cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pouchogram Prior to Ileostomy Reversal after Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Pediatric Patients: Is it Useful in the Setting of Routine EUA?

Abstract Purpose To determine if there is a role for routine pouchogram before ileostomy reversal after IPAA in pediatric patients. Methods The medical records of pediatric patients who underwent pouchogram between 2007 and 2017 prior to ileostomy reversal after IPAA at two affiliated hospitals were reviewed for concordance between exam under anesthesia (EUA) and pouchogram findings, management of abnormal pouchogram findings, and short and long-term outcomes after ileostomy reversal. Clinical notes were used to find patient-reported symptoms at the time of pouchogram. Results Sixty patients (57% female) underwent pouchogram before planned ileostomy reversal. The median time from IPAA formation to pouchogram was 60.5 days (IQR: 46–77) and median follow-up was 4 years (IQR: 1–6). Fifty-seven patients (95%) were asymptomatic prior to reversal. Of the 40 asymptomatic patients with a normal EUA, pouchogram detected one stricture (3%), but reversal proceeded as planned. In the 16 patients with strictures on EUA, pouchogram only detected six (40%). One of 50 (2%) asymptomatic patients with normal pouchogram had anastomotic dehiscence found on EUA. Despite normal pouchogram and EUA, four asymptomatic patients required subsequent diversion for pouch-related complications between 13 and 60 months after ileostomy reversal. Three patients had pelvic pain prior to pouchogram; associated symptoms included perineal pain (n = 1) hematochezia (n = 1), and tenesmus (n = 1). EUA and pouchogram were concordant in two patients (n = 1 anastomotic complication, n = 1 pouch septum) and ileostomy reversal was delayed. In the remaining symptomatic patient, pouchogram detected an anastomotic leak where EUA detected only a stricture, and this prompted a delay in reversal. Long term, none of these patients required diversion or excision of their pouch. Conclusion Routine pouchogram in asymptomatic pediatric patients does not change management and can be omitted, thereby sparing patients discomfort and unnecessary radiation exposure. Pouchogram may have diagnostic value in symptomatic patients. Level of Evidence III. Type of Study Study of Diagnostic Test.
A prospective parallel design study testing non-inferiority of customized oral stents made using 3D printing or manually fabricated methods.

Abstract Background and purpose Customized mouth-opening-tongue-depressing-stents (MOTDs) may reduce toxicity in patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) receiving radiotherapy (RT). However, making MOTDs requires substantial resources, which limits their utilization. Previously, we described a workflow for fabricating customized 3D-printed MOTDs. This study reports the results of a prospective trial testing the non-inferiority of 3D-printed to standard and commercially-available (TruGuard) MOTDs as measured by patient reported outcomes (PROs). Materials and methods PROs were collected at 3 time points: (t1) simulation, (t2) prior to RT, (t3) between fractions 15–25 of RT. Study participants received a 3D-printed MOTDs (t1, t2, t3), a wax-pattern (t1), an acrylic-MOTDs (t2, t3) and an optional TruGuard (t1, t2, t3). Patients inserted the stents for 5–10 min and completed a PRO-questionnaire covering ease-of-insertion and removal, gagging, jaw-pain, roughness and stability. Inter-incisal opening and tongue-displacement were recorded. With 39 patients, we estimated 90% power to detect a non-inferiority margin of 2 at a significance level of 0.025. Matched pairs and t-test were used for statistics. Results 41 patients were evaluable. The 3D-printed MOTDs achieved a significantly better overall PRO score compared to the wax-stent (p = 0.0007) and standard-stent (p = 0.0002), but was not significantly different from the TruGuard (p = 0.41). There was no difference between 3D-printed and standard MOTDs in terms of inter-incisal opening (p = 0.4) and position reproducibility (p = 0.98). The average 3D-printed MOTDs turn-around time was 8 vs 48 h for the standard-stent. Conclusions 3D-printed stents demonstrated non-inferior PROs compared to TruGuard and standard-stents. Our 3D-printing process may expand utilization of MOTDs.
Changing Population of Liver Transplant Recipients in the Era of Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy.

Background and Aims: With the availability of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and changing liver disease etiology for liver transplantation (LT), data on the changes in LT recipient population in the DAA era are scanty.
General anesthesia for cesarean delivery and childhood neurodevelopmental and perinatal outcomes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expressed concern that neurodevelopment may be negatively affected by anesthesia or sedation exposure in pregnancy or before three years of age. We examined the association between general anesthesia at the time of cesarean delivery and early childhood neurodevelopment. Methods A secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial assessing magnesium for prevention of cerebral palsy in infants at risk for preterm delivery. Exposure was general compared to neuraxial anesthesia. The primary outcome was motor or mental delay at two years of age, assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSIDII). Secondary outcomes included BSIDII subdomains and perinatal outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to control for confounders. Results Of 557 women undergoing cesarean delivery, 119 (21%) received general anesthesia. There were no differences in the primary composite outcome of developmental delay (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.43) or the BSIDII subdomains of mild, moderate, or severe mental delay, or mild or moderate motor delay. Severe motor delay was more common among infants exposed to general anesthesia (aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.69). Infants exposed to general anesthesia had longer neonatal intensive care stays (51 vs 37 days, P=0.010). Conclusions General anesthesia for cesarean delivery was not associated with overall neurodevelopmental delay at two years of age, except for greater odds of severe motor delay. Future studies should evaluate this finding, as well as the impact of longer or multiple anesthetic exposures across all gestational ages on neurodevelopment.
Low-Cost Manually Assembled Open Source Reader for Isothermal Pathogen Detection from Saliva using RT-LAMP: SARS-CoV-2 Use Case

Abstract Distributed “Point-of-Care” or “at-Home” testing is an important component for a complete suite of testing solutions. This manuscript describes the construction and operation of a platform technology designed to meet this need. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will be used as the proof-of-concept for the efficacy and deployment of this platform. The technology outlined consists of a one-pot, reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) chemistry coupled with a low-cost and user-assembled reader using saliva as input. This platform is readily adapted to a wide range of pathogens due to the genetic basis of the reaction. A complete guide to the construction of the reader as well as the production of the reaction chemistry are provided here. Additionally, analytical limit of detection data and the results from saliva testing of SARS-CoV-2, are presented. The platform technology outlined here demonstrates a rapid, distributed, molecular point-of-care solution for pathogen detection using crude sample input.
Genetics of Partial Resistance Against Verticillium dahliae Race 2 in Wild and Cultivated Lettuce.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the most economically important vegetables in the United States, with approximately 50% of the domestic production concentrated in the Salinas Valley of Californi...
Muscle-sparing Latissimus Dorsi: A Safe Option for Postmastectomy Reconstruction in Extremely Obese Patients.

Background Postmastectomy reconstruction in obese patients has a significant risk of complications and poor outcomes after implant-based and autologous methods. Here we present 22 consecutive patients with Class III obesity [body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2] who underwent reconstruction with a muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi (MSLD) flap. Methods A chart review of a single surgeon experience with 22 consecutive patients with Class III obesity who underwent postmastectomy reconstruction with an MSLD flap was performed. Demographics, operative details, outcomes, and complications were evaluated. Results Twenty-two patients underwent 29 mastectomy and MSLD reconstructions. There were no flap failures. The average BMI was 47.2 kg/m2, including 12 patients with BMI > 50 kg/m2. Seven breasts demonstrated partial nipple and or mastectomy flap necrosis. There was 1 (3.4%) donor site dehiscence that healed with outpatient wound care and 1 (3.4%) seroma that required multiple aspirations in the office. The average operative times were 178 and 420 minutes for unilateral and bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstructions, respectively. The average hospital length of stay was 0.56 and 1.3 days for unilateral and bilateral surgeries, respectively. Conclusions These results demonstrate the utility of the MSLD flap in reconstructing the very obese. Operative times and lengths of stay compare favorably with conventional latissimus dorsi flap and abdominal-based microvascular free tissue transfer reconstructions. While our complication rates were higher than historically seen for patients with normal BMIs, there were no instances of flap failure, making this a viable reconstructive option for these very high-risk patients.
The short third intracellular loop and cytoplasmic tail of bitter taste receptors provide functionally relevant GRK phosphorylation sites in TAS2R14

For most G protein-coupled receptors, the third intracellular loop (IL3) and carboxy-terminal tail (CT) are sites for G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-mediated phosphorylation, leading to β-arrestin binding and agonist-specific desensitization. These regions of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are extremely short compared with the superfamily, and their function in desensitization is unknown. TAS2R14 expressed on human airway smooth muscle cells relax the cell, suggesting a novel target for bronchodilators. To assess IL3 and CT in agonist-promoted TAS2R14 desensitization (tachyphylaxis), we generated fusion proteins of both the WT sequence and Ala substituted for Ser/Thr in the IL3 and CT sequences. In vitro, activated GRK2 phosphorylated WT IL3 and WT CT proteins but not Ala-substituted forms. TAS2R14s with mutations in IL3 (IL-5A), CT (CT-5A), and in both regions (IL/CT-10A) were expressed in human embryonic kidney 293T cells. IL/CT-10A and CT-5A failed to undergo desensitization of the intracellular calcium response compared with WT, indicating that functional desensitization by GRK phosphorylation is at residues in the CT. Desensitization of TAS2R14 was blocked by GRK2 knockdown in human airway smooth muscle cells. Receptor:β-arrestin binding was absent in IL/CT-10A and CT-5A and reduced in IL-5A, indicating a role for IL3 phosphorylation in the β-arrestin interaction for this function. Agonist-promoted internalization of IL-5A and CT-5A receptors was impaired, and they failed to colocalize with early endosomes. Thus, agonist-promoted functional desensitization of TAS2R14 occurs by GRK phosphorylation of CT residues and β-arrestin binding. However, β-arrestin function in the internalization and trafficking of the receptor also requires GRK phosphorylation of IL3 residues.
Protect rights and advance gender equality to mitigate climate change

Initiatives to protect carbon sinks are crucial to mitigate climate change and avert its worst effects. Advancing the rights of women and forest-dependent communities will strengthen these initiatives and enable them to have greater impact.
The impact of cultural immersion service learning on BSN graduates: A quasi-experimental evaluation.

Abstract Aim/Objective The cultural immersion service-learning model evaluated in this study sought to facilitate cultural consciousness of culturally congruent nursing care among predominantly White nursing students attending a university that was racially and culturally homogeneous. Background Evidence supports the use of cultural immersion service learning during undergraduate nursing programs in developing the skills necessary for effective transcultural healthcare; yet, little is known about its impact beyond the semester of the experience. Design This project used a quasi-experimental design to determine if transcultural self-efficacy of BSN graduates among five campuses differed. Methods One campus of the five conducted a mandatory cultural immersion service-learning experience during the graduates’ junior year. From a population of 94 BSN graduates of which 30 (32%) graduates participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience, 53 completed the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool. Eighteen (34%) of the graduates who participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience participated in this study. Results The transcultural self-efficacy was significantly greater in those graduates who participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience; yet, no difference was found among graduates of the four campuses not offering the experience. Conclusions The cultural immersion service-learning experience seems to provide nursing students from racially and ethnically homogeneous communities with an experiential learning context which facilitates the development of transcultural self-efficacy.
Impairment of AMPK-α2 augments detrusor contractions in bladder ischemia.

Purpose Ischemia disrupts cellular energy homeostasis. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase alpha-2 (AMPK-α2) is a subunit of AMPK that senses cellular energy deprivation and signals metabolic stress. Our goal was to examine the expression levels and functional role of AMPK-α2 in bladder ischemia. Materials and methods Iliac artery atherosclerosis and bladder ischemia were engendered in apolipoprotein E knockout rats by partial arterial endothelial denudation using a balloon catheter. After eight weeks, total and phosphorylated AMPK-α2 expression was analyzed by western blotting. Structural integrity of AMPK-α2 protein was assessed by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Functional role of AMPK-α2 was examined by treating animals with the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D ribofuranoside (AICAR). Tissue contractility was measured in the organ bath and bladder nerve density was examined by immunostaining. Results Total AMPK-α2 expression increased in bladder ischemia, while phosphorylated AMPK-α2 was significantly downregulated. LC-MS/MS suggested post-translational modification of AMPK-α2 functional domains including phosphorylation sites, suggesting accumulation of catalytically inactive AMPK-α2 in bladder ischemia. Treatment of rats with AICAR diminished the force of overactive detrusor contractions and increased bladder capacity but did not have a significant effect on the frequency of bladder contractions. AICAR diminished contractile reactivity of ischemic tissues in the organ bath and prevented loss of nerve fibers in bladder ischemia. Conclusions Ischemia induces post-translational modification of AMPK-α2 protein. Impairment of AMPK-α2 may contribute to overactive detrusor contractions and loss of nerve fibers in bladder ischemia. AMPK activators may have therapeutic potential against detrusor overactivity and neurodegeneration in bladder conditions involving ischemia.
They Affect the Person, but for Better or Worse? Perceptions of Electroceutical Interventions for Depression Among Psychiatrists, Patients, and the Public.

Responding to reports of cases of personality change following deep brain stimulation, neuroethicists have debated the nature and ethical implications of these changes. Recently, this literature ha...
Lipid enemas for meconium evacuation in preterm infants - a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Enemas are used in preterm infants to promote meconium evacuation, but frequent high-volume enemas might contribute to focal intestinal perforation (FIP). To replace a regime consisting of frequent enemas of varying volume and composition, we implemented a once-daily, low-volume lipid enema (LE) regimen. We investigated its impact on meconium evacuation, enteral nutrition, and gastrointestinal complications in preterm infants. METHODS We performed a single-center retrospective study comparing cohorts of preterm infants < 28 weeks gestation or < 32 weeks, but with birth weight < 10th percentile, before and after implementing LE. Outcomes were rates of FIP, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and sepsis. We assessed stooling patterns, early enteral and parenteral nutrition. We used descriptive statistics for group comparisons and logistic regression to identify associations between LE and gastrointestinal complications and to adjust for group imbalances and potential confounders. Exclusion criteria were gastrointestinal malformations or pre-determined palliative care. RESULTS Data from 399 infants were analyzed, 203 before vs. 190 after implementing LE; in the latter period, 55 protocol deviations occurred where infants received no enema, resulting in 3 groups with either variable enemas, LE or no enema use. Rates of FIP and sepsis were 11.9% vs. 6.4% vs. 0.0% and 18.4% vs. 13.5% vs. 14.0%, respectively. NEC rates were 3.0% vs. 7.8% vs. 3.5%. Adjusted for confounders, LE had no effect on FIP risk (aOR 1.1; 95%CI 0.5-2.8; p = 0.80), but was associated with an increased risk of NEC (aOR 2.9; 95%CI 1.0-8.6; p = 0.048). While fewer enemas were applied in the LE group resulting in a prolonged meconium passage, no changes in early enteral and parenteral nutrition were observed. We identified indomethacin administration and formula feeding as additional risk factors for FIP and NEC, respectively (aOR 3.5; 95%CI 1.5-8.3; p < 0.01 and aOR 3.4; 95%CI 1.2-9.3; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Implementing LE had no clinically significant impact on meconium evacuation, early enteral or parenteral nutrition. FIP and sepsis rates remained unaffected. Other changes in clinical practice, like a reduced use of indomethacin, possibly affected FIP rates in our cohorts. The association between LE and NEC found here argues against further adoption of this practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered at the German Register of Clinical Trials (no. DRKS00024021 ; Feb 022021).
Vehicle Roof Embedded Millimeter-Wave Combo-Array System Architecture for Optimum V2X Coverage

The connected vehicle market growth will drive the demand for vehicle-integrated wireless solutions enabling low-latency, wide-bandwidth connectivity without blind-spots, as well as no aerodynamics or aesthetics impact. We present a novel low-profile antenna array architecture embedded in the vehicle roof that provides 360° azimuth (AZ) and 180° elevation (EL) coverage. The proposed array system consists of a conformable beam-switched endfire array in combination with broadside steered array topologies. The integrated system uses low-profile, low-loss, bendable designs and can be easily embedded in the vehicle plastic and/or metal body areas without any protrusions.
Viewpoints on safety and efficacy of vascular grafts

Section 514 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires performance standards to assure reasonable safety and effectiveness. Although the procedures appear to be complex and lengthy, they are comparable to those established by national and international standards organizations. Persons most directly affected by the standard may participate in both the performance standard development and the establishment of a final regulation on the performance standard. As a part of due process, those most affected have the opportunity to request a review of any matter by an advisory committee of experts. A key element in the performance standard development procedure is the establishment of a statement of the risks associated with the use of the device and intended to be controlled by a performance standard. For vascular graft prosthesis with diameters of 6 mm and greater, the establishment of the device risks and methods of control will be the basis from which the development of a performance standard can proceed. The objective is to select a set of risks and methods of control so that the standards development procedure is manageable and results in an effective performance standard.
Measurement of the Inclusive Isolated Prompt Photon Cross Section and Evaluation of Systematic Uncertainties

This chapter presents the way in which the \(E_\mathrm{T }\)-differential cross section is estimated, along with all the relevant systematic uncertainties.
Scalable Dynamic Partial Order Reduction

Systematic testing, first demonstrated in small, specialized cases 15 years ago, has matured sufficiently for large-scale systems developers to begin to put it into practice. With actual deployment come new, pragmatic challenges to the usefulness of the techniques. In this paper we are concerned with scaling dynamic partial order reduction, a key technique for mitigating the state space explosion problem, to very large clusters. In particular, we present a new approach for distributed dynamic partial order reduction. Unlike previous work, our approach is based on a novel exploration algorithm that 1) enables trading space complexity for parallelism, 2) achieves efficient load-balancing through time-slicing, 3) provides for fault tolerance, which we consider a mandatory aspect of scalability, 4) scales to more than a thousand parallel workers, and 5) is guaranteed to avoid redundant exploration of overlapping portions of the state space.
Development of Mammalian Circadian Rhythms

The goal of developmental biology is to understand the origins of biological organization as it unfolds within each generation. Investigations of development often begin with describing how normal development proceeds, then ask how the observed processes or events are regulated. At the level of the whole organism, the most fundamental of such questions (even if oversimplified) is to ask whether the behavior, structure, or physiologic process of interest is inborn or is in some way shaped by the external environment under which the organism develops. This was one of the earliest questions to be asked about circadian rhythms. Charles Darwin contested the view he attributed to Wilhelm Pfeffer that the persistent rhythms of leaf movements in plants under constant conditions should be attributed to “ ‘Nachwirkung’ or the aftereffects of light and darkness.” Darwin concluded instead that “the periodicity of their movements is to a certain extent inherited” (Darwin, 1896). Seventy-five years later, as the modern field of circadian biology was being established, experiments with several different organisms investigated whether organisms needed to be exposed to 24-hour cycles in light and dark during development in order to express circadian rhythms when mature (Aschoff, 1960; Pittendrigh, 1954). The conclusion from these studies was that the expression of circadian rhythms is “independent of any ontogenetic learning process” (Pittendrigh, 1954). For the whole organism, this conclusion is still appropriate today, but as the regulation of circadian rhythmicity continues to be elucidated, the general question persists.Understanding the relative contributions of intrinsic programs and environmental effects in guiding the differentiation of specific features of circadian organization remains a goal of developmental studies.
The Influence of Urban Trip Characteristics on Vehicle Warm-Up - Implication for Urban Automobile Fuel Consumption

This analysis estimates the ratio of the fuel consumption of vehicles as driven in the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U. S. to what the fuel consumption of these vehicles would be if their fuel consumption rates during warm-up were those of fully warmed vehicles. Data on how, where and when automobiles are driven in the U. S. are combined with data relating trip length and ambient temperature to fuel consumption rate. Factors considered include trip length variations, geographical and hourly temperature variations and the different characteristics of work and nonwork trips. Averaged over weekday trips in the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, fuel consumption is between 13% and 17% higher than it would be if fuel consumption rates during warm-up were those of fully warmed vehicles.
Intra-amniotic administration of prostaglandin F2α for abortion

Abstract Prostaglandin F 2 α was administered intra-amniotically to 20 women for mid-trimester abortion. Seventeen patients aborted completely, one incompletely, and two patients failed to abort after 32 hours. The average medication-abortion time was 22 hours and 8 minutes. The only significant side effect was vomiting. Intravenous oxytocin was evaluated as an ancillary means of inducing more rapid abortion. Intra-amniotic prostaglandin F 2 α was shown to be an effective oxytocic agent, but side effects may limit its clinical usage.
Living Up to Her Convictions

Abstract Vernetta D. Young, one of the first African American women to earn a doctorate in criminology, has spent her career exposing racial and social injustices. Her scholarship has focused mainly on critical criminal justice issues that are related to race and gender. Thanks to Vernetta Young and other female African American scholars, significant issues involving African Americans and women in the criminal justice system have increasingly become regular topics in criminal justice discourse. This discussion of her life examines her childhood, young adult years, experiences in the academy, and contributions to criminal justice and criminology.
Finding Median Partitions Using Information-Theoretical-Based Genetic Algorithms.

In a database with categorical attributes, each attribute defines a partition whose classes can be regarded as natural clusters of rows. In this paper we focus on finding a partition of the rows of a given database, that is as close as possible to the partitions associated to each attribute. We evaluate the closeness of two partitions by using a generalization of the classical conditional entropy. From this perspective, we wish to construct a partition (referred to as the median partition) such that the sum of the dissimilarities between this partition and all the partitions determined by the attributes of the database is minimal. Then, the problem of finding the median partition is an optimization problem, over the space of all partitions of the rows of the database, for which we give an approximative solution. To search more efficiently the large space of possible partitions we use a genetic algorithm where the partitions are represented by chromosomes. Our genetic algorithm obtains better clustering results than the classical k-means algorithm.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Obesity

Obesity is strongly associated with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis that have known adverse health outcomes. The rising prevalence of obesity threatens to overburden our health care system. As a result, the need for safe and effective treatment options is urgent. Unfortunately, pharmacologic treatment options have been disappointing either because of poor side effect profiles or limited long-term efficacy. Our goal is to review currently available pharmacologic treatments and the data supporting their use so that practicing physicians may better incorporate them into a comprehensive, long-term treatment strategy for their patients. We focus on orlistat and sibutramine as these are the two medicines approved by the FDA for long-term treatment of obesity. In addition, we review briefly agents approved for short-term use as well as agents such as zonisamide and topiramate which have shown some promise as weight loss agents in specific clinical circumstances. Finally, we highlight one medicine currently in phase III clinical trials, an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist. Given the overwhelming research focus on this disease, it is likely that the coming years will bring more treatment options, raising the chance that our patients will have meaningful and sustained weight loss.
Completion of the internal market: Implications for non-EEC countries

Abstract CAP reform, the GATT talks and completion of the internal market are three interrelated factors operating on the European food and farm sectors, and third countries are interested in the cumulative effect of all three. 1992 involves trade creation and trade diversion, but many foreign observers fear that trade diversion could predominate in a ‘Fortress Europe’. The GATT round does not need 1992, but it could act as a counterweight to these protectionist tendencies. Three aspects of the CAP seem particularly vulnerable to 1992 pressures: quotas, monetary compensatory amounts, and the cosy relationship between agriculture and the food industry.
Image cartoon-texture decomposition and feature selection using the total variation regularized L 1 functional

This paper studies the model of minimizing total variation with an L1-norm fidelity term for decomposing a real image into the sum of cartoon and texture. This model is also analyzed and shown to be able to select features of an image according to their scales.
Kinase phosphorylation monitoring with i-motif DNA cross-linked SERS probes

We propose an ultrasensitive SERS-based peptide biosensor platform to monitor phosphorylation catalyzed by kinase in a dynamic format. The developed SERS strategy has a short response time with potential to monitor phosphorylation in live cells.
Intertidal macroalgae and macroinvertebrates: Seasonal and spatial abundance patterns along an estuarine gradient

Abstract Quantitative sampling of the dominant intertidal epibiota was conducted seasonally along an estuarine gradient within the Great Bay Estuary System, New Hampshire, U.S.A. The abundance and zonation of the dominant macroorganisms varied with distance into the estuary. Replacement of marine by estuarine species occurred, and overall abundance and species richness decreased along the estuarine gradient. Zonation patterns within the inner estuary were primarily allied with substrata. Maximum abundance of invertebrates occurred in the mid-intertidal zone where a dense fucoid canopy provided habitat heterogeneity. Densities of epibiotic organisms decreased toward low water, especially in the inner estuary where hard substratum was limiting. Settlement blocks, introduced into the low intertidal zone, were dominated by barnacles and fucoid algae; after 16 months, the species composition on the settlement blocks resembled the adjacent community. Semibalanus balanoides settled in the spring, while Fucus vesiculosus var. spiralis exhibited low but constant settlement. Despite the physical rigors of the estuarine environment, only Semibalanus balanoides , Ilyanassa obsoleta and Spartina alterniflora showed significant seasonal changes in density. Thus, there are predictable and persistent epibiotic species assemblages within the intertidal zone of the Great Bay Estuary System.
Efficiency testing of hydraulic artificial muscles with variable recruitment using a linear dynamometer

When a task calls for consistent, large amounts of power output, hydraulic actuation is a popular choice. However, for certain systems that require short bursts of high power, followed by a period of low power, the inefficiencies of hydraulics become apparent. One system that fits this description is a legged robot. McKibben muscles prove to be a wise choice for use on legged robots due to their light weight, high force capability, and inherent compliance. Variable recruitment, another novel concept for hydraulic actuation, offers the ability to further improve efficiency for hydraulic systems. This paper will discuss the efficiency characterization of variable recruitment McKibben muscles intended for use on a bipedal robot, but will focus on the novel test apparatus to do so. This device is a hydraulic linear dynamometer that will be controlled such that the muscles experience similar force-stroke levels to what will be required on a bipedal robot. The position of the dynamometer’s drive cylinder will be controlled so that the muscles experience the proper position trajectory that will be needed on the robot. The pressure of the muscles will be controlled such that the force they experience will mimic the forces that occur on the robot while walking. Hence, these dynamic tests will ensure that the muscle bundles will meet the force-stroke requirements for the given robot. Once these muscle bundles are integrated onto the walking robot, the power savings of variable recruitment McKibben muscle bundles compared to the traditional hydraulic system will be demonstrated.
Design and Optimization of an HDR 192Ir Brachytherapy Applicator for Skin Irradiation Using Monte Carlo-based Dosimetry

Purpose/Objective(s): The round applicators are designed to deliver boost dose to the breast in a non-invasive manner instead of using an electron boost. By augmenting the round applicator design through adding an internal truncated cone, the conical applicators are able to concurrently reduce treatment time and dose to OARs such as the skin. By adding an internal wedge to the conical applicators, skin cancers may also be treated. The purpose of this study was to design an applicator that could deliver brachytherapy to the skin in a conformal and homogeneous manner. Materials/Methods: The 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm diameter round applicators served as the foundation for variations of internal cone, internal wedge, and applicator height. These three parameters were varied to irradiate 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm diameter targets. Using Monte Carlo (MC) methods with the MCNP5 radiation transport code, the 4116, 6116, 6216, 6316, 8216, 8316, 4125, 6125, 6225, 6325, 8225, and 8325 designs were evaluated, where the first digit indicates applicator diameter (cm), the second digit is target diameter (cm), and the last two digits are applicator height (either 16 mm or 25 mm). Dose distributions were calculated in a soft tissue cubic (16 cm) phantom with results assessed using (0.5 mm) voxels. The prescription dose (DRx) was normalized to 100% at a depth d Z 3 mm on the central axis. Typical statistical uncertainties (k Z 1) were < 0.4%. The applicator design goal was to provide a homogeneous dose distribution for tissue 3 mm from the surface while protecting tissue at d 5 mm. Quantitative comparisons were made to the dose distributions produced by the 2 cm (VH2) and 3 cm (VH3) diameter Valencia skin brachytherapy applicators. Results: Among the twelve designs studied, 8216 had the best dose coverage and conformity. It covered a 2 cm target on the skin surface like the VH2. The 8216 depth dose dropped more dramatically for d 5 mm than for the VH2 applicator. Doses at 10 mm and 20 mm deep on the central axis were 15% and 14% of DRx for design 8216, and 52% and 27% for VH2, respectively. Maximum skin dose for design 8216 was 113%, and 139% for the VH2. Dose was 7x larger for design 8216 on the skin surface several centimeters beyond the field edge due to less lateral attenuation than the VH2 design. However, dose was still <35% of DRx. Conclusion: The round skin applicator designs examined in this study provided better depth conformity with less lateral conformity. However, at least one round skin applicator provided comparable dose distribution as the Valencia skin applicators. Other potential skin applicator designs are being investigated and clinical evaluation within a 3D treatment planning system is underway. Current results suggest that the round skin applicator approach may be amenable, if not favorable, for the treatment of larger skin lesions. Author Disclosure: Y. Yang: None. M.J. Rivard: K. Stock; Dr. Rivard is a shareholder of Advanced Radiation Therapy (ART) LLC.
Toward a definition of papilledema: a historical review, 1851–1911

Penetrating the Black Cataract Before the advent of the ophthalmoscope, it was commonly assumed that the interior of the living eye was as uniformly black as the pupil, and the posterior chamber of the eye was termed the "black cataract" [1]. In 1704 Jean M~ry may have been among the first observers of the living optic nerve and choroid when he intrepidly held a cat under water. The hypoxia dilated the cat's pupils and the water altered the refractive properties of the cornea, thus allowing the fundus to be viewed. One hundred forty years after M~ry's experiments, W. Cumming at Moorfields Eye Hospital and E. Brucke of Vienna were still using unaided clinical observation to investigate the bright retinal reflex elicited by positioning an observer between a lighted chandelier and the patient. The first instrument for examining the living retina was devised in 1847 by the English mathematician Charles Babbage, who failed to use or promote the importance of his invention [ 15]. The significance of the ophthalmoscope was immediately grasped in 1851 by Hermann yon Helmholtz, who sought an explanation for the retinal red reflex. He solved this quandary of physiological optics and over the course of eight days constructed an ophthalmoscope based on his theoretical convictions. Although he himself did not vigorously investigate the pathology of the living fundus, he was clearly aware of the vistas opened by his invention when he predicted that "all the alterations of the vitreous body and of the retina which, until now, have been found in cadavers, will also permit of recognition in the living eye" [12].
Respiration in an infant with the Dandy-Walker syndrome.

Respiration was measured in an infant with the Dandy-walker cyst. Respiration was abnormal with apneustic breathing and other irregularities. These abnormalities improved three weeks after shunting.
When do false memories cross language boundaries in English-Spanish bilinguals?

To determine whether false memories cross language boundaries, we presented English—Spanish bilinguals with conceptually related word lists for five study—test trials. Some lists were heard in English, some in Spanish, and they were then followed by a recognition memory test composed of studied words, conceptually related nonstudied critical words, and unrelated words presented in the same language used at study or in a different language. Even though participants were instructed to recognize only previously heard words, they falsely recognized both same-language and differentlanguage critical words. With practice, participants increased their accurate recognition of list words and decreased their false recognition of critical words when the study—test language was the same, and they decreased their false recognition of list words and critical words when the language differed. False memories can cross language boundaries when participants rely on conceptual representations from the word lists, but these errors decrease over trials as participants increasingly rely on languagespecific lexical representations.
Radar characterization of automobiles and surrogate test-targets for evaluating automotive pre-collision systems

We measured and characterized the radar response of twenty-five vehicles to evaluate the quality of surrogate test targets. The vehicles are selected form a broad range of vehicle classes and include several that are frequently struck in rear-end collisions as determined by the U.S. National Crash Database [1]. Each vehicle's response is measured with a wideband, millimeter wave, instrumentation radar at a set of identical angles near tail-aspect. The collected signatures for each vehicle and test-surrogates are fit to a Γ-distribution using a maximum-likelihood estimator. The wideband waveform provides spatial separation of scattering sources for additional analysis. The main result of this research is a process for characterizing automobile responses at W-band, how we use these results to identify good design practices for developing radio-frequency (RF) test surrogates and the impacts of these designs on test procedures for evaluating RF pre-collision systems (PCS).
Reversing bottom circulation in the Somali Basin

Two sets of direct velocity measurements were taken, concurrent with hydrographic data, in the bottom waters of the northern Somali Basin in June and September, 1995. The velocities indicate a temporal flow reversal in the bottom circulation, which is consistent with the changing density structure between the sections. In June, there is evidence of a southward Deep Western Boundary Current with a transport of 5 Sv. By September, flow close to the boundary is northward, with a transport of 2.6 Sv. Furthermore, the deep density gradient across the interior of the Somali Basin also changes between occupations, implying a cyclonic circulation in June and anticyclonic flow in September. Rossby wave activity is high in this region during the southwest monsoon, yet there is also evidence of a strong barotropic component to the Great Whirl in September, which may cause the reversal in the abyssal circulation.
SU-E-J-232: Surface-Based Deformable Image Registration for Pleural Photodynamic Therapy

Purpose: Pleural photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used in conjunction with lung-sparing surgical treatment for mesothelioma. An infrared (IR) camera based tracking system (NDI) has been used to improve the uniformity of delivered light as well as to contour the chest cavity. Deformable image registration of this contour with the contours obtained using other modalities such as CT during treatment planning can be useful to determine light dose to critical internal organs during PDT treatment. Methods: CT images were first imported into Matlab so that structure contour of lung could be obtained via the processes of noise filtrations, segmentation using k-means approach, and contouring using edge detection. The obtained two-dimensional lung contour was then rigidly registered with the contour obtained using the NDI system during the surgery before performing the moving mesh (ALE) based deformable registration in COMSOL Multiphysics. The three-dimensional registration was then obtained via the reconstruction of a series of 2-D results. Results: The contour of lung/chest cavity can be obtained from both CT and NDI system. A series of 2-dimensional deformable image registration are successfully performed for a range of contour cuts (z, along the patient axis) from −5 to 5 cm. Good agreements among contours are obtained for most slices. The reconstructed 3-D surface contours consequently has a good match between the NDI and deformed CT contour. Conclusion: Surface contours of lung/chest cavity of the same patient obtained from CT scans and NDI tracking system are obtained and pre-processed for the deformable image registration using moving mesh. The preliminary results show good registration results. Funding Support: NIH R01-CA-154562
RATIONAL DECISION-MAKING AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: THE MODERATING ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT

This study investigates the moderating roles of environmental munificence and dynamism in the relationship between process rationality and organizational performance. Based on a sample of 62 manufacturing firms, the study found that environmental munificence and dynamism moderate the relationship between rationality and performance. Further, the study found that rationality is strongly associated with performance in environments high in munificence and dynamism. © 7997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The relationship between rationality in strategic decision processes and firm performance has been a subject of continuing controversy in the strategic management field. One school of thought favors the 'rational comprehensive' approach (Ansoff, 1965). Another feels that an 'incremental political' approach offers better descriptive accuracy and normative validity (Quinn, 1980). In recent years, the emphasis has moved away from a search for universal relationships that juxtapose these two ideal types to a focus on the context specificity of the rationality-performance relationship. Empirical research on the perfonnance implications of the comprehensiveness of decision processes has yielded confiicting results. In a recent review of this literature, Rajagopalan, Rasheed, and Datta point out that 'most previous studies have focused on one aspect of the
Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk

Purpose of reviewDespite our understanding of how to prevent and treat traditional cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death of both men and women in the US. Thus, there is widespread interest in a number of emerging nontraditional risk factors for the de
Meeting the needs of Japanese consumers: hotels in Japan and the United States.

Summary This paper describes the significance of Japanese consumers in today's global marketplace, as well as unique accommodations, amenities, products and services provided by hotels to Japanese consumers. The business and resort hotels included in this preliminary and descriptive study were located in the ten U.S. states most frequented by Japanese travelers. Sales managers of 50 prominent U.S. hotels located in major cities representing these destinations were surveyed. Twenty-six percent of the hotels represented are entirely owned by Japanese corporations, with 71% of the hotels offering Japanese staff in-room information and brochures written in Japanese. Forty percent of the respondents perceived the availability of appropriate shopping areas to be important to Japanese travelers.
The role of microparticles in the generation of immune complexes in murine lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by antibodies to nuclear molecules in association with immune complex deposition. As shown previously, microparticles (MPs), which are small membrane-bound vesicles released from dying and activated cells, contain nucleic acids and can form immune complexes found in patient blood. To assess the role of MPs in murine lupus, we used flow cytometry to measure the presence of MPs with bound IgG in the blood of MRL-lpr/lpr and NZB/W mice. These studies showed much higher numbers of MPs with bound IgG in the blood of MRL lpr/lpr compared to NZB/W mice. Furthermore, these studies showed that antibodies from MRL-lpr/lpr mice bound better to MPs from apoptotic cells than those from NZB/W mice. Together, these studies indicate important differences in the serological features of the two strains as reflected by the capacity of antibodies to bind to MPs.
Renal cortical adenyl cyclase: effect of parathyroid hormone and calcium.

Abstract Adenyl cyclase activity was measured in rabbit renal cortex and the effects of parathyroid hormone and calcium ion on the enzyme studied. Basal adenyl cyclase activity (picomoles/mg protein ± S.E.) at 1, 3, and 5 minutes were 220 ± 50, 290 ± 37, and 320 ± 22, while respective values for parathyroid hormone treated samples were 330 ± 59, 660 ± 70 (p