cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imputation of Unordered Markers and the Impact on Genomic Selection Accuracy

Genomic selection, a breeding method that promises to accelerate rates of genetic gain, requires dense, genome-wide marker data. Genotyping-by-sequencing can generate a large number of de novo markers. However, without a reference genome, these markers are unordered and typically have a large proportion of missing data. Because marker imputation algorithms were developed for species with a reference genome, algorithms suited for unordered markers have not been rigorously evaluated. Using four empirical datasets, we evaluate and characterize four such imputation methods, referred to as k-nearest neighbors, singular value decomposition, random forest regression, and expectation maximization imputation, in terms of their imputation accuracies and the factors affecting accuracy. The effect of imputation method on the genomic selection accuracy is assessed in comparison with mean imputation. The effect of excluding markers with a large proportion of missing data on the genomic selection accuracy is also examined. Our results show that imputation of unordered markers can be accurate, especially when linkage disequilibrium between markers is high and genotyped individuals are related. Of the methods evaluated, random forest regression imputation produced superior accuracy. In comparison with mean imputation, all four imputation methods we evaluated led to greater genomic selection accuracies when the level of missing data was high. Including rather than excluding markers with a large proportion of missing data nearly always led to greater GS accuracies. We conclude that high levels of missing data in dense marker sets is not a major obstacle for genomic selection, even when marker order is not known.
Control of Unknown Discrete Nonlinear Stochastic Systems with Guaranteed Stability and Performance

The control of unknown nonlinear discrete-time systems having stochatic cone-bounded nonlinearities is considered. First, a quadratic performance bound and the bound-optimal control is derived. Then, the existence and the stochastic stability robustness of the infinite horizon version of this bound-optimal controller are shown with the help of system theoretical properties of an auxiliary system.
Nuclear factor‐κB signalling and transcriptional regulation in skeletal muscle atrophy

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway is a necessary component of adult skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from systemic illnesses or disuse. Studies showing a role for the NF-κB pathway in muscle disuse include unloading, denervation and immobilization, and studies showing a role for NF-κB in systemic illnesses include cancer, chronic heart failure and acute septic lung injury. Muscle atrophy due to most of these triggers is associated with activation of NF-κB transcriptional activity. With the exception of muscle unloading, however, there is a paucity of data on the NF-κB transcription factors that regulate muscle atrophy, and little is known about which genes are targeted by NF-κB transcription factors during atrophy. Interestingly, in some cases it appears that the amelioration of muscle atrophy by genetic inhibition of NF-κB signalling proteins is due to effects that are independent of the downstream NF-κB transcription factors. These questions are prime areas for investigation if we are to understand a key component of muscle wasting in adult skeletal muscle.
Microvessel Density and p53 Overexpression in Young Women with Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Several reports have indicated that young women (less than 40 years of age) with breast cancer have a worse prognosis than older women. We performed a case-control study in order to confirm this observation and to determine whether this was attributable to increased microvessel density (MVD) or p53 expression. Twenty-six young women (cases) with stage I-III breast cancer that had adequate paraffin-embedded archival tissue were identified by the Montefiore Medical Center Tumor Registry over a 24-year period. For each case, two or three control subjects at least 40 years of age or older were selected from the registry and matched for nodal status and tumor size. Immunohistochemistry was performed for MVD and p53 overexpression. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed to examine the influence of age, MVD, p53 overexpression, and recognized prognostic factors on disease-free and overall survival. There were 26 cases (median age, 36 years) and 72 controls (median age, 64 years). The groups were well matched for known prognostic variables. There was no significant difference in p53 overexpression or MVD in the cases and controls. In multivariate analysis, the only features associated with an increased risk of recurrence included young age (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-5.25; P = 0.02) and positive lymph nodes (HR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.12-5.30; P = 0.02). We have confirmed previous reports demonstrating a worse prognosis for women younger than 40 years with invasive breast cancer but found no correlation between young age and MVD or p53 overexpression when adjusted for other variables.
A Compressible Permeation Approach to Elastomeric Space Seal Characterization

The development of elastomeric face seals is imperative for NASA’s manned space flight program. Lacking in the development of state-of-the-art space seals was a technique for predicting the performance of candidate designs prior to experimental characterization. To this end, a physics-based model for compressible permeation in elastomeric face seals was developed to provide a predictive methodology for designers and researchers. In this novel approach for seal research, compressibility effects and the dependence of permeability on pressure was retained. Two independent permeation parameters arose from an exact, analytical solution to the one-dimensional permeation transport equations. The application of the derived transport equations and the developed permeability coefficients resulted in a noteworthy and practical tool for seal researchers to predict the leak rate of alternative geometries. For an example in the methodology, the characterization of a candidate space seal material, silicone elastomer S0383-70, was performed. Results illustrated the model’s capability for capturing the permeation leak rate of elastomeric seals for various pressure differentials.
Abstract P358: Assessing Global Dietary Habits: A Comparison of National Estimates from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the Global Dietary Database

Background: Accurate data on dietary habits are crucial for understanding impacts on disease and informing policy priorities. National food availability estimates from the UN Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) have been widely used as the only global data available, but with uncertain validity. Objective: To investigate the validity of FAO data compared to nationally representative data on individual-based dietary intakes from the Global Dietary Database (GDD). Methods: We compared 30 y (1980-2010) of FAO food supply data, comprising 101 food items/y, matched to corresponding GDD survey data for113 countries across major food groups, including fruits & fruit juices, vegetables, beans & legumes, nuts & seeds, whole grains, red & processed meats, fish & seafood, milk, and total energy. Absolute and percent differences in FAO-GDD country-year pairs were compared using t-tests. Statistical significance of heterogeneity was tested using likelihood ratio tests comparing nested models with and without intera...
Two Concepts of Injustice in Restitution for Slavery

This article, which will appear in a symposium issued of the Boston University Law Review titled "The Jurisprudence of Slavery Reparations," criticizes attempts to secure legal redress for slavery through lawsuits based on unjust enrichment. The article has three parts. First, it compares the recent efforts to litigate the wrongs of caused by American slavery to other recent "mass restitution" lawsuits, namely the states' unjust enrichment suits against the tobacco industry and the suits against banks and corporations for unjust enrichment arising out of the Holocaust. Second, the article questions the fit between the structure of restitution and the interests that slavery litigation hopes to vindicate. It argues that lawyers who choose to address the wrongs of slavery under the rubric of "unjust enrichment" are using a legal fiction designed to avoid important and non-trivial barriers that would probably defeat suits based on a characterization of slavery as an dignitary harm. The danger of this tactic, I argue, is that it secures a legal victory at the cost of "commodifying" the interests injured or destroyed by slavery. Third, and finally, the article responds to the argument (most prominently associated with Hanoch Dagan) that because restitution for wealth generated by slavery provides for the return of all profits generated by slave labor, it can capture the expressive harm of "loss of control" over one's own labor. I argue that the structure of the common law implies just the opposite, and that where expressive damages have been permitted to persist past the death of the party who has been injured, it has been in the context of certain personal injuries, and not suits for redress for dignitary harms. I conclude, therefore, any effort to expand restitution so that it not only can serve to rectify wrongful transfers but also redress dignitary interests will be difficult to justify.
Editorial: Transmedia Publishing

The CITE Journal was conceived as a scholarly publication that could transcend traditional boundaries. In contrast to previous print-based publications, an electronic journal offers the opportunities to incorporate sound, video, and interactive visualizations. The editors found that many scholars still find printed materials useful for a variety of reasons. A printed article can easily be placed in a promotion and tenure portfolio. Printed material also readily lends itself to annotation.
Making music mine: the development of rhythmic literacy

ABSTRACTIn this study, I explored children's development of rhythmic music literacy using a language acquisition paradigm. An emergent, constructivist curriculum was implemented over one academic year with 39 children, 5–8 years old. Children were involved in audiation-based active listening, singing, moving, chanting, and playing instruments and engaged in musical dialogue through imitation and improvisation. They had rhythm stories read to them, they wrote and read their own. A comprehensive musical development progress log, individual and collective music reading assessments, analysis of children's notated rhythms, and video recordings of children reading their notated music comprised the data set, which was analysed regularly and triangulated for validity. For trustworthiness, early childhood and general music practitioners observed the curriculum in action and reviewed children's notational artefacts. Findings indicated that, as children wrote and read their rhythm stories, they self-corrected when m...
Inducing Acute Traumatic Coagulopathy In Vitro: The Effects of Activated Protein C on Healthy Human Whole Blood.

© 2016 Howard et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Introduction: Acute traumatic coagulopathy has been associated with shock and tissue injury, and may be mediated via activation of the protein C pathway. Patients with acute traumatic coagulopathy have prolonged PT and PTT, and decreased activity of factors V and VIII; they are also hypocoagulable by thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and other viscoelastic assays. To test the etiology of this phenomenon, we hypothesized that such coagulopathy could be induced in vitro in healthy human blood with the addition of activated protein C (aPC). Methods: Whole blood was collected from 20 healthy human subjects, and was "spiked" with increasing concentrations of purified human aPC (control, 75, 300, 2000 ng/mL). PT/PTT, factor activity assays, and ROTEM were performed on each sample. Mixed effect regression modeling was performed to assess the association of aPC concentration with PT/PTT, factor activity, and ROTEM parameters. Results: In all subjects, increasing concentrations of aPC produced ROTEM tracings consistent with traumatic coagulopathy. ROTEM EXTEM parameters differed significantly by aPC concentration, with stepwise prolongation of clotting time (CT) and clot formation time (CFT), decreased alpha angle (α), impaired early clot formation (a10 and a20), and reduced maximum clot firmness (MCF). PT and PTT were significantly prolonged at higher aPC concentrations, with corresponding significant decreases in factor V and VIII activity. Conclusion: A phenotype of acute traumatic coagulopathy can be induced in healthy blood by the in vitro addition of aPC alone, as evidenced by viscoelastic measures and confirmed by conventional coagulation assays and factor activity. This may lend further mechanistic insight to the etiology of coagulation abnormalities in trauma, supporting the central role of the protein C pathway. Our findings also represent a model for future investigations in the diagnosis and treatment of acute traumatic coagulopathy.
Geophysical Survey of the Stumpy Basin Landslide, Ohio

The Stumpy Basin landslide occurs in a series of glacio-lacustrine silts and clays near the eastern abutment of the Ohio turnpike bridge which crosses the Cuyahoga Valley in northern Summit County, Ohio. These Pleistocene sediments overlie shaly bedrock along the flanks of the valley and in places are more than 100 ft thick. The surface of the landslide is dominated by a complex series of scarps, seeplines, and accumulations of slide material formed from many small rotational slumps, slab-slides, mud-flows, and creep events. Seven reversed seismic refraction lines and eight resistivity lines were run over the upper portion of the slide. The refraction data show a low velocity upper layer that is separated from the underlying high velocity undisturbed sediments by a complex refracting surface. Resistivity data similarly show a two layer system in which the low resistivity landslide mass cross-cuts the resistivity layering in the higher resistivity Pleistocene sediments. The geophysical data define the failure surface as a series of arcuate slip surfaces that coalesce into a single slip surface at depths of 12 to 35 ft.
Federalism and Environmental Policy The Case of Solid Waste Management

This article examines current policy concerning the interstate transport of waste with particular reference to the relative role of different levels of government in shaping and implementing waste management policy in five key United States Supreme Court cases and two recent Court of Appeals cases. The intergovernmental tensions between the federal courts and state and local governments are highlighted, the clashes between law and policy are discussed, and the implications for public management are analyzed.
Prostaglandin E2 effect from the luminal side on renal tubular 22Na efflux: tracer microinjection studies.

SummaryUsing renal micropuncture techniques, the effect of luminal PGE2 on the net efflux of simultaneously administered 22Na was examined in rats in hyper-tonic saline diuresis. [3H]Inulin and 22NaCl were microinjected into the lumen of late-proximal convoluted tubules with and without PGE2, and the urinary recovery of 3H and 22Na were followed. Sodium recovery was significantly higher in the presence of PGE2 while renal function and the method and site of injection were similar.I wish to thank Dr. E. E. Elko and Dr. F. D. Sticht for the critical reading of this manuscript.
Patterns of Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

Abstract A longitudinal seven-year study of 50 patients with chronic airway obstruction, whose cardiovascular function had been evaluated by cardiac catheterization when their condition was stable, showed that their survival was inversely related to pulmonary vascular resistance. Fourteen patients with high vascular resistances showed two different patterns of cardiovascular abnormality. Nine had relatively normal blood gases, low cardiac outputs, and near normal resting pulmonary-artery pressures; they had an emphysematous type of lung disease. The five with more severe blood gas abnormalities who had a more bronchitic type of disease, had well maintained cardiac outputs and more severe pulmonary hypertension. They more regularly presented the classic clinical and electrocardiographic features of cor pulmonale. Left ventricular dysfunction appeared to be an important determinant of pulmonary hypertension in only one patient.
Major causes of alopecia with suggestions for history taking, workup, and therapy.

A patient's personal and family history can give important clues to the cause of scalp hair loss. In turn, appropriate laboratory studies will determine the optimal course of therapy. Treatment mig...
Culture-induced alterations in alveolar type II cell Na+ conductance

Changes in Na+ transport in rat alveolar type II (ATII) cells during culture were quantified and related to alterations in spatial distribution of proteins antigenically related to amiloride-sensit...
Abstract PR07: Crystal structure of K-Ras G12C bound to an active site inhibitor

Activating K-Ras mutations are common oncogenic events in many cancers but effective direct-acting inhibitors have not been developed. Targeting the nucleotide binding site of GTPases like K-Ras has long been dismissed as a possibility because of the high affinity of these proteins for their natural ligands GTP and GDP. We previously reported the synthesis of a GDP analogue, SML-8-73-1, and a prodrug derivative, SML-10-70-1, which are selective, direct-acting covalent inhibitors of the K-Ras G12C mutant relative to wild-type Ras. Biochemical and biophysical measurements suggested that modification of K-Ras with SML-8-73-1 renders the protein in an inactive state. Here we report a crystal structure of K-Ras G12C labeled with SML-8-73-1. The structure reveals that when bound to SML-8-73-1, K-Ras presents in an inactive conformation. This first-in-class covalent K-Ras inhibitor suggests that irreversible targeting of the K-Ras guanine-nucleotide binding site is a viable therapeutic strategy for inhibition of Ras signaling. This abstract is also presented as Poster B54. Citation Format: John Hunter, Sang Min Lim, Scott B. Ficcarro, Hwan Geun Choi, Deepak Gurbani, Ting Xie, Jarrod A. Marto, Nathanael S. Gray, Ken Westover. Crystal structure of K-Ras G12C bound to an active site inhibitor. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR07. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-PR07
The Edge-on Orbit

In the special case i = 90° the observed orbital motion degenerates into an oscillation along the line of nodes. Though i and Ω are known, five elements remain to be determined from the separations, without the powerful tools of the position angle variation and the areal constant. The methods developed for this case resemble those for spectroscopic binaries as only one quantity as a function of time is available.
Abstract 13311: Low Serum Albumin Concentration is Associated With Poor Post-Transplant Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation

Background. The association between post-transplant survival and pre-transplant characteristics in patients (pts) undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) are not yet fully elucidated. Hypoalbuminemia is a marker of malnutrition, inflammation, impaired hepatic synthesis and overall catabolic status. We tested the impact of pre-transplant albumin levels (Alb) on post-transplant outcome in pts undergoing HTx. Methods. We analyzed 743 pts undergoing HTx at Columbia University Medical Center between 1999 and 2010. Pre-transplant laboratory examination associated with 3-year survival was evaluated by multivariate analysis and its cut-off value was determined by ROC curve. Post-HTx survival for all studied pts was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. Available data from the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) (n=13,773) was also analyzed. Results. Serum Alb concentration was lower, and total bilirubin concentration was higher in pts who died within 3 years (n=153) compared to those who survived longer than 3 years (n=513) (3.7±0.7 vs. 4.0±0.6mg/dL, p 3.5mg/dL (p 3.5mg/dL (3-year and 5-year survival, 77.7 vs. 82.3 %, 71.6 vs. 75.5%, respectively, p Conclusions. Pre-transplant hypoalbuminemia indicates poor post-transplant prognosis. Attention to correct nutrition, inflammation and hepatic function to normalize serum Alb concentration before HTx could be an effective way to improve post-transplant survival.
A randomised experiment comparing low-cost ultrasound gel alternative with commercial gel

Objective Point-of-care ultrasound is a portable, relatively low-cost imaging modality with great potential utility in low-resource settings. However, commercially produced ultrasound gel is often cost-prohibitive and unavailable. We investigated whether images obtained using an alternative cornstarch-based gel would be of comparable quality with those using commercial gel. Methods This was a blinded, randomised, cross-over study comparing commercially produced ultrasound gel with home-made cornstarch-based gel. Ultrasound-trained faculty obtained three video clips with each gel type from patients at one urban ED. The clips were evaluated by a radiologist and an ultrasound-trained emergency physician. Images were assessed in terms of overall adequacy (dichotomous) and quality, resolution and detail using a rating scale (0–10). All sonographers and physicians reviewing the images were blinded to the type of gel used. Results Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the study, producing 204 separate images (102 with each gel). The cornstarch gel clips were deemed accurate in 70.6% (95% CI 63.9% to 76.5%) of the scans, as compared with 65.2% (95% CI 58.4% to 71.4%) of those using commercial gel. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to image detail, resolution or quality. Conclusions Images produced using the cornstarch-based alternative ultrasound gel were of similar quality to those using commercial gel. The low cost and easy preparation of the cornstarch-based gel make it an attractive coupling medium for use in low-resource settings.
Imitation and society: How Boasian anthropology reassembled the social:

A growing body of research defends the contemporary relevance of 19th-century sociologist Gabriel Tarde’s theory of the social. Bruno Latour, in particular, reads Tarde’s emphasis on imitation, innovation, and opposition as a relationist alternative to Emile Durkheim’s ostensible determinism. Scholars aligned with Latour’s reconstruction have maintained that sociology and anthropology decisively abandoned Tarde’s social epistemology in favor of a Durkheimian emphasis on collective consciousness. However, such research has paid little attention to the impact of Tarde’s ideas on the early US anthropological tradition institutionalized by Franz Boas. This essay reconstructs the pervasive influence of Tarde on Boas and the early Boasian anthropologists. I maintain that Boasian engagements with the French sociologist’s work normalized Tardian imitation as a key element of early theorizations of cultural process. In so doing, I suggest that efforts to ‘reassemble the social’ (e.g. Latour, 2005) effectively reha...
PH—Postharvest Technology: Automatic Control of Crossflow Grain Dryers, Part 3: Field Testing of a Model-Predictive Controller

Abstract In Part 3 of the paper on automatic control of crossflow grain dryers, the field testing of newly developed model-predictive controller is described. The system showed excellence in accuracy, stability and robustness. The moisture content of maize was controlled to be within ±0·7% w.b. of the moisture content to the set-point, at inlet-moisture contents ranging from 21 to 32% w.b. and drying-air temperatures from 85 to 120°C. The controller also displayed excellent compensation characteristics to changes in the drying-air temperature.
Cytology of the pineal gland: changes produced by various treatments.

The cytological appearance of the pineal body is related to stage of development or age, time of day, exposure to illumination, season of the year, and reproductive state. Experimental manipulations that alter the normal cytology of the pineal include hypophysectomy, administration of any of several hormones or drugs, blinding, denervation and exposure to stressful influences such as heat or cold.
Factors that Affect Choice of Mental Health Provider and Receipt of Outpatient Mental Health Treatment

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 91 million adults live in mental health professional shortage areas and 10 million individuals have serious mental illness (SMI). This study examines how the supply of psychiatrists, severity of mental illness, out-of-pocket costs, and health insurance type influence patients' decisions to receive treatment and the type of provider chosen. Analyses using 2012-2013 MarketScan Commercial Claims data showed that patients residing in an area with few psychiatrists per capita had a higher predicted probability of not receiving follow-up care (46.4%) compared with patients residing in an area with more psychiatrists per capita (42.5%), and those in low-psychiatrist-supply areas had a higher predicted probability of receiving prescription medication only (10.2 vs 7.6%). Patients with SMI were more likely than those without SMI to obtain treatment. A $25 increase in out-of-pocket costs had marginal impact on patients' treatment choices.
Dephasing of Majorana-based qubits

We analyze charging-energy-protected Majorana-based qubits, focusing on the residual dephasing that is present when the distance between Majorana zero modes (MZMs) is insufficient for full topological protection. We argue that the leading source of dephasing is $1/f$ charge noise. This noise affects the qubit as a result of the hybridization energy and charge distribution associated with weakly overlapping MZMs, which we calculate using a charge-conserving formalism. We estimate the coherence time to be hundreds of nanoseconds for Majorana-based qubits whose MZM separation is $L\ensuremath{\sim}5\ensuremath{\xi}$ (with $\ensuremath{\xi}$ being the coherence length). The coherence time grows exponentially with MZM separation and eventually becomes temperature limited for $L/\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\sim}30$.
Crafting the Future of Software Engineering Education in CC2020: A Workshop

Several national and international computing and engineering organizations are in the process of developing a new curricular document tentatively titled 'Computing Curricula 2020' (CC2020). This curricular project, based on its predecessor CC2005, intends to reflect the state-of-the-art in computing education and practice as well as the future of the computing educational field for the 2020s. This workshop provides an overview of the CC2005 report and its transition to the CC2020 project. It also provides unique perspectives from three members of the CC2020 task force. The workshop authors and participants will engage in lively discussions on ways to include software engineering as a significant component of the project and extend its influence in global undergraduate computing education for the future. The authors anticipate full audience involvement and participation in formulating this vision.
Surface display for metabolic engineering of industrially important acetic acid bacteria

Acetic acid bacteria have unique metabolic characteristics that suit them for a variety of biotechnological applications. They possess an arsenal of membrane-bound dehydrogenases in the periplasmic space that are capable of regiospecific and enantioselective partial oxidations of sugars, alcohols, and polyols. The resulting products are deposited directly into the medium where they are easily recovered for use as pharmaceutical precursors, industrial chemicals, food additives, and consumer products. Expression of extracytoplasmic enzymes to augment the oxidative capabilities of acetic acid bacteria is desired but is challenging due to the already crowded inner membrane. To this end, an original surface display system was developed to express recombinant enzymes at the outer membrane of the model acetic acid bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans. Outer membrane porin F (OprF) was used to deliver alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) to the cell surface. Constitutive high-strength p264 and moderate-strength p452 promoters were used to direct expression of the surface display system. This system was demonstrated for biocatalysis in whole-cell assays with the p264 promoter having a twofold increase in PhoA activity compared to the p452 promoter. Proteolytic cleavage of PhoA from the cell surface confirmed proper delivery to the outer membrane. Furthermore, a linker library was constructed to optimize surface display. A rigid (EAAAK)1 linker led to the greatest improvement, increasing PhoA activity by 69%. This surface display system could be used both to extend the capabilities of acetic acid bacteria in current biotechnological processes, and to broaden the potential of these microbes in the production of value-added products.
Effect of calibration methods on the accuracy of angiographic measurements during transcatheter procedures in dogs

BACKGROUND Different methods to perform reference calibration of an angiographic image exist; however, a prospective comparison of calibration methods has yet to be investigated in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVE To compare angiographic measurements using two commonly employed reference calibration methods, an esophageal pigtail marker catheter (EC) versus a radiopaque table ruler (TR). ANIMALS Thirty-five client-owned dogs undergoing transcatheter intervention. METHODS Prospective comparison study. Two reference calibration methods, EC and TR, were recorded in dogs undergoing transcatheter procedures from May 2016 to July 2017. Relevant measurements were performed in triplicate and averaged after image calibration to either EC or TR. Comparisons between methods were made by correlation, paired t-test, the method of Bland and Altman, and Passing-Bablok regression. RESULTS A total of 39 angiographic structures were measured. Interventions included balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (n = 21), patent ductus arteriosus occlusion (n = 11), subaortic or sub-pulmonary balloon dilatation (n = 4), and cor triatriatum membranostomy (n = 3). Angiographic measurements were larger when calibrated to EC versus TR (P < .0001). The mean bias was 0.86 mm, with greater bias for larger measurements. The EC measurements were ∼10% greater than TR based on regression analysis. Weight was correlated to the difference between methods (ρ = 0.55, P = .0003). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Angiographic image calibration using a ruler placed on the fluoroscopy table underestimates the size of a structure by ∼10% as compared with a marker catheter placed within the esophagus. This effect is greatest when measuring larger structures such as the pulmonary valve annulus and in larger dogs.
Bioenergetics of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea Scandiaca)

Oxygen consumption and CO2 production were measured on four female snowy owls at several different ambient temperatures and two air speeds. Food consumption and existence metabolism were measured o...
Margin of Exposure (MOE)

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by Udayan M. Apte and Harihara M. Mehendale, volume 3, pp 13–14, © 2005, Elsevier Inc.
Competition, pragmatism and comparison

The opening sentence of Geographical Ecology (MacArthur, 1972) begins, “To do science is to search for repeated patterns, not simply to accumulate facts...”. As ecologists, we are faced with the problem of finding patterns when there is a large number of species, an even larger number of possible pairwise interactions, and when these are dispersed across a bewildering array of habitat Types. How do we look for general patterns in nature? This is not a new problem. Early this century, J. B. S. Haldane wrote: “In ecology... we are at present often lost in detail” but, he added that we are constantly finding general factors, such as soil acidity, that predict the occurrence of entire communities. The American philosopher Henry James, whose work is also rooted in the study of human psychology, proposed the pragmatic method that has much to say about the design of ecological work to permit us to find useful patterns and we will return to his work in section 10.1.1. More recently, R. H. Peters has discussed the uneasy alliance of natural history with general empirical models. Geographical Ecology has, therefore, been but one of many voices addressing pattern and generality. Perhaps we have been too hasty in passing over MacArthur’s opening sentence.
Solid-state 45Sc NMR studies of Cp*2Sc–X and Cp*2ScX(THF)

Cp*2Sc–X, where X is a halide, were synthesized and studied by solid-state 45Sc NMR to determine how the Sc–X bond affects quadrupolar NMR parameters. The experimental quadrupolar coupling constants (CQ) show that the fluoride has the largest coupling constant and that the iodide has the smallest coupling constant. DFT analysis of this data indicates that the CQ of these compounds is related to core scandium and halide orbitals, which is related to polarizability of the halide and the Sc–X distance. Cp*2ScX(THF) were also investigated by solid-state 45Sc NMR spectroscopy, and have much smaller CQ values than the base-free halides. This is related to the change in structure of the THF adduct and occupation of orbitals of π-symmetry that reduce CQ.
Superior Oblique Palsy: Efficacy of Isolated Inferior Oblique Recession in Cases with Ipsilateral Hypertropia in Abduction.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of isolated inferior oblique (IO) muscle recession in patients with superior oblique palsy (SOP) and persistent hypertropia in abduction.Methods: Retrospective revi...
SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSIS IN A POPULATION OF PRONGHORN ANTELOPE ( ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA)

Thirteen pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) from a single captive herd at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium underwent complete or partial necropsies between 1997 and 2016. Ten of the 13 animals had histologic evidence of amyloidosis resulting in a 77% prevalence. Histologic and ultrastructural changes were characterized in an attempt to determine the underlying cause of the amyloid. Amyloid detection was performed through histologic examination of hemotoxylin and eosin and Congo red–stained microscopic slides for all 13 animals. Transmission electron microscopy and mass spectrometry was performed on renal tissue from two animals. Pedigree analysis and retrospective investigation into the clinical histories was performed. Histologically, 9/10 animals had amyloid present in the kidneys, 8/10 in the liver, 9/10 in the spleen, 4/10 in the gastrointestinal tract, 3/10 in the adrenal glands, and 2/10 in the thyroid glands. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated glomerular deposits consistent with amyloid. Mass spectrometry performed on renal specimens from two animals revealed the presence of serum amyloid A. Eight of the 10 animals diagnosed with systemic amyloidosis had a clinical history of haemonchosis (elevated fecal strongyle count), 5/10 were diagnosed with pneumonia postmortem, and 7/10 had postmortem findings consistent with negative energy balance. Serum amyloid A, and β and γ globulin levels were evaluated in four cases of amyloidosis, and all were within normal ranges for healthy domestic cattle. It was possible that the herd's amyloidosis was associated with a hereditary defect that could be exacerbated by chronic inflammation. However, there was no significant association between the mean degree of relatedness and presence of amyloidosis. In conclusion, systemic amyloidosis in this captive population of pronghorn is common. It is likely reactive and secondary to underlying chronic inflammation caused by haemonchosis and/or pneumonia.
Spray Pyrolysis as a Combinatorial Method for the Generation of Photocatalyst Libraries.

An inexpensive, combinatorial method to evaluate an array of metal oxide materials as photocatalysts for solar fuel production utilizing spray pyrolysis is presented. This new approach capitalizes ...
Outcomes following surgery for horizontal strabismus in children of lower socioeconomic backgrounds

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to compare alignment outcomes following pediatric strabismus surgery for simple horizontal strabismus in patients with state-based aid, used as a proxy for lo...
Investigation of the changes of cytokines in infants with immunological activated or immunosuppressed status of sepsis

Objective To investigate the changes of cytokines in infants with immunological activated or immunosuppressed status of sepsis.Methods Thirty-six infants with sepsis and 16 age-matched healthy infants were enrolled from May to November in 2007.Thirty-six infants were divided into two groups according to the levels of HLA-DR expression:DR-H group(HLA-DR expression ＞ 30%)and DR-L group (HLA-DR expression ＜30%).CD14 + monocyte HLA-DR expression was analyzed by flow cytometry.Cytokine(IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、IL-10)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in CD4+ T cells.Results(1)Pediatric critical illness score in DR-H group was higher than that in DR-L group(P ＜ 0.05).(2)Serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokine(IL-1β,IL-6)elevated significantly in DR-H group and DR-L group(P ＜ 0.05).Serum concentrations of TNF-α elevated significantly in DR-H group.There was no significant difference of IL-1β and IL-6 between DR-H and DR-L group,while protein level of TNF-α in DR-H group was higher than that in DR-L group(P ＜0.05).Transcription level of IL-6 mRAN was significantly up-regulated in DRH group and DR-L group(P ＜0.05),especially in DR-L group in which IL-6 level was higher than that in DR-H group.The protein level of ant-inflammatory cytokine(IL-10)increased significantly in DR-H group and DR-L group(P ＜ 0.05),the mRNA level of ILl0 raised significantly in DR-L group(P ＜ 0.05),while mRNA and protein levels of IL-10 in DR-L group were higher than those in DR-H group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion HLA-DR expression of monocytes cells could be a valuable index to judge the critical level of pediatric illness and serve as an index to predict outcome of infant with sepsis.Over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine was found along with all the phage of sepsis.High expression of IL-10 may be contributed to immune suppression in infant with sepsis. Key words: Sepsis; HLA-DR; Cytokine; Infant
Rationally Designed DNA Assemblies for Biomedical Application

Based on Watson–Crick base pairing rules, DNA molecules can work as building blocks to fabricate programmable and functional nanostructures. In recent decades, DNA nanotechnology has been developed to construct sophisticated structures and artificial mechanical devices, giving rise to a variety of desired functions and fascinating applications. Featured with rationally designed geometries, precise spatial addressability, as well as marked biocompatibility, DNA-based nanostructures provide promising candidates for drug delivery. In this chapter, we summarize the recent advances of self-assembled DNA-base nanomaterials for the biomedical applications, including molecular imaging and drug delivery both in vitro and in vivo. The remaining challenges and open opportunities are also discussed.
Catalytic graphitization of Glassy Carbon by Molten Fe-C sat

The campaign life of blast furnaces can be greatly limited by the interactions of carbon walls with liquid Fe-Csat. Numerous carbon forms have been investigated but not glassy carbon. In this work, liquid Fe-Csat catalyzed the graphitization of glassy carbon crucibles heated in a high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope. Graphitization created readily wetted pores into which the hot metal penetrated, similar to the embrittlement layer seen in blast furnace hearth refractory.
Kilohertz QPOs in Neutron Star Binaries modeled as Keplerian Oscillations in a Rotating Frame of Reference

Since the discovery of kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) in neutron star binaries, the difference between peak frequencies of two modes in the upper part of the spectrum, i.e. Delta (omega)=omega_h-omega_K has been studied extensively. The idea that the difference Delta(omega) is constant and (as a beat frequency) is related to the rotational frequency of the neutron star has been tested previously. The observed decrease of Delta(omega) when omega_h and omega_k increase has weakened the beat frequency interpretation. We put forward a different paradigm: a Keplerian oscillator under the influence of the Coriolis force. For such an oscillator, omega_h and the assumed Keplerian frequency omega_k hold an upper hybrid frequency relation: omega^2_h-omega^2_K=4*Omega^2, where Omega is the rotational frequency of the star's magnetosphere near the equatorial plane. For three sources (Sco X-1, 4U 1608-52 and 4U 1702-429), we demonstrate that the solid body rotation Omega=Omega_0=const. is a good first order approximation. Within the second order approximation, the slow variation of Omega as a function of omega_K reveals the structure of the magnetospheric differential rotation. For Sco X-1, the QPO have frequencies approximately 45 and 90 Hz which we interpret as the 1st and 2nd harmonics of the lower branch of the Keplerian oscillations for the rotator with vector Omega not aligned with the normal of the disk: omega_L/2 pi=(Omega/pi)(omega_K/omega_h)sin(delta) where delta is the angle between vector Omega and the vector normal to the disk.
The Life-Long Role of Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Gastrointestinal Disease.

Bacterial colonization of the intestines occurs during the first 2 years of life. Homeostasis of the gut microbiome is established to foster normal intestinal immune development for adulthood. Derangements in this process can interfere with immune function and increase an individual's risk for gastrointestinal disorders. We discuss the role of diet and the microbiome on the onset of such disorders. We examine how micronutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics modulate disease pathogenesis. We discuss how diet and abnormal microbial colonization impact extraintestinal organs. Understanding the communication of nutrition and the microbiome offers exciting opportunities for therapeutics.
A Rare Case of Peripheral Neurolymphomatosis in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (P1.9-040)

Objective: NA Background: Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma (CTCL) rarely involves the nervous system. In a retrospective study, 3% cases were found to have neurological complications , half of them being due to direct involvement. Neurolymphomatosis (lymphoma involving peripheral nerve) has been very rarely described for T-cell lymphomas. Design/Methods: Case report Results: Case: A 66 year old gentleman with h/o diabetes mellitus presented to the neurology clinic with c/o bilateral hand paresthesia and weakness progressing over several weeks. His past medical history was significant for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma diagnosed in 1999 followed by multimodality treatment including topical therapies, chemotherapy and palliative radiation therapy. Neurological examination was suggestive of right median neuropathy at wrist and proximal left ulnar neuropathy and these were confirmed by NCS/EMG. MRI showed evidence of heterogeneous nodular enhancement of the left ulnar nerve and right median nerve. CT/PET scan showed increased FDG (flurodeoxyglucose) activity corresponding to the areas of enhancement of the median nerve. With strong suspicion for neurolymphomatosis, the patient underwent a fascicular biopsy of the median nerve. Histopathology showed severely distorted architecture of nerve tissue with CD-3 and CD-8 positive T cell infiltrating neural tissue and blood vessel wall. The patient was treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the disease progressed and the patient died within two months. Conclusions: Our case adds to the rarely documented neurological complication of CTCL. Clinical courses varying from recovery to fatality have been seen in the very few reported cases of neurolymphomatosis due to CTCL. Diagnosis can be challenging but one would need to distinguish peripheral neuropathy due to direct lymphocytic infiltration, from autoimmune or paraneoplastic processes as treatments would vary. MRI, PET scan and finally targeted nerve biopsy can help in the diagnosis as in our case. Although rare, neurolymphomatosis should be considered in the differential for acute onset peripheral neuropathy in the setting CTCL. Disclosure: Dr. Paul has nothing to disclose. Dr. Engelstad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Spinner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pupillo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dyck has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
When the Boss Comes to Town: The Effects of Headquarters’ Visits on Facility-Level Misconduct

We study the effects of visits by headquarters’ managers on facility-level misconduct. These visits are central to monitoring facilities, but are difficult to observe for a large sample of firms. We use the staggered introduction of airline routes to identify exogenous reductions in travel time between headquarters and facilities as our measure of visits and test whether the reductions affect misconduct. We find that, on average, travel-time reductions decrease the number of violations by 2% and associated penalties by 23.4%, suggesting that management focuses on reducing costlier violations as opposed to simply reducing the number of violations. These effects are concentrated in firms with weaker control systems, suggesting that strong controls can act as substitutes for visits. Furthermore, the introduction of broadband internet attenuates, but does not eliminate the effect of reductions on misconduct. Finally, we find that reductions result in greater misconduct when firms are subject to performance pressure.