cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Ureteroureterostomy for the Treatment of Fibroepithelial Polyps.

Abstract Introduction: Fibroepithelial polyps are rare benign tumors found in the ureters, bladder, or urethra that can cause obstruction or gross hematuria. We present a video of a robot-assisted ...
Steroid inhibition of erythrocyte-derived ATP reduces endothelial cell production of nitric oxide in a 3D-printed fluidic model

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system affecting over 2.5 million people worldwide. MS is characterized by blood brain barrier (BBB) damage and demyelination of axons, which causes brain lesions leading to complications such as numbness and blurred vision. Steroid medications are available to help treat symptoms of MS, and although the mechanism of action of steroids is known for most cells, it is not completely understood with respect to red blood cells (RBCs). Here, we show that the steroids estriol and prednisolone effect RBC ATP release and downstream endothelial NO production, which may be a mechanism of action of steroids in the bloodstream. Our results suggest that while RBCs obtained from people with MS release significantly more ATP than RBCs from healthy people (healthy: 216 ± 11 nM, MS: 321 ± 18 nM), a significant decrease up to 183 nM in ATP release is measured due to the presence of physiological levels of estriol or prednisolone. Further analysis measured a 31% decrease in endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production from endothelial cells in contact with RBCs treated with estriol or prednisolone. These results suggest that steroids may have an additional mechanism of action in the bloodstream through their ability to attenuate RBC ATP release. ATP stimulates NO production in vivo, and while high levels of NO are detrimental to the BBB, it follows that hindering the amount of ATP in the bloodstream would decrease the BBB damage and demyelination in MS.
Acute inflammation of the eyelid and cornea in Staphylococcus keratitis in the rabbit.

PURPOSE. The inflammatory response during Staphylococcus keratitis was analyzed biochemically and histologically to determine the source of the neutrophils infiltrating the tear film and cornea. METHODS. Rabbit eyes were swabbed and then examined by slit-lamp microscopy at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 hours after intracorneal inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial colony-forming units were quantified in the cornea, eyelid, and acute inflammatory exudate. Myeloperoxidase activity of ocular swabs of acute inflammatory exudate, corneal homogenates, and eyelid homogenates was determined. Gross and microscopic examinations of corneas and eyelids were performed. RESULTS. The colony-forming units per cornea exceeded 10 7 after 10 hours, whereas no bacteria were cultured from the eyelid until 15 hours postinfection. Slit-lamp examination revealed progressive pathology, and the myeloperoxidase activities of ocular swabs, corneas, and eyelids increased markedly by 15 hours postinfection. Corneas showed a wave of neutrophils moving from the tear film toward bacteria in the central corneal stroma and early neutrophil migration from the limbus into the stroma. In the eyelid, neutrophils migrated from the stromal vessels to the tear film. CONCLUSIONS. Staphylococcus keratitis in the rabbit causes acute inflammation in the overlying eyelid. Neutrophils of the acute inflammatory exudate interact with the infected cornea, whereas neutrophils migrating through the cornea from the limbus remained distant from the site of infection. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Set. 1999;40:385-391)
Primitive-streak origin and state of commitment of cells of the cardiovascular system in avian and mammalian embryos

Early events of cardiovascular development have received renewed interest in recent years. The cardiovascular system is the first major organ system to become functional during early embryogenesis. Cells fated to form the cardiovascular system can be identified as early as during stages of gastrulation of avian and mammalian embryos. In the present brief summary, we describe the primitive-streak origin of the avian cardiovascular system and examine the state of commitment of prospective cardiogenic and vasculogenic areas of the primitive streak. In addition, we describe initial experiments aimed at elucidating the primitive-streak origin of the heart in mouse embryos. Finally, we consider the possible roles of Hensen's node and the "cardiac" endoderm in determination of cell fate and patterning of the avian developing heart tube. Although recent studies have shed considerable light on the origin, migration, and determination of the cardiovascular system, much still remains to be learned about mechanisms underlying cardiovascular patterning in the early embryo.
Space- and time-periodic perturbations of the Sine-Gordon equation

We study the Sine-Gordon equation ϕtt - ϕzz + sinϕ = 0 subject to two classes of small perturbations: (1) spatially periodic perturbations on an infinite domain and (2) weak dissipation and temporally periodic perturbations on the boundary of a finite spatial domain. In the former case we prove the existence of a countable set of spatially periodic stationary solutions in addition to an uncountable set of non-periodic stationary solutions. In the latter case we prove that, if the excitation is sufficiently large compared with dissipation, a countable set of time-periodic motions of all periods as well as non periodic motions exist. All these stationary and periodic solutions are unstable (of saddle type) and are expected to coexist with stable solutions. However, in the global bifurcations leading to creation of the latter (time-dependent) solutions, infinite sets of asymptotically stable periodic orbits with arbitrarily long periods are expected to appear.
Classical and Early Romantic Music

The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries produced a host of great composers, many of them associated with particular kinds of compositions. Haydn earned a reputation as a master of the string quartet and the symphony, Mozart of opera and piano concertos, Beethoven of symphonies, piano sonatas, and string quartets, Schubert of Lieder and piano sonatas, Chopin of the polonaises and mazurka of his native Poland; and Robert Schumann of many compositional forms. Fortepianist Malcom Bilson discusses early keyboard instruments and Mozart’s music. Claude Frank and Richard Goode consider Beethoven’s sonatas and their own sonata performances, while Paul Badura-Skoda and Brian Newbould concentrate on Schubert’s works (some finished, some tantalizingly incomplete). Finally, Elly Ameling and Thomas Hampson focus attention on Schumann’s music; especially his Lieder.
Characterization of Comorbidities Limiting the Recruitment of Patients in Early Phase Clinical Trials.

Background Early phase clinical trials evaluate the safety and efficacy of new treatments. The exclusion/inclusion criteria in these trials are usually rigorous and may exclude many patients seen in clinical practice. Our objective was to study the comorbidities limiting the participation of patients with breast, colorectal, or lung cancer in clinical trials. Materials and methods We queried ClinicalTrials.gov on December 31, 2016. We reviewed the eligibility criteria of 1,103 trials. Logistic regression analyses were completed, and exclusion was studied as a binary variable. Results Out of 1,103 trials, 70 trials (6%) excluded patients >75 years of age, and 45% made no reference to age. Eighty-six percent of trials placed restrictions on patients with history of prior malignancies. Regarding central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, 416 trials (38%) excluded all patients with CNS metastasis, and 373 (34%) only allowed asymptomatic CNS metastasis. Regarding chronic viral infections, 347 trials (31%) excluded all patients with human immunodeficiency virus, and 228 trials (21%) excluded all patients with hepatitis B or C infection. On univariate analysis, chemotherapy trials were more likely to exclude patients with CNS metastasis and history of other malignancies than targeted therapy trials. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that industry-sponsored trials had higher odds of excluding patients with compromised liver function. Conclusion Many clinical trials excluded large segments of the population of patients with cancer. Frequent exclusion criteria included patients with CNS metastasis, history of prior malignancies, and chronic viral infections. The criteria for participation in some clinical trials may be overly restrictive and limit enrollment. Implications for practice The results of this study revealed that most early phase clinic trials contain strict exclusion criteria, potentially excluding the patients who may be more likely to represent the population treated in clinical settings, leaving patients susceptible to unintended harm from inappropriate generalization of trial results. Careful liberalization of the inclusion/exclusion criteria in clinical trials will allow investigators to understand the benefits and drawbacks of the experimental drug for a broader population, and possibly improve recruitment of patients with cancer into clinical trials.
Improving T Cell Receptor On-Target Specificity via Structure-Guided Design

T cell receptors (TCRs) have emerged as a new class of immunological therapeutics. However, though antigen specificity is a hallmark of adaptive immunity, TCRs themselves do not possess the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies. Although a necessary function of T cell biology, the resulting cross-reactivity presents a significant challenge for TCR-based therapeutic development, as it creates the potential for off-target recognition and immune toxicity. Efforts to enhance TCR specificity by mimicking the antibody maturation process and enhancing affinity can inadvertently exacerbate TCR cross-reactivity. Here we demonstrate this concern by showing that even peptide-targeted mutations in the TCR can introduce new reactivities against peptides that bear similarity to the original target. To counteract this, we explored a novel structure-guided approach for enhancing TCR specificity independent of affinity. Tested with the MART-1-specific TCR DMF5, our approach had a small but discernible impact on cross-reactivity toward MART-1 homologs yet was able to eliminate DMF5 cross-recognition of more divergent, unrelated epitopes. Our study provides a proof of principle for the use of advanced structure-guided design techniques for improving TCR specificity, and it suggests new ways forward for enhancing TCRs for therapeutic use.
The Black Sea, a Tertiary basin: Observations and insights

Abstract There has been a longstanding debate on the age and kinematics of the opening of the Black Sea Basin. This paper presents an alternative interpretation to that drawn by (Nikishin et al, 2015a;b) based on the same data. These demonstrate that the terminal phase of extensional faulting in the Black Sea occurred in the Paleocene, and as such, the age of the oceanic crust under both the eastern and western Black Sea is entirely of Tertiary age. These conclusions are based on the application of seismic stratigraphic principles to the seismic and well data already published by Nikishin and co-workers. A basin wide discordance, here termed ‘base passive infill’ separates pre and syn-kinematic section (Black Sea rifting) from the post kinematic infill of a pre-existing, failed rift. Based on the aforementioned published material, this surface post-dates pre and syn-kinematic Cretaceous strata on the Mid Black Sea High and is capped by post kinematic Tertiary section. The surface can be traced regionally throughout the Black Sea, indicating that for much of their history the Western and Eastern Black Sea Basins opened simultaneously.
Russia and Central Asia: coexistence, conquest and convergence

In Russia and Central Asia, Shoshana Keller explores the history of Russia and Central Asia through the lens of their multidimensional relations over the last eight hundred years. Well informed on ...
Pre-equilibrium neutron emission in fission or fragmentation

Fissioning nuclei and fission fragments, nuclear fragments emerging from energetic collisions, or nuclei probed with various external fields can emit one or more pre-equilibrium neutrons, protons, and potentially other heavier nuclear fragments. I describe a formalism which can be used to evaluate the pre-equilibrium neutron emission probabilities and the excitation energies of the remnant fragments.
Transcranial MR-Guided Histotripsy System

Histotripsy has been previously shown to treat a wide range of locations through excised human skulls in vitro . In this article, a transcranial magnetic resonance (MR)-guided histotripsy (tcMRgHt) system was developed, characterized, and tested in the in vivo pig brain through an excised human skull. A 700-kHz, 128-element MR-compatible phased-array ultrasound transducer with a focal depth of 15 cm was designed and fabricated in-house. Support structures were also constructed to facilitate transcranial treatment. The tcMRgHt array was acoustically characterized with a peak negative pressure up to 137 MPa in free field, 72 MPa through an excised human skull with aberration correction, and 48.4 MPa without aberration correction. The electronic focal steering range through the skull was 33.5 mm laterally and 50 mm axially, where a peak negative pressure above the 26-MPa cavitation intrinsic threshold can be achieved. The MR compatibility of the tcMRgHt system was assessed quantitatively using SNR, B0 field map, and B1 field map in a clinical 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Transcranial treatment using electronic focal steering was validated in red blood cell phantoms and in vivo pig brain through an excised human skull. In two pigs, targeted cerebral tissue was successfully treated through the human skull as confirmed by MRI. Excessive bleeding or edema was not observed in the peri-target zones by the time of pig euthanasia. These results demonstrated the feasibility of using this preclinical tcMRgHt system for in vivo transcranial treatment in a swine model.
Transient versus sustained biophysical responses to dam removal

Abstract Dams fragment the longitudinal flux of sediment and obstruct fish passage. To help remediate these impacts, dam removal has become an important tool in the river restoration toolkit. Scientifically, these removals also provide an important experimental design, fixed in time and space, to quantify geomorphic and ecological responses to removal of a disturbance. Using the removal of a 6 m high dam in Massachusetts (USA), we quantify the immediate and subsequent channel and ecological recovery to test whether the immediate ecological/geomorphic responses were sustained or transient. Initial geomorphic adjustments have been generally sustained since removal, especially for bed sediment size, where initial fining and reduction in bed caliber size has been maintained over the course of the study. Sampling of transported passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged clasts indicates that the median of bedload grain sizes now corresponds to surface median grain sizes below the former dam. Channel cross-sectional area varied irregularly downstream initially but is now spatially uniform. Pool filling, however, has been a transient response as initial aggradation shifted to sediment evacuation. Ecologically, upstream establishment of resident fish species previously restricted to below-dam locations occurred in the first year after removal. Upstream expansion increased upstream species richness and has been maintained throughout the study period, in spite of the variability in presence and abundance of rare and migratory species such as the anadromous Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). In contrast, a reduction in abundance of resident species in dam proximal sites in 2012 appears to be a transient response to abrupt and intense bed movement associated with removal of the dam, as numbers recovered and, in some cases, exceeded pre-dam removal levels. Overall, we found that immediate (within the first 1–2 yr), sustained effects on geomorphology and ecology dominated the response to dam removal in this system, a finding that may be generally applicable to small dam removals in upland catchments.
Using weak supervision and deep learning to classify clinical notes for identification of current suicidal ideation.

Abstract Mental health concerns, such as suicidal thoughts, are frequently documented by providers in clinical notes, as opposed to structured coded data. In this study, we evaluated weakly supervised methods for detecting “current” suicidal ideation from unstructured clinical notes in electronic health record (EHR) systems. Weakly supervised machine learning methods leverage imperfect labels for training, alleviating the burden of creating a large manually annotated dataset. After identifying a cohort of 600 patients at risk for suicidal ideation, we used a rule-based natural language processing approach (NLP) approach to label the training and validation notes (n = 17,978). Using this large corpus of clinical notes, we trained several statistical machine learning models—logistic classifier, support vector machines (SVM), Naive Bayes classifier—and one deep learning model, namely a text classification convolutional neural network (CNN), to be evaluated on a manually-reviewed test set (n = 837). The CNN model outperformed all other methods, achieving an overall accuracy of 94% and a F1-score of 0.82 on documents with “current” suicidal ideation. This algorithm correctly identified an additional 42 encounters and 9 patients indicative of suicidal ideation but missing a structured diagnosis code. When applied to a random subset of 5,000 clinical notes, the algorithm classified 0.46% (n = 23) for “current” suicidal ideation, of which 87% were truly indicative via manual review. Implementation of this approach for large-scale document screening may play an important role in point-of-care clinical information systems for targeted suicide prevention interventions and improve research on the pathways from ideation to attempt.
A Classification Framework to Assess Ecological, Biogeochemical, and Hydrologic Synchrony and Asynchrony

Ecosystems in the Anthropocene face pressures from multiple, interacting forms of environmental change. These pressures, resulting from land use change, altered hydrologic regimes, and climate change, will likely change the synchrony of ecosystem processes as distinct components of ecosystems are impacted in different ways. However, discipline-specific definitions and ad hoc methods for identifying synchrony and asynchrony have limited broader synthesis of this concept among studies and across disciplines. Drawing on concepts from ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry, we offer a unifying definition of synchrony for ecosystem science and propose a classification framework for synchrony and asynchrony of ecosystem processes. This framework classifies the relationships among ecosystem processes according to five key aspects: (1) the focal variables or relationships representative of the ecosystem processes of interest, (2) the spatial and temporal domain of interest, (3) the structural attributes of drivers and focal processes, (4) consistency in the relationships over time, and (5) the degree of causality among focal processes. Using this classification framework, we identify and differentiate types of synchrony and asynchrony, thereby providing the basis for comparing among studies and across disciplines. We apply this classification framework to existing studies in the ecological, hydrologic, geomorphic, and biogeochemical literature and discuss potential analytical tools that can be used to quantify synchronous and asynchronous processes. Furthermore, we seek to promote understanding of how different types of synchrony or asynchrony may shift in response to ongoing environmental change by providing a universal definition and explicit types and drivers with this framework.
Physician communication about adolescent vaccination: How is human papillomavirus vaccine different?

Abstract Background Low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage stands in stark contrast to our success in delivering other adolescent vaccines. To identify opportunities for improving physicians' recommendations for HPV vaccination, we sought to understand how the communication context surrounding adolescent vaccination varies by vaccine type. Methods A national sample of 776 U.S. physicians (53% pediatricians, 47% family medicine physicians) completed our online survey in 2014. We assessed physicians' perceptions and communication practices related to recommending adolescent vaccines for 11- and 12-year-old patients. Results About three-quarters of physicians (73%) reported recommending HPV vaccine as highly important for patients, ages 11–12. More physicians recommended tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) (95%) and meningococcal vaccines (87%, both p Conclusions Our findings suggest that primary care physicians perceived HPV vaccine discussions to be burdensome, requiring more time and engendering less parental support than other adolescent vaccines. Perhaps for this reason, physicians in our national study recommended HPV vaccine less strongly than other adolescent vaccines, and often chose to discuss it last. Communication strategies are needed to support physicians in recommending HPV vaccine with greater confidence and efficiency.
Abstract TP350: Protecting Stroke Patients from Aspiration and Mortality through a Bedside Aspiration Screen

Background: Stroke patients initially experience dysphagia approximately 42-76% of the time, putting them at high risk for developing aspiration pneumonia and increasing the risk of death threefold in the first 30 days following onset of the condition. Interventions to identify risk for aspiration pneumonia are key to reducing mortality in hospitalized patients. However, no generally recognized bedside aspiration screen exists, and few have been rigorously tested. The Edith-Huhn-Matesic Bedside Aspiration Screen (EHMBAS) TM was developed as an evidence-based RN bedside aspiration screening protocol. Purpose: This study analyzed the sensitivity and inter-rater reliability of EHMBAS TM , assessed the efficacy of training methods, evaluated patient feedback, and looked at the impact of organizational learning. Methods: RNs were trained to apply the EHMBAS TM . An evaluation study assessed the sensitivity, specificity and predictability of the screen to detect aspiration in the stroke population study group. Cohen’s Kappa statistics was applied to test inter-rater reliability. Pre- and post-implementation Likert surveys examined patient and staff satisfaction on the education plan and screening process, respectively. Lastly, an analysis of organizational learning examined whether changes enhanced adherence to screening requirements. Results: Results showed that the EHMBAS TM demonstrated strong validity (94% sensitivity) and high inter-rater reliability (Kappa = .92, p Conclusions: This study contributes to the body of work aimed at establishing a reliable evidence-based, bedside aspiration screen. Patient safety is enhanced, because screen results help determine when patients can safely receive medication and nutrition by mouth.
The estimation of upper atmospheric wind model updates from infrasound data

[1] In our recent paper, the sensitivity of infrasound to the upper atmosphere is investigated using impulsive signals from the Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. We reported on the coherent variability of thermospheric travel times, with periods equal to those of the tidal harmonics. Moreover, it was shown that the error in predicted thermospheric travel time is in accord with typical uncertainties in the upper atmospheric wind speed models. Given the observed response of the infrasound celerities to upper atmospheric tidal variability, it was suggested that infrasound observations may be used to reduce uncertainty in the knowledge of the atmospheric specifications in the upper atmosphere. In this paper, we discuss the estimation of upper atmospheric wind model updates from the infrasound data described in the aforementioned paper. The parameterization of the model space by empirical orthogonal functions is described; it is found that the wind model in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere can be described by a four-parameter model. Due to the small dimensionality of the model space, a grid search method can be used to solve the inverse problem. A Bayesian method is used to assess the uncertainty in the inverse solution given the a priori uncertainty in the data and model spaces and the nonlinearity of the inverse problem at hand. We believe that this is the first study in which such methods are applied to real infrasound data, allowing for a rigorous analysis of this inverse problem. It is found that the complexity of the a posteriori model distribution increases for a larger dimensional model space and larger uncertainties in the data. A case study is presented in which the nonlinear propagation from source to receiver is simulated using an updated wind model and nonlinear ray theory. As nonlinear propagation effects further constrain the propagation path, this is a way to check the physical self-consistency of the travel time inversion approach. We obtain excellent agreement between the simulated and observed waveforms.
Regulation of Stock Externalities With Learning

We study the situation where firms' actions contribute to a stock externality. The regulator and firms have asymmetric information about serially correlated (abatement) costs. With price-based policies such as taxes, the regulator learns about the evolution of both stock and costs. This ability to learn is important in determining the ranking of taxes and quotas, and in determining the value of a feedback rather than an open-loop policy.
Physical‐biological synchrony in the global ocean associated with recent variability in the central and western equatorial Pacific

[1] Synchrony in the second modes of an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of global physical and biological properties is described for the 1993–2010 time period. High correlations are found between the El Nino Modoki index and principal component time series of sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, photosynthetically active radiation, precipitation, surface currents, surface chlorophyll concentration, and equatorial temperature profiles. Spatial patterns indicate that the second mode is also associated with the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO). Biological changes during traditional El Ninos (first EOF mode) have been explained on the basis of strong and coherent variations in thermocline depth, wind-driven upwelling and light, but changes associated with the second mode are more subtle and complex. Equatorial temperature profiles indicate that the warming is confined to the mixed layer and that changes in thermocline depth are small. The biological changes associated with the second mode may be driven by a combination of weak perturbations to vertical nutrient supply and the strength of subtropical gyres. In the western tropical Pacific, the site of some of the strongest perturbations, the biological changes can be associated with the occurrence and thickness of barrier layers and to island effects downstream of the Kiribati Islands. Globally integrated impacts of the second mode are much weaker than those associated with the traditional ENSO. During the positive phase, chlorophyll is strongly enhanced in the tropics and weakly enhanced at the global scale in sharp contrast to traditional El Nino effects. The analysis improves our understanding of global-scale physical and biological coupling associated with the so-called El Nino Modoki and the NPGO.
Plato’s Method of Division

Our main difficulty with Plato’s method of division is that we don’t know what is being divided or what it is being divided into. And until we know these things, we don’t know very much about the method of division.
Equilibrium Models in Real Estate Research: A Survey

Equilibrium analysis is a valuable tool in real estate investment research. In this survey, I show how equilibrium models have been used to estimate the required risk premium for different classes of real estate, to explain real house prices, and to determine investment rental market adjustment and valuation (as well as to predict future rent, price, and value developments). Equilibrium analysis has also increased our understanding of differences in coupon or rental rates on loans or leases with and without various optionlike features. Because the work on leases has lagged that on loans or mortgages, application of the mortgage research methodology to leases is an especially fertile area for research.
Radiation-Induced IFN-γ Production within the Tumor Microenvironment Influences Antitumor Immunity

Alterations to the tumor microenvironment following localized irradiation may influence the effectiveness of subsequent immunotherapy. The objective of this study was to determine how IFN-γ influences the inflammatory response within this dynamic environment following radiotherapy. B16/OVA melanoma cells were implanted into C57BL/6 (wild-type (WT)) and IFN-γ-deficient (IFN-γ −/− ) mice. Seven days after implantation, mice received 15 Gy of localized tumor irradiation and were assessed 7 days later. Irradiation up-regulated the expression of VCAM-1 on the vasculature of tumors grown in WT but not in IFN-γ −/− mice. Levels of the IFN-γ-inducible chemokines MIG and IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 were decreased in irradiated tumors from IFN-γ −/− mice compared with WT. In addition to inducing molecular cues necessary for T cell infiltration, surface MHC class I expression is also up-regulated in response to IFN-γ produced after irradiation. The role of IFN-γ signaling in tumor cells on class I expression was tested using B16/OVA cells engineered to overexpress a dominant negative mutant IFN-γ receptor (B16/OVA/DNM). Following implantation and treatment, expression of surface class I on tumor cells in vivo was increased in B16/OVA, but not in B16/OVA/DNM tumors, suggesting IFN-γ acts directly on tumor cells to induce class I up-regulation. These increases in MHC class I expression correlated with greater levels of activated STAT1. Thus, IFN-γ is instrumental in creating a tumor microenvironment conducive for T cell infiltration and tumor cell target recognition.
Physical Properties of Dentin

F OR some time there has been considerable interest directed toward the evalution of dental restorations from the physical property standpoint. The dental profession has long recognized that the success of a restorative appliance is dependent not only on the satisfaction of biologic criteria but, in addition, on the capabilities of the restorative materials as well as the tooth structure to resist external displacements and internal deformations. For purposes of clarity, external displacement is defined as a relative movement of the restoration with respect to the tooth, while internal deformation is defined as the dimensional change of the restoration or tooth with respect to itself. These effects are governed by the laws of mechanics and the inherent physical properties of the materials involved; either of them can result in the failure of the restorative attempt. These movements are caused by forces applied to the tooth and restoration which, in turn, may be manifestations of mastication, thermal effects within the mouth, setting change of the restorative materials, and insertion of the restoration. Present-day restorative preparations are results of years of practical experience and investigation, and have been qualitatively designed for retention or for resistance to external displacement, as well as to restore functon to the member involved. The quantitative analysis of external displacement and internal deformation, however, has not been investigated to any great extent, largely due to a lack of knowledge of the physical properties of tooth structure and restorative materials under the conditions which exist in the mouth. As an aid in solving the over-all problem of the effects of these dimensional changes, this study was directed toward the determination of the physical properties of dentin. G. V. Black' (1895) determined the crushing strength of .080 inch cubes of dentin, but because of his equipment limitations, was unable to determine the proportional limit or the modulus of elasticity. Subsequent to this date, no substantial work has been done on these properties. The difficulties connected with this investigation were quite extensive due to the many existing variables and will be borne out by the ensuing discussion. In general, the preparation of test specimens and the testing of them were further complicated by the small sizes involved and the absence of engineering testing procedures for these sizes, in addition to the heterogeneity of the tooth structure itself. As a result of these difficulties, the initial work, which is reported in this paper, was the determination of the existence of all the variables involved, so that further investigation on the singular effect of these variables could be expedited. In addition, working values of the physical properties of dentin were desired in order to establish a basis for analyzing the movements as described previously.
Search for photons from the decay of the delta resonance in heavy-ion collisions

Results are presented from a search for high-energy gamma rays (${\mathit{E}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$g140 MeV) resulting from the decay of the delta resonance produced in heavy-ion collisions. The energy spectrum of gamma rays in the energy range 15${\mathit{E}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$180 MeV was measured at a laboratory angle of 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} for the reaction $^{14}\mathrm{N}$+Zn. The incident beam energy was E/A=75 MeV. The energy spectrum in the region 50${\mathit{E}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$180 MeV is exponential with an inverse slope parameter of 26 MeV. There is no indication of an enhancement in the spectrum above 140 MeV due to the decay of the delta resonance.
CAN MITRAL INFLOW PATTERN ALONE EXCLUDE SEVERE ORGANIC MITRAL REGURGITATION IN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION

As per the ASE guidelines, mitral E wave velocity >1.2 m/sec supports severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and a wave dominance excludes severe MR. Determine the sensitivity and specificity of E wave velocity for diagnosis of severe MR in patients with organic MR and normal left ventricular ejection
The ombudsman roots of US state utility consumer advocates

Abstract Overcoming weakness inherent in ad hoc pro-consumer groups engaged in influencing regulatory policy making, Offices of Consumer Advocate (OCAs) fulfil their legislative mandates through active representation of the consumer interest before state regulatory commissions. OCA actions in such venues continue the ancient tradition of the ombudsman by actively representing the consuming public through presentation of arguments countering those of service providers, forcing them in effect to prove their case adequately. The Pennsylvania controversy surrounding the proposed introduction of ‘caller-ID’ service is an example. Despite utility commission support of Bell of Pennsylvania's proposal, the OCA (in cooperation with other pro-consumer groups) successfully blocked the introduction of this service.
Familial partial lipodystrophy: Complications of obesity in the non-obese?

Abstract The increased frequency of metabolic perturbations in overweight individuals whose fat is predominantly central, as compared with those whose fat is more generalized in distribution suggests that characteristics of fat other than an excess promote the morbidity of the obese. In this report we describe the location and quantity of body fat together with the status of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in 8 females affected with familial partial lipodystrophy, a rare condition in which peripheral subcutaneous fat is mostly absent while there is retention or an increase in central adiposity. The 8 subjects had normal or reduced amounts of body fat as determined by body density measurements. Computerized axial tomograms in two subjects showed that there was normal to increased amounts of intra-abdominal fat and irregular pockets of subcutaneous fat overlying the abdomen. Plasma triglycerides varied but were elevated in all subjects ranging from 171 to 3720 mg/dl (normal = 103 ± 36). Mild sustained elevations in mean systolic blood pressure (> 135 mm Hg) occurred in 4. Two of the 8 had fasting hyperglycemia (>140 mg/dL) and a third was intolerant to oral, but not to intravenous glucose. Fasting serum insulin concentrations were uniformly elevated (22 to 51 uU/ml) and, in most instances, responded to both glucose and arginine with exaggerated increments, but there was no delay in insulin release. Mild insulin resistance was documented by the failure to respond to standard insulin injections, and there were decreased insulin receptors on erythrocytes. Basal plasma glucagon concentrations were generally elevated, did not suppress during oral glucose administrations and rose 2 to 5 times basal levels during intravenous infusion of arginine. These studies emphasize that the various complications of the obese, especially those with centralized obesity, are seen in a non-obese condition characterized by an increase in the ratio of central to peripheral fat.
Rapid, Affordable, and Point-of-Care Water Monitoring Via a Microfluidic DNA Sensor and a Mobile Interface for Global Health

Contaminated water is a serious concern in many developing countries with severe health consequences particularly for children. Current methods for monitoring waterborne pathogens are often time consuming, expensive, and labor intensive, making them not suitable for these regions. Electrochemical detection in a microfluidic platform offers many advantages such as portability, minimal use of instrumentation, and easy integration with electronics. In many parts of the world, however, the required equipment for pathogen detection through electrochemical sensors is either not available or insufficiently portable, and operators may not be trained to use these sensors and interpret results, ultimately preventing its wide adoption. Counterintuitively, these same regions often have an extensive mobile phone infrastructure, suggesting the possibility of integrating electrochemical detection of bacterial pathogens with a mobile platform. Toward a solution to water quality interventions, we demonstrate a microfluidic electrochemical sensor combined with a mobile interface that detects the sequences from bacterial pathogens, suitable for rapid, affordable, and point-of-care water monitoring. We employ the transduction of DNA hybridization into a readily detectable electric signal by means of a conformational change of DNA stem-loop structure. Using this platform, we successfully demonstrate the detection of as low as 100 nM E. coli sequences and the automatic interpretation and mapping of the detection results via a mobile application.
Herrnstein and Murray, Inc. "IQs 'R Us.".

The basic claims of The Bell Curve are contradicted. Studies are reviewed indicating that consensus does not exist that IQ tests measure intelligence. When sociocultural environment was held constant, differences in measured intelligence between groups were not present. Claims of 60% within group heritability are based on twin studies where a significant number of separated twins were reared in similar environments. Degree of African or European ancestry does not correlate with test scores. Environmental programs can bring about significant changes in the lives of the participants. The purpose of The Bell Curve is not to disseminate knowledge, but to provide a weapon to justify continued economic disenfranchisement of the low-income members of society.
The Use of Mass Spectrometry in the Sequencing of Peptides of Biological Importance

Abstract A new permethylation reaction is described. This reaction is applicable for sequencing biologically important oligopeptides by means of mass spectrometry. The technique is illustrated-with a tetrapeptide that cannot be sequenced as easily by other methods.
Effect of neurotrauma on hepatic drug clearance.

Lorazepam, antipyrine, and indocyanine green were administered to 10 patients with severe head injuries as marker substrates of hepatic glucuronidation, oxidation, and hepatic blood flow, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were determined at baseline (20 to 80 hours after injury) and up to three additional times thereafter (study days 4, 7, and 14). Antipyrine clearance was increased significantly from baseline (0.50 ± 0.31 ml/min/kg) on study days 4, 7, and 14 (p < 0.0001). Increases in antipyrine clearance from baseline to the last study day were observed in all study patients ranging from 14% to 207%. A significant increase was also observed in lorazepam clearance on study day 14 relative to baseline (1.39 ± 0.56 ml/min/kg) (p < 0.005). Increases in lorazepam clearance occurred in seven of nine patients over time ranging from 9% to 130%. The unbound fraction of lorazepam did not change significantly over the study period. Likewise, no significant change was observed in the clearance of indocyanine green over time. Antipyrine clearance and α1-acid glycoprotein (r = 0.41), and lorazepam clearance and C-reactive protein (r = −0.38) were significantly correlated (p < 0.05). Similarly, antipyrine and lorazepam clearances were significantly correlated with injury severity based on the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score (r = −0.43 and r = −0.37, respectively). These findings suggest that hepatic oxidative and conjugative metaboHsm increase significantly over time in patients after acute head injury. An awareness of the potential for pharmacokinetic alterations in similarly metabolized drugs used for patients with severe head injuries is recommended. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1991) 50, 487–497; doi:10.1038/clpt.1991.173
Pain Without Lesion: Debate Among American Neurologists, 1850–1900

The central claim of this paper is that neurologists in mid-to-late nineteenth-century America generally denied the possibility that pain could exist in the absence of material lesion. There is ongoing debate over the medical status of pain sufferers in mid-to-late nineteenth-century America, with some arguing that what we might now term “chronic pain” became invisible during the period; others assert that physicians of the time were acutely aware of and sensitive to the suffering of their patients from a variety of pain experiences. Drawing on prior work related to the social and cultural efficacy produced in fin-de-siecle American culture by imaging the visible lesion, I argue that these apparently divergent views are both correct. On the one hand, there is little support in the primary sources for the idea that mid-to-late nineteenth-century American physicians ignored or trivialized the pain experiences of their patients. Indeed, given the Victorian emphasis on suffering and sympathy, such behaviour would have been especially taboo, at least with regards to socially privileged patients. On the other hand, the fact that American physicians of the time were aware of and sensitive to their patients’ pain does not imply that the physicians allowed that such pain could exist in the absence of a material (morbid) lesion. I contend that American neurologists followed their European counterparts in repeatedly insisting that if the patient experiences pain, then such a lesion must perforce exist, even if imaging techniques of the time simply did not permit discernment of the lesion itself. This finding has several implications. First, it fills a gap in the relevant literature inasmuch as there is little sustained historical analysis of the attitudes, practices, and beliefs of mid-to-late nineteenth-century American physicians regarding pain without lesion. Second, it contributes to the historiography demonstrating the power and significance that the increasing emphasis on discrete objects of disease had in mid-to-late nineteenth-century America. Third, it suggests some possible lessons for thinking about the continuing importance of the visible lesion in the widespread undertreatment of pain in the contemporary USA.
Acculturative Experiences of Black-African International Students

There has been a significant increase in the number of international students pursuing higher education in the U.S. since 2001. Upon arrival, students are often beset with feelings of isolation and alienation, which are characteristic of adjusting to a new culture. African International students, specifically Black-African international students, are no different in this regard and often experience significant adjustment concerns. Most notable of the concerns for Black-African students are the issues of prejudice and discrimination, which can lead to the experience of acculturative stress. It is, therefore, imperative that institutions find ways to help Black-African international students adjust better to life in the U.S. This paper discusses some adjustment concerns of Black-African international students and provides some suggestions for addressing their concerns.
Risk-taking as a justification for property income

Abstract Socialist critics of capitalism maintain that property income received by capital owners under capitalism is unearned. Three of the best-known responses to this accusation are that property income is a return to (1) capital management effort, (2) saving; and (3) risk-taking. The validity of these responses is examined by means of the specification and analysis of models of capital management effort and saving to which the risk-taking dimension has been added through incorporation of elements of uncertainty. It is shown that the uncertainty models, no less than their certainty analogs, yield indeterminate results.
Optical biosensing: Kinetics of protein A-IGG binding using biolayer interferometry.

An undergraduate biochemistry laboratory experiment has been developed using biolayer interferometry (BLI), an optical biosensing technique similar to surface plasmon resonance (SPR), in which students obtain and analyze kinetic data for a protein-protein interaction. Optical biosensing is a technique of choice to determine kinetic and affinity constants for biomolecular interactions. Measurements can be made in real-time without labels, making biosensing particularly appropriate for the teaching laboratory. In the described exercise, students investigate the kinetics of Protein A-human Immunoglobin G binding under conditions that mimic simple 1:1 binding. Students prepare appropriate serial dilutions of IgG and set up a microplate for the experiment by aliquotting biotinylated Protein A, buffer, and IgG solutions. A commercial BLI sensor, the ForteBio Octet QK, is used to measure binding. While data are collected students prepare a spreadsheet with which they will simulate the data to determine k(on) , k(off) , and K(D) . Raw data from the sensor are then exported to the spreadsheets for analysis. Optimized experiment timing, regeneration methods and other parameters are described to increase throughput and reduce cost. The experiment is readily adaptable to other biosensing platforms such as SPR instruments.