cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A split pH direct liquid fuel cell powered by propanol or glycerol

Abstract A split pH fuel cell was constructed using an alkaline fuel stream containing NaOH and an alcohol fuel (glycerol, 1-propanol, or 2-propanol) with an acidic oxidant stream containing H2SO4 and 3% H2O2; the electrodes were Pd black anode and Pt black or carbon black cathode separated by a cation exchange membrane with Na+ substituted for H+. The split pH environment improves the thermodynamics of the fuel cell by creating a large potential difference between electrodes, and it provides improved kinetics by lowering the pH of the anode to optimum conditions for alcohol oxidation. When the fuel cell was constructed with a carbon black cathode, significant performance was observed, with maximum power density as high as 115 mW cm−2 for 1-propanol, 105 for glycerol, and 101 for 2-propanol. When the cathode was constructed with Pt black, the power densities increased as high as 275 mW cm−2 for glycerol, 241 for 1-propanol, and 228 for 2-propanol. This performance with Pt is the highest to our knowledge for these fuels in the open literature.
Evaluating Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents

Aside from a different emphasis on intervention, such as job training or housing for adults, many have characterized a split between child and adult mental health services research (e.g., Mechanic, 1996). The research, theory, knowledge, and legislation in children’s mental health services has lagged far behind that in the adult field (Institute of Medicine, 1989). This chapter provides an overview of key issues in children’s mental health services research. First, the definition and functions of mental health services research are discussed. Although the field is still developing, mental health services research serves several functions, primarily to provide an objective means of informing public policy and program decision making, and ultimately contributing to the improvement of clinical practice. A distinction is then made between efficacy research, or treatment research, and effectiveness research, which also can be called services research. The discussion focuses not only on the differences between the two, but also suggests the importance of the complementary use of both approaches in order to increase our knowledge of “what works” in children’s mental health services in applied settings.
The Histone Deacetylase SIRT6 Restrains Transcription Elongation via Promoter-Proximal Pausing

Transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes occurs at promoter-proximal regions wherein transcriptionally engaged RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pauses before proceeding toward productive elongation. The role of chromatin in pausing remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the histone deacetylase SIRT6 binds to Pol II and prevents the release of the negative elongation factor (NELF), thus stabilizing Pol II promoter-proximal pausing. Genetic depletion of SIRT6 or its chromatin deficiency upon glucose deprivation causes intragenic enrichment of acetylated histone H3 at lysines 9 (H3K9ac) and 56 (H3K56ac), activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9)-that phosphorylates NELF and the carboxyl terminal domain of Pol II-and enrichment of the positive transcription elongation factors MYC, BRD4, PAF1, and the super elongation factors AFF4 and ELL2. These events lead to increased expression of genes involved in metabolism, protein synthesis, and embryonic development. Our results identified SIRT6 as a Pol II promoter-proximal pausing-dedicated histone deacetylase.
NSAIDs disrupt intestinal homeostasis by suppressing macroautophagy in intestinal epithelial cells

Small intestinal damage induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains an under-recognized clinical disorder. The incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology has hampered the development of prevention and treatment strategies leading to the high morbidity and mortality rates. NSAIDs are known to modulate macroautophagy, a process indispensable for intestinal homeostasis. Whether NSAIDs stimulate or repress macroautophagy and how this correlates with the clinical manifestations of NSAID enteropathy, however, remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine whether NSAIDs impaired macroautophagy and how this affects macroautophagy-regulated intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) processes essential for intestinal homeostasis (i.e., clearance of invading pathogens, secretion and composition of mucus building blocks, and inflammatory response). We show that NSAID treatment of IECs inhibits macroautophagy in vitro and in vivo. This inhibition was likely attributed to a reduction in the area and/or distribution of lysosomes available for degradation of macroautophagy-targeted cargo. Importantly, IEC regulatory processes necessary for intestinal homeostasis and dependent on macroautophagy were dysfunctional in the presence of NSAIDs. Since macroautophagy is essential for gastrointestinal health, NSAID-induced inhibition of macroautophagy might contribute to the severity of intestinal injury by compromising the integrity of the mucosal barrier, preventing the clearance of invading microbes, and exacerbating the inflammatory response.
Microautophagy regulates proteasome homeostasis

Proteasomes are highly abundant protein complexes that are responsible for most regulated protein degradation in cells under favorable growth conditions. When yeast cells are under nutritional stress, most proteasomes exit the nucleus and either accumulate in cytoplasmic condensates called proteasome storage granules (PSGs) or are directed to the vacuole by autophagy. Nitrogen starvation does not cause PSG formation but leads to degradation of proteasomes through the classical macroautophagy pathway. By contrast, carbon starvation or extended incubation in stationary phase results in both PSG formation and macroautophagy of proteasomes. Unexpectedly, we found that glucose limitation also causes proteasomes to be taken up directly into vacuoles by a microautophagy mechanism. Macro- and micro-autophagy occur in parallel in glucose-starved cells, and microautophagy appears biased toward aberrant or inactive proteasomes, leaving functional proteasomes to accumulate in PSGs. PSGs dissolve and proteasomes remobilize to the nucleus within minutes after glucose refeeding. We showed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and endosomal-sorting-complex-required-for-transport (ESCRT) factors are required for proteasome microautophagy and also impact PSG dissipation and nuclear reimport of proteasomes after glucose refeeding. The insoluble protein deposit (IPOD) compartment provides an alternative means of proteasome homeostasis, including when microautophagy is impaired. Our findings reveal a surprising diversity of mechanisms for proteasome quality and quantity control during starvation. A mechanistic understanding of the AMPK-regulated ESCRT-mediated microautophagy pathway could provide new avenues for manipulating proteasome homeostasis and treating human disease.
Predicting and Managing Treatment Non-response in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This review aims to synthesize existing research regarding the definition of treatment resistance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), predictors of treatment non-response to first-line interventions, and emerging second-line PTSD treatment options into an accessible resource for the practicing clinician. The concept of treatment resistance in PTSD is currently poorly defined and operationalized. There are no well-established predictors of treatment non-response utilized in routine clinical care, but existing research identifies several potential candidate markers, including male gender, low social support, chronic and early life trauma exposure, comorbid psychiatric disorders, severe PTSD symptoms, and poor physical health. The most promising available treatment options for PTSD patients non-responsive to first-line psychotherapies and antidepressants include transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine infusion. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy also appears promising but is only available in a research context. These options require careful consideration of risks and benefits for a particular patient. More research is required to develop a robust, clinically useful definition of treatment resistance in PTSD; identify reliable, readily assessable, and generalizable predictors of PTSD treatment non-response; and implement measurement and prediction in clinical settings to identify individuals unlikely to respond to first-line treatments and direct them to appropriate second-line treatments.
First, Do Nothing: A Passive Protocol for First Contact

Abstract One of the main principles of the Hippocratic oath, which has guided medical practice for 2500 years, is Primum non nocere (first, do no harm). This means, among other things, that when the stakes are high (a patient's life) and one has no idea what one should do, it is better to do nothing at all than risk a treatment that might make things worse. We argue for a similar approach to a face-to-face first contact scenario. In such a situation, the stakes are literally the highest imaginable (the survival of humanity, perhaps even the entire terrestrial ecosystem), and we have almost nothing to go on – we will know next to nothing about our alien interlocutors and can not rely on our evolved instincts or simplistic analogies from Earth's history to guide us appropriately. The smart approach, therefore, is one of extreme passivity and caution. In particular, we argue that an inviolate “prime directive” needs to be imposed on any crew of a mission beyond near Earth such that they will do nothing, even in self-defense, that might potentially be considered threatening. While such a passive approach will forego many opportunities, first contact should be viewed primarily as setting the stage for second contact, with the goal of establishing the alien presence and communicating our harmlessness – no more. In the grand scheme of things, even the loss of the human crew is a small price to pay for the safety of the Earth and all its inhabitants.
I’m the One: Social Media, Social Identity, and Elections

This study surveyed voters to investigate why they shared political information on social media during the 2016 election. A strong social identity informed by political alignment was found to predict both polarization and more sharing, while feeling politically misaligned was found to decrease information sharing, supporting a spiral of silence phenomenon. Those with higher scores on a scale of social identity were more likely to feel sharing information to be an influential activity.
Book Review: Civil Society and Social Movements in Food System Governance, Peter Andrée, Jill K. Clark, Charles Z. Levkoe, and Kristen Lowitt, Eds. London and New York: Routledge.

Book review of Civil Society and Social Movements in Food System Governance, Peter Andree, Jill K. Clark, Charles Z. Levkoe, and Kristen Lowitt, Eds. London and New York: Routledge. It is easy to be discouraged by the ecological damages and social inequities caused by the contemporary food regime. Yet editors Peter Andree, Jill Clark, Charles Levkoe and Kristen Lowitt resist this temptation. While many scholars focus on critiques of food systems, this collection draws attention to co-governance arrangements that contribute to greater equity and sustainability in food systems.
Turner's Syndrome

Turner's syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by lack of an intact X chromosome in females. Clinical symptoms of TS include both craniofacial anomalies and multiple organ system dysfunctions. Neuroanatomical studies have shown underdevelopment of several regions in the right cerebral hemisphere. These seem to correlate well with clinical neurocognitive dysfunctions in TS. Other cerebral cortical anomalies such as left parietal–perisylvian regions seem to correlate with their psychosocial dysfunctions. A clinical care guideline has recently been published, which outlines the protocols for multidisciplinary care for patients with TS.
Use of Latent Class Analysis and k-Means Clustering to Identify Complex Patient Profiles.

Importance Medically complex patients are a heterogeneous group that contribute to a substantial proportion of health care costs. Coordinated efforts to improve care and reduce costs for this patient population have had limited success to date. Objective To define distinct patient clinical profiles among the most medically complex patients through clinical interpretation of analytically derived patient clusters. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study analyzed the most medically complex patients within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large integrated health care delivery system, based on comorbidity score, prior emergency department admissions, and predicted likelihood of hospitalization, from July 18, 2018, to July 15, 2019. From a starting point of over 5000 clinical variables, we used both clinical judgment and analytic methods to reduce to the 97 most informative covariates. Patients were then grouped using 2 methods (latent class analysis, generalized low-rank models, with k-means clustering). Results were interpreted by a panel of clinical stakeholders to define clinically meaningful patient profiles. Main Outcomes and Measures Complex patient profiles, 1-year health care utilization, and mortality outcomes by profile. Results The analysis included 104 869 individuals representing 3.3% of the adult population (mean [SD] age, 70.7 [14.5] years; 52.4% women; 39% non-White race/ethnicity). Latent class analysis resulted in a 7-class solution. Stakeholders defined the following complex patient profiles (prevalence): high acuity (9.4%), older patients with cardiovascular complications (15.9%), frail elderly (12.5%), pain management (12.3%), psychiatric illness (12.0%), cancer treatment (7.6%), and less engaged (27%). Patients in these groups had significantly different 1-year mortality rates (ranging from 3.0% for psychiatric illness profile to 23.4% for frail elderly profile; risk ratio, 7.9 [95% CI, 7.1-8.8], P < .001). Repeating the analysis using k-means clustering resulted in qualitatively similar groupings. Each clinical profile suggested a distinct collaborative care strategy to optimize management. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that highly medically complex patient populations may be categorized into distinct patient profiles that are amenable to varying strategies for resource allocation and coordinated care interventions.
Suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 mimetic peptides attenuate lymphocyte activation in the MRL/lpr mouse autoimmune model.

Autoimmune diseases are driven largely by a pathogenic cytokine milieu produced by aberrantly activated lymphocytes. Many cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFN-γ), utilize the JAK/STAT pathway for signal propagation. Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-1 (SOCS1) is an inducible, intracellular protein that regulates IFN-γ signaling by dampening JAK/STAT signaling. Using Fas deficient, MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/J (MRL/lpr) mice, which develop lupus-like disease spontaneously, we tested the hypothesis that a peptide mimic of the SOCS1 kinase inhibitory region (SOCS1-KIR) would inhibit lymphocyte activation and modulate lupus-associated pathologies. Consistent with in vitro studies, SOCS1-KIR intraperitoneal administration reduced the frequency, activation, and cytokine production of memory CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes within the peripheral blood, spleen, and lymph nodes. In addition, SOCS1-KIR administration reduced lymphadenopathy, severity of skin lesions, autoantibody production, and modestly reduced kidney pathology. On a cellular level, peritoneal SOCS1-KIR administration enhanced Foxp3 expression in total splenic and follicular regulatory T cells, reduced the effector memory/naive T lymphocyte ratio for both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and reduced the frequency of GL7+ germinal center enriched B cells. Together, these data show that SOCS1-KIR treatment reduced auto-reactive lymphocyte effector functions and suggest that therapeutic targeting of the SOCS1 pathway through peptide administration may have efficacy in mitigating autoimmune pathologies.
Firm opacity and the opportunity cost of cash

Abstract This paper studies the causal effect of a reduction in firm opacity on asset liquidity and corporate expenditures. We employ the discontinuous requirement of financial reporting introduced by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Section 404, as a measure of the change in the firm's information environment. Using a regression discontinuity design, we show that firms that comply with Section 404 exhibit higher stock liquidity and increased access to external financing compared to observationally similar firms. Furthermore, compliant firms hold less liquid assets and exhibit higher R&D expenditures relative to noncompliant firms. This difference sheds light on the impact of SOX 404 on firm opacity and the magnitude of the opportunity costs of holding cash.
Validation and characterization of oxycodone physical dependence in C57BL/6J mice.

Abstract Opioid use disorder is a growing concern in the United States. Mice were used to investigate the mechanisms involving opioid physical dependence and for evaluating medications for treating opioid use disorders. While there are many preclinical reports describing protocols for inducing physical dependence upon morphine, there are fewer preclinical reports describing more contemporary abused prescription opiates. The goal of this study was to characterize and validate a mouse model of oxycodone dependence. Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with saline or increasing doses of oxycodone (9–33 mg/kg) twice daily for 8 days. On the 9th day, mice were challenged with 1 mg/kg naloxone and observed for somatic signs. Mice were pretreated with oxycodone (17, 33, or 75 mg/kg) prior to withdrawal to determine if it could attenuate somatic withdrawal signs. Additional mouse groups were pretreated with 1 mg/kg clonidine. Lastly, we measured somatic signs for 6, 24, and 48 h post-withdrawal during spontaneous and precipitated withdrawal. Pretreating with oxycodone or clonidine dose-dependently prevented the emergence of withdrawal signs. Mice chronically treated with oxycodone exhibited more withdrawal signs than vehicle at 24 h after the final injection during spontaneous withdrawal. In contrast, mice that received repeated naloxone challenges showed peak withdrawal signs at 6 h, and withdrawal signs were significantly greater at all time points compared to vehicle. Reversal of withdrawal effects by positive controls, and establishing spontaneous and precipitated withdrawal paradigms, serve as validation of this model and provide a means to examine novel therapeutics to treat opioid withdrawal.
Implementation of a pilot teleretinal screening protocol for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in a Los Angeles County safety net clinic.

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to determine whether teleretinal screening for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy (HCQR) improves clinical efficiency and adherence to recommended screening guidelines compared to face-to-face screening among patients in a large safety net medical system. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study of a consecutive sample of 590 adult patients with active HCQ prescriptions seen in the outpatient ophthalmology clinic at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center from 1 September 2018 to 25 November 2019, 203 patients underwent technician-only tele-HCQR screening (THRS), and 387 patients underwent screening with traditional face-to-face visits (F2FV) with an eye-care provider. Data on clinic efficiency measures (appointment wait time and encounter duration) and adherence to recommended screening guidelines were collected and compared between the two cohorts. RESULTS Compared to F2FV, the THRS cohort experienced significantly shorter median (interquartile range) time to appointment (2.5 (1.5-4.6) vs. 5.1 (2.9-8.4) months; p < 0.0001), shorter median encounter duration (1 (0.8-1.4) vs. 3.7 (2.5-5.2) hours; p < 0.0001) and higher proportion of complete baseline screening (102/104 (98.1%) vs. 68/141 (48.2%); p < 0.001) and complete chronic screening (98/99 (99%) vs. 144/246 (58.5%); p < 0.001). DISCUSSION A pilot THRS protocol was successfully implemented at a major safety net eye clinic in Los Angeles County, resulting in a 50.9% reduction in wait times for screening, 72.9% reduction in encounter duration and 49.9% and 40.5% increases in proportions of complete baseline and chronic screening, respectively. Tele-HCQ retinal screening protocols may improve timeliness to care and screening adherence for HCQR in the safety net setting.
Engineering Compartmentalized Optogenetic Protein Misfolding Stress Sensors

Protein misfolding in live cells is inherently linked to disease. Afflictions ranging from cancer to viral infection have been related to some form of dysregulation in the protein folding process. ...
Description, Mechanisms and Control of Reactions to Treatment in the Human Filariases

Since diethylcarbamazine at the dosages used to treat filarial infections has little direct toxicity, most of the post-treatment reactions (termed Mazzotti reactions in onchocerciasis) result from the immunological inflammatory mechanisms activated in the process of clearing and killing the skin-swelling or blood-borne microfilariae. These reactions may be either localized to the skin, eyes or lymphatics or generalized systemically (e.g. headache, fever, adenopathy, arthralgia, tachypnoea, tachycardia, hypotension and even death). The occurrence and intensity of such reactions can be shown to be related to the intensity of infection. It had previously been speculated that the best candidates for triggering these post-treatment reactions were activation of complement, immediate hypersensitivity responses mediated by immunoglobulin E, and degranulation of eosinophils with resultant inflammatory reactivity. Recent detailed studies have given little support to the primacy of either complement or immediate hypersensitivity responses in triggering such reactions, but eosinophil degranulation with the release of inflammatory mediators into the tissues and peripheral blood is extremely prominent in all patients undergoing post-treatment reactions and develops with a time course generally consistent with what would be required of an initiator of such reactions. Other inflammatory mediators and pathways may be involved (e.g. kinins, prostaglandins, immune complexes, leukotrienes, platelets and parasite-derived inflammatory molecules), but there is currently no evidence to implicate any of these mechanisms as initiators of the response. Symptomatic treatment of these post-treatment reactions with analgesics, antipyretics, antihypotensive agents etc. has been successful, but their prevention has been achieved only with the broadly anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.
Morphology relations during bulk-transport sintering

Based on a minimum neck surface area, geometric relationships describing the morphology of sintering spheres have been mathematically established. Calculations resulting from this model give the relative shrinkage and surface area reduction as functions of both neck size and particle coordination. The specific surface area is shown to decrease monotonically with neck growth and to be a sensitive measure of sintering progression. An empirical relationship between neck size, coordination and surface area is derived. Previously published shrinkage results are found to be in good agreement with those predicted by the proposed model. Prediction of the kinetics of surface area reduction and assessment of the relative contribution of surface and bulk-transport processes are now possible through the relationships generated from this model.
Teaching Culturally Competent Communication with Diverse Ethnic Patients and Families

Cultural competence is a critical skill set for improving the quality of health care, working toward equity in its availability, and eliminating health disparities among diverse population groups. Eliminating sociocultural, language, and health literacy barriers to effective clinician/patient and family communication could significantly improve the quality of appropriate and acceptable cancer care provided along the entire cancer care continuum from screening and early detection, timely and state-of-the art treatment, quality palliative care, long-term follow-up, and supportive end-of-life care.
Editor’s overview: explorations of mentor learning and protégé education from five countries

In this issue of the Mentoring & Tutoring journal, academics from Australia, Norway, the United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe explore mentor learning and protege education within contexts th...
Ambiguous reform: technical workforce planning and ideologies of class and race in 1960s Chicago

Throughout the 1960s, educators and planners envisioned new occupational opportunities for Chicagoans in the city's emerging high-tech industries. In many of their forecasts, the least complex, rewarding, and remunerative jobs associated with Chicago's projected industrial renewal were destined primarily for women and non-white populations, especially black and Hispanic Chicagoans living in the racially fraught inner-city. New engineering jobs, by contrast, seemed best suited for white, and typically male citizens. Thus, the modernizing city would perpetuate old social divisions. This essay considers how engineering was naturalized, by engineers and their corporate and civic patrons, as an occupation distinct from those of technicians and shop-floor workers in Chicago of the 1960s. The city in those years faced commercial decline and the social unrest accompanying a growing civil rights movement; that hierarchical organization of technical labor answered both employers' desire for modern managerial techni...
Adolescent pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum after motor vehicle crash and ejection

A 15 year old male was an unrestrained passenger in a high speed motor vehicle crash followed by ejection. The patient was noted to have evidence of bilateral pneumothorax upon arrival in the Emergency Department. Bilateral chest tubes were placed under sterile conditions; however, the left pneumothorax remained, and a second left chest tube was placed. Repeat chest radiographs revealed extensive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumopericardium. Needle aspiration of the pericardium returned significant quantities of air, an immediate improvement in blood pressures followed. An 18-gauge triple lumen catheter was placed into the pericardial space for additional withdrawal of air via syringe. Mechanisms have been proposed to explain the development of tension pneumopericardium after chest trauma. Early diagnosis is crucial, and may be found on initial chest radiographs. Computed tomography is also an effective method for evaluating the presence of air in the pericardial space and may assist in establishing the diagnosis. Tension pneumopericardium requires immediate recognition and decompression to prevent cardiac tamponade with a fatal circulation collapse, an entity that is as serious as the tamponade resulting from hemopericardium. Traumatic pneumopericardium is rare, but can be a complicated finding associated with high-speed blunt chest trauma. Patients with evidence of pneumopericardium should be closely monitored, particularly those supported by positive pressure ventilation. Language: en
Environmental deprivation: Its effect on the growth of infant monkeys

The nutritional intake of children with “deprivation dwarfism” has usually been reported to be normal, and in the absence of other etiologic explanations, their growth failure has been attributed to lack of environmental stimulation. Infant rhesus monkeys reared under conditions of total social isolation developed gross behavioral abnormalities, but grew at normal rates when fed an ad libitum diet. On the basis of these observations, inadequate nutrition would appear to be the most plausible explanation for the growth failure which may occur in children who are reared in deprived environments.
The deterministic global optimization algorithm DIRECT

The deterministic direct search algorithm DIRECT of D. Jones has proven surprisingly practical for engineering design, especially when coupled with a local pattern search algorithm such as MADS by Audet and Dennis. Massively parallel implementations of these algorithms, necessary for realistic engineering and scientific problems, are highly nontrival. This tutorial will cover the serial DIRECT and MADS algorithms, their parallel implementations, place them in the context of global optimization, and describe recent applications in multidisciplinary design optimization and systems biology.
Strangeness in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract Recently studied aspects of the production of strange hadrons in relativistic nuclear collisions and their relevance as a signature of quark-gluon plasma formation are reviewed.
Relations of Daily Hassles with Both Anxious and Depressed Mood in Students

Stressful life experiences have been related to emotional distress, but whether different classes of stressful events are associated with different emotional reactions has not been assessed. In this study, 34 college students completed the Inventory of College Students' Recent Life Experiences, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Consistent with previous research, most classes of daily hassles were significantly related to both depression and anxiety. The nonsignificant difference for one class of life experience, Friendship Problems, to be more strongly associated with anxiety than depression should be studied carefully.
Location of bile leak predicts the success of ERCP performed for postoperative bile leaks.

Background ERCP is effective for treating a bile leak (BL) after cholecystectomy (CCY), but few data exist on its effectiveness after hepatobiliary surgery (HBS). Objective To determine the effectiveness of ERCP for treating BLs after HBS compared with BLs after cholecystectomy and to identify factors associated with treatment success. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Academic tertiary-care referral center. Patients Patients referred from 2001 to 2009 for ERCP treatment of BL after cholecystectomy or HBS. Interventions ERCP. Main Outcome Measurements Resolution of BL after a single ERCP. Results A total of 223 patients were identified and 46 were excluded. Fifty underwent ERCP for treatment of BL after HBS and 127 after CCY. A single ERCP was successful at resolving BL in 89% of patients. Failure occurred in 7 HBS patients (14%) and 12 CCY patients (9%) ( P = .379). After multiple ERCPs, success improved to 95% of the CCY group and 86% of the HBS group ( P = .033). HBS patients underwent 30% more ERCPs ( P = .049). ERCP was 3.3 times more likely to be successful in patients with cystic duct or duct of Luschka BLs ( P = .028). Patients undergoing biliary stent placement were significantly more likely to have successful outcomes (odds ratio 71.0, P P Limitations Single-center, retrospective study. Conclusions ERCP is effective for treating postoperative BLs. Location of a BL and placement of a biliary stent are the best predictors of endoscopic treatment success.
Treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence using a silicone gel prosthesis.

Summary After trials with various urethral compression procedures to restore continence in male patients, an implantable sponge-like prosthesis has been devised which has produced encouraging results in 47 patients followed a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 months. A number of patients have obtained early cures and subsequently lost control. Some of these patients were subsequently improved by injecting the implanted pillow with hyperosmotic fluid percutaneously. Excellent results have been obtained in 80 per cent of patients who had not been subjected to previous anti-incontinence operations. 53 per cent of patients who had undergone earlier unsuccessful procedures to cure their incontinence were substantially improved or cured after the insertion of a silicone gel prosthesis. The operation is a simple one with few postoperative complications and we believe that because of these features it deserves further trial as the initial effort to control this disabling iatrogenic problem.
Waiting Time Variability in some Single-Server Queueing Systems

This paper considers the range of values of the coefficient of variation of waiting time in some general single-server queueing systems. It is shown that in M/G/1 systems with given ρ, the square of this coefficient increases linearly with m1m3/m22, where mi is the ith moment of the service distribution. This implies always a lower bound, and for some widely used distributions an upper bound as well. A few ranges are illustrated and compared to those implied in two GI/M/1 systems. The usefulness of knowing such ranges for modelling purposes is explained.
Enumeration of pairs of permutations

Let @p = (a"1, a"2, ..., a"n), @r = (b"1, b"2, ..., b"n) be two permutations of Z"n = {1, 2, ..., n}. A rise of @p is pair a"i, a"i"+"1 with a"i a"i"+"1. Thus, for i = 1, 2, ..., n - 1, the two pairs a"i, a"i"+"1; b"i, b"i"+"1 are either both rises, both falls, the first a rise and the second a fall or the first a fall and the second a rise. These possibilities are denoted by RR, FF, RF, FR. The paper is concerned with the enumeration of pairs @p, p with a given number of RR, FF, RF, FR. In particular if @w"n denotes the number of pairs with RR forbidden, it is proved that @?^~"0@w"nz^nn!n! = 1@?(z), @?(z) = @?^~"0(-1) ^nz^nn!n!. More precisely if @w(n, k) denotes the number of pairs @p, p with exactly k occurences of RR(or FF, RF, FR) then 1 + @?^~"n"="1z^nn!n!@?^n^-^1"k"="0 @w(n, k)x^k = (1 - x)(@?(z(1 - x)) - x).
Estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) regulates oxygen-dependent expression of voltage-gated potassium (K+) channels and tissue kallikrein during human trophoblast differentiation.

Estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) serves a critical O2-dependent regulatory role in the differentiation of human cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblast. In this study, we investigated expression of genes encoding tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and voltage-gated K+ channels (KV7) during differentiation of human trophoblasts in culture and the roles of ERRγ and O2 tension in their regulation. Expression of KLK1 and the KV7 channel subunits, KCNQ1, KCNE1, KCNE3, and KCNE5, increased during differentiation of cultured human trophoblast cells in a 20% O2 environment. Notably, together with ERRγ, expression of KLK1, KCNQ1, KCNE1, KCNE3, and KCNE5 was markedly reduced when cells were cultured in a hypoxic environment (2% O2). Moreover, upon transduction of trophoblast cells with short hairpin RNAs for endogenous ERRγ, KLK1, KCNQ1, KCNE1, and KCNE3 expression was significantly decreased. Promoter and site-directed mutagenesis studies in transfected cells identified putative ERRγ response elements within the KLK1 and KCNE1 5′-flanking regions required for ERRγ-stimulated transcriptional activity. Binding of endogenous ERRγ to these ERRγ response elements increased during trophoblast differentiation in culture and was inhibited by hypoxia. The KV7 blocker linopirdine reduced human chorionic gonadotropin secretion and aggregation of cultured human trophoblasts, suggesting a possible role of KV7 channels in cell fusion and differentiation. Illumina gene expression arrays of cultured human trophoblast cells revealed several genes upregulated during syncytiotrophoblast differentiation and downregulated upon ERRγ knockdown involved in cell differentiation, adhesion, and synthesis of steroid and peptide hormones required for placental development and function. Collectively, these findings suggest that ERRγ mediates O2-dependent expression of genes involved in human trophoblast differentiation, function, and vascular homeostasis.
Tunneling and Scanning Tunnel Microscopy: a Critical Review

Electron tunneling across the surface potential barrier has been applied for many years to probe surface atomic and electronic structure. This had led, for example, to the development of the field emission microscope, and more recently, of electron tunneling spectroscopy of insulating barriers in MIM structures. Some four years ago, Binning, Rohrer and coworkers developed the first vacuum tunneling microscope with atomic resolution. In this device, electrons tunnel across a vacuum gap between a sample surface and a scanning tip. Since then, a growing number of research groups have constructed such devices. The STM has provided detailed insight into the atomic structure of surfaces. The feasibility of scanning tunnel spectroscopy (STS) has been demonstrated, though fewer results have been reported. However, before the full potential of the twin techniques of STM and STS can be realized, two problems have to be resolved: (1) A more quantitative, but tractable theory, has to be developed to permit an unambiguous interpretation of the data. (2) A more reliable procedure for the preparation of the tip has to be developed to assure the quantitative reproducibility of the data. A critical review of tunneling theory and the transfer Hamiltonian formalism is presented. Inelastic and elastic resonant tunneling are discussed. The construction and operation of the STM are briefly described. The transfer Hamiltonian theory of the device is reviewed. The concept of surface corrugation is also discussed. Recent results by Kuk on the dependence of the observed corrugation amplitude on the atomic structure of the scanning tip are analyzed. Lastly, image potential states and their significance in the STS study of the electronic structure of the surface barrier are considered.
Computing the loss differentiation parameters of the proportional differentiation service model

The proportional differentiation service model has emerged as a refined version of the DiffServ qualify of service (QoS) architecture. It relies on a series of parameters to enforce proportionally differentiated QoS criteria, such as queueing delay and packet loss. From the perspective of proportional loss differentiation, a large amount of work has been done on carrying out loss differentiation based on given parameters. Under certain network conditions, however, the loss differentiation cannot be met based on these hand picked parameters. While existing work focuses on enhancing dropping mechanisms themselves to honour the loss differentiation, the paper looks into calculating feasible differentiation parameters. By forming an optimisation problem based on multiple class blocking thresholds, the paper introduces a simple quantitative guideline to compute loss differentiation parameters. Derived closely related to network statuses and packet dropping mechanisms, these parameters ease the difficulty that dropping mechanisms may encounter when enforcing packet loss differentiation. Its finite computation time, moreover, makes practical implementation possible. Analytical and numerical results are given to substantiate the new approach and its merits.
The small co-chaperone p23 overexpressing transgenic mouse

Studies from multiple laboratories have identified the roles of several ER stress-induced cell death modulators and effectors. Earlier, we described the role of p23 a small co-chaperone protein in preventing ER stress-induced cell death. p23 is cleaved by caspases at D142 to yield p19 (a 19 kDa product) during ER stress-induced cell death. Mutation of the caspase cleavage site not only blocks formation of the 19 kDa product but also attenuates the cell death process triggered by various ER stressors. Thus, uncleavable p23 (p23D142N) emerges as a reasonable candidate to test for potential inhibition of neurodegenerative disease phenotype that features misfolded proteins and ER stress. In the present work we report the generation of transgenic mouse lines that overexpress wild-type p23 or uncleavable p23 under the control of a ROSA promoter. These mice should prove useful for studying the role of p23 and/or uncleavable p23 in cellular stress-induced cell death.
Modified triple chemotherapy in the management of high-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumors

Modified triple chemotherapy (MAC III: methotrexate with citrovorum factor, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide) was administered as primary treatment to 14 patients with high-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumors (GTT). Ten (71.4%) patients attained complete remission with 1 to 4 courses of MAC III (mean = 2.7 courses). Three of the remaining patients subsequently achieved remission with the modified Bagshawe regimen or vinblastine, bleomycin, and cis-platinum. Following 38 courses of MAC III, moderate hepatotoxicity (SGOT greater than or equal to 150 U) developed after 1 (2.6%) course. Marked thrombocytopenia (platelets less than 50,000/mm3) and marked granulocytopenia (granulocytes less than 500/mm3) developed after 7 (18.4%) and 19 (50%) of the courses, respectively. Platelet transfusions were administered after 4 (10.5%) courses of MAC III and no patient required granulocyte transfusions. MAC III is an effective alternative treatment for patients with high-risk metastatic GTT.
Brief Q domain optimization method for l1-optimal controllers

The l"1 optimal control problem is most commonly solved through a linear programming optimization approach. In this paper, we present a Q domain solution procedure and suggest when such an approach is advantageous. In the proposed method, the coefficients of Q are used as optimization parameters, Q being a matrix of IIR filters. For multi-block problems, the Q domain optimization method requires only a small number of optimization variables and can converge to the desired optimal value more efficiently than is the case for linear programming optimization.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIPPURIC ACID-SYNTHESIZING SYSTEM IN THE RAT.

Abstract Homogenates of livers taken from late fetal and early newborn rats were able to couple benzoic acid to glycine only to a slight extent. The enzyme activity increased slowly with age until shortly before weaning, when a more rapid increase began and was maintained until approximately adult values were attained at 1 month. Attempts to induce an increase in enzyme activity by (1) injection of substrates and of closely related compounds, of cortisol and of triiodothyropropionic acid 5 hours before sacrifice, (2) adrenalectomy, and (3) feeding a diet high in PAB, were unsuccessful.
How a Natural Disaster Changed the Face of the Restaurant Industry in Southern Mississippi: A Katrina Story

This study provides a comparative evaluation of the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the restaurant industry in southern Mississippi through an examination of revenues generated in the fiscal years immediately preceding and following the storm. Results suggest that restaurant revenues lost in the areas of the greatest catastrophic damage were redistributed to other areas of the southern Mississippi region and less damaged areas on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Considered in aggregate, the storm slowed the growth rate of the regional restaurant industry but did not result in an aggregate loss.
Awareness structures: defining alienation/solidarity 1

This paper seeks to define alienation and solidarity as concepts that have a single, clear and researchable meaning. For this purpose, a recursive (I know that you know…) model of levels of awareness can be applied to both individuals and groups. Solidarity in the moment is defined as an agreement or disagreement mutually shared by two parties, and that mutuality is shared. Degree of alienation is based on 1–4 errors of sharing: partial alienation involves only one error, complete alienation four (all possible sharing errors at the second and third levels). To simplify the task of defining operational measures, the analysis is limited to momentary co‐orientation toward verbal propositions. Such structures are probably much less crucial than non‐verbal understandings but provide a place to start. This preliminary approach may be useful for encouraging exploration and research on attunement and love at the interpersonal level, and at the collective level, context, consensus, social facts and assumptive worlds.
Considerations in Selection and Management of Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement with Glutaraldehyde-Fixed Porcine Bioprostheses

From November, 1973, through June, 1978, 428 operations in 425 patients were performed for replacement of aortic, mitral, or aortic plus mitral valves, utilizing 277 Hancock and 180 Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses. Actuarially determined survival at 36 months was similar for all three groups and compared favorably with our experience with the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis. Certain patient-related variables influencing late survival were identified by multivariate analysis and included previous operation for congenital heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting in nonaortic valve replacement, race (black), age at operation, and New York Heart Association Functional Class. A small but definite incidence of thromboembolism occurred in all three groups, again similar to our experience with the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis. Multivariate analysis identified four factors influencing risk of thromboembolism: previous cardiac operation, age, double-valve replacement, and rhythm at discharge. Valve degeneration occurred, primarily in children and young adults. Over the medium term, the porcine bioprosthesis compared favorably with mechanical prostheses in terms of survival, function, and thromboembolism. Certain patient-related variables affecting survival may be modified by earlier surgical intervention.
Late Precambrian Microfossils: a New Stromatolitic Biota from Boorthanna, South Australia

OF the four dozen fossiliferous Precambrian sediments now known1, only a very few contain diverse microfossil assemblages preserved in situ on which inferences of ecologic setting and evolutionary status can be based reliably. The time gaps between these deposits are enormous, commonly approaching or exceeding a duration equivalent to that of the entire Palaeozoic. Present inferences regarding the course of early evolutionary development are therefore highly speculative. There is obvious need for the detection of additional evidence with which to evaluate such inferences and to fill in the skeletal picture that has emerged in recent years. We report here the discovery of a well preserved, Stromatolitic microbiota from the late Precambrian of Boorthanna, South Australia, that should contribute measurably toward this goal.
Low serum IgA in a familial ovarian cancer aggregate

Abstract Low serum IgA levels were found to segregate in a sufficient number of individuals from a familial ovarian carcinoma aggregate to suggest that this may be a genetically determined immune defect etiologically integral to cancer susceptibility in this family. The putative role of IgA in pathogenesis remains elusive. Cancer-prone families should be thoroughly investigated for further elucidation of these phenomena.
An Agro-Economic Analysis of Field Trials from a Farming Systems Research Perspective: Weed Control in Rainfed Lowland Rice in Senegal

Using a farming systems approach, a multidisciplinary team in southern Senegal examined three strategies for weed control in rainfed lowland rice: use of herbicide; replacement of broadcast seeding by row seeding with mechanical seeders; and transplanting compared with direct seeding of rice. Thorough evaluation of the agronomic and economic benefits of these strategies for farmers was facilitated by supplementing the standard analysis of on-farm trials with multivariate analysis incorporating agronomic survey data to explain treatment effects better, and by considering technical and economic effects throughout the farming system. The agro-economic analysis led the team to conclude that: where soils are productive, herbicide use is a profitable investment; when converting to direct seeding, farmers should facilitate weeding by seeding in rows with a mechanical seeder; and transplanting should not be discouraged in areas where it is still feasible, since it is less time-consuming, fits in better with other farm activities and requires less fertilizer.