cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2010 Athena lecture

Susan Eggers, a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, joined her department in 1989. She received a B.A. in 1965 from Connecticut College and a Ph.D. in 1989 from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests are in computer architecture and back-end compiler optimization, with an emphasis on experimental performance analysis. With her colleague Hank Levy and their students, she developed the first commercially viable multithreaded architecture, Simultaneous Multithreading, adopted by Intel (as Hyperthreading), IBM, Sun and others. Her current research is in the areas of distributed dataflow machines, FPGAs and chip multiprocessors. In 1989 Professor Eggers was awarded an IBM Faculty Development Award, in 1990 an NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, in 1994 the Microsoft Professorship in Computer Science and Engineering, and in 2009 the ACM-W Athena Lecturer. She is a Fellow of the ACM and IEEE, a Fellow of the AAAS, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
La construcción de un estado neo-colonial: el encuentro nicaragüense con la diplomacia del dólar

Este trabajo al mostrar cuales fueron las practicas politicas y economicas de la diplomacia del dolar en Nicaragua, intenta esclarecer como este nuevo proyecto estadounidense pensado para modernizar de los estados latinoamericanos, resulto un proyecto feudal y antimoderno desde el punto de vista de la elite de ese pais.
Força e consentimento: aspectos da hegemonia americana

The text by Perry Anderson, originally published in the New Left Review , analyses the Bush political administration and show how it changed the US global strategy. Anderson retraces the history of the US hegemony since the Second World War, emphasizing their most recent disturbing incident, the September 11 th . The Marxist historian finally points out the relations between the European Union and the US in the international contemporary setting.
Longitudinal Relationship Between Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults: Results From the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Objective: To understand the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and isolation. Method: Participants included 5,870 adults 65 years and older (M = 72.89 ± 5.59 years) from the first 5 years of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Loneliness was assessed using a dichotomized loneliness question. Social isolation was assessed using six items from the Lubben Social Network Scale. Yearly life events were included to assess abrupt social network changes. Mixed effects logistic regression was employed to analyze the relationship between isolation and loneliness. Results: Higher levels of social isolation were associated with higher odds of loneliness, as was an increase (from median) in level of social isolation. Life events such as a friend dying were also associated with increased odds of loneliness. Discussion: These results suggest that average level of isolation and increases in the level of isolation are closely tied to loneliness, which has implications for future assessment or monitoring of lonelin...
Civic Education in a Stressful Society: A Program of Value Clarity and Tension Reduction

The area of education loosely labeled civic education has as one of its major goals the development of citizens that will preserve and extend democratic values. The schools, however, have tended to ignore the totality of experiences which are essential for the making of good citizens. The compartmentalization of the curriculum has narrowly focused civic education in a formal class called social studies.
A cause for childhood ataxia

Genetic studies uncover a mutation in a widely conserved protein as the cause of a neurological disorder in two brothers.
Data Analysis of Electromagnetic Shockwave Control Experiment for High Mach Number Ionized Flow Applications

[Abstract] Electromagnetic control of shockwaves provides a new way to active thermal management and guidance control for the most critical stage of atmospheric entry of hypersonic vehicles. A series of measurement of shockwave formation and locations for high Mach number ionized flows over a spherical nose-cone with cylindrical body and with an applied magnetic field were conducted at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Shockwave images were recorded using a high speed high resolution video system. This paper analyzes the experimental images to investigate the effect of electromagnetic control on the shockwave stand-off distance. The time history of shockwave stand-off distance was digitally analyzed from the high-speed and high-resolution imaging system. The time history of the critical test control parameters, such as magnet power, arc heater critical performance parameters, test cabin pressure and temperature, NaK injection rate, gaseous nitrogen flow rate was synchronized with the time history of the shockwave image video. Results indicated that the non-dimensional shockwave stand-off distance started to show changes due to when the MHD interaction level reached 0.18.
Plasma Cholesterol of Roosters under Various Conditions

SummarySubcutaneous administration of diethylstilbestrol to cockerels caused a marked increase in the concentration of the “readily extractable” cholesterol of the plasma as well as in total cholesterol and neutral fat. Cholesterol feeding exerted a similar effect, but at moderately elevated plasma cholesterol levels the concentration of the “readily extractable” fraction was not as great as when the total cholesterol was raised by the administration of estrogenic substances. However, when the total cholesterol was high, about 700 mg %, practically all of it was present in the “readily extractable” form. Roosters receiving a high fat diet for several weeks usually showed a definite increase in the “readily extractable” fraction without a consistent increase in total cholesterol. When the diet contained 10% soybean lecithin; the concentrations of both the total cholesterol and of the “readily extractable” fraction dropped below those found in animals on the basal diet.
A Modular Algorithm for Exhaustive Map Searching Using Occupancy Based Maps

Searching for a target in a complex environment is a common problem encountered by many autonomous systems. This work considers the problem of searching for targets using a team of heterogeneous agents. The system maintains a grid-based world model which contains information about the probability that a target is located in any given cell of the map. Agents formulate control decisions for a fixed number of time steps using a modular algorithm that allows for individual capabilities and characteristics of individual agents to be encoded in several parameters. This paper investigates one aspect of the search strategy and presents a solution that guarantees total map coverage. The resulting search patterns executed by agents guarantee an exhaustive search of the map in the sense that all cells will be searched sufficiently to ensure that the probability of a target being located in any given cell is driven to zero.
Index of refraction estimation from Stokes parameters with diffuse scattering consideration

Remote sensing of the refractive index of a target surface has important application for detection and classification tasks. In this paper, we introduce a modified pBRDF model with a diffuse scattering term and apply it in the development of a method to jointly estimate the refractive index, slope variance roughness and diffuse scattering parameter from a series of Stokes parameter measurements of a surface. This work is a significant extension of prior work involving degree-of-polarization (DOP) measurements. Numerical trials are presented that indicate diffuse scattering can significantly affect the surface parameter estimation and estimation accuracy improves considerably by including the diffuse component in the scattering model. We also illustrate that using Stokes measurements for the estimation provides more accuracy than using DOP measurements for a limited number of observations. The estimation approach is applied to Stokes and DOP measurements of several material surfaces published previously in the literature and the parameter estimation produces curves that have excellent correspondence with the measurement values.
Conditioned media from a renal cell carcinoma cell line demonstrates the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor

AbstractIn a previous report, we demonstrated the isolation and purification of a heparin binding growth factor from human renal carcinoma, and suggested that this growth factor may play a role in the neovascularity and growth of the tumor.In this report, we demonstrate that the growth of the renal cell carcinoma cell line RC29 is stimulated by the addition of exogenous fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα). Also, media conditioned by this cell line was able to stimulate growth of the A431 vulvar tumor cell line, known for its high concentration of EGF receptors, 3T3 fibroblasts, human umbilical vein (HUV) cells and RC29 cells.Using heparin-sepharose chromatography and then SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), we were able to demonstrate several proteins in the conditioned media of the RC29 cell line. Using Western blot analysis, we detected that at least one of the proteins expressed in this conditioned media was FGF and that i...
Electronic fetal monitoring as a routine practice in an obstetric service: A progress report

We feel that electronic fetal monitoring is an improvement over earlier methods for detecting fetal distress. Fetal distress is detected earlier, and positive action is taken at an earlier stage of the labor. Our statistics underscore Hon’s findings that variable-deceleration patterns relate to cord complications; and late-deceleration patterns, to placental insufficiency. The marked decrease in the number of neonates with low Apgar scores is the result of fetal monitoring and improved clinical judgment.
Abstract 3688: The C-terminal domain of tumor-derived mutant p53 is required for its oncogenic gain-of-function activity

p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers. Unlike other tumor suppressors in which loss of protein expression is common, the vast majority of changes in p53 arise as point mutations. Tumor associated mutation hotspots are localized to the DNA binding domain, either in residues involved in direct DNA contact or those that regulate its conformation. In either case, such mutations have been shown to confer gain of function activity. This was first shown in soft agar assays in which over-expression of mutant p53 increased transformation of cells on a p53 null background. Furthermore, knock-in mouse models of mutant p53 showed alterations in tumor spectrum with the development of carcinomas not seen in p53 null mice. However, the mechanism by which mutant p53 actively aids in tumorigenesis remains unclear. Although mutant p53 causes loss of sequence specific DNA binding via the core domain, it retains the ability to interact with multiple proteins including transcriptional cofactors shown to have tumor suppressor activity such as p300 and CBP. These interactions occur through multiple protein binding domains including the C-terminal domain of p53. Our laboratory and others have shown that C-terminal truncation of wildtype p53 results in multiple deficiencies. Binding of mutant p53 to p300/CBP via the C-terminus is therefore an attractive hypothesis to explain mutant p53 gain of function. To determine the role of the C-terminus in mutant p53 gain of function activity, we have expressed constructs containing a C-terminal truncation in combination with varying hotspot mutations. Transfection of mutant p53 into a p53 null cell line was required for the formation of colonies in a soft agar assay, indicating an increase in tumorigenicity. Furthermore, C-terminal truncation of the mutant p53 abrogated this phenotype suggesting that this domain is required for mutant p53 gain of function. This was independent of expression levels as shown by immunoblot. We have also extended the findings of mutant p53 interaction with p300 by IP analysis of a panel of cell lines with varying p53 hotspot mutations. To confirm the role of the C-terminus in mutant p53 gain of function, we are developing a xenograft model to detect changes in tumorigenicity in vivo. These results will therefore explore the mechanism by which mutant p53 acts as an oncogene. Citation Format: Caleb C. Lee, James Manfredi. The C-terminal domain of tumor-derived mutant p53 is required for its oncogenic gain-of-function activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3688.
The Broken Language of High Poetry: Agency and Emotion in Teresino by Vivian Lamarque

Enrico Minardi, in “The Broken Language of High Poetry: Agency and Emotion in Teresino by Vivian Lamarque,” looks at Lamarque’s work’s overtly autobiographic perspective, in which the writing subject manipulates language and the conventions of poetry in a powerful effort to transgress the discursive limits of convention. Minardi sees a clear therapeutic scope to Lamarque’s poems, focusing in particular on the specifically “female” experiences of the narrator. He pays particular attention to Lamarque’s manipulation of word and structure as a means of rebelling against gendered expectations and inscribing her identity on an individual as well as social plane.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Dynamic Control Implications 1

Abstract This paper presents a discussion of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) models used for analysis and simulation in the iterative dynamic control design process. Examples of the use of the dynamic models are employed to Illustrate the implications of the affects of an ensemble selection control system design.
Boron and Boron-Containing Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Boron nitride was recently identified as a highly selective catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP). In this communication we report that other boron-containing materials such as boron carbide, titanium boride, nickel boride, cobalt boride, hafnium boride and tungsten boride, as well as elemental boron itself show the same exceptional behavior as boron nitride. X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy suggest oxyfunctionalization of the surface. This observation disproves previous mechanistic hypotheses that edge sites on the boron nitride would be the active sites and rather suggests the formation of an analogous surface-stabilized BOx active site for all tested boride catalysts.
Liver transplantation beyond or downstaging within the Milan criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common indication for liver transplantation (LT). The Milan criteria became standard criteria but expansion beyond the Milan criteria ...
Metabololipidomic profiling of functional immunoresolvent clusters and eicosanoids in mammalian tissues

Abstract Metabolomics enables a systems approach to interrogate the bioactive mediators, their pathways and further metabolites involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of human and animal tissues. New metabololipidomic approaches with mass spectrometry presented in this brief review can now be utilized for the identification and profiling of lipid mediator networks that control inflammation-resolution in human blood and healthy and diseased solid tissues. Coagulation of blood is a protective response that prevents excessive bleeding on injury of blood vessels. Here, we review novel approaches to understand the relationship(s) between coagulation and resolution of inflammation and infection. To determine whether coagulation is involved in host-protective actions by lipid mediators, we used a metabololipidomic-based profiling approach with human whole blood (WB) during coagulation. We identified recently temporal clusters of endogenously produced pro-thrombotic and proinflammatory lipid mediators (eicosanoids), as well as specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) in this vital process. In addition to the classic eicosanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes), a specific SPM cluster was identified that consists of resolvin E1 (RvE1), RvD1, RvD5, lipoxin B4, and maresin 1, each of which present at bioactive concentrations (0.1–1 nM). The removal of adenosine from coagulating blood samples significantly enhances SPM amounts and unleashes the biosynthesis of RvD3, RvD4, and RvD6 evident following rapid snap freezing with centrifugation before extraction and LC-MS-MS. The classic cyclooxygenase inhibitors, celecoxib and indomethacin, that block thromboxanes and prostanoids do not block production of the clot-driven SPM cluster. Unbiased mass cytometry analysis demonstrated that the SPM cluster produced in human blood targets leukocytes at the single-cell level, directly activating extracellular signaling in human neutrophils and monocytes. Human whole blood treated with the components of this SPM cluster enhanced both phagocytosis and killing of Escherichia coli by leukocytes. Thus, we identified a pro-resolving lipid mediator circuit and specific SPM cluster that promotes host defense. This new lipid mediator (LM)-SPM metabololipidomic approach now provides accessible metabolomic profiles in healthy and diseased human tissues, including cancer, for precision and personalized medicine.
Bladder Outlet Obstruction versus Impaired Detrusor Contractility: The Role of Uroflow

The uroflow curves of 45 men with either bladder outlet obstruction or impaired detrusor contractility were retrospectively reviewed. The definitive diagnoses were attained by clinical and video-urodynamic studies with simultaneous detrusor pressure and uroflow measurements. Eight parameters were analyzed to determine if uroflow can differentiate obstruction from impaired contractility. There were no differences between the 2 groups in any of the parameters. This finding suggests that uroflowmetry as a single examination cannot distinguish between bladder outlet obstruction and impaired detrusor contractility.
Agricultural Chemicals in the Alluvial Aquifer of a Typical County of the Arkansas Delta

Statistical methods and a Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to investigate potential indicators of ground water vulnerability to agricultural chemical contamination in a representative area of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer. A total of 47 wells were sampled for analysis of nitrate, phosphorus, potassium, and 13 pesticides commonly-used in the area. Ten soil and hydrogeologic variables and five ground water vulnerability indices were examined to explain the variations of chemical concentrations. The results showed that no individual soil or hydrogeologic variables or their linear combinations could explain more than 25% of the variation of the chemical concentrations. A quadratic response surface model with the values of confining unit thickness, slope, soil permeability, depth to ground water, and recharge rate accounted for 62% of the variation of nitrate, 43% of P, and 83% of K, suggesting that the interactions among soil and hydrogeologic variables were significant. Observed trends of decreasing nitrate and P concentrations with increasing well depth and/or depth to ground water seemed to correlate with carbonate equilibrium in the aquifer and more reduced environment with depth. In view of uncertainties involved, it was recognized that the limitations associated with input data resolution used in GIS and the formulation of leaching indices limited their use for predicting ground water vulnerability. Misuse of pesticides could be another factor that would complicate the relationships between pesticide concentrations and the vulnerability indices.
Macro Fiber Composites and Substrate Materials for MAV Wing Morphing

This paper examines the application of a relatively new type of piezoelectric actuator, termed a Macro Fiber Composite, on small unmanned air vehicles with a wingspan of 0.61 m for the purpose of active flight control. The design is examined on a local–global level with the primary goals being to maximize curvature and load bearing capacity of the actuator-substrate component while also maximizing the effective roll and pitch moment when the actuator component is applied on the aircraft. Within this document the strain of the individual MFC is measured, the performance of various substrates and adhesives examined within a cantilever setup and a four point bend setup, and the overall performance of the MFC actuators evaluated when embedded on an innovative forward swept Micro Air Vehicle wing. The wing incorporates composite material bend-twist coupling to allow passive load alleviation while providing a planform for sufficient control authority using only two MFC actuators.
Campus Counseling Centers: The Time Has Come to Talk of a New Thing

ABSTRACTThe future of campus counseling centers may be influenced by how well the national professional organizations are able to represent the best interests of such units. The current fragmentati...
Expedition Reef for Educators

An educational resource for K-12 teachers that leverage assets from the planetarium show "Expedition Reef."
Model of Distributed Receptivity to Kinetic Fluctuations in High-Speed Boundary Layers

The receptivity of high-speed compressible boundary layers to kinetic fluctuations is considered within the framework of fluctuating hydrodynamics. The formulation is based on the idea that KF-indu...
Triploid induction in cultured burbot (Lota lota) using thermal and hydrostatic shock

Abstract The feasibility of triploid induction for burbot (Lota lota) was determined following a series of hydrostatic (pressure) and thermal (heat) shock treatments. Hydrostatic shock treatments were designed to test a range of variables including 1) duration of shock; 2) timing of shock (post-fertilization); and 3) shock pressure. Shock times post-fertilization and shock duration were varied by degree minutes (°C minutes). A hydrostatic shock of 8,500psi at 180 °C minutes post-fertilization for 10 °C minutes yielded the highest percent triploid induction (100%) and survival (95%) relative to the controls. Duration of pressure-shock longer than 10 °C min at 8,500psi and higher, resulted in 100% pre-hatch mortality. A reduced shock pressure (7,500psi) resulted in a high percent triploidy (100%), but pre-hatch larval survival was 65.5% at a shock duration of 30 °C minutes. Thermal shock treatments included: duration of shock, timing of shock, and shock temperature. Triploid induction and survival were greatest following a thermal shock of 16 °C at 120 °C minutes post-fertilization for 500 °C minutes. This resulted in 96.6% triploidy and 57.4% survival relative to control groups. Shock temperatures above 16 °C generally resulted in a higher percent triploid induction but lower survival. Results presented here confirm that triploid induction in burbot is possible. Further work is needed to confirm scale up potential, survival dynamics, sterility of triploid burbot, and changes in growth performance. Production of sterile burbot may increase opportunities for culturing burbot in areas where escapement may be a concern or when growth is inhibited due to reproductive maturation.
Ear, Nose, and Throat

This chapter reviews otolaryngology conditions most commonly seen by pediatricians. Included are issues involving the ears, nose, and nasopharynx; the sinuses, throat, mouth, and oropharynx; and the neck. The most common surgical otolaryngologic procedures will also be discussed. Many of these conditions can be effectively identified, diagnosed, and treated by primary care physicians. However, for certain conditions, prompt identification and timely referral to an otolaryngologist is required.
RadSense: Enabling one hand and no hands interaction for sterile manipulation of medical images using Doppler radar

Abstract In this paper, we show how surgeons can interact with medical images using finger and hand gestures in two situations: one hand-free and no hands-free interaction. We explain how interaction with only one hand or a couple of fingers is beneficial and can help surgeons have continuous interaction, without the need to release their tools and leave the operating table, saving valuable patient time. To this end, we present RadSense, an end-to-end and unobtrusive system that uses Doppler radar-sensing to recognize hand and finger gestures when either one or both hands are busy. Our system permits the following important capabilities: (1) touch-less input for sterile interaction with connected health applications, (2) hand and finger gesture recognition when either one or both hands are busy holding tools, extending multitasking capabilities for health professionals, and (3) mobile and networked, allowing for custom wearable and non-wearable configurations. We evaluated our system in a simulated operating room to manipulate preoperative images using four gestures: circle, double tap, swipe, and finger click. We collected data from five subjects and trained a K-Nearest-Neighbor multi-class classifier using 15-fold cross validation, achieving a 94.5% precision for gesture classification. We conclude that our system performs with high accuracy and is useful in cases where only one hand or a few fingers are free to interact when the hands are busy.
Structural Basis of Vitamin K Antagonism

The vitamin K cycle supports blood coagulation, bone mineralization, and vascular calcium homeostasis. A key enzyme in this cycle, vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), is the target of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Despite their extensive clinical use, the dose of VKAs (e.g., warfarin) is hard to regulate and overdose can lead to fatal bleeding. Improving the dose regulation requires understanding how VKAs inhibit VKOR, which is a membrane-embedded enzyme difficult to characterize with structural and biochemical studies. Here we achieve a long-standing goal of obtaining crystal structures of human VKOR with warfarin, which represents coumarin-based VKAs; with phenindione, which represents indandione-based VKAs; with superwarfarins, the most commonly used rodenticides; and with vitamin K epoxide in a reaction intermediate state. We have also solved structures of a VKOR-like homolog with warfarin, with vitamin K substrates, and without ligand. These structures show that human VKOR adopts an overall fold with four transmembrane helices (TM) and a large ER-luminal region. VKAs are bound at the active site of HsVKOR, which is formed by the surrounding four-TM bundle and a cap domain on top. The cap domain is stabilized by a linked anchor domain that interacts with the membrane surface. VKOR binds specifically to VKAs through hydrogen bonding to their diketone groups. Mutating VKOR residues recognizing the diketones render strong warfarin resistance. Except the hydrogen bonds, the binding pocket is largely hydrophobic. This pocket is incompatible with warfarin metabolite, explaining the inactivation of warfarin through CYP2C9 metabolism; CYP2C9 and VKOR genotypes can explain 30-50% of the patient variability in warfarin dose. In addition, the high potency of superwarfarins is due to the interaction of their side group with a tunnel where the isoprenyl chain of vitamin K is bound. For VKOR catalysis, the same residues affording the VKA-binding specificity also facilitate substrate reduction Initiation of the catalysis requires a reactive cysteine to form a substrate adduct. Interactions from this stably bound adduct induces a closed conformation, thereby triggering electron transfer to reduce the substrate. Importantly, the open to closed conformational change during catalysis similar to that induced by the binding of VKAs. Taken together, VKAs achieve inhibition through mimicking key interactions and conformational changes required for VKOR catalytic cycle. Understanding of these mechanisms will enable improved strategy to regulate warfarin dose and have a broad impact on thromboembolic diseases and bone disorders. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Aging Is Associated with a Decrease in Synaptosomal Glutamate Uptake and an Increase in the Susceptibility of Synaptosomal Vitamin E to Oxidative Stress

We examined the influence of aging upon the uptake of glutamate by synaptosomes, and the oxidation of Synaptosomal vitamin E. Synaptosomes isolated from the cerebral hemispheres of Fischer 344 rats, 4 and 24 months old, were suspended at 37°C in buffer (pH 7.4) simulating extracellular fluid containing 10 mM glucose. The Km for the high affinity uptake of tritium labeled glutamate was ∼10 μM. The uptake of glutamate was lower in synaptosomes from older animals than those from younger animals for periods of up to 20 minutes. Upon incubation with a mixture of ferrous iron and ascorbate, more of the alpha tocopherol in synaptosomes derived from older rats was oxidized than in those derived from younger ones. Older animals may be more susceptible to excitotoxicity because: a) Synaptosomal reuptake of glutamate is less efficient and b) oxidative stress induced by various agents including glutamate may be higher in synaptosomes from the older animal.
Atypical Healing Related to Irritable Bowel Disease

Introduction Irritable bowel disease (IBD) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic granulomatous inflammation of the entire digestive system, which includes the oral cavity. Oral manifestations of IBD includes aphthous ulcerations which may appear spontaneously and resemble episodes of active flare ups of IBD. The presence of oral mucosal ulcerations, in addition with other systemic symptoms and exclusion of other etiological causes, requires an interdisciplinary team approach to diagnose and manage. Case presentation A 19-year-old female presented with significant ulcerations next to a surgical site after a tooth extraction and ridge preservation procedure. The patient reported a history of preexisting episodes of ulcerations and continued to develop ulcers while the surgical site was healing. A referral to a gastroenterologist lead to a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Conclusion This case report presents a case of mucosal ulceration after surgical intervention that lead to the diagnosis of IBD. Appropriate and timely identification of oral manifestations of systemic disease conditions is key in early diagnosis and disease management. Connecting oral lesions to early presentation of systemic conditions potentially reduces a patient's systemic disease burden and improves their quality of life.
The History of Anterior and Lateral Approaches to the Lumbar Spine.

Anterior and lateral approaches to the lumbar spine are commonly used today for a variety of indications. These approaches can ultimately be traced back to early attempts to treat Pott’s disease. Evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the spine dates as far back as 2400 BCE, with ancient Egyptian mummies exhibiting lesions consistent with Pott’s disease. For many centuries, Pott’s disease was treated conservatively, and surgery came to be used when conservative therapy was ineffective, as medical therapy had yet to become available. In 1779, Percivall Pott recommended that peripheral paraspinal tuberculous abscesses be drained after noticing that patients’ lower limb function improved after the formation of spontaneous draining sinuses. Building on Pott’s ideas, Menard described the first lateral approach to the spine via a costotransversectomy approximately 1 century after Pott’s theory. Most importantly, the surge in understanding anatomy with respect to developing safe corridors to the deeper structures of the human body brought together advances in technology, instrumentation, and visualization. Surgeons were thus emboldened to explore more complex anterior approaches to the spine. In 1906, Muller reported the first successful anterior approach to the spine in a patient with Pott’s disease. Over the next several decades, the efforts of surgeons such as Ito, Capener, Burns, and Mercer would lead to the development of the anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The costotransversectomy later evolved into the lateral rhachotomy and lateral extracavitary approach, which along with advances in the anterior lumbar interbody fusion paved the way for the oblique lumbar interbody fusion and lateral lumbar interbody fusion.
Continuation of Over-the-Counter Biotin Supplements in the Inpatient Setting: An Unexpected Source of Laboratory Error.

Background Over the past decade, use of high-dose biotin has increased significantly and can lead to erroneous results on some clinical immunoassays. In collaboration with pharmacists at our institution, we discovered that high biotin doses were being administered to inpatients as a continuation of patient-reported home biotin use. Methods This retrospective study evaluated high-dose biotin administration in 226 inpatient encounters from 2009 to 2019 and its potential impact on concurrent immunoassay testing. Results In 96% of cases, biotin was administered in the inpatient setting as a continuation of patient-reported home use. In total, 322 immunoassays capable of biotin interference were performed across 100 inpatient encounters with high-dose biotin administration. Troponin T and TSH were the most commonly performed immunoassays in this cohort. Discussion Even though less than 5% of all high-dose biotin orders at our institution are placed for inpatients, hospitalized patients are still at risk for mismanagement due to erroneous immunoassay results. Immunoassay testing susceptible to biotin interference was performed in approximately 45% of inpatient encounters with biotin administration. Laboratories utilizing biotin-susceptible, sensitive cardiac troponin assays should be particularly cautious. Pharmacokinetic data for biotin clearance is especially lacking for certain populations likely to be hospitalized, such as those with renal failure. Given that medical conditions requiring high-dose biotin therapy are extremely rare, we recommend restricting biotin dosing during inpatient encounters for all other patients.
A Fatal Extrapulmonary Manifestation of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) grew to pandemic proportions in 2020. Research has shown that the causative virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE-II) receptor to attack host cells. These ACE-II receptors are present essentially in all organs, acting as a route of entry for SARS-CoV-2 to cause a wide variety of manifestations. There is growing research showing the neurologic effects of COVID-19. There have been several cases of encephalopathy, stroke, and encephalitis associated with COVID-19, however, intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) have rarely been reported. Here we present a case of an IVH in the setting of COVID-19. A 32-year-old male with no past medical history, and not taking any medications, presented to the emergency room after acute onset loss of consciousness. Inflammatory markers were elevated, and computerized tomographic (CT) of the head and chest showed an intraventricular hemorrhage and bilateral interstitial infiltrates, respectively. Although possibly coincidental, this may represent a rare extrapulmonary fatal manifestation of COVID-19. With the growing evidence of neurologic presentations in patients with COVID-19, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19 to cause fatal extrapulmonary manifestations.
Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Epidemiology, Disease Presentation, and Treatments

INTRODUCTION Data on pediatric HS presentation and response to treatment are limited. We investigated disease characteristics, prescribed treatments, and treatment responses in a pediatric HS cohort. METHODS Pediatric HS patients were identified through an electronic medical record search using ICD9/10 codes for HS. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of HS before 18 years of age. Data on demographics, disease presentation, and treatment was collected. RESULTS 73 patients (59 female, 14 male) were identified. Mean age of symptom onset was 12.6 +/- 2.9 years (range 6-17). Axillary involvement disproportionately affected males (92.9% v 62.7%, p = 0.029), while females had higher groin (59.3% v 28.6%, p = 0.038) involvement. Non-White patients trended toward disproportionately presenting with Hurley-2/3 disease (44.1% v 21.1%, p = 0.093), while females trended toward having a younger age of symptom onset (12.3 v 13.9, p = 0.063), and higher likelihood of HS treatment (93.2% v 78.6%, p = 0.094). The most frequently prescribed treatments were topical clindamycin (61.6%), doxycycline (35.6%), and benzoyl peroxide wash (31.5%). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric HS patients have varied presentations and response to treatment. Further studies are needed to characterize the disease and the most effective treatments.
Codetermination and Pension Fund Direct Investment

The labor movement is waning and private equity is waxing. As the percentage of U.S. workers in unions falls to all-time lows, the ability of those workers to have a say in their relations with their employers diminishes. At the same time, workers’ pension funds currently sit on trillions of dollars’ worth of assets. But with less muscle behind collective bargaining agreements, employees need another avenue to ensure their interests are protected against a system that views wages as overhead and workers as cogs in the corporate machine. If legislation is not enough to provide an adequate voice for the worker, some other structural change must occur. In Germany, the codetermination laws ensure that workers have a voice in corporate affairs by placing them directly on the board of directors. Private equity, however, has been booming and provides a potential avenue by which the labor movement could harness private equity to enact lasting structural change and ensure the worker’s voice remains relevant in the workplace. This Note suggests that pension funds should form their own direct investment private equity funds with an investment thesis that codetermination results in more efficient companies.
Evaluating the Role of Operative Repair of Extraperitoneal Bladder Rupture Following Blunt Pelvic Trauma.

Purpose: Catheter drainage has become a standard management strategy for extraperitoneal bladder rupture from blunt trauma. However, data are lacking critically comparing outcomes between operative and nonoperative management. In this study we evaluate management strategies and identify risk factors for complications.Materials and Methods: Patients with uncomplicated extraperitoneal bladder rupture due to blunt trauma from 2000 to 2014 were identified from our trauma registry. Initial management consisted of early cystorrhaphy or catheter drainage. Outcomes analyzed were incidence of inpatient complications, length of stay and time to negative cystography. Subgroup analysis was performed comparing outcomes between patients who did vs did not undergo cystorrhaphy during nonurological operative intervention.Results: A total of 56 patients treated with catheter drainage and 24 who underwent early cystorrhaphy were identified. All early cystorrhaphies were performed as secondary procedures during nonurologica...
Distribution of Resonances for Asymptotically Euclidean Manifolds

In this paper we discuss meromorphic continuation of the resolvent and bounds on the number of resonances for scattering manifolds, a class of manifolds generalizing Euclidian n-space. Subject to the basic assumption of analyticity near infinity, we show that resolvent of the Laplacian has a meromorphic continuation to a conic neighborhood of the continuous spectrum. This involves a geometric interpretation of the complex scaling method in terms of deformations in the Grauert tube of the manifold. We then show that the number of resonances (poles of the meromorphic continuation of the resolvent) in a conic neighborhood of $\mathbb{R}_+$of absolute value less than $r^2$ is $\mathcal O(r^n)$. Under the stronger assumption of global analyticity and hyperbolicity of the geodesic flow, we prove a finer, Weyl-type upper bound for the counting function for resonances in small neighborhoods of the real axis. This estimate has an exponent which involves the dimension of the trapped set of the geodesic flow.
Quantitative assessment of serum hepatitis B virus DNA: comparison between two different methods

Serum HBV DNA levels were quantified simultaneously by slot-blot hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled probe (S) and by Abbott HBV DNA assay (A). Samples, 69, from 64 patients seropositive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were included and the percentages of hepatocytes containing hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) were also compared. The extent of HBcAg staining was only moderately correlated with HBV DNA levels detected by either Abbott (R2 = 0.41; P < 0.01) or slot-blot hybridization (R2 = 0.33; P < 0.01) assays. On the other hand, HBV DNA concentrations assessed by either method were well correlated although the levels differed markedly (S = 3.0 × A1.31; R2 = 0.85; P < 0.01). These results indicated that digoxigenin-labeled probe can be used to quantify serum HBV DNA concentration, although a different range of levels was obtained when compared with Abbott HBV DNA assay.
ACTIVITY OF ASPARTATE TRANSCARBAMYLASE IN UNINFECTED AND TYPE 5 ADENOVIRUS-INFECTED HELA CELLS

Consigli, Richard A. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), and Harold S. Ginsberg. Activity of aspartate transcarbamylase in uninfected and type 5 adenovirus-infected HeLa cells. J. Bacteriol. 87:1034-1043. 1964.-A two- to three-fold increase in aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) activity was observed in type 5 adenovirus-infected HeLa cells 18 hr after infection. The enhanced enzyme activity was virus-specific and dependent on biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein. When various characteristics as well as the kinetics of the enzymes from uninfected and infected cells were compared, ATCase from adenovirus-infected cells was shown to have an altered pH optimum, greater heat stability, increased maximal velocity, and increased K(m) value for aspartate.
GoRelations: an intuitive query system for DBpedia

Although a formal query language, SPARQL, is available for accessing DBpedia, it remains challenging for users to query the knowledge unless they are familiar with the syntax of SPARQL and the underlying ontology. We have developed both an intuitive semantic graph notation or interface allowing one to pose a query by annotating a graph with natural language terms denoting entities and relations and a system that automatically translates the query into SPARQL to produce an answer. Our key contributions are the robust techniques, combining statistical association and semantic similarity, that map user terms to the most appropriate classes and properties used in the DBpedia Ontology.
Use of a Wearable Automated Defibrillator in Children Compared to Young Adults

Background: A wearable automated external defibrillator has been shown to be efficacious in the prevention of sudden death in adults who had a history of cardiac arrest but who did not have a permanent internal cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) placed. The use of a wearable defibrillator has not been established in the pediatric population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical database for the wearable external defibrillator from ZOLL Lifecor Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA, USA). We compared the use of the wearable defibrillator in patients ≤18 years of age to those aged 19–21 years. Results: There were 81 patients ≤18 years of age (median age = 16.5 years [9–18] and 52% male). There were 103 patients aged 19–21 years (median age = 20 years [19–21] and 47% male). There was no difference between groups in average hours/day or in total number of days the patients wore the defibrillator. In patients ≤18 years of age, there was one inappropriate therapy and one withholding of therapy due to a device–device interaction. In patients aged 19–21 years, there were five appropriate discharges in two patients and one inappropriate discharge in a single patient. Conclusion: It is reasonable to consider the wearable automated external defibrillator as a therapy for pediatric patients who are at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest but who have contraindications to or would like to defer placement of a permanent ICD. As there were no appropriate shocks in our patients ≤18 years of age, this study cannot address efficacy of the therapy. (PACE 2010; 33:1119–1124)
The Cultural-Psychological Foundations for Violence and Nonviolence. An Empirical Study

Gegenstand des hier berichteten Projekts war die Frage, wie Menschen uber Gewalt nachdenken und zu Entscheidungen kommen. Welche Faktoren und Grunde ermoglichen, den Ausloser zu betatigen? Im Unterschied zu dem Gros der Literatur, die sich mit den Ursachen von Gewalt beschaftigt, nachdem es zu gewalttatigen Handlungen gekommen ist, ging es darum zu untersuchen, welche psychologischen Prozesse zu Gewaltausubung fuhren. Hierzu wurden in einem quasi-experimentellen Design verschiedene Bilder angeboten: Alle Untersuchungsteilnehmer(innen) wurden um eine Entscheidung gebeten, ob sie auf die auf einen Bildschirm projizierten Bilder schiesen wollten oder nicht. Unmittelbar danach wurde zusatzlich mittels eines Fragebogens erhoben, welche Erfahrungen die Einzelnen mit Gewaltfilmen und Videospielen gemacht hatten. Es zeigte sich, dass die Untersuchungsteilnehmer(innen) (N=30 aus Worcester, MA, USA und N=40 aus Tallinn, Estland) auf das personlich verfugbare kulturelle Wissen uber die jeweiligen Bilder zuruckgriffen und hiervon abhangig eine Entscheidung trafen, ob sie schossen oder nicht: Um die Bedeutung von Videospielen fur die Gewaltbereitschaft der Befragten zu ermitteln, wurde u.a. die Reaktion auf ein Bild aus dem Videospiel "Duck Hunt" mit der Reaktion auf zwei andere Bilder verglichen, auf denen ebenfalls Enten dargestellt waren. Die meisten der amerikanischen Untersuchungsteilnehmer(innen) entschieden sich, auf die dem Videospiel zugehorige Ente zu schiesen, nicht aber auf die anderen Entenabbildungen, weil fur sie der Kontext Videospiel die Begrundung bot, sich aggressiv gegen die Abbildung zu verhalten. Den meisten Untersuchungsteilnehmer(inne)n aus Estland war das Videospiel unbekannt, weshalb es deutlich seltener zu aggressiven Handlungen kam. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs030281
21-CM Line and Radio Continuum Emission from Circumstellar Envelopes around Late-Type Giants

Searches for atomic hydrogen in the circumstellar envelopes produced by mass loss from late-type giants and from planetary nebulae using the 21-cm line have so far proven negative, with the possible exception of the planetary nebula NGC6302. These observations show that the mass shed by red giants is overwhelmingly in molecular form, even for the hotter stars. Comparison between the upper limits and the amount of HI expected to be produced by photodissociation by interstellar UV sets an upper limit of ~ 20,000 years on the age of the envelope around IRC+10216.
Evaluating Vaccination Effectiveness and Vaccine Efficacy by means of Case-Control Studies

When used to evaluate vaccination effectiveness, case-control studies are useful surrogates for controlled trials of vaccination programs. Their advantages over controlled trials are that 1) they involve relatively few participants, 2) the necessary information can be obtained within a short time, and 3) their results are based on actual field conditions. Their major and inescapable problem is producing convincing evidence that the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations are sufficiently alike in all relevant characteristics other than vaccination to allow a reasonable conclusion that vaccination effectiveness approximates vaccine efficacy. Even under uncontrolled circumstances, case-control studies should provide useful means of surveillance, indicating when some component of the vaccination program needs to be checked. Relative vaccine efficacy can be determined by case-control studies whenever the vaccine being used is the only factor in the vaccination program that has been changed.