cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diazepam in the treatment of spasticity. A preliminary quantitative evaluation.

THE DEVELOPMENT of muscle relaxant drugs has substantially strengthened general supportive therapy of neurologically disabled patients suffering from spasticity [l]. As a result of their action, symptomatic relief has been afforded to many patients for whom previously little could be done. The quantitative assessment of spasticity is of obvious importance when trying to evaluate response to spasmolytic therapy in general and to muscle relaxant drugs in particular. Several authors have described ways of measuring spasticity. TIMBERLAKE [2] used a gravity driven ergograph. ERDMAN [3] employed the light-beam reflection method using a strain-loaded reflex hammer and a lint-urn r&e&or. WEBSTER f4] measured the integration of torque in response to passive angular movement. LEAVRT and BEASLEY [5] introduced the correlation of electromyographic potentials in extensor and flexor muscles concurrently with resistive forces produced by a tensiometer and the angular position measured by an electric goniometer. Our method depends essentially on the integration of raw EMG data obtained by surface electromyography with the skeletal muscle hype~onia recorded either as a spontaneo~ event or as a response to specific stimulation 16, 71. As part of an extensive muscle relaxant program at this clinic a quantitative study of diazepam (Valium@,) was undertaken. Early reports indicated that diazepam had a high safety index and potency as a muscle relaxant 18, 91, considerations of great importance in dealing with spasticity in advanced neurologic~ disorders. It was decided to carry this study out open rather than a double-blind inasmuch as it was a preliminary investigation. It was intended to do a double-blind study at a future date.
Testing Physics and Chemistry Sensitivities in the U.S. EPA Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ)

Uncertainties in key elements of emissions and meteorology inputs to air quality models (AQMs) can range from 50 to 100% with some areas of emissions uncertainty even higher (Russell and Dennis, 2000). Uncertainties in the chemical mechanisms are thought to be smaller (Russell and Dennis, 2000) but can range to 30% or more as new techniques are applied to re-measure reaction rate constants and yields. Single perturbation sensitivity analyses have traditionally been used with AQMs to characterize effects of these uncertainties on peak predicted ozone concentration ([O3]). However, confidence in AQM applications depends on understanding the physical and chemical model dynamics in full emissions cases and in cases with proposed controls on oxides of nitrogen (NO + NO2 = NOX) and/or volatile organic compounds (VOC). With a sensitivity analysis, emissions control runs depict the true photochemical system change which we define as the O3 control response, δO3/δENOx and δO3/δEVOC, where δENOx or δEVOC is the type and amount of control required to reduce O3 to acceptable levels. The model’s most important sensitivity, correspondingly, is how its control response is changed by uncertain inputs and parameters, not simply how the resultant [O3] might be changed by the uncertainties in a full emissions case. We define that latter quantity as ∆O3, or the change in [O3] due only to the uncertainty perturbation with full emissions.
High-Pressure NMR Spectroscopy of Proteins

Advanced high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, including 2D NMR techniques, combined with the high-pressure capability represents a powerful new tool in studies of proteins. Selected results taken from recent studies illustrate the high information content and the range of problems that can be investigated. Design features and performance characteristics of high-sensitivity, high-resolution, variable-temperature NMR probes operating at 500 MHz and at pressures up to 900 MPa are described. The main portion of this chapter deals with an overview of several recent studies or studies in progress from our laboratory using 1D and 2D high-resolution, high-pressure NMR spectroscopy to investigate the pressure-induced reversible unfolding and cold denaturation of proteins. The following proteins were studied: ribonuclease A, lysozyme, apomyoglobin, arc repressor, and ubiquitin.
Minimally Invasive Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Carcinoma

The abstract should read, “This chapter is an evidence-based review of the current medical literature on the use of minimally invasive thyroidectomy (MIT) techniques for thyroid carcinoma. Specifically, we will review various guidelines from different organizations and compare these guidelines to results with MIT in the literature. This review is structured around several themes including the use of MIT techniques for the surgical management of indeterminate thyroid nodules, papillary and micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, prophylactic and therapeutic central neck compartment lymphadenectomy, and lateral neck compartment lymphadenectomy.”
Substance abuse prevention

Substance use disorders account for approximately 6% of deaths worldwide and cost about $700 billion in the United States. Approximately 80% of drug users begin using during adolescence, underscoring the public health importance of effective substance prevention programs for youth and families. Prevention science designates 3 intervention categories: (1) universal prevention, targeting all individuals in the population, (2) selective interventions, targeting high-risk groups, and (3) indicated prevention interventions for youth with risk-taking behaviors. School-based and non-school-based interventions are reviewed, as well as the limitations of existing research, gaps in access and availability, and directions for future research and development.
Municipal Bankruptcy: When Doing Less is Doing Best

The bankruptcy process takes as a given the pre-bankruptcy allocation of economic risk. Yet, the Bankruptcy Code permits this risk to be reallocated through the adjustment process so long as that reallocation is "fair and equitable," does not "discriminate unfairly," and is in the "best interests" of creditors. The first two look to bankruptcy law for their definitions; the third derives from state law. Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code does not resolve any conflicts among these requirements. This uncertain state of affairs generates a powerful incentive among most parties to settle. So long as the court retains the power to dismiss the case and remit the conflicts to the vagaries of state adjudication, Chapter 9 functions to create an institutional game of Chicken driving stakeholders to consensus.
Optical fiber chemical sensor

Development of an optical fiber sensing element for chemical detection requires a mechanism to transform the presence of the chemical into a physical effect that can be measured optically. In the sensor presented here this is accomplished by coating the fiber with a material which will swell, or change its dimensions, on exposure to the specific chemical. Using a simple 1-D model the change in length of such a sensing element is given by
5-Methycytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Psychiatric Epigenetics

Individuals with psychosis, including schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder patients (BP) with psychosis (BP+), express a complex symptomatology characterized by core symptoms that include positive and negative symptoms, as well as cognitive impairment. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interactions, altered verbal and non-verbal communications, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. Although each disorder has a unique morbidity, age of onset, temporal progression, and responsiveness to pharmacological therapy, there are some shared features with respect to symptomatology that suggest common or overlapping endophenotypes. Postmortem studies of human SZ and BP+brains indicate that there are considerable alterations in the transcriptome of a variety of cortical and limbic structures which, in turn, likely reflect widespread changes in the epigenome. mRNA profiling studies show expression levels that are both up- and/or downregulated in inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, excitatory (glutamatergic) pyramidal neurons, and glia at distinct stages of adolescent maturation and in the adult compared with non-psychiatric subjects (NPS). Alterations in the transcriptome and the epigenome have also been demonstrated in multiple types of neurons and brain regions in ASD, as well as in psychosis. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide completers may also exhibit distinct and overlapping alterations in the epigenome. Many of the symptomatic phenotypes associated with these complex psychiatric disorders are likely the consequence of early-life stressors that occur during prenatal or early-life neurodevelopment. The establishment and maintenance of CpG site methylation are essential during central nervous system maturation and neuronal differentiation. We propose that these DNA modifications represent interconvertible epigenetic states that are context dependent and likely associated with early developmental stress. Whereas CpG methylation is linked with transcriptional downregulation, the role of hydroxymethylation in transcriptional regulation is less clear. Studies also show that CpG binding by methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins acts to both facilitate and antagonize repressed chromatin. DNA-modifying proteins, such as DNMT1 and TET1, also bind CpGs independent of their catalytic function. In addition, both DNMT1 and MeCP2 are more abundant in GABAergic cortical neurons and hippocampal neurons, suggesting the possibility that inhibitory interneurons may differ in how they regulate gene expression as compared with excitatory neurons. Recent experimental observations raise the possibility that neuron-specific targets may be differentially exploited for pharmacological intervention in treating selective endophentoypes associated with psychiatric disorders. There is also widespread interest in understanding whether genome-wide methylation (methylomic) biomarkers present in blood might be useful in predicting BP+, SZ, BP, MDD, ASD, suicide, and responsiveness to specific psychiatric medications.
Long-term outcomes after multidisciplinary management of T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: Improved functional outcomes and survival with modern therapeutic approaches.

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes after initial definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for T3 laryngeal cancers. Methods We reviewed 412 patients treated for T3 laryngeal squamous cell cancer from 1985 to 2011. Results The 10-year overall survival (OS) was 35%; disease-specific-survival (DSS) was 61%; locoregional control was 76%; and freedom from distant metastasis was 83%. Chemotherapy, age, performance status <2, node-negative status, and glottic subsite were associated with improved survival (all p < .03). Larynx preservation with induction and/or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (LP-CRT) had better laryngectomy-free survival than RT alone (LP-RT; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47–0.81; p = .0005); 10-year laryngectomy-free survival rates of the LP-CRT cohort (37%) were higher than those of the LP-RT cohort (18%). The 5-year DSS and OS rates of the LP-CRT cohort (79% and 67%) were better after total laryngectomy with postoperative RT (TL-PORT; 61% and 50%) and LP-RT (64% and 46%; p < .006 for all). Conclusion In patients with T3 laryngeal cancers, LP-CRT provides better functional, oncologic, and survival outcomes than historical TL-PORT or LP-RT does. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1739–1751, 2016
Contemporary Search Behavior and the Information Age

For several years, there has been a significant amount of discussion about the impact of the Internet on search behavior. Researchers have been trying to understand how “the Millennials” and digita...
Literature and the Human Condition in Teaching and Learning.

ABSTRACTThe benefits of literature are countless. Social workers, however, are usually not inclined to count the teaching and practice of social work among its beneficiaries. We believe that literature is one of the ways to enrich vital components of social work knowledge, attitudes, and skills. In this article, we begin by calling attention to a historical precedent for the use of literature in social work education and practice. We then examine recent research on the impact of literature on human behavior, empathy, and critical thinking and consider its epistemological roots. Next, we review evidence from social work journals on the use of literature in teaching and practice. Having examined the relationships of literature to professional knowledge and practice, we devote most of the article to illustrating how, as social work educators, we are and can be using literature effectively in the teaching of social work.
A Deep-Dive into the Rosetta Energy Function for Biological Macromolecules

Over the past decade, the Rosetta biomolecular modeling suite has informed various biological questions ranging from folding and docking to the interpretation of low-resolution structural data, design of nanomaterials, and vaccines. Central to Rosetta's success is the energy function: a set of mathematical models used to approximate the free energy of a macromolecule. In this presentation, we will describe the concepts and calculations that underlie the Rosetta energy function. We will present the mathematics and origin of the major energy terms (van der Waals, implicit solvation, electrostatics, and hydrogen bonding, and design reference energies), and we will explain where numerical stability and efficiency limitations have led to modifications of these functions. Applying these concepts, we will explain how to use a Rosetta energy calculation to select and analyze the features of output models. Finally, we discuss the latest advances in the energy function that extend capabilities from soluble proteins to also include membranes, DNA, RNA, and other macromolecules.
Rethinking the Subscription Paradigm for Journals: Using Interlibrary Loan in Collection Development for Serials

Many librarians evaluate local Interlibrary Loan (ILL) statistics as part of collection development decisions concerning new subscriptions. In this study, the authors examine whether the number of ILL article requests received in one academic year can predict the use of those same journal titles once they are added as library resources. There is little correlation between ILL requests for individual titles and their later use as subscribed titles. However, there is strong correlation between ILL requests within a subject category and later use of subscribed titles in that subject category. An additional study examining the sources from which patrons made ILL requests shows that database search results, not journal titles, dominate. These results call into question the need for libraries to subscribe to individual journal titles rather than providing access to a broad array of articles.
DEVELOPMENT TEST SYSTEM BASED ON LINEAR EQUATIONS TWO VARIABLE REVISED TAXONOMY BLOOM TO MEASURE HIGH ORDER THINKING SKILLS AT STUDENT CLASS VIII SMPN SUNGGUMINASA GOWA

High-level thinking skills based on a revised Bloom's taxonomy is an ability that involves the analysis, evaluation, and create the dikombainkan with dimensions of factual knowledge, conceptual and procedural. This research is the development (Research and Development), which aims to generate test Systems of Linear Equations Two Variables based on a revised taxonomy Bloom qualified to measure high-level thinking skills class VIII SMPN Sungguminasa Gowa. The subjects were the students of class VIII SMPN 4 Sungguminasa Gowa 117 people composed of 80 women and 37 men. Procedure development of instruments that are used to adopt the design development of formative research by Tesmer comprising the step of preliminary, namely the determination of the place and the subject of research, the stage of self-evaluation that is, identifying the learning material of mathematics, knowing the number of students and the information that the students have not got and do the problems higher level thinking and preparation of design problems of high-level description of thinking and formative stages of evaluation (expert review, evaluation of one to one, small group evaluation, and field test). The results showed that the test instrument system of linear equations of two variables based on Bloom's taxonomy developed revisions of quality in this case are valid, reliable, and has the potential effect of high-level thinking skills test that can be completed by students according to the level of mathematical ability. High-ability students can take the test high capability to the level of creation, capable students were able to take the test high caliber to the level evaluate, and low-ability students are only able to work on high-ability test at level analyzes
Moyal Deformation of 2D Euler Equation and Discretization

In this paper we discuss the Moyal deformed 2D Euler flows and its Lax pairs. This in turn yields the semi-discrete version of 2D Euler equation.
In-situ micro-CT characterization of mechanical properties and failure mechanism of cementitious syntactic foams

Abstract The advancements in structural materials are guided by the desire of lowering the density and increasing the strength. Composite materials show promise in tuning the density and strength to meet specific design requirements. Lightweight cementitious materials, such as foamed concretes, are generally known to show poor mechanical properties (e.g., compressive strength and elastic modulus). The lack of control over the size, shape, and distribution of air voids severely limits the improvement of mechanical properties in lightweight cementitious materials. This work is focused on manufacturing and examining the mechanical properties of cementitious syntactic foams with hollow glass microspheres. Use of hollow particles to incorporate porosity allows for the control over the size, shape, and volume fraction of voids present in the composite. Hollow glass microspheres with several different densities (0.15–0.60 g/cm3) are used in different volume fractions (20%–50%) to manufacture the cementitious syntactic foams. The results show that cementitious syntactic foams (CSF) have compressive strengths (32–88 MPa) and elastic moduli (10–20 GPa) for a given range of low density (1.15–1.80 g/cm3), which are better than other cellular cementitious materials in the same density range. In-situ micro-CT scan results reveal that the micro-fracture mechanisms in CSFs under compressive loading depend on the microsphere density and aging of the material.
Basket trial of TRK inhibitors demonstrates efficacy in TRK fusion-positive cancers.

Unlike many conventional cancers with preferential patterns of oncogenic genetic alterations, TRK fusions resulting from NTRK1/2/3 genetic alterations drive oncogenic transformations in more than 20 different malignancies over diverse tissue/cell lineages, in both children and adults. A recent “basket” study of larotrectinib, a TRK inhibitor, has demonstrated significant efficacy in TRK fusion-positive tumors of all types from infants to the elderly. Here, we discuss the larotrectinib study and perspectives and challenges in developing “tumor-agnostic” targeted therapies in rare tumors.
Concordance of common data elements for assessment of subjective cognitive complaints after mild-traumatic brain injury: a TRACK-TBI Pilot Study.

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine characteristics and concordance of subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) 6 months following mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI) as assessed by two different TBI common data elements (CDEs).Research design: The Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) Pilot Study was a prospective observational study that utilized the NIH TBI CDEs, Version 1.0. We examined variables associated with SCC, performance on objective cognitive tests (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, California Verbal Learning Test, and Trail Making Tests A and B), and agreement on self-report of SCCs as assessed by the acute concussion evaluation (ACE) versus the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ).Results: In total, 68% of 227 participants endorsed SCCs at 6 months. Factors associated with SCC included less education, psychiatric history, and being assaulted. Compared to participants without SCC, those with SCC defined by RPQ performed significantly w...
Osteochondritis and Osteonecrosis

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and osteonecrosis are two of the many types of pathology that may affect the bony structures of the knee. They are similar in at least three ways. Both lesions occur most commonly in the femoral condyles when they involve the knee. In advanced lesions, both OCD and osteonecrosis are manifested radiographically by collapse of the subchondral bone plate with formation of intra-articular loose bodies. Finally, they may have similar histology, with necrotic bone identified within the involved regions.
Synthesis and Characterization of an Eco-Friendly Herbicides Against Weeds

Herbicides that kill plants by inhibiting specific vital functions do not distinguish between crop plants and weeds. Such non-selective herbicides are generally applied before sowing/emergence of crop plants and their residual effects may affect crop performance. There is limited flexibility in the schedule of their application and their use requires caution. However, some crop plants enjoy naturally endowed resistance to specific herbicides. It is important to recall that although a large number of chemicals have been approved for weed control, their widespread and continuous use is not desirable owing to their toxicity and long-term effects on the environment. Hence an environmental friendly degradable, non-persistent, non-accumulative herbicides which can kill weeds, found in the roof top footpath and agricultural field have been synthesized by metathesis of ammonium salt and fatty acid characterized by IR, pH and Conductometric studies, as ammonium myristate is inherently a non-toxic substances and disappear after the desired period of herbicides activity and it is very safe to use as a weedicide. It is also found out the effective concentration to remove the weeds are at above CMC on daily application for fifteen days before the crop sowing.
What Is in a Name? A Historical Review of Intelligence Test Score Labels:

Labels for scores stemming from intelligence tests have been employed since their inception in the United States. The purpose of this study was to systematically identify and document score labels ...
Towards the Meridian: Albert Camus, Democracy, and Public Administration

This article draws on the writings of Albert Camus to argue that the use of abstractions, such as the “will of the people,” in thinking about democracy and public administration fosters a potential...
A New Arginine-containing Macrocyclic Hydroxamate Analog for MMP-targeted SPECT Imaging: Design, Synthesis, 99mTc-labeling, and Evaluation

1140 Objectives Radiolabeled MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) are promising agents for molecular imaging in cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. RP805, a 99mTc-labeled macrocyclic hydroxamate tracer can detect activated MMPs in murine models of vascular diseases using microSPECT/CT imaging. The goal of this study was to develop novel MMP-targeted imaging agents with improved pharmacokinetics and targeting properties for clinical translation. Methods We synthesized an Arg-containing macrocyclic hydroxamate (1) and its HYNIC-conjugated analog (2, RYM) for Tc-99m labeling based on the hypothesis that the incorporation of Arg increases hydrophilicity and improves pharmacokinetics and related MMP-targeting. The compounds were evaluated for MMP binding in vitro using fluorometric MMP inhibition assays. 2 was labeled in presence of coligands (TPPTS and tricine) in a non-Sn containing formulation. The stability of the resulting 99mTc-labeled analog (3, 99mTc-RYM) was evaluated by radio-HPLC in the radiolabeling media and in blood collected from C57Bl/6J mice, and in urine collected from C57Bl/6J mice after tail vein injection of 3. The partition coefficient (LogP) was measured in a mixture of water and n-octanol. Autoradiography was used to evaluate the in vivo binding of 3 to CaCl2-induced mouse carotid aneurysm which expresses high levels of MMPs. Results All compounds were synthesized in multiple steps starting from an anti-succinic acid analog, (2R,3S)-3-(tert-butyoxycarbonyl)-2-iso-butylhe-5-enoic acid. Both 1 and 2 had MMP binding profiles similar to RP805 precursor. 2 showed a high affinity for recombinant human (rh)MMP-2, rhMMP-9 and rhMMP-12 (inhibition constants 14.8 ± 4.6, 17.4 ± 2.1, and 3.6 ± 1.0 nM, respectively). 3 was obtained with a high radiochemical yield and purity (>98%) and showed a high radiochemical stability in the radiolabeling media and in blood. Radio-HPLC analysis of urine samples collected from mice injected with 3 demonstrated good in vivo stability of the compound. Based on logP values and HPLC retention time, 3 showed higher hydrophilicity than 99mTc-RP805. In the mouse model of aneurysm, 3 uptake in aneurysmal tissue was observed. Conclusions The newly synthetized Arg-containing macrocyclic hydroxamates 1 and 2 had high affinities for various MMPs and good water solubility. The 99mTc-labeled analog 3 showed high radiochemical stability and favorable properties for cardiovascular imaging.$$graphic_{42F93572-7144-41B9-8DD6-B43B4829CE97}$$
Outcomes of kidney transplant from deceased donors with acute kidney injury and prolonged cold ischemia time - a retrospective cohort study.

While deceased donor renal transplants (DDRT) from donors with either acute kidney injury (AKI) or long cold ischemia time (CIT) are associated with increased risk of delayed graft function (DGF), recipients of these kidneys have good patient and allograft survival. There are limited data on whether kidneys with both AKI and long CIT have outcomes similar to kidneys with only one of these insults. Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we analyzed transplant outcomes in patients (2005-2015) receiving kidneys with AKI (terminal creatinine ≥2.0 mg/dl) and CIT 24-30 h (n = 1289), 30-36 h (n = 734), and >36 h (n = 614), using kidneys with AKI and CIT 36 h was predictive of DCGS (aHR 1.27, P = 0.03). Recipients transplanted with kidneys with both AKI and long CIT have excellent intermediate-term outcomes.
Design, Analysis and Application of Embedded Resistive RAM Based Strong Arbiter PUF

Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) based Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) designs exploit either the probabilistic switching or the resistance variability during forming, SET and RESET processes of RRAM. Memory PUFs using RRAM are typically weak PUFs due to fewer number of challenge response pairs. We propose a strong arbiter PUF based on 1T-1R bit cell which is designed from conventional RRAM memory array with minimally invasive changes. Conventional voltage sense amplifier is repurposed to act like an arbiter and generate the response. Similarly, address and data lines are repurposed to act as challenge and response bits respectively. The PUF is simulated using 65 nm predictive technology models for CMOS and Verilog-A model for a hafnium oxide based RRAM. The proposed PUF architecture is evaluated for uniqueness, uniformity and reliability for various number of stages. It demonstrates mean intra-die Hamming Distance (HD) of 0.135 percent and inter-die HD of 51.4 percent, and passes the NIST tests. We study the vulnerability of proposed PUF to machine learning attacks. We also present an application of proposed PUF for data attestation in the internet of things. Proposed PUF-based data attestation consumes 9.88pJ of total energy per data block of 64-bits and offers a speed of 120.7 kbps.
Energy Transmission Efficiency of Laser-induced Vortical Filaments

We performed characterization and energy transmission measurements of both ordinary and vortical ultrafast filament structures in air. The results appear to stand in favor of the reduced ionization losses in the case of vortical filaments. © 2019 The Author(s)
Mothers’ and Childrens’ Health Self-Rating: A Comparative Study Within and Across Various Ethnic Groups

Despite Latino adults’ health advantages in the United States, they tend to have worse self-rated health (SRH) than non-Hispanic Whites. This finding extends to Latina mothers’ ratings of their chi...
Accounting for Carbon Flux to Mycorrhizal Fungi May Resolve Discrepancies in Forest Carbon Budgets

Carbon (C) fluxes among different components of plant growth are important to forest ecosystem C cycling and are strongly influenced by species composition and resource availability. Although mycorrhizal fungi are crucial for nutrient acquisition and can receive a large fraction of annual net primary production, most studies do not explicitly include carbon flux to mycorrhizal fungi in ecosystem C budgets. We measured annual production of plant components (foliage, wood, fine roots) and mycorrhizal fungi across temperate forest stands varying in species composition. Production of mycorrhizal fungi was estimated using both mass balance and isotopic techniques. Total plant production varied from about 600 g C m−2 y−1 in nearly pure deciduous broadleaf stands down to about 300 g C m−2 y−1 in conifer-dominated stands. In contrast, the production of mycorrhizal fungi was highest in conifer-dominated stands, varying from less than 25 g C m−2 y−1 in deciduous broadleaf stands to more than 175 g C m−2 y−1 in nearly pure conifer stands. Isotopic data indicated that both tree species composition and ecosystem nitrogen (N) availability influenced rates of fungal production. The large investment in mycorrhizal fungi in low-N, conifer-dominated stands demonstrated that a full accounting of ecosystem carbon fluxes to plant and fungal components may help resolve current discrepancies observed in broadscale forest carbon budgets, especially across forest types.
Is Death Different? Two Ways Law Can Fail

This chapter describes how capital cases are handled in Japan and the United States—the two largest developed democracies that retain capital punishment and continue to carry out executions on a regular basis. The comparison shows that death penalty law can fail in two ways. In the United States, where the Supreme Court has ruled that “death is different,” law fails by not fulfilling many of its promises to provide special procedures and protections for capital defendants. In Japan, by contrast, law fails by not making many promises at all.
Urogynecologic pelvic floor problems: Across the entire spectrum of women's lives.

Urogynecology is considered to be a field that addresses health problems that occur during a woman’s reproductive and immediate post‐reproductive years. Therefore, much of the focus in urogynecology centers on genital fistula, stress incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. However, women on either end of the age spectrum—from childhood to advanced adulthood—also suffer from well‐recognized and troublesome urogynecologic problems.
Mganetizing Inductor ON/OFF Control for LLC Resonant Converter with Wide Input Voltage Range

When applying LLC converter in wide range application, it becomes less attractive due to the sacrifice of magnetizing inductance value, which leads to the increase of circuit current and conduction losses. Meanwhile, wide switching frequency operating range is also required, which makes the magnetic components and gate driver circuitry design complicate. Therefore, in this paper, a magnetizing inductor on/off control strategy is proposed for the LLC resonant converter. By turning on/off the auxiliary magnetizing inductance, the voltage gain range can be extended while maintaining a narrow switching frequency range. In addition, the overall system efficiency can be improved due to the large magnetizing inductance and reduced circulating current. Experiment validation is provided for the proposed topology.
Corneal collagen cross-linking in pediatric keratoconus with three protocols: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Keratoconus is a bilateral progressive noninflammatory degenerative disease of the cornea characterized by corneal thinning, irregular astigmatism, and subsequent visual impairment. It has an aggressive course in children. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of available corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) protocols for stabilizing the cornea in pediatric patients with keratoconus. Methods We searched all peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2019 indexed in PubMed, Google Scholars, Web of Science, and Cochrane's Database for the terms keratoconus and cross-linking. The following data were extracted from eligible studies: study design, type of intervention, number of the eyes and mean age of patients for each study, duration of follow-up period, mean pre- and postoperative uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, keratometric and aberrometric indices, were analyzed with RevMan 5.3 software. Intra-and intergroup post hoc analyses of outcome variables were performed using t tests. Results A total of 28 studies, including 1,300 eyes, were reviewed. In conventional and accelerated epithelium-off techniques, there was a significant improvement in uncorrected and corrected visual acuities. Similarly, the keratometric indices improved significantly after CXL. Uncorrected visual acuity did not alter after CXL using transepithelial method. Conclusions Both conventional and accelerated collagen CXL of the cornea are effective therapeutic options in management of keratoconus in children.
Post-treatment bacterial endocarditis mimicking fungal organisms: a morphologic comparison and tips for avoiding this diagnostic pitfall

Abstract Background Histopathologic differentiation of bacterial endocarditis from yeast-like fungal endocarditis is usually straightforward; however, an underappreciated phenomenon is the effect of antimicrobial therapy on bacterial size, shape and septa (cross-wall) formation resulting in bacterial forms that mimic yeast-like fungi. In this article we illustrate the alterations that occur in antibiotic-treated Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis and compare these changes to histopathologic findings in unaltered S. aureus and Histoplasma endocarditis, respectively. Methods Resected valves from three cases of endocarditis were compared based on the type ofinflammatory reaction, organism morphology and culture results. Case 1 was S. aureus endocarditis initially misclassified as Histoplasma due to its atypical morphologic and histopathologic features. The two cases included for comparison were an S. aureus endocarditis with more classic features and an Histoplasma capsulatum endocarditis. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Gram, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), Gomori-Grocott methenamine silver stains (GMS), and culture results were compared in all cases. Molecular and immunohistochemistry tests were used for confirmation of first case. High power oil-immersion was used to visualize organisms’ characteristics in all three cases. Results Case 1 and Case 3 (Histoplasma-infected valves) had fibrinous exudates with scattered macrophages. The microorganisms observed in the first case of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were ∼ 2-3 μm by GMS stain and had prominent septations. Histoplasma yeast were round to oval, ∼ 3-4 μm in size and demonstrated budding. S. aureus without alterations were round, ∼ 1 μm in size, and lacked prominent septations. Necrotizing purulent inflammation was present in the unaltered case of MSSA. The MSSA case with alterations from antibiotic treatment did not stain well with the Gram stain and organisms were best visualized with the PAS and GMS stains. Conclusions Antibiotic therapy for bacterial endocarditis can alter the inflammatory reaction to infection, bacterial size, septa formation, and staining characteristics. Knowledge of these therapy-related effects and use of high-power magnification helps to avoid misclassification as yeast-like fungi.
Educating the Educator: Evaluation and Review of the ADMSEP Education Scholars Program.

This report examines the first 8 years of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP) Education Scholars Program (ESP) to determine the impact of the program on alumni careers and scholarship and their reception of the ESP. The 2-year longitudinal professional development program, launched in 2012, provides foundational knowledge to improve scholarship skills for faculty in psychiatry medical student education. The program is unique among national faculty development programs for psychiatry medical educators in its focus on scholarship and its requirement of completion of a research project in medical education.. All 19 graduates of the program were sent a 30-question survey that explored alumni perceptions of the impact of the program on their confidence to engage in educational scholarship and on their careers. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to examine responses to the multiple choice and open-ended questions. A PubMed search was used to ascertain papers published by alumni since completion of the program. Graduate survey responses indicated a high level of satisfaction with the key elements of the program. Alumni respondents reported positive perceptions of participation in the program on their careers as well as on their interest, confidence, knowledge, and skills to engage in scholarship. Nine alumni have had scholarly work published since completion of the program. The ADMSEP ESP was highly valued by participants. It fills an important need for faculty in psychiatry medical student education by providing a national professional development program focused on scholarship.
Molluscum contagiosum in the setting of Fingolimod: The experience at one institution

Abstract Fingolimod treatment has been associated with opportunistic infections, most notably PML and cryptococcal meningitis. There are rare reports of other infections like molluscum contagiosum which are typically associated with impaired cellular immunity as seen in AIDS. Upon review of our multiple sclerosis patient database, we identified eight patients undergoing fingolimod treatment who developed molluscum contagiosum infections. We suspect that this association is a class effect and may also be observed with other S1P receptor modulators. While molluscum contagiosum infection is not life-threatening, it can be extremely distressing for patients, and resolution may require discontinuation of fingolimod.
Assessing possible dynamical effects of condensate in high resolution climate simulations

[1] In areas of heavy precipitation, condensed water species can add significant mass to an atmospheric column. This mass can create positive pressure anomalies of up to several hPa at the surface. This pressure is expected to force a divergent component in the low-level flow that may have an impact on the evolution of the precipitating system. In this study we examine results from a cloud resolving model simulation of tropical convection to estimate the pressure induced by condensates. A simple parameterization of this condensate loading as a function of surface rain rate is derived and implemented in the National Center for Atmospheric Research's Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5). Our results suggest that at horizontal resolutions of 25 km condensate loading is an important factor in controlling the frequency of intense rain rates in the model.
Glaucoma Risk Factors: Intraocular Pressure

For the first time, glaucoma was described as a blinding disease associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP) by the Persian physician Ali ibn Rabban at-Tabari (810-861 C.E.) in the writings Firdaws al hikma (Paradise of Wisdom).1 This association was later pointed out by Richard Banister of England in his 1622 A treatise of one hundred and thirteen diseases of eye: “If one feele the Eye by rubbing upon the Eie-lids, that the Eye be growne more solid and hard than naturally it should be… the humour settled in the hollow nerves be growne to any solid or hard substance, it is not possible to be cured.”2 In the 1800s, the Dutch ophthalmologist Franciscus C. Donders coined the expression “simple glaucoma” for increased IOP occurring without any inflammatory symptoms.
Wavelength assignment in WDM rings to minimize SONET ADMs

We study wavelength assignment for lightpaths over WDM rings to minimize the SONET ADMs (add/drop multiplexers) used. This problem has attracted much attention recently. However, its computational complexity remains unknown, and the only known heuristic (Gerstel et al., 1998) which does not allow the splitting of lightpaths is problematic in terms of both the algorithm itself and its performance analysis. We first prove the NP-completeness of this problem, followed by a nontrivial randomized (3+e)/(1+e)-approximation scheme. We then present a tighter lower bound on the minimum number of ADMs required. After that, we show the incorrectness of the known heuristic and then modify it to make it correct. We also propose three additional heuristics. Their performances are compared through extensive simulation studies.
Scaled Memory Model for Undrained Behavior of Anisotropic Clays

The author presents a constitutive model to describe the undrained behavior of anisotropic clays subjected to generalized loadings. The model is based on the concept of scaled memory, with capabilities that were previously established for one-dimensional cyclic responses extended to six-dimensional monotonic loadings. Scaled memory is simpler than multiyield surface plasticity and just as suitable for modeling anisotropic behavior. A simulation of the stress-strain responses of consolidated clays during the combined triaxial-torsional tests illustrates the capabilities of the scaled memory model.
An allosteric regulator of R7-RGS proteins influences light-evoked activity and glutamatergic waves in the inner retina

In the outer retina, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling mediates phototransduction and synaptic transmission between photoreceptors and ON bipolar cells. In contrast, the functions of modulatory GPCR signaling networks in the inner retina are less well understood. We addressed this question by determining the consequences of augmenting modulatory Gi/o signaling driven by endogenous transmitters. This was done by analyzing the effects of genetically ablating the R7 RGS-binding protein (R7BP), a membrane-targeting protein and positive allosteric modulator of R7-RGS (regulator of the G protein signaling 7) family that deactivates Gi/oα subunits. We found that R7BP is expressed highly in starburst amacrine cells and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). As indicated by electroretinography and multielectrode array recordings of adult retina, ablation of R7BP preserved outer retina function, but altered the firing rate and latency of ON RGCs driven by rods and cones but not rods alone. In developing retina, R7BP ablation increased the burst duration of glutamatergic waves whereas cholinergic waves were unaffected. This effect on glutamatergic waves did not result in impaired segregation of RGC projections to eye-specific domains of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. R7BP knockout mice exhibited normal spatial contrast sensitivity and visual acuity as assessed by optomotor reflexes. Taken together these findings indicate that R7BP-dependent regulation of R7-RGS proteins shapes specific aspects of light-evoked and spontaneous activity of RGCs in mature and developing retina.
Basic Chemistry, Seventh Edition and Alternate {Shorter} Edition (Daub, G. William; Seese, William S.)

The seventh edition of this textbook contains a number of new features that enhance its pedagogic utility while the basic character and structure exhibited in earlier editions are maintained.
Professional Ethics and Public Administration in the United States

Most comparative world reports on governance, accountability, and rule of law consistently suggest that the United States has always been among the top 20 countries in control of corruption and respect of rule of law. This article examines some of the factors and actors that achieve this relatively high level of ethics monitoring and control of corruption in the U.S. public service. Four factors are proposed to be of great significance: democracy's principles, procedures, and processes; communalization and institutionalization of professional ethical standards; the role of professional leadership training and recruitment; and irrationalization of unethical behavior.
Modeling of domain pinning effect in polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics

Abstract Experimental observations indicate that electric fatigue of polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics is partially recoverable through thermal treatments at temperatures that are too low to heal microcracking which is considered to be the primary cause of electric fatigue. It has been conjectured that this thermally-recoverable fatigue is due to domain pinning. This paper presents a theoretical model for the domain pinning effect on macroscopic properties of polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics. The numerical results suggest that domain pinning can indeed lead to the type of fatigue behavior as observed.
Product classification and the theory of consumer behavior

Product classifications have been used as a normative framework to generalize product characteristics and market responses. To be more useful in guiding marketing strategy, classification schemes should incorporate the characteristics of the consumer's decision process. This article attempts to establish the link between product classification and consumer decision theory by demonstrating a direct association between Copeland's well-known convenience-shopping goods typology and the Howard-Sheth model of consumer decision-making.
An optimal strategy for a saturating sampled-data system

Consider the usual sampled-data control system in which the sampler is followed by a zero-order hold and the transfer function is G(s) = 1/s(s+a). Saturation is represented by the fact that the forcing function applied to G(s) may not be larger than 1 in absolute value. The problem is to determine a saturating zero-order hold forcing function which forces the system from an arbitrary initial state to equilibrium in the least number of sampling periods. Such a forcing function is defined as an optimal strategy. The state plane is divided into boundary states and interior states. To each boundary state corresponds a unique optimal strategy. To each interior state correspond infinitely many optimal strategies. From the system parameters a polygonal curve, called the critical curve, is defined in the state plane. An optimal strategy is then proposed in which the required forcing function is simply obtained by computing the distance of the representative point in state plane to the critical curve. A simple computer is proposed to implement this optimal strategy. Finally, the proposed optimal strategy is shown to reduce in the limit as T→0 to that of the corresponding continuous system.