incorporated into college courses on Web services and/or mobile applications.
Xaa-Pro Dipeptidase (Bacteria)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the activity, specificity and structural chemistry of X-Pro dipeptidase (XPD). A dipeptidase showing specificity for C-terminal proline has been found in a variety of prokaryotes. An enzyme of similar specificity has been characterized from mammalian sources. The latter enzyme has received more extensive mechanistic investigation. The other names that have been used for this enzyme include prolidase, imidodipeptidase, proline dipeptidase, peptidase D, γ-peptidase, pepQ and X-Pro dipeptidase. The reaction of this enzyme involves the hydrolysis of Xaa-fPro dipeptides, although some members are described as cleaving other dipeptides or even tripeptides. The enzyme is active at neutral pH. Extensive specificity studies have been carried out with pig kidney XPD. Several sequences are available. A number of the enzymes have been purified and characterized to varying extents. The active enzyme commonly exists as a homodimer. A crystallographic structure for the homologous aminopeptidase P from E. coli is available. It is found that the enzyme is commonly described as a Mn2+-activated enzyme.
Temperature-dependent effects on the replication and transmission of arthropod-borne viruses in their insect hosts.

The transmissibility of vector borne viruses can be affected by a combination of factors, both extrinsic (climatic changes, temperature, urbanization, among others) and intrinsic (genetics, life span, immunity, among others). Temperature is of particular importance since the insect vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are ectothermic and acutely susceptible to temperature changes. Modeling suggests that with increasing global temperature and urbanization, arboviral diseases will continue to emerge or reemerge. This review highlights current literature regarding temperature-dependent effects on virus–vector interactions and their potential to influence the transmission dynamics and epidemiology of arboviral diseases.
From the Teacher's Eyes: Facilitating Teachers Noticings on Informal Formative Assessments (IFAS) and Exploring the Challenges to Effective Implementation.

This study focuses on teachers’ use of informal formative assessments (IFAs) aimed at improving students’ learning and teachers’ recognition of students’ learning processes. The study was designed ...
Fourth Roots of One in ℤ p

In Chapter I-4 on primes, we proved that there were infinitely many primes of the form 4k + 3. We observed that according to a theorem of Dirichlet, for any a, r with (a, r) = 1 there are infinitely many primes of the form ak + r (where k varies). In particular (with a = 4, r = 1) there are infinitely many primes of the form 4k + 1. Using the existence of primitive elements we can prove this fact without appealing to Dirichlet’s theorem.
cHRV Uncovering Daily Stress Dynamics Using Bio-Signal from Consumer Wearables.

Knowing the dynamics of one's daily stress is essential to effective stress management in the context of smart and connected health. However, there lacks a practical and unobtrusive means to obtain real-time and longitudinal stress information. In this paper, we attempt to derive a convenient HRV-based (heart rate variability) biomarker named cHRV, which can be used to reliably reflect stress dynamics. cHRV's key advantage lies in its low maintenance and high practicality. It can be efficiently calculated only using data from photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, the mainstream heart rate sensor embedded in most of the consumer wearables like Apple Watch. Benefiting from the proliferation of wearables, cHRV is ideal for day-to-day stress monitoring. To evaluate its feasibility and performance, we have conducted 14 in-lab controlled experiments. The result shows that the proposed cHRV has strong correlation with the stress dynamics (r > 0.95), therefore exhibits great potential for continuous stress assessment.
Topological quantum computation based on chiral Majorana fermions

The chiral Majorana fermion is a massless self-conjugate fermion which can arise as the edge state of certain 2D topological matters. It has been theoretically predicted and experimentally observed in a hybrid device of a quantum anomalous Hall insulator and a conventional superconductor. Its closely related cousin, the Majorana zero mode in the bulk of the corresponding topological matter, is known to be applicable in topological quantum computations. Here we show that the propagation of chiral Majorana fermions leads to the same unitary transformation as that in the braiding of Majorana zero modes and propose a platform to perform quantum computation with chiral Majorana fermions. A Corbino ring junction of the hybrid device can use quantum coherent chiral Majorana fermions to implement the Hadamard gate and the phase gate, and the junction conductance yields a natural readout for the qubit state.