cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role for Drs2p, a P-Type Atpase and Potential Aminophospholipid Translocase, in Yeast Late Golgi Function

ADP-ribosylation factor appears to regulate the budding of both COPI and clathrin-coated transport vesicles from Golgi membranes. An arf1Δ synthetic lethal screen identified SWA3/DRS2, which encodes an integral membrane P-type ATPase and potential aminophospholipid translocase (or flippase). The drs2 null allele is also synthetically lethal with clathrin heavy chain (chc1) temperature-sensitive alleles, but not with mutations in COPI subunits or other SEC genes tested. Consistent with these genetic analyses, we found that the drs2Δ mutant exhibits late Golgi defects that may result from a loss of clathrin function at this compartment. These include a defect in the Kex2-dependent processing of pro–α-factor and the accumulation of abnormal Golgi cisternae. Moreover, we observed a marked reduction in clathrin-coated vesicles that can be isolated from the drs2Δ cells. Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence analysis indicate that Drs2p localizes to late Golgi membranes containing Kex2p. These observations indicate a novel role for a P-type ATPase in late Golgi function and suggest a possible link between membrane asymmetry and clathrin function at the Golgi complex.
Patterns of reproduction and mortality in two captive colonies of hanuman langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus).

Longitudinal reproductive and mortality data collected from two colonies of Hanuman langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus) in California (University of California, Berkeley; San Diego Zoo) are presented. Approximately 10 years of data from each facility reveal that langur monkey females reach reproductive maturity between 3 and 5 years and have median birth intervals, following the birth of a live infant that survives beyond 9 months, of approximately 15.5 months. Births are not seasonal at either facility and pregnancy failure rates at UCB are approximately 30%. Mortality of subadults was highest during the neonatal period (<30 days), and probability of Sarvivorship at 5 years is between .41 and .50. Observed differences and similarities in patterns of reproduction and mortality between the two colonies and field populations are discussed.
Revised interpretation of oxacillin MICs for Staphylococcus epidermidis based on mecA detection.

In 1992 and 1993, at The Ohio State University Medical Center, a larger proportion of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains required oxacillin MICs of 1 to 2 micrograms/ml than did Staphylococcus aureus strains. mecA genotype was correlated with antimicrobial susceptibility for selected clinical S. epidermidis strains. All 14 strains that required oxacillin MICs of or = 1.0 microgram/ml were resistant by oxacillin disk test and were mecA positive. Current National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards MIC interpretive criteria may underestimate methicillin resistance among S. epidermidis strains.
Apoptosis induced in vitro and in vivo during infection by Ebola and Marburg viruses

Induction of apoptosis has been documented during infection with a number of different viruses. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling to investigate the effects of Ebola and Marburg viruses on apoptosis of different cell populations during in vitro and in vivo infections. Tissues from 18 filovirus-infected nonhuman primates killed in extremis were evaluated. Apoptotic lymphocytes were seen in all tissues examined. Filoviral replication occurred in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system and other well-documented cellular targets by TEM and immunohistochemistry, but there was no evidence of replication in lymphocytes. With the exception of intracytoplasmic viral inclusions, filovirus-infected cells were morphologically normal or necrotic, but did not exhibit ultrastructural changes characteristic of apoptosis. In lymph nodes, filoviral antigen was co-localized with apoptotic lymphocytes. Examination of cell populations in lymph nodes showed increased numbers of macrophages and concomitant depletion of CD8+ T cells and plasma cells in filovirus-infected animals. This depletion was particularly striking in animals infected with the Zaire subtype of Ebola virus. In addition, apoptosis was demonstrated in vitro in lymphocytes of filovirus-infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by TEM. These findings suggest that lymphopenia and lymphoid depletion associated with filoviral infections result from lymphocyte apoptosis induced by a number of factors that may include release of various chemical mediators from filovirus-infected or activated cells, damage to the fibroblastic reticular cell conduit system, and possibly stimulation by a viral protein.
Anticalculus agents for the treatment, control, and prevention of periodontal disease.

If you are interested in the eradication of calculus by drugs, read this comprehensive report and evaluation.
Dynamically configurable distributed objects

The continued growth and widespread deployment of gigabit networks and high-speed network protocols will provide significant communications bandwidth between increasingly powerful computers, enabling systems containing billions of objects and millions of machines. Harnessing the power of these connected resources requires well-organized complex software, highly scalable algorithms and services, and effective abstraction of complexity. Wide area distributed object computing systems, which model the system's components—applications, hardware, programs, users, etc.—as objects, are capable of meeting this challenge. This dissertation provides a model and a mechanism for dynamic software evolution and re-use in wide-area distributed object systems. The dynamically configurable distributed object ( DCDO) model helps enable object evolution and facilitate the development of distributed objects from multiple independent implementation components. Using DCDOs, programmers can evolve existing active objects to accept new member functions, to change the interface and behavior of their member functions, and to remove member functions from their external (public) or internal (private) interface. Programmers can make these changes on the fly, without deactivating any part of the system, without replacing binary executables, without interrupting the clients of evolving objects, and without having to know what the changes will be at the time the objects are initially compiled and run. The model supports evolution management strategies that define when and how object types evolve from one version to the next, and determine when a type change is propagated to existing instances. The DCDO model is simple, defining the interfaces to just three different object types, it is independent of any particular programming language, operating system, or architecture, and it is flexible enough to support a range of different evolution management policies and strategies. The model has been fully implemented within the Legion wide-area distributed object computing system. A performance study demonstrates that dynamic configurability can be implemented efficiently, with a small amount of added overhead for method function invocation and object creation, and with a marked improvement in the cost of evolution.
Defending the orthodontist: A view from thedefendant's side of the bar

Abstract There is a tremendous difference in how opposing attorneys evaluate their cases, view their prospects, decide on settlement verses trial, and prepare cases for trial. This article describes how these considerations are evaluated from the defense perspective. Why we recommend what we do and the factors that go into making these decisions are vitally important for the clinician to understand. Once these evaluations, actions, and reasons are appreciated, the risk management messages they spawn can be put into proper context for future use.
Management of primary herpetic gingivostomatitis in young children.

Objective:To review the treatment of primary herpetic gingivostomatitis at a children's hospital.Methods:A review of charts from 1999 to 2003.Results:Forty-eight cases were identified. They ranged in age from 8 months to 12 years, with a median age of 2 years 7 months. All children were treated with
Effects of reactant and product adsorption in normal pulse polarography

Abstract Digital simulation is used to characterize the effects of the adsorption of reactants and products on the wave shapes and limiting currents of normal pulse polarograms. Pre-and post-waves induced by adsorption of reactants obeying non-linear isotherms are discussed. Analytical implications of the non-canonical relations between limiting currents and reactant concentrations are stressed.
Microstructurally based model analysis of γ-irradiated tendon allografts

A mathematical model of the collagenous microstructure of tendon was used to analyze the mechanical responses of gamma-irradiated patellar tendon allografts and nonirradiated controls. The model was fit to tensile test response curves from 10 pairs of allografts. Donors ranged in age from 16-64 years (six males, four females). The model indicated a decrease in elastic modulus of irradiated tendon collagen. It also suggested a significant increase in the degree and range of collagen fiber crimping following gamma irradiation. The model results agree with the literature and histological observations. The model fit the experimental response curves well and provided a structurally based, objective method of quantitatively studying the mechanical response of tendons and the consequences of irradiation sterilization.
Suppression of Calcium Release from Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-sensitive Stores Mediates the Anti-apoptotic Function of Nuclear Factor-κB

The activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by growth factors, cytokines, and cellular stress can prevent apoptosis, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we provide evidence for an action of NF-κB on calcium signaling that accounts for its anti-apoptotic function. Embryonic fibroblasts lacking the transactivating subunit of NF-κB RelA (p65) exhibit enhanced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor-mediated calcium release and increased sensitivity to apoptosis, which are restored upon re-expression of RelA. The size of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium pool and the number of IP3 receptors per cell are decreased in response to stimuli that activate NF-κB and are increased when NF-κB activity is suppressed. The selective antagonism of IP3 receptors blocks apoptosis in RelA-deficient cells, whereas activation of NF-κB in normal cells leads to decreased levels of the type 1 IP3 receptor and decreased calcium release. Overexpression of Bcl-2 normalizes ER calcium homeostasis and prevents calcium-mediated apoptosis in RelA-deficient cells. These findings establish an ER calcium channel as a pivotal target for NF-κB-mediated cell survival signaling.
The ARPA/NAVY Mountaintop Program: adaptive signal processing for airborne early warning radar

The Mountaintop Program is an ARPA/NAVY sponsored initiative started in 1990 to study advanced processing techniques and technologies required to support the mission requirements of next generation airborne early warning (AEW) platforms. Central to the effort is a surveillance radar measurements program executed from various mountaintop locations including field sites at the White Sands Missile Range (WMSR), New Mexico and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Hawaii. The program is collecting data to support the evaluation of space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms and the characterization and modeling of monostatic and bistatic scattering. Some of the data collected is hosted in CREST, the Common Research Environment for STAP, at the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) and is accessible to the digital signal processing community via the World Wide Web. A subset of that data has been provided for inclusion in the IEEE Signal Processing Information Base at Rice University. This paper includes a discussion of program objectives and test segments and a description of the program's assets, field sites, and data product. A companion off-line demonstration of AEW signal processing concepts, using Mountaintop data available at the MHPCC, is planned.
Dynamic simulation of the hydrodynamic interaction among immersed particles in Stokes flow

A numerical method for the dynamic simulation of the hydrodynamic interaction among particles in Stokes flow is developed. The method couples the quasi-static Stokes equations for the fluid with the equilibrium equations for the particles. The boundary element method is used to represent the velocity at a general field point in terms of surface velocities and stresses. However, neither the stresses nor the velocities are assumed to be known on the surface of the particles. Kinematic equations relating the linear and angular velocities at the centroids of the particles to the surface velocities are combined with the discretized boundary element equations and the equilibrium equations to generate a system of linear equations. The associated coefficient matrix is correspondent to the grand resistance matrix which relates the velocities of the particles to a given geometry.
Room-temperature, continuous-wave, 946-nm Nd:YAG laser pumped by laser-diode arrays and intracavity frequency doubling to 473 nm

We report the use of GaAlAs laser-diode arrays to pump a cw Nd:YAG laser operating on the 946-nm 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 transition. At room temperature, the lasing threshold was reached with 58 mW of absorbed pump power, and, with 175 mW of absorbed pump power, 42 mW of output power at 946 nm was obtained in a TEM00 mode by using 0.7% output coupling. In addition, pumping with an infrared dye laser operating in a pure TEM00 mode was used to investigate the effects of reabsorption loss that are characteristic of the 946-nm laser transition. LiIO3 was used as an intracavity doubling crystal, and 100 μW of blue light was generated by using diode-laser pumping in a nonoptimized cavity.
Augmentation of oxidant injury to human pulmonary epithelial cells by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophore pyochelin

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes acute and chronic infections of the human lung, with resultant tissue injury. We have previously shown that iron bound to pyochelin, a siderophore secreted by the organism to acquire iron, is an efficient catalyst for hydroxyl radical (HO.) formation and augments injury to pulmonary artery endothelial cells resulting from their exposure to superoxide (O2.) and/or H2O2. Sources for O2-. and H2O2 included phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated neutrophils and pyocyanin. Pyocyanin, another P. aeruginosa secretory product, undergoes cell-mediated redox, thereby forming O2-. and H2O2. In P. aeruginosa lung infections, damage to airway epithelial cells is probably more extensive than that to endothelial cells. Therefore, we examined whether ferripyochelin also augments oxidant-mediated damage to airway epithelial cells. A549 cells, a human type II alveolar epithelial cell line, was exposed to H2O2, PMA-stimulated neutrophils, or pyocyanin, and injury was determined by release of 51Cr from prelabeled cells. Ferripyochelin significantly increased (> 10-fold) oxidant-mediated cell injury regardless of whether H2O2, neutrophils, or pyocyanin was employed. Apo-pyochelin was not effective, and ferripyochelin was not toxic by itself at the concentrations employed. Spin trapping with alpha-(4-pyrridyl-1-oxide)-N-t-butyl-nitrone-ethanol confirmed the generation of HO., and injury was decreased by a variety of antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and dimethylthiourea. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the presence of ferripyochelin at sites of P. aeruginosa lung infection could contribute to tissue injury through its ability to promote HO.-mediated damage to airway epithelial cells.
II—Niko Kolodny: Comment on Munoz-Dardé's‘Liberty's Chains’

Munoz-Darde (2009) argues that a social contract theory must meet Rousseau's ‘liberty condition’: that, after the social contract, each ‘nevertheless obeys only himself and remains as free as before’. She claims that Rousseau's social contract does not meet this condition, for reasons that suggest that no other social contract theory could. She concludes that political philosophy should turn away from social contract theory's preoccupation with authority and obedience, and focus instead on what she calls the ‘legitimacy’ of social arrangements. I raise questions about each of these claims.
Leadership within emergent events in complex systems: micro-enactments and the mechanisms of organisational learning and change

One tradition within the complexity paradigm considers organisations as complex adaptive systems in which autonomous individuals interact, often in complex ways with difficult to predict, non-linear outcomes. Building upon this tradition, and more specifically following the complex systems leadership theory approach, we describe the ways in which leadership emerges in events. To do so, we examine the micro-level interactions among agents within these groups in terms of the programmes of action that they enact. We call these building blocks micro-enactments, propose that they can be observed and coded by researchers, identify and classify them and argue that they are used to construct the systemic mechanisms, which enable organised action and change. We offer propositions that suggest how these micro-enactments can be assembled into organisational mechanisms that enable change processes. More generally, we propose that organisational change is constructed when specific micro-enactments are assembled to reconfigure an organisation's capabilities and competencies.
Activation of the baboon fetal pituitary-adrenocortical axis at midgestation by estrogen: enhancement of fetal pituitary proopiomelanocortin messenger ribonucleic acid expression.

We have proposed that estrogen, via regulation of placental metabolism of maternal cortisol, regulates the baboon fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the timing of the onset of de novo cortisol production. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrated that the ontogenesis of fetal adrenal steroidogenic enzymes near term could be induced at midgestation by maternal estrogen treatment. In the present study, we determined whether maturation of the fetal adrenal near term and at midgestation after estrogen treatment reflects enhanced expression of the messenger RNA (mRNA) for the ACTH precursor molecule POMC. Fetal pituitaries were obtained on day 100 (n = 7) and day 165 (n = 5) of gestation (term = day 184) from untreated baboons and on day 100 after maternal treatment with estradiolbenzoate (sc; days 70-100; n = 6). Sections were fixed in paraformaldehyde and hybridized with saturating concentrations of an antisense (or sense) oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to bases 297-326 of human POMC mRNA...
An optoelectronic CMOS memory circuit for parallel detection and storage of optical data

A CMOS static RAM (SRAM) circuit capable of detecting and storing optically transmitted data is described. Bits of data are transferred to the memory circuit via an array of parallel light beams. A 16-b optoelectronic SRAM was fabricated in a standard bulk CMOS process and tested using argon and helium-neon lasers. Data contained in an array of 16 light beams with an average power of 3.35 mu W/pixel were successfully transferred to the SRAM in parallel fashion. The storage of the optical information was verified by electronically addressing each cell. The optical data transfer technology is extended to other systems in which high speed and parallelism are essential. >
Amphibian and reptile community response to coarse woody debris manipulations in upland loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests

Coarse woody debris (CWD) has been identified as a key microhabitat component for groups that are moisture and temperature sensitive such as amphibians and reptiles. However, few experimental manipulations have quantitatively assessed amphibian and reptile response to varying CWD volumes within forested environments. We assessed amphibian and reptile response to large-scale, CWD manipulation within managed loblolly pine stands in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States from 1998 to 2005. Our study consisted of two treatment phases: Phase I treatments included downed CWD removal (removal of all downed CWD), all CWD removal (removal of all downed and standing CWD), pre-treatment snag, and control; Phase II treatments included downed CWD addition (downed CWD volume increased 5-fold), snag addition (standing CWD volume increased 10-fold), all CWD removal (all CWD removed), and control. Amphibian and anuran capture rates were greater in control than all CWD removal plots during study Phase I. In Phase II, reptile diversity and richness were greater in downed CWD addition and all CWD removal than snag addition treatments. Capture rate of Rana sphenocephala was greater in all CWD removal treatment than downed CWD addition treatment. The dominant amphibian and snake species captured are adapted to burrowing in sandy soil or taking refuge under leaf litter. Amphibian and reptile species endemic to upland southeastern Coastal Plain pine forests may not have evolved to rely on CWD because the humid climate and short fire return interval have resulted in historically low volumes of CWD.
Developmental Issues in the Treatment of Diabetic Women.

The physiological and psychological effects of diabetes on women show changes with age. Behavioral interventions on behalf of diabetic women must be based on an understanding of these life span changes. A review of selected articles from the medical and psychological literature that focus on special issues for a diabetic woman during preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood is presented. Recommendations are made for behavioral interventions with diabetic women in regard to “sick” role adjustment, peer conformity pressures, eating disorders, sexuality, and pregnancy.
The Morality of Inclusion

Today we are witnessing two dramatic processes: the fragmentation of old states and empires, followed by the emergence of new states and new forms of political association; and the construction of new economies out of the ruins of state socialism. These two processes—the redrawing of political boundaries and the creation of economies—are not independent of one another. In some cases, the desire for a new, more productive economy supplements other motives for state-breaking and state-making. In others, even if the fragmentation of political union results from other factors, such as ethnic divisions or the resurgence of nationalism against a weakened imperial center, the fragments may sort themselves out into new states, federations, or commonwealths, according to what they believe to be maximally productive economic units.
MESODERM-ECTODERM INTERACTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE AGOUTI PIGMENTATION PATTERN IN MICE

Alleles at the agouti locus in the mouse determine the synthesis of either phaeomelanin or eumelanin by follicular melanocytes by altering the hair follicle environment. The method of dermal-epidermal recombination of mouse skin from C57BL/6J a/a and C57BL/6J Aw-J/Aw-J embryos was used in this study to establish the precise site of agouti gene action within the hair follicle. The pigmentary pattern of hairs formed in the recombination skin grafts was specific for the genotype of the dermal (mesodermal) component of the hair follicle. The genotype of the epidermal (ectodermal) component had no influence on the type of hair pigmentary pattern. These results indicate that future studies on gene mechanisms should focus on the dermis as the determining factor in altering the hair follicle environment.
Social Work Practice and Juvenile Delinquency

ABSTRACT The multisystemic model is useful as an instrument for preparing social work students for direct practice with serious juvenile offenders. The model synthesizes traditional and emergent social work roles combining micro and macro practice: case management, therapist, multisystem team member and large system change specialist. The graduate curriculum is distributed over two semester courses. The first course examines the nature of the juvenile justice system and provides an overview of the multisystemic model. The second course promotes direct practice and coincides with an appropriate practicum. Students learn multisystemic assessment and intervention at the individual, family, and larger system levels.
The influence of swelling capacity of superdisintegrants in different pH media on the dissolution of hydrochlorothiazide from directly compressed tablets

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of superdisintegrants in promoting tablet disintegration and drug dissolution under varied media pH. Significant reductions in the rate and extent of water uptake and swelling were observed for both sodium starch glycolate (Primojel) and croscarmellose sodium (Ac-Di-Sol) in an acidic medium (0.1 N HCl) but not for crospovidone NF (Polyplasdone XL10), a nonionic polymer. When Primojel and Ac-Di-Sol were incorporated in model formulations, a significant increase in tablet disintegration time was observed for slowly disintegrating tablets (lactose-based tablets) but not for the rapidly disintegrating tablets (dicalcium phosphate-based tablets). The dissolution rate of the model drug, hydrochlorothiazide, was found highly dependent on both tablet disintegration efficiency and the solubility of base material(s) in the testing medium. A laser diffraction particle size analyzer proved to be an effective tool for determining the intrinsic swelling of disintegrant particles in different media. Water uptake and swelling were confirmed as 2 important functions of superdisintegrants. The reduced water uptake and swelling capacity of disintegrants containing ionizable substituents in an acidic medium can potentially jeopardize their efficiency in promoting tablet disintegration and the drug dissolution rate.
Studies on the mechanism of gel formation in the California mastitis test reaction

The effects of various factors on gel formation in the California Mastitis Test (CMT) were studied to obtain information on the mechanism of the reaction. Death of the leucocytes in milk, produced either by storing the milk at 5°C or by freezing and thawing, markedly reduced the viscosity of the gel formed by the milk with CMT reagent. Samples of skim-milk to which leucocytes were added gave increasingly viscous gels with CMT reagent as the pH was increased to 10·0. Soluble casein increased the viscosity of the gel formed by leucocytes with CMT reagent. The viscosity of the gel was decreased by the addition of CaCl2 and NaCl. On microscopic examination the gel formed in the CMT appeared as an irregularly arranged fibrillar network containing DNA. Deoxyribonuclease I rapidly eliminated the gel-forming property of leucocyte nuclei with CMT reagent, and EDTA inhibited this enzyme activity. Crude protease, trypsin, papain and bacterial protease decreased the gelforming property to different degrees. The presence of EDTA with these enzymes resulted in the formation of a viscous, ropy gel before the addition of CMT reagent. It was concluded that at least a part of the protein of the DNA-protein complex of leucocyte nuclei, in addition to the native polymer of DNA, was necessary for gel formation in the CMT reaction.
Time-series analysis of the effects of barbiturates on the electroencephalograms of psychotic and non psychotic men

Quantitative electroencephalography was used to determine differential neuropharmacological effects of barbiturates in chronic schizophrenic men and nonpsychotic male volunteers. The effects of oral pentobarbital and intravenous thiopental were compared in the two groups. The schizophrenic patients were relatively refractory to the sleep-inducing effect ot the pentobarbital and showed attenuated responses to this drug in their electroencephalograms in comparison with the nonpsychotic subjects. The patients also showed quantitative electroencephalographic changes consistent with the clinical definition of greater !activation" after the thiopental. Both of these findings suggest that these patients, at least in the experimental setting, tend to be more !alerted" or !overstimulated" than the nonpsychotic subjects.
Reproductive failure in women who practice weight control

Forty-seven women (29 with unexplained infertility and 18 with menstrual dysfunction) practiced weight control by caloric restriction in order to maintain a fashionable body habitus. All of these women were below ideal body weight (IBW) when compared with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tables for height and weight. When 36 of these women followed a dietary regimen designed to increase their weight to predicted IBW, 19 of 26 infertile women (73%) conceived spontaneously; 9 of 10 women (90%) with secondary amenorrhea resumed menstruation. Eleven women (23%) would not accept their practice of weight control as the cause of reproductive failure and did not participate in the study. Differences in the serum gonadotropin luteinizing hormone:follicle-stimulating hormone (LH:FSH) ratio were found to be significantly related to differences in the percentage of IBW. The practice of weight control may be a cause of unexplained infertility and menstrual disorders in otherwise healthy women.
Endometriosis: studies of a method for the design of a surgical staging system

This study develops a method of identifying factors that predict pregnancy rates in patients with endometriosis. In 123 women, 60% had adhesions, 89% had implants, and 29% had endometriomas. The most common lesions were cul-de-sac implants (60%), ovarian implants (58%), and ovarian adhesions (55%). With no treatment, the life-table-estimated 3-year pregnancy rate was 40%; with oral contraceptives, 33%; and with surgery, 53%. Clustering techniques suggested new combinations of variables to be tested. We identified structures commonly involved simultaneously in a given patient, defined subgroups based on type of lesion, and developed a method to determine which factors were important in predicting outcome. In our patients, neither of two current methods of endometriosis staging predicted outcome. Further testing of the model systems suggested by the data may enable us to develop a staging system more predictive of pregnancy rates in endometriosis patients.
Cyst of the Meniscus of the Acromioclavicular Joint

Two cases of cysts of the fibrocartilaginious meniseus of the acromioclavicular joint are reported. While this entity seems to be rare, it should be pointed out that the possibility of this disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions found in the acromioclavicular joint.
The Adoption of the Electronic Communications Convention by Montenegro: Policy Choices and Impact

The Working Paper discusses the recent ratification by Montenegro of the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (the "Electronic Communications Convention"). In particular, it focuses on the possible benefits arising from the use of that Convention in order to promote mutual legal recognition of electronic transactions and electronic signatures between commercial operators based in Montenegro and foreign business partners besides the existing Montenegrin legislation, based on European Union legislative models.
Impact of site-specific PEGylation on the conformational stability and folding rate of the Pin WW domain depends strongly on PEG oligomer length.

Protein PEGylation is an effective method for reducing the proteolytic susceptibility, aggregation propensity, and immunogenicity of protein drugs. These pharmacokinetic challenges are fundamentally related to protein conformational stability, and become much worse for proteins that populate the unfolded state under ambient conditions. If PEGylation consistently led to increased conformational stability, its beneficial pharmacokinetic effects could be extended and enhanced. However, the impact of PEGylation on protein conformational stability is currently unpredictable. Here we show that appending a short PEG oligomer to a single Asn side chain within a reverse turn in the WW domain of the human protein Pin 1 increases WW conformational stability in a manner that depends strongly on the length of the PEG oligomer: shorter oligomers increase folding rate, whereas longer oligomers increase folding rate and reduce unfolding rate. This strong length dependence is consistent with the possibility that the PEG o...
Effects of Host Density and Bark Thickness on the Densities of Parasites of the Southern Pine Beetle

The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman (SPB), and eight of its hymenopterous parasites were studied to evaluate the effects of SPB density and tree bark thickness (BKTH) on the parasites. Significant differences between infestations were found for densities of Dendrosoter sulcatus Muesebeck (Braconidae), Heydenia unica Cook and Davis (Pteromalidae), Rhopalicus sp. (Pteromalidae), Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Ratzeburg) (Torymidae), and SPB. Roptrocerus xylophagorum and SPB varied similarly among infestations. Parasite and SPB densities were generally highest at midbole of infested trees and decreased toward the ends. The male-to-female ratio for Roptrocerus xylophagorum was 1.7 to 1, this being the only parasite observed to depart from a 1:1 sex ratio. Rhopalicus sp. density increased linearly with SPB density and decreasing BKTH. Roptrocerus xylophagorum density was linearly related to SPB density and BKTH, and an SPB density-BKTH interaction was found. Spathius pallidus Ashmead (Braconidae) density was not related to SPB density but increased quadratically with decreasing BKTH. Coeloides pissodis (Ashmead) (Braconidae) and Cecidostiba dendroctoni Ashmead (Pteromalidae) displayed inverse density-dependent responses to SPB density, and linear responses to BKTH. Dendrosoter sulcatus , H. unica , and Eurytoma spp. (Eurytomidae) exhibited inverse density-dependent responses to SPB density, and quadratic responses to BKTH.
THE STATUS OF LARUS RELICTUS AND OF OTHER HOODED GULLS FROM CENTRAL ASIA

Os 24 April 1929 a single specimen of a strange hooded gull was collected by K. G. S6derbom, a member of Sven Hedin's expedition to eastern central Asia, at Tsondol, a remote locality on the Etsin Col [River] in northern Inner Mongolia. According to L6nnberg (1931a), Tsondol is situated at 41 o 53' 30" N by 101 o 6' 33" E, or not far from Sogo Nor [Lake], called also Socha Nor on some maps, one of several akes into which the Etsin empties. All these localities are in the province of Ningsia, the westernmost political division of Inner Mongolia, in the southern part of the Gobi Desert.
Association of Loss of Independence With Readmission and Death After Discharge in Older Patients After Surgical Procedures

Importance Older adults are at increased risk for adverse events after surgical procedures. Loss of independence (LOI), defined as a decline in function or mobility, increased care needs at home, or discharge to a nonhome destination, is an important patient-centered outcome measure. Objective To evaluate LOI among older adult patients after surgical procedures and examine the association of LOI with readmission and death after discharge in this population. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study examined 9972 patients 65 years and older with known baseline function, mobility, and living situation undergoing inpatient operations from January 2014 to December 2014 at 26 hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Geriatric Surgery Pilot Project. A total of 4895 patients were excluded because they were totally dependent, classified as class 5 by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, undergoing orthopedic or spinal procedures, or died prior to discharge. Exposures Loss of independence at time of discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures Readmission and death after discharge. Results Of the 5077 patients included in this study, 2736 (53.9%) were female and 3876 (76.3%) were white, with a mean (SD) age of 75 (7) years. For this cohort, LOI increased with age; LOI occurred in 1386 of 2780 patients (49.9%) aged 65 to 74 years, 1162 of 1726 (67.3%) aged 75 to 84 years, and 479 of 571 (83.9%) 85 years and older ( P Conclusions and Relevance Loss of independence, a patient-centered outcome, was associated with postoperative readmissions and death after discharge. Loss of independence can feasibly be collected across multiple hospitals in a national registry. Clinical initiatives to minimize LOI will be important for improving surgical care for older adults.
Analysis of Infinite Dimensional Dynamic Systems with Nonlinear Observation over a Finite Field

In this paper we consider a dynamical system defined on the interval [0,1) of the form $$ \begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{{x}_{{k + 1}}} = 2{{x}_{k}}\left( {\bmod 1} \right)} \\ {{{y}_{k}} = \chi \left( {{{x}_{k}}} \right),} \\ \end{array} $$ (1.1) where X(x) is the characteristic function of a union of dyadic intervals. This system, or a variant of it, has appeared in many different contexts, see for example [2,11,3]. The first author became aware of this formulation of the problem through the work of DiMasi and Gamboni [2]. We show that the system (1.1) is equivalent to $$ \begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{{{\overrightarrow x }}_{{k + 1}}} = \sigma \left( {\overrightarrow {{{x}_{k}}} } \right)} \\ {{{y}_{k}} = p\left( {\overrightarrow {{{x}_{k}}} } \right),} \\ \end{array} $$ (1.2) where \( {{\overrightarrow x }_{k}} \) is an infinite sequence of 0’s and l’s, σ is the left-shift, and p is a polynomial map into {0,1}. In this form, the system appears to be quite similar to certain “block map” systems studied in topological dynamics [5,6]. However, there are important distinctions between the systems which appear in this paper and the block maps of topological dynamics. These differences will be noted as they arise.
Chemical characterization and research on the silicone rubber material used for outdoor current transformer insulation

The cracking and reasons for aging of silicone rubber current transformer insulation sheath from a 500 kV substation were investigated. Chemical characteristics including attenuated total reflectan...
Grief and Healing in Young and Middle Age: A Widower’s Journey

The experience of grief is both uniquely personal and universal. Our personality, our relationship with the deceased, the manner in which the deceased died, our life stage, and many other contextual factors matter and impact grief, and yet there are many experiences, phases, stages of grief that are universal. Those who are grieving deeply or who are farther along in their healing are often trying to understand grief and its realities. It has been said that people die but relationships do not. As a widower twice, once at age 25 and then again nearly 30 years later, I agree with that sentiment, and it is the profound relationships with my wives Becky and Susan that propelled me to share my experiences and reflections on grief and healing. As a clinical psychologist and gerontologist I examined the grief and gerontology literature, learning new things that were useful and not as useful.
EEG in Headache Evaluation

A literature review of articles published between 1941 and 1994 was used to determine the utility of the electroencephalogram in the evaluation of patients with headache and the results are reported from the Departments of Neurology, Lackland AFB, TX, and Andrews AFB, MD.
The Short-Term Effect of Weight Loss Surgery on Volumetric Breast Density and Fibroglandular Volume.

Obesity and breast density are both associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and are potentially modifiable. Weight loss surgery (WLS) causes a significant reduction in the amount of body fat and a decrease in breast cancer risk. The effect of WLS on breast density and its components has not been documented. Here, we analyze the impact of WLS on volumetric breast density (VBD) and on each of its components (fibroglandular volume and breast volume) by using three-dimensional methods. Fibroglandular volume, breast volume, and their ratio, the VBD, were calculated from mammograms before and after WLS by using Volpara™ automated software. For the 80 women included, average body mass index decreased from 46.0 ± 7.22 to 33.7 ± 7.06 kg/m2. Mammograms were performed on average 11.6 ± 9.4 months before and 10.1 ± 7 months after WLS. There was a significant reduction in average breast volume (39.4 % decrease) and average fibroglandular volume (15.5 % decrease), and thus, the average VBD increased from 5.15 to 7.87 % (p < 1 × 10−9) after WLS. When stratified by menopausal status and diabetic status, VBD increased significantly in all groups but only perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and non-diabetics experienced a significant reduction in fibroglandular volume. Breast volume and fibroglandular volume decreased, and VBD increased following WLS, with the most significant change observed in postmenopausal women and non-diabetics. Further studies are warranted to determine how physical and biological alterations in breast density components after WLS may impact breast cancer risk.
ΓÇ£Thinking as someone elseΓÇ¥ ΓÇô Using Avatars in teacher education and the challenge to think and act as someone else.

This article discusses an alternative learning project that has been conducted in an online course at a teacher education program from Fall 2012 to Fall 2015. As part of the course, students have to create avatars and think and act as their avatars when faced with educational issues. The project strives to overcome challenges that teacher education programs have to take into account when preparing students to become teachers. A qualitative research study has been conducted in order to find out more about the studentsΓCO thinking and learning in this innovative approach of the online class. Results of the study and the implications for the project will be discussed.
Ocular Permeation Enhancers

Nanotechnology-based penetration enhancers provide novel mechanisms to improve current drug delivery methodologies. New developments in this field have been shown to overcome previous difficulties of ocular therapeutics like anatomical barriers and filtration mechanisms. Furthermore, nanoparticles exhibit additional benefits as a drug carrier, such as protection of drugs against degradation, biocompatible carrier structures, or reduction of adverse or immunological effects. Penetration enhancers exhibit great promise in ophthalmology. While much of the current research in the field surrounds lipid-based nanotechnologies, other innovative works have expanded the spectrum of ocular drug delivery.
Treating Early Knee Osteoarthritis with the Atlas® Unicompartmental Knee System in a 26-Year-Old Ex-Professional Basketball Player: A Case Study

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among adults. Within the affected population, there exists a group of patients who have exhausted conservative treatment options and yet are not ideal candidates for current surgical treatments due to young age, early disease severity, or neutral mechanical knee alignment. For these patients, a new potential treatment option may be considered. We present an interesting case report of a young, ex-professional athlete treated with a minimally invasive load-altering implant (Atlas System) whose young age (26 years), disease status (tibiofemoral kissing lesions), and neutral mechanical limb alignment eliminated all traditional surgical treatment options such as high tibial osteotomy or arthroplasty. At 6 months after surgery, our patient demonstrated positive outcomes improvement in pain, function, and quality of life and had returned to high-impact athletic activity without symptoms. These initial results are promising, and longer follow-up data on the treatment will be necessary.
Microwave-accelerated Conjugate Addition of 2-Arylindoles to Substituted β-Nitrostyrenes in the Presence of Ammonium Trifluoroacetate: An Efficient Approach for the Synthesis of a Novel Class of CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Allosteric Modulators

2-Arylindoles, in general, exhibit reduced reactivity towards the conjugate addition to substituted nitrostyrenes, when compared with indoles. We report here an efficient, expeditious, and high-yielding conjugate addition of 2-arylindoles to substituted β-nitrostyrenes in the presence of ammonium trifluoroacetate under microwave irradiation. This method is mild with high and reproducible yields and is selective for addition of β-nitrostyrenes when compared with other electrophiles. The results obtained from the optimized microwave method consistently provided improved yields in a shorter time compared with those of the conventional heating synthetic route.
Drone Warfare: Twenty-First Century Empire and Communications

This paper, part of a larger project that examines drones from a social-construction of technology perspective, considers drone warfare in light of Harold Innis’s seminal work on empire and communication. Leveraging leading-edge aeronautics with advanced optics, data processing, and networked communication, drones represent an archetypal “space-biased” technology. Indeed, by allowing remote operators and others to monitor, select, and strike targets from half a world away, and in real-time, these weapon systems epitomize the “pernicious neglect of time” Innis sought to identify and remedy in his later writing. With Innis’s time-space dialectic as a starting point, then, the paper considers drones in light of a longstanding paradox of American culture: the impulse to collapse the geographical distance between the United States and other parts of the globe, while simultaneously magnifying the cultural difference between Americans and other peoples and societies. In the midst of the worldwide proliferation of drones, this quintessentially sublime technology embodies this (dis)connect in important, profound, and ominous ways.
Measures of Local Segregation for Monitoring Health Inequities by Local Health Departments

Objectives. To assess the use of local measures of segregation for monitoring health inequities by local health departments.Methods. We analyzed preterm birth and premature mortality (death before the age of 65 years) rates for Boston, Massachusetts, for 2010 to 2012, using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) and the poverty rate at both the census tract and neighborhood level.Results. For premature mortality at the census tract level, the rate ratios comparing the worst-off and best-off terciles were 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36, 1.83) for the ICE for income, 1.66 (95% CI = 1.43, 1.93) for the ICE for race/ethnicity, and 1.63 (95% CI = 1.40, 1.90) for the ICE combining income and race/ethnicity, as compared with 1.47 (95% CI = 1.27, 1.71) for the poverty measure. Results for the ICE and poverty measures were more similar for preterm births than for premature mortality.Conclusions. The ICE, a measure of social spatial polarization, may be useful for analyzing health inequities at...