cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Markerless Genetic Exchange Method for Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A and Its Use in Construction of New Genetic Tools for Methanogenic Archaea

A new genetic technique for constructing mutants of Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A by using hpt as a counterselectable marker was developed. Mutants with lesions in the hpt gene, encoding hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, were shown to be >35-fold more resistant to the toxic base analog 8-aza-2,6-diaminopurine (8ADP) than was the wild type. Reintroduction of the hpt gene into a Δhpt host restored 8ADP sensitivity and provided the basis for a two-step strategy involving plasmid integration and excision for recombination of mutant alleles onto the M. acetivorans chromosome. We have designated this method markerless exchange because, although selectable markers are used during the process, they are removed in the final mutants. Thus, the method can be repeated many times in the same cell line. The method was validated by construction of ΔproC Δhpt mutants, which were recovered at a frequency of 22%. Additionally, a Methanosarcina-Escherichia shuttle vector, encoding the Escherichia coli proC gene as a new selectable marker, was constructed for use in proC hosts. Finally, the markerless exchange method was used to recombine a series of uidA reporter gene fusions into the M. acetivorans proC locus. In vitro assay of β-glucuronidase activity in extracts of these recombinants demonstrated, for the first time, the utility of uidA as a reporter gene in Methanosarcina. A >5,000-fold range of promoter activities could be measured by using uidA: the methyl-coenzyme M reductase operon fusion displayed ∼300-fold-higher activity than did the serC gene fusion, which in turn had 16-fold-higher activity than did a fusion to the unknown orf2 gene.
Critical Legal Studies and the Critique of Criminal Justice

The field of criminal justice lacks an autonomous radical tradition, although radical criminology has had some influence. Recently, a perspective known as critical legal studies has emerged. The principal dimensions of this perspective are explicated, and some attention is directed towards the controversy over the role of adherents of this perspective in the law school. The argument advanced here is that these developments in the realm of critical legal studies have some relevance for the evolution of a radical perspective within criminal justice.
Total Synthesis of Colombiasin A.

Colombian corals of the species Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae produce the title compound, colombiasin A (1). This structurally novel, biologically active tetracyclic compound has now been synthesized for the first time in racemic form. Preliminary studies toward the asymmetric total synthesis of both enantiomers indicate that the determination of the absolute stereochemistry can be expected soon.
Characterization and visualization of rat and guinea pig brain kappa opioid receptors: evidence for kappa 1 and kappa 2 opioid receptors.

Abstract kappa opioid receptors (kappa receptors) have been characterized in homogenates of guinea pig and rat brain under in vitro binding conditions. kappa receptors were labeled by using the tritiated prototypic kappa opioid ethylketocyclazocine under conditions in which mu and delta opioid binding was suppressed. In the case of guinea pig brain membranes, a single population of high-affinity kappa opioid receptor sites (kappa sites; Kd = 0.66 nM, Bmax = 80 fmol/mg of protein) was observed. In contrast, in the case of rat brain, two populations of kappa sites were observed--high-affinity sites at low density (Kd = 1.0 nM, Bmax = 16 fmol/mg of protein) and low-affinity sites at high density (Kd = 13 nM, Bmax = 111 fmol/mg of protein). To test the hypothesis that the high- and low-affinity kappa sites represent two distinct kappa receptor subtypes, a series of opioids were tested for their abilities to compete for binding to the two sites. U-69,593 and Cambridge 20 selectively displaced the high-affinity kappa site in both guinea pig and rat tissue, but were inactive at the rat-brain low-affinity site. Other kappa opioid drugs, including U-50,488, ethylketocyclazocine, bremazocine, cyclazocine, and dynormphin (1-17), competed for binding to both sites, but with different rank orders of potency. Quantitative light microscopy in vitro autoradiography was used to visualize the neuroanatomical pattern of kappa receptors in rat and guinea pig brain. The distribution patterns of the two kappa receptor subtypes of rat brain were clearly different. The pattern of rat high-affinity kappa sites paralleled that of guinea pig in the caudate-putamen, mid-brain, central gray substance of cerebrum, and substantia nigra; interspecies differences were apparent throughout most of the rest of the brain. Collectively, these data provide direct evidence for the presence of two kappa receptor subtypes; the U-69,593-sensitive, high-affinity kappa 1 site predominates in guinea pig brain, and the U-69,593-insensitive, low-affinity kappa 2 site predominates in rat brain.
Fully integrated electrothermal multidomain modeling of RF MEMS switches

RF MEMS switches have demonstrated excellent performance. However, before such switches can be fully implemented, they must demonstrate high reliability and robust power-handling capability. Numerical simulation is a vital part of design to meet these goals. This paper demonstrates a fully integrated electrothermal model of an RF MEMS switch which solves for RF current and switch temperature. The results show that the beam temperature increases with either higher input power or increased frequency. The simulation data are used to predict switch failure due to temperature-related creep and self pull-in over a wide range of operating frequency (0.1-40 GHz) and power input (0-10 W). Self pull-in is found to be the dominant failure mechanism for an example geometry.
An Early CD4+ T Cell–dependent Immunoglobulin A Response to Influenza Infection in the Absence of Key Cognate T–B Interactions

Contact-mediated interactions between CD4+ T cells and B cells are considered crucial for T cell-dependent B cell responses. To investigate the ability of activated CD4+ T cells to drive in vivo B cell responses in the absence of key cognate T-B interactions, we constructed radiation bone marrow chimeras in which CD4+ T cells would be activated by wild-type (WT) dendritic cells, but would interact with B cells that lacked expression of either major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) or CD40. B cell responses were assessed after influenza virus infection of the respiratory tract, which elicits a vigorous, CD4+ T cell-dependent antibody response in WT mice. The influenza-specific antibody response was strongly reduced in MHC II knockout and CD40 knockout mice. MHC II-deficient and CD40-deficient B cells in the chimera environment also produced little virus-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG, but generated a strong virus-specific IgA response with virus-neutralizing activity. The IgA response was entirely influenza specific, in contrast to the IgG2a response, which had a substantial nonvirus-specific component. Our study demonstrates a CD4+ T cell-dependent, antiviral IgA response that is generated in the absence of B cell signaling via MHC II or CD40, and is restricted exclusively to virus-specific B cells.
Hemichordates and the Origin of Chordates

Hemichordates, the phylum of bilateral animals most closely related to chordates, could reveal the evolutionary origins of chordate traits such as the nerve cord, notochord, gill slits and tail. The anteroposterior maps of gene expression domains for 38 genes of chordate neural patterning are highly similar for hemichordates and chordates, even though hemichordates have a diffuse nerve-net. About 40% of the domains are not present in protostome maps. We propose that this map, the gill slits and the tail date to the deuterostome ancestor. The map of dorsoventral expression domains, centered on a Bmp-Chordin axis, differs between the two groups; hemichordates resemble protostomes more than they do chordates. The dorsoventral axis might have undergone extensive modification in the chordate line, including centralization of the nervous system, segregation of epidermis, derivation of the notochord, and an inversion of organization.
The Minnesota Grading System Using Fundus Autofluorescence of Eye Bank Eyes: A Correlation To Age-Related Macular Degeneration (An AOS Thesis)

Purpose To establish a grading system of eye bank eyes using fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and identify a methodology that correlates FAF to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with clinical correlation to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).
New Insights Into Transmission, Diagnosis, and Drug Treatment of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Pneumocystis carinii has been recognized as a human pathogen for nearly 50 years. We present a case of P carinii infection that typifies clinical presentation in the era of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. The high incidence of P carinii pneumonia in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has served to focus laboratory and clinical research efforts on better understanding the biology of the organism and on improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this disease. Although inability to culture P carinii has hampered research efforts, molecular and immunologic approaches have led to the recognition that the organism represents a family of fungi with a very restricted host range and have allowed characterization of clinically relevant antigens and enzymes. Molecular epidemiologic studies have identified more than 50 strains of human-derived P carinii and have suggested that recently acquired infection, as opposed to reactivation of latent infection, may account for many cases of clinical disease. Diagnosis has been improved by the development of organism-specific monoclonal antibodies and, more recently, by polymerase chain reaction using multicopy gene targets, together with induced sputum or oral wash samples. Chemotherapeutic prophylaxis is very effective in preventing P carinii pneumonia; the combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole remains the first-line agent for both therapy and prophylaxis. Prophylaxis needs to be administered only during periods of high risk; in HIV-infected patients responding to effective antiretroviral therapies, prophylaxis no longer needs to be lifelong. Molecular studies have identified mutations in the target of sulfa drugs that appear to represent emerging resistance in P carinii. Resistance to atovaquone, a second-line agent, may also be developing.
Complex response of a Midcontinent North America drainage system to late Wisconsinan sedimentation

ABSTRACT The geomorphic evolution of Mud Creek basin in eastern Iowa, U.S.A. serves to illustrate how geomorphic influences such as sediment supply, valley gradient, climate, and vegetation are recorded in the alluvial stratigraphic record. Sediment supply to the fluvial system increased significantly during the late Wisconsinan through a combination of periglacial erosion and loess accumulation. Subsequent evolution of the Holocene alluvial stratigraphic record reflects long-term routing of the late Wisconsinan sediment through the drainage basin in a series of cut-and-fill cycles whose timing was influenced by hydrologic response to change in climate and vegetation. When viewed in a regional context, the alluvial stratigraphic record appears to reflect a long-term complex response of the flu ial system to increased sediment supply during the late Wisconsinan. Hydrologic and sediment-supply changes accompanying the spread of Euroamerican agriculture to the basin in the 1800s dramatically upset trends in sedimentation and channel behavior established during the Holocene.
A Human Gastric Cancer Cell Line Possesses a Functional Receptor for Gastrin-Releasing Peptide

Bombesin (BBS) exhibits diverse biological functions including those of neurotransmitter, regulator of gastrointestinal hormone release, and mitogen. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP, the mammalian equivalent of BBS) is found in mucosal cells of the gastric fundus and antrum. We determined whether a human gastric cancer cell line (SIIA) expresses a functional GRP-receptor (GRP-R). BBS increased intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and a specific GRP-R antagonist, ([D-Phe6, Des-Met14]-BBS (6-14)-ethylamide), blocked BBS-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. SIIA cells possess GRP-R mRNA by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Furthermore, these cells possess an 80-kDa cell surface protein that specifically binds BBS with two high-binding affinities (Kd1 = 0.6 nM, Kd2 = 6.7 nM). These findings indicate that SIIA cells possess a GRP-R that is capable of physiological signal transduction, though the cellular response remains unknown.
Kinetics of the methanogenic fermentation of acetate

The kinetics of methanogenesis from a stirred batch-fed calcium acetate enrichment culture have been studied. A detailed kinetic analysis of the culture allowed four distinct phases to be distinguished. Phase 1 was a period of very rapid increase (from low initial values) in the rate of methanogenesis upon addition of acetate, and was not thought to be associated with cell growth. In Phase 2 the rate of methanogenesis increased exponentially with time reflecting exponential growth. Phase 3 was characterised by an approximately constant rate of methane production, and is discussed in relation to the uncoupling of growth and methanogenesis. Phase 4 is a period of rapid decline associated with depletion of acetate. The apparent size of the population of the acetate-utilising methanogenic bacteria subsequently declined, with a specific decay constant of 0.4 ± 0.1 d−1. The significance of these phases, in particular 2 and 3, for industrial anaerobic digestion is discussed.
Forging an Agenda for Suicide Prevention in the United States

Suicide prevention must be transformed by integrating injury prevention and mental health perspectives to develop a mosaic of common risk public health interventions that address the diversity of populations and individuals whose mortality and morbidity contribute to the burdens of suicide and attempted suicide. Emphasizing distal preventive interventions, strategies must focus on people and places--and on related interpersonal factors and social contexts--to alter the life trajectories of people before they become suicidal. Attention also must be paid to those in the middle years--the age with the greatest overall burden. We need scientific and social processes that define priorities and assess their potential for reducing what has been a steadily increasing rate of suicide during the past decade.
Preventing Bullying through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): A Multitiered Approach to Prevention and Integration

Although bullying continues to be a growing public health concern in schools across the United States, there are considerable gaps in the American understanding of effective prevention approaches for addressing this seemingly intractable issue. This article applies a public health approach to addressing bullying through the multitiered Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. After describing the connection between bullying, school climate, and positive approaches to behavior management, this article summarizes research on PBIS with regard to bullying, school climate, and student discipline. In addition to potentially influencing student behavior, PBIS also serves as a possible framework for integrating other evidence-based bullying and youth violence prevention models across the three tiers.
System identification with disturbances

In system identification, the purity of the input and output signals determines the accuracy of the parameter estimates. In many situations the input and output signals are tainted with unmeasurable disturbances other than measurement noise usually considered in system identification. Unlike noise, disturbances can be estimated and corrective measures can be applied during identification. If identification is performed with disturbance effects included in the data signals, the model found will not represent the true system. Therefore, any disturbances must be accounted for and dealt with before or during the identification process. A survey of the various methods proposed in literature for dealing with this problem has been compiled and examined in this paper. >
The Impact of Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Information Technology on Communication and Recordkeeping in Patrol Work

The impact of mobile data terminal (MDT) information technology is examined through field research which focuses upon the in-situ uses of the MDT by patrol officers. The impact on patrol officers is reflected in increased proactive work (i.e., traffic) and investigative work not typically the province of patrol, changes in communication patterns between line officers and dispatch and authority relationships with supervisors. The ways in which officers alter and shape their uses of MDT technology to preserve their autonomy, maintain solidarity with their co-workers and “manage” accountability is analyzed as a form of resistance to the potential of this technology to fragment work assignments and control information.
Granular cell myoblastoma: a cause of biliary obstruction.

• An 11-year-old boy was seen with gradual onset of jaundice. Dilated bile ducts were demonstrated by ultrasound and computerized axial tomography. The obstruction was caused by an unusual benign tumor, a granular cell myoblastoma. Cure was effected by resection and choledochojejunostomy. (Am J Dis Child132:68-70, 1978)
The Color of Experience: Postwar Chromatic Abstraction in Venezuela and Brazil

In the aftermath of World War II, South American artists and critics saw color as a key to liberation from the crisis of the art object and the related crisis of modernity. In so doing, they resisted an entrenched postwar suspicion of color's expressive qualities that elsewhere resulted in color either being repositioned as readymade or purged outright. The essays comprising “Color and Abstraction in Latin America” investigate what was at stake in this resurgence, in 1950s and '60s South American abstraction, of color as a central problem of perceptual experience and subject construction. First, color was conceptualized in relation to material experience, as a corporealization (whether individual or collective) that relocates us as subjects. Second, color became the basis for a complex negotiation that laid claim to chromatic abstraction as a universal project through its localized articulation within the developmentalist contexts of postwar South America. Third, all of these artists and writers contextua...
Enzymatic alteration of macromolecular structure.

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the enzymatic alteration of the macromolecular structure. These enzymes that intervene in the shaping of the structure of macromolecules are, therefore, probably, relatively, young components of the processes that have been superimposed on more primitive mechanisms, just as the mechanism of speciation must be an ancillary development on archetypal processes. The rapidly increasing number of enzymes whose function, either is or on theoretical grounds, appears to be the alteration of macromolecules that poses numerous challenging problems to the biochemist. First, there are questions, concerning the mechanism of the action of the enzymes, already known. Second, lots of experience in the studies of the mechanism of enzyme action are limited to the systems, in which the substrates are small molecules. While progress in this area is being made at an accelerated pace, the answers to many of the questions on the fine mechanisms of reactions are less than satisfying. In addition to those examples of the alteration of macromolecules enumerated in this chapter, others come readily to mind. The insertion of glucose into specific positions in some collagens, the interaction of the components of the blood-clotting mechanism, the conversion of zymgens to active enzymes, all indicate highly specific macromolecular alterations beyond the zone of possible direct coding for them in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
Near Infrared Raman Spectroscopy for Cancer Detection in vivo

Raman Spectroscopy can be effectively used as a ‘biochemical biopsy” tool for detecting tissue abnormalities. Here, we show evidence from three distinct tissue types, cervix, ovary, and skin, that tissue Raman spectra can discriminate normal, precancerous and cancerous tissues in vivo.
The role of IL-17 in vitiligo: A review

IL-17 is involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases; however its role in vitiligo has not been well defined. Emerging human and mouse studies have demonstrated that systemic, tissue, and cellular levels of IL-17 are elevated in vitiligo. Many studies have also shown significant positive correlations between these levels and disease activity, extent, and severity. Treatments that improve vitiligo, such as ultraviolet B phototherapy, also modulate IL-17 levels. This review synthesizes our current understanding of how IL-17 may influence the pathogenesis of autoimmune vitiligo at the molecular level. This has implications for defining new vitiligo biomarkers and treatments.
John Howland Award Acceptance Address. From the American Pediatric Society, April 27, 1977, San Francisco, California.

John Howland Award Acceptance Address: From the American Pediatric Society, April 27, 1977, San Francisco, California
Iatrogenic Cushing's Syndrome Due to Intranasal Usage of Ophthalmic Dexamethasone: A Case Report.

Iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome (ICS) is caused by exogenous corticosteroid administration with suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. It has been commonly described with oral and topical steroid use, but scarce reports have documented intranasal steroid usage as the etiology in infancy. In this article, we describe a case of a 4-month-old infant who developed ICS after 6 weeks of intranasal dexamethasone ophthalmic solution administration for nasal obstruction. To our knowledge, this is the youngest patient reported with ICS due to intranasal use of a prescribed dose of an ophthalmic steroid. His hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis recovered fully 4.5 months after steroid discontinuation. Because of the small body surface area and supine position during administration, infants are particularly susceptible to ICS. Given that intranasal steroids are commonly prescribed to infants and children for a variety of diagnoses, this case highlights the risks inherent in the use of intranasal steroid drops, particularly in young infants, for both adrenal suppression and linear growth deceleration, even with short-term use. Close monitoring of these patients’ height and weight should occur while on steroid treatment, with every effort made to decrease or discontinue steroid use when possible.
Measurements of unsteady pressure fluctuations in the near-field of a solid rocket motor plume

Near-plume fluctuating pressures were measured during five static burns of a two-stage solid rocket motor. An array of 11 water-cooled dynamic pressure sensors was used for the near-field survey, and a condenser microphone was used to monitor the far-field acoustic fluctuations. During the initial high-thrust phase of the burn, the plume was nearly ideally expanded, while in the following low-thrust phase, it was highly over-expanded and showed the presence of clear shock patterns. This paper presents time histories and spectra measured for the two thrust conditions. Spectra from very close to the plume show high levels of low-frequency fluctuations which are known to produce significant vibro-acoustic response of the spacecraft structures. The far-field microphone signal was dominated by mixing noise with little evidence of contribution from shock-associated noise, even for the over-expanded condition. The work was performed in support of an effort to improve predictions of the acoustic environment of a ...
Research on electromagnetic environment of the next voltage level of transmission system in China

It is a significant problem for "Electric Power Transmission from West to East" strategy to use the next voltage level of transmission system due to economy. The oversea and domestic achievements in scientific research on the questions about electromagnetic environment from AC ultra high voltage (UHV) and ±800 kV and above DC transmission system, such as radio interference, audible noise, electric fields and biological effect on objects were analyzed and discussed in this report. The suggestions on limit of the next voltage level transmission system's electromagnetic environment are made, which conform to the situation in China. And some methods of improving their electromagnetic environment are given. The questions on their electromagnetic environment that need to further study and solve are suggested in the end.
Real-time DC motor error detection and control compensation using linear checksums

The correct operation of transducers such as electric motors, is becoming increasingly important in autonomous systems that depend on the reliability of the underlying electronics to deliver Quality of Service to the end customer. In this paper, a methodology for detecting errors in DC motor operation and adapting its control parameters to compensate for the same using continuous linear checksums, is developed. The approach is different from prior application of checksum codes to analog circuits and servomotor systems, in that none of the states of the DC motor are directly controllable. Accordingly, from measurements of the observable states of the system, the control law for the motor is modified almost instantaneously, to recover motor performance in the most optimal manner possible in the presence of parametric deviations due to wear and tear. We focus on wear out susceptible electromechanical anomalies such as loss of torque due to increased ballbearing friction, etc. Simulation results supported by a hardware prototype support the viability of the proposed error detection and compensation methodology.
How should we manage incidentalomas

The patient-centered medical home model advocates that diagnostic testing be performed based on shared decision making between the patient and physician. This goal can be challenging when findings are uncertain or incidental to the original reason for ordering the test. For this reason, it would be useful for physicians to have guidelines to help address the ethical, practical, and legal implications of incidental findings.
Management of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units: a mixed methods study assessing barriers and facilitators to guideline adherence

Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America/The American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) provide recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). However, the mere presence of guidelines is rarely sufficient to promote widespread adoption and uptake. Using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model framework, we undertook a study to understand barriers and facilitators to the adoption of the IDSA/ATS guidelines. We conducted surveys and focus group discussions of different health care providers involved in the management of VAP. The setting was medical-surgical ICUs at a tertiary academic hospital and a large multispecialty rural hospital in Wisconsin, USA. Overall, we found that 55 % of participants indicated that they were aware of the IDSA/ATS guideline. The top ranked barriers to VAP management included: 1) having multiple physician groups managing VAP, 2) variation in VAP management by differing ICU services, 3) physicians and level of training, and 4) renal failure complicating doses of antibiotics. Facilitators to VAP management included presence of multidisciplinary rounds that include nurses, pharmacist and respiratory therapists, and awareness of the IDSA/ATS guideline. This awareness was associated with receiving effective training on management of VAP, keeping up to date on nosocomial infection literature, and belief that performing a bronchoscopy to diagnose VAP would help with expeditious diagnosis of VAP. Findings from our study complement existing studies by identifying perceptions of the many different types of healthcare workers in ICU settings. These findings have implications for antibiotic stewardship teams, clinicians, and organizational leaders.
Adding candesartan-HCTZ to rosuvastatin increased adverse events but not benefits in patients at intermediate CV risk

Source Citation Yusuf S, Lonn E, Pais P, et al. Blood-pressure and cholesterol lowering in persons without cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:2032-43. 27039945
Self-Insured Health Plans: Recent Trends by Firm Size, 1996-2015

This paper examines 1996-2015 trends in self-insured health plans among private-sector establishments offering health plans and among their covered workers, with a particular focus on 2013 to 2015, so as to assess whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) might have affected these trends. The data come from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component (MEPS-IC). Since the passage of the ACA, some commentators have speculated that an increasing number of small and midsized employers would convert their health plans from fully insured to self-insured plans. The rationale has appeared to be that several of the key ACA components -- creditable coverage, affordability, essential benefits, and various taxes and fees -- would drive up the cost of health coverage, thus possibly making self-insurance (which is viewed by many as generally less expensive than fully-insured alternatives) a more attractive option for many employers. The percentage of private-sector establishments offering health plans at least one of which is self-insured has increased from 28.5 percent in 1996 to 39 percent in 2015 (36.8 percent increase). Between 2013 and 2015, the percentages of establishments offering health plans with at least one self-insured plan has increased for midsized establishments from 25.3 percent to 30.1 percent (a 19 percent increase); for small establishments from 13.3 percent to 14.2 percent (a 7 percent increase); and has decreased from 83.9 percent to 80.4 percent for large establishments (a 4 percent decrease). Similarly, the percentage of health-plan-covered workers enrolled in self-insured health plans has increased from 58.2 percent to 60 percent (a 3 percent increase) from 2013 to 2015. The largest increases in self-insured plan coverage among covered workers have occurred in establishments with 25-99 employees and with 100-999 employees. These data are consistent with the perspective set forth above that the ACA would cause more small and midsized employers to adopt self-insured plans.
Who Holds a Fixed Mindset and Whom Does It Harm in Mathematics

Existing research on theories of intelligence shows that students with growth mindsets tend to outperform those with fixed mindsets in mathematics. We used nationally representative data to address...
Reverse Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Fixation: A Biomechanical Comparison Study of Tibial Cross-Pin and Femoral Interference Screw Fixation

Purpose To evaluate the biomechanical performance of tibial cross-pin (TCP) fixation relative to femoral cross-pin (FCP), femoral interference screw (FIS), and tibial interference screw (TIS) fixation. Methods We randomized 40 porcine specimens (20 tibias and 20 femurs) to TIS fixation (group 1, n = 10), FIS fixation (group 2, n = 10), TCP fixation (group 3, n = 10), or FCP fixation (group 4, n = 10) and performed biomechanical testing to compare ultimate load, stiffness, yield load, cyclic displacement, and load at 5-mm displacement. We performed cross-pin fixation of the looped end and interference screw fixation of the free ends of 9-mm-diameter bovine extensor digitorum communis tendon grafts. Graft fixation constructs were cyclically loaded and then loaded to failure in line with the tunnels. Results Regarding yield load, FIS was superior to TIS (704 ± 125 N vs 504 ± 118 N, P = .002), TCP was superior to TIS (1,449 ± 265 N vs 504 ± 118 N, P P P = .298). Interference screw fixation consistently failed by graft slippage, whereas TCP fixation failed by tibial bone failure. FCP fixation failed by either femoral bone failure or failure elsewhere in the testing apparatus. Conclusions Regarding yield load, TCP fixation performed biomechanically superior to the clinically proven FCP at time zero. Because TIS fixation shows the lowest yield strength, it represents the weak link, and combined TCP-FIS fixation theoretically would be biomechanically superior relative to combined FCP-TIS fixation with regard to yield load. Cyclic displacement showed a small difference in favor of FCP over TCP fixation and no difference between TIS and FIS. Clinical Relevance Time-zero biomechanics of TCP fixation paired with FIS fixation show that this method of fixation can be considered a potential alternative to current practice and may pose clinical benefits in different clinical scenarios of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Picture Exchange Communication System and Delay to Reinforcement

Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) is a form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) frequently used by individuals with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability when speech development is delayed or does not develop (Bondy and Frost 1994 in Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 9, 1–19; Sunberg and Partington 1998). Researchers have previously evaluated variations of PECS as a means for vocalization development (Ganz and Simpson 2004 in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 395–409; Tincani et al. 2006 in Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 41, 177–184). The current study investigated delay to reinforcement and an increase in response effort when utilizing PECS on the development of intelligible word vocalizations with four elementary aged students. Three participants transitioned from primarily requesting using PECS at Phase IIIb to using independent vocalizations (i.e., spoken words). This research provides further evidence for the use of PECS not only as a tool for functional communication, but also as a resource for assisting individuals in the development of vocalizations with slight variations in the parameters of reinforcement including response effort and delay of reinforcement.
Determining Associations with Word Embedding in Heterogeneous Network for Detecting Off-Label Drug Uses

Off-label drug use is quite common in clinical practice and inevitable to some extent. Such uses might deliver effective treatment and suggest clinical innovation sometimes, however, they have the unknown risk to cause serious outcomes due to lacking scientific support. As gaining information about off-label drug use could present a clue to the stakeholders such as healthcare professionals and medication manufacturers to further the investigation on drug efficacy and safety, it raises the need to develop a systematic way to detect off-label drug uses. Considering the increasing discussions in online health communities (OHCs) among the health consumers, we proposed to harness the large volume of timely information in OHCs to develop an automated method for detecting off-label drug uses from health consumer generated data. From the text corpus, we extracted medical entities (diseases, drugs, and adverse drug reactions) with lexicon-based approaches and measured their interactions with word embedding models, based on which, we constructed a heterogeneous healthcare network. We defined several meta-path-based indicators to describe the drug-disease associations in the heterogeneous network and used them as features to train a binary classifier built on Random Forest algorithm, to recognize the known drug-disease associations. The classification model obtained better results when incorporating word embedding features and achieved the best performance when using both association rule mining features and word embedding features, with F1-score reaching 0.939, based on which, we identified 2,125 possible off-label drug uses and checked their potential by searching evidence in PubMed and FAERS.
Adsorption characteristics of chitosan grafted copolymer on kaolin

Abstract Efficient destabilization of colloidal dispersions is the top challenge facing solid-liquid separation processes. In this study, an in-house synthesized environmentally friendly graft copolymer, chitosan- graft- polyacrylamide (chi- g -PAM), was investigated as a potential flocculant of fine kaolin dispersions. Chi- g -PAM was successfully prepared by combining the properties of synthetic monomer (acrylamide) and natural polymer (chitosan) using ceric ammonium nitrate as an initiator. The physical and chemical characteristics of the copolymer were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Zetasizer Nano ZS in order to identify the active adsorption sites in the polymer structure.The performance of chi- g -PAM as a flocculant was evaluated by treating 5 wt% kaolin despersion (d 50 and mean diameter of 6.63 and 9.24 μm, respectively) with different dosages of the polymer and calculating the initial settling rates (ISR). The flocculation mechanism and the adsorption capacity were investigated using zeta potential and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. Results showed that ISR increased with increasing chi- g -PAM dosages before reaching maximum values at corresponding optimal ones; then, the settling rate slightly decreased. Chi- g -PAM showed a better flocculation and settling behavior (ISR 24.84 m/h) as compared to chitosan (ISR of 7.2 m/h) at optimun dosages and performed similar to commercial PAM (ISR of 25.92 m/h). Reliable correlation of zeta potential measurement and adsorption isotherms obtained from TOC mesaurements demonstrated that bridging and charge neutralization were the dominant adsorption mechanisms involved. The experimental adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The best fit was obtained using the Langmuir isotherm model with a correlation coefficient value of 0.991 as compared with 0.895 for the Freundlich model. The TOC method has proven to be suitable and feasible for explaining the adsorption mechanism and determination of the adsorbed amount of chi- g -PAM on kaolin.
Found or Recovered?: Competing Views of Paradise in Late Nineteenth-Century Hawaiian Landscape Painting

In the 1880s, American artists Charles Furneaux, Joseph D. Strong, and Jules Tavernier—who later became known as the “Volcano School”—traveled to the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and produced dozens of landscapes ranging from otherworldly scenes of volcanoes to vistas of untouched, pristine beaches. While white, upper-class landowners in Hawai‘i served as the primary patrons of such paintings, the reigning monarch, King David Kalākaua, also commissioned his own sweeping landscapes from the same artists. This article focuses on the two competing narratives of paradise at work in both these paintings and writings about the Hawaiian Islands in the 1880s. “Paradise” could invoke a Romantic position, one that celebrated the landscape’s wildness and equated nature in its pure state with the lost Garden of Eden. On the other hand, Kalākaua’s commissions reflect what environmental historian Carolyn Merchant calls the Recovery Narrative: a story of humans reversing the effects of the biblical Fall by subjugating desolate and distant wilds and transforming them into fruitful lands. This article argues that Kalākaua’s presentation of “paradise” was part of a multi-pronged but ultimately failed strategy to resist American imperialism and present the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to the West as a prosperous, profitable nation.
Brief Introduction to Electroencephalography

Electroencephalography (EEG) has a long history in neuroscience starting with its original description in humans by Hans Berger in 1929 (Berger, 1932). Investigations of EEG under anesthesia started soon after in the mid-1930s (Gibbs, 1937). No single methodology paper can credibly cover all of the issues relating to this rich field. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce some caveats that complicate and inform analysis of the EEG. Special emphasis will be given to common issues such as choice of reference electrode, filtering, artifact rejection, and spectral analysis. We will specifically emphasize high-density EEG recordings that have become the norm due to technological improvement in electrode and data acquisition design methods. In the last section we will discuss some applications of EEG analysis techniques to the study of the effects of anesthetics on the nervous system.
Chiari I malformation with acute neurological deficit after craniocervical trauma: Case report, imaging, and anatomic considerations.

Background In patients with Chiari I malformation (CMI), the occurrence of acute neurologic deficit after craniocervical trauma is rare. However, the pathologic potential of exacerbating anatomic overcrowding of the posterior fossa has immense clinical consequences and prompt recognition is essential. Case description This case study describes a 41-year-old male who sustained a single blow to the face, fell, and struck the occiput. On admission, neurological examination revealed a profound paraparesis, upper extremity diplegia, a C4 sensory level and apnea that required intubation. On arrival, computerized axial tomography of the head showed a small amount of contrecoup left frontal traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 19 h after admission was negative except for the presence of a CMI. He acutely declined on post injury day 2, prompting emergent decompression of the posterior fossa where anatomic overcrowding was observed. At 19 weeks post injury, his motor function had significantly improved. Conclusion The constellation of severe neurologic deficit in patients with CMI after relatively minor craniocervical trauma has been previously described. In our patient, neurologic deficit disproportionate to the mechanism of injury was observed and likely in part attributed to the presence of a Chiari malformation. Unfortunately, MRI has not yet been able to clearly define the underlying pathoanatomy, help understand the mechanism of injury, and delineate when operative intervention is indicated in these patients. Here, we review similar cases from the literature, examine findings on MRI, and evaluate mechanisms of injury following craniocervical trauma in patients with CMI to help clarify these questions.
Longitudinal Trim in Forward Flight

This chapter focuses on longitudinal trim in forward flight. The chapter presents the problem of calculating trim conditions for steady, straight, and unaccelerated flight at some speed. It also discusses four speed-trim gradients, four acceleration-trim gradients, and stick force gradients. The normal acceleration could be produced in pull-ups or turns, as it is in maneuver-point determination for fixed-wing airplanes. The series of flight conditions, all at constant speed but with varying load factor, can certainly be achieved in four ways. If they are steady turns, they will in general be climbing or diving spirals. If they are pull-ups, they are momentary, quasi-steady conditions on an inclined part of the pull-up flight path. The segment of the path is the one where the inclination is just right so that acceleration along the path is momentarily zero.
Preparation of neural stem cells and progenitors: neuronal production and grafting applications.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a valuable tool for the study of neural development and function as well as an important source of cell transplantation strategies for neural disease. NSCs can be used to study how neurons acquire distinct phenotypes and how the interactions between neurons and glial cells in the developing nervous system shape the structure and function of the CNS. NSCs can also be used for cell replacement therapies following CNS injury targeting astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. With the availability of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), neurons prepared from NSCs can be used to elucidate the molecular basis of neurological disorders leading to potential treatments. Although NSCs can be derived from different species and many sources, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), iPSCs, adult CNS, and direct reprogramming of nonneural cells, isolating primary NSCs directly from fetal tissue is still the most common technique for preparation and study of neurons. Regardless of the source of tissue, similar techniques are used to maintain NSCs in culture and to differentiate NSCs toward mature neural lineages. This chapter will describe specific methods for isolating and characterizing multipotent NSCs and neural precursor cells (NPCs) from embryonic rat CNS tissue (mostly spinal cord) and from human ESCs and iPSCs as well as NPCs prepared by reprogramming. NPCs can be separated into neuronal and glial restricted progenitors (NRP and GRP, respectively) and used to reliably produce neurons or glial cells both in vitro and following transplantation into the adult CNS. This chapter will describe in detail the methods required for the isolation, propagation, storage, and differentiation of NSCs and NPCs isolated from rat and mouse spinal cords for subsequent in vitro or in vivo studies as well as new methods associated with ESCs, iPSCs, and reprogramming.
Method and Label Decision

In planning an immunocytochemistry experiment, decisions must be made about the exact method needed. The possibilities discussed in this chapter support a complete planning strategy for the experiment. Initially, the scientist will explore different application methods with different label types, then select for a single method and a label. The next step in the planning process is determining the details of finding and preparing reagents. The Immunocytochemistry Experimental Design Chart (included in this chapter) lists the choices that drive the method selection. Filling out the chart helps guide decisions relative to the details of the immunocytochemistry experiment and pin down the final procedure. Generating the step-by-step procedure for the experiment follows in the next chapter ( Chapter 10, Single Antibody Procedure). Decisions made based on the chart in this chapter are needed before designing a first immunocytochemistry procedure.
Brief Commentary: Cannabinoid Dosing for Chronic Pain Management.

This commentary was 1 of 6 selected for publication from 100 submissions that responded to a call for readers' perspectives on prescribing or recommending marijuana.
The Time Comes

A petite and spirited young woman from a small town in Ohio becomes a hero and a medical milestone. Every procedure, historic or otherwise, is burdened by paperwork. The last hurdle is cleared and the procedure begins at 5:30 pm on December 9, a Tuesday. It would finish 22 hours later. Today, she can smile and does so frequently.