cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leukocyte Alkaline Phosphatase Score in Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Comparison of Patients with Normal and Abnormal Proportions of Bone Marrow Blasts.

The expression of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) in neutrophils has been shown to be reduced in some patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but increased in the refractory anemia (RA) subtype. We performed a retrospective study looking at the LAP scores of 14 patients with MDS. Patients were grouped according to bone marrow blast percentage. Those with less than 5% blasts in the marrow (refractory anemia and refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts) comprised one group (n=7) and those with 5% to 19% blasts (refractory anemia with excess blasts) comprised a second group (n=7). LAP scores in the group with fewer than 5% blasts were significantly higher (range 71 to 116, mean 93.6) than LAP scores in the 5%–19% group (range 2 to 46, mean 26.6) (p
Linear Time Algorithms to Restrict Insider Access using Multi-Policy Access Control Systems

An important way to limit malicious insiders from distributing sensitive information is to as tightly as possible limit their access to information. This has always been the goal of access control mechanisms, but individual approaches have been shown to be inadequate. Ensemble approaches of multiple methods instantiated simultaneously have been shown to more tightly restrict access, but approaches to do so have had limited scalability (resulting in exponential calculations in some cases). In this work, we take the Next Generation Access Control (NGAC) approach standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and demonstrate its scalability. The existing publicly available reference implementations all use cubic algorithms and thus NGAC was widely viewed as not scalable. The primary NGAC reference implementation took, for example, several minutes to simply display the set of files accessible to a user on a moderately sized system. In our approach, we take these cubic algorithms and make them linear. We do this by reformulating the set theoretic approach of the NGAC standard into a graph theoretic approach and then apply standard graph algorithms. We thus can answer important access control decision questions (e.g., which files are available to a user and which users can access a file) using linear time graph algorithms. We also provide a default linear time mechanism to visualize and review user access rights for an ensemble of access control mechanisms. Our visualization appears to be a simple file directory hierarchy but in reality is an automatically generated structure abstracted from the underlying access control graph that works with any set of simultaneously instantiated access control policies. It also provide an implicit mechanism for symbolic linking that provides a powerful access capability. Our work thus provides the first efficient implementation of NGAC while enabling user privilege review through a novel visualization approach. This may help transition from concept to reality the idea of using ensembles of simultaneously instantiated access control methodologies, thereby limiting insider threat.
Predictors of clinical outcome of colonic stents in patients with malignant large-bowel obstruction because of extracolonic malignancy.

Background and Aims Colonic stent placement in patients with large-bowel obstruction (LBO) secondary to extracolonic malignancy (ECM) has been evaluated in small series with heterogeneous results. Our aim is to better characterize the technical and clinical success of colonic stent placement and to identify factors that affect this success in ECM patients. Methods All patients at a single high-volume center who presented for colonic stent placement for LBO because of ECM between 2001 and 2012 were retrospectively identified. The outcomes of interest were technical success, clinical success, stent occlusion rate, and overall survival. Results A total of 187 patients were identified. Mean age was 61.9 years (range, 23-89), and 150 (80.2%) were women. The most common malignancy type was urogynecologic (n = 104) and most common location sigmoid colon (n = 128). Overall, 142 patients (75.9%) achieved technical success and 102 patients (54.5%) clinical success. Radiographic presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis ( P P P = .011). The median overall survival for all patients from time of attempted stent placement was 3.3 months (95% confidence interval, 3.0-4.1). Conclusions This study represents the largest retrospective series of colonic stent placement for LBO in ECM patients in the literature. Our technical success rate of 75.9%, clinical success rate of 54.5%, and 3-month stent occlusion rate of 14.7% suggest that stent placement is a viable palliative option for patients with advanced disease because of ECM. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis and multifocal disease have reduced technical and clinical success. However, these factors should not dissuade an attempt at stent placement, if risk-to-benefit analysis is favorable.
Enterococcus faecalis sex pheromone cCF10 enhances conjugative plasmid transfer in vivo

ABSTRACT Cell-cell communication mediated by peptide pheromones (cCF10 [CF]) is essential for high-frequency plasmid transfer in vitro in Enterococcus faecalis. To examine the role of pheromone signaling in vivo, we established either a CF-producing (CF+) recipient or a recipient producing a biologically inactive variant of CF (CF− recipient) in a germfree mouse model 3 days before donor inoculation and determined transfer frequencies of the pheromone-inducible plasmid pCF10. Plasmid transfer was detected in the upper and middle sections of the intestinal tract 5 h after donor inoculation and was highly efficient in the absence of antibiotic selection. The transconjugant/donor ratio reached a maximum level approaching 1 on day 4 in the upper intestinal tract. Plasmid transfer was significantly lower with the CF− recipient. While rescue of the CF− mating defect by coculture with CF+ recipients is easily accomplished in vitro, no extracellular complementation occurred in vivo. This suggests that most pheromone signaling in the gut occurs between recipient and donor cells in very close proximity. Plasmid-bearing cells (donors plus transconjugants) steadily increased in the population from 0.1% after donor inoculation to about 10% at the conclusion of the experiments. This suggests a selective advantage of pCF10 carriage distinct from antibiotic resistance or bacteriocin production. Our results demonstrate that pheromone signaling is required for efficient pCF10 transfer in vivo. In the absence of CF+ recipients, a low level of transfer to CF− recipients occurred in the gut. This may result from low-level host-mediated induction of the donors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, similar to that previously observed in serum. IMPORTANCE Horizontal gene transfer is a major factor in the biology of Enterococcus faecalis, an important nosocomial pathogen. Previous studies showing efficient conjugative plasmid transfer in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of experimental animals did not examine how the enterococcal sex pheromone response impacts the efficiency of transfer. Our study demonstrates for the first time pheromone-enhanced, high-frequency plasmid transfer of E. faecalis plasmid pCF10 in a mouse model in the absence of antibiotic or bacteriocin selection. Pheromone production by recipients dramatically increased plasmid transfer in germfree mice colonized initially with recipients, followed by donors. The presence of a coresident community of common gut microbes did not significantly reduce in vivo plasmid transfer between enterococcal donors and recipients. In mice colonized with enterococcal recipients, we detected plasmid transfer in the intestinal tract within 5 h of addition of donors, before transconjugants could be cultured from feces. Surprisingly, pCF10 carriage provided a competitive fitness advantage unrelated to antibiotic resistance or bacteriocin production.
Non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and supplemental nitric oxide usage

Abstract Purpose To report a case of Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) in a middle-aged bodybuilder in excellent physiological condition without any signs or symptoms of vasculopathy and a history of nitric oxide supplement usage. Observations The patient had visual acuity of 20/25 in the right eye, and 20/30 in the left eye, with a relative afferent pupillary defect and dyschromatopsia in the right eye. Visual field testing with Humphrey perimetry demonstrated an inferior altitudinal field defect OD. Fundus examination showed a small cupless disc OD with mild pallor, and a small cupless disc OS. He denied usage of sildenafil or other phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor medications but frequently ingested megadoses of nitric oxide (NO) as part of his bodybuilding regimen. Conclusions Nitric oxide supplements act through the same pharmacologic pathway as PDE inhibitors, and this case is suggestive that other vasodilating agents may be similarly associated with NAION.
The diagnostic value of splenectomy in patients without a definitive preoperative diagnosis.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to describe the diagnostic value and therapeutic benefit of diagnostic splenectomy. Methods Retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing splenectomy with an unknown diagnosis (UD), a hematologic malignancy (HM) or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Surgical indications and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results 113 splenectomy patients were identified. Of the UD patients undergoing splenectomy, 46% (n = 16) received a definitive diagnosis postoperatively. A change in diagnosis occurred in 12% (n = 4) of HM patients. Complete symptom relief was observed more often in UD patients who received a definitive diagnosis after splenectomy 69% (n = 11), compared to the 47% (n = 9) who did not receive definitive diagnosis postoperatively. Conclusions The diagnostic ability of splenectomy was 46% when the diagnosis was unknown preoperatively. Additionally, a majority of patients experienced relief of symptoms postoperatively. Splenectomy may be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in select UD and HM patients.
Scaling up Planning by Teasing out Resource Scheduling

Planning consists of an action selection phase where actions are selected and ordered to reach the desired goals, and a resource allocation phase where enough resources are assigned to ensure the successful execution of the chosen actions. In most real-world problems, these two phases are loosely coupled. Most existing planners do not exploit this loose-coupling, and perform both action selection and resource assignment employing the same algorithm. We shall show that this strategy severely curtails the scale-up potential of existing planners, including such recent ones as Graphplan and Blackbox. In response, we propose a novel planning framework in which resource allocation is teased apart from planning, and is handled in a separate “scheduling” phase. We ignore resource constraints during planning and produce an abstract plan that can correctly achieve the goals but for the resource constraints. Next, based on the actual resource availability, the abstract plan will be allocated resources to produce an executable plan. Our approach not only preserves both the correctness as well as the quality (measured in length) of the plan but also improves efficiency. We describe a prototype implementation of our approach on top of Graphplan and show impressive empirical results.
Status and prospects of research in hereditary deafness.

The interaction of literally hundreds—perhaps thousands—of genes is required for the development of a normal human ear. Consequently, defects in any one of a great many genes can lead to hearing loss. The recognition that hereditary deafness is not a single disease but a collection of distinct genetic disorders which have one symptom in common is one of the most important insights that have been gained from contemporary genetic research. Mutant genes have always been an important cause of hearing impairment, but with the progressive identification and control of environmental causes of hearing loss, hereditary factors will doubtless account for an even greater proportion of the deaf population in the future. Our intent here is to provide a common body of genetic knowledge for the array of professional groups—including geneticists, audiologists, otolaryngologists, pediatricians, social workers, and educators—who provide services for the hearing-impaired. We believe that, if further progress is to be made in the prevention, treatment, and education of the deaf, it will have to come about through a more widespread recognition of hereditary deafness syndromes and the special problems each presents.
Lochner Era Revisionism, Revised: Lochner and the Origins of Fundamental Rights Constitutionalism

Lochner v. New York and its eponymous jurisprudential era have been central to constitutional discourse and debate in the United States for nearly one hundred years. Until recently, the legal community's understanding of the Lochner era was clouded by myths left over from the ideological and political battles of the Progressive and New Deal eras. In particular, the Lochner era Justices were portrayed as reactionary Social Darwinists who sought to impose a system of economic laissez-faire on the public. More recently, revisionist historians have disproved this and other myths, and have attempted to construct a more historically-grounded understanding of the Lochner era. The most popular revisionist work is Howard Gillman's book, "The Constitution Besieged." Gillman contends that the Lochner era Court was motivated by opposition to "class legislation," what today we would call special interest legislation. However, Gillman grossly overstates the role of class legislation analysis on the police powers jurisprudence of the United States Supreme Court during the Lochner era. Rather, as this Article shows, the basic motivation for Lochnerian jurisprudence was the Justices' belief that Americans had fundamental unenumerated constitutional rights, and that those rights were protected by the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. The Justices had a generally historicist outlook, seeking to discover the content of fundamental rights through an understanding of which rights had created and advanced liberty among the Anglo-American people. This Article, then, argues that the jurisprudential significance of Lochner was not, as Gillman and his supporters would have it, that the Court enforced a ban on class legislation. Quite the opposite, Lochner's primary importance is that it moved the Supreme Court away from class legislation (equal protection) analysis of police power legislation to an analysis that relied on the Justices' understanding of the fundamental liberties of the American people. In this regard, Lochner was the progenitor of modern substantive due process cases such as Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade. Some will argue that the current Court should reassess its endorsement of Roe, because it is in the same tradition as Lochner. But perhaps the proper reaction to the conclusion that Lochner and Roe are in the same fundamental rights tradition is to reassess our understanding of Lochner.
Size‐based sexual dimorphism of nitrogen excretion in livebearing fishes

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are important limiting or co‐limiting nutrients in many aquatic ecosystems. Consumers such as fishes can significantly impact the balance and redistribution of these nutrients through consumer‐driven nutrient recycling. Intraspecific variation in nutrient excretion rates can therefore have significant ecosystem impacts. Among individuals of sexually dimorphic consumers, variation in population size structure and sex ratio could potentially have impacts of similar magnitude. We tested for the effects of body size and sex on consumer‐driven nutrient recycling by measuring N and P excretion rates from eight species of poeciliid fishes. We found a strong positive effect of size on N excretion rates, as has been previously described among species. However, we found no effect of size on P excretion rates, nor did we find any difference in N or P excretion rates between sexes. Our work provides a preliminary analysis of how sexual dimorphism can lead to disparate nutrient excretion rates within consumer populations. These results indicate that variation in population sex ratios of sexually dimorphic consumers could have impacts at the ecosystem scale.
Aging impairs mouse skeletal muscle macrophage polarization and muscle-specific abundance during recovery from disuse.

Impaired recovery of aged muscle following a disuse event is an unresolved issue facing the older adult population. Although investigations in young animals have suggested that rapid regrowth of sk...
Point Shear Wave Elastography Using Machine Learning to Differentiate Renal Cell Carcinoma and Angiomyolipoma.

Abstract The question of whether ultrasound point shear wave elastography can differentiate renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from angiomyolipoma (AML) is controversial. This study prospectively enrolled 51 patients with 52 renal tumors (42 RCCs, 10 AMLs). We obtained 10 measurements of shear wave velocity (SWV) in the renal tumor, cortex and medulla. Median SWV was first used to classify RCC versus AML. Next, the prediction accuracy of 4 machine learning algorithms—logistic regression, naive Bayes, quadratic discriminant analysis and support vector machines (SVMs)—was evaluated, using statistical inputs from the tumor, cortex and combined statistical inputs from tumor, cortex and medulla. After leave-one-out cross validation, models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Tumor median SWV performed poorly (AUC = 0.62; p = 0.23). Except logistic regression, all machine learning algorithms reached statistical significance using combined statistical inputs (AUC = 0.78–0.98; p
High frequency realization of non-autonomous nonlinear transistor circuit

In this paper, an electronic implementation of a non-autonomous nonlinear transistor circuit is presented. This nonlinear circuit topology requires a minimal number of components, which consists of two resistors, two capacitors, and a single NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT). This topology is of interest because it is relatively simple to construct and could be used for potential applications such as random number generators (RNGs) or noise signal generators (NSGs). The transistor portion of the circuit was analyzed using the Ebers-Moll model for a BJT. Using this model, time domain and phase space plots that qualitatively match the original systems dynamics were created. This model was also used to create bifurcation diagrams of the base voltage versus both frequency and amplitude, where periodic and chaotic solutions exist. The hardware realization was built using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components with two different printed circuit board (PCB) designs. This PCB included the forcing function on the board with the transistor circuit. This circuit topology functioned over a wide range of frequencies, with an upper limit of approximately 5.1 MHz. Many potential applications could benefit from this high operation frequency.
Impact of a vincristine dose cap on the incidence of neuropathies with DA-EPOCH-R for the treatment of aggressive lymphomas

The CALGB/Alliance 50303 trial found a fivefold increase in the rate of severe neuropathies with DA-EPOCH-R compared to R-CHOP. A likely cause is a higher, uncapped dose of vincristine which is uni...
Bilateral Transradial Access for Complex Posterior Circulation Interventions.

Background Transradial access (TRA) has recently gained traction as the preferred approach in a variety of neurointerventions after studies have demonstrated equivalent outcomes with fewer complications than transfemoral access (TFA). However, multiple access sites are occasionally necessary when simultaneous selective catheterization of 2 vessels is required. We present the first cases detailing bilateral TRA for complex posterior circulation interventions. Case Descriptions All neuroendovascular cases in which bilateral TRA was obtained at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System were reviewed. Two patients, each with complex left vertebral artery aneurysms, were identified. In each case, bilateral TRA was chosen because 1) left vertebral artery catheterization via right TRA can be technically challenging; 2) simultaneous catheterization of both vertebral arteries was felt to be necessary; 3) prior angiograms had demonstrated that the subclavian arteries would provide the most direct, anatomically feasible access route; and 4) the primary surgeon preferred to avoid TFA. Right TRA and left distal transradial access via the anatomic snuffbox were obtained in both cases to allow both arms to sit on the operator side of the table. Neither patient experienced any perioperative complications. Conclusions Bilateral TRA can be an effective method for catheterizing both vertebral arteries during complex posterior circulation interventions and obviates the need for TFA when multiple arterial access sites are required. Furthermore, distal transradial access allows the left hand to remain more anatomically neutral while being positioned on the right side of the table so that both access sites remain ergonomically favorable for the interventionalist.
Retained gastrostomy bumper resulting in esophageal fistula and spinal osteomyelitis

Abstract Background We report a case of spinal osteomyelitis and fistulous tract between the esophagus and prevertebral soft tissues secondary to an esophageal foreign body. This resulted from a retained gastrostomy bumper that broke on removal of the tube seven years earlier. Case presentation A 9-year-old male with Troyer Syndrome and developmental delay presented to his pediatrician with the refusal to bear weight and new onset torticollis, and was referred to our institution for further evaluation. He was admitted for further workup due to concern for a neurological process. Imaging revealed osteomyelitis of T3/T4 and inflammatory changes in the posterior mediastinum with possible communication with the esophagus. His gastrostomy tube (GT) was converted to a gastrojejunal tube (GJT) for post-pyloric feeding. He acutely worsened after this procedure, and further radiographic imaging revealed a retained foreign body in the esophagus. An upper endoscopy was subsequently performed with snare removal of the object, identified as the bumper of a previous gastrostomy tube. This esophageal foreign body caused esophageal erosion leading to creation of a fistulous tract with nidus for infection spread posteriorly. The patient underwent prolonged treatment for the infection, with improvement in his presenting symptoms, and eventually resumed gastrostomy feeding. Conclusion Retained foreign body following gastrostomy removal, while typically does not warrant further investigation, may present with significant sequelae if retained especially in children with developmental delay and feeding difficulties.
A Physically-Active Approach to Early Number Learning

This study evaluates the efficacy of a physically-active number learning game for young preschoolers. The intervention adapts Ramani and Siegler’s (Child Develop 79(2):375–394, 2008) successful The Great Race by modifying the mode of play from seated at a table to jumping with two feet on a large game mat. 75 children (mean age: 46 months) in the first year of a 2-year Title I preschool program were assessed in the fall on enumeration, verbal counting, cardinal principle knowledge (CPK), numeral recognition, and magnitude comparisons; children with a strong conceptual understanding of the cardinality principle were screened out (n = 11) of the intervention. 64 children were randomly assigned to the jumping game, the original seated game, or to a no-intervention control group. For the intervention, children met with an experimenter for four, 15–20-min sessions over a 3-week period and post-intervention assessments were completed 1 week later. All children completed a year-end assessment 5 months after the post-intervention assessment. Of the 64 children in the intervention group, 51 had complete data from all three time points. Repeated measures ANOVA and chi-square tests assessed the effectiveness of the intervention on children’s number knowledge and skills; models tested for the main effects of time and group and the interaction of time*group. Although all numeracy measures showed significant improvement over time, no differences between groups over time emerged. The absence of intervention effects is discussed in the context of intentionally aligning children’s number skills and knowledge with teacher practices and recent early numeracy interventions that target counting and set labelling.
Geographic Distribution, Reproduction, and Seasonal Activity of Bats in Iowa

From 2002 to 2018, we conducted 525 events to survey bats (nights of mist-netting and visits to bridges, mines, caves, etc.) and captured or observed 6119 bats, including all 9 species that regularly reside in Iowa. Our captures include a total of 142 new county records, and we located an additional 11 county records in specimens deposited in museums; we present at least 8 county records for each species in the state. Since the geographic distributions of most species span the entire state, many of these county records simply fill in gaps within hypothesized distributions. Records for Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus borealis, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis sodalis, Nycticeius humeralis, and Perimyotis subflavus, however, extend the known range for these species or fill large gaps in their suspected distribution. Additionally, our captures provide evidence of reproduction occurring across the state for most species. Previously, little information had been published on the geographic extent of reproduction for bats in Iowa. Lastly, we report new information regarding timing of seasonal activities for bats in Iowa. For most species, we present new early and/or late records for lactation, postlactation, appearance of flying young, and flight activity outside of hibernation. Collectively, these records expand our knowledge of the biology of bats in Iowa.
Arctic Ocean Freshening Linked to Anthropogenic Climate Change: All Hands on Deck

Arctic Ocean freshwater storage increased since the mid 1990s, but the cause was unknown. Now a recent paper by Jahn & Laiho [2020, 2020GL088854] uses ensemble runs of a coupled climate model to su...
Academic Achievement Among Children with Congenital Heart Defects in Arkansas

Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) have impaired cognitive development. The objective was to determine if children with CHDs differed in academic performance during elementary and middle school years from children without CHDs. Data from the state birth defects registry, Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System (ARHMS), birth certificate records, and achievement test-scores (grades 3-8) from the Arkansas Department of Education were linked using unique identifiers for children born between 2000-2011 in Arkansas. Cases were identified using 6-digit British Paediatric Association codes and matched controls were assigned from birth certificate data. Proficiency (yes/no) on achievement tests was determined using standard thresholds per grade. Data were stratified based on sex, gestational age, and birth weight. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated from multivariate logistic regression adjusting for maternal education level and age, race/ethnicity, and infant sex. A total of 3,730 children with CHDs and 7,385 children without CHDs were evaluated. Children with CHD were less likely to be proficient in early elementary school grades for mathematics (3rd: OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.87; 4th: OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.95) and literacy (3rd: OR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.89; 4th: OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.90). The trend of being less proficient associated with CHD remained mostly consistent with sex, gestational age, and birth weight. In multivariate analysis, CHD was negatively associated with being proficient in mathematics and literacy. Maternal education (1-3 years beyond high school) was positively associated with test proficiency. Additionally, non-Hispanic (NH) black children had lower odds of being proficient compared to NH white children. Educational performance was negatively associated with CHD in early elementary grades; there was no difference in later grades. However, larger sample sizes in later grades are necessary for reliable estimates. Maternal education and race/ethnicity were significant factors associated with childhood educational performance.
Trade Integration, Export Patterns, and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examines systematically the growth effects of trade integration in Sub-Saharan Africa. It complements and improves upon the empirical literature in two aspects: first, it jointly estimates the impact of different dimensions of trade integration, namely, trade volumes, export/trade patterns by product (primary and manufacturing goods), and by destination (inter- and intra-regional). Second, it estimates the impact of trade integration on economic growth and its sources, that is, capital accumulation and total factor productivity growth. The analysis finds causal evidence that trade integration fosters growth. Additionally, manufacturing trade boosts growth and trade in primary goods hampers growth. Doubling the manufacturing trade share in Sub-Saharan Africa's gross domestic product would increase growth by 1.9 percentage points per year, while increases in primary trade reduce growth by 1 percentage point. This impact is mainly transmitted through lower capital accumulation. Finally, inter- and intra-regional trade have a positive impact on growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Doubling inter-regional trade will increase growth by 1.9 percentage points, and the same increase for intra-regional trade enhances growth by 0.6 percentage points. The effects of inter-regional trade are transmitted primarily through capital accumulation, while those of intra-regional trade are channeled through enhanced total factor productivity growth.
Memory Functions from Static Disorder: Effective Medium Theory

Whereas the rest of the treatment in the book has dealt with ordered systems such as crystals, and with disorder that is dynamic, i.e. arising from the movement of the constituents of the crystals, this chapter showed how memory functions arise in statically disordered systems exemplified by amorphous molecular aggregates. We addressed the concept behind the effective medium approach. It was shown how it arises from a judicious and noteworthy application of the defect technique to replace a statically disordered time-local Master equation by an ordered counterpart which is non-local in time. The memory associated with this non-local description was not merely postulated but calculated: an explicit prescription to obtain the memory functions from given probability distributions of the randomness of the disorder was provided and used to examine the extent of validity of the procedure. The typical shape of the EMT memory was determined and an exponential approximation was introduced. Numerical calculations were used to obtain the memory in general as well as in specific cases and a number of effects were discovered with its help. Among others, they included behavior in finite size systems and the appearance of spatially long range memories. A brief conceptual discussion of the method was also provided.
Directed evolution of a family of AAV capsid variants enabling potent muscle-directed gene delivery across species

Replacing or editing disease-causing mutations holds great promise for treating many human diseases. Yet, delivering therapeutic genetic modifiers to specific cells in vivo has been challenging, particularly in large, anatomically distributed tissues such as skeletal muscle. Here, we establish an in vivo strategy to evolve and stringently select capsid variants of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) that enable potent delivery to desired tissues. Using this method, we identify a class of RGD motif-containing capsids that transduces muscle with superior efficiency and selectivity after intravenous injection in mice and non-human primates. We demonstrate substantially enhanced potency and therapeutic efficacy of these engineered vectors compared to naturally occurring AAV capsids in two mouse models of genetic muscle disease. The top capsid variants from our selection approach show conserved potency for delivery across a variety of inbred mouse strains, and in cynomolgus macaques and human primary myotubes, with transduction dependent on target cell expressed integrin heterodimers.
A hybrid coupler for directing quantum light emission with high radiative Purcell enhancement to a dielectric metasurface lens

Quantum photonic technologies such as quantum sensing, metrology, and simulation could be transformatively enabled by the availability of integrated single photon sources with high radiative rates and photon collection efficiencies. We address these challenges for quantum emitters formed from color center defect sites such as those in hexagonal boron nitride, which are promising candidates as single photon sources due to their bright, stable, polarized, and room temperature emission. We report design of a nanophotonic coupler from color center quantum emitters to a dielectric metasurface lens. The coupler is comprised of a hybrid plasmonic–dielectric resonator that achieves a large radiative Purcell enhancement and partial control of far-field radiation. We report radiative Purcell factors up to 285 and photon collection efficiencies up to 89% for a lossless metasurface, applying a continuous hyperboloidal phase-front. Our hybrid plasmonic–dielectric coupler interfacing two nanophotonic elements is a compound optical element, analogous to those found in microscope objective lenses, which combine multiple optical functions into a single component for improved performance.
Judge Lamberth's Reign of Terror at the Department of Interior

In part I of this article, I describe briefly the Indian rights dispute that Judge Royce Lamberth has been adjudicating since 1996. In part II, I describe two types of collateral actions he has taken in the case. He has held five cabinet Secretaries or Assistant Secretaries in contempt, threatened eighty government employees with contempt citations, and twice ordered the Department of Interior to disconnect its computers from the Internet for lengthy periods. In part III, I explain why I believe that these actions were unjustified, extraordinarily costly, and intolerable. In part IV, I describe the mechanisms that are available in the legal system today to limit a judge's ability to engage in such a pattern of action. In part V, I propose a new three-part means of reducing the risk that judges will engage in the kinds of abusive behavior illustrated by Judge Lamberth. I urge circuit courts to adopt a process of asking practitioners to complete anonymous questionnaires in which they provide their opinions with respect to the most important characteristics of a federal judge. The Chief Judge of the Circuit would then use the results as a basis for counseling federal judges who have a tendency to engage in abusive behavior and for imposition of formal sanctions on the rare judge who engages in an intolerable pattern of abusive behavior and who is resistant to informal counseling by the Chief Judge.
Intelligence and Learning

Given the title of this volume, some of the questions one should expect to be at issue are surely: What has been, what is, and what should be the relationship between learning and intelligence? Are the referents of the two terms identical? Are they, rather, related like two sides of a coin? Or do they perhaps refer to levels of intellect or intellectual function?
On Federalism and Economic Development - Commentary

In Does Federalism Preserve Markets?' Jonathan Rodden and Susan RoseAckerman ("Rodden/Rose-Ackerman") have written a thoughtful, provocative critique of the new institutional economics approach to economic development espoused by William Riker2 and by Barry Weingast3 and his colleagues.4 Both Weingast and Rodden/Rose-Ackerman are concerned with choosing the government structure that is best able to promote long-term economic development. Weingast's "market-preserving federalism"5 approach stresses the advantage of decentralized control by subnational governments: By encouraging competition, this control is likely to avoid the adverse consequences of a centralized government's interference with otherwise competitive markets.6 The tension raised by Weingast is whether a nation-state strong enough to enforce contract and property rights will refrain from making unreasonable demands on some of its constituents.7 Riker's conception of federalism defines a federal system as: 1) a hierarchy of governments; 2) with each level of government autonomous in its own sphere of authority; and 3) with each government's autonomy guaranteed.8 Weingast makes further assumptions to support his theoretical perspective: 4) "subnational governments have primary authority over [their] econom[ies]"; 5) the national gov-
A Legal Response is Necessary for Self Produced Child Pornography: A Legislator’s Checklist for Drafting the Bill

This Article explores self produced child pornography, known in the media as “sexting,” and offers a balanced, multi-faceted approach including both a legal response and education. Currently, states are modifying their laws because applying existing child pornography statutes to self produced child pornography results in a punishment which does not fit the crime. The author analyzes and critiques these proposed statutes finding none adequately address the multiple facets of the self produced child pornography problem. The Article concludes by offering a checklist of important provisions legislators should consider and proposed language legislators can incorporate into their bills. Policymakers and scholars will gain an excellent summary of both the problem and the arguments advanced by scholars studying the issue, as well as a template for solving the problem after reading this Article.
Use of heat‐based vertical fluxes to approximate total flux in simple channels

[1] Heat flux through shallow streambed sediments is often used to quantify streambed water exchange with groundwater. Although two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) models are available, one-dimensional (1-D) models still have advantages in terms of ease of use and cost effectiveness. This study investigated error associated with the vertical flow assumption for a lateral section of a synthetic channel of varying geometry, hydraulic gradient, and stage using 1-D and 2-D models. Hydraulic gradient had the greatest influence on total channel flux. Flux at the lateral edge of the channel was up to 8.3 times higher than at channel center, and seepage from the channel banks accounted for up to 50% of total flux. Despite this variation along the channel boundary, the difference between channel flux estimates using 1-D and 2-D models was less than 30%. The models were applied to data from a large irrigation canal, and 1-D channel flux estimates were 30% greater and 81% lower than from the 2-D model, using temperatures collected at channel center and at the left edge of the channel, respectively. These results stress the importance of placing probes to best capture water flux direction when using 1-D, temperature-based methods.
Monitoring and updating regulations and policies for government services

One of the challenges citizens and businesses face in interacting with governments for entitled services or compliance services is to find the right set of regulations and rules that are applicable for them. Very often the regulations and policies that determine the applicability of specific services are implemented and provided by separate government agencies, thus scattered in different Web sites and documents and are hard to be identified. In addition, the regulatory rules and government policies change often, making it harder to maintain the applicable services. In this paper, we present an integrated policy ontology of distributed regulatory rules and policies to support the discovery of applicable regulations and services. We present an ontology-guided annotation and extraction of policy rules from Web source documents. To support the dynamic changes in regulatory and policy rules, we developed a method of automatic updating the policy ontology by monitoring the source text documents. We describe a prototype eligibility verification system that verifies eligibility for various welfare government services. The eligibility rules and policies are extracted from different government websites to enrich the policy ontology. The eligibility rules and policies are monitored, and automatically updated, should any changes occur.
Complexometric Determination of Calcium

Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) complexes with numerous mineral ions, including calcium and magnesium. This reaction can be used to determine the amount of these minerals in a sample by a complexometric titration. Endpoints in the titration are detected using indicators that change color when they complex with mineral ions. Calmagite and eriochrome black T (EBT) are such indicators that change from blue to pink when they complex with calcium and magnesium. In the titration of a mineral-containing solution with EDTA, the solution turns from pink to blue at the endpoint with either indicator. The pH affects a complexometric EDTA titration in several ways, and must be carefully controlled. A major application of EDTA titration is testing the hardness of water, for which the method described is an official one (Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, Method 2340C; AOAC Method 920.196).
Intercostal muscle twitching from right ventricular apical pacing

A patient with a dilated cardiomyopathy underwent successful implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator. The device system included an active fixation lead placed at the right ventricular (RV) apex. Pacing from the RV apex unexpectedly led to left-sided intercostal muscle stimulation and twitching. This intercostal muscle twitching resolved completely with movement of the lead to the RV outflow tract. (PACE 2011;1–2)
Stroke risk interacts with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers on brain aging outcomes.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and stroke risk factors independently predict cognitive impairment, likely through independent disease pathways. However, limited work has sought to describe the dynamic interplay between these important risk factors. This article evaluated the interaction between stroke risk and AD biomarkers on hippocampal volume and cognitive performance. We first evaluated the interaction between stroke risk factors and AD biomarkers using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n = 1202). We then extended our findings to an independent autopsy data set from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC, n = 1122) using measures of AD pathology. Stroke risk was quantified using the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile. In ADNI, stroke risk interacted with tau and amyloid levels in relation to baseline and longitudinal cognitive performance. Similarly, in NACC, stroke risk interacted with amyloid and tau positivity on cognitive performance. The effect of stroke risk factors on cognition was strongest in the absence of AD biomarkers or neuropathology, providing additional evidence that AD biomarkers and stroke risk factors relate to cognition through independent pathways.
Structural Characterization of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 9 Protein (BBS9)

The Bardet-Biedl syndrome protein complex (BBSome) is an octameric complex that transports membrane proteins into the primary cilium signaling organelle in eukaryotes and is implicated in human disease. Here we have analyzed the 99-kDa human BBS9 protein, one of the eight BBSome components. The protein is composed of four structured domains, including a β-stranded N-terminal domain. The 1.8 A crystal structure of the 46-kDa N-terminal domain reveals a seven-bladed β-propeller. A structure-based homology search suggests that it functions in protein-protein interactions. We show that the Bardet-Biedl syndrome-causing G141R mutation in BBS9 likely results in misfolding of the β-propeller. Although the C-terminal half of BBS9 dimerizes in solution, the N-terminal domain only does so in the crystal lattice. This C-terminal dimerization interface might be important for the assembly of the BBSome.
Endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus Which Has Activity Toward Ultraviolet-Irradiated Deoxyribonucleic Acid: Purification and Properties

An endonuclease purified approximately 3,200-fold from Micrococcus luteus is active on native ultraviolet-irradiated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but is inactive on unirradiated native or denatured DNA and has no activity toward irradiated denatured DNA. The major type of lesion for the nucleolytic activity is the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer. The enzyme makes a number of single-strand breaks approximately equal to the number of dimers, but dimers are not excised. This endonuclease-a small molecular weight protein-therefore has all the attributes hypothesized for the first enzyme in the sequential steps in repair of DNA in vivo. Another paper shows that the endonuclease is able to reactivate ultraviolet-irradiated transforming DNA.
Evaluation of an In Vitro Assay for Interferon γ Production in Response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis–Synthesized Peptide Antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10 and the PPD Skin Test

We compared the tuberculin skin test (TST) to QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for the detection of latent tuberculosis. The QFT-G uses synthesized early secretory antigenic target 6 and culture filtrate protein 10 peptide antigens instead of purified protein derivative (PPD) antigens. The study included 137 adults in 3 groups: 1 (n = 81), at low risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and not vaccinated for Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG); 2 (n = 30), probably had TB exposure and were BCG vaccinated; and 3 (n = 26), at low risk for TB, not BCG vaccinated, but previously had a positive TST result. Positive results were as follows: group 1: TST, 3 (3.7%); QFT, 9 (11.1%); and QFT-G, 0 (0.0%); group 2: TST, 26 (86.7%); QFT, 15 (50.0%); and QFT-G, 5 (16.7%); and group 3: TST, 26 (100.0%); QFT, 13 (50.0%); and QFT-G, 9 (34.6%). The QFT-G demonstrated less cross-reactivity with BCG antigen and was more specific than QFT and TST in low-risk individuals.
Familial nephrotic syndrocalcinosis and tubular dysfunction

We have studied 5 children in 2 families, 3 boys in family A and 2 girls in family B, who had the onset of nephrotic syndrome in early infancy. The syndrome proved to be steroid-resistant, although there was no evidence of tubular failure initially. Growth retardation, renal osteodystrophy, and tetany appeared in several at an early age, and all manifested these symptoms eventually. Glycosuria, aminoaciduria, and nephrocalcinosis also appeared. Renal biopsies from 2 children in each family showed glomerular proliferative changes, glomerular scarring, interstitial inflammation, and microcalcinosis together with marked tubular atrophy. Autopsy studies were completed on 2 boys. Each boy died when about 8 years old. One girl is preterminal with renal failure at 8 years of age. Hypertension was present only terminally. The youngest boy in family A has not yet developed nephrocalcinosis. Total-body composition studies on 1 boy and 2 girls showed increased exchangeable sodium, increase in extracellular water, decrease in total body potassium, and decrease in intracellular potassium. Whereas tubular failure previously has been reported in patients with long-standing nephrotic syndrome, we believe these cases differ in that they are familial and have interstitial nephritis and nephrocalcinosis.