cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glycomacropeptide in children with phenylketonuria: does its phenylalanine content affect blood phenylalanine control?

Background In phenylketonuria (PKU), there are no data available for children with respect to evaluating casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP) as an alternative to phenylalanine-free protein substitutes [Phe-free L-amino acid (AA)]. CGMP contains a residual amount of phenylalanine, which may alter blood phenylalanine control. Methods In a prospective 6-month pilot study, we investigated the effect on blood phenylalanine control of CGMP-amino acid (CGMP-AA) protein substitute in 22 PKU subjects (13 boys, nine girls), median age (range) 11 years (6–16 years). Twelve received CGMP-AA and nine received Phe-free L-AA, (1 CGMP-AA withdrawal). Subjects partially or wholly replaced Phe-free L-AA with CGMP-AA. If plasma phenylalanine exceeded the target range, the CGMP-AA dose was reduced and replaced with Phe-free L-amino acids. The control group remained on Phe-free L-AAs. Phenylalanine, tyrosine and Phe : Tyr ratio concentrations were compared with the results for the previous year. Results In the CGMP-AA group, there was a significant increase in blood phenylalanine concentrations (pre-study, 275 μmol L−1; CGMP-AA, 317 μmol L−1; P = 0.02), a decrease in tyrosine concentrations (pre-study, 50 μmol L−1; CGMP-AA, 40 μmol L−1; P = 0.03) and an increase in Phe : Tyr ratios (pre-study, Phe : Tyr 1 : 5.5; CGMP-AA, Phe : Tyr 1 : 8; P = 0.02). Conclusions In the control group, there was a nonsignificant fall in phenylalanine concentrations (pre-study, 325 μmol L−1; study, 280 μmol L−1; P = 0.9) and no significant changes for tyrosine or Phe : Tyr ratios (P = 0.9). Children taking the CGMP-AA found it more acceptable to L-AA. Blood phenylalanine control declined with CGMP-AA but, by titrating the dose of CGMP-AA, blood phenylalanine control remained within target range. The additional intake of phenylalanine may have contributed to the change in blood phenylalanine concentration. CGMP-AA use requires careful monitoring in children.
Pathology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is made through collaboration between gastroenterologist and pathologist. Geared towards the clinician and pathologist in training, the following chapter focuses specifically on the microscopic and macroscopic features that define both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In addition to presenting the classic histopathologic features of IBD, pertinent clinical and histologic mimics within the differential diagnosis are discussed in detail. Finally, as IBD is a chronic disease, it is important to extend the discussion beyond differential diagnostic considerations to issues concerning disease progression and treatment related complications. Emphasis is placed on communication within the team of pathologists and clinicians to facilitate optimal patient care.
Defect mechanisms of coloration in Fe-doped SrTiO3 from first principles

To understand the underlying defect mechanisms governing the coloration of Fe-doped SrTiO3 (Fe:STO), density functional theory calculations were used to determine defect formation energies and to interpret optical absorption spectra. A grand canonical defect equilibrium model was developed using the calculated formation energies, which enabled connection to annealing experiments. It was found that Fe Ti 0 is stable in oxidizing conditions and leads to the optical absorption signatures in oxidized Fe:STO, consistent with experiment. Fe:STO was found to transition from brown to transparent as P O 2 was reduced during annealing. The defect equilibrium model reproduces a consistent P O 2 of this coloration transition. Most critical to reproducing the P O 2 of the coloration transition was inclusion of a Fe Ti - V O first nearest neighbor complex, which was found to be strongly interacting. The coloration transition P O 2 was found to be insensitive to the presence of minority background impurities, slightly s...
An exploratory analysis of the notable activities of U.S. child death review teams.

Child death review teams (CDRTs) focus on the prevention of child deaths, but a comprehensive understanding of their activities is lacking. This exploratory study addressed this gap through a qualitative analysis of reported CDRT activities using the "spectrum of prevention" framework. We collected state-level CDRT reports published 2006-2015, recorded their activities (n = 193), and coded them using the "spectrum of prevention" framework. The highest percentage (64.2%) of activities was categorized under "fostering coalitions and networks." We recommend that CDRTs increase their reporting of activities so others can better understand their potential impact on preventing child deaths.
Rebound mechanics of micrometre-scale, spherical particles in high-velocity impacts

The impact mechanics of micrometre-scale metal particles with flat metal surfaces is investigated for high-velocity impacts ranging from 50 m s −1 to more than 1 km s −1 , where impact causes predominantly plastic deformation. A material model that includes high strain rate and temperature effects on the yield stress, heat generation due to plasticity, material damage due to excessive plastic strain and heat transfer is used in the numerical analysis. The coefficient of restitution e is predicted by the classical work using elastic–plastic deformation analysis with quasi-static impact mechanics to be proportional to V i − 1 / 4 and V i − 1 / 2 for the low and moderate impact velocities that span the ranges of 0–10 and 10–100 m s −1 , respectively. In the elastic–plastic and fully plastic deformation regimes the particle rebound is attributed to the elastic spring-back that initiates at the particle–substrate interface. At higher impact velocities (0.1–1 km s −1 ) e is shown to be proportional to approximately V i − 1 . In this deeply plastic deformation regime various deformation modes that depend on plastic flow of the material including the time lag between the rebound instances of the top and bottom points of particle and the lateral spreading of the particle are identified. In this deformation regime, the elastic spring-back initiates subsurface, in the substrate.
Family and cultural protective factors as the bedrock of resilience and growth for Indigenous women who have experienced violence

Despite Indigenous women in the United States experiencing elevated rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), little is known about family resilience and relevant protective factors, particularly t...
Hypochondroplasia and epilepsy: the neurological spectrum of FGFR3 mutations

Hypochondroplasia is a disorder caused by FGFR3 mutations, commonly featuring short limbs and stature. Thanatophoric dysplasia, achondroplasia and Muenke syndrome are genetically related conditions with skeletal dysplasia and temporal lobe dysgenesis. We present a 6-month old boy with hypochondroplasia and epilepsy. His brain MRI revealed bilateral temporal lobe dysplasia, with redundant sulci and a rotated hippocampus. The neuroimaging findings of our case provide direct insight in the pathogenesis of the cerebral dysgenesis in FGFR3-related disorders. In addition, through this case we review the neurological spectrum of FGFR3 mutations.
Measurement Characteristics of the Knowledge Assessment of Renal Transplantation.

Background.Kidney transplant is the best treatment for most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, but proportionally few ESRD patients receive kidney transplant. To make an informed choice about whether to pursue kidney transplant, patients must be knowledgeable of its risks and benefits. To reli
Structural Integrity and Residual Strength of Composites Exposed to Fire

The compressive response of an axially restrained composite column, which is exposed to a heat flux due to fire is studied by both analytical and experimental means. The column is exposed to fire from one-side and an analytical approach is outlined for the resulting heat damage, the charred layer formation and non-uniform transient temperature distribution. Due to the nonuniform stiffness and the effect of the ensuing thermal moment, the structure behaves like an imperfect column, and responds by bending rather than buckling in the classical Euler (bifurcation) sense. In order to verify the mechanical response, the compressive buckling behavior of the same material subjected to simultaneous high intensity surface heating and axial compressive loading were investigated experimentally in a specially designed cone calorimeter. Experiments on the residual compressive strength following exposure to fire are also conducted for a range of heat fluxes and exposure times.
Urbanization exacerbated the rainfall and flooding caused by hurricane Harvey in Houston.

Category 4 landfalling hurricane Harvey poured more than a metre of rainfall across the heavily populated Houston area, leading to unprecedented flooding and damage. Although studies have focused on the contribution of anthropogenic climate change to this extreme rainfall event1-3, limited attention has been paid to the potential effects of urbanization on the hydrometeorology associated with hurricane Harvey. Here we find that urbanization exacerbated not only the flood response but also the storm total rainfall. Using the Weather Research and Forecast model-a numerical model for simulating weather and climate at regional scales-and statistical models, we quantify the contribution of urbanization to rainfall and flooding. Overall, we find that the probability of such extreme flood events across the studied basins increased on average by about 21 times in the period 25-30 August 2017 because of urbanization. The effect of urbanization on storm-induced extreme precipitation and flooding should be more explicitly included in global climate models, and this study highlights its importance when assessing the future risk of such extreme events in highly urbanized coastal areas.
Feast and Famine: Resource scarcity, slack, and digital infrastructure innovation

As digital infrastructures continue to have an expanded role in contemporary society, organizations are interested in innovating the technologies and practices that comprise digital infrastructure....
Biomedical applications and biomaterial delivery strategies of growth factors

Abstract Growth factors in living organisms are essential for cell communications among other things. Because of their importance, many growth factors have been used as therapeutics for tissue regeneration or disease treatments. For example, vascular permeability factor and transforming growth factor were observed to promote the wound healing process, while the insulin-like growth factor-1 and some growth factors can treat traumatic brain injury. Targeting the insulin-like growth factor system is a promising method in cancer treatment due to their specific functions in cell growth and cell survival. However, most growth factors have low stability in vivo and short half-life as therapeutics because they are proteins or peptides. These growth factors perform specific functions on different tissues, therefore, some adverse side-effects may happen if not applied directly to the desired cells or tissues. Hence, different biomaterials including natural or synthetic polymers, inorganic materials, hydrogel, and bio-inspired materials were developed by researchers to overcome the issues of delivery specificity of the growth factors. In this chapter, we will discuss the biomedical applications of growth factors and their biomaterial delivery strategies.
WaterOpen image in new window

Water is abundant in all living things and, consequently, is in almost all foods, unless steps have been taken to remove it. It is essential for life, even though it contributes no calories to the diet. Water also greatly affects the texture of foods, as can be seen when comparing grapes and raisins (dried grapes), or fresh and wilted lettuce. It gives crisp texture or turgor to fruits and vegetables, and it also affects perception of the tenderness of meat. For some food products, such as potato chips, salt, or sugar, lack of water is an important aspect of their quality, and keeping water out of such foods is important to maintain quality.
Effect of controlled drainage on nitrogen fate and transport for a subsurface drained grass field receiving liquid swine lagoon effluent.

Abstract Application of livestock manure has become a principal nutrient source in groundwater and surface water. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of controlled drainage (CD) on nitrogen (N) fate and transport for a subsurface drained grass field receiving liquid swine lagoon effluent (SLE). A four-year field experiment was conducted on a naturally poorly drained pasture in eastern North Carolina. The 1.25 ha experimental field was artificially drained by subsurface drains installed at 1.0 m depth and 12.5 m spacing. Two treatments, replicated twice were implemented: conventional drainage (FD) and CD. The CD management protocol was more intensive compared to previous studies. The drain outlets of CD plot were set at 36 cm below soil surface all year round except several days before irrigation application when water table depth was shallower than 65 cm below surface. Controlled drainage significantly reduced drainage flow and TN loading via subsurface drain lines by an average of 397 mm yr−1 (93%) and 34.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (94%), respectively. DRAINMOD hydrologic simulations indicated that 96% of the reduction in predicted drain flow was attributed to increased lateral seepage. The nitrogen that did not drain from the field in response to CD was lost via enhanced denitrification (67%) and lateral seepage to adjacent fields (33%). This study clearly demonstrated how CD management affects the N fate and transport through seepage and denitrification process.
The Effect of Non-Normality on the Control Limits of X-Bar Charts

The setting of limits on X-bar control charts, as well as other techniques employed in industrial statistics, are based on an assumption of normality justified by the central limit theorem. The theorem essentially states that, under general conditions, ..
Quadrature-Based Nonlinear Joint Probabilistic Data Association Filter

This paper deals with the coupled problem of data association and nonlinear estimation for enhanced Space Situational Awareness (SSA) applications. High-order quadrature methods are used to impleme...
Results from a differential equation model for cell motion with random switching show that the model cell velocity is asymptotically independent of force

Abstract Numerical simulations suggest that average velocity of a biological cell depends largely on attachment dynamics and less on the forces exerted by the cell. We determine the relationship between two models of cell motion, one based on finite spring constants modeling attachment properties (a randomly switched differential equation) and a limiting case (a centroid model-a generalized random walk) where spring constants are infinite. We prove the main result of this paper, the Expected Velocity Relationship theorem. This result shows that the expected value of the difference between cell locations in the differential equation model at the initial time and at some elapsed time is proportional to the elapsed time. We also show that the relationship is time invariant. Numerical results show the model is consistent with experimental data.
Rapid Characterization and Modeling of Natural and Undefined Charge-Regulated Surfaces in Aqueous Systems.

The surfaces of most materials in aqueous systems are charged due to the ionization of surface functional groups. When these surfaces interact, the surface charge, electrostatic potential, and pH will vary as a function of separation distance, and this process is termed the charge-regulation effect. Charge regulation is a controlling factor in the adhesion and transport of colloids and microorganisms in aqueous systems, and its modeling requires representation of the pH–charge response of the surfaces, typically provided as the equilibrium constants (K) and site densities (N) of the dominant surface functional groups. Existing methods for obtaining these parameters demonstrate shortcomings when applied to many natural and man-made materials, such as weathered materials, materials with undefined or complex surface structures, and permeable materials, and for materials that do not provide the requisite high surface area in suspension due to small sample sizes. This hinders inclusion of the charge-regulation...
Design and Analysis of Highly Non-linear Dispersion Compensating Photonic Crystal Fiber using Square-Lattice Geometry

In this paper a silica based all circular air holes photonic crystal fiber is proposed to obtain extremely high negative dispersion and large nonlinearity. By the help of finite element method (FEM) with perfectly matched boundary layer (PML), the light guiding properties of the proposed S-PCF is being studied. Four smallest air holes placed in the gap between two conjugative air holes of the vertex which is also the very first layer closing to center. The proposed highly nonlinear dispersion compensating fiber shows that it is possible to obtain an ultrahigh nonlinearity of 117.3 W−1 km−1 and ultrahigh negative dispersion of −1672 ps/(nm.km) at 1550nm wavelength by adopting a smallest number of design parameters. This S-PCF is structured with only circular holes of air which favors us with simple fabrication process. And this S-PCF is advisable for optical back propagation (OBP) pattern due to its highest values and most targetable PCF properties which is also appropriate for long transmission data link of Fiber optics.
Spontaneous Regression Followed by Rupture of an Untreated Brain Arteriovenous Malformation.

Background Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are dynamic lesions. Unlike the recruitment of additional vessels and the growth of the nidus over time, which are well reported in the literature, spontaneous regression is much less frequent. Only a handful of cases reporting recanalization of spontaneously regressed AVMs have been published. AVMs that undergo spontaneous regression typically share structural and historical features, including previous hemorrhage, a small nidus, superficial venous drainage, and a single draining vein. Structural features and hemodynamic changes may predispose brain AVMs to spontaneous regression, and angiogenic processes are hypothesized to contribute to recanalization and hemorrhage. Case Description We present the case of a 37-year-old female who had been diagnosed 12 years ago with an unruptured Spetzler-Martin grade 3 AVM in the left medial occipital lobe after a history of progressively worsening migraines. The AVM was monitored for 1 year, but the patient was lost to follow-up until 11 years later, when the AVM nidus was found to be significantly smaller in size. One month later, the patient presented with acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage due to rupture of the AVM, which was then surgically resected. Conclusions Our case is the second reported case of rupture of a spontaneously regressed AVM and the first reported case of this outcome with no history of previous hemorrhage. Close monitoring of brain AVMs may be warranted for longer periods of time than previously recommended.
End-to-End Continual Rare-Class Recognition with Emerging Novel Subclasses

Given a labeled dataset that contains a rare (or minority) class containing of-interest instances, as well as a large class of instances that are not of interest, how can we learn to recognize future of-interest instances over a continuous stream? The setting is different from traditional classification in that instances from novel minority subclasses might continually emerge over time—and hence is often referred as continual, life-long, or open-world classification. We introduce RaRecognize, which (i) estimates a general decision boundary between the rare class and the majority class, (ii) learns to recognize the individual rare subclasses that exist within the training data, as well as (iii) flags instances from previously unseen rare subclasses as newly emerging (i.e., novel). The learner in (i) is general in the sense that by construction it is dissimilar to the specialized learners in (ii), thus distinguishes minority from the majority without overly tuning to what is only seen in the training data. Thanks to this generality, RaRecognize ignores all future instances that it labels as majority and recognizes the recurring as well as emerging rare subclasses only. This saves effort at test time as well as ensures that the model size grows moderately over time as it only maintains specialized minority learners. Overall, we build an end-to-end system which consists of (1) a representation learning component that transforms data instances into suitable vector inputs; (2) a continual classifier that labels incoming instances as majority (not of interest), rare recurrent, or rare emerging; and (3) a clustering component that groups the rare emerging instances into novel subclasses for expert vetting and model re-training. Through extensive experiments, we show that RaRecognize outperforms state-of-the art baselines on three real-world datasets that contain documents related to corporate-risk and (natural and man-made) disasters as rare classes.
Hip joint pathology among men referred to urology for chronic orchialgia: A source for misdiagnosis and opportunity for quality improvement

Abstract Objective To evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ipsilateral hip(s) as part of the workup of men with chronic orchialgia (CO). Methods Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was performed from a single surgeon database of all men with a diagnosis of CO from June 2018 to October 2019 who underwent subsequent hip MRI evaluation. Results Ten men were identified. Median age was 51 years and median duration of pain was 10 months. MRI was obtained after testis pathology was ruled out. Pain was noted in the groin (100%) and hip (50%). Hip MRI identified overt labral tears in 8 men (10/12 hips evaluated, 83%) and labral fraying in the remaining 2 (16.7%). Standard plain film radiography was performed in 6 men prior to MRI, all of which were negative. Following MRI, 5 men underwent hip injection with steroid and local analgesic with lasting resolution (2 men) or significant improvement in pain (2 men; 80%, follow-up 3-15 months). Two men had complete resolution of pain with 8 weeks of physical therapy. Conclusion Hip MRI has a high rate of diagnosis of labral tear in appropriately selected men referred to the urologist for CO. Identification of orthopedic pathology may avoid unnecessary antibiotics, opiates, or urological surgery. Referrals to orthopedics and/or physical therapy for intervention may lead to resolution of pain.
Effects From Nonuniform Dose Distribution in the Spinal Nerves of Pigs: Analysis of Normal Tissue Complication Probability Models.

Purpose Our purpose was to evaluate normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models for their ability to describe the increase in tolerance as the length of irradiated spinal nerve is reduced in a pig. Methods and Materials Common phenomenological and semimechanistic NTCP models were fit using the maximum likelihood estimate method to dose-response data from spinal nerve irradiation studies in pigs. Statistical analysis was used to compare how well each model fit the data. Model parameters were then applied to a previously published dose distribution used for spinal cord irradiation in rats under the assumption of a similar dose-response. Results The Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model, relative seriality, and critical volume model fit the spinal nerve data equally well, but the mean dose logistic and relative seriality models gave the best fit after penalizing for the number of model parameters. The minimum dose logistic regression model was the only model showing a lack of fit. When extrapolated to a 0.5-cm simulated square-wave–like dose distribution, the serial behaving models showed negligible increase in dose-response curve. The Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model and relative seriality models showed significant shifting of NTCP curves due to parallel behaving parameters. The critical volume model gave the closest match to the rat data. Conclusions Several phenomenological and semimechanistic models were observed to adequately describe the increase in the radiation tolerance of the spinal nerves when changing the irradiated length from 1.5 to 0.5 cm. Contrary to common perception, model parameters suggest parallel behaving tissue architecture. Under the assumption that the spinal nerve response to radiation is similar to that of the spinal cord, only the critical volume model was robust when extrapolating to outcome data from a 0.5-cm square-wave–like dose distribution, as was delivered in rodent spinal cord irradiation research.
Mechanism of Na-K-ATPase Inhibition by PGE2 in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

The primary means of intestinal absorption of nutrients by villus cells is via Na-dependent nutrient co-transporters located in the brush border membrane (BBM). These secondary active co-transport processes require a favorable transcellular Na gradient that is provided by Na-K-ATPase. In chronic enteritis, malabsorption of essential nutrients is partially due to inhibition of villus Na-K-ATPase activity mediated by specific immune inflammatory mediators that are known to be elevated in the inflamed mucosa. However, how Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a specific mediator of nutrient malabsorption in the villus BBM, may mediate the inhibition of Na-K-ATPase is not known. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of PGE2 on Na-K-ATPase in villus cells and define its mechanism of action. In vitro, in IEC-18 cells, PGE2 treatment significantly reduced Na-K-ATPase activity, accompanied by a significant increase in the intracellular levels of cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP). The treatment with cAMP analog 8-Bromo-cAMP mimicked the PGE2-mediated effect on Na-K-ATPase activity, while Rp-cAMP (PKA inhibitor) pretreatment reversed the same. The mechanism of inhibition of PGE2 was secondary to a transcriptional reduction in the Na-K-ATPase α1 and β1 subunit genes, which was reversed by the Rp-cAMP pretreatment. Thus, the PGE2-mediated activation of the PKA pathway mediates the transcriptional inhibition of Na-K-ATPase activity in vitro.
The impact of costly regulation on R&D investment levels and productivity

Abstract Prior research finds that risk-taking has declined after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, consistent with the notion that SOX's corporate governance and internal control mandates diverted resources away from corporate risk-taking. We introduce to the accounting literature a new measure of R&D productivity, Research Quotient, to examine whether SOX affects R&D risk-taking and R&D productivity differently and whether the quality of the firm's governance and internal controls, pre-SOX, moderate these relations. While we find the relation between SOX and R&D risk-taking is sensitive to research design choices, we find a consistent positive relation between SOX and Research Quotient. Our evidence indicates that while firms may allocate fewer resources to R&D post-SOX, they concurrently manage their R&D investments more productively. Further, our results are robust to a difference-in-difference design and are stronger for firms with weaker governance pre-SOX.
Single-Molecule Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 5’ Cap Recognition by Human eIF4F

Coronaviruses initiate translation through recognition of the viral RNA 5' m 7 GpppA m cap by translation factor eIF4F. eIF4F is a heterotrimeric protein complex with cap-binding, RNA-binding, and RNA helicase activities. Modulating eIF4F function through cellular regulation or small-molecule inhibition impacts coronavirus replication, including for SARS-CoV-2. Translation initiation involves highly coordinated dynamics of translation factors with messenger or viral RNA. However, how the eIF4F subunits coordinate on the initiation timescale to define cap-binding efficiency remains incompletely understood. Here we report that translation supported by the SARS-CoV-2 5'-UTR is highly sensitive to eIF4A inhibition by rocaglamide. Through a single-molecule fluorescence approach that reports on eIF4E-cap interaction, we dissect how eIF4F subunits contribute to cap-recognition efficiency on the SARS-CoV-2 5' UTR. We find that free eIF4A enhances cap accessibility for eIF4E binding, but eIF4G alone does not change the kinetics of eIF4E-RNA interaction. Conversely, formation of the full eIF4F complex significantly alters eIF4E-cap interaction, suggesting that coordinated eIF4E and eIF4A activities establish the net eIF4F-cap recognition efficiency. Moreover, the eIF4F complex formed with phosphomimetic eIF4E(S209D) binds the viral UTR more efficiently than with wild-type eIF4E. These results highlight a dynamic interplay of eIF4F subunits and mRNA that determines cap-recognition efficiency.
Causal Inference in Educational Systems: A Graphical Modeling Approach.

Educational systems have traditionally been evaluated using cross-sectional studies, namely, examining a pretest, posttest, and single intervention. Although this is a popular approach, it does not model valuable information such as confounding variables, feedback to students, and other real-world deviations of studies from ideal conditions. Moreover, learning inherently is a sequential process and should involve a sequence of interventions. In this paper, we propose various experimental and quasi-experimental designs for educational systems and quantify them using the graphical model and directed acyclic graph (DAG) language. We discuss the applications and limitations of each method in education. Furthermore, we propose to model the education system as time-varying treatments, confounders, and time-varying treatments-confounders feedback. We show that if we control for a sufficient set of confounders and use appropriate inference techniques such as the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) or g-formula, we can close the backdoor paths and derive the unbiased causal estimate of joint interventions on the outcome. Finally, we compare the g-formula and IPTW performance and discuss the pros and cons of using each method.
The pterygoid hamulus: A consideration in the diagnosis of posterior palatal lesions

Abstract Anatomic variations of the pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone may be related to lesions observed in the posterior palatal mucosa. A review of the clinical course of several such lesions is presented. Clinical investigation of the pterygoid hamular region was undertaken in 60 dental patients, and management of the symptoms in this area in one of these patients is described. Various conditions which may affect the pathogenesis of lesions in the pterygoid hamular area are discussed, with emphasis on the significance of the hamulus as an aid in the diagnosis of such lesions.
Small-interfering RNA-mediated identification and regulation of the ternary SNARE complex mediating RBL-2H3 mast cell degranulation.

Dysregulation of mast cell function contributes to allergic and autoimmune disease that affects more than 70 million persons in the United States alone. Identifying novel mast cell targets that mediate disease or disease progression is required for the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of allergy/asthma and autoimmune disease. RNA interference technologies offer hope both as basic research tools for target identification and as potential, novel, specific therapeutics. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins that have been postulated to mediate the transport and fusion of inflammatory mediator-laden vesicles to the membrane in mast cells leading to their subsequent exocytosis. The functional role(s) of specific SNARE family member complexes in mast cell degranulation has not been fully elucidated. Here, we characterize the functional importance of SNARE complexes in FceRI receptor-mediated degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells utilizing RNA interference. We demonstrate that ternary SNARE complexes of synaptosomal-associated protein-23, Syntaxin 4 and vesicle-associated membrane protein-7 (VAMP-7) or VAMP-8 are directly involved in mast cell degranulation. Additionally, we evaluate the siRNAs directed against these molecules as potential therapeutic agents for disease intervention. These studies have identified specific SNARE proteins and complexes that serve as novel targets for the development of siRNA therapies to treat allergic and autoimmune disease.
The effects of receiving supplemental formula from WIC on a mother’s decision to discontinue breastfeeding (1016.7)

WIC participants have breastfeeding initiation and duration rates lower than non-participants possibly due to the formula provided by WIC. The main objective of this study was to determine the impa...
Challenges to deep brain stimulation: a pragmatic response to ethical, fiscal, and regulatory concerns

In response to the early success of deep brain stimulation, we offer some common-sense strategies to sustain the work, addressing the need to do so in a fiscally workable, ethically transparent, and scientifically informed manner. After delineating major threats, we will suggest reforms in both the legislative and regulatory spheres that might remediate these challenges. We will recommend (1) revisions to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which governs intellectual property exchange resulting from federally funded research; (2) revisions to the Association of American Medical Colleges recommendations concerning the management of conflicts of interest when scientists with an intellectual property interest participate in clinical research in tandem; (3) revisions to the Food and Drug Administration's pre-market approval process for new devices, including a proposal for a mini-investigational device exemption; and (4) the establishment of a public-private partnership to build ethical and sustainable synergies between the scientific community, industry, and government that would foster discovery and innovation.
Comparison of subcutaneous and intravenous secretin in man.

Five male patients without upper gastrointestinal disease were given secretin (Gastrointestinal Hormone Laboratories, Stockholm, Sweden), 3 units per kg intravenously on one occasion and subcutaneously on another. The pancreatic response during the 3 hr after injection was almost the same with intravenous and subcutaneous administration. The volume flow and bicarbonate output remained at nearly peak levels for 2 hr following injection of secretin by either route. In the dog the pancreatic response following intravenous secretin was more transient than the response observed in man. The subcutaneous route of administration is an effective and practical method for the injection of purified secretin in man.
Crossover effect over penalty methods in function optimization with constraints

One of the most common and versatile techniques for coping with constraints consists of the penalty of the solutions whose variables do not fulfill the constraints. The genetic algorithm (GA) is one of the main tools used for the optimization of functions with constraints. In this context the crossover operator must tend to generate individuals within or near the feasible region in order to converge to useful solutions. In this work we make an analysis of the influence of the crossover operator in this kind of problems. We have used a test set that includes functions with linear and nonlinear constraints. The results confirm the importance of the crossover operator.
Quantum Mechanics as an Exotic Probability Theory

Recent results suggest that quantum mechanical phenomena may be interpreted as a failure of standard probability theory and may be described by a Bayesian complex probability theory.
Immunological function of Blimp-1 in dendritic cells and relevance to autoimmune diseases

Previous studies have identified the immunological functions of transcription factor B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) in various adaptive immune cell types such as T and B lymphocytes. More recently, it has been shown that Blimp-1 extends its functional roles to dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, two cell types belonging to the innate immune system. The protein acts as a direct and indirect regulator of target genes by recruiting chromatin modification factors and by regulating microRNA expression, respectively. In DCs, Blimp-1 has been identified as one of the components involved in antigen presentation. Genome-wide association studies identified polymorphisms associated with multiple autoimmune diseases such as system lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease in PRDM1, the gene encoding Blimp-1 protein. In this review, we will discuss the immune regulatory functions of Blimp-1 in DCs with a main focus on the tolerogenic mechanisms of Blimp-1 required to protect against the development of autoimmune diseases.
Transfacial transclival approach for midline posterior circulation aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the use of an anterior, transfacial transclival approach to midline posterior circulation aneurysms in five patients. SURGICAL APPROACH : A skin incision is made on the right side of the nose with subsequent bony and cartilaginous disarticulation of the nasal complex. The nose remains attached along the left side and is reflected laterally. Removal of the nasal septum and bilateral ethmoidectomy, medial maxillectomy (usually bilateral), and opening of the sphenoid yield a large triangular exposure of the anterior clivus. After removal of the clivus with a drill, the vertebral and basilar arteries are exposed through a midline dural opening. RESULTS : The approach provided excellent exposure of basilar artery trunk aneurysms with room available for temporary clip placement in three patients. In a fourth patient, a midline posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm was clipped using this technique. A basilar trunk dissection was treated by proximal basilar occlusion through this exposure in a fifth patient. Although three patients developed transient cerebrospinal fluid leaks with symptoms of meningitis, no permanent neurological morbidity resulted from the use of the approach. CONCLUSION : The transfacial transclival approach to midline aneurysms of the basilar trunk and its branches provided excellent exposure for surgical treatment in five patients. No patient had postoperative palatal dysfunction and cosmetic results were excellent. Cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis continue to be the major drawbacks to the use of this approach, although the availability of modern broad-spectrum antibiotics lessens the chance of permanent neurological sequelae.
Computed Tomographic Evaluation of the Optic Canal in Sudden Traumatic Blindness

Using computed tomographic scans and reformatted images of the optic canal region, we were able to define osseous abnormalities in nine patients with sudden traumatic blindness resulting from indirect trauma to the optic nerve. Six patients had optic canal fractures, two had fractures of adjacent structures, and one patient did not have a fracture. Patients received corticosteroid therapy, surgical decompression of the optic canal, both types of treatment, or no specific treatment for the nerve injury. Although there was no correlation between the abnormality identified by computed tomography and treatment results, our findings provided further evidence that a canal fracture is not necessary for injury of the optic nerve to occur. We recommend that patients with sudden visual loss after blunt head trauma undergo a computed tomographic scan of the optic canal region.
Legislative profits and the economic theory of representative voting: An empirical investigation

The statistical findings of this study support the economic theory of representative voting. In general, producer and consumer groups influence representative voting behavior as expected. The findings suggest that legislators act “rationally” when confronted by competing lobbying groups. The consistently positive and highly significant influence of MSB share which serves to measure MSB influencerelative to the other bank groups indicates that legislators appear to consider opportunity costs in their decision-making calculus.
Embedded antichains in tournaments

Abstract The maximum antichain cardinality (MACC) of a tournament is the maximum number of incomparable subtournaments of T. We establish some properties of MACC. We describe all tournaments whose MACC is 1 or 2, show that MACC can grow exponentially with the size of the vertex set of a tournament, and present some questions for further investigation.
Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution of M 2+ : Vacancy Pairs in Compensated fcc Lattice

Coulomb interactions in the face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice are exemplified by the interactions of ${M}^{2+}$ impurity ions with their charge compensation vacancies in alkali halides. At low temperatures and high dilution, the canonical ensemble partition function leads to a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution in the distance of separations of the ${M}^{2+}$: vacancy pairs, which can be calculated in terms of the geometric restrictions of the fcc lattice. The most predominant pairs, in the order of their relative importance, are ${C}_{4v}$ (2,0,0), ${C}_{s}$ (2,1,1,), ${C}_{2v}$ (1,1,0), ${C}_{2v}$ (2,2,0), ${C}_{s}$ (3,1,0), ${C}_{1}$ (3,2,1), ${C}_{3v}$ (2,2,2), and ${C}_{4v}$ (4,0,0). The calculated distribution is compared with optical Zeeman and spin-resonance spectroscopic observations in the KCl: ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{2+}$ and KCl: ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ systems.
Human T cell transcription factor GATA-3 stimulates HIV-1 expression

A family of transcriptional activating proteins, the GATA factors, has been shown to bind to a consensus motif through a highly conserved C4 zinc finger DNA binding domain. One member of this multigene family, GATA-3, is most abundantly expressed in T lymphocytes, a cellular target for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and replication. In vitro DNase I footprinting analysis revealed six hGATA-3 binding sites in the U3 region (the transcriptional regulatory domain) of the HIV-1 LTR. Cotransfection of an hGATA-3 expression plasmid with a reporter plasmid whose transcription is directed by the HIV-1 LTR resulted in 6- to 10-fold stimulation of LTR-mediated transcription, whereas site specific mutation of these GATA sites resulted in virtual abrogation of the activation by hGATA-3. Further, deletion of the hGATA-3 transcriptional activation domain abolished GATA-dependent HIV-1 trans-activation, showing that the stimulation of viral transcription observed is a direct effect of cotransfected hGATA-3. Introduction of the HIV-1 plasmids in which the GATA sites have been mutated into human T lymphocytes also caused a significant reduction in LTR-mediated transcription at both the basal level and in (PHA- plus PMA-) stimulated T cells. These observations suggest that in addition to its normal role in T lymphocyte gene regulation, hGATA-3 may also play a significant role in HIV-1 transcriptional activation.
Escape probability and transience for SLE

We give estimates for the probability that a chordal, radial or two-sided radial SLE$_\kappa$ curve retreats far from its terminal point after coming close to it, for $\kappa \le 4$. The estimates are uniform over all initial segments of the curve, and are sharp up to a universal constant.
Can configuration entropy losses be predicted from the binding affinities of hydrogen-bonded complexes with varying numbers of single bonds?

The design of new supramolecular complexes often depends on reducing entropic contributions to improve binding. However, few studies provide reliable values for the cost of entropic contributions. Here, the binding affinities of a series of six α,ω-diamides to α,ω-dicarboxylates are calculated using a predominant states method and an implicit solvent model based upon finite difference solutions of the Poisson−Boltzmann equation. The calculations are able to reproduce the observed increase in binding free energy as the number of single bonds increases. However, calculations show that the increase in binding free energy is not due to an increase in entropy. Instead, the increase is due to the changing ability of the α,ω-diamides to form internal hydrogen bonds that must be disrupted to bind to the dicarboxylate receptors. This suggests that interpreting experimental free-energy trends to give rotational entropy contributions may be problematic.
Building successful internships: lessons from the research for interns, schools, and employers

Purpose – “What kinds of internships are possible?” “How should we decide whether to utilize internships, and if so, how can we ensure they will pay off?” The purpose of this paper is to help answer these key questions facing talent management professionals, educators, and interns. Design/methodology/approach – This is achieved by reviewing the scattered literature to distill the lessons regarding internships for each of these stakeholders. First, the paper better defines internships through enumerating 11 key dimensions, helping give all internship stakeholders a common language to clarify communication. Second, the paper synthesizes and lists the potential benefits and costs/pitfalls of internships for interns, schools, and employers to provide a fuller view of internships from all stakeholder perspectives. Third, the paper summarizes recommendations to help stakeholders maximize the actual benefits obtained from internships while minimizing the costs and avoiding common pitfalls. Findings – Many benefi...
A note on the straightening law for the symplectic group

A Berele has shown that the symplectic tableaux of R. C. King and N. G. I. El-Sharkaway form a basis of the Schur modules for the symplectic group over a field of characteristic zero. The purpose of this note is to extend the previous result to the characteristic-free case by exhibiting a suitable straightening law.
Extended Equations of Long Waves

The Hamiltonian form of the Benney system can be naturally extended by the addition of the free-surface velocity. A natural Hamiltonian of the extended Hamiltonian structure produces an integrable system, whose dispersive analog, an extension of the Dispersive Water Waves system, is also integrable.
Electronic structure of hydrogen- and alkali-metal-vacancy complexes in silicon

We have applied the self-consistent-field scattered-wave $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ cluster method to the substitutional group-I impurities ($X$) H, Li, Na, K, ${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, and ${\mathrm{Li}}_{4}$ (${T}_{d}$ symmetry) in silicon using the cluster $X{\mathrm{Si}}_{4}{\mathrm{H}}_{12}$. We find that for the neutral alkali-metal impurities the electronic structure of the vacancy is essentially preserved except that the ${t}_{2}$ gap state is now occupied by the appropriate number of alkali-metal-atom valence electrons plus the normal neutral-vacancy complement of two electrons. This means that the ${\mathrm{Li}}_{4}$ impurity, for example, is better described as a vacancy ${V}^{4\ensuremath{-}}$ charge compensated by four ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ ions. Hence this suggests that alkali-metal impurities do not passivate vacancy dangling bonds. The electronic structures of the H and ${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ impurities, on the other hand, are found to be quite different from those of their alkali-metal-impurity counterparts. The single-hydrogen impurity (on-center substitutional hydrogen) is found to have vacancylike ${a}_{1}$ states but crystalline siliconlike ${t}_{2}$ states. Four hydrogen atoms in a vacancy do appear to passivate the vacancy dangling bonds; thus in this case the electronic structure of crystalline silicon is recovered.