cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of anesthetic technique on cardiac morbidity following carotid artery surgery.

Purpose To investigate the effect of anesthetic technique on cardiac morbidity after carotid artery surgery. Patients and methods From 1991 to 1994, 266 consecutive carotid endarterectomies were performed under local/regional (n = 140) or general anesthesia (n = 126). The effects of anesthetic technique on postoperative adverse cardiac events were assessed retrospectively. Results Preoperative cardiac testing was performed in all patients undergoing general or local/regional anesthesia. Medical characteristics were similar among patients in both groups. Forty-seven adverse cardiac events (4 myocardial infarction, 9 congestive heart failure, 7 angina, and 27 new ventricular dysrhythmias) occurred postoperatively in 38 patients (14.3%). There were no deaths. The relative risks of general anesthesia for dysrhythmias, myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, and total adverse cardiac events were 2.22, 0.37, 0.83, 1.38, and 1.5, respectively. The only statistically significant differential was the increased risk of postoperative dysrhythmias after general anesthesia ( P Conclusions Major cardiac morbidity following carotid endarterectomy is independent of anesthetic technique.
Integrating Cloud-Based Strategies and Tools in Face-to-Face Training Sessions to Increase the Impact of Professional Development

This article is based on the premise that face-to-face training can be augmented with cloud-based technology tools, to potentially extend viable training supports as higher education staff and facu...
Another Opening, Another Show: Performing Teaching Identities in Literacy Classrooms

Teachers are constantly performing different identities at different moments, with different students, and for different ends. In turn, the roles students perform are in constant negotiation with their teacher's role. This column explores how literacy teachers consciously or unconsciously construct their identities and how students read these identities. What happens when teachers' identities shift in the classroom, in conference, or in commenting on student writing? How might more careful reflection on who teachers think they are, and how they got that way, help them to better understand how they teach reading and writing and how students respond to them? In practical terms, teachers face problems when they try either to perform an identity that is incomprehensible or inconsistent for their students, or to inhabit an identity that they know students believe a teacher should have but that doesn't work for them.
Fast error estimates for indirect measurements: applications to pavement engineering

In many real-life situations, we have the following problem: we want to know the value of some characteristicy that is difficult to measure directly (e.g., lifetime of a pavement, efficiency of an engine, etc.). To estimatey, we must know the relationship betweeny and some directly measurable physical quantitiesx 1,...,x n . From this relationship, we extract an algorithmf that allows us, givenx i , to computey: y=f(x 1, ...,x n ). So, we measurex i , apply an algorithmf, and get the desired estimate.
A Historical Perspective on the Role of Collaboration in Teacher Education Reform: Making Good on the Promise of Teaching All Students

This article provides an analysis of how collaborative teacher education has developed in terms of practice, discourse, and the relationship between general and special education across three historical stages. It explores how collaborative teacher education between general and special education has been positioned over time in relationship to larger national reform efforts in teacher education. Approaching the history of collaborative teacher education developmentally from these three perspectives sheds light on how today’s emphasis on collaboration and multiple certifications intersects with what it means to teach in a diverse society and what it means to prepare teachers to meet the needs of every student.
Improving asthma-related health outcomes among low-income, multiethnic, school-aged children: results of a demonstration project that combined continuous quality improvement and community health worker strategies.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to improve asthma-related health outcomes in an ethnically and geographically disparate population of economically disadvantaged school-aged children by using a team-based approach using continuous quality improvement and community health workers. PATIENTS AND METHODS. A demonstration project was conducted with 7 community clinics treating ∼3000 children with asthma 5 to 18 years of age. The overall clinic population with asthma was assessed for care-process changes through random cross-sectional chart reviews at baseline and 24 months (N = 560). A subset of patients with either moderate or severe persistent asthma or poorly controlled asthma (N = 405) was followed longitudinally for specific asthma-related clinical outcomes, satisfaction with care, and confidence managing asthma by family interview at baseline and at 12 or 24 months. Patient-centered and care-process outcomes included patient/parent assessment of quality of care and confidence in self-management, asthma action plan review, and documentation of guideline-based indicators of quality of care. Direct clinical outcomes included daytime and nighttime symptoms, use of rescue medications, acute care and emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and missed school days. Each clinic site9s degree of adherence to the intervention model was evaluated and ranked to examine the correlation between model adherence and outcomes. RESULTS. Cross-sectional data showed clinic-wide improvements in the documentation of asthma severity, review of action plans, health services use, and asthma symptoms. At follow-up in the longitudinal sample, fewer patients reported acute visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, frequent daytime and nighttime symptoms, and missed school days compared with baseline. More patients reported excellent or very good quality of care and confidence in asthma self-management. Linear regression analysis of the clinical sites’ model adherence ranks against site-level combined scores estimating overall outcomes, clinical outcomes, and improvements in clinical care processes showed significant linear correlations with R2 ≥ 0.60. CONCLUSIONS. The demonstration produced major improvements in asthma-related care processes and clinical outcomes. Closer adherence to the demonstration model was directly associated with better outcomes.
385 &#181;mD 2 O laser linewidth measurements to -60 dB

First linewidth measurements over a 60 dB dynamic range of a pulsed, high-power, optically pumped far infrared laser are presented. These measurements were made possible by using a 385 μmD 2 O laser with an N 2 O absorption filter and a sensitive heterodyne receiver. Studying a 385 μmD 2 O laser oscillator we find that the low-level linewidth (<-20 dB) can be explained by the ac Stark effect due to the high-power pump field. Also, we have not observed any frequency pulling of the main Raman emission frequency due to the strong pump and FIR laser fields.
Regulation of lipid synthesis from acetate in diploid fibroblast cultures —variation with passage level and stage of cell growth

Regulation of lipid synthesis from acetate in human diploid fibroblast cultures has been studied at various passage levels and at different stages of cell growth. When cultures were transferred to lipid free medium, a stimulation of [14C]acetate incorporation into lipid occurred within three to six hours after removal of exogenous lipid. In early passage cultures, this stimulation was observed whether cells were transferred to protein-free medium or medium supplemented with delipidized serum protein. However, in late passage cultures the presence of delipidized serum protein was required for the stimulation of lipid synthesis. When logarithmically dividing and stationary phase cultures were compared, the cultures in log phase showed stimulation of acetate incorporation into lipid in the presence or absence of delipidized serum protein, whereas in the stationary cultures the delipidized serum protein was required. When cultures were partially synchronized by a thymidine block, stimulation of acetate incorporation into lipid in the blocked cells only occurred in the presence of delipidized serum protein; in released cells stimulation occurred in protein free medium. When inhibition of lipid synthesis from acetate was compared in young vs. old or dividing vs. stationary cultures, however, no differences were observed. The data indicate the response of diploid fibroblast cultures to change in exogenous lipid is dependent on passage level and state of growth.
Potential State-selective Hydrogen Bond Formation Can Modulate Activation and Desensitization of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

A series of arylidene anabaseines were synthesized to probe the functional impact of hydrogen bonding on human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation and desensitization. The aryl groups were either hydrogen bond acceptors (furans), donors (pyrroles), or neither (thiophenes). These compounds were tested against a series of point mutants of the ligand-binding domain residue Gln-57, a residue hypothesized to be proximate to the aryl group of the bound agonist and a putative hydrogen bonding partner. Q57K, Q57D, Q57E, and Q57L were chosen to remove the dual hydrogen bonding donor/acceptor ability of Gln-57 and replace it with hydrogen bond donating, hydrogen bond accepting, or nonhydrogen bonding ability. Activation of the receptor was compromised with hydrogen bonding mismatches, for example, pairing a pyrrole with Q57K or Q57L, or a furan anabaseine with Q57D or Q57E. Ligand co-applications with the positive allosteric modulator PNU-120596 produced significantly enhanced currents whose degree of enhancement was greater for 2-furans or -pyrroles than for their 3-substituted isomers, whereas the nonhydrogen bonding thiophenes failed to show this correlation. Interestingly, the PNU-120596 agonist co-application data revealed that for wild-type α7 nAChR, the 3-furan desensitized state was relatively stabilized compared with that of 2-furan, a reversal of the relationship observed with respect to the barrier for entry into the desensitized state. These data highlight the importance of hydrogen bonding on the receptor-ligand state, and suggest that it may be possible to fine-tune features of agonists that mediate state selection in the nAChR.
Digital image/video library and MPEG-7: standardization and research issues

Much research activity and interest has emerged in two closely related areas: the digital image/video library (DIVL) and MPEG-7. We review the critical research issues in DIVL from a signal processing viewpoint, the objectives and scope of MPEG-7, and the relationships between these two.
Building an electronic scientific community

The Community Systems project is building an electronic scientific community, by collecting 'all' the knowledge of a scientific community into a digital library and developing the systems technology to transparently manipulate this library over nationwide networks. The community members are scientists studying the nematode worm C. elegans, a model organism in molecular biology. The community system will encode their knowledge into an information space, with the goal of supporting retrieval and annotation of formal and informal data and information for any biologist with a personal computer and a NREN connection. The paper introduces community systems, the worm community and its knowledge, technology and sociology solutions, and an evolving prototype with plans for its propagation. >
State Legislation on Smoking and Health: A Comparison of Two Policies

The two principal smoking-related state legislative activities stand in sharp contrast to one another. Cigarette excise taxation diffused among the states well before the connection between smoking and illness became a public issue, yet more recent tax increases appear to reflect a response to the national anti-smoking campaign. The growing disparity in cigarette prices between tobacco and other states has created a lucrative market in bootlegged cigarettes and has thereby brought new taxation to a virtual standstill for six years. Laws restricting smoking in public places represent a phenomenon of the 1970's clearly bearing the imprint of the anti-smoking campaign. From 1972 through 1978, the number of states with such laws in effect grew from 5 to 36, and the restrictiveness of the laws also increased. The dramatic correlation between diffusion of the laws and decreases in cigarette consumption rates seems best interpreted as each of these reflecting changes in social attitudes toward smoking.
Coronary-prone behavior pattern, task incentive, and cardiovascular response.

In this experiment it was predicted that the presence or absence of a performance-contingent incentive (monetary reward) would mediate effects of the coronary-prone behavior pattern on behavioral and cardiovascular responses to a difficult cognitive task. Accordingly, 44 subjects of the Type A (coronary-prone) and Type B (non-coronary-prone) behavior patterns were assigned to one of two task conditions, labelled Incentive and No Incentive. Results indicated that under No Incentive Type As performed better at the experimental task and reported less state anxiety than Type Bs, whereas in the Incentive condition, Type A and B subjects showed no differences in task performance or self-report of anxiety. Concerning cardiovascular measures, analysis of variance revealed significantly greater systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure elevations for Type A than Type B subjects, but showed no reliable interactions of the Type A, B and Incentive factors nor any related effects regarding heart rate or diastolic blood pressure. Individual differences in subjects' scores on the inventory for coronary-prone behavior pattern, however, correlated positively with heart rate accelerations in the No Incentive condition, but did not covary with heart rate changes under Incentive. With respect to subjects' perceptions of the task, self-report data suggested that Type As responded in a more active and involved manner and resisted feelings of helplessness to a greater extent than their Type B counterparts.
MAO Activity in Normal, Cirrhotic, and Noncirrhotic Abnormal Human Liver

Normal, cirrhotic, and noncirrhotic abnormal human livers from autopsy and biopsy specimens were analyzed for MAO activity. The enzyme activity was expressed on the basis of liver weight, liver nitrogen, and mitochondrial nitrogen. When MAO activity was expressed on the basis of liver weight, the cirrhotic liver showed 80% less activity and noncirrhotic abnormal liver showed 35% less activity than normal liver. Liver nitrogen and mitochondrial nitrogen seem to be equally valid as reference substances for MAO activity.
Effects of haloperidol metabolites on neurotransmitter uptake and release: possible role in neurotoxicity and tardive dyskinesia.

This research explored the effects of haloperidol (HP) metabolites on biogenic amine uptake and release, and compared them to those of MPTP and its toxic metabolite, MPP+. In synaptosome preparations from mouse striatum and cortex, the HP metabolites haloperidol pyridinium (HPP+), reduced haloperidol pyridinium (RHPP+), and haloperidol tetrahydropyridine (HPTP) inhibited the presynaptic uptake of dopamine and serotonin, with greater affinity for the serotonin transporter. HPP+ was the most potent inhibitor of dopamine uptake, and HPTP of serotonin uptake, both with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. RHPP+ was less active than the other metabolites, but was more active than the parent compound, HP. Inhibition of uptake was reversed when free drug was removed by centrifugation and then resuspension of the synaptosomes in fresh buffer, suggesting that inhibition of uptake was due to interaction with the transporters and was not due to irreversible cytotoxicity. HPP+ showed noncompetitive inhibition of both serotonin and dopamine uptake, suggesting that it has a relatively slow dissociation rate for its interaction with the transporter proteins. In experiments on amine release, HPP+ and HPTP were four-fold less potent than MPP+ for releasing preloaded dopamine from striatal synaptosomes, and only MPP+-dependent release was antagonized by the uptake blocker, mazindol. In contrast, RHPP+ displayed little ability to release either amine neurotransmitter. HPTP was about two-fold more potent than MPP+ for releasing serotonin from cortical synaptosomes, whereas HPP+ was less active than MPP+. The specific serotonin transport blocker fluoxetine was only able to antagonize release induced by MPP+. These results suggest that HP metabolites bind to the transporters for dopamine and serotonin, but are not transporter substrates. In contrast to their potent effects on amine release, HPP+ and HPTP were unable to release preloaded GABA from cortical synaptosomes. The implications of these results concerning a possible role of HP metabolites in the development of tardive dyskinesia are discussed.
High-Performance Spray-Foam Insulation for Application on Saturn S-II Stage

Space boosters using liquid hydrogen as a propellant require insulation to minimize the heat leak into the liquid for ground and boost operations. Thus, during the early design phase of the Saturn S-II program, it was decided to apply an external insulation primarily to take advantage of the increased strength properties of the aluminum-alloy tank skin at cryogenic temperature.
Ecosystem implications of genetic variation in water-use of a dominant riparian tree

Genetic variation in dominant species can affect plant and ecosystem functions in natural systems through multiple pathways. Our study focuses on how genetic variation in a dominant riparian tree (Populus fremontii, P. angustifolia and their natural F1 and backcross hybrids) affects whole-tree water use, and its potential ecosystem implications. Three major patterns were found. First, in a 12-year-old common garden with trees of known genetic makeup, hybrids had elevated daily integrated leaf-specific transpiration (E tl ; P=0.013) and average canopy conductance (G c ; P=0.037), with both E tl and G c ~30% higher in hybrid cross types than parental types. Second, δ13C values of leaves from these same trees were significantly more negative in hybrids (P=0.004), and backcross hybrids had significantly more negative values than all other F1 hybrid and parental types (P <0.001). Third, in the wild, a similar pattern was found in leaf δ13C values where both hybrid cross types had the lowest values (P <0.001) and backcross hybrids had lower δ13C values than any other tree type (P <0.001). Our findings have two important implications: (1) the existence of a consistent genetic difference in whole-tree physiology suggests that whole-tree gas and water exchange could be another pathway through which genes could affect ecosystems; and (2) such studies are important because they seek to quantify the genetic variation that exists in basic physiological processes—such knowledge could ultimately place ecosystem studies within a genetic framework.
Intelligent feature analysis in fuzzy problem domain: a better approach

The motivation of this paper comes from the need of generating feature vectors for classical pattern recognition problem. Though the paper basically deals with the problem of printed as well as handwritten character recognition, the idea of feature extraction and analysis may be successfully incorporated in other pattern recognition problem domains. To cope with the fuzzyness of the problem space, some intelligent approaches have been presented in this paper. The features are fed to a classification mechanism that employs feed forward based recognition system, but instead of using general back propagation algorithm, resilient back propagation algorithm has been used by the classification system to achieve faster recognition rate and better accuracy. Empirical results of the system has been provided which shows that the feature extraction scheme presented in the paper is effective to meet the challenge of overcoming fuzzyness of the problem domain.
Soypeptide lunasin in cytokine immunotherapy for lymphoma

Immunostimulatory cytokines can enhance anti-tumor immunity and are part of the therapeutic armamentarium for cancer treatment. We have previously reported that post-transplant lymphoma patients have an acquired deficiency of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4, which results in defective IFNγ production during clinical immunotherapy. With the goal of further improving cytokine-based immunotherapy, we examined the effects of a soybean peptide called lunasin that synergistically works with cytokines on natural killer (NK) cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors and post-transplant lymphoma patients were stimulated with or without lunasin in the presence of IL-12 or IL-2. NK activation was evaluated, and its tumoricidal activity was assessed using in vitro and in vivo tumor models. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was performed to evaluate the histone modification of gene loci that are regulated by lunasin and cytokine. Adding lunasin to IL-12- or IL-2-stimulated NK cells demonstrated synergistic effects in the induction of IFNG and GZMB involved in cytotoxicity. The combination of lunasin and cytokines (IL-12 plus IL-2) was capable of restoring IFNγ production by NK cells from post-transplant lymphoma patients. In addition, NK cells stimulated with lunasin plus cytokines displayed higher tumoricidal activity than those stimulated with cytokines alone using in vitro and in vivo tumor models. The underlying mechanism responsible for the effects of lunasin on NK cells is likely due to epigenetic modulation on target gene loci. Lunasin represents a different class of immune modulating agent that may augment the therapeutic responses mediated by cytokine-based immunotherapy.
Candidate Genes Required for Embryonic Development: A Comparative Analysis of Distal Mouse Chromosome 14 and Human Chromosome 13q22

Mice homozygous for the Ednrb(s-1Acrg) deletion arrest at embryonic day 8.5 from defects associated with mesoderm development. To determine the molecular basis of this phenotype, we initiated a positional cloning of the Acrg minimal region. This region was predicted to be gene-poor by several criteria. From comparative analysis with the syntenic human locus at 13q22 and gene prediction program analysis, we found a single cluster of four genes within the 1.4-to 2-Mb contig over the Acrg minimal region that is flanked by a gene desert. We also found 130 highly conserved nonexonic sequences that were distributed over the gene cluster and desert. The four genes encode the TBC (Tre-2, BUB2, CDC16) domain-containing protein KIAA0603, the ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3), the F-box/PDZ/LIM domain protein LMO7,and a novel gene. On the basis of their expression profile during development, all four genes are candidates for the Ednrb(s-1Acrg) embryonic lethality. Because we determined that a mutant of Uchl3 was viable, three candidate genes remain within the region.
THE PRICE OF RESTRICTING VULNERABILITY PUBLICATIONS

There are calls from some quarters to restrict the publication of information about security vulnerabilities in an effort to limit the number of people with the knowledge and ability to attack computer systems. Scientists in other fields have considered similar proposals and rejected them, or adopted only narrow, voluntary restrictions. As in other fields of science, there is a real danger that publication restrictions will inhibit the advancement of the state of the art in computer security. Proponents of disclosure restrictions argue that computer security information is different from other scientific research because it is often expressed in the form of functioning software code. Code has a dual nature, as both speech and tool. While researchers readily understand the information expressed in code, code enables many more people to do harm more readily than with the non-functional information typical of most research publications. Yet, there are strong reasons to reject the argument that code is different, and that restrictions are therefore good policy. Code’s functionality may help security as much as it hurts it and the open distribution of functional code has valuable effects for consumers, including the ability to pressure vendors for more secure products and to counteract monopolistic practices.
Terahertz emission from nonpolar gallium nitride

We present terahertz emission from nonpolar InN due to carrier transport in stacking fault-related internal in-plane electric fields. Evidence of in-plane transport is observed as a terahertz waveform polarity flip with reversal of the c-axis.
ctreatreg: Command for Fitting Dose–response Models under Exogenous and Endogenous Treatment:

In this article, I present ctreatreg, a command for estimating a dose–response function when i) treatment is continuous, ii) individuals may react heterogeneously to observable confounders, and iii) the selection into treatment may be endogenous. I implement two estimation procedures: ordinary least squares under conditional mean independence and instrumental variables under selection endogeneity. Finally, I present a Monte Carlo experiment to test the reliability of the proposed command.
Syntelencephaly associated with cystic cochleovestibular malformations

A 3-month-old boy presented with bilateral profound hearing loss. Examination of ears was unremarkable. Brain MRI revealed syntelencephaly with associated other anomalies (figures 1 and 2).
Laboratory Observations on the Daily Oviposition Cycle in the Western Corn Rootworm

The effects of photoperiod on various biological phenomena in insects are well known. Relationships between photoperiod and behavior, reproduction, adult emergence, metabolism, diapause, and numerous other factors are receiving considerable attention. The reason for such studies is to better explain the response of an insect to its environment as related to light. Because photoperiod has significant effects on various life processes in insects, this study was undertaken to determine what effect photoperiod might play in regulating oviposition in the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera LeConte.
In-vivo blastocyst production and ovum yield among fertile women

We evaluated ova recovered from 13 fertile women undergoing uterine lavage for purposes of embryo donation, and assessed differences in blastocyst production and ovum yield among subjects. Six women produced 10 blastocysts during 31 insemination cycles (32%). Yet, despite undergoing at least four insemination cycles apiece, seven women produced no blastocysts in 52 lavage attempts. Comparing the ovum recovery rates between the blastocyst-producing and non-blastocyst-producing groups, we found the former more likely to yield ova (P less than or equal to 0.05), and more importantly 10 to 20 recovered ova were blastocysts. We conclude that donor fecundity is highly variable among fertile women, and that reproductive history alone does not predict ovum donor efficiency.
Identification,Determination and Analysis of Occupational Hazards in A Polyurethane Production Line

[Objective] To identify,determine and evaluate the occupational hazards generated in production and perfusion process of the polyurethane production line and provide evidence for the prevention and control of relative occupation diseases in related industries. [Methods]A production base of solar hot water tank was selected as our investigation object to find out the process,raw materials and accessories,product and by-product of polyurethane.The occupational hazards which existed in the polyurethane production line were identified and detected. [Results]Time weighted average concentration(CTWA)of MDI was 0.061 mg/m3 which exceeded the permissible concentration-time weighted average(PC-TWA);and the short-term exposure concentration of propylene oxide is 77.067 mg/m3,exceeding the permissible concentration-short term exposure limit(PC-STEL).The amount of ethylene oxide,acetone,and clearing acrylic tube process were all consistent with occupational health standards. [Conclusion]MDI and propylene oxide are the main occupational hazards to control in the production line of polyurethane.
Analysis of the errors from physician's prescription in our hospital in 2012

Objective To collect the error prescripitions of pediatrics in our hospital,analyze the reasons for errors,in order to detect the problems,and to develop appropriate measures to promote the safe and rational use of drugs. Methods Registered the errors of outpatient physician prescribing in our hospital from January to December in 2012 for statistical analysis. Results The error prescription in total 636. Error type,the number of drug undeserved appears most frequently,accounted for 30. 19%,and the highest error rate of the clinical department is the expert patient room,accounted for 29. 09%. Conclusion Physicians need to strengthen the expertise to consolidate and improve the level of rational drug. Pharmacists should be seriously strict accordance with the " four examinations ten pairs" the deployment of effective medication to ensure the safety of children.
Closure mechanisms of ventilated supercavities under steady and unsteady flows

The present work reports some interesting experimental results for ventilated supercavitation in steady and unsteady flows. First, a variety of closure modes obtained as a result of systematic variation in Froude number and air entrainment, are reported. The closure mechanisms were found to differ from the standard criterion reported in the literature. Further, the occurrence of a variety of stable and unstable closure mechanisms were discovered that have not been reported in the literature. Next, a hypothesis is presented to explain the cause behind these different closure mechanisms. The proposed hypothesis is then validated by synchronized high-speed imaging and pressure measurements inside and outside of the supercavity. These measurements show that the supercavity closure is a function of instantaneous cavitation number under unsteady flow conditions. (Research sponsored by Office of Naval Research, USA)
Comparative Effects of Subarachnoid Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Tetracaine-Procaine for Cesarean Delivery

Hyperbaric solutions of 0.75% bupivacaine (8.25% dextrose), and 1% tetracaine mixed with an equal volume of 10% procaine were compared in a double-blind study of 22 parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery and spinal anesthesia. The onset of sensory anesthesia and motor block was similar in the two groups. The maximal level of sensory anesthesia to pinprick was significantly higher after the use of the tetracaine-procaine mixture. The adequacy of anesthesia was similar in both groups as indicated by the lack of differences with regard to anesthetic supplementation between the groups. However, a significantly shorter duration of sensory anesthesia and motor blockade occurred in the group in which bupivacaine was employed. The incidence of hypotension was higher in those patients receiving the tetracaine-procaine mixture as indicated by the use of significantly higher total doses of ephedrine to maintain baseline blood pressure in this group. No differences in Apgar scores or blood gases were noted between the two groups of patients. This study suggests that hyperbaric 0.75% bupivacaine offers certain advantages over hyperbaric tetracaine-procaine when used in equal volumes for spinal anesthesia cesarean delivery.
Abstract 201: Tribble 3 as integrator of metabolic stresses during lung cancer progression

Introduction: Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) has been identified as a stress related gene. Recent studies reported the increased expression of TRIB3 in cancers and its correlation with the poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, other studies suggest TRIB3 as a tumor suppressor due to its inhibitory activities toward PI3K/Akt and Mek-Erk signaling. In the present study, we aim to investigate the expression of TRIB3 in lung cancer cells and whether it plays a role in lung cancer progression and responses toward chemotherapy. Methods: TRIB3 expression was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. A lentiviral vector was used to overexpress TRIB3 in lung cancer cells. Small hairpin RNA constructs targeting TRIB3 were used to deplete TRIB3 expression. A CRISPR-CAS9 construct with guiding sequence matching to TRIB3 gene was used to knock out its expression. Cell proliferation, survival, and migration were determined using standard techniques. Results: Through in silico analyses, we found that high level of TRIB3 RNA was associated with poor survival of lung cancer patients. In lung cancer cells (NCI-H358), TRIB3 expression was markedly stimulated during metabolic stresses or ER stresses. Overexpression of TRIB3 in cells led to decreased cell proliferation and increased arrest at G0/G1 phase, even when the cells were not under overt metabolic stresses. RT-qPCR analyses of cell cycle proteins revealed an upregulation of p27, a CDK inhibitor, in cells overexpressing TRIB3. Overexpression of TRIB3 reduced Akt phosphorylation at threonine 308. Depletion or knockout of TRIB3 led to increased cell growth but cells became more sensitive to stressors, leading to increased apoptotic cell death. Conclusion: Our study reveals complex roles of TRIB3 in lung cancer progression. Induced by metabolic stresses, TRIB3 can block cell cycle progression through p27 in adaptive responses. Further studies are needed to determine whether and how TRIB3 functions as a metabolic gatekeeper during lung cancer progression. Citation Format: Abeer Almiman, Jamila Adom, Yande Guo, Jiuhui Wang, Daotai Nie. Tribble 3 as integrator of metabolic stresses during lung cancer progression. [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 201.
Astigmatism corrected common path probe for optical coherence tomography.

Background and objectives Optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheters for intraluminal imaging are subject to various artifacts due to reference-sample arm dispersion imbalances and sample arm beam astigmatism. The goal of this work was to develop a probe that minimizes such artifacts. Materials and methods Our probe was fabricated using a single mode fiber at the tip of which a glass spacer and graded index objective lens were spliced to achieve the desired focal distance. The signal was reflected using a curved reflector to correct for astigmatism caused by the thin, protective, transparent sheath that surrounds the optics. The probe design was optimized using Zemax, a commercially available optical design software. Common path interferometric operation was achieved using Fresnel reflection from the tip of the focusing graded index objective lens. The performance of the probe was tested using a custom designed spectrometer-based OCT system. Results The probe achieved an axial resolution of 15.6 μm in air, a lateral resolution 33 μm, and a sensitivity of 103 dB. A scattering tissue phantom was imaged to test the performance of the probe for astigmatism correction. Images of the phantom confirmed that this common-path, astigmatism-corrected OCT imaging probe had minimal artifacts in the axial, and lateral dimensions. Conclusions In this work, we developed an astigmatism-corrected, common path probe that minimizes artifacts associated with standard OCT probes. This design may be useful for OCT applications that require high axial and lateral resolutions. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:312-318, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amicus Brief and Appendix of 15 Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, and Federal Courts Professors in Support of Appellant: Monk v. Mcdonald

This amicus brief defends the use of class actions and other aggregate procedures in "non-Article III courts" -- that is, legislative courts and administrative hearings, whose judges do not receive the salary and tenure protections described in Article III of the Constitution. The brief supports appellants' position in Monk v. McDonald, 15-7092 -- a case now pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit -- that such courts, like the Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims, may themselves hear class actions or use other aggregate procedures to promote efficiency, consistency and legal access in appropriate cases.
Stroke Due to Cerebral Vasculitis in a Patient with Relentless Placoid Chorioretinitis.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To report the first case of stroke in a patient with relentless placoid chorioretinitis.Methods: Observational case report.Results: A 20-year-old female with newly diagnosed relentless placoid chorioretinitis was urgently evaluated for unilateral paresthesias. She was found to have acute bilateral pontine strokes and cerebral vasculitis on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cerebral angiography.Conclusions: We report the first case of stroke due to cerebral vasculitis in a patient with relentless placoid chorioretinitis. This case emphasizes the need for timely evaluation of neurological symptoms in patients with this ocular diagnosis.
The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer

The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS), currently in Phase B, will be the 13th in NASA's Small Explorer series and is being developed for an April 2014 launch readiness date. Sensitive X-ray polarization measurements are enabled by advances in photoelectric polarimetry. This paper summarizes the scientific objectives and mission characteristics which exploit this advance.
Cyber Strategy & Policy: International Law Dimensions

Important international law questions for formulating cyber strategy and policy include whether and when a cyber-attack amounts to an “act of war,” or, more precisely, an “armed attack” triggering a right of self-defense, and how the international legal principle of “sovereignty” could apply to cyber activities. International law in this area is not settled. There is, however, ample room within existing international law to support a strong cyber strategy, including a powerful deterrent. The answers to many international law questions discussed below depend on specific, case-by-case facts, and are likely to be highly contested for a long time to come. This means that the United States should continue to exercise leadership in advancing interpretations that support its strategic interests, including its own operational needs, bearing in mind that we also seek rules that will effectively constrain the behaviors of others.
Somewhat Separate and Unequal: Digital Divides, Social Networking Sites, and Capital-Enhancing Activities:

As Internet use grows globally, the digital divide has shifted beyond concerns about access and adoption to more subtle questions of skill, usage, and capital, and to new venues such as social networking sites (SNSs). Do digital divides persist across adoption/non-adoption of SNSs, across different SNSs, and across different capital-enhancing activities used on those SNSs? The current study analyzes a context where social ties are more salient for resource access due to untrustworthy institutions, and large gaps exist between elites and non-elites. Demographic divides characterize the 31% of Armenian adults using two major SNSs in 2013: Facebook and Odnoklassniki. Facebook is used more for getting information, while Odnoklassniki more for gaming. However, the divides in SNS usage are much greater than in activity use, with implications for capital enhancement and stratification.
Nb2©Au6: a molecular wheel with a short NbNb triple bond coordinated by an Au6 ring and reinforced by σ aromaticity

We report a photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution photoelectron imaging study of a bimetallic Nb2Au6− cluster. Theoretical calculations, in conjunction with the experimental data, reveal that Nb2Au6−/0 possess high-symmetry D6h structures featuring a Nb–Nb axis coordinated equatorially by an Au6 ring. Chemical bonding analyses show that there are two π bonds and one σ bond in the Nb2 moiety in Nb2©Au6, as well as five totally delocalized σ bonds. The NbNb triple bond is strengthened significantly by the delocalized σ bonds, resulting in an extremely short Nb–Nb bond length comparable to the quintuple bond in gaseous Nb2. The totally delocalized σ bonding in Nb2©Au6 is reminiscent of σ aromaticity, representing a new bonding mode in metal–ligand systems. The unusually short Nb–Nb bond length in Nb2©Au6 shows that the Au6 ring can serve as a bridging ligand to facilitate multiple bonding in transition metal dimers via delocalized σ bonding.
Huggable: Impact of embodiment on promoting verbal and physical engagement for young pediatric inpatients

Children and their parents may undergo challenging experiences when admitted for in-patient care at pediatric hospitals. While most pediatric hospitals make an effort to provide socio-emotional support for patients and their families during care, such as with child life services, gaps still exist between professional resource supply and patient demand. There is an opportunity to apply interactive companion-like technologies as a way to augment and extend professional care teams. To explore the opportunity of social robots to augment child life services, we performed a randomized clinical trial at a local pediatric hospital to investigate how three different companion-like interventions (a plush toy, a virtual character on a screen, and a social robot) affected child-patients physical activity and social engagement — both linked to positive patient outcomes. We recorded video of patients, families and a certified child life specialist with each intervention to gather behavioral data. Our results suggest that children are the most physically and verbally engaged when interacting with the physically co-present social robot over time than the other two interventions. A post-study interview with child life specialists reveals their perspective on potential opportunities for social robots (and other companion-like interventions) to assist them with providing education, diversion, and companionship in the pediatric inpatient care context.
Clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and treatment outcomes of patients with culture positive endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty.

Abstract Purpose To report the clinical features organisms and treatment outcomes in patients with endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) Methods Retrospective noncomparative case series. Results Eleven eyes of 11 patients with culture positive endophthalmitis after PK were included. The time to diagnosis of endophthalmitis from last PK was less than 1 week in 3/11 (27%), between 1 and 4 weeks in 3/11 (27%), and greater than one month in 5/11 (46%) (range 2–924 days). The distribution of isolates included gram positive (GP) 9/11 (82%), gram negative (GN) 1/11 (9%), and fungal 1/11 (9%) species, respectively. Of GP bacteria tested, 9/9 (100%) were sensitive to Vancomycin. Of fungal isolates tested, none (0/1) were sensitive to Amphoteracin, Fluconazole, and/or Voriconazole. Among patients with rim culture data available, 1/7 (14%) donor rims were culture positive for Candida glabrata and 6/7 (86%) were culture negative. Patients were treated with primary tap and inject in 10/11 (91%) and primary vitrectomy in 1/11 (9%). VA of ≥5/200 was present in 2/11 (18%) at time of endophthalmitis diagnosis, and was recorded in 6/11 (55%) at last follow-up. Conclusions and Importance Patients with endophthalmitis after PK presented at variable time points after surgery. Gram positive organisms were the most common isolate. VA outcomes after treatment were generally poor.
THE RELATION BETWEEN SATISFACTION IN WORK, SATISFACTION IN FAMILY AND WORK LIFE BALANCE AMONG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN TIRUCHIRAPPALLI

In the competitive era of today, women have to battle hard to establish their individuality in the society, as well as in professional life. Work-life balance is the major problem in the life of working women. The study covers work-life balance of women entrepreneurs in tiruchirappalli. The researcher has examined the relation between satisfaction in work, satisfaction in family and work life balance among women entrepreneurs engaged in various activities.
Abstract 20435: Metabolomic Profiling of Adenylate Kinase AK1-/- and AK2+/- Transgenic Mice: Effect of Physical Stress

Introduction: Cytosolic and mitochondrial intermembrane adenylate kinase isoforms, AK1 and AK2, comprise an integrated metabolic monitoring system facilitating mitochondrial ATP export and delivery to cellular ATPases. Hearts with AK1 deficiency have compromised metabolic response to stress while AK2 transgenic mice have not been studied yet. Hypothesis: Here we tested hypothesis that stress metabolomic profiling of AK1 and AK2 genetic deficiencies will reveal alterations and biomarkers of compromised intracellular energetic communication and metabolic signaling. Methods: We have employed HPLC, GC/MS and 18 O-assisted 31 P NMR techniques to obtain metabolomic profile of plasma and heart extracts of AK1−/− and AK2+/− transgenic mice. Results: We generated AK2+/− transgenic mice while homozygous AK2−/− deficiency was embryonically lethal. Metabolic profiling revealed that WT and AK1−/− mice although have different basal plasma metabolic phenotype it diverge much more after treadmill exercise (Figure). Similarly AK2+/− mice have different plasma metabolic profile at baseline and separates further from WT after treadmill exercise (Figure). Among most significant plasma metabolites critical in the discrimination between AK1 and WT were β-hydroxybutyrate and amino acids such as tryptophan and lysine. AK1−/− mice hearts had lower βATP and βADP and higher G6P 18 O-labeling rates as well as higher levels of G6P, Fr1,6P and Pi. Among most significant plasma metabolites critical in the discrimination between WT and AK2+/− phenotype were adenosine, tyrosine, tryptophan and hypoxanthine. In AK2+/−hearts ATP depletion and AMPK activation during ischemia was greater compared to WT. Conclusion: Adenylate kinase AK2 isoform is vital for cell energetics and metabolic signaling and its deficiency causes embryonic lethality. Stress metabolic profiling reveals more significant differences in metabolic phenotype between WT and AK1−/− and AK2+/− transgenic mice.
Effect of baseline ovarian cysts on in vitro fertilization and gamete intrafallopian transfer cycles

The presence of ovarian cysts may compromise the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). We prospectively studied 212 consecutive ovulation induction cycles in 120 patients for IVF and/or GIFT. A baseline cyst was defined as any intraovarian cystic structure≥12mm noted on ultrasonography before superovulation. Cycle outcomes were compared between patients with cysts (n=62) versus those with no cysts (n=150). There were no differences in follicular or luteal phase lengths or amount of human menopausal gonadotropins used. Peak estradiol (E 2 ) levels were significantly lower and cancellation rates significantly higher in the cyst group. For noncanceled cycles, there were no significant differences in peak E 2 levels, the mean number of follicles≥12mm, mature oocytes retrieved, or ova transferred for GIFT or embryos for IVF. The pregnancy rates overall and for noncanceled cycles were not significantly different.