cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tax credits, insurance, and in vitro fertilization in the U.S. military health care system.

AbstractThe FAMILY Act, an income tax credit for infertility treatments, was introduced into the U.S. Senate on May 12, 2011. We estimated the costs and utilization of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the military if infertility treatment became a tax credit or TRICARE benefit. We surveyed 7 military treatment facilities (MTFs) that offer IVF, with a 100% response rate. We first modeled the impact of the FAMILY Act on the MTFs. We then assessed the impact and costs of a TRICARE benefit for IVF. In 2009, MTFs performed 810 IVF cycles with average patient charges of $4961 and estimated pharmacy costs of $2K per cycle. With implementation of the FAMILY Act, we estimate an increase in IVF demand at the MTFs to 1165 annual cycles. With a TRICARE benefit, estimated demand would increase to 6,924 annual IVF cycles. MTF pharmacy costs would increase to $7.3 annually. TRICARE medical and pharmacy costs would exceed $24.4 million and $6.5 million, respectively. In conclusion, if the FAMILY Act becomes law, demand fo...
Genetic analysis of litter size in Targhee, Suffolk, and Polypay sheep.

Data on litter size, weaning weights at 60, 90, and 120 d, postweaning gains from weaning to 120 or 365 d of age, fleece weight, and fiber diameter from Targhee, Suffolk, and Polypay flocks participating in the U.S. National Sheep Improvement Program were used to estimate genetic parameters for litter size and genetic relationships between early-life traits and future litter size. Records on 7,591 lambings by 3,131 Targhee ewes, 10,295 lambings by 5,038 Suffolk ewes, and 6,061 lambings by 2,709 Polypay ewes were used. Heritability estimates for litter size ranged from .09 to .11 across breeds; repeatability ranged from .09 to .13. Additive genetic effects on litter size were generally positively, and occasionally significantly, correlated with animal additive genetic effects on weaning weights and postweaning gains. Genetic correlations (r(a)) ranged from .08 to .48 in Targhee and from .17 to .43 in Suffolk but were close to 0 in Polypay (-.14 to .09). Additive maternal effects on weaning weight were positively associated with litter size in Suffolk and Polypay; this correlation was negative (-.23 to -.35), but not significant, in Targhee. Fleece weight was not strongly associated with litter size; (r(a) = -.09 to .21). However, fiber diameter had a significant undesirable correlation with litter size (.30) in Targhee. Estimates of phenotypic correlations of litter size with early-life traits were uniformly small (-.02 to .08). Thus, although occasional genetic antagonisms between litter size and early-life traits were observed in these data, none appeared large enough to prevent simultaneous genetic improvement in both traits.
Background Information on Vygotskian Theory and Vygotsky the Man

Reading various translations of the poem by Mandelstam offers a multitude of interpretations of the Russian original, each contributing a different nuance. The same is true for any interpretation of the writings of L. S. Vygotsky, leaving one to wonder where to begin a method of analysis. For example, Davydov and Radzikhovskii stated that: Like all cultural phenomena, Vygotsky’s work is not amenable to being studied outside of its historical context… But it is possible to outline a two fold approach to the study of his ideas by taking the historical context into account. One can begin with the contemporary state of science and attempt to identify aspects of Vygotsky’s approach that do or do not share similarities with various theories… one can then express a preference for one or another alternative… But a second approach is also possible… It is possible to evaluate Vygotsky’s works on the basis of their internal logic. (Davydov & Radzikhovskii, 1985, pp. 36-37)
Column Cracking in Steel Moment Frames

ABSTRACT Steel moment frames sustained a large amount of cracking during the Northridge Earthquake. The evolutionary trends in the design and construction of these frames are discussed, and the consequences of these trends in seismic damage are noted. Two typical buildings which had significant cracking into the columns were analyzed in considerable detail. It is shown that a large amount of panel zone yield deformation should have occurred in these buildings, and their dynamic response was largely influenced by offsets and nonstructural masonry walls. The limited redundancy utilized in these buildings resulted in relatively large members. The computed behavior of the buildings is correlated to the results of past experiments. Finally a limited experimental study of the ductility and strain rate effects for welded connections is presented. Many factors influenced the cracking noted after the Northridge Earthquake, and some of these are discussed in this paper.
Inclusive Design for Online and Blended Courses

Course accessibility is a priority in higher education, particularly in the design and delivery of digital learning experiences. Proactively addressing accessibility as part of online and blended course design meets the needs of all learners, including those in the margins. Inclusive design for online and blended courses connects the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework in order to address learner variability as an intentional part of course design. Inclusive design fosters expanded options in the ways that learners access learning materials, engage in learning experiences, and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned. This paper describes practical applications of WCAG and UDL for the design and facilitation of inclusive online and blended courses in the post-secondary setting.
Intersecting experiences, motivating beliefs: the joint roles of class and race/ethnicity in the development of youths' sociopolitical perceptions and participation

Positioning our analyses within two theoretical frameworks, system justification (SJ) theory and critical consciousness (CC), we examine relationships between social class and endorsement of SJ and CC beliefs and behaviors within a sample of low-income, Latinx and Black youth living in Chicago. We operationalize social class using five indicators: income-to-needs ratio (INR), subjective social status (SSS), financial strain, violence exposure, and neighborhood income. We find that for Black youth, higher INR is related to a greater likelihood of rejecting the status quo. Comparatively, living in a higher income neighborhood is negatively related to and being exposed to violence is positively related to the likelihood of engaging in social change behaviors. A different pattern emerged for Latinx youth where, higher perceived status was positively associated with accepting the status quo and greater exposure to violence was negatively related to youths' perceived ability to make a difference in the world around them.
Critical Points of Master Functions and the mKdV Hierarchy of Type A2(2)

We consider the population of critical points generated from the critical point of the master function with no variables, which is associated with the trivial representation of the affine Lie algebra A 2 (2). The population consists of a sequence of m-parameter families of critical points, where \(m = 0,1,\ldots\). We embed such a family into the space \(\mathcal{M}(A_{2}^{(2)})\) of Miura opers of type A 2 (2). We show that the embedding defines a variety which is invariant with respect to all mKdV flows on \(\mathcal{M}(A_{2}^{(2)})\), and that variety is point-wise fixed by all flows of the index big enough.
The decreasing predictive power of MELD in an era of changing etiology of liver disease.

The field of liver transplantation has shifted considerably in the MELD era, including changing allocation, immunosuppression, and liver failure etiologies, as well as better supportive therapies. Our aim was to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the MELD score over time. The United Network for Organ Sharing provided de-identified data on 120 156 patients listed for liver transplant from 2002-2016. The ability of the MELD score to predict 90-day mortality was evaluated by a concordance (C-) statistic and corroborated with competing risk analysis. The MELD score's concordance with 90-day mortality has downtrended from 0.80 in 2003 to 0.70 in 2015. While lab MELD scores at listing and transplant climbed in that interval, score at waitlist death remained steady near 35. Listing age increased from 50 to 54 years. HCV-positive status at listing dropped from 33 to 17%. The concordance of MELD and mortality does not differ with age (>60 = 0.73, <60 = 0.74), but is lower in diseases that are increasing most rapidly-alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-and higher in those that are declining, particularly in HCV-positive patients (HCV positive = 0.77; negative = 0.73). While MELD still predicts mortality, its accuracy has decreased; changing etiology of disease may contribute.
Economic Value of Florida Water Resources: Valuing the Quality of Water for Household Needs

Florida water-resource professionals deciding whether to implement a costly water protection program or to invest in better tap water treatment technology may wonder: Are such investments justified? What are the benefits of the program or investment decision? Just how highly do Floridians value their water? This 5-page fact sheet written by Tatiana Borisova, Syed Irfan Ali Shah, Tara Wade, Xiang Bi, and Kelly Grogan and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department reviews studies that help assess the value Floridians assign to maintaining or improving the quality of the water supply. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1059
610-GHz Fourth Harmonic Signal Reactively Generated in a CMOS Voltage Controlled Oscillator Using Differentially Pumped Varactors

A fourth harmonic signal reactively generated in a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) using differentially pumped varactors is used to demonstrate a compact 610-GHz source in 65-nm CMOS. The nonlinear $C{-}V$ characteristics of accumulation mode varactor pair are used to generate the harmonic power. The circuit also utilizes a technique to boost the varactor $Q$ and dynamic cut-off frequency to increase the harmonic power. The source delivers a peak radiating power of −25.2 dBm, with a frequency tuning range of 604.5–618.6 GHz (2.3%), a 3-dB tuning bandwidth of 607.1–614.3 GHz (1.2%), and a dc-THz efficiency of 0.01% (0.013% excluding the power consumption in the current source). The chip core area is 0.62 mm $\times $ 0.39 mm excluding the area for bond pads.
Effect of propofol, desflurane or sevoflurane combined with remifentail on intraoperative wake-up test in patients undergoing cerebral functional area operation

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol, desflurane or sevoflurane combined with remifentail on intraoperative wake-up test in patients undergoing cerebral functional area operation. Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 18-60 yr scheduled to receive awake craniotomy were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 20 each): propofol group (P), desflurane group (D) and sevoflurane group (S). Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of etomidate 0.3 mg/kg, fentanyl 3 μg/kg and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. Tracheal intubation was performed after all patients received topical anesthesia of larynx and tracheal mucosa with 1% tetracaine. In group P, D and S, anesthesia was maintained with TCI of propofol (target plasma concentration was set at 2.0 μg/ml) and continuous inhalation of desflurane or sevoflurane respectively. TCI of propefol was given with target plasma concentration set at 2.5 ng/ml and the concentration was decreased to 0.5 ng/ml before wake-up test in each group. Trarnadol 100 nag was injected iv, anesthetic administration was terminated and wake-up test was performed. The wake-up time and bucking, restlessness and shivering during the wake up test were recorded. Results There was no significant difference in the wake-up time between the 3 groups ( P 0.05 ). The incidence of shivering was significantly higher in group P than in group D and S ( P < O. 05). Conclusion There is no significant difference in the intraoperative wake-up time in patients undergoing cerebral functional area operation during anesthesia with propofol, desflurane or sevoflurane combined with remifentail, while the incidence of complications was lower with desflurane or sevoflurane combined with remifentail and it is an appropriate anesthetic technique for intraoperative wake-up test. Key words: Neurosurgical procedures; Prepofol; Piperidines; Anesthetics, inhalation
Laparoscopy assistant treatment of cholestatic syndrome: the experience with 10 patients

0bjective To evaluate the effect of assistant bile cyst fistulization and biliary tract irrigation to treat cholestatic syndrome.Methods Between January 2003 and February 2005,10 neonates with cholestatic syndrome were performed laparoscopy assistant bile cyst fistulization and biliary tract irrigation in our department.The irrigation tube was placed in gallbladder,and intraoperative cholangiogram was performed to display biliary duct.Postoperatively,10-20ml saline was infused into biliary duct through the irrigation tube every day at the first week.After the first week,irrigation adj usted to every 2 to 3 days according to bilirubin levels and liver function.The tubes were kept for 2 weeks to 1 month.Results Ten cases were diagnosed as cholestatic syndrome by intraoperational cholangiography.As biliary tract was irrigated during and after operation,the increased bilirubinand abnormal liver function was greatly improved.Conclusions Laparoscopy assistant bile cyst fistulization and biliary tract irrigation is the feasible and reliable procedure to treat cholestatic syndrome. Key words: Biliary stasis; Laparoscopic surgical procedures; Jaundice,obstructive
How to Restructure Argentine Debt

We propose that Argentina make an exchange offer that, if accepted by a majority of creditors, could (i) preclude potential holdouts from successfully suing Argentina over a violation of the pari passu clause, and (ii) force potential holdouts to litigate in Argentine courts. Also, we propose to amend the terms of the 2005 Indenture with the approval of holders of 67% of bond principal. This amendment would dissuade potential holdouts from resisting a restructuring. Finally, we propose that Argentina request a temporary stay on payment of interest until the resolution of the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This stay, we believe, may be granted by Argentine courts.
Freedom and Fabrication: Propaganda and Novels in the Cultural Cold War

This chapter addresses the way that fiction was used both to support and to challenge the dominant ideologies of the Cold War. As the international trade in novels grew, governments came to see reading as an important way to shape the attitudes of citizens and non-citizens and to win the battle for hearts and minds. At the same time, novelists found ways overtly and covertly to resist what they saw as exploitation of their artistic purposes. The chapter considers the ways that state security agencies used novels for defining the superiority of the two superpowers, as well as the ways in which novelists drew on the tools of propaganda to satirise, question and recast those tools.
Antitumor Activity of Curcumin in Glioblastoma

Current standard-of-care treatment for glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor, consists of surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (Stupp protocol), providing an overall median survival of 15 months. With additional treatment using tumor-treating fields (Optune® therapy, Novocure Ltd., Haifa, Israel), survival can be extended up to 20 months. In spite of significant progress in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis, the prognosis for patients with malignant gliomas remains poor and additional treatment modalities are critically needed. Curcumin is a bright yellow pigment found in the rhizome of the widely utilized spice, turmeric (Curcuma longa). It has long been used in South Asian traditional medicines and has been demonstrated to have in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects. Curcumin has been demonstrated to induce multiple cytotoxic effects in tumor cells including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, changes in gene expression, and disruption of molecular signaling. Additionally, curcumin has been shown to potentiate the effect of radiation on cancer cells, while exhibiting a protective effect on normal tissue. Curcumin's positive safety profile and widespread availability make it a promising compound for future clinical trials for high-grade gliomas.
The Safety and Utility of Ground Transport of Traumatic Cardiopulmonary Arrest Patients by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Crews.

Objective Patients suffering from traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest (TCPA) typically demonstrate dismal survival rates. Some helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) systems transport TCPA patients via ground with a referring agency when cardiopulmonary pulmonary resuscitation is in progress. With expanding research on the inherent risk of ground emergency medical services (GEMS) transport with the use of lights and sirens to both crew and the general public, the benefits may not outweigh the risks of transporting these patients by GEMS. The aim of this study was to determine the number of TCPA patients transported by GEMS with HEMS crews on board who survived to hospital discharge. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of approximately 10 years of data from a regional Midwest HEMS service. Survival to hospital discharge was the primary outcome. Results Flight crews transported 54 patients via ambulance with GEMS crews; 31 patients met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 31 patients transported, 0 survived to hospital discharge. Conclusion Based on our 0% survival rate and the inherent risk of injury and death to emergency medical services crews and the general public, the risk of transporting adult TCPA patients by GEMS using lights and sirens outweighs the benefit.
Diagnosis of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Beyond Childhood is Associated with Worse Outcomes

Abstract Introduction The elucidation of differences between adult and pediatric onset primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) may inform clinical decision making, and whether results of adult PSC clinical trials can be extrapolated to pediatric subjects. Methods A single center retrospective analysis of PSC subjects diagnosed during the epoch 2000-13 was conducted. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were compared between PSC subjects diagnosed between 0-18 (pediatric) and 19+ (adult) years of age. An adverse outcome was defined as PSC-related death, liver transplant (LT) or malignancy. Survival without any of these was defined as event-free survival. Results Analyses of 28 pediatric diagnosed and 59 adult diagnosed subjects revealed that incidence of early portal hypertension (p=0.2), laboratory parameters of liver disease severity and fibrosis grade at diagnosis were comparable between adult and pediatric PSC subjects. Adult diagnosed PSC subjects had higher incidence of adverse outcome compared to pediatric diagnosed PSC subjects (p = 0.02). The age group 0-18 (n=30) had significantly better event-free survival compared to age group greater than 40 (n=25) (p = 0.03). Prevalence of portal hypertension (PHT) in adult PSC subjects was 2.6 that of pediatric PSC subjects. PHT adversely affected outcomes in both adult (p Discussion Despite having comparable clinical, laboratory and histologic biomarkers of liver disease severity at time of diagnosis, adult PSC subjects had worse outcome compared to pediatric PSC subjects. Possible reasons for this finding include higher incidence of PHT, biliary complications, extra-hepatic comorbidities and longer duration of follow-up.
Self-reported hepatitis C(HCV) testing among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH).

Abstract Objective We aimed to identify disparities in self-reported HCV testing among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in Florida. Methods We utilized a cross-sectional study of 646 PLWH from the Florida Cohort study's baseline survey. Our analysis included chi-squared tests and logistic regression. Results Participants that were 55 years old or above had more than twice the odds of reporting a past HCV test than those 18–34 years old (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.22–5.0), which contrasted with Non-Hispanic Blacks who had lower odds of reporting a past HCV test than non-Hispanic Whites (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.35–1.1). Drug use was also associated with higher odds of reporting a past HCV test for injection drugs (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0–8.43) and non-injection drugs (OR 1.52 CI 0.99–2.21). Individuals with education beyond high school had higher odds of reporting a past HCV test than those that did not attend/complete high school (OR 1.9 CI 1.11–3.16). Conclusion Our findings highlight the success of the Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's campaign in groups at high risk of HCV, such as baby boomers and Injection Drug Users (IDUs). However, they also reflect the current low HCV testing in PLWH that are 18–34 years old, have a low level of education, and are non-Hispanic Black. Our findings are of crucial public health significance because untreated HCV in PLWH is a major cause of severe liver disease and death. They reveal the current deficiencies in HCV testing, which is the initial step to identify underlying reasons for inadequate testing in specific groups and develop practical solutions.
Chapter 56 – Sprawl and Urban Growth

Cities can be thought of as the absence of physical space between people and firms. As such, they exist to eliminate transportation costs for goods, people and ideas and transportation technologies dictate urban form. In the 21st century, the dominant form of city living is based on the automobile and this form is sometimes called sprawl. In this essay, we document that sprawl is ubiquitous and that it is continuing to expand. Using a variety of evidence, we argue that sprawl is not the result of explicit government policies or bad urban planning, but rather the inexorable product of car-based living. Sprawl has been associated with significant improvements in quality of living, and the environmental impacts of sprawl have been offset by technological change. Finally, we suggest that the primary social problem associated with sprawl is the fact that some people are left behind because they do not earn enough to afford the cars that this form of living requires.
Coed Sports in High School

(1977). Coed Sports in High School. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 23-25.
Metal—silicon bonded compounds: XIV. The electronic spectra of silicon—mercury derivatives

Abstract The ultraviolet and visible spectra of compounds of the general formula Hg(SiCl3-xRx)2 where R  Me, Ph are reported. In addition spectra have been obtained on the compounds Hg(GeMe3)2, Hg[Si(SiMe3)3]2 and the cyclic compound H gSi(Me 2 )CH 2 SiMe 2 HgSiMe 2 CH 2 S iMe2. In cyclohexane all compounds show three characteristic bands, two at ≈4 eV and on at ≈6 eV. Extended Huckel calculations have been used to obtain a qualitative energy level scheme and to make tentative assignments for the transitions. The 4 eV transitions have been assigned to transitions from the ground state, 1A1, to be 1B1 and 1A2 states respectively and the 6 eV transition to a transition to an excited 1A1 state. The orbitals involved are principally centered on the mercury atom with their energies perturbated by the attached silicon moieties.
The shear modulus of the nucleus pulposus measured using magnetic resonance elastography: a potential biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration.

Purpose This study aims to: (1) measure the shear modulus of nucleus pulposus (NP) in intact human vertebra–disc–vertebra segments using a magnetic resonance elastography setup for a 7T whole-body scanner, (2) quantify the effect of disc degeneration on the NP shear modulus measured using magnetic resonance elastography, and (3) compare the NP shear modulus to other magnetic resonance-based biomarkers of dis degeneration. Methods Thirty intact human disc segments were classified as normal, mild, or severely degenerated. The NP shear modulus was measured using a custom-made setup that included a novel inverse method less sensitive to noisy displacements. T2 relaxation time was measured at 7T. The accuracy of these parameters to classify different degrees of degeneration was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results The magnetic resonance elastography measure of shear modulus in the NP was able to differentiate between normal, mild degeneration, and severe degeneration. The T2 relaxation time was able to differentiate between normal and mild degeneration, but it could not distinguish between mild and severe degeneration. Conclusions This study shows that the NP shear modulus measured using magnetic resonance elastography is sensitive to disc degeneration and has the potential of being used as a clinical tool to quantify the mechanical integrity of the intervertebral disc. Magn Reson Med 72:211–219, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comprehensive treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is an under-recognized disease; it is responsible for up to 20 % of all dementia cases. Accurate diagnosis is essential because the management of dementia with Lewy bodies is more complex than many neurodegenerative diseases. This is because alpha-synuclein, the pathological protein responsible for dementia with Lewy bodies (and Parkinson’s disease), produces symptoms in multiple domains. By dividing the symptoms into cognitive, neuropsychiatric, movement, autonomic, and sleep categories, a comprehensive treatment strategy can be achieved. Management decisions are complex, since the treatment of one set of symptoms can cause complications in other symptom domains. Nevertheless, a comprehensive treatment program can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life, but does not alter the progression of disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors are effective for cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms; rivastigmine has the widest evidence base. Special care needs to be taken to avoid potentially fatal idiopathic reactions to neuroleptic medications; these should be used for short periods only when absolutely necessary and when alternative treatments have failed. Pimavanserin, a selective serotonin 5-HT2A inverse agonist, holds promise as an alternative therapy for synuclein-associated psychosis. Levodopa/carbidopa treatment of parkinsonism is often limited by dopa-induced exacerbations of neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Autonomic symptoms are under-recognized complications of synucleinopathy. Constipation, urinary symptoms and postural hypotension respond to standard medications. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is highly specific (98 %) to the synucleinopathies. Nonpharmacological treatments, melatonin and clonazepam are all effective.
Gender and ‘the public sphere’ in Africa: writing women and rioting women

SUSAN ANDRADE argues that looking at the actions of two different classes of women allows a reconception of African women's engagement with decolonising nationalism
Amino Acid Composition of Walls from Single and Filamentous Cells of Clostridium acidiurici

Gaffar, Abdul (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah), David R. Terry, and Richard D. Sagers. Amino acid composition of walls from single and filamentous cells of Clostridium acidiurici. J. Bacteriol. 91:1618-1624. 1966.-The walls from single and filamentous cells of Clostridium acidiurici were shown to contain 11 amino acids: aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline, d-alanine, glycine, valine, methionine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, and lysine. In the walls from cells grown at 37 C, d-alanine was the amino acid present in largest quantity, but in the walls from cells grown at 44 C there was a 50% reduction in the d-alanine content while the levels of the other amino acids were unchanged. Filamentous cells grown at 44 C, then brought to 37 C and transferred to fresh medium, fragmented into short cells within 30 min. Alanine racemase activity was the same in extracts from cells grown at both 37 and 44 C, suggesting that this enzyme was not the major controlling factor in the low content of d-alanine in filaments grown at 44 C. Spent medium from cultures grown at 44 C contained a significant amount of d-alanine, whereas there was no evidence of this amino acid in the spent medium from cultures grown at 37 C.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride

The electrolytic oxidation of chlorpromazine hydrochloride has been studied. Controlled potential coulometry has shown the chlorpromazine undergoes a two-electron oxidation in dilute aqueous acid media. In 9 N sulfuric acid two successive one-electron oxidations, involving a stable semiquinone free radical intermediate, are identifiable. Polarographic studies with a rotating platinum electrode confirm the occurrence of two separate one-electron oxidation steps in 9 N sulfuric acid. The coulometrically determined n values are in agreement with these observations. Reaction mechanisms are proposed for the electrolytic oxidation of chlorpromazine under various conditions of acidity. Spectral absorbance curves are presented as supporting evidence for the indicated reaction mechanisms.
Prediction of Mature MicroRNA and Piwi-Interacting RNA without a Genome Reference or Precursors

The discovery of novel microRNA (miRNA) and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) is an important task for the understanding of many biological processes. Most of the available miRNA and piRNA identification methods are dependent on the availability of the organism’s genome sequence and the quality of its annotation. Therefore, an efficient prediction method based solely on the short RNA reads and requiring no genomic information is highly desirable. In this study, we propose an approach that relies primarily on the nucleotide composition of the read and does not require reference genomes of related species for prediction. Using an empirical Bayesian kernel method and the error correcting output codes framework, compact models suitable for large-scale analyses are built on databases of known mature miRNAs and piRNAs. We found that the usage of an L1-based Gaussian kernel can double the true positive rate compared to the standard L2-based Gaussian kernel. Our approach can increase the true positive rate by at most 60% compared to the existing piRNA predictor based on the analysis of a hold-out test set. Using experimental data, we also show that our approach can detect about an order of magnitude or more known miRNAs than the mature miRNA predictor, miRPlex.
A new method of olefin synthesis. Coupling of lithium dialkylcuprates with enol triflates

Abstract Enol trifluoromethansulfonates react with lithium dialkylcuprates to give the coupling products in high yields. The reaction is stereoselective and is successful with a wide variety of organocuprates, including methyl, butyl, phenyl, vinyl, and cyclopropyl reagents.
Factors Associated with Healthcare Visits by Young Children for Nontoxic Poisoning Exposures

Poison control centers have been shown to be a cost-effective alternative to healthcare visits for poisoning exposures, yet emergency departments (ED) and urgent care centers (UCC) continue to be frequently accessed for poisoning exposures in young children. We sought to identify predictors of young children who obtain healthcare for a nontoxic poisoning exposure. Poisoning exposure cases for children ≤5 years old who sought ED, UCC, or clinic care between 2001 and 2005 from an urban regional pediatric hospital system were identified from poisoning ICD-9 codes in the hospital administrative data and from a poisoning designation in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data. Cases (n = 2,494) were reviewed and categorized as either toxic or nontoxic. Toxic exposures were those with more than minimal potential for clinical effects. Most cases were between 1 and 2 years old, male, White, enrolled in Medicaid, sought ED care, had no referring physician, and brought to the facility by a parent/guardian. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of seeking healthcare for a nontoxic poisoning exposure were significantly greater if the child was African American, enrolled in Medicaid, had a non-medication related poisoning, and was brought to the healthcare site by a parent/guardian. Healthcare costs and unnecessary use of healthcare resources for nontoxic poisoning exposures could be reduced by educating parents and providers of children at high risk for inappropriate healthcare visits for nontoxic poisonings to initially contact the poison control center (1-800-222-1222).
Short- and long-term benefits of cognitive training

Does cognitive training work? There are numerous commercial training interventions claiming to improve general mental capacity; however, the scientific evidence for such claims is sparse. Nevertheless, there is accumulating evidence that certain cognitive interventions are effective. Here we provide evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive (often called “brain”) training. However, we demonstrate that there are important individual differences that determine training and transfer. We trained elementary and middle school children by means of a videogame-like working memory task. We found that only children who considerably improved on the training task showed a performance increase on untrained fluid intelligence tasks. This improvement was larger than the improvement of a control group who trained on a knowledge-based task that did not engage working memory; further, this differential pattern remained intact even after a 3-mo hiatus from training. We conclude that cognitive training can be effective and long-lasting, but that there are limiting factors that must be considered to evaluate the effects of this training, one of which is individual differences in training performance. We propose that future research should not investigate whether cognitive training works, but rather should determine what training regimens and what training conditions result in the best transfer effects, investigate the underlying neural and cognitive mechanisms, and finally, investigate for whom cognitive training is most useful.
A mixed least squares method for solving problems in linear elasticity: formulation and initial results

In this paper a mixed least squares finite element method for solving problems in linear elasticity is proposed. The developed numerical technique allows the use of separate unknowns for displacements and stresses, discontinuous interpolation functions for displacements, and the resulting linear system has a symmetric and positive definite coefficient matrix. The approximate solution of the linear elasticity problem is obtained by minimization of a least squares functional based on the constitutive equations and equations of equilibrium. The proposed method is implemented in an original computer code written in C programming language. Its performance is tested on classical examples from theory of elasticity with well-known exact analytical solutions. Results from the implementation of a constant displacement-bilinear stress element and bilinear displacement-bilinear stress element are discussed.
Venous Cystic Adventitial Disease Presenting as an Enlarging Groin Mass

Venous cystic adventitial disease is an exceedingly rare vascular disorder, with 12 cases reported in the past decade. A 60-year-old woman presented with a painful, palpable groin mass without leg swelling. She was initially thought to have a nonreducible inguinal hernia. A computed tomography scan was obtained that revealed a cystic mass involving the right common femoral vein. Previous imaging revealed that the mass had enlarged over time. In the operating room, the cyst wall was excised without compromising vein integrity. The patient had an uneventful recovery and her pain resolved. We review the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. We believe that the rapid evolution of this lesion suggests that an unknown inciting factor triggers its onset and growth.
The Fossil Record and Evolution: Comparing Cladistic and Paleontologic Evidence for Vertebrate History

The fossil record offers the only direct evidence of extinct life and thus has figured prominently in considerations of evolutionary patterns. But the incomplete nature of the fossil record has also been emphasized in arguments that fossils play only a secondary role in the recovery of phylogenetic histories based on extant taxa. Although these criticisms recently have been countered, there is no general understanding of the correspondence between the fossil record and phylogeny. An empirical survey of recently published studies suggests no basis for assuming that the stratigraphic occurrence of fossils always provides a precise reflection of phylogeny. Nevertheless, our survey of a sample of taxa shows a tendency for positive correlation between age and clade rank and, hence, a degree of correspondence between phylogenetic pattern and the paleontologic record.
The significance of large lateral and small head-foot waves in the ballistocardiogram of ectopic beats

Abstract Comparison of three-plane ballistocardiograms during supraventricular and ectopic cycles in patients with atrial fibrillation showed that aberrant activation had minimal effect in altering the pattern of ectopic beats, while prematurity had marked and similar effects on ectopic beats and those with normal ventricular activation. Comparison of ectopic beats and normal beats in sinus rhythm showed that the absence of atrial contraction before ectopic beats contributed to the difference in pattern, but that premature contraction was far more important in determining the change in ballistocardiographic systolic complexes. Very early beats, which evoked faint first sounds and no second sounds, produced very little ballistocardiographic motion. Somewhat later beats, with normal or loud first sounds, occasionally had lateral systolic complexes larger than normal, although the head-foot complexes and carotid pulse waves were small. Factors which reduced the rate of return flow to the left ventricle (mitral stenosis; inspiratory phase of normal respiration) prolonged the interval after a normal systole during which premature beats evoked small ballistocardiographic waves, while aortic insufficiency and myocardial failure which hastened early inflow tended to produce short intervals in which small complexes were seen. These phenomena are interpreted as meaning that motion of blood, rather than motion of ventricular muscle masses, is responsible for almost all the ballistocardiographic force, and that motion of blood at the A-V orifices contributes greatly to the genesis of the lateral forces recorded during ventricular systole. It is noted that in 3 cases of sinus rhythm, ventricular ectopic beats with broad QRS complexes produced larger head-foot I-J waves and waves of more normal contour than those evoked by normally activated contractions. This may be due to interference of atrial and ventricular waves in normal beats, and absence of such interference in the ectopic beats.
Pelvic fixation for adult scoliosis

Introduction Obtaining a fusion, especially to the sacrum for adult deformity correction remains a challenge. Prior to modern fixation techniques, the reported fusion rates for adult scoliotic deformities were low. However sacropelvic fixation techniques for adult deformity continue to evolve. As a result, modern day pelvic fixation techniques have improved fusion rates at the base of long constructs. The purpose of this article is to discuss the history, indications, and modern fixation techniques for pelvic fixation in the surgical management of adult scoliosis patients.
The Hybrid AMPE Approach: Towards More Effective Environmental Management

In the Global North, attempts to manage environmental resources have resulted in uneven results for diverse ecosystems. Weak levels of participation are characteristic of these attempts, as well as a lack of accounting for the stochasticity of both human and environmental systems. To address this lacuna, adaptive management has integrated the concept of environmental stochasticity into the management of complex environmental systems. However, we contend that adaptive management does not ask critical questions that seek to ensure social and environmental equitability, calling into question the effectiveness of the approach in the long term. This article provides an alternative vision of adaptive management that incorporates theoretical approaches from political ecology. Adaptive management provides an applicable framework to sustain the critical questions that political ecology asks. Thus, this marriage of application and theory can result in a framework that recognizes system stochasticity and develops pa...
Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue

The mechanisms that balance food intake and energy expenditure determine who will be obese and who will be lean. One of the molecules that regulates energy balance in the mouse is the obese (ob) gene. Mutation of ob results in profound obesity and type II diabetes as part of a syndrome that resembles morbid obesity in humans. The ob gene product may function as part of a signalling pathway from adipose tissue that acts to regulate the size of the body fat depot.
Evidence for a negative ultrashort loop feedback regulating galanin release from the arcuate nucleus-median eminence functional unit.

Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that galanin (GAL) is a member of the hypothalamic-hypophysiotropic hormone family. Most of the hypothalamic hormones regulate their own secretion rate by ultrashort loop feedback mechanisms. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate the possibility that hypothalamic GAL could regulate its own release through a similar mechanism. Galanin secretion from median eminence (ME) fragments incubated in vitro increased exponentially with time, whereas GAL release from arcuate nucleus-ME (AN-ME) fragments depicted a secretory profile consisting of an initial exponential rising phase, followed by a plateau phase in which GAL secretion was apparently abolished. Moreover, preexposure of AN-ME fragments to porcine GAL (pGAL) increased tissue responsiveness to K(+)-induced depolarization, suggesting that pGAL reduced the gain of the system. Thus, after pGAL removal, AN-ME fragments appear to be more sensitive to the depolarizing stimulus. In addition, blockade of ...
Preliminary Study of the Genetics of House Fly (Musca domestica) Resistance to Malathion

The genetics of malathion resistance in a strain of house flies ( Musca domestica L.) was studied by selecting two strains, one susceptible and one resistant to malathion, from a slightly resistant field strain. The method of selection was by collecting eggs from individual females and increasing the population to sufficient numbers to determine their response. After three generations of selection a uniform malathion-resistant strain was obtained. A susceptible strain was obtained in one generation although selection was continued another generation. The parent strain was 1.7 times as resistant as the susceptible strain, while the resistant strain was 62 times as resistant. All insects used to determine response to malathion were laboratory-reared females which were tested 4 days after peak emergence with solutions made by diluting 95% technical malathion in glass-distilled acetone. Flies were held in recovery jars containing food, at a constant temperature until 24-hour mortality counts were taken. Strain differences other than malathion resistance were present. The resistant strain required a longer period from egg to adult than the susceptible strain. The males in the susceptible strain emerged significantly earlier than the females. The resistant strain was observed to have a lower fecundity than the parent and susceptible strains. The sex ratio in the selected strains did not differ from a 1:1 ratio. The F1 hybrids of reciprocal crosses between the susceptible and resistant strain segregated into 50% susceptible and 50% resistant individuals. The least tenuous explanation for this segregation is that malathion resistance is inherited by two allelic groups exhibiting incomplete duplicate dominance epistasis. The segregation of the F1 hybrids cannot be explained on the basis of a single gene or independent assortment of multiple genes, as the resistant strain is homogeneous malathion-resistant. The F2 hybrids did not differ significantly from the F1 hybrids. Maternal effects were present in the F1 hybrids but had disappeared in the F2 generation. That the F2 progeny of reciprocal crosses did not differ indicates that no sex-linkage is involved in the inheritance of malathion resistance.
Predicting flock vigilance from simple passerine interactions: modelling with cellular automata

Vigilance in flocks can be described and modelled as a plausible set of local interactions between neighbouring birds. Each bird in the modelled flock chooses to feed or to scan based solely on whether or not its neighbours are feeding or scanning. This simple model has the ability both to reproduce observations that have not been previously explained and to predict flock behaviours that might be confirmed with future field studies. Examples include simulations showing decreased vigilance with increased flock size (as observed in the field), greater time spent scanning when obstacles such as trees are present (as observed) and a coordinated feed/scan pattern (that is predicted to become increasingly coordinated when the birds look up from feeding more frequently). The numerical model also predicts that flock geometry influences vigilance. If two flocks are the same size, individuals in the one with the larger perimeter will spend more time scanning. This prediction could be tested with field studies and already has been observed empirically for two limiting cases: birds arranged in a line (high perimeters, high scan times) and birds in a circle (lower perimeters, lower scan times). As demonstrated by its multiple successes, cellular models of this type are a powerful new approach to understanding bird flock behaviours.
Clinicopathologic correlations in the oligodendroglioma

To determine the prognostic significance of histologic variables in oligodendroglial neoplasms, the presence and degree of 15 such variables were correlated with postoperative survival rates in 71 patients. By univariate analysis, prognostically significant factors, in order of decreasing importance, were mitoses (log), necrosis, nuclear cytologic atypia, vascular hypertrophy, and vascular proliferation. When studied by stepwise regression, necrosis and the number of mitoses contained all of the prognostically useful information. When each of the five variables significant by univariate analysis was tested in the Cox model by adding a variable to the model containing the other four, necrosis was found to be the only independently significant variable. There were significant positive pairwise correlations between each of the five significant histologic variables except for cytologic atypia with necrosis. The only histologic variable with a significant association with older age was the number of mitoses. These results suggest that necrosis and, to a lesser extent, the mitotic count are features that, in the appropriate setting, can be used to identify the "anaplastic" oligodendroglioma.