cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE RECIPROCAL RELATION BETWEEN THE OSMOTIC PRESSURE AND THE VISCOSITY OF GELATIN SOLUTIONS

1. These experiments confirm the conclusion that protein solutions are true solutions consisting of isolated ions and molecules, and that these solutions may or may not contain in addition solid submicroscopic particles capable of occluding water. 2. The typical influence of electrolytes on the osmotic pressure of protein solutions is due to the isolated protein ions since these alone are capable of causing a Donnan equilibrium across a membrane impermeable to the protein ions but permeable to most crystalloidal ions. 3. The similar influence of electrolytes on the viscosity of protein solutions is due to the submicroscopic solid protein particles capable of occluding water since the amount of water occluded by (or the amount of swelling of) these particles is regulated by the Donnan equilibrium. 4. These ideas are supported by the fact that the more the submicroscopic solid particles contained in a protein solution or suspension are transformed into isolated ions (e.g., by keeping gelatin solution for 1 hour or more at 45°C.) the more the viscosity of the solution is diminished while the osmotic pressure is increased, and vice versa.
Facilitating Parent-Child Communication During Divorce Mediation

This case study is a companion to the article on page 307, which summarizes research findings related to the impact of parental divorce on children, describes the nature and extent of divorce-education and divorce-mediation interventions designed to minimize the negative consequences children may experience, and presents the potential benefits and drawbacks of directly involving children, rather than parents only, in educational programs or mediation. This case study describes a divorce mediation case that included two school-age children as participants. The mediator successfully adapted and used two family-oriented games as a means of facilitating communication among parties. Family life educators, social workers, counselors, or family mediators may be inspired to adapt these games for use in their own professional endeavors.
Ventilation imaging in the horse with 99mtechnetium-DTPA radioaerosol.

Summary This study describes the development of a radioaerosol technique for horses using 99mtechnetium-DTPA (diethylene-triaminepentacetate). In 24 normal, adult horses, very satisfactory ventilation images were obtained with the technique. Four-minute administrations of the aerosol resulted in a mean uptake of radioactivity in the lung fields of 3.02 mCi, with mean maximum counts (±sd) of 159,800± 75,000 per camera field. The mean clearance half-time for the 99mtechnetium-DTPA from the lung fields was 55.6 ± 14.2 mins which is very similar to figures obtained for normal human and dog lungs. The results of this study suggest that ventilation imaging with 99mtechnetium-DTPA is a clinically practical method of obtaining regional information on ventilation function in the horse.
Clinicopathological heterogeneity in the classification of mild head injury.

Research examining the neurobehavioral outcome after mild head injury has yielded inconsistent and contradictory findings. Such findings have been attributed to a variety of methodological weaknesses, such as failure to consider the preinjury status of the patient, lack of control groups, and variability in outcome time points. However, few researchers have examined the adequacy of the current diagnostic criteria. A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 to 15 is one of the primary criteria in the classification of mild head injury. We propose that the use of GCS Scores 13 to 15 permits excessive heterogeneity in injury severity and contributes to variability in neurobehavioral outcome. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of admission GCS scores to variables indicative of injury severity. The case records of 3370 patients consecutively admitted to a Level I trauma center with nonmissile head injuries, positive loss of consciousness, and admission GCS scores of 13 to 15 were reviewed. The frequency of positive computed tomographic scan findings and the need for neurosurgical intervention within the first 24 hours were recorded. A chi 2 analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the frequency of positive computed tomographic scans and the need for neurosurgical intervention in patients with GCS scores of 13 versus 14, 14 versus 15, and 13 versus 15. These results indicate significant differences in injury severity among patients with admission GCS scores of 13 to 15. The implicit assumption of clinicopathological homogeneity among patients with such scores is challenged by these data. This study demonstrates the need for more precise research diagnostic criteria in the study of neurobehavioral outcome after mild head injury. These findings also provide compelling evidence for the re-examination of the classification of mild head injury. Serious consideration must be given to the segregation of patients with GCS scores of 15 from those with scores of 14 and 13. Language: en
A high efficiency micromachined artificial lung

This paper presents the design, fabrication and first results for a microfabricated artificial lung with feature sizes that are comparable to that of the natural lung. The device is targeted at an increased gas transfer efficiency and portability compared to its current commercial alternatives and boasts the thinnest silicone gas transfer membrane and the lowest membrane diffusional resistance for a silicone-based device to date. Devices with 15 µm-thick membranes and 30 µm-tall channels achieved membrane and blood-side diffusional resistances of 27×103 and 118×103 ml−1·s·cm2·cmHg, respectively, for oxygen.
Excess thymidine induces folate sensitve fragile sites

Folate sensitive fragile sites on human chromosomes have been found to be inducible in cultured lymphocytes by high levels of thymidine but not by high levels of BrdU. The biochemical interpretation of events leading to fragile site expression has been revised since it is now clear that low levels of either thymidylate or deoxycytidine triphosphate will result in this phenomenon. A model for the DNA at a fragile site, composed of alternating repeating polypurine/polypyrimidine sequences is proposed.
The essential divine-perfection objection to the free-will defence

The free-will defence (FWD) holds that the value of significant free will is so great that God is justified in creating significantly free creatures even if there is a risk or certainty that these creatures will sin. A difficulty for the FWD, developed carefully by Quentin Smith, is that God is unable to do evil, and yet surely lacks no genuinely valuable kind of freedom. Smith argues that the kind of freedom that God has can be had by creatures, without a risk of creatures doing evil. I shall show that Smith's argument fails - the case of God is disanalogous to the case of creatures precisely because creatures are creatures.
Association of vitamin B-6 status with inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory conditions: the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study

Background: Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The cardioprotective effects of vitamin B-6 independent of homocysteine suggest that additional mechanisms may be involved. Objective: Our objective was to examine the cross-sectional association of vitamin B-6 status with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Design: We measured plasma pyridoxal-5#-phosphate (PLP), Creactive protein (CRP), and an oxidative DNA damage marker, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in Puerto Rican adults who were living in Massachusetts (n = 1205, aged 45‐75 y). Results: There was a strong dose-response relation of plasma PLP concentration with plasma CRP. Increasing quartiles of PLP were significantly associated with lower CRP concentrations (geometric means: 4.7, 3.6, 3.1, and 2.5 mg/L; P for trend , 0.0001) and with lower urinary 8-OHdG concentrations (geometric means: 124, 124, 117, and 108 ng/mg creatinine; P for trend: 0.025) after multivariate adjustment. These negative associations persisted after plasma homocysteine was controlled for. Plasma PLP concentrations were significantly correlated with plasma fasting glucose (r = 20.1, P = 0.0006), glycated hemoglobin (r = 20.08, P = 0.006), and homeostasis model assessment of b cell function (r = 0.082, P = 0.005). Metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes were also significantly associated with low plasma PLP concentrations (P = 0.011, 0.0007, and 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Low vitamin B-6 concentrations are associated with inflammation, higher oxidative stress, and metabolic conditions in older Puerto Rican adults. Our data suggest that vitamin B-6 may influence cardiovascular disease risk through mechanisms other than homocysteine and support the notion that nutritional status may influence the health disparities present in this population. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28571.
HAL: a hierarchical format for storing and analyzing multiple genome alignments

Motivation: Large multiple genome alignments and inferred ancestral genomes are ideal resources for comparative studies of molecular evolution, and advances in sequencing and computing technology are making them increasingly obtainable. These structures can provide a rich understanding of the genetic relationships between all subsets of species they contain. Current formats for storing genomic alignments, such as XMFA and MAF, are all indexed or ordered using a single reference genome, however, which limits the information that can be queried with respect to other species and clades. This loss of information grows with the number of species under comparison, as well as their phylogenetic distance. Results: We present HAL, a compressed, graph-based hierarchical alignment format for storing multiple genome alignments and ancestral reconstructions. HAL graphs are indexed on all genomes they contain. Furthermore, they are organized phylogenetically, which allows for modular and parallel access to arbitrary subclades without fragmentation because of rearrangements that have occurred in other lineages. HAL graphs can be created or read with a comprehensive C++ API. A set of tools is also provided to perform basic operations, such as importing and exporting data, identifying mutations and coordinate mapping (liftover). Availability: All documentation and source code for the HAL API and tools are freely available at http://github.com/glennhickey/hal. Contact: ude.cscu.eos@yekcih or ude.cscu.eos@relssuah Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Impact of the isoprene photochemical cascade on tropical ozone

Abstract. Tropical tropospheric ozone affects Earth's radiative forcing and the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. Considerable work has been devoted to the study of the processes controlling its budget. Yet, large discrepancies between simulated and observed tropical tropospheric ozone remain. Here, we characterize some of the mechanisms by which the photochemistry of isoprene impacts the budget of tropical ozone. At the regional scale, we use forward sensitivity simulation to explore the sensitivity to the representation of isoprene nitrates. We find that isoprene nitrates can account for up to 70% of the local NOx = NO+NO2 sink. The resulting modulation of ozone can be well characterized by their net modulation of NOx. We use adjoint sensitivity simulations to demonstrate that the oxidation of isoprene can affect ozone outside of continental regions through the transport of NOx over near-shore regions (e.g., South Atlantic) and the oxidation of isoprene outside of the boundary layer far from its emissions regions. The latter mechanism is promoted by the simulated low boundary-layer oxidative conditions. In our simulation, ~20% of the isoprene is oxidized above the boundary layer in the tropics. Changes in the interplay between regional and global effect are discussed in light of the forecasted increase in anthropogenic emissions in tropical regions.
Sensitivity analysis of reaction‐diffusion constraints in muscle energetics

Theoretical and experimental studies of aerobic metabolism on a wide range of skeletal muscle fibers have shown that while all fibers normally function within the reaction control regime, some fibers operate near the transition region where reaction control switches to diffusion control. Thus, the transition region between reaction and diffusion control may define the limits of muscle function, and analysis of factors that affect this transition is therefore needed. In order to assess the role of all important model parameters, a sensitivity analysis (SA) was performed to define the parameter space where muscle fibers transition from reaction to diffusion control. SA, performed on a previously developed reaction–diffusion model, shows that the maximum rate for the ATPase reaction (Vmax,ATPase), boundary oxygen concentration in the capillary supply (O), the mitochondrial volume fraction (emito), and the diffusion coefficient of oxygen () are the most sensitive parameters affecting this transition to diffusion control. It is demonstrated that fibers are not limited by diffusion for slow reactions (Vmax,ATPase < 25 mM/min), high oxygen supply for the capillaries (O ≥ 35 µM), and large amounts of mitochondria (emito ≥ 0.1). These conditions are applicable to muscle cells spanning a very broad range of animals. Within the diffusion-controlled region, the overall metabolic rate and ATP concentrations have much higher sensitivity to the diffusion coefficient of oxygen than to the diffusion coefficients of the other metabolites (ATP, ADP, Pi). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:559–571. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
External validation of abbreviated versions of the activities-specific balance confidence scale in Parkinson's disease

Balance confidence, measured using the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC-16), can affect quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Two abbreviated 6-item versions of the ABC-16 have been previously derived to measure balance confidence in an expedited fashion. This study aimed to validate these abbreviated versions and to determine their correlations with measures of balance and functional capacity. Eighty-nine individuals with PD participated in the study. Using the 25th percentile, five items were identified as the lowest scoring items (i.e., lowest balance confidence), and thus a 5-item version of the questionnaire was created. Internal consistency and the relationship with the ABC-16 were good for all abbreviated versions (Cronbach α > 0.93; ICC > 0.91). All versions correlated significantly with most measures of balance and function, with no differences between versions. An abbreviation of the ABC-16, using only five items, may prove useful in busy clinical and research settings. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Investigating Novel Interventions for ASD: On Swimming With Dolphins

Abstract Evidence-based practice seems daunting for many busy clinicians; in fact, true critical reviews are time-intensive and costly. Yet, we are bombarded daily with intervention ideas, and for ...
USE OF A MOTOR LOAD ANALYZER TO MONITOR THE GRANULATION PROCESS IN A HIGH INTENSITY MIXER

AbstractA motor load analyzer instrumented to a high intensity mixer was examined for its ability to monitor the granulation process with varying formulation and processing parameters. A lactose/microcrystalline cellulose blend with povidone as the binder was used as the test system.The motor load analyzer was able to note chopper operation and liquid addition methods. However, it could not differentiate between povidone addition as an aqueous solution or as part of the lactose microcrystalline cellulose blend, followed by massing with water. The compression characteristics of the granulations depended upon chopper usage, and povidone and liquid amounts, and their methods of addition.
Oral administration of the nitric oxide biosynthesis inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), causes hypertension, but not glucose intolerance or insulin resistance, in rats.

While essential hypertension may be characterized by insulin resistance, it is unclear which defect is primary. We therefore compared normotensive Sprague-Dawley male rats who drank N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 1 mg/mL in distilled water), with control rats who drank distilled water. Blood pressure was measured noninvasively, weight was controlled by dietary restriction, and glucose tolerance was assessed via oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Blood pressure rose by the second day of L-NAME treatment, and remained elevated throughout the study, in contrast to the rats drinking water ( P P = NS). In summary, L-NAME administration resulted in hypertension, but not a deterioration in glucose tolerance in diet-controlled Sprague-Dawley rats. We conclude that the insulin resistance of some hypertensive states is not the result of hypertension per se, or increased vasoconstriction, such as might result from inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide synthesis, but rather indicates a fundamental metabolic disorder.
Towards autonomous data ferry route design through reinforcement learning

Communication in delay tolerant networks can be facilitated by the use of dedicated mobile ldquoferriesrdquo which physically transport data packets between network nodes. The goal is for the ferry to autonomously find routes which minimize the average packet delay in the network. We prove that paths which visit all nodes in a round-trip fashion, i.e., solutions to the traveling salesman problem, do not yield the lowest average packet delay. We propose two novel ferry path planning algorithms based on stochastic modeling and machine learning. We model the path planning task as a Markov decision process with the ferry acting as an independent agent. We apply reinforcement learning to enable the ferry to make optimal decisions. Simulation experiments show the resulting routes have lower average packet delay than solutions known to date.
Direct Targeting as an NGO Political Strategy: Examining Private Authority Regimes in the Forestry Sector

In recent years, International Political Economy literature on “politics beyond state” has em-phasized the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in broader policy processes, bothnational and international. In addition to their impact on states, NGOs inﬂuence the policies ofnon-state actors such as ﬁrms via public and private politics. Dissatisﬁed with the progress ﬁrmshave made in response to public regulation, NGOs have sponsored private authority regimes inseveral issue areas and pushed ﬁrms to participate in them. Across the world, the contest be-tween NGOs and ﬁrms has provoked substantial behavioral and programmatic change—includingwidespread participation in these private authority regimes—among ﬁrms seeking to escape NGOpressures. Using ﬁrm-level data, this paper examines why direct targeting has not led ﬁrms inthe U.S. forest products sector to participate in an NGO-sponsored private authority regime, theForest Stewardship Council. This global regime has been adopted widely in Europe, but U.S.-based forestry ﬁrms have tended to favor a domestic industry-sponsored regime, the SustainableForestry Initiative. Our analysis suggests that the desire of ﬁrms to maintain control over theirinstitutional environment in light of hostile relations with NGOs has led US-based ﬁrms to favorthe Sustainable Forestry Initiative.KEYWORDS: NGOs, voluntary programs, forestry
Clinical and Laboratory Investigation of Cefamandole Therapy of Infections in Infants and Children

Cefamandole nafate was effective in the treatment of a variety of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes group A, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae in infants and children. The infections included periorbital cellulitis and ethmoiditis, bacteremia, cellulitis, pneumonia, and lymphadenitis. In vitro, cefamandole was effective in inhibiting the growth of H. influenzae isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis or sepsis. In two patients rash developed and cefamandole was discontinued. Other significant adverse effects were not noted.
The Effect of the Current Population Survey Redesign on Retirement-Plan Participation Estimates

The Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) is one of the most-cited sources of income data for retirement-age Americans. The Census Bureau redesigned the income questions starting in 2014 in response to findings that this survey has misclassified and generally underreported income (in particular, sources of retirement income). In addition to the income questions, the March CPS includes two questions about workers working for an employer sponsoring a pension plan and whether the worker was included in the plan. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has done annual reports on pension participation among workers based on this data. While the redesign of the survey did capture more income, especially pension income, it also significantly lowered the survey’s estimates of retirement plan participation among those most likely to participate. Furthermore, these new CPS participation results trended downward in contrast to other surveys on retirement plan participation. However, the most recent changes in the questionnaire have led to some significant anomalies in the time series of the estimated level of participation by workers in an employment-based retirement plan. This paper examines the estimates of pension -- used by the Census Bureau to mean any employment-based retirement plan -- participation from both the traditional questionnaire and the redesigned questionnaire used to address the underreporting of income against each other and with the trend in the estimates of retirement plan participation prior to the redesign years. It also compares the CPS results to another widely cited survey on employment-based retirement plan participation and discusses the growing issues surrounding this and other household surveys. The unexplainable decreases in the participation level after the CPS redesign and the conflicting time series of the participation levels in CPS relative to other surveys raise doubts about the use of CPS data to assess future retirement plan coverage policies.
Collapse and cohesion: building community in the aftermath of Tiwanaku state breakdown

AbstractCross-cultural data demonstrate that the political collapse of states is frequently accompanied by social fragmentation. This is apparent in settlement pattern shifts that occurred with the breakdown of the Tiwanaku state in the south-central Andes circa ad 1000, as populations abandoned large, urban centers and established smaller villages that were dispersed across the landscape. This article examines how inhabitants of one new settlement built a sense of community. Crafting cohesion was especially challenging because factional differences within the village were asserted more strongly than they had been during state control. I suggest that community solidarity was fostered through collective ceremonial practices. While the activities themselves replicated long-standing Tiwanaku ritual behavior, they were performed in very different physical spaces than during the height of the state. Undertaken in an open, accessible, central collective space, these practices simultaneously referenced the villa...
Minimally Invasive Techniques for the Management of Adult UPJ Obstruction

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is a common congenital abnormality that often presents in adulthood. Open dismembered pyeloplasty was considered the gold standard for the management of this condition; however, recent advancements in laparoscopic and robotic surgery have dramatically shifted the landscape to more minimally invasive techniques. A literature search of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, pyeloplasty, endopyelotomy, laparoscopic pyeloplasty, robotic pyeloplasty, and microlaparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed. A focus was placed on literature published since 2013. Minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques have become the gold standard for the management of UPJO. With the rise of robotic pyeloplasty, open repairs are becoming less frequent, while endoscopic treatments have remained stable. Minimally invasive (robotic) techniques have become the gold standard for the management of UPJO. Newer, even less-invasive techniques are also showing promise, but technical challenges still exist.
Use of emission spectrograph for study of inorganic elements in human tissues.

Although most of the available information on human tissues deals mainly with specific diseases or toxicologic problems, '• 12 a limited amount is found concern­ ing normal values. Kehoe, Cholak and Story 16 have i'epoi'ted data on the range of 6 elements in II tissues, and in later papers 2 of these authors have contributed data on additional elements. The mineral content of bones has been studied by .spectrographic methods, and recently the normal values of strontium, 11 boron and lithium- have been reported. A preliminary paper 25 on semiquantitative data for 23 elements in various tissues has also appeared. It is the purpose of the present work to determine the concentrations of 5 inorganic elements in 6 tissues. A comparatively large number of cases have been analyzed so that statistical evaluations of mean values would be available for a number of investigations to be reported later. METHOD The laboratory equipment includes balances, ovens, hoods and associated equipment for sample preparation, in addition to spectrographic instrumentation of Applied Research Laboratories, consisting of a 1.5-meter-grating spectro­ graph, a multisource (Model 4700), a densitometer (Model 5400), an electrode cutter, film-processing equipment and a calculating board. A number of procedures have been described for the spectrographic analysis of biologic materials; 3 ' 5 ' 6 ' 9 ' 13 ' 19 ' '-'• 26 a method similar to the one employed here has been described for food and feces by Brody and E\ving. J The present method is based upon solution samples placed in graphite electrodes that are subsequently arced in a direct current, arc. This procedure has been developed especially for the analysis of large numbers of samples of tissue.
Chemometric brand differentiation of commercial spices using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

Rationale Commercial spices represent an emerging class of fuels for improvised explosives. Being able to classify such spices not only by type but also by brand would represent an important step in developing methods to analytically investigate these explosive compositions. Therefore, a combined ambient mass spectrometric/chemometric approach was developed to quickly and accurately classify commercial spices by brand. Methods Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was used to generate mass spectra for samples of black pepper, cayenne pepper, and turmeric, along with four different brands of cinnamon, all dissolved in methanol. Unsupervised learning techniques showed that the cinnamon samples clustered according to brand. Then, we used supervised machine learning algorithms to build chemometric models with a known training set and classified the brands of an unknown testing set of cinnamon samples. Results Ten independent runs of five-fold cross-validation showed that the training set error for the best-performing models (i.e., the linear discriminant and neural network models) was lower than 2%. The false-positive percentages for these models were 3% or lower, and the false-negative percentages were lower than 10%. In particular, the linear discriminant model perfectly classified the testing set with 0% error. Repeated iterations of training and testing gave similar results, demonstrating the reproducibility of these models. Conclusions Chemometric models were able to classify the DART mass spectra of commercial cinnamon samples according to brand, with high specificity and low classification error. This method could easily be generalized to other classes of spices, and it could be applied to authenticating questioned commercial samples of spices or to examining evidence from improvised explosives. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexity of Combinatorial Computations

It is clear that there is no difficulty in solving virtually any combinatorial optimization problem in principle. None of the questions of insolvability, which are the central focus of recursive function theory, are an issue. If we wish to solve any given problem, all we need to do, in principle, is to make a list of all possible feasible solution, evaluate the cost of each one, and choose the best. This “solves” the problem at hand.
The Phonology and Phonetics of Perceived Prosody: What do Listeners Imitate?

An imitation experiment tests the hypothesis that when asked to reproduce a spontaneously-spoken utterance that they hear, speakers imitate the prosody of the stimulus in its phonological structure more accurately than the phonetic details. Results suggest that speakers rarely distort the presence of a pitch accent or an intonational phrase boundary, but more often change the nature of the phonetic cues, e.g. the duration of a pause or the occurrence of irregular pitch periods associated with boundaries and accents in American English. These findings argue for an encoding of phonological prosodic structure that is separate from the phonetic cues that signal that structure.
Metabolism of Estrogens in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Swine. III. Estradiol-17β-D-Glucuronide Instilled into Sections of Intestine

Studies were conducted to determine the absorption and metabolic fate of 3H-estradiol-17 beta-glucuronide (3H-E2-G) in swine. The conjugate, 3H-E2-G (48.7 x 10(6) DPM, 45.5 Ci/mmol), was injected into ligated 15-cm sections of duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, ileum and spiral colon of 10 kg female pigs. Blood from the jugular and portal veins and urine were collected at .5-h intervals for 5 h. Absorption from the colon was rapid and radioactivity peaked in both portal and jugular plasma by .5 h postinjection. In contrast, the highest plasma estrogen concentration from most other sections was reached at 5 h, the last sampling time. The urinary excretion patterns were nearly identical to those seen in plasma, with the radioactivity peaking early (1.5 h) after instillation of 3H-E2-G into the colon, but still rising at the end of the experiment after instillation into the duodenum, distal jejunum and ileum. The proximal jejunum, which produced low plasma estrogen concentrations, also produced low urine concentrations. The slower absorption of 3H-E2-G compared to 14C-estradiol-17 beta is consistent with the view that the limiting factor for the absorption of the conjugate is hydrolysis to a free estrogen. The predominant metabolites in portal venous plasma from all sections of the intestine at the end of the experiments were the monoglucuronides of estrone and estradiol. Because the administered 3H-E2-G was conjugated at C-17, the presence of estrone glucuronide in portal plasma indicates that, at least in the duodenum, ileum and colon, 3H-E2-G undergoes cleavage, followed by the oxidation of estradiol to estrone, which is subsequently reconjugated by the intestinal mucosa.
A serologic study of naturally acquired leprosy in chimpanzees.

Data from longitudinally obtained serum samples spanning several years has permitted us to identify two chimpanzees with leprosy and to estimate the time of Mycobacterium leprae exposure/infection. The results confirm high levels of specific anti-M. leprae phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) as well as anti-lipo-arabinomannan (anti-LAM) antibodies in both chimpanzees, and identify additional chimpanzees with possible M. leprae exposure. The observations are consistent with the hypothesis that leprosy exists in chimpanzees in the U.S.A. and suggest the possibility that M. leprae may be transmitted among chimpanzees. The data suggest that monitoring anti-PGL-I and anti-LAM IgG and IgM levels longitudinally in leprosy contacts may be useful in the recognition of preclinical leprosy.
MG-133 Development and launch of an expanded pan-ethnic carrier screening panel

Background Prenatal carrier screening has traditionally focused on well-defined ethnic groups with an increased chance of being a carrier for specific genetic diseases. However, many people are of mixed ethnicity or cannot accurately identify their full ethnic. With the ability to test for hundreds of diseases at one time, expanded carrier screening panels are an attractive option. Objectives To build a comprehensive pan-ethnic carrier screening panel with a rapid turnaround time (TAT). Design/method Following literature review, internal research, and physician input, a panel of 281 autosomal recessive and X-linked diseases were selected. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using Agilent’s SureSelect QXT target enrichment approach followed by Illumina HiSeq 2500 Rapid Run mode sequencing. Additional methodologies include MLPA, Asuragen CGG repeat analysis/Southern blotting, and Sequenom/Luminex genotyping assays to assay variants not amenable to NGS. Variant confirmation is performed simultaneously by genotyping, or subsequently by Sanger sequencing. Over 3,700 recurrent pathogenic variants with a well-established relationship to disease phenotype are guaranteed to be sequenced at a depth of > 20X. Results 524 validation samples were tested, including positive controls with various mutation types, and both prenatal and postnatal samples covering a variety of specimen types. A minimum average coverage of 240X was achieved, with > 20X coverage of 99% of bases. Conclusions This panel can be customizable to order, including a high-frequency panel of 10 diseases, a Comprehensive Jewish panel of 96 diseases, and the full 281 gene panel. Automation can handle thousands of samples per month. TAT currently averages 8–10 days.
Weighing It Again

In 1990, Nepal had a revolution. Barricades went up and troops fired on demonstrators. A curfew was declared. The airline pilots went on strike. My wife, Jane, and I and our two sons, ages eleven and thirteen, were on the last plane into Kathmandu the day the violence began. As we landed, dozens of pilots lined the runway, arms folded across their chests.
What We Have Learned about Electroconvulsive Therapy and its Relevance for the Practising Psychiatrist

In this narrative review, the current knowledge base on the efficacy and the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is reviewed, and its relevance for the practising psychiatrist is appreciated. In the past decade, several large-scale studies have confirmed the significant superiority of ECT in the treatment of severe and refractory psychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. However, the efficacy of ECT is not reflected in current treatment algorithms, where ECT is often reserved as a last resort. However, clinical characteristics, such as the presence of psychotic symptoms, suicidality, or catatonic signs, should prompt the clinician to consider ECT earlier in the treatment course. ECT is a safe procedure, without absolute contraindications for its use. Nevertheless, patients' fears and complaints should be acknowledged, and patients should be adequately informed about expected benefits and possible risks, such as memory problems, that are generally transient. Research focusing on further minimizing memory problems, while maintaining a superior efficacy, is ongoing. Adequate continuation treatment, either pharmacotherapy or continuation ECT, after a successful ECT course is of vital importance to maintain the benefits achieved and should be the focus of future research.
NIMG-12GENE SIGNATURES ASSCOCIATED WITH DIFFUSION MRI ADC MAPPING OF GLIOBLASTOMA EDEMA/TUMOR INVASION

BACKGROUND: Diffusion MR imaging (dMR) is widely used in clinical practice and captures a distinct molecular/cellular features of tumor tissue. The aim of this study is to correlate pretreatment tumor Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), measured by diffusion magnetic resonance (dMR) imaging with overall survival in patients with glioblastoma and determine its association with gene signatures. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 37 treatment-naive glioblastoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) whom had gene expression profiles and corresponding dMR imaging available in The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). ADC mean were measured in edema/tumor invasion of GBM lesions and contralateral normal brain tissue. To normalize ADC values, ADC mean of edema/tumor invasion regions were divided by the contralateral ADC means. Using decision tree clustering method, patients categorized based on normalized ADC mean into high vs low groups. Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis was used to determine the difference of overall survival between the two groups of patients. Imaging genomic analysis was subsequently performed using GenePattern Comparative Marker Selection module (Broad Institute). To identify the associated gene network, the top 100 most positively and the top 100 most negatively correlated genes in the high group versus the low group were then analyzed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. RESULTS: Based on decision tree analysis, normalized ADC mean cutoff of 19.48 was used to categorize patients to high (n = 6) versus low (n = 31) groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the patients with high normalized ADC mean had significantly (p = 0.02) better overall survival than the patients with low normalized ADC mean. Median survival in high and low group was 747 and 394 days, respectively. There was a significant genomic signature, associated with high vs low groups. The validation of these analyses was done in a separate group of glioblastoma patients. CONCLUSIONS: dMR characteristics can identify highly significant survival differences and specific genomic signature.
THE EFFECT OF MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES ON THE YIELD SPREAD OF INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT’S BOND

This study analyzes the roles of macroeconomic variables, which include interest rate (SBI), Consumer Price Index (IHK), Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG), money supply (JUB) and exchange rate (KURS) on yield spread of government bonds (YSI) in Indonesia. The study employs Error Correction Model (ECM) on Indonesian monthly data from January 2008 to December 2013. The study confirms that SBI and KURS significantly determine the YSI in the short run and the long run but money supply is significant only in the long run. However, YSI is not influenced by IHK and IHSG. Based on term structure of interest rate theory, the study finds that the expected future interest rate is determined by SBI, KURS, and JUB.
General anesthesia with a native airway for patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type III.

SummaryBackground Mucopolysaccharidosis type III is a progressive disease with worsening airway, pulmonary, and cardiac involvement that may complicate anesthetic care. Aim To prospectively evaluate the incidence of airway issues and complications during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture (LP) during general anesthesia with a native airway for patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type III. Method The study was a part of the natural history study. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane, which was discontinued after intravenous access was obtained. General anesthesia with a native airway was provided by dexmedetomidine and propofol. Dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg·kg−1) was administered over 5 min followed by a continuous infusion at 0.5 μg·kg−1·h−1. A continuous infusion of propofol was started at 150 μg·kg−1·min−1. A bolus dose of propofol (1 mg·kg−1) was administered and the propofol infusion was increased as needed. Airway management and vital signs were recorded for the entire procedure until discharge. Results Twenty-five patients (6.9 ± 3.1 years) received total of 43 MRI and LP procedures in the cohort. No patient failed sedation. Although mask induction with sevoflurane was not clinically problematic, upper airway obstruction was noted during 14 procedures (33%). This required the application of continuous positive airway pressure, temporary oral airway placement, jaw thrust, or shoulder roll. Airway dynamics improved once the anesthesia was transitioned to intravenous anesthetic agents. Although a small shoulder roll was needed to improve airway patency for 11 cases (26%), a large shoulder roll tended to make the upper airway obstruction worse. Oxygen desaturation (≤90%) was noted during MRI in three cases (7%). Conclusion A combination of dexmedetomidine and propofol provided effective general anesthesia with a native airway during the procedures. Although upper airway obstruction was noted, it resolved with simple airway maneuvers without further airway intervention.
Coordinated failure response and recovery in a decentralized microgrid architecture

The challenge of failure management emerges in decentralized architectures due to the distributed nature of the layered control process. Failures in microgrid system may occur at the microgrid level or any of the control layers. A failure detection and response mechanism is required to attain a reliable, fault-tolerant microgrid operation. This paper introduces a Failure Management Unit as an essential function in a microgrid Energy Management System. The proposed unit comprises failure detection mechanisms and a recovery algorithm. The proposed system is applied to a microgrid case study and shows a robust detection and recovery outcome during a system failure. The real-time experimental results were achieved using Hardware-In-the-Loop platform. Coordination between controllers during the recovery period requires low-bandwidth communications, which has no significant overhead on the communication infrastructure.
The original descriptions of reptiles and their subspecies.

By August 2017 an estimated 13,047 species and subspecies of extant reptiles have been described by a total of 6,454 papers and books which are listed in a supplementary file. For 1,052 species a total of 2,452 subspecies (excluding nominate subspecies) had been described by 2017, down from 1,295 species and 4,411 subspecies in 2009, due to the elevation of many subspecies to species. Here we summarize the history of these taxon description beginning with Linnaeus in 1758. While it took 80 years to reach the first 1,000 species in 1838, new species and subspecies descriptions since then have been added at a roughly constant rate of 1000 new taxa every 12-17 years. The only exception were the decades during World Wars I and II and the beginning of this millennium when the rate of descriptions increased to now about 7 years for the last 1,000 taxa. The top 101 most productive herpetologists (in terms of “taxon output”) have described more than 8,000 species and subspecies, amounting to over 60% of all currently valid taxa. More than 90% of all species were described in either English (68.2%), German (12.7%) or French (9.3%).
Cuerpo humano, mejora y la virtud tecnomoral perdida

In this paper we assess two sides of the debate concerning biomedical enhancement. First, the idea that biomedical enhancement should be prohibited on the grounds that it degrades human nature; second, that biomedical enhancement can in principle remove the source of moral evil. In so doing, we will propose a different notion of human nature, what we shall call the agato-teleological idea of human nature, and its implications for a philosophical understanding of the human body. Also, we will point out why it seems unreasonable to think that bodily enhancement is sufficient to guarantee moral progress. Finally, we will propose the idea that our technological societies are in need of a new moral virtue, what we shall call the virtue of non-conservative bodily integrity.
Qualitative & quantitative study of flux-clean solution for smart high-side device

The increasing demand for smart high-side devices in automotive applications requires die-attach materials with high conductivity such as solder paste. However, the organic flux component in solder paste materials typically induces contamination and thus interface-related defects. In this study, an ultrasonic cleaning process for removal of the flux component is developed via qualitative and quantitative analysis of flux-clean effects on the surface of Ag-based and Al-based bond pads. The study compares the efficiency of two types of water-based cleaning agents; differing in terms of the type of bonds formed with typical contaminants.
Automated Vehicles and Manufacturer Responsibility for Accidents: A New Legal Regime for a New Era

The United States is on the verge of a new era in transportation, requiring a new legal regime. Over the coming decades, there will be a revolution in driving, as manually-driven cars are replaced by automated vehicles. There will then be a radically new world of auto accidents: most accidents will be caused by cars, not by drivers. Thus far, however, proposals for reform have failed to address with precision the distinctive issues that will be posed during the long transitional period in which automated vehicles share the roadway with conventional vehicles, or during the succeeding period that will be dominated by accidents between automated vehicles. A legal regime for this new era should more effectively and sensibly promote safety and provide compensation than the existing tort doctrines governing driver liability for negligence and manufacturer liability for product defects will be able to do. In a world of accidents dominated by automated vehicles, these doctrines will be anachronistic and obsolete. We present a proposal for a more effective system, adopting strict manufacturer responsibility for auto accidents. We call this system Manufacturer Enterprise Responsibility, or “MER.” In describing and developing our proposal for MER, we present the first detailed, extensively analyzed approach that would promote deterrence and compensation more effectively than continued reliance on tort in the coming world of accidents involving automated vehicles.
Kodaira-Spencer Theory of Gravity

We briefly review the topological model on Calabi-Yau 3-fold coupled to gravity. We discuss the Kodaira-Spencer Theory of Gravity which is equivalent to topological B-model on Calabi-Yau 3-fold and may be viewed as the closed string analog of Chern-Simons Theory.
Multi-state Systems

The number of Boltzmann factors in the partition function increases with increasing energy states. The higher energy states might have small Boltzmann factors but are included for completeness. This leads to infinite sums that can sometimes be reduced to a simple partition function to calculate average energy, entropy, and free energy.
Long-Term Results and Quality of Life After Treatment of Hirschsprung’s Disease and Allied Disorders

The late follow-up of children with Hirschsprung’s disease gives one the best opportunity to critically evaluate the efficacy and results of a particular surgical procedure. Unfortunately, most reviews of Hirschsprung’s disease are hampered by the fact that follow-up periods are rather short and may not adequately reflect a patient’s long-term outcome and lifestyle. In general, the most commonly encountered problems include constipation, incontinence, enterocolitis and the overall impact of the disease on lifestyle. Other complications, such as fistulae, obstructions and impotence are quite rare and are discussed toward the end of the chapter. Each of these problems is covered in the context of the four most commonly performed pull-through procedures: the Swenson, Duhamel and Soave (endorectal pull-through, ERPT, including the transanal route). The most recent technical modifications and literature reviews are included.