cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 2020 View on the Genetics of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) can be primarily attributed to genetic causes. The genetic landscape of DEEs has been largely shaped by the rise of high-throughput sequencing, which led to the discovery of new DEE-associated genes and helped identify de novo pathogenic variants. We discuss briefly the contribution of de novo variants to DEE and also focus on alternative inheritance models that contribute to DEE. First, autosomal recessive inheritance in outbred populations may have a larger contribution than previously appreciated, accounting for up to 13% of DEEs. A small subset of genes that typically harbor de novo variants have been associated with recessive inheritance, and often these individuals have more severe clinical presentations. Additionally, pathogenic variants in X-linked genes have been identified in both affected males and females, possibly due to a lack of X-chromosome inactivation skewing. Collectively, exome sequencing has resulted in a molecular diagnosis for many individuals with DEE, but this still leaves many cases unsolved. Multiple factors contribute to the missing etiology, including nonexonic variants, mosaicism, epigenetics, and oligogenic inheritance. Here, we focus on the first 2 factors. We discuss the promises and challenges of genome sequencing, which allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the genome, including interpretation of structural and noncoding variants and also yields a high number of de novo variants for interpretation. We also consider the contribution of genetic mosaicism, both what it means for a molecular diagnosis in mosaic individuals and the important implications for genetic counseling.
Patient Demand for Plastic Surgeons for Every US State Based on Google Searches

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION As a profession, plastic surgeons must meet the public demand for aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. Patients search for physicians using Google, which offers insights into patient needs through their search history. METHODS The Google Trends Relative Search Volumes (RSV) were pulled for all searches for “plastic surgery” over 12 months. The number of active plastic surgeons per state was divided by Census Bureau population estimates to calculate the surgeons-per-capita value, or “surgical concentration.” The Google score divided by this concentration yields a “surgical demand index” for each state. RESULTS Florida, New York, and Connecticut had the greatest concentration of surgeons per ten-thousand people (0.220, 0.217, and 0.209, respectively), while Wyoming, Arkansas, and Vermont had the smallest (0.051, 0.071, 0.080). California exhibited the greatest number of Google searches (RSV=100), followed by Florida and Hawaii (RSV=95). Oregon (RSV=38), Virginia (RSV=52), and Alaska (RSV=58) had the fewest searches. The “surgical demand index” was greatest in Wyoming (1187.778), Oklahoma (993.751), and Arkansas (974.664) and smallest in Oregon (264.682), Virginia (320.716), and Connecticut (354.872). CONCLUSION The distribution of US plastic surgeons is not homogeneous. The Google data suggest that some markets (e.g. Oregon) are saturated while others (e.g. Wyoming) have significant demand that is not met by the number of plastic surgeons in those states.
Effect of quantity and quality of education on per capita real-GDP growth: evidence from low- and middle-income African countries

Although several empirical studies have investigated the growth impact of the quantity of schooling in African countries, research on the impact of schooling quality (the degree to which schooling ...
Interface-exfoliated graphene-based conductive screen-printing inks: low-loading, low-cost, and additive-free

Paper diagnostics are of growing interest due to their low cost and easy accessibility. Conductive inks, necessary for manufacturing the next generation diagnostic devices, currently face challenges such as high cost, high sintering temperatures, or harsh conditions required to remove stabilizers. Here we report an effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly approach to graphene ink that is suitable for screen printing onto paper substrates. The ink formulation contains only pristine graphite, water, and non-toxic alkanes formed by an interfacial trapping method in which graphite spontaneously exfoliates to graphene. The result is a viscous graphene stabilized water-in-oil emulsion-based ink. This ink does not require sintering, but drying at 90 °C or brief microwaving can improve the conductivity. The production requires only 40 s of shaking to form the emulsion. The sheet resistance of the ink is approximately 600 Ω/sq at a thickness of less than 6 µm, and the ink can be stabilized by as little as 1 wt% graphite.
One problem, many solutions: Female reproduction is regulated by chemically diverse pheromones across insects

Abstract The reproductive division of labour in social insects is a fascinating phenomenon regulated by diverse chemical signals that vary substantially in structure. Is this diversity an example of one problem (reproductive regulation) and many potential solutions (diverse chemicals)? Or are there hidden shared elements in the pheromonal regulation of reproduction across insects? To address this question, I will first discuss the phenomenon of reproductive division of labour in social insects, particularly, the reproductive conflicts among females and the means by which these conflicts are resolved. I will then focus on the use of pheromones, a mode of communication that has broadly diversified among social insects that live in large complex societies. I will summarize the different approaches to define semiochemicals in the context of the reproductive division of labour and review the state of knowledge of compounds regulating insect reproduction, both solitary and social, demonstrating the structural diversity as well as the potential conservation of the mechanisms regulating signal production and perception. Lastly, I will discuss the different hypotheses underlying the evolution of pheromones regulating reproduction in insects. Our current understanding of reproductive signalling, while extensive within single species, is still limited by the paucity of comparative studies across the Insecta as a whole, and further investigations are sorely needed.
The Haunted Desk: Exploring Non-Volitional Behavior Change with Everyday Robotics

We introduce and explore the concept of non-volitional behavior change, a novel category of behavior change interventions, and apply it in the context of promoting healthy behaviors through an automated sit-stand desk. While routine use of sit-stand desks can increase health outcomes, compliance decreases quickly and behavioral nudges tend to be dismissed. To address this issue, we introduce robotic furniture that moves on its own to promote healthy movement. In an in-person preliminary study, we explored users' impressions of an autonomous sit-stand desk prototype that changes position at regular pre-set time intervals while participants complete multiple tasks. While in-the-moment self-reported ratings were similar between the autonomous and manual desks, we observed several bi-modal distributions in user's retrospective comparisons and their qualitative responses. Findings suggest about half were receptive to using an autonomous sit-stand desk, while the remaining preferred to retain some level of control.
The Pursuit of Precision in Paraneoplastic Neurologic Disease.

In this issue of Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation , Graus et al. have provided an update to the 2004 paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) diagnostic criteria.1,2 Cancer and its remote effects in the body are not a new diagnostic entity. As early as the mid-1800s, Trousseau3 described recurrent thrombophlebitis in association with gastric carcinoma. Nonetheless, over the past few decades, there has been increasing awareness of paraneoplastic syndromes, especially those affecting the nervous system, underscoring the need for clear guidelines to ensure that diagnostic nomenclature is used correctly in both the clinical and research settings. The authors specifically and appropriately acknowledged confusion around commonly used terminology and decided to move away from using the term “onconeural antibodies”—elimination of this term helps clarify …
Grit through the grind: exploring sport employee work grit

Sport management scholars have recently taken a greater interest in the psychological processes of sport employees in order to generate well-being among them. One source of well-being for sport emp...
Piracy, a Crime of Universal Jurisdiction: A Perspective into the History of United States Piracy Jurisprudence, its English Common Law Roots, and Relationship with the Law of Nations

The crime of piracy has plagued local and international maritime trade for thousands of years. Throughout history, pirate predation on trade ships was so infamous and prevalent that it was — and still is — considered an international issue. And because of its international reach and effect on commerce, piracy is defined and discussed under the United Nation’s Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”). In the United States, the statutory definition of piracy under the federal criminal code differs from the UNCLOS definition. However — even though the United States is not a member of UNCLOS — federal court jurisprudence incorporates the UNCLOS definition into the federal statutes acknowledging international definitions. Because of the universal and longstanding notoriety of piracy, punishment has historically been, and continues to be harsh today even when compared to other international crimes. In larger nations, piracy is typically governed by admiralty courts. Over time, the demarcation line for admiralty and international jurisdiction has ebbed and flowed due to the global expansion of trade. Today, prosecution of piracy falls under a universal jurisdiction among all nations which means that, generally, any nation can prosecute pirates. Piracy as a criminal act often employs the use of other common law crimes such as larceny, robbery, and murder. And although these crimes usually fall under the purview of U.S. State law, Congress is explicitly granted power over piracy through the U.S. Constitution. After the Golden Age of Piracy during European colonization, piracy entered a denouement. However, there had been a resurgence in global concern and prosecution of piracy with the prolific attacks by pirates along the coast of Somalia over the past two decades.
Symptomatic hernia of the thigh musculature requiring reconstruction: A rare late presenting sequela after fascial release for compartment syndrome

Abstract Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the lower extremity is a surgical emergency, often secondary to severe crush injury, and requires immediate fascial release. In treatment of ACS, the underlying fascia is left unrepaired and the subsequent fascial defect does not generally cause negative consequences. Here, we present a 24-year-old man who developed symptomatic muscle herniation 3-years after undergoing fascial release secondary to ACS of the anterior thigh. Given the size of the defect, reconstruction was performed using Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM). The patient did well, with no complications 6 months postoperatively. Symptomatic muscle herniation following fasciotomy can be treated with hernia reduction and fascial repair. When primary closure is not possible, Acelluar Dermal Matrix (ADM) is an option for successful fascial reconstruction.
Physical controls of near‐surface soil moisture across varying spatial scales in an agricultural landscape during SMEX02

[1] Understanding of near‐surface soil moisture variability at different spatial scales and associated dominant physical controls is limited. In the past, soil moisture dynamics studies have been conducted extensively at different spatial scales using both in situ and remote sensing (RS) data in the subhumid Southern Great Plains region, which has mostly pasture and range land cover with rolling topography. Compared to the past efforts, we investigated the space‐time characterization of near‐surface soil moisture and associated physical controls at multiple scales (field, watershed, and region) in a humid hydroclimatic region with different topography and agricultural land cover. Soil moisture data from two different measurement support scales (theta probe based (point scale) and airborne RS derived; footprint scale, 800 m × 800 m), obtained during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02) in Iowa were used. Geostatistical analysis showed the spatial soil moisture correlation lengths varied between 78 m and 307 m (at the field scale), 2044 m and 11,882 m (at the watershed scale), and 19,500 m and 118,500 m (at the regional scale). The correlation length values were usually smaller on wet days than the relatively dry days at the field and watershed scales. The trend was opposite at the regional scale with correlation lengths being larger on wet days. Furthermore, the soil moisture data sets were decomposed into spatial Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) patterns, and their relationship with various geophysical parameters (rainfall, topography, soil texture, and vegetation) was examined to determine the dominant control on the near‐surface soil moisture variability. At the field scale, the first four EOFs together explained about 81% of the total variability. At the watershed scale, the first two EOFs were dominant explaining about 93% of the total variance, whereas at the regional scale, the primary EOF itself explained more than 70% of the variance. In other words, the complicated dynamics of near‐surface soil moisture fields can be described by a few underlying orthogonal spatial structures related to the geophysical attributes of the region. Correlation analysis of the RS soil moisture data showed that rainfall, topography, and soil texture have mixed effects on the variability explained by the dominant EOFs, at both watershed and regional scales, with limited influence of vegetation parameters. The effect of rainfall on the soil moisture variability is higher at the watershed scale compared to the regional scale in Iowa.
Motivation and self-regulated learning : theory, research, and applications

This volume focuses on the role of motivational processes - such as goals, attributions, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, self-concept, self-esteem, social comparisons, emotions, values, and self-evaluations- in self-regulated learning. It provides theoretical and empirical evidence demonstrating the role of motivation in self-regulated learning, and discusses detailed applications of the principles of motivation and self-regulation in educational contexts. Each chapter includes a description of the motivational variables, the theoretical rationale for their importance, research evidence to support their role in self-regulation, suggestions for ways to incorporate motivational variables into learning contexts to foster self-regulatory skill development, and achievement outcomes.
Coherent Matrix Completion

Matrix completion concerns the recovery of a low-rank matrix from a subset of its revealed entries, and nuclear norm minimization has emerged as an effective surrogate for this combinatorial problem. Here, we show that nuclear norm minimization can recover an arbitrary n×n matrix of rank r from O(nr log2(n)) revealed entries, provided that revealed entries are drawn proportionally to the local row and column coherences (closely related to leverage scores) of the underlying matrix. Our results are order-optimal up to logarithmic factors, and extend existing results for nuclear norm minimization which require strong incoherence conditions on the types of matrices that can be recovered, due to assumed uniformly distributed revealed entries. We further provide extensive numerical evidence that a proposed two-phase sampling algorithm can perform nearly as well as local-coherence sampling and without requiring a priori knowledge of the matrix coherence structure. Finally, we apply our results to quantify how weighted nuclear norm minimization can improve on unweighted minimization given an arbitrary set of sampled entries.
Zeolites Go Organic

Zeolites--crystalline aluminosilicates with a microporous structure--are used extensively in catalysis and for separations. Most efforts directed at modifying their frameworks with organic molecules have added pendant groups that tend to block their micropores. Jones highlights a paper ( Yamamoto et al.) that describes the preparation of zeolites that incorporate organic groups directly into the pore walls. Methylene units substitute for bridging oxygen, and silicon atoms bear methyl or methylene groups.
Lateral parabrachial nucleus and serotonergic mechanisms in the control of salt appetite in rats

This study investigated the effects of bilateral injections of serotonergic receptor agonist and antagonist into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) on the ingestion of water and 0.3 M NaCl induced by intracerebroventricular angiotensin II (ANG II) or by combined subcutaneous injections of the diuretic furosemide (Furo) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (Cap). Rats had stainless steel cannulas implanted bilaterally into the LPBN and into the left lateral ventricle. Bilateral LPBN pretreatment with the serotonergic 5-HT1/5-HT2 receptor antagonist methysergide (4 micrograms/200 nl each site) increased 0.3 M NaCl and water intakes induced by intracerebroventricular ANG II (50 ng/microliter) and 0.3 M NaCl intake induced by subcutaneous Furo + Cap. Pretreatment with bilateral LPBN injections of a serotonergic 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist DOI (5 micrograms/200 nl) significantly reduced 0.3 M NaCl intake induced by subcutaneous Furo + Cap. Pretreatment with methysergide or DOI into the LPBN produced no significant changes in the water intake induced by subcutaneous Furo + Cap. These results suggest that serotonergic mechanisms associated with the LPBN may have inhibitory roles in water and sodium ingestion in rats.
Evaluation of Brining Ingredients and Antimicrobials for Effects on Thermal Destruction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a Meat Model System

Escherichia coli O157:H7 may become internalized during brine injection of meat. This study evaluated the effect of brining ingredients on E. coli O157:H7 in a meat model system after simulated brining, storage, and cooking. Fresh knuckles (5.3 +/- 2.4% fat) or beef shoulder (15.3 +/- 2.2% fat) were ground individually, mixed with an 8-strain composite of rifampicin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (7 log CFU/g) and brining solutions. Treatments included no brining, distilled water, sodium chloride (NaCl, 0.5%), sodium tripolyphosphate (STP, 0.25%), sodium pyrophosphate (SPP, 0.25%), NaCl + STP, NaCl + SPP, NaCl + STP + potassium lactate (PL, 2%), NaCl + STP + sodium diacetate (SD, 0.15%), NaCl + STP + PL + SD, NaCl + STP + lactic acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + acetic acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + citric acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + EDTA (20 mM) + nisin (0.0015%) or pediocin (1000 AU/g), NaCl + STP + sodium metasilicate (0.2%), NaCl + STP + cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC; 0.5%), and NaCl + STP + hops beta acids (0.00055%). Samples (30 g) were analyzed for pH, and total microbial and rifampicin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (inoculum) populations immediately after mixing, storage (24 h at 4 degrees C), and cooking to 65 degrees C. Fat and moisture contents and water activity were measured after storage and cooking only; cooking losses also were determined. The effect of beef type on microbial counts, pH, and water activity was negligible. No reductions in microbial counts were obtained by the brining solutions immediately or after storage, except for samples treated with CPC, which reduced (P < 0.05) pathogen counts after storage by approximately 1 log cycle. Cooking reduced pathogen counts by 1.5 to 2.5 logs, while CPC-treated samples had the lowest (P < 0.05) counts compared to any other treatment. These data may be useful in developing/improving brining recipes for control of E. coli O157:H7 in moisture-enhanced beef products.
Possible mechanisms of toxicity due to photochemical products of protriptyline.

Abstract The photosensitivity (phototoxicity) response in skin associated with protriptyline hydrochloride (PTL), a tricyclic antidepressant, was investigated. Ultraviolet irradiation of 1 × 10−3 M solutions of PTL in phosphate-buffered saline resulted in a mixture of at least five products. Intradermal injection of irradiated PTL solutions elicited erythema and papules in epilated guinea pig skin. Irradiated PTL solutions also induced red blood cell lysis at dilutions up to 1:50. Photoproduct mixtures formed in the absence of oxygen produced stronger responses in both of these assays than those formed in the presence of oxygen. Unirradiated PTL solutions were negative. Photochemical studies demonstrated that the PTL photoproducts, which caused red blood cell lysis required water for their formation, were produced in higher yield in the absence of oxygen than in the presence of oxygen and were stable for at least 1 week.
Of Birds and Gifts: Reviving Tradition on an Indonesian Frontier

Not long ago, I came across an interesting article in Anthropology Today. In "Images of an Ethnic Minority in Indonesia," Mike Hitchcock of the Horniman Museum in London analyzed illustrations of Irian Jayans in booklets he purchased in 1982 during his fieldwork in the province of Nusa Tenggara Barat.1 Published in Jakarta, the nation's capital, the series depicted Indonesia's regional cultures. Examining the volumes on dance, clothing, weaponry, and wedding dress, Hitchcock likened the treatment of Irian subjects to the "naive manipulation" evident in early anthropological photographs. To satisfy their society's conceptions of propriety and truth, the Indonesian photographers, like their turn-of-the-century predecessors, had equipped their models with costumes and props "to obtain the images they desired" (Hitchcock 1985:2). After an astute evaluation of representations that were simply labeled "Irian Jayan," the article ended with a description of a portrait of a wedding couple from Waropen, the only "ethnic group" from the province specified in the series. The bride and groom are wearing "belted tunics," decorated with "factory-made braids and fringes" and the same beads that adorned the regional costumes from Kalimantan and East Timor (see Figure 1). "But most striking of all are the large complete birds worn atop their heads: images which are a constant source of amusement for Indonesian schoolchildren" (1985:4). Hitchcock concluded:
National, regional, and worldwide estimates of stillbirth rates.

www.thelancet.com Vol 378 September 3, 2011 873 Submissions should be made via our electronic submission system at http://ees.elsevier.com/ thelancet/ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Department of Oral Biology, Stomatology School, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle Western Road, Xi’an, China
Low-Temperature Electronics

Considering potential practical applications of low-temperature phenomena, a general survey is made of the temperature dependence of noise and electrical resistance down to the region of Absolute Zero. It is shown that the signal-to-noise ratio in a metallic resistor can be increased by lowering its temperature, while cooling has little effect on carbon resistors. The theory of electrical conductance in metals is reviewed, and it is determined that whenever ohmic losses are important as in an inductance, decreasing the temperature can be a help. The phenomenon of superconductivity is treated, including use of the superconducting properties of certain metals in the construction of a very sensitive bolometer and in the frictionless suspension of a lead sphere.
Approximate Analysis of Decentralized, Multi-Stage, Pull-Type Production/Inventory Systems

We consider a decentralized, pull-type manufacturing system with each stage having its own input and output stock keeping activities. Material handling between stages is carried out according to a fixed quantity, non-constant withdrawal cycle. We approximate the system behavior using a two-node decomposition approach, which decomposes the system into smaller subsystems. The analysis of two-node subsystems is achieved using a matrix-recursive approach due to phase-type modeling of certain random variables. Our solution algorithm resolved a major difficulty (due to batch transfers) in the analytical approach to study multi-stage manufacturing systems. We also discuss system behavior and suggest several rules-of-thumb to improve system performance.
Genetic Selection for Enhanced Folding In Vivo Targets the Cys14-Cys38 Disulfide Bond in Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor

The periplasm provides a strongly oxidizing environment; however, periplasmic expression of proteins with disulfide bonds is often inefficient. Here, we used two different tripartite fusion systems to perform in vivo selections for mutants of the model protein bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) with the aim of enhancing its expression in Escherichia coli. This trypsin inhibitor contains three disulfides that contribute to its extreme stability and protease resistance. The mutants we isolated for increased expression appear to act by eliminating or destabilizing the Cys14-Cys38 disulfide in BPTI. In doing so, they are expected to reduce or eliminate kinetic traps that exist within the well characterized in vitro folding pathway of BPTI. These results suggest that elimination or destabilization of a disulfide bond whose formation is problematic in vitro can enhance in vivo protein folding. The use of these in vivo selections may prove a valuable way to identify and eliminate disulfides and other rate-limiting steps in the folding of proteins, including those proteins whose in vitro folding pathways are unknown. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 14, 973–984.
A taxonomy of representation strategies in iconic communication

Predicting whether the intended audience will be able to recognize the meaning of an icon or pictograph is not an easy task. Many icon recognition studies have been conducted in the past. However, their findings cannot be generalized to other icons that were not included in the study, which, we argue, is their main limitation. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive taxonomy of icons that is intended to enable the generalization of the findings of recognition studies. To accomplish this, we analyzed a sample of more than eight hundred icons according to three axes: lexical category, semantic category, and representation strategy. Three basic representation strategies were identified: visual similarity; semantic association; and arbitrary convention. These representation strategies are in agreement with the strategies identified in previous taxonomies. However, a greater number of subcategories of these strategies were identified. Our results also indicate that the lexical and semantic attributes of a concept influence the choice of representation strategy.
The electronic thermal conductivity of strained aluminium below 1 K

The thermal conductivity of strained, high purity Al has been measured in the temperature range 0.04 to 1 K. It is concluded that electrons do not interact significantly with the localized phonon states which are associated with dislocations in Al. Die Warmeleitfahigkeit von verzerrtem hochreinem Aluminium wurde im Temperaturbereich von 0,04 bis 1 K gemessen. Es wird geschlossen, das die Elektronen nicht wesentlich mit lokalisierten Phononzustanden in Aluminium, die mit Versetzungen verknupft sind, wechselwirken.
Particle filter based active localization of target and needle in robotic image-guided intervention systems

This paper presents a probabilistic method for active localization of needles and targets in robotic image guided interventions. Specifically, an active localization scenario where the system directly controls the imaging system to actively localize the needle and target locations using intra-operative medical imaging (e.g., computerized tomography and ultrasound imaging) is explored. In the proposed method, the active localization problem is posed as an information maximization problem, where the beliefs for the needle and target states are represented and estimated using particle filters. The proposed method is also validated using a simulation study.
On manufacturers complementing the traditional retail channel with a direct online channel

With the explosion of the Internet and the reach that it affords, many manufacturers have complemented their existing retail channels with an online channel, which allows them to sell directly to their consumers. Interestingly, there is a significant variation within product categories in manufacturer's use of the Internet as a direct distribution channel. The main objective of this study is to examine the strategic forces that may influence the manufacturer's decision to complement the retail channel with a direct online channel. In particular, we are interested in answering the following questions: (I) Why is it that in some markets only a few firms find it optimal to complement their retail channels with a direct Internet channel while other firms do not? (II) What strategic role (if any), does the direct Internet channel serve and how do market characteristics impact this role?
The Surgical Approach to Pulmonary Emphysema

SUMMARY Pulmonary emphysema is classified into primary and secondary types. Each of these is further subdivided into generalized and localized groups. In the localized type of pulmonary emphysema there is airway obstruction only to the area involved by disease. The remainder of the lung is normal. In the generalized or diffuse type of bilateral pulmonary emphysema there is generalized bronchiolaralveolar airway obstruction to all lung tissue whether or not there are blebs and/or bullae. Bronchioles are collapsible tubes. They are normally held open by the physiologic principle of circumferential pull upon the bronchioles. The normal elastic lung is held expanded by a rigid chest wall which causes the lung elasticity to be transferred to a circumferential pull upon the bronchioles. As the chest expands on inspiration the bronchioles are enlarged. The relaxation of the chest on expiration causes the bronchioles to become smaller in diameter. Thus, the expiratory airway obstruction is at least partially accounted for in primary pulmonary emphysema. Whatever may be the cause for the beginning of bronchiolar-alveolar airway obstruction in pulmonary emphysema, the partial loss of the physiologic principle of holding open the bronchioles is an important factor in the well developed disease. Surgery directed at reducing lung volume by sacrifice of functionally useless pulmonary tissue can in some measure restore the partially lost physiologic principle of holding open the bronchioles. Tenaceous sputum in small amounts is characteristic of pulmonary emphysema. The character of the secretion can be altered by denervation of the lung. Of 56 patients operated upon for primary pulmonary emphysema, 42 (75 per cent) are improved. When there occurs a loss of improvement gained by operation on one lung of a patient with primary pulmonary emphysema, the loss of function is usually the result of further degeneration of the unoperated lung. In none of the patients reported in this series has there been detectable evidence of further progression of the disease in the operated lung. The longest follow-up has been eight years. Undoubtedly, some patients will in the future show signs of further progression of the disease.
Identification Of Channel-lining Residues In The Prokaryotic Proton-gated Cys-loop Receptor Ion Channel From Gloeobacter Violaceus

The Cys-loop family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels mediate excitatory and inhibitory transmission at fast chemical synapses. These proteins form pentameric assemblies with an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane ion channel formed from 4 α-helices per subunit, and a large cytoplasmic globular domain between the M3 and M4 segments. The homopentameric proton-gated cation channel from the prokaryote Gloeobacter violaceus (Glvi) has been identified as a putative homologue but lacks some classical features of the eukaryotic family members, including the large cytoplasmic loop and the signature disulfide linkage. To gain insight into the structure of Glvi, we engineered 30 individual cysteine substitutions that align with positions -2' - 27' of the M2 segment in eukaryotic family members. Each mutant was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and evaluated for the accessibility of the engineered cysteine to p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS-) in the closed state (pH 7.5) or in the sub-maximally open state (pH 5). Of the 30 Cys mutants, in 5 the proton-induced currents were not significantly different than those in water-injected oocytes, and the 8' and 9' mutants showed aberrant gating properties. Of the mutants tested from -2' to 9', E220C (-2') and T224C (2') were reactive at both pH 7.5 and 5.0, and T229C (7') was reactive only at pH 5.0, presumably in the open state. However, from 10' to 27' each mutant tested was modified by pCMBS- except V240C (19'). This suggests that the M2 helix is tightly associated with the adjacent transmembrane helices on the channel's intracellular side but is loosely packed from 10′ to the extracellular end. Examination of the relative reaction rates may distinguish the channel-lining residues that are more extracellular than 10′.
TU-B-T-6C-01: MRI and MRSI in Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Radiation therapy is an image-guided procedure whose success depends strongly on the image modality used for treatment planning and the level of integration of the available imaging information. Advancement in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has provided an unprecedented means to produce highly conformable dose distribution while sparing sensitive structures, which calls for better imaging tools for tumor target definition and for the management of inter- and intra-fractional organ motion. Clinically, MRI imaging is an important anatomical imaging modality and posses superior soft tissue contrast. It has played a pivotal role in radiation oncology practice and made significant impact in cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and monitoring of therapeutic response. In the last decade, much progress has been made in high field MRI and in the development of new MRI contrast agents. MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has also emerged as a powerful noninvasive tool for providing the type of metabolic and physiology information needed to identify biologically conformal dose distributions for biologically conformal radiation therapy (BCRT). This presentation will provide an overview of the fundamental principles of MRI and MRSI imaging and inform the audience with some of the new developments in the field and their practical implications to radiation therapy. Examples of these applications in a few disease sites will be presented. Finally, issues related to the quality assurance of MRI/MRSI and BCRT will also be addressed. Educational Objectives: 1. Review MRI and MRSI physics. 2. Illustrate the steps involved in integrating MRI and MRSI into treatment planning process. 3. Introduce MRI/MRSI image fusion techniques (including deformable image registration). 4. Provide an overview on recent advances in high field MRI and MRSI. 5. Update on the new development of MRI contrast media, including nanoparticles-based contrast agents. This work was supported in part by NCI 5R01 CA98523-01. Therapy Continuing Education Course Room 6B.
Long–Serving City Managers: Practical Application of the Academic Literature

The authors identified 146 city managers who have served in the same city for the past 20 years and asked them to complete a survey to determine the factors leading to their long service. As a part of the survey, the city managers were invited to express, in their own words, the reasons they had stayed in the same city for such an extended time compared to the average tenure for city managers. In the article that follows, the authors quote from the academic literature statements pertaining to practical issues of concern to city managers and the elected officials for whom they work, giving credence to the applicability of the academic literature to today's city management profession. Following the quotations from the literature, the authors present the heartfelt reflections of these senior city managers on their long careers in public service.
Prison Reform through Federal Legislative Intervention: The Case of the Prison Rape Elimination Act

Inmates have long been considered one of the most politically disenfranchised groups in the United States. Not surprisingly, the well-being of the incarcerated has rarely been considered a high priority for federal policymakers. The passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), however, reveals that reform through traditional policy making channels is attainable. The passage of PREA has provided reformers with more than optimism. It provides a roadmap for future efforts to transform prison conditions through legislative intervention. This manuscript explores the lessons learned from PREA’s success by identifying the traditional barriers to federal legislative prison reform and examining how PREA was able to navigate these obstacles and secure passage without a single "no" vote in the U.S. Congress. Special attention is given to the important role of evangelicals in the passage of this legislation.
Synthetic studies on the BCDF ring system of ristocetin A via ruthenium-promoted S N Ar reaction

Abstract Ruthenium-promoted intramolecular S N Ar reaction has allowed the construction of the 16-membered BCD model macrocycle of ristocetin A that incorporates the required arylserine residue as the C ring, and includes a fully functionalized F ring.
Sub-nanosecond time-of-flight for segmented silicon detectors

Abstract Development of a multichannel time-of-flight system for readout of a segmented, ion-passivated, ion-implanted silicon detector is described. This system provides sub-nanosecond resolution ( δ t ≈ 370 ps ) even for low energy α particles which deposit E ≤ 7.687 MeV in the detector.
Surrogate motherhood i: Responses to infertility

Abstract Surrogate motherhood is one of three recently developed paths to parenthood resulting from modern technological medical research. It is, however, a path filled with legal “potholes” and psychological “rocks.” Mental health specialists, especially marital and family therapists, need to be familiar with this difficult road because they may well be called upon to provide their professional services to people attempting to negotiate it. This paper introduces a number of the potential hazards as well as the points at which therapeutic and related services may be needed.
Immunologic recovery in children after alternative donor allogeneic transplantation for hematologic malignancies: comparison of recipients of partially T cell-depleted peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord blood

Abstract Impaired immunologic recovery (IR) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with increased risk for infections and relapse. Stem cell source and graft manipulation influence the kinetics of IR. Partial T cell depletion of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts is a novel alternative method of graft manipulation for children. We compared IR in children undergoing HSCT for hematologic malignancies receiving either T cell–depleted (TCD)-PBSCs (n = 55) or umbilical cord blood (UCB) (n = 21) over a 7-year period at a single institution. PBSC grafts underwent ex vivo negative selection for CD3+ cells using the CliniMACS system with partial T cell add-back. Recovery of CD4+ T cells was significantly delayed in TCD-PBSC recipients compared with UCB recipients, owing to impaired CD4+/CD45RA+ (naive) T cell lymphopoiesis. Recovery of total CD3+ cells and CD3+/CD8+ cells was similar in the 2 groups. The TCD-PBSC recipients had a marked deficit in CD19+ and, to a lesser extent, IgA/IgM, owing to the need for B cell depletion of these grafts to attenuate the risk of lymphoproliferative disease after TCD HSCT. There were no significant between-group differences in response to mitogen stimulation, time to independence from intravenous immunoglobulin supplementation, or incidence of viral reactivation. Transplantation outcomes of relapse, transplantation-related mortality, event-free survival, and overall survival were similar in the 2 groups. Efforts to enhance IR after partial TCD-PBSC transplantation, such as selective αβ T cell depletion, hold promise for further improvement of this transplantation approach.
Iron and the Carbon Pump

The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere has risen by ∼38% since the start of the industrial era as a result of fossil fuel burning and land use changes; if current trends continue, it is projected to increase further by at least a factor of 2 by 2100 ( 1 ). About a quarter of the CO2 emitted through human activities has been absorbed by the ocean ( 1 ). On page 676 of this issue, Shi et al. show that the resulting acidification of ocean surface waters may decrease the biological availability of iron, which could in turn reduce the ability of the ocean to take up CO2 ( 2 ).
Determining a user's location in underground malls using opportunistic advertisement delivery systems

Recently there have been many proposals for methods of determining a location in a variety of environments for the purpose of navigation. Many services based on these methods have been provided. However, navigation services inside shopping malls, including underground malls, are still in the research stage. This paper presents an advertisement delivery system, called “OPAS,” and the service it provides. The system is based on mobile terminals held by shoppers in an underground mall. The terminals have a passing-by networking function. The paper also proposes location determination algorithms that make use of this system. An experimental OPAS has been built using a MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc NETwork) emulator and Android terminals, and has been used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed location determination algorithms.
Skull vault growth in craniosynostosis

Background Since its first description by Virchow, the principle of abnormal skull growth due to restriction of skull growth at the fused sutures, and the realisation by Moss that the sutures at the skull base are equally affected, have been the main intellectual driving forces behind the majority of cranial expansion procedures performed currently in children with craniosynostosis.
Display considerations for quantitative radiology.

The early prediction of the response to treatment using quantitative imaging holds great promise for streamlining the development, assessment, approval and personalization of new therapies. However, to realize this potential, quantitative radiology needs to develop an understanding of several limitations that might hinder the application of quantitation tools and techniques. Among these limitations, the fidelity of the display device used to interpret the image data is a significant factor that affects the accuracy and precision of quantitative visual tasks, particularly those involving large, volumetric, multi-dimensional and multi-modality image sets. This paper reviews several aspects of display performance and display image quality that are likely to contribute negatively to the robustness of quantitative imaging methods. Display characteristics that will be addressed include the grayscale and color performance of different classes of display devices, the angular distribution of the emissions of liquid crystal technologies, and the temporal response for stack mode viewing. The paper will also summarize current efforts for the metrology, standardization and image quality assessment methods for display devices.
Structure of bulk amorphous Pd-Ni-P alloys determined by synchrotron radiation

The atomic structure of Pd-Ni-P bulk amorphous alloys was studied by the anomalous (resonance) X-ray scattering technique using synchrotron radiation tuned near the Pd K-edge. Bulk samples of Pd40Ni40P20, Pd30Ni50P20, and Pd50Ni34P16 amorphous alloys were prepared by the flux method in the form of rods. The results show that the structure of these alloys can be described basically by the dense random packed structure with small chemical short-range order. It is suggested that the exceptional stability of these glasses originates mainly from the instability of the competing crystalline phases rather than the atomic ordering in these glasses.
Phytochemicals and Naturally Derived Substances for Wound Healing

Background: Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are widely used by the general public. Natural products including plant-derived extracts (phytochemicals) and naturally derived substances, such as honey, are an important component of CAM. Here, we review the evidence for their use in wound care. The Problem: Wound healing is complex and disruption of this process can lead to considerable morbidity, including chronic wounds, infection, and scarring. Natural products have a long history of use in wound care, but there are only a few rigorous studies. With the growing interest in the use of natural products and the belief that they are safer than standard therapies, it is vital to understand the current knowledge of their efficacy and side effects. Basic/Clinical Science Advances: Natural products possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and cell synthesis-modulating components among many others. However, this complex composition of chemicals may increase the risk for irritant or allergi...
THICK TARGET RECOIL MEASUREMENTS

Corrections for scattering and edge effects affecting thick target recoil results in fission studies are presented. Measurement of the range dispersion of Sr/sup 89/ and Mo/sup 99/ from thermal neutron fission of U/sup 235/ yields 18.2 plus or minus 0.8 and 19.9 plus or minus 0.5%, respectively, for the ratio of the full-width at half maximum of the range distribution in Al to the mean range, assuming a Gaussian form for the distribution. Similar determinations for Cu/sup 67/, Sr/sup 89/, and Mo/sup 99/ from 450-Mev proton fission of U give 27.2 plus or minus 6.3, 25.9 plus or minus 1.4, and 23.8 plus or minus 0.6%, respectively. The ratio of ranges in the target material, for a thick target, relative to Al are presented for fragments from thermal neutron fission of U and 450-Mev proton fission of U, Bi, and Ta. The ranges in Al determined by the thick target technique compare favorably with those obtained by the thin target technique. (auth)
Inhibition of lysine utilization in bacteria by S-(β-aminoethyl)cysteine and its reversal by lysine peptides

Abstract dl - S -(β-Aminoethyl)cysteine (AEC) was shown to inhibit competitively the utilization of l -lysine by Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus arabinosus . With Leuc. mesenteroides , l -lysylglycine and glycyl- l -lysine were shown to be more active than lysine in reversing the AEC inhibition competitively. In the case of L. arabinosus , AEC inhibition was not observed in the presence of l -lysylglycine and glycyl- l -lysylglycine and at certain concentrations of glycyl- l -lysine.