cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Products and Reaction Mechanisms of the Aqueous Chlorination of Cimetidine

Many pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) resist degradation in wastewater treatment plants. Thus, they may be transformed by chemical disinfectants in the final treatment stage, generating products that may possess enhanced toxicity/biological activity relative to the parent compounds. For this reason, the reaction of cimetidine, an over-the-counter antacid, with the frequently used disinfectant, free chlorine, was investigated. Cimetidine degraded rapidly in the presence of excess free chlorine, indicating that it will likely undergo significant transformation during wastewater disinfection. Four major products were isolated and extensively characterized by comparison of liquid chromatographic retention times to known standards, mass spectrometry, 1H- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. An expected sulfur oxidation product, cimetidine sulfoxide, was identified along with three unexpected products: 4-hydroxymethyl-5-methyl-1H-imidazole, 4-chloro-5-methyl-1H-imidazole, and a product proposed to be either a beta- or delta-sultam. The last three products are formed by transformations not frequently observed in free chlorine reactions of PPCPs such as C-C bond cleavage and intramolecular nucleophilic substitution. The unexpected transformations yielded compounds with more substantial structural changes than would be observed in common free chlorine reactions such as N-chlorination or electrophilic halogenation. The reaction pathway was elucidated by kinetic analysis and by independently treating isolated intermediates with free chlorine, and reaction mechanisms were proposed. Finally, the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of the chlorination products was estimated, and the products 4-hydroxymethyl-5-methyl-1H-imidazole and 4-chloro-5-methyl-1H-imidazole were estimated to have lower PNECs than cimetidine.
Simplified injector flanges for the selected ion flow tube

Abstract Dual hole-pattern injector flanges (Venturi inlets) for a selected ion flow tube have been fabricated and tested in order to identify an optimum balance of efficient operational characteristics and simplicity of fabrication, along with reproducible assembly. The diagnostic measurements for each configuration addressed: (a) ability to maintain pressure differences between ion selection and ion reaction regions; (b) ability to inject sufficient ions to carry out ion/molecule reaction studies; and (c) ability to not introduce turbulence in the reaction region of the flow tube. In addition, the sensitivity of these issues to different total gas flow and to partitioning of total flow between inner and outer injectors is considered. All hole-pattern injector configurations ever tried worked without requiring any adjusting. Importantly, extensive kinetic measurements of one ion/molecule reaction for many configurations, gas loads, and partitions, indicate turbulence in the reaction region is never a problem for these injectors. An injector flange with a small total helium inlet area via 12 holes, in a planar surface, with the ion orifice slightly downstream of the helium inlet plane, has provided the best experimental data.
The observation of slip channels in quenched gold

Abstract The deformed structure of quench-hardened gold was examined with transmission electron microscopy. It was found that plastic deformation takes place in confined regions, thereby forming the slip channels which are free of tetrahedral stacking faults. From the observation it was concluded that dislocations have contact interactions with the tetrahedral stacking faults. Small sized defects were often seen where dislocation activity had taken place. From an analysis of the distribution of the defects it was shown that these small defects are products of the reaction between moving dislocations and tetrahedral stacking faults.
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Drop Analysis: Sensitivity Study on the Effects of Representing Nonlinear Behavior in the Closure Head Assembly

Nuclear power plants need to safely and efficiently remove their reactor vessel closure head assembly during plant outages. This is accomplished by lifting the closure head assembly out of the reactor vessel cavity and placing it on the closure head stand. In order for nuclear power plants to remove their closure head assembly, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has mandated that nuclear power plants upgrade to a single failure-proof crane, show single failure-proof crane equivalence, or perform a head drop analysis [1]. The goal of head drop analyses is to qualify the maximum drop height in air per plant procedures. A significant percentage (greater than 30%) of the closure head assembly’s mass is comprised of components attached to the top of the head (such as: lifting fixtures, a missile shield, air cooling systems, and control rod drive housings). The analytical consideration of large deflection, plastic deformation, and local failure of these components can potentially change the energy imparted to the vessel during impact due to their energy-absorbing capacities during the drop event. This paper contains a sensitivity study to determine the benefits of modeling closure head assembly components, using nonlinear structural behavior. The guidelines of Nuclear Energy Institute Initiative NEI 08-05 [2] are followed for this study.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Scanning-integrating microdensitometric analysis of age-related changes in RNA content of cerebrocortical neurons in mice subjected to auditory stimulation

Abstract Cytophotometric analyses were made of auditory cortical RNA changes in 10-week and 40-week-old mice subjected to a 30-min interval of continuous noise stimulation (100 dB re 2 × 10−5 N/m2, 0.35 to 20 kHz). Treatment groups consisted of young and old noise-exposed mice killed at 0-, 1-, and 4-h intervals after cessation of noise stimulation. Corresponding groups of control mice were not subjected to noise stimulation. Quantification of neuronal RNA changes was made on an individual cell basis using scanning-integrating microdensitometry of azure B-stained brain sections. In the noise-stimulated groups we found that auditory cortical neurons from older mice synthesized and accumulated RNA to the same extent if not more than those of younger mice. The similarity in the pattern and extent of neuronal RNA augmentation in old and young mice after sensory stimulation suggests there is no marked age-related impairment in the capacity of cerebrocortical cells to synthesize RNA. Prior to stimulation we found that older mice had appreciably more neurons with very low RNA values compared to younger mice; older mice also exhibited a more rapid restoration of brain RNA toward control values at the 4-h postexposure interval.
Utility of serum immunoglobulin G4 in distinguishing immunoglobulin G4‐associated cholangitis from cholangiocarcinoma

Elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (sIgG4) is a feature of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and IgG4-associated cholangitis (IAC); a >2-fold increase in sIgG4 is considered highly specific for these disorders. Many patients with IAC present with biliary strictures and obstructive jaundice, making cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) an important differential diagnosis. We determined the value of sIgG4 in distinguishing IAC from CCA. sIgG4 levels were measured in a test cohort of 126 CCA and 50 IAC patients. The results were confirmed in a validation cohort of 161 CCA and 47 IAC patients. Of the 126 CCA patients in the test cohort, 17 (13.5%) had elevated sIgG4 (>140 mg/dL) and four (3.2%) had a >2-fold (>280 mg/dL) increase. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) was present in 31/126 CCA patients, of whom seven (22.6%) had elevated sIgG4 and two (6.5%) had a >2-fold elevation. Of the 50 IAC patients, 39 (78.0%) had elevated sIgG4 and 25 (50.0%) had a >2-fold increase. The results in the validation cohort were consistent with those of the test cohort. Conclusion: Although elevated sIgG4 levels are characteristic of IAC, some patients with CCA, particularly with PSC, have elevated sIgG4 levels, including a small percentage with a more than a 2-fold increase in sIgG4. Therefore, sIgG4 elevation alone does not exclude the diagnosis of CCA. Depending on the prevalence of the two diagnoses, the use of a 2-fold cutoff for sIgG4 may not reliably distinguish IAC from CCA. At a cutoff of 4 times the upper limit of normal, sIgG4 is 100% specific for IAC. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)
Cancer metabolism in breadth and depth

Recent advances in understanding the altered metabolism of tumor cells are yielding new therapeutic leads.
Blood Gene Expression Signatures Predict Invasive Candidiasis

Candidemia is the fourth most common bloodstream infection, with Candida albicans being the most common causative species. Success in reducing the associated morbidity and mortality has been limited by the inadequacy and time delay of currently available diagnostic modalities. Focusing on host response to infection, we used a murine model to develop a blood gene expression signature that accurately classified mice with candidemia and distinguished candidemia from Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Validation of the signature was achieved in an independent cohort of mice. Genes represented in the signature have known associations with host defense against Candida and other microorganisms. Our results demonstrate a temporal pattern of host molecular responses that distinguish candidemia from S. aureus-induced bacteremia and establish a novel paradigm for infectious disease diagnosis.
Stereopsis for verging systems

The implications of vergence control and active vision for stereopsis in robots and humans are investigated. It is argued that the geometry of verging systems places strong constraints on the ecological role of stereopsis. In particular, stereopsis is poorly suited to building whole-field depth maps but well suited to gathering information about specific targets of interest in the scene in a coordinate frame referenced to the fixation point. A simple, fast stereo system targeted at the latter goal is presented. >
Mercury and methylmercury concentrations and loads in the Cache Creek watershed, California

Concentrations and loads of total mercury and methylmercury were measured in streams draining abandoned mercury mines and in the proximity of geothermal discharge in the Cache Creek watershed of California during a 17-month period from January 2000 through May 2001. Rainfall and runoff were lower than long-term averages during the study period. The greatest loading of mercury and methylmercury from upstream sources to downstream receiving waters, such as San Francisco Bay, generally occurred during or after winter rainfall events. During the study period, loads of mercury and methylmercury from geothermal sources tended to be greater than those from abandoned mining areas, a pattern attributable to the lack of large precipitation events capable of mobilizing significant amounts of either mercury-laden sediment or dissolved mercury and methylmercury from mine waste. Streambed sediments of Cache Creek are a significant source of mercury and methylmercury to downstream receiving bodies of water. Much of the mercury in these sediments is the result of deposition over the last 100–150 years by either storm-water runoff, from abandoned mines, or continuous discharges from geothermal areas. Several geochemical constituents were useful as natural tracers for mining and geothermal areas, including the aqueous concentrations of boron, chloride, lithium and sulfate, and the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water. Stable isotopes of water in areas draining geothermal discharges showed a distinct trend toward enrichment of O compared with 18
The significance of spliceosome mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cellular proteins produced via alternative splicing provide neoplastic cells with survival advantage and/or promote neoplastic cell proliferation. Pre-mRNA is spliced by the spliceosome consisting of large complexes of small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and protein subunits. Spliceosome gene mutations were detected in 40-80% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), particularly in those with ringed sideroblasts. Recently, two large whole-genome sequencing studies identified mutations in the spliceosome gene SF3B1 in approximately 10% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Intrigued by these findings, we performed a pathway enrichment analysis and found that, unlike in MDS, in CLL spliceosome mutations exist almost exclusively in SF3B1. Patients with CLL with an SF3B1 gene mutation are characterized by a short progression-free survival and a low 10-year survival rate. Furthermore, the frequency of SF3B1 mutations is significantly higher in chemotherapy treated than in untreated patients with CLL, suggesting that chemotherapy induces SF3B1 gene mutations or selects a population of mutated cells. Whether SF3B1 gene mutations have a role in leukemogenesis, either because of altered splicing or other splicing-unrelated functions such as ectopic expression of Homeobox (Hox) genes previously reported in SF3B1+(/-) mice, remains to be determined.
Methods of Identifying Individual Guessers From Item Response Data

This article investigates several methods of identifying individual guessers from their response data. Both the posterior probability method and the likelihood ratio method are based on the two-state mixture modeling approach to response times. The accuracy method is based on response accuracy data. Results from the simulation study showed that under similar classification criterion, the likelihood ratio method had a higher rate of correctly identifying guessers than the posterior probability method and led to a much higher rate of false-positive misclassification. The accuracy method, complementary to the likelihood ratio method, did reduce the false-positive rate of misclassification while maintaining the higher rate of correct identification of random guessers, given that examinees' response times are inversely related to their abilities.
UNITARY BRAID REPRESENTATIONS

The original motivation for studying unitarizable representations of the braid group was to construct interesting examples of subfactors of II1 von Neumann factors. This is possible for representations factoring through Hecke algebras or q-Brauer algebras only if the deformation parameter is a root of unity. Information gained from this work can be applied to studying tensor products of representations of quantum groups at roots of unity and invariants of 3-manifolds.
Realism, universalism and capabilities

Abstract Amartya Sen's capability approach is a perspective that (unlike approaches that focus only on resources or goods) takes into account the heterogeneities between human individuals in the assessment of well-being and advantage. Nevertheless, the recognition of diversity between individuals also poses difficulties to the application of the capability approach in welfare analysis. Tony Lawson's structured ontology will be suggested here in order to render (empirical) diversity compatible with the need to make more general (possibly universal) welfare analysis (and policy prescriptions). This is so because Lawson's structured ontology distinguishes between an empirical level, where diversity exists, and an ontologically distinct level of the causal factors underlying the former: universalizing and generalizing can be made at this latter level.
Effect of age on the interaction between the AC/A and CA/C ratios

A number of previous studies have examined the effects of age and the development of presbyopia on either the accommodative convergence to accommodation (AC/A) or convergent accommodation to convergence (CA/C) ratios. However, changes in the interaction of these oculomotor crosslinks with increasing age have received relatively little attention, especially over a wide age distribution. Accordingly, the present study examined both crosslink ratios in 42 subjects ranging from 22 to 65 years of age. A dual haploscope-optometer was used to measure accommodation and vergence. The response AC/A ratio showed a small but significant positive correlation with age in those subjects under 45 years of age, while no significant correlation was observed between the stimulus AC/A ratio and age for all subjects. The CA/C ratio exhibited a significant negative correlation with age for all subjects. Furthermore, a trend was observed for lower CA/C findings to be associated with higher response AC/A ratios. However, the two ratios were inversely but not reciprocally related, with the mean difference between the CA/C ratio and the reciprocal of the response AC/A ratio being significantly different from zero. These age-related changes in the output of the oculomotor crosslinks provide further evidence of the continual oculomotor adaptation that occurs concurrent with the loss of accommodative responsivity.
Electrical Excitation of the Acoustically Sensitive Auditory Nerve: Single-Fiber Responses to Electric Pulse Trains

Nearly all studies on auditory-nerve responses to electric stimuli have been conducted using chemically deafened animals so as to more realistically model the implanted human ear that has typically been profoundly deaf. However, clinical criteria for implantation have recently been relaxed. Ears with “residual” acoustic sensitivity are now being implanted, calling for the systematic evaluation of auditory-nerve responses to electric stimuli as well as combined electric and acoustic stimuli in acoustically sensitive ears. This article presents a systematic investigation of single-fiber responses to electric stimuli in acoustically sensitive ears. Responses to 250 pulse/s electric pulse trains were collected from 18 cats. Properties such as threshold, dynamic range, and jitter were found to differ from those of deaf ears. Other types of fiber activity observed in acoustically sensitive ears (i.e., spontaneous activity and electrophonic responses) were found to alter the temporal coding of electric stimuli. The electrophonic response, which was shown to greatly change the information encoded by spike intervals, also exhibited fast adaptation relative to that observed in the “direct” response to electric stimuli. More complex responses, such as “buildup” (increased responsiveness to successive pulses) and “bursting” (alternating periods of responsiveness and unresponsiveness) were observed. Our findings suggest that bursting is a response unique to sustained electric stimulation in ears with functional hair cells.
Designer Thinking: How Novices and Experts Think About Instructional Design

Instructional design can be characterized as a complex problem-solving task, yet little is known about what cognitive processes it requires. This research sought to identify differences in the thinking of expert and novice instructional designers given the same design task. A talk-aloud procedure was used to capture their problem-solving procedures and representations while designing instruction for a computer simulation. A coding scheme based on design principles, strategies, and subtasks was applied to the verbal protocols. Quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that expert and novice instructional designers do appear to use divergent design paths. These design paths were further analyzed using design trees.
The effectiveness of victimization prevention instruction: an evaluation of children's responses to actual threats and assaults

This study examined whether instruction in school and at home about how to prevent victimization has any impact on children's behavior in situations of real victimization threat. Telephone interviews were conducted in 1992 with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 youths age 10 to 16 and their caretakers. More comprehensive school programs had mixed, small but overall positive effects. Children exposed to such school-based prevention programs performed better on a short test of knowledge about sexual victimization; when victimized or threatened were more likely to use the self-protection strategies recommended by prevention educators; were more likely to feel that they had been successful in protecting themselves; and were more likely to disclose to someone about the victimization attempts. They were not better able to limit the seriousness of the assaults and, in fact, they experienced more injuries in the course of sexual assaults. Comprehensive parental instruction also had positive effects on knowledge, the use of preferred self-protection strategies and the likelihood of disclosure. Children with comprehensive parental instruction were more likely to limit the seriousness of assaults.
Marketspace Markets: Factors for Success and Failure

This paper explores both success and failure in the creation of electronic markets and electronic market facilitators for tangible products, using four case studies. The two electronic markets are AUCNET,1 a success market for used cars, and American Gem Market System (AGMS),2 a failed market for gems. The market facilitators are Edmund’s,3 an automobile price guide, and Inventory Locator Service (ILS),4 a market maker for used airline and marine parts. Our “marketspace model”5 is utilized to analyze the efficacy of the different research settings. Our analysis of these four cases suggests that in order to build electronic markets and electronic intermediaries, it is imperative a) to reach a critical mass of trusted content quickly; b) to reach economically viable scale; and c) to provide a service that fits with the current buying process of the user base. A trusted brand name that can create the necessary motivation to access the electronic market, as well as a trust in its information and processes, is vital. There seems to be little successful incrementalism to the creation of these new venues. This means that even though the kernel of an electronic market may be easily created, a robust market or market facilitator may take significant capital and commitment on the part of the new entrant to thrive.
Long-Term Inhibition of Synaptic Transmission and Macromolecular Synthesis Following Anoxia in the Rat Hippocampal Slice: Interaction between Ca2+ and NMDA Receptors

The rat hippocampal slice is becoming a quite widely used system for studying anoxic damage in brain tissue. We have been using it to study the long-term effects of short anoxic exposures on specific functions, in particular synaptic transmission and synthesis of protein and RNA. The first two of these functions are strongly inhibited for many hours after short exposures to anoxia or “ischemia”. RNA synthesis is less readily damaged; it only becomes permanently damaged following 20 minutes of anoxia without glucose.
Field-assisted sintering of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 solid-state electrolyte

Abstract All solid Li-ion batteries display high stability and longevity but are hampered by the poor conductivity of most solid electrolytes. The influence of applied electrical fields during sintering on microstructure and electronic properties of lithium aluminum titanium phosphate (Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4 ) 3 , LATP) electrolyte material was investigated by sintering LATP pellets under DC voltages of 0 V, 2 V, 10 V, and 20 V, followed by characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance spectroscopy. The application of a DC voltage increased the relative density to a maximum of 95.5%. However, unlike reports on other material systems such as zirconia, a high DC voltage induced rather than restrained abnormal grain growth. Resistivity increased with applied voltage from 2.1 kΩ·cm at 0 V to 7.8 kΩ·cm at 20 V, which was attributed to the high faceting and poor grain to grain contact of the grains sintered under 10 V and 20 V.
Traction testing in superior oblique palsy

This report describes the use of superior oblique traction testing in the evaluation of superior oblique palsy. Four consecutive children presenting with signs and symptoms of superior oblique palsy were found to have markedly abnormal tendon laxity with traction testing. Surgical exploration revealed anomalies including three with elongated lax tendons, one of which had an anomalous insertion, and one absent tendon. This tendon laxity is not typically found in acquired superior oblique palsy. It is proposed that, in addition to the well known neurogenic paresis/paralysis, a second type of "palsy" due to anatomic abnormalities of the tendon may exist and be responsible for a number of congenital superior oblique palsies. The mechanical disadvantage of these markedly long tendons may explain why inferior oblique weakening procedures alone frequently fail to correct head tilts due to superior oblique palsy in infancy.
Passing Beyond Identity on the Internet: Espionage and Counterespionage in the Internet Age

This article is concerned with methods of resisting discriminatory steering and marketing in cyberspace. I argue that, where data marketing and steering activities by commercial entities engender the marginalization of certain groups of individuals, technological techniques of resistance and counterespionage - namely identity passing - should be implemented by marginalized persons to counteract online profiling. Such methods are grounded in the principles of anti-subordination jurisprudence. Under this approach, societal tools that serve to lessen opportunities or engender domination are called into question, rather than merely unfair formal processes. I argue that where online profiling disempowers and excludes marginalized groups, it represents a form of subordination based in information control. Therefore, the practical technique of identity passing via technological manipulation must be utilized by individuals in order to counteract these oppressive activities. Finally, I contend that unlike the stigmatized phenomenon of offline passing, the act of passing online removes this act of resistance from the realm of what is sometimes deemed an attempted denial of one's socially constructed identity, and moves it further into the realm of one of the most cherished values in American society-the right to privacy and anonymity. This is because cyberspace allows for the constant manipulation of the identity tags that are presented to profilers; in essence, it allows for the ad infinitum retooling of one's identity as presented to the world. Once identity tags are subject to constant change, identity passing can be construed as a form of self-controlled anonymity rather than a stigmatized form of identity denial.
Review Article: Socio-Political Aspects of Home Gardens in Java

The home gardens of Java have been the subject of considerable interest in recent years. Their non-rice character has attracted the attention of those interested in diversification away from Southeast Asia's rice staple, their species diversity has attracted the attention of those interested in stable and sustainable agricultural systems, and their combination of woody and non-woody plants has attracted the attention of those interested in agroforestry. This recent attention has been disproportionate to the amount of research attention previously focused on home gardens, however. The colonial and post-colonial studies of this system of agriculture do not begin to equal, either in number or depth, those devoted to (e.g.) wet rice cultivation, the major estate and smallholder crops, or even upland swidden cultivation. Given this lacuna (the reasons for which are themselves of interest, as will be discussed below), the appearance of a major study of their agronomic, economic, and social aspects merits an in-depth appraisal. The study is "Pekarangan, Petani dan Kemiskinan: Suatu Studi tentang Sifat dan Hakekat Masyara kat Tani di Sriharjo Pedesaan Jawa" [Home Gardens, Farmers and Poverty: A Study of the Features and Facts of the Farming Community in Sriharjo, Rural Java] by D.H. Penny and Meneth Ginting.
Pynchon in China

Any number of provocative considerations suggest themselves when we consider the peculiar position of American literature in China--not to say modern American writers, and certainly not to say so contemporary a writer as Thomas Pynchon. The institutional commitment on the part of the Chinese to American literature is quite extensive, and would require a separate essay in itself.
The information age, cyberspace, and cancer.

Oncologists and their patients are facing disruptive changes in healthcare, research, and communication. This dramatic increase in the quantity and quality has changed our lives forever. However, many of us remain frustrated with our inability to control this information overload.
The Building Wealth and Health Network: methods and baseline characteristics from a randomized controlled trial for families with young children participating in temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)

Families with children under age six participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) must participate in work-related activities for 20 h per week. However, due to financial hardship, poor health, and exposure to violence and adversity, families may experience great difficulty in reaching self-sufficiency. The purpose of this report is to describe study design and baseline findings of a trauma-informed financial empowerment and peer support intervention meant to mitigate these hardships. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a 28-week intervention called Building Wealth and Health Network to improve financial security and maternal and child health among caregivers participating in TANF. Participants, recruited from County Assistance offices in Philadelphia, PA, were randomized into two intervention groups (partial and full) and one control group. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline to assess career readiness, economic hardship, health and wellbeing, exposure to adversity and violence, and interaction with criminal justice systems. Baseline characteristics demonstrate that among 103 participants, there were no significant differences by group. Mean age of participants was 25 years, and youngest child was 30 months. The majority of participants were women (94.2 %), never married (83.5 %), unemployed (94.2 %), and without a bank account (66.0 %). Many reported economic hardship (32.0 % very low household food secure, 65.0 % housing insecure, and 31.1 % severe energy insecure), and depression (57.3 %). Exposure to adversity was prevalent, where 38.8 % reported four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences including abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. In terms of community violence, 64.7 % saw a seriously wounded person after an incident of violence, and 27.2 % had seen someone killed. Finally, 14.6 % spent time in an adult correctional institution, and 48.5 % of the fathers of the youngest child spent time in prison. Baseline findings demonstrate that caregivers participating in TANF have suffered significant childhood adversity, adult violence exposure, and poverty-related stressors that can limit workforce success. High prevalence of housing and food insecurity, exposure to adversity, violence and criminal justice systems demands comprehensive programming to support families. Trauma-informed approaches to career readiness such as the Building Wealth and Health Network offer opportunities for potential success in the workforce. This study is retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov The Identifier is: NCT02577705 The Registration date is October 13, 2015
Receptors for Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and PTH-Related Peptide

Publisher Summary The biological actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) have attracted wider interest in recent years because of the rapid advances in the study of the developmental biology of bone in which PTHrP and its receptor play a major role, as well as demonstration of the therapeutic potential of PTH in fracture prevention in osteoporosis. One principal receptor, the type-1 PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R), is the chief mediator of both the homeostatic actions of PTH and the paracrine actions of PTHrP on endochondral bone development. This receptor interacts equivalently with the amino-terminal domains of PTH and PTHrP. Additional receptors clearly interact differentially with PTH versus PTHrP and/or with regions of the two ligands other than their amino-terminal domains. The recombinant PTH-1 receptor (PTH1R) interacts equivalently with PTH and PTHrP and activates at least two distinct second messenger pathways, adenylate cyclase/protein kinase A (AC/PKA) and phospholipase C/protein kinase C (PLC/PKC). The PTH-1 receptor belongs to a distinct family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), called class II (or family B) receptors. The first cDNAs encoding mammalian PTH-1 receptors were isolated through expression cloning techniques from cell lines that had been widely used in classical PTH/FFH receptor studies. Current data indicate that the PTH receptor interacts with multiple regions of PTH peptide ligands and these contacts establish binding affinity and/or promote receptor activation. PTH(1–34) and PTHrP(1–34) bind to and activate the PTH-1 receptor with affinities and potencies in the low nanomolar range. The PTH-2 receptor subtype was initially identified through hybridization cloning methods in a human brain cDNA library. At the amino acid level, this receptor is 51% identical to the human PTH-1 receptor. The human PTH-2 receptor responds to PTH but not to PTHrP, whereas the rat PTH-2 receptor responds to neither PTH nor PTHrP.
Hamiltonian Federalism and Union Resourcing of the Civil War

By 1860, the stage was set for one of the most calamitous events in American history: the Civil War. The political impetus for the conflict was the issue of slavery, but there were other causes as well. Differing economic models and tariff policy had likewise caused a rift between north and south that could not be bridged. As the two sides drifted further apart economically, Southern leaders began to believe that their future lay in secession and eventually independence from the Union and were willing to fight for it. Unlike their colonial ancestors however, this time their enemy would be their own countrymen, led by a president who refused to countenance such a move and was willing to counter the South blow for blow. In this chapter, Meagher chronicles how the Union held together but just barely .
School gardening with a twist using fish: Encouraging educators to adopt aquaponics in the classroom

To evaluate the willingness of teachers to incorporate aquaponics in the classroom, we engaged teachers in a 6-week project. Participants in the experimental group maintained small-scale aquaponic ...
First simultaneous extraction of spin-dependent parton distributions and fragmentation functions from a global QCD analysis

We perform the first global QCD analysis of polarized inclusive and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering and single-inclusive e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data, simultaneously fitting the parton distribution and fragmentation functions using the iterative Monte Carlo method. Without imposing SU(3) symmetry relations, we find the strange polarization to be very small, consistent with zero for both inclusive and semi-inclusive data, which provides a resolution to the strange quark polarization puzzle. The combined analysis also allows the direct extraction from data of the isovector and octet axial charges, and is consistent with a small SU(2) flavor asymmetry in the polarized sea.
SoyBase: A Comprehensive Database for Soybean Genetic and Genomic Data

SoyBase, the USDA-ARS soybean genetics and genomics database, provides a comprehensive collection of data, analysis tools, and links to external resources of interest to soybean researchers. The SoyBase home page (https://soybase.org) contains the SoyBase Toolbox which provides quick access to a search of the SoyBase database or the SoyCyc metabolic pathways database, access to the data download page, a genome sequence BLAST tool, and direct links to the genetic and sequence maps. An extensive navigation menu and site description provides facile access to all sections of SoyBase. Comprehensive information for a number of data types is available at SoyBase including the current genetic maps, the soybean reference genome sequence with tracks covering genetic markers, genome organization, gene annotation and expression, and gene knockout mutants. SoyBase includes an extensive RNA-Seq gene atlas and innovative tools for identifying fast neutron-induced mutants. SoyBase is an actively curated database, with new data regularly being incorporated, including additions to the controlled vocabularies (ontologies) for soybean growth, development and phenotypic traits, soybean genes, and quantitative trait loci. New “omics” tools enable sophisticated queries on lists of genes. These features are all accessed using intuitive interfaces and are linked together wherever possible.
Engineering fibrin hydrogels to promote the wound healing potential of mesenchymal stem cell spheroids.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete endogenous factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ) that promote angiogenesis, modulate the inflammatory microenvironment, and stimulate wound repair, and MSC spheroids secrete more trophic factors than dissociated, individual MSCs. Compared to injection of cells alone, transplantation of MSCs in a biomaterial can enhance their wound healing potential by localizing cells at the defect site and upregulating trophic factor secretion. To capitalize on the therapeutic potential of spheroids, we engineered a fibrin gel delivery vehicle to simultaneously enhance the proangiogenic and anti-inflammatory potential of entrapped human MSC spheroids. We used multifactorial statistical analysis to determine the interaction between four input variables derived from fibrin gel synthesis on four output variables (gel stiffness, gel contraction, and secretion of VEGF and PGE 2 ). Manipulation of the four input variables tuned fibrin gel biophysical properties to promote the simultaneous secretion of VEGF and PGE 2 by entrapped MSC spheroids while maintaining overall gel integrity. MSC spheroids in stiffer gels secreted the most VEGF, while PGE 2 secretion was highest in more compliant gels. Simultaneous VEGF and PGE 2 secretion was greatest using hydrogels with intermediate mechanical properties, as small increases in stiffness increased VEGF secretion while maintaining PGE 2 secretion by entrapped spheroids. The fibrin gel formulation predicted to simultaneously increase VEGF and PGE 2 secretion stimulated endothelial cell proliferation, enhanced macrophage polarization, and promoted angiogenesis when used to treat a wounded three-dimensional human skin equivalent. These data demonstrate that a statistical approach is an effective strategy to formulate fibrin gel formulations that enhance the wound healing potential of human MSCs. Statement of Significance Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are under investigation for wound healing applications due to their secretion of bioactive factors that enhance granulation tissue formation, blood vessel ingrowth, and reduce inflammation. However, the effectiveness of cell-based therapies is reduced due to poor engraftment and high rates of cell death when transplanted into harsh environments characteristic of large wounds. Compared to dissociated cells, MSCs exhibit increased overall function when aggregated into three-dimensional spheroids, and transplantation of cells using biomaterials is one strategy for guiding cell function in the defect site. The present study demonstrates that the biophysical properties of fibrin hydrogels, designed for use as a cell carrier, can be engineered to dictate the secretion of bioactive factors by entrapped MSC spheroids. This strategy enables MSCs to contribute to wound healing by synergistically promoting neovascularization and modulating the inflammatory milieu.
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band erosion with intragastric band migration: A rare but serious complication.

Abstract Although laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is considered the most minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of morbid obesity, the procedure has a reported overall complication rate of up to 26%. Among the various complications, gastric band erosion with intragastric band migration is the most worrisome because of the risk of subsequent obstruction, peritonitis, and sepsis. Therefore, prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial during imaging evaluation of these patients in the late postoperative setting. In this article, we report a case of a 47-year-old woman with a gastric band that had eroded into the gastric wall with intragastric migration demonstrating classic findings on fluoroscopic and computed tomography imaging.
Mental state at time of offense in the hot tub: An empirical examination of concurrent expert testimony in an insanity case.

The role of experts and their presentation of testimony in insanity cases remain controversial. In order to decrease possible expert bias associated with this testimony, a number of different alternatives to adversarial presentation have been suggested. Two such alternatives are the use of court-appointed experts and the use of concurrent testimony (or "hot-tubbing"), in which opposing experts provide testimony concurrently and converse with each other directly. An experiment using a sample of venire jurors (n = 150) tested the effect of these alternatives. Results indicate that participants' pre-existing attitudes towards the insanity defense had significant effects on their comprehension of expert testimony, their evaluations of the two opposing experts, and their eventual verdicts, over and above the presentation format (i.e., concurrent vs. traditional testimony) or the use of court-appointed experts (vs. traditional adversarial experts). When concurrent testimony was presented, defense-favoring experts were perceived by jurors as more credible than their traditional counterparts, though comprehension of the testimony did not increase; nor did the presentation format or the affiliation of the experts affect verdicts. The legal and policy implications of the incorporation of the hot-tubbing procedure to US courts are discussed.
Pouch Volvulus in Patients Having Undergone Restorative Proctocolectomy for Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA improves quality of life in patients with medically refractory ulcerative colitis. Although bowel obstruction is common, pouch volvulus is rare and described only in case reports. Diagnosis can be challenging, resulting in delayed care and heightened morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to delineate the symptoms and successful management strategies used in patients with IPAA volvulus that result in pouch salvage. DESIGN: This study was a case series. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center for ulcerative colitis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PATIENTS: Patients included those with volvulus of the IPAA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Over the study period (2010–2015), 6 patients were diagnosed with IPAA volvulus. The primary outcomes were symptom manifestation, diagnostic practices, and treatment of pouch volvulus. RESULTS: Six patients with ulcerative colitis were identified with pouch volvulus. The majority (n = 4) underwent a laparoscopic pouch creation and had early symptom manifestation after surgery. Complications preceding volvulus included pouch ulceration (n = 5) and pouchitis (n = 4). The most common presenting symptoms of volvulus were abdominal pain (n = 4) and obstipation (n = 4). Multiple imaging modalities were used, but volvulus was most frequently identified by CT scan. Management was primarily operative (n = 5), composed of excision of the pouch (n = 3), pouch-pexy (n = 1), and detorsion with defect closure (n = 1). Both operative and nonoperative treatment with endoscopic detorsion resulted in low morbidity and improved patient symptoms. LIMITATIONS: This single-institution study is limited by its retrospective design and small number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: IPAA volvulus is a rare and challenging cause of bowel obstruction in ulcerative colitis. Heralding signs and symptoms, such as pouch ulceration and acute obstipation, should initiate a workup for a twisting pouch. Diagnosis, which is multimodal, must occur early to avert necrosis and allow for preservation of a well-functioning pouch. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A561.
In Search of Criteria for ‘Fallacies’ and ‘Begging the Question’

Let me start by asking the question ‘Is begging the question really a fallacy?’ Broadly construed, a fallacy is an error in reasoning, which involves disguising an inadequate proof in various forms as an adequate proof. One such form which is begging the question involves illegitimately assuming or ignoring a contentious or significant belief that needs to be proved which has not been proved. Some may think it is not a legitimate question to ask because of a long tradition of characterizing begging the question as an informal fallacy. I wish to show that this is a perfectly legitimate polemical question to ask! My fundamental point in this paper is to provide a plausible motivation or justificatory basis for raising the question. However, I do suggest an answer to the question by indicating that begging the question is a fallacy: an epistemic error involving lack of adequate proof. So, the pertinent issue is, what makes this question a legitimate one to ask in the face of the long tradition. It is pertinent to note that recently, people have analyzed the concept of fallacy and some analyses suggest that what we traditionally characterize as fallacies may not be fallacies. A quick example: Lawrence Powers (1985) argues based on his analysis of fallacy as equivocation, that affirming the consequent and ad baculum, are not fallacies. In light of this, the above polemical question raises three other questions: (1) What is a fallacy? This is a request for a justifiable normative conception of the nature of fallacies. (2) What is the nature of begging the question? This is also a demand for an adequate normative criterion for identifying begging the question. (3) Can begging the question be captured by a plausible conception of fallacies? One plausible way of construing the question of whether begging the question is really a fallacy, is to see it as a request to articulate adequate criteria or standards or a normative basis for (1) identifying or categorizing a process of reasoning as a fallacy or error, and (2) characterizing such error or fallacy as begging the question. The search for an adequate criterion – a suggestion that there is none or there is a basis to think there
The association of renal cell carcinoma with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background and objectives Prior small studies have reported a possible association between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). In the largest known series, our objective was to describe the prevalence of RCC among patients with GISTs over 26 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed MSKCC's prospectively maintained sarcoma and RCC databases and identified all patients with both RCC and GIST between 1980 and 2016. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics were obtained. Results A total of 9/405 (2.2%) GIST patients were identified with RCC, with a mean follow-up of 9.2 (range 3.8-28.4) years. Five out of nine (55.6%) patients had RCC and GIST diagnosis within 6 months of each other. Mean RCC tumor size was 3.0 (range 1.8-8) cm and 8/9 (88.9%) patients were RCC stage 1. A total of 4/9 (44.4%) patients had papillary RCC (pRCC) histology, 5/9 (55.6%) had additional alternative malignancies, and 4/9 (44.4%) had primary small bowel GIST. Conclusions Our series suggests a possible association of RCC with GISTs. In addition, we found a high frequency of pRCC histology, alternative malignancies, and small bowel GISTs in co-occurring RCC-GIST patients. Further investigation to identify genetic mutations, in this population, would assist in surveillance and treatment.