cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety of cardiac catheterization via peripheral vascular grafts

There are few data concerning the complications and technical difficulties encountered when cardiac catheterization is performed using peripheral bypass grafts for vascular access. All cardiac catheterizations performed at our institution from January 1, 1984 to April 1, 1991 were retrospectively reviewed to assess the in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients who had arterial access for catheterization achieved via prosthetic graft puncture. Seventeen procedures had percutaneous puncture of a vascular graft from a total of 2,929 arterial catheterizations performed. The interval from graft placement to catheterization was 7.5 +/- 1.1 years. Arterial sheaths were employed in all cases and corresponded to the catheter size, with 5F systems used in 53% and 7F or larger systems used in the remaining patients. No intraprocedural or postprocedural complications were recognized. Technical difficulties were limited to the inability to selectively cannulate a nondominant right coronary artery in 1 patient. We conclude that percutaneous introduction of an arterial sheath and left heart catheterization via remotely implanted vascular bypass grafts is not associated with an increased risk of procedural complications or technical difficulties.
Monokines in Growth and Development

Abstract Stimulation of the immune system results in a series of metabolic changes that are antagonistic toward growth. Monokines, including interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6, are released from cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage after recognition of immunogens. They appear to mediate homeorhetic response, which alters the partitioning of dietary nutrients away from growth and skeletal muscle accretion in favor of metabolic processes which support the immune response and disease resistance. These alterations include 1) decreased skeletal muscle accretion due to increased rates of protein degradation and decreased protein synthesis; 2) increased basal metabolic rate resulting in increased energy utilization; 3) use of dietary amino acids for gluconeogenesis and as an energy source instead of for muscle protein accretion; 4) synthesis by the liver of acute phase proteins; 5) redistribution of iron, zinc, and copper within the body due to the hepatic synthesis of metallothionein, ferritin, and ceruloplasmin; 6) impaired accretion of cartilage and bone; and 7) release of hormones such as insulin, glucagon, and corticosterone. These monokines also influence the differentiation of cells. Tumor necrosis factor suppresses the differentiation of myoblasts and adipocytes whereas the chicken monokine myelomonocytic growth factor induces the differentiation of granulocytes.
A Mediaeval Cornutus on Persius

THE scholia to Persius,' like most good scholia, bristle with difficult questions. No one today doubts but that this commentary, commonly called the vulgate to distinguish it from late medieval and Renaissance commentaries,2 is a product of Carolingian scholarship,3 based on earlier marginal and interlinear notes on Persius. But as to the mysterious 'Cornutus' whose name as author perplexingly haunts this commentary, we are completely in the dark. The last investigator of the problem, Wessener, who did a considerable amount of good for the text,4 dryly concluded 'Der Cornutus ist eben nirgends zu fassen.' Still, as his predecessor in this field, Marchesi,5 invitingly remarked, 'La questione sulla personalita 'di Cornuto e destinata a rimanere fin ora insoluta.-t questo un campo aperto a tutte le ipotesi, -' and, thus heartened, I offer this one. But first a few comments should be made on the nature and value of the scholia themselves. The work is neither worthless nor brilliant. It sedately follows the text of Persius, line by line, with careful notes on the general sense of the passage, the connection of ideas (no small task in the case of this author!), the meaning of unusual words or of words employed in an unusual fashion, rhetorical figures, and references to Persius's predecessors and contemporaries. Despite its occasional blunders, it is of good use in understanding this often abstruse poet. The whole commentary is essentially a variorum affair, and shows that its compiler possessed both a scholarly conscience and a genuine interest in the interpretation of his author. Sources are usually not cited by name: a vel, aut, or aliter is enough. But back of a vel or an aliter lie notes which in some -cases probably reflect the early commentaries, e.g. of Probus and Acro, to which St Jerome6 referred when he said 'Puto quod puer legeris-commentarios-aliorum in alios, Plautum videlicet, Lucretium, Flaccum, Persium atque Lucanum.' A goodly number of these sources, on the other hand, were surely not ancient explanationes in Persium, but those patient props of Carolingian scholarship, Servius, Isidore, and Fulgentius. No 'creative' or 'wild-Irish' scholarship is found in the work. Virgil and Horace are repeatedly cited; Ovid, Lucan, and Juvenal turn up frequently enough so that one might imagine that the compiler had lectured on these standard poets too, or at least studied them diligently. Once a quotation from the rarely cited Cornelius Severus is given.7
A 12–18 GHz electrostatically tunable liquid metal RF MEMS resonator with quality factor of 1400–1840

In this paper we present a novel tunable RF MEMS resonator that is based upon electrostatic control over the morphology of a liquid metal droplet (LMD). We demonstrate a LMD evanescent-mode cavity resonator that simultaneously achieves wide analog tuning from 12 to 18 GHz with a measured quality factor of 1400–1840. A droplet of 250-µm diameter is utilized and the applied bias is limited to 100 V. This device operates on a principle called Electro-Wetting On Dielectric (EWOD). The liquid metal employed is a non-toxic eutectic alloy of Gallium, Indium and Tin known as Galinstan. This device also exploits interfacial surface energy and viscous body forces that dominate at nanoliter scale.
POLICE LINEUPS Data, Theory, and Policy

Eyewitness identification research has had a strong impact in the United States recently. A. M. Levi and R. C. L. Lindsay (2001) discussed the role of psychologists’ recommendations for lineup reform and urged that these include numerous items, however complex, rather than only a few items that are readily understood by policymakers. They focused on the recommendations of 1 article in particular (G. L. Wells et al., 1998) and argued that this article should have called for abolishing show-ups, using more lineup fillers, adding voice to lineups, and permitting witnesses to make multiple choices. In the present article, the author raises concerns about each of these 4 recommendations and defends the idea of researchers culling their recommendations to a focused set. Finally, the author describes the emerging positive impact of the Wells et al. recommendations on the reform of lineup procedures in the United States.
Effect of a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention on Reducing Symptom Severity During Chemotherapy

Purpose To describe a randomized trial of a cognitive behavioral intervention on reducing symptom severity among patients diagnosed with solid tumors and undergoing a first course of chemotherapy and to determine whether the intervention had an additive or interactive effect on symptom severity in the presence of supportive care medications. Patients and Methods Patients (N = 237) were accrued from comprehensive and community cancer centers, interviewed, and randomly assigned to either the experimental intervention (n = 118) or conventional care (n = 119). A symptom severity index, based on summed severity scores across 15 symptoms, was the primary outcome. Each patient’s site of cancer, stage at diagnosis, chemotherapy protocols, and use of supportive medications were learned from medical records. Results Groups were equivalent at baseline, and attrition by characteristics by group was not different. The proportion of patients not receiving chemotherapy at 10 and 20 weeks did not differ by group. At the ...
Autonoesis and Belief in a Personal Past: An Evolutionary Theory of Episodic Memory Indices

In this paper I discuss philosophical and psychological treatments of the question “how do we decide that an occurrent mental state is a memory and not, say a thought or imagination?” This issue has proven notoriously difficult to resolve, with most proposed indices, criteria and heuristics failing to achieve consensus. Part of the difficulty, I argue, is that the indices and analytic solutions thus far offered seldom have been situated within a well-specified theory of memory function. As I hope to show, when such an approach is adopted, not only does a new, functionally-grounded answer emerge; we also gain insight into the adaptive significance of the process proposed to underwrite our belief in the memorial status of a mental state (i.e., autonoetic awareness).
CTCF-Dependent Chromatin Boundary Element between the Latency-Associated Transcript and ICP0 Promoters in the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Genome

Cells latently infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) contain nucleosomal DNA similar to that of host cell chromatin. Recent studies have demonstrated that histones in the latency-associated transcript (LAT) promoter and intron regions contain histone modifications permissive for transcription. However, those histones associated with the lytic-specific ICP0 gene, which lies only 5 kb away, contain modifications typical of silenced chromatin. How this active chromatin is kept separate from the repressed chromatin in the nearby ICP0 region remains crucial to the understanding of the HSV lytic cycle. In this study, we show that the LAT intron region contains an insulator. Specifically, we show that an 800-bp region from the LAT intron can block enhancers in both tissue culture cells and Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Importantly, the 800-bp HSV insulator protects a LAT transgene from positional effects in Drosophila eye tissue. The 800-bp region contains nine copies of 16-bp repeats. In vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that CTCF interacts with the CTCCC sequence within the repeats. In vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that CTCF interacts with these repeats in latently infected trigeminal ganglion neurons. The deletion of these repeats impaired insulator activity in human K562 cells and Drosophila embryos. Finally, double-spaced RNA knockdown of CTCF disrupts enhancer-blocking activity of the LAT insulator in transfected Drosophila S3 cells. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the 800-bp DNA in the LAT intron region works as a chromatin boundary during latency to separate active chromatin associated with the LAT promoter region from repressed chromatin in the ICP0 gene.
The effects of different maternal dietary iodine concentrations on Japanese quail I. Thyroid status of hens

Abstract Japanese quail Coturnix japonica were used as a model system for studying the effects of different levels of dietary iodine (I) supplementation (0–1200 μg I/kg of purified diet) on thyroid function and egg-laying in adult galliform birds. Quail have the ability to adapt their thyroid function to a wide range of dietary I intakes. We measured thyroidal 125 I uptakes, stable I concentrations in serum and thyroid glands, and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) and thyroxine (T 4 ) concentrations in thyroid glands and serum. Body weights of the hens as well as egg production, egg hatchability, and yolk I content were monitored regularly throughout the 56 week study. With low dietary I (0–50 μg I/kg) and consequent low serum I, there is marked stimulation of thyroidal I uptake. Thyroidal stores of I and T 4 are reduced, but thyroidal T 3 and serum concentrations of both T 3 and T 4 are maintained. On dietary I regimes of 150–1200 gg I/kg, thyroidal I stores are regulated at essentially the same level despite a linear relationship between dietary I and serum I concentrations. Thyroidal hormone content and serum hormone concentrations also do not differ between dietary I regimes with >I50 μg I/kg. Egg production and egg hatchability are maintained on all dietary I intakes, a result consistent with the maintenance of serum T 3 and T 4 concentrations independent of dietary and serum I. In contrast to the thyroid, the ovaries do not appear able to regulate I in relation to I availability, and egg yolk I is proportional to serum I concentrations. These studies suggest that feed supplementation of 150 μg I/kg is sufficient to meet the needs of Japanese quail hens without requiring alterations in thyroid function. Quail adapt effectively to dietary I from 0–1200 μg I/kg; maintenance of thyroid status and egg production are favored while egg I stores vary with I availability.
Interactions Among Dosage-Dependent Trans-Acting Modifiers of Gene Expression and Position-Effect Variegation in Drosophila

We have investigated the effect of dosage-dependent trans-acting regulators of the white eye color gene in combinations to understand their interaction properties. The consequences of the interactions will aid in an understanding of aneuploid syndromes, position-effect variegation (PEV), quantitative traits, and dosage compensation, all of which are affected by dosage-dependent modifiers. Various combinations modulate two functionally related transcripts, white and scarlet, differently. The overall trend is that multiple modifiers are noncumulative or epistatic to each other. In some combinations, developmental transitions from larvae to pupae to adults act as a switch for whether the effect is positive or negative. With position-effect variegation, similar responses were found as with gene expression. The highly multigenic nature of dosage-sensitive modulation of both gene expression and PEV suggests that dosage effects can be progressively transduced through a series of steps in a hierarchical manner.
EPA-1000 – No one ever asked about it! barriers in access to mental health services for women accessing treatment from primary care in Karachi

Purpose Studies conducted in Pakistan reveal a high prevalence of depression, particularly in women. Evidence based and effective treatments are available, yet there is a significant gap between the numbers of women in need of treatment and those who receive services. This qualitative study identifies the barriers in access to mental health services for women screened for depression from primary care clinics in Karachi. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 women screened for depression from three purpose fully selected primary care sites in Karachi. Results Interviewees reported that they mostly did not share their depressive symptoms and suicidal attempts with health care providers due to perception of these being their personal problems and health care providers also not asking about it. Interviewees perceived health care providers too busy, overburdened and not interested in their emotional problems. Those who shared their symptoms also did not receive proper diagnoses, treatment or referral from their health care providers. Conclusion The study highlights the need to increase mental health literacy about depression through mass media, community engagement, and educational institutions so that women can recognize the depression in themselves and other women around them and be able to share their symptoms with their health care providers. Religious scholars needs to be involved in raising awareness on depression as an illness for which women should seek medical treatment besides taking support from religion. It also indicates the need for a referral system to help women reach to the required mental health services.
Carrier screening panels for Ashkenazi Jews: Is more better?

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of Ashkenazi Jewish carrier testing panels offered by US Laboratories, including what diseases are included, the labels used to describe the panels, and the prices of individual tests compared to the prices of panels for each laboratory. Methods: GeneTests ( http://www.genetests.org ) was searched for laboratories that offered Tay-Sachs disease testing. Information was obtained from laboratory web sites, printed brochures, and telephone calls about tests/panels. Results: Twenty-seven laboratories offered up to 10 tests. The tests included two diseases associated with death in childhood (Niemann-Pick type A and Tay-Sachs disease), five with moderate disability and a variably shortened life span (Bloom syndrome, Canavan disease, cystic fibrosis, familial dysautonomia, Fanconi anemia, and mucolipidosis type IV), and two diseases that are not necessarily disabling or routinely shorten the lifespan (Gaucher disease type I and DFNB1 sensorineural hearing loss). Twenty laboratories offered a total of 27 panels of tests for three to nine diseases, ranging in price from $200 to $2082. Of these, 15 panels cost less than tests ordered individually. The panels were described by 24 different labels; eight included the phrase Ashkenazi Jewish Disease or disorder and six included the phrase Ashkenazi Jewish Carrier. Conclusion: There is considerable variability in the diseases, prices, and labels of panels. Policy guidance for establishing appropriate criteria for inclusion in panels may be useful to the Ashkenazi Jewish community, clinicians, and payers. Pricing strategies that offer financial incentives for the use of “more tests” should be reexamined.
Capitated payments for mental health patients: a comparison of potential approaches in a public sector population.

Background: Both private and public health care systems have embraced capitated reimbursement as a method of controlling costs. Aims of the Study: This study explores the financial implications of using reimbursement models based on clinically based patient classification schemes to distribute funds for the treatment of mental health patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Methods: We identified 53 700 veterans treated in VA specialty mental health outpatient clinics during the first 2 weeks of fiscal year (FY) 1991 for whom relevant clinical data were available. We calculated total utilization and costs for this sample during the remainder of FY 1991 using VA administrative databases and simulated hypothetical distributions of funds based on seven alternative capitation models. The resulting distributions of funds across service networks and facility types were compared to actual expenditures. Results: Approximately 8% of overall VA budget was redistributed under a simple capitated scheme, and some individual networks and facility types experienced changes in funding of over 30%. Models based on clinical data resulted in only minor differences from average-cost reimbursement. Substantial variation in practice style was observed across Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), which was significantly associated with funding shifts under capitation. Discussion: A simple capitated payment scheme would result in large changes in funding for some VISNs. Adjustments for case mix did not substantially affect patterns of redistribution. Patterns of redistribution appear to reflect large differences in practice style across VISNs. Although a capitated system will create incentives to reduce such variation, the effect of such shifts on patient wellbeing is unknown. Implications for Health Policies: Any capitated system will create incentives to provide a uniform standard of care. In our analyses, the capitation rate was based on the average cost per treated patient in each category; however rates could be set higher or lower as policy makers deem necessary. The standard of care associated with the average cost is not necessarily the ‘correct’ level of care. Implications for further research: Our analyses explore the implications of capitated systems for mental health patients in the absence of behavioral change. Further research is needed to determine how providers actually respond to the different incentives
Computer interpretation of human stick figures

A computer program which generates context-sensitive descriptions of human stick figures is described. Three categories of knowledge important for the task are discussed: (1) the 3-D description of the figures, (2) the conceptual description of the scene, and (3) heuristic rules used to generate the above two descriptions. The program's representation for these descriptions is also discussed.
DNA polymerase alpha defect in the N syndrome

The N syndrome is characterized by mental retardation, malformations, chromosome breakage, and development of T-cell leukemia (Opitz et al.: Proceedings of the II International Congress IASSMD pp 115-119, 1971; Hess et al.: Clinical Genetics 6:237-246, 1974b, American Journal of Medical Genetics [supplement] 3:383-388, 1987). N syndrome fibroblasts were studied to see if the high chromosome breakage rate associated with this apparently X-linked syndrome could be related to a deficiency of DNA polymerase alpha, a product of a gene localized to the X chromosome. Bleomycin, which is known to break double-stranded DNA, produced increased chromosome breakage in normal control, Fanconi anemia, and N syndrome fibroblasts. When aphidicolin was used to inhibit repair mediated by DNA polymerase alpha, both normal control and Fanconi anemia fibroblasts showed significantly more chromosome breakage than was produced by bleomycin alone, but there was no increase in the amount of breakage seen in the N syndrome fibroblasts over that seen with bleomycin alone. This suggests that the N syndrome is due to a mutation affecting the region of the X chromosome on which the gene for DNA polymerase alpha is located, and that the high risk of T-cell leukemia observed in the hemizygote is due to this DNA repair defect.
What are we really doing to market electronic resources

Purpose – This paper aims to identify which marketing activities libraries are using to promote electronic resources and to examine how libraries are measuring the successes or failures of their marketing plans.Design/methodology/approach – The research analyzes the literature published in library science on marketing techniques for electronic resources in use at libraries; the corpus is composed of 24 documents published from 1994‐2009. The literature is qualitatively analyzed to determine the techniques in use, the libraries' goals, targeted groups, budgets, and assessments of their marketing plans.Findings – A total of 38 unique marketing techniques were discovered in the 24 documents consulted for this research. The four most popular techniques were patron training in a group setting, flyers/brochures, e‐mails to patrons, and surveys. Libraries were generally unclear about stating the goals for their marketing plans but were able to easily identify the target of their marketing efforts. Budgeting was ...
Electromagnetic test facilities at Sandia National Laboratories

The paper describes major electromagnetic test facilities at Sandia National Laboratories; each has undergone recent upgrades. The paper discusses each facility, their uses, and upgrades pertaining to the facilities performance and diagnostic capabilities. The facilities discussed are the Sandia lightning simulator, the electromagnetic environments simulator (a large TEM cell), the mode-stirred chamber, and the anechoic chamber. Sandia's expertise in electromagnetics also extends to theoretical analysis and modeling, which can be done in conjunction with tests or experiments.
10,000 Dildoes

May/99People must have marveled about these vague purple flowers, at this elevation and distance maybe sego lily or spurred lupine or mountain aster until I need to know. In the meantime, I am free to imagine, am I not? Two-hundred years ago children standing around waiting anxiously while their parents dug up its bulbs, peeled and juicy and oh so sweet. Or as survival food for new immigrants facing drought and locusts a hundred-years ago. Or this new immigrant standing at this Valle Grande roadstop, does he pick one up, this research scientist from the Los Alamos National Lab, this Professor Li Fangzhi, this me, or do I not?
Constructing the victim in the bullying narrative: How bullying discourses affirm rather than challenge discriminatory notions of gender and sexuality:

This project focuses on how bullying victims are constructed as victims through a content analysis of news articles on Phoebe Prince and Tyler Clementi, two teens who committed suicide after being ...
Sandlin's Textbook of Hearing Aid Amplification. Third Edition

This edited textbook is intended for use in graduate course-work and as a resource for clinicians and scientists. The editor has assembled a superb set of authors representing industry, academia, a...
Understand the Design and Implementation of Civic Technologies in Public Organizations

Designing and implementing civic technologies can be hard within public organizations such as government and nonprofit organizations. My dissertation research attempt to contribute towards understanding the socio-technical factors that influence the design and implementation of civic technologies using a practice lens. By studying three different cases of civic technologies design and implementation process (nonprofit social media use, civic hacking and data dive events), I aim to identify opportunity and challenges in designing and using civic technologies to support civic engagement.
Mass Spectrum for π - π - π + Produced in π - p at BeV/c

The negative three-pion mass spectrum between 1.0 and 1.4 BeV has been examined in the reactions ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+})$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+})$, and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+})$ for 5-BeV/c incident ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. In each reaction peaks are observed near 1.06, 1.17, and 1.30 BeV.
The Anorectal Myenteric Plexus: Its Relation to Hypoganglionosis of the Colon

To define the anatomy of the distal anorectal myenteric plexus more clearly, specimens from this region obtained at autopsy from 25 patients ranging from premature infants to children six years of age were studied. A distal zone characterized by a paucity of ganglion cells and the presence of nonmyelinated nerve trunks was identified. This zone is similar in appearance to areas of hypoganglionosis occurring in association with various forms of Hirschsprung's disease. The extent of this zone is quite variable but tends to increase slightly with age. It may extend up to 2.5 cm. proximal to Hilton's line or 2 cm. proximal to the pectinate line. In performing a rectal biopsy for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease care must be taken to remain proximal to this zone. Interpretation of the rectal biopsy should not rest solely upon the identification of ganglion cells but must include an evaluation of the entire morphology of the myenteric plexus.
Analysis of Nonlinear Reaction–Diffusion Systems by the Perturbation Method: Conditions of Application, Construction of Solutions, and Bifurcation Analysis

For nonlinear systems of reaction–diffusion type, we propose a technique for the construction and analysis of solutions based on the method of small parameter. The proposed technique enables us not only to analytically obtain approximate quasiharmonic low-amplitude solutions appearing as a result of bifurcations of spatially homogeneous states of the system but also to determine the type of bifurcation in the system. Examples of application of this approach to the analysis of bifurcations and the construction of solutions of a specific mathematical reaction–diffusion model are given.
Effect of Crude Thyrocalcitonin on Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism in Rats.

SummaryCrude thyrocalcitonin when injected subcutaneously into rats caused a hypocalcemia accompanied by a hypophosphatemia and a phosphaturia. There was no increase in urinary calcium indicating that the kidney plays no role in the hypocalcemic response. The calcium content of the kidney fell, an effect which probably reflects the hypocalcemic response and could have clinical importance. The kidney phosphorus content as well as the calcium and phosphorus contents of the small intestine, submaxillary salivary glands, and the lens were not consistently affected by the drug. The data also support the conclusion that calcium transport in the gut plays no role in the hypocalcemic response.
Functional Heterogeneity of the Heart

The variation in regional flows in the heart is NOT random, but rather it is a fractal, which implies there is organization and correlation. Any mild asymmetry of flows at branch points in a bifurcating network results in varied regional flows and when the asymmetry increases slightly with each generation the result is a fractal. The fractal relationships can only hold over the 12 to 16 generations of the arterial tree, so these are not classic mathematical fractals which scale to infinitely small regions.
Interdisciplinary Research Methods Used to Investigate Emotions with Advanced Learning Technologies

This chapter provides a synthesis of several research methods used by interdisciplinary researchers to investigate emotions in advanced learning technologies. More specifically, the authors: (1) critique self-report measures used to investigate emotions; (2) briefly describe Scherer’s (2009) model as particularly relevant for investigating emotions due to its complex appraisal system; (3) describe three process-oriented methods (electrodermal activity, facial expressions, and eye-tracking) currently used by interdisciplinary researchers to detect, identify, and classify affective states during learning and briefly highlight strengths and weaknesses of each method; and (4) present major conceptual, methodological, and analytical issues related to investigating emotions during learning with advanced learning technologies.
Effects of prenatal and postnatal fraternity size on long-term reproduction in mice.

Effects of prenatal and postnatal fraternity size (size of litter in which an animal develops prior to birth or is reared following birth) on long-term reproduction were studied by rearing 178 female ICR mice in standardized prenatal and postnatal fraternities. Three levels of prenatal and postnatal fraternity sizes were used in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment. Prenatal fraternity size was standardized by selectively terminating fetal development in pregnant females carrying at least 14 conceptuses. Prenatal fraternities were standardized to either 6, 10 or 14 fetuses, and postnatal fraternities were standardized by randomly assigning individuals to nurse litters of 5, 10 or 15 pups. Prenatal fraternity size negatively affected average pup weight at birth (P less than .05) but had little subsequent effect on growth or reproduction. Postnatal fraternity size negatively affected weight at weaning (P less than .01), with mice reared in smaller postnatal fraternities being heavier than those reared in larger fraternities. Following weaning, mice reared in smaller fraternities gained weight less rapidly (P less than .01) but still tended to be heavier at maturity (P = .11). Vaginal opening occurred at older ages in females reared in larger postnatal litters (P less than .01). An interval mating system was used to examine fraternity size effects on long-term reproduction. Females were exposed to males six times at 8-wk intervals with initial mating at 7 wk of age. Postnatal fraternity size and age at mating jointly affected litter size (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Substantiating the Burdens of Compliance

As non-profit employers around the country seek exemption from compliance with the accommodation process under the contraceptive mandate, courts confront the question of how plaintiffs establish a substantial burden on free exercise of religion under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. As part of a symposium on substantial burdens under RFRA, this Essay argues that, in this and related litigation, courts should substantiate the burdens of complying with the law. Deferring to religious objectors, as plaintiffs urge, would instead countermand the statutory text, reject prior case law, and authorize far fetched claims.
Investigation of Age-Specific Behavioral and Proteomic Changes in an Animal Model of Chronic Ethanol Exposure

Alcohol use during adolescence represents a major health concern given that this is a period in which the brain continues to undergo critical developmental changes. Much behavioral research has been conducted in animal models of alcohol exposure, and a vulnerable period in adolescence has been identified that suggests lasting effects of ethanol exposure during adolescence. However, identification of molecular changes underlying the behavioral outcomes observed as a result from exposure to ethanol during adolescence remains a major technical challenge. In this chapter, we describe a method that allows for assessment of the effects of chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence relative to adulthood through global-scale analysis of protein expression as well as evaluation of behavioral responsivity in adolescent and adult rats. Results from this type of analysis can facilitate identification of age-specific molecular markers associated with behavioral changes following treatment with ethanol or in other animal models of drug abuse.
The Genus Dehalogenimonas

The genus Dehalogenimonas is a relatively recently described taxonomic group whose members grow via organohalide respiration. Members of the genus are able to couple growth with the reductive dehalogenation of a variety of polychlorinated alkanes including 1,2-dichloroethane , 1,2-dichloropropane , 1,1,2-trichloroethane , 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane , and 1,2,3-trichloropropane . Strains of the genus are strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, Gram-negative staining, and non-spore-forming, with cells that are small, irregular cocci. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the genus and the growing body of evidence that suggests that this genus can play an important role in dechlorinating anthropogenic contaminants in environmental systems.
Macrocephaly Is Not a Predictor of Optic Pathway Glioma Development or Treatment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a common neurogenetic disorder characterized by significant clinical variability. As such, numerous studies have focused on identifying clinical, radiographic, or molecular biomarkers that predict the occurrence or progression of specific clinical features in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1. One of these clinical biomarkers, macrocephaly, has been proposed as a prognostic factor for optic pathway glioma development. In the current study, the authors demonstrate that macrocephaly is not associated with the development of these brain tumors or the need to institute treatment for clinical progression. These findings suggest that macrocephaly is not a robust biomarker of optic pathway glioma formation or progression in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Patient-centered benefit–risk assessment in duchenne muscular dystrophy

Objective This study quantifies caregiver and patient preferences for a therapeutic agent with demonstrated pulmonary benefits for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Caregivers and patient differences are also explored. Methods A best-worst scaling survey (BWS) was administered to caregivers and patients. Across 9 profiles, respondents selected the best and worst attributes. Utility scores were estimated using mixed logistic regression. Results Respondents indicated greatest preference for therapies that maintain their current level of cough strength for 10 years or for 2 years. Preference scores for risks were low: 50% chance of diarrhea and 4 additional blood draws per year. Conclusion There is a strong preference for pulmonary benefit and willingness to trade off risks and burden to achieve these benefits. In exchange for maintaining cough strength for 10 years, respondents were willing to tolerate high probabilities of diarrhea and additional blood draws. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Acquired Sinus Pericranii Due To Parasagittal Meningiomatous Invasion of the Superior Sagittal Sinus and Bilateral Transverse Sinuses

Background Sinus pericranii is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by abnormal connections between the extra- and intracranial venous systems. Although the etiology still remains unclear, sinus pericranii is usually congenital in nature, or less likely may be secondary to spontaneous or traumatic causes. Case Description We present a unique case of spontaneous sinus pericranii secondary to a parasagittal meningioma invading and occluding the superior sagittal sinus, torcula herophilii, and bilateral transverse sinuses. The resultant venous outlet obstruction and venous hypertension may have been the inciting factors for the development of the collateral channel connecting the intra- and extracranial venous systems. Conclusions This case highlights the effect of the reversal of normal venous outflow secondary to meningiomatous occlusion of intracranial dural sinuses. Sinus pericranii may, on rare occasions, represent the sole means for intracranial venous drainage in cases of intracranial venous thrombosis or incomplete development of the cerebral venous system. Therefore, this case also highlights the importance of pretreatment evaluation of the venous drainage system in patients with sinus pericranii and those with meningiomas.
Swiddening Practices in the Micronesian Past: Macrocharcoal Quantification From a Gardening Site in Pohnpei

A recent publication (Levin and Ayres 2015) presented evidence for cyclical swiddening over a 700-year sequence at an old gardening site on Temwen Island, Pohnpei, Micronesia, using phytolith and microcharcoal evidence. Here, we corroborate this evidence by quantifying macroscopic charcoal from flotation occurring at the same site. Notably, the macrocharcoal provides evidence for burning in the immediate local area rather than the regional evidence that microcharcoal can provide. This method allows for a more robust interpretation of gardening microenvironments.
Tumour-associated antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a 180 kDa glycoprotein, is a well known tumor marker for colorectal cancer. We have characterized a family of glycoproteins in the CEA family by a combination of protein structure and molecular cloning techniques. Several members of the CEA gene family are described in Table 1. Although each of the members are unique in terms of their reaction patterns with monoclonal antibodies and their molecular weights on western blots, they can be also grouped into three groups according to their N-terminal amino acid sequences. The CEA group includes CEA, NCA2, the 128 kDa antigen and MA-100. The NCA group includes NCA-95 and NCA-55. The BGPI group includes antigens of molecular weights 80 and 114 kDa. The CEA and NCA groups have four amino acid differences in the first 30 residues. The BGPI group is less characterized because their N-termini are blocked. A third way to characterize the antigens, has been to determine their molecular weights after deglycosylation either by N-glycanase or by chemical means (trifluoromethanesulfonic acid). The deglycosylated molecular weights (DG mol.wt.) are shown in Table 1. It is noteworthy that CEA is the only antigen which has a deglycosylated molecular weight of 85 kDa. NCA2 and the 128 kDa antigen both have deglycosylated molecular weights of 55 kDa, while MA-100, NCA-95, and NCA-55 have deglycosylated molecular weights of 35 kDa. It appears that BGPI is
Estimation of the Dynamic Focused Ultrasound Radiation Force Generated by an Ultrasonic Transducer

Conventional excitation techniques such as modal impact hammer and shakers are commonly used in experimental modal testing. However, these excitation approaches require the excitation device to be in direct contact with test articles. It can result in distorted measurements, particularly for small structures, such as a MEMS cantilever and thumb nail size turbine blade. In addition, it is physically difficult or even impossible to apply these contact type excitations to some structures such as low stiffness structures or biological tissues. Moreover, these conventional excitations have limited bandwidth, usually less than 10 kHz, and thus are not applicable to extract information in higher frequency modes. Dynamic focused ultrasound radiation force has been recently used to excite structures with sizes ranging from micro to macro-scale and having a frequency bandwidth from tens of Hertz to up to 100 kHz. Therefore, it can potentially be used as an alternative, non-contact excitation method to these conventional contact excitation techniques for experimental modal analysis. Yet, this force remains to be quantified and calibrated in order to obtain the input-output relationship necessary to compute accurate frequency response functions of test structures. In this work a spherically focused ultrasound transducer (UT) is driven by double sideband suppressed carrier amplitude modulation (DSB-SC AM) signals with a scanning difference frequency and randomly varying carrier frequency. The radiated pressure field generated by the UT is experimentally measured employing a pressure microphone, which acts as a target object for the ultrasonic waves. Then, the recorded values are used to analytically evaluate the dynamic focused ultrasound radiation force. Results show that the measured radiation pressure and estimated force are characterized by a focal spot small enough to be compared to an impact hammer tip appropriate for future modal testing.
Obesity, Treatment Times, and Cardiovascular Outcomes After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Findings From Mission: Lifeline North Texas.

Background With increasing rates of obesity and its link with cardiovascular disease, there is a need for better understanding of the obesity‐outcome relationship. This study explores the association between categories of obesity with treatment times and mortality for patients experiencing ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction. Methods and Results We examined 8725 patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention and used regression models to analyze the relationship between 6 categories of body mass index with key door‐to‐balloon time, total ischemic time, and in‐hospital mortality. We relied on data from the Mission: Lifeline North Texas program, consisting of 33 percutaneous coronary intervention–capable hospitals in 6 counties surrounding Dallas, Texas. Data were extracted from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry for each participating hospital. Of the samples, 76% were overweight or obese. Comparing the univariate differences between the normal‐weight group and the pooled sample, we observed a U‐shaped association between body mass index and both mortality and door‐to‐balloon times. The most underweight and severely obese had the highest mortality and median door‐to‐balloon time, respectively. These differences persisted after multivariate adjustments for door‐to‐balloon time, but not for mortality. Conclusions Extremely obese patients have longer treatment time delays than other body mass index categories. However, this did not extend to significant differences in mortality in the multivariate models. We conclude that clinicians should incorporate body mass assessments into their diagnosis and treatment plans to mitigate observed disparities.
A data-driven approach of load monitoring on laminated composite plates using support vector machine

In this study, the surface response to excitation method (SuRE) is investigated using a data-driven method for load monitoring on a laminated composite plate structure. The SuRE method is an emerging approach in ultrasonic wavebased structural health monitoring (SHM) field. In this method, a range of high-frequency, surface-guided waves are excited on the structure using piezoceramic elements. The waves propagate on the structure and interact with internal or surface damages. Initially, a baseline data of the intact structure is created by measuring the frequency transfer function between the excitation and sensing point. The integrity of structure is evaluated by monitoring changes in the frequency spectrums. The SuRE method has effectively been used for a variety of SHM applications including the detection of loose bolts, delamination in composite structures, internal corrosion in pipelines, and load and impact monitoring. Data obtained using the SuRE method was used for identifying the location of the applied load on a laminated composite plate using Support Vector Machine (SVM). A set of two piezoelectric elements were attached on the surface of the plate. A sweep excitation (150-250 kHz) generated surface-guided waves, and the transmitted waves were monitored at the sensory positions. The reference data set was measured simultaneously from the sensors. The plate was subjected to static loads while health monitoring data was being captured using the SuRE method. The confusion matrix indicated that the model classified correctly with up to 99.8% accuracy.
Deception by researchers is necessary and not necessarily evil

Despite claims of pure pragmatism, Hertwig and Ortmann's negative perspective on deception suggests a selfish psychologist willing to sacrifice the reputation of the discipline in order to expedite the research. Although questions that appear to have correct answers may be investigated with complete openness, research that delves into personal secrets often requires deception as a tool to counter self-presentation bias.
Effects of climate shocks on human fertility in Indonesia: a retrospective, panel analysis of household survey and climate data

Abstract Background Climate change is likely to induce a large range of household-level responses, including changes in human fertility behaviours and outcomes. These responses might have important implications for human and economic development, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. However, to date, few studies have explored the associations between climate change and fertility intentions, family planning use, and births. Methods Drawing on the literature linking climate variability to rice production in Indonesia, we used large-scale, longitudinal household survey data and high-resolution climate data to explore changes in childbearing preferences, family planning use, and births after community-level climate anomalies (timing of monsoon onset and temperature) in Indonesia between 1993 and 2015. Analyses were done with a series of fixed-effects, logistic regression models. We also assessed parallel shifts in household wellbeing, as measured by expenditure on rice, food, and non-food products. Findings We found that, in the short term (climate anomalies occurring 1–12 months before surveys), fertility desires increased and family planning use declined in response to delays in monsoon onset, particularly in wealthier populations. Delays in monsoon onset were also associated with substantially reduced expenditure on food and non-food products among households without farm businesses and high levels of education. In the medium term (climate anomalies occurring 1–60 months before surveys), fertility desires declined and family planning use increased in response to high temperatures, particularly in poorer populations. Interpretation These results suggest that fertility desires, family planning use, and births are affected by climate shocks. Provision of high-quality family planning services can serve as an important climate change adaptation tool for vulnerable populations. Funding None.