cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heparin-binding proteins from seminal plasma bind to bovine spermatozoa and modulate capacitation by heparin

Bovine spermatozoa that have been exposed to seminal plasma possess more binding sites for heparin than sperm from the cauda epididymis that have not been exposed to accessory sex gland secretions. Seminal plasma exposure enables sperm, following incubation with heparin, to undergo zonae pellucidaeinduced exocytosis of the acrosome. In this study, the regulatory role of seminal plasma heparin-binding proteins in capacitation of bovine spermatozoa by heparin was investigated. Plasma membranes from sperm exposed to seminal plasma in vivo or in vitro contained a series of acidic 15-17 kDa proteins not found in cauda epididymal sperm. Western blots of membrane proteins indicated that these 15-17 kDa proteins bound [125 IJ-heparin. Heparin-binding proteins were isolated by heparin affinity chromatography from seminalplasma from vasectomized bulls. Gel electrophoresis indicated that the heparin-binding peaks contained 14-18 kDa proteins with isoelectric variation, a basic 24 kDa protein, and a 31 kDa protein. Western blots probed with [/25 I]-heparin confirmed the ability of each of these proteins to bind heparin. Each of these proteins, as well as controlproteins, bound to epididymal sperm. The seminalplasma proteins were peripherally associated with sperm since they were removed by hypertonic medium and did not segregate into the detergent phase of Triton X-1 14. Seminal plasma heparin-binding proteins potentiated zonae pellucidae-induced acrosome reactions in epididymal sperm. However, seminal plasma proteins that did not bind to the heparin affinity column were unable to stimulate zonae-sensitivity. Control proteins, including lysozyme-which binds to both heparin and sperm, were ineffective at enhancing zonae-induced acrosome reactions. These data provide evidence for a positive regulatory role of seminal plasma heparinbinding proteins in capacitation of bovine spermatozoa.
Characterization of Two cDNAs Encoding Mitochondrial Lipoamide Dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis

In contrast to peas ( Pisum sativum ), where mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenase is encoded by a single gene and shared between the α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and the Gly decarboxylase complex, Arabidopsis has two genes encoding for two mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenases. Northern-blot analysis revealed different levels of RNA expression for the two genes in different organs; mtLPD1 had higher RNA levels in green leaves compared with the much lower level in roots. The mRNA for mtLPD2 shows the inverse pattern. The other organs examined showed nearly equal RNA expressions for both genes. Analysis of etiolated seedlings transferred to light showed a strong induction of RNA expression for mtLPD1 but only a moderate induction of mtLPD2 . Based on the organ and light-dependent expression patterns, we hypothesize that mtLPD1 encodes the protein most often associated with the Gly decarboxylase complex, and mtLPD2 encodes the protein incorporated into α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes. Due to the high level of sequence conservation between the two mtLPDs, we assume that the proteins, once in the mitochondrial matrix, are interchangeable among the different multienzyme complexes. If present at high levels, one mtLPD might substitute for the other. Supporting this hypothesis are results obtained with a T-DNA knockout mutant, mtlpd2 , which shows no apparent phenotypic change under laboratory growth conditions. This indicates that mtLPD1 can substitute for mtLPD2 and associate with all these multienzyme complexes.
Suppressor T-cell mechanisms in contact sensitivity. III. Apparent non-major histocompatibility complex restriction is a result of multiple sets of major histocompatibility complex-specific suppressor T cells induced by syngeneic 2,4-dinitrophenyl-modified lymphoid cells.

This report has examined the mechanisms by which major histocompatibility complex (MHC) non-restricted suppressor T cells (Ts), induced by the i.v. injection of 2,4-dinitropheny (DNP)-modified, syngeneic lymphoid cells (DNP-LC), suppress the passive transfer of contact sensitivity mediated by syngeneic and allogeneic immune delayed hypersensitivity T cells (TDH). In terms of suppression of syngeneic TDH, it was found that the suppressive action of the Ts was only blocked by pretreatment with soluble syngeneic DNP-LC membrane preparations. Monomeric DNP-lysine, polymeric DNP-protein conjugates, and syngeneic TNP-LC membranes did not inhibit Ts function. Further experiments showed that inhibition of syngeneic suppression could be achieved by DNP-modified-membrane preparations that were only H-2D-region compatible with the Ts donor. Thus, Ts antigen receptors in this system specifically recognize DNP-modified H-2D-region determinants. In contrast, it was found that pretreatment os syninduced Ts with syngeneic DNP-LC membranes did not inhibit the ability to suppress allogeneic TDH. However, pretreatment of Ts with DNP-allogeneic membranes which were H-2D-end compatible to the allogeneic target TDH eliminated their ability to suppress the specific allogeneic TDH, leaving intact suppression of syngeneic or third party TDH. It is proposed that perturbation of the immune system by i.v. injection of syngeneic NDP-LC leads to the induction of a polyclonal wave of DNP-specific Ts activity. Some members of this set of Ts recognize DNP-self MHC determinants with moderate affinity and are thus specifically inhibited after pretreatment with those DNP-self determinants. Other members of this set display receptors which cross-react with high affinity with DNP-allogeneic determinants and thus suppress allogeneic TDH cells. These allosuppressive clones can thus be specifically inhibited only by pretreatment with DNP-LC membranes, MHC-compatible with the target TDH. The data are discussed in terms of current models of T-cell cross-reactivity and T-cell-receptor recognition.
Strategic state-level environmental policy with asymmetric pollution spillovers

This paper examines the strategic behavior of state-level utility regulators in the context of the federal tradable emissions permits market when state-to-state pollution spillovers are asymmetric. Strategic behavior is possible because a state's environmental policy indirectly affects the price of permits and, therefore, abatement in other states. We show that the optimal pollution penalty is comprised of two parts: (i) a Pigouvian tax, adjusted for state-to-state spillovers; and (ii) an optimal tariff designed to improve the terms of trade in permits. Generally, abatement costs are not minimized and the outcome is Pareto inefficient, regardless of the size of the market. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Unequal spacing in dynamic panel data: Identification and estimation

Abstract We propose conditions under which parameters of fixed-effect dynamic models are identified with unequally spaced panel data. Under predeterminedness, weak stationarity, and empirically testable rank conditions, AR(1) parameters are identified given the availability of “two pairs of two consecutive time gaps”, which generalizes “two pairs of two consecutive time periods”. This result extends to models with multiple covariates, higher-order autoregressions, and partial linearity. Applying our method to the NLS Original Cohorts: Older Men, where personal interviews took place in 1966, 67, and 69, we analyze the earnings dynamics in the old time, and compare the results with more recent ones.
Predictors of Weight Loss in African Americans with Prediabetes or Early Diabetes

Abstract Acknowlegment This study was supported by Clinical Research Grant (7-08-CR-27) from the American Diabetes Association and by a contract (58-1950-7-707) with the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. This article does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. Purpose This analysis was undertaken to describe healthcare seeking, weight loss efforts and predictors of weight loss among African Americans recently identified with prediabetes or early diabetes Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on data collected from 89 participants who completed a previously published 12-week randomized placebo-controlled trial testing the benefit of vitamin D supplementation on blood measures predictive of diabetes risk. Information about care seeking, weight loss strategies and weight loss effort was collected by questionnaire at three data collection visits. Weight was measured by trained staff at each visit. Results : More than half of the participants saw a healthcare provider during the study, but few recalled receiving advice about diet, physical activity or other strategies for weight loss. Thirty-seven % of participants maintained their weight within 1 kg of their baseline weight. Of the remaining participants, half gained >1 kg and half lost >1 kg during the study period. Age-adjusted independent predictors of weight loss included a visit to a healthcare provider for preventive care, dietary restrictions, and consistent weight loss effort. Vitamin D supplementation had no effect on weight change. Conclusions This study reinforces the importance of preventive healthcare and sustainable changes in diet and physical activity. It also suggests that physicians need better tools for motivating and supporting their patients to adopt behaviors that can reduce diabetes risk. For the millions of Americans who are trying to lose weight to reduce their risk for chronic disease, this study reinforces the importance of sustained effort.
Metastable Phase Evolution in TiO2-YO3/2-ZrO2

The metastable-to-equilibrium phase evolution over a wide range of compositions in the TiO2−YO3/2−ZrO2 system was investigated. The competing phases are all derivatives of the fluorite structure and compositions within the fluorite and pyrochlore fields exhibit technologically interesting ionic and mixed ionic-electronic conductivity. Powders of various compositions were synthesized by precursor routes, pyrolyzed and subsequently heat-treated in a stepwise manner at progressively higher temperatures to explore the sequence of phase evolution. Extended solid solutions with amorphous, fluorite and ordered pyrochlore structures were produced over significant composition ranges within the ternary. The study also sheds new light on the correct form of the phase equilibria at 1300°C.
Veratrum viride in the treatment of eclampsia.

Abstract 1. 1. The fifteen-year incidence of toxemia and eclampsia at Maternity Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland, has been presented. 2. 2. The treatment of eclampsia with veratrum viride, magnesium sulfate, and hypertonic glucose has been outlined. 3. 3. Urea clearance studies on nine patients indicate that diminution following veratrum viride is slight and transient and returns to normal levels when combined with magnesium sulfate and hypertonic glucose. 4. 4. A comparison of mortality statistics at Maternity Hospital has been found to be 12.9 per cent before veratrum viride was included in the treatment of eclampsia and 2.9 per cent after its use was begun. 5. 5. It is suggested that the drug is especially valuable in that it makes it possible to control the eclamptic patient until delivery can be safely undertaken.
Expression of HKα2 protein is increased selectively in renal medulla by chronic hypokalemia

Our laboratory has demonstrated by Northern analysis that chronic hypokalemia increases HKα2 (i.e., α-subunit of the colonic H+-K+-ATPase) mRNA abundance in the rat. To determine whether the increa...
Correlations Between Echocardiographic Systolic and Diastolic Function with Cardiac Catheterization in Biventricular Congenital Heart Patients.

Newer echocardiographic techniques may allow for more accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) function. Adult studies have correlated these echocardiographic measurements with invasive data, but minimal data exist in the pediatric congenital heart population. Purpose of this study was to evaluate which echocardiographic measurements correlated best with LV systolic and diastolic catheterization parameters. Patients with two-ventricle physiology who underwent simultaneous echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization were included. Images were obtained in the four-chamber view. LV systolic echocardiographic data included ejection fraction, displacement, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) s′ wave, global longitudinal strain, and strain rate (SR) s′ wave. Diastolic echocardiographic data included mitral E and A waves, TDI e′ and a′ waves, and SRe′ and SRa′ waves. E/TDI e′, TDI e′/TDI a′, E/SRe′, and SRe′/SRa′ ratios were also calculated. Catheterization dP/dt was used as a marker for systolic function, and LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP) was used as a marker for diastolic function. Correlations of the echocardiographic and catheterization values were performed using Pearson correlation. Twenty-nine patients were included (14 females, 15 males). Median age at catheterization was 3.4 years (0.04–17.4 years). dP/dt was 1258 ± 353 mmHg/s, and LVEDP was 10.8 ± 2.4 mmHg. There were no significant correlations between catheterization dP/dt and systolic echocardiographic parameters. LVEDP correlated significantly with SRe′ (r = −0.4, p = 0.03), SRa′ (r = −0.4, p = 0.03), and E/SRe′ (r = 0.5, p = 0.004). In pediatric congenital heart patients, catheterization dP/dt did not correlate with echocardiographic measurements of LV systolic function. Further studies are needed to determine which echocardiographic parameter best describes LV systolic function in this population. Strain rate analysis significantly correlated with LVEDP. Strain rate analysis should be considered as an alternative method to estimate LVEDP in this patient population.
BM-36MICROENVIRONMENT-DEPENDENT CHANGES TO THE MATURE microRNA EXPRESSION PROFILE OF BREAST CANCER CELLS METASTATIC TO THE BRAIN

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common source of metastatic lesions to the CNS, yet the mechanisms by which metastatic BC cells (BMET) survive in the brain remain poorly understood. Given their ability to regulate the expression of multiple mRNA targets, microRNAs (miRNA) may play a critical role. miRNA dysregulation has been observed in both primary and metastatic tumors, and can be actively exchanged between cancer cells and the surrounding stroma via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our overall hypothesis is that microRNAs released by BMETs are important mediators of communication between tumor and stromal astrocytes (SAs), resulting in measurable changes to the miRNA and target gene expression profile of both donor and recipient cells. Identified miRNA signatures could serve as important biomarkers of metastatic potential and provide new targets for novel therapeutic interventions. Here, we use an in vitro co-culture model to characterize the miRNA signature of BMETs, SAs, and the EVs exchanged between them. We show that the mature miRNA expression profiles could reliably distinguish between BMETs cultured in isolation or co-cultured with astrocytes. Isolated EVs showed enrichment for a specific set of miRNAs, which were differentially expressed between BMETs and SAs. A subset of these miRNAs, not normally expressed in BMETs, was particularly abundant in EVs. They were not transcriptionally induced, implicating EV-mediated transport from SAs to BC cells. Bio-informatic analysis revealed multiple miRNA targets in the pro-apoptotic pathway, which were validated by qPCR and WB. Functional analysis revealed that over-expression protected cells from apoptosis, while miRNA-knockdown induced it. Thus, infiltrating BMETs can harness anti-apoptotic miRNAs from reactive astrocytes, thereby promoting survival and growth. This work identifies novel targets for therapeutic intervention, which could prevent micrometastases from progressing to clinically relevant lesions in the brain. These findings are currently being tested in vivo using a mouse xenograft model.
Ground state 14N quadrupole couplings in the microwave spectra of N,N'-dimethylaniline and 4,4'-dimethylaminobenzonitrile.

Microwave spectra of N,N′-dimethylaniline and 4,4′-dimethylaminobenzonitrile have been recorded in a pulsed supersonic jet using chirped pulse techniques. Experimental substitution structures have been determined for both molecules by detection of the spectra of all 13C and 15N isotopomers in natural abundance using a broadband spectrometer. Additionally, a narrowband spectrometer has been used to reveal the 14N quadrupole splittings at high resolution, from which the orbital occupancy numbers of the amino- and cyano-nitrogen atoms have been determined. An apparent direct relationship between these values and the barriers to inversion of the amino groups is discussed.
Aspects de Galdós

(1965). Aspects de Galdos. Symposium: A Quarterly Journal in Modern Literatures: Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 380-383.
Calculation of Equivalent Initial Flaw Size Distributions for Multiple Site Damage

An optimization based methodology was developed to calculate equivalent initial flaw sizes (EIFS) consistent with multiple-site damage in-service findings. The new methodology is compared with a simplified single-crack engineering approach that was previously used for a structural risk analysis. Calculated EIFS, fatigue life, and risk results resulting from both approaches are compared for the Royal Canadian Air Force in-service damage and nil findings at the CC-130 CW-1 location. For the considered case, the results suggest that the simplified engineering approach overestimates the probability of failure.
BLOCKADE OF HIPPOCAMPAL LONG-TERM POTENTIATION BY SUSTAINED TETANIC STIMULATION NEAR THE RECORDING SITE

Blockade of hippocampal long-term potentiation by sustained tetanic stimulation near the recording site. Specific patterns of electrical stimulation trigger several forms of synaptic plasticity in hippocampal pyramidal cells, including a long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission. I investigated the effect of commonly used stimulation protocols at different distances from the recording site. Sustained electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 1 s) delivered close to the recording site prevented LTP induction; the same stimulation from a second electrode placed farther away subsequently produced LTP at the same recording site. Strong stimulation near the recording site could also interfere with LTP triggered from a distal site. In contrast to sustained high-frequency stimulation, intermittent stimulation (θ burst pattern) delivered close to the recording site produced normal LTP. These data support the hypothesis that strong stimulation releases a factor that acts locally to prevent LTP.
Effects of yohimbine on CNS structures: neurophysiological and behavioral correlations.

Yohimbine (by intravenous and/or intraperitoneal routes at doses between 0.5 to 3 mg/kg) produces behavioral changes (in freely moving cats and dogs) characterized by: a) an increase in alertness, extreme agitation, and nervousness; b) an increase in motor reaction to a variety of sensory stimuli; and c) an appearance of muscular shaking and tremors. These behavioral changes are associated with electrographic alterations characterized by: a) an increase in the amplitude of the local evoked potentials (LEP) recorded from the mesencephalic reticular formation, posterior hypothalamus and intralaminar thalamic system; b) a decrease in the amplitude of the LEP recorded from preoptic area, lateral hypothalamus and septal region; c) a slight diminution in the LEP amplitudes of the amygdala and hippocampus; d) an initial increase (15 to 25 min) followed by a long period of strong diminution in the amplitude of the cortical LEP; e) an increase in the percent time of fast cortical activity and in the amplitude of all frequencies; f) an appearance of subcortical and cortical epileptiform discharges in the normal animals during administration of the compound at doses of 2 to 3 mg/kg; and g) a marked activation of epileptiform discharges in the subcortical or cortical epileptic animals in association with occasional clinical seizures. These results were discussed from the point of view of neuronal excitability changes in CNS structures.
Verrucous Elephantiasis of the Scrotum: An Unusual Variant of Genital Lymphedema

AbstractVerrucous elephantiasis of the scrotum is a severe debilitating variant of scrotal lymphedema. A case is reported, and its pathophysiology and treatment are discussed.
Members' site use continuance on Facebook

Continued site use by social networking site (SNS) members is important to the vitality of a SNS. Through the lens of Social Capital Theory, in this paper, we theorize the potential role of relational capital in cultivating members' continued site use. We posit that relational capital in the forms of trust, community identification, and reciprocity may affect site use yet in a non-uniform manner. Specifically, we contend that community identification directly affects a member's site use continuance and that perceived member trust and perceived member reciprocity indirectly affect one's continued site use through community identification as a mediator. Drawing upon supporting literature, we further suggest likely gender differences on the effects of relational capital. Finally, we explore important antecedents to relational capital on SNS. Analysis results of survey data from Facebook members attest to many of the research hypotheses. The current study contributes to the SNS literature and also informs practice. Communication identification positively affects one's continued site use.Perceived trust affects continued site use through community identification.Perceived reciprocity affects continued site use through community identification.Gender difference exists in the effect of perceived trust on community identification.
Grind/Lap of Ceramics with UV-Bonded Diamond Wheels

Abstract In conventional lapping process, the lapping efficiency is limited due to the abrasion mechanism that is illustrated as three-body abrasion. In order to improve the efficiency and surface finish, a fine grinding or grind/lap process is proposed and studied in this research. First of all, the material properties of the ultraviolet-curable resin and mixture are investigated and the optimum combination of resin and diamond abrasive was selected. Besides, kinematics of the grind/lap was analyzed to study its influence on the performance of the resin bonded wheel. Moreover, based on experimental results analysis, the mechanism for grind/lap process was proposed, and it is considered as a combination of conventional grinding and lapping process. At last, two ways to improve the performance of wheel were carried out and the results were compared.
Abstract 4949: 18q copy number variation in primary prostate tumors as a predictor of long-term outcome

The goal of this study is to use primary prostate tumors with long-term outcome to identify regions of copy number variation (CNV) on 18q along with other known loci to determine which regions correlate with poor prognosis. Most prostate cancers (PCa) grow slowly and remain indolent, yet some become aggressive and metastasize. Clinical decision-making requires prognostic markers that can be utilized at the time of diagnosis to determine which tumors will become aggressive. Previous studies have shown a correlation between alterations on the long arm of chromosome 18 (18q) and metastatic PCa. Prostatectomy specimens were collected and banked in the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Genitourinary tissue biorepository. Subjects were categorized as No Evidence of Disease recurrence (NED) or those who developed Metastases (MET) with a minimum of five years follow-up. Tumor foci were marked after HE 17 were classified as NED and 18 as MET. Two significant regions of copy number gains were found on 18q. One gain at 18q21.31 was found only in MET samples while another gain at 18q11.2 was found in NED samples. Additionally, confirmatory gains and losses in the regions containing 15 PCa related genes were found, only three of which were statistically different between the two sets. Our arrayCGH results implicate DNA gain of copy at 18q21.31 as being predictive of poor outcome. MicroRNA-122, which lies within this region, has been shown to have increased expression in prostate tumors with higher Gleason score and has been implicated in breast cancer metastasis. Our data suggests it may be an important prognostic marker for aggressive PCa. The 18q11.2 region found to be amplified in NED samples warrants further study to identify genes in this region that may predict good outcome. Of the 15 gene regions included, MYC and Cyclin D1 regions both exhibit gain of copy number in primary tumors with poor outcome, in line with other reports that these gains that these are early events in PCa progression. Citation Format: Keith A. Ashcraft, Teresa L. Johnson-Pais, Jonathan A.L Gelfond, Javier Hernandez, Ian M. Thompson, Robin J. Leach. 18q copy number variation in primary prostate tumors as a predictor of long-term outcome. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4949.
Development of a Variational Boundary Integral Method for the Analysis of Fully Three Dimensional Crack Advance Problems

A variational boundary integral method is developed for the analysis of three dimensional cracks of arbitrary geometry in both isotropic and anisotropic elastic solids. By representing the opening displacements of the crack as continuous distributions of infinitesimal dislocation loops and minimizing the corresponding potential energy of the solid, the kernels of the governing integral equations acquire milder singularities of type 1/R, and the resulting system of the equations is symmetric. The applicability of the method and the performance of the numerical scheme are demonstrated by a selection of examples. Based on the proposed integral equations, a first order perturbation method was developed for the analysis of instabilities of an initial planar semi-infinite crack growing subject to combined mode I and mode III loading. The full-field numerical simulations compare well with the predictions of the perturbation theory and with experimentally observed characteristic patterns of brittle fracture surface. The method has also been used to study the three dimensional aspects of toughening mechanisms including crack trapping, bridging and debonding in fiber reinforced brittle matrix composites. The extension of the method proves to be a very powerful and flexible tool in studies of nucleation of dislocations from crack tips on the atomic scale in fully three dimensional forms. These studies have provided straightforward solutions of several key problems such as determination of saddle point configurations of dislocation loops on both inclined and oblique slip planes for thermally assisted emission, and calculation of thermal activation energies for nucleation of embryonic dislocation loops as a function of crack front driving force. The findings of these studies have underscored the importance of quantum mechanics calculations for engineering applications and narrowed the gap for ultimately understanding the phenomena which govern brittle to ductile transitions in certain types of intrinsically brittle solids.
Orbital Blowout Fractures:A Novel CT Measurement that Can Predict the Likelihood of Surgical Management.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to identify an accurate and reliable computed tomographic (CT) measurement that can identify those patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with orbital floor fracture (BOF) who require surgical repair to prevent ensuing visually debilitating diplopia and/or enophthalmos. Methods In this retrospective institutional review board–approved study, we reviewed 99 patients older than 18 years with orbital fractures treated in a level I trauma center from 2011 through 2015. Thirty-three patients met the inclusion criteria of having an isolated BOFs with or without a minimally displaced medial wall fracture. The maxillofacial CT of these patients, which included axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstruction of the face in both soft tissue and bone algorithm, were independently reviewed by a neuroradiologist and an oculoplastic surgeon. Each reviewer analyzed the images to answer the following 3 questions: (1) extent of the fracture fragment; greater than or less than 50%? (2) involvement of the inframedial strut (IMS)? and (3) cranial-caudal discrepancy of the orbits. This novel measurement was defined as the difference between the cranial-caudal dimension (CCD), measured just posterior to the globe, of the fractured orbit minus the CCD of the normal side. Electronic medical record was reviewed to determine the course of recovery, ophthalmologist assessment of the globe, motility, diplopia, and the need for operative repair. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of the measured CT parameters for the prediction of those who would ultimately require surgical repair. Results Of the 33 patients included in the study, 8 patients required surgical correction of their BOFs. Others were managed conservatively. The accuracy of BOF > 50% for predicting those requiring surgical repair was 48%. The accuracy of IMS involvement was 74%. Using a threshold CCD value of 0.8 cm, the accuracy of CCD was 94%. Cranial-caudal discrepancy had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 92%. κ Agreement between the 2 readers evaluating the CT images was 0.93. Conclusion Initial maxillofacial CT studies obtained in the ED for those with BOF is used to predict which patients may need urgent surgical repair. In this report, we introduce a new CT measurement, called CCD. Cranial-caudal discrepancy greater than 0.8 cm is predictive of the development of diplopia and/or enophthalmos that will require surgical correction. Orbital floor fracture greater than 50% and IMS involvement were much less accurate in making similar predictions. Cranial-caudal discrepancy should be used by the ED physicians to identify those patients who should be referred sooner than later to an oculoplastic surgeon for surgical evaluation and intervention. Correct and timely triaging can prevent the complications of delayed correction including scarring, difficult surgical repair, and/or poor functional and aesthetic outcomes.
Creative Ways of Knowing and the Future of Engineering Education

Within previous chapters of this book, members of the engineering education community describe emerging educational shifts in engineering teaching that draw on creativity and many ways of knowing. In this chapter, we project the future of these shifts using the voices of students within a graduate-level practicum class in engineering education who are embarking on their teaching careers. In this course, students were asked to review a draft chapter of the current text, provide a scholarly critique of the chapter, and write a reflection about the ways in which their teaching practices have been informed by this and other existing literature. This chapter presents the reflections of five students and serves to encourage continued work in this area as well as inspire creative ways of teaching and knowing throughout engineering education.
ERISA: Anti-Alienation Superiority in Bankruptcy

Few bankruptcy trustees understand a pension plan administrator’s problem when confronted with a turnover demand. This is clearly indicated by the recent increase in bankruptcy litigation over the proper treatment of a debtor-participant’s interest in a pension plan. Whether a court excludes such interests from the bankrupt’s estate is at the heart of the efficacy of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).For this reason, an explanation of the problem currently facing plan administrators is necessary. Such an explanation must include: examination of the relevant ERISA provisions, especially those dealing with alienation of benefits and compatibility with federal law; discussion of the policy objectives of ERISA, and the relevant Bankruptcy Code provisions; explanation of the policy objectives of the Bankruptcy Code; and discussion of the current lack of uniformity in the treatment of plan interests by the various circuit, district, and bankruptcy courts that have dealt with the situation. Following this explanation and analysis, a method of reasoning that the courts should adopt to resolve the erroneously perceived conflict between ERISA and the Bankruptcy Code can be suggested. This approach will ensure the uniform law of employee benefit plans, encourage their growth, and provide that fresh start intended for debtor-participants in the Bankruptcy Code. If this method of reasoning is not adopted by the courts, ERISA will encompass a hodge-podge of state laws rather than the uniform federal law mandated by Congress to protect retirement funds and to expand the private pension system.
Controlling VUV photon fluxes in pulsed inductively coupled Ar/Cl2 plasmas and potential applications in plasma etching

UV/VUV photon fluxes in plasma materials processing have a variety of effects ranging from producing damage to stimulating synergistic reactions. Although in plasma etching processes, the rate and quality of the feature are typically controlled by the characteristics of the ion flux, to truly optimize these ion and photon driven processes, it is desirable to control the relative fluxes of ions and photons to the wafer. In prior works, it was determined that the ratio of VUV photon to ion fluxes to the substrate in low pressure inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) sustained in rare gases can be controlled by combinations of pressure and pulse power, while the spectrum of these VUV photons can be tuned by adding additional rare gases to the plasma. In this work, VUV photon and ion fluxes are computationally investigated for Ar/Cl2 ICPs as used in etching of silicon. We found that while the overall ratio of VUV photon flux to ion flux are controlled by pressure and pulse power, by varying the fraction of Cl2 in the mixture, both the ratio of VUV to ion fluxes and the spectrum of VUV photons can be tuned. It was also found that the intensity of VUV emission from Cl(3p 44s) can be independently tuned by controlling wall surface conditions. With this ability to control ratios of ion to photon fluxes, photon stimulated processes, as observed in halogen etching of Si, can be tuned to optimize the shape of the etched features.
Occupational Safety and Health: Fundamental Principles and Philosophies

Most occupational safety and health books explain how to apply concepts, principles, elements, tools of prevention and develop interventions, and initiatives to mitigate occupational injuries, illnesses and deaths. This is not a how-to book. It is a book that addresses the philosophical basis for all of the varied components and elements needed to develop and manage a safety and health program. It is a book designed to answer the questions often posed as to why should we do it this way. It is the “Why” book and the intent is to provide a blueprint and a helpmate for the philosophical basis for occupational safety and health and the justification as an integral component of doing business.
Using Google Trends to Measure Issue Salience for Hard-to-Survey Populations:

Some populations are difficult to survey. This poses a problem for researchers who want to understand what issues matter to these populations and how the salience of those concerns varies over time...
Overview of Dynamic Network Security Games

Due to environmental variations and system fluctuations, the defender often faces a dynamic security competition against the attacker in practice, and two common challenges exist in addressing these dynamic security games: (1) how to deal with the intelligent attacker that may change its strategy based on the deployed defense, and (2) how to properly align the defense strategy with the environmental or system dynamics to achieve the most efficient and effective defense. In literature, the SG framework reviewed in the previous chapter has been considered as a promising mathematical tool to jointly overcome these two challenges and guide the defender towards the best possible defense. In this chapter, a brief survey of the recent efforts in this direction is provided. Specifically, the applications of the SG in addressing security issues in cyber networks, wireless communication networks, and cyber-physical networks are presented, respectively.
An evaluation of single question delirium screening tools in older emergency department patients.

Abstract Objectives To determine the diagnostic performances of several single question delirium screens. To the patient we asked: “Have you had any difficulty thinking clearly lately?” To the patient's surrogate, we asked: “Is the patient at his or her baseline mental status?” and “Have you noticed the patient's mental status fluctuate throughout the course of the day?” Methods This was a prospective observational study that enrolled English speaking patients 65 years or older. A research assistant (RA) and emergency physician (EP) independently asked the patient and surrogate the single question delirium screens. The reference standard for delirium was a consultation-liaison psychiatrist's assessment using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria. All assessments were performed within 3 h and were all blinded to each other. Results Of the 406 patients enrolled, 50 (12%) were delirious. A patient who was unable to answer the question “Have you had any difficulty thinking clearly lately?” was 99.7% (95% CI: 98.0%–99.9%) specific, but only 24.0% (95% CI: 14.3%–37.4%) sensitive for delirium when asked by the RA. The baseline mental status surrogate question was 77.1% (95% CI: 61.0%–87.9%) sensitive and 87.5% (95% CI: 82.8%–91.1%) specific for delirium when asked by the RA. The fluctuating course surrogate question was 77.1% (95% CI: 61.0%–87.9%) sensitive and 80.2% (95% CI: 74.8%–84.7%) specific. When asked by the EP, the single question delirium screens' diagnostic performances were similar. Conclusions The patient and surrogate single question delirium assessments may be useful for delirium screening in the ED.
General Chemistry Student Attitudes and Success with Use of Online Homework: Traditional-Responsive versus Adaptive-Responsive.

We investigated whether use of an adaptive-responsive online homework system (OHS) that tailors homework to students’ prior knowledge and periodically reassesses students to promote learning through practice retrieval has inherent advantages over traditional-responsive online homework. A quasi-experimental cohort control post-test-only design with nonequivalent groups and propensity scores with nearest neighbor matching (n = 6,114 pairs) was used. The adaptive system was found to increase the odds of a higher final letter grade for average, below average, and failing students. However, despite the learning advantages, students self-reported less favorable attitudes toward adaptive-responsive (3.15 of 5) relative to traditional-responsive OHS (3.31). Specific to the adaptive OHS, the following were found: (i) student attitudes were moderately and positively correlated (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) to final letter grade, (ii) most students (95%) reported engaging in remediation of incorrect responses, (iii) a majori...
Nutrient efficiency — what do we really mean?

There are many ways in which plants can adapt or respond to nutrient stress. These can be via alterations to root branching and root extension rates, rate of uptake per unit root length or root dry weight, partitioning between roots and shoots and between shoots and grain and the amount or concentration of the nutrient required for plants to function. Each of these can be altered to some extent by selection, breeding or biotechnology.
The Characteristics of Granite in a Cambrian Rift

The Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen (SOA) is a Cambrian rift feature developed along the southern margin of the late Proterozoic North American plate (Gilbert 1983; Denison et al. 1984) (Fig. 1). Some aspects of the rift are well- known because of the structural inversion which occurred in the Pennsylvanian (Ham et al. 1964). Subsequent erosion in Pennsylvanian time exposed what is apparently the base section of the rift. This section is dominantly a bimodal igneous sequence with granites (Wichita Granite Group) and rhyolites (Carlton Rhyolite Group) overlying a varied set of gabbroic anorthosites (Powell et al. 1980). Permian outwash from the newly accreted Ouachita terrane buried the basement exposures for most of following geologic history. Later Tertiary and Quaternary stripping has again exposed the section, much like it was in the Permian immediately preceding burial. The igneous outcrops constitute the bulk of the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma. Interestingly, this level of exposure is also coincident to parts of the Cambrian unconformity marking the end of the rifting event.
Drag Reduction on a Rotating Disk Using a Polymer Additive

The characteristics of frictional drag on a disk rotating in an enclosure filled with water containing various concentrations of guar gum have been investigated.
Neutron Diffraction Study of Cement

Neutron diffraction studies of the static structure factor S(Q) of water confined in the pore space of cement samples have been carried out for temperatures from 170 to 293 K. At high temperatures, when the water in the pores is liquid, a fraction of the water molecules are strongly bound to specific adsorption sites on the crystalline components of the cement. On cooling, the water in the pore space solidifies at 245 K into a cubic structure different from that of bulk water at similar temperatures.
Evaluation of Donor Site Pain After Fractional Autologous Full-Thickness Skin Grafting.

Background: Despite the development of numerous wound treatment alternatives, 25% to 50% of leg ulcers and >30% of foot ulcers are not fully healed after 6 months of treatment. Autologous skin graf...
Multi-Intersection Traffic Management for Autonomous Vehicles via Distributed Mixed Integer Linear Programming

This paper extends our previous work in [1] and [2] on optimal scheduling of autonomous vehicle arrivals at intersections, from one to a grid of intersections. A scalable distributed Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) is devised that solves the scheduling problem for a grid of intersections. A computational control node is allocated to each intersection and regularly receives position and velocity information from subscribed vehicles. Each node assigns an intersection access time to every subscribed vehicle by solving a local MILP. Neighboring intersections will coordinate with each other in real-time by sharing their solutions for vehicles' access times with each other. Our proposed approach is applied to a grid of intersections and its positive impact on traffic flow and vehicles' fuel economy is demonstrated in comparison to conventional intersection control scenarios.
Incorporating Biomarkers to Improve Statistical Power of Immunotherapeutic Neoadjuvant Clinical Trials in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

AbstractNeoadjuvant (preoperative) approach to breast cancer treatment has become widely accepted. Traditionally, the primary objective of neoadjuvant treatment is to improve subsequent surgical in...
A great-ape view of the gut microbiome

Humans assemble a specialized microbiome from a world teeming with diverse microorganisms. Comparison to the microbiomes of great apes provides a dimension that is indispensable to understanding how these microbial communities form, function and change. This evolutionary perspective exposes not only how human gut microbiomes have been shaped by our great-ape heritage but also the features that make humans unique, as exemplified by an expansive loss of bacterial and archaeal diversity and the identification of microbial lineages that have co-diversified with their hosts.
Synchronous Presentation of a Cervical Spinal Schwannoma and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in a 65-year-old Man

Schwannomas are common benign neoplasms of the myelinating cells surrounding peripheral nerve axons. Though uncommon, lesions arising in the cervical spine may produce radicular pain and myelopathic weakness. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disorder with the capacity to mimic nearly any neurologic disease, including spinal cord neoplasms. We report the third case of synchronously presenting primary progressive MS and spinal schwannoma. A 65-year-old man presented with six months of progressive weakness and pain of the right shoulder, forearm, and hand. MRI demonstrated a contrast-enhancing transforaminal lesion at C7, most consistent with a benign nerve sheath tumor. Additional history disclosed several years of worsening fatigue, accompanied by bilateral weakness and lancinating leg pain. MRI of the neuraxis demonstrated abnormalities consistent with chronic demyelinating disease intracranially and within the spinal cord; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed nine oligoclonal bands and an elevated IgG index, resulting in the diagnosis of MS. Given the symptomatic C7 lesion, the patient subsequently underwent right C6-C7 facetectomy, gross total resection of the tumor, and C6-T1 posterior instrumented fusion. Postoperatively, the patient rapidly recovered normal right upper extremity function, and pathology confirmed benign schwannoma. Synchronously presenting co-morbid neurologic diagnoses are exceedingly rare. Nonetheless, the high incidence and protean nature of MS make it particularly susceptible to such confounding clinical cases. Correspondingly, MS should be considered when neurologic abnormalities are not compatible with a focal radiographic lesion, and the present report emphasizes the value of a good history and exam in unraveling similarly challenging cases.
Reduction in pediatric gastroenterology ED visits can be sustained through physician accountability and financial incentives.

Abstract Objective There have been various interventions to reduce ED utilization. Little is known about the sustainability of outcomes of interventions to reduce ED overcrowding. We sought to investigate whether the outcomes from one of successful interventions to reduce ED utilization, specialist physician level reporting were sustained over time and how this practice change was sustained over time. Method This study is a longitudinal analysis of the pre and post intervention ED utilization data collected on ED pediatric patients who were followed by pediatric gastroenterologists in an urban, academic hospital. The primary outcome was the mean rate of ED visits per 1000 office visits from January, 2013 to June, 2017 using a u control chart with three sigma limits. Results There were continuous leadership's support, physicians' engagement and communications among different members involved in the intervention. The rate of gastrointestinal (GI)-related ED visits after an intervention decreased by 54% from 4.89 to 2.23 during all hours and by 59% from 2.19 to 0.91 during office hours. Discussion Physician-level reporting reduced ED utilization over a four year period. The outcomes could be sustained over time with sustained leadership and physicians' engagement.