cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Six years experience with the Robinson stainless steel stapedial prosthesis and vein craft

In summarv, all the delayed hearing losses, both conductive and cochlear, consisted of 1.4% of the 1336 cases. There were no total delayed cochlear losses (“dead ears”) and interestingly enough there were. 0.3% transient cochlear losses and 0.3% transient conductive losses, all of which returned to normal. What appears most interesting in this series is that the delayed cochlear losses (0.8%) are almost equalized by the delayed conductive losses (0.6%) and that very little emphasis has been placed on the delayed conductive losses, their causes, and their treatment, despite the fact that the hearing in most of these can be successfully restored by revision surgery.
Telehealth provides a comprehensive approach to the surgical patient

Abstract Background This study describes telehealth use within the Department of Surgery in a large urban academic medical center and its role in diverse surgical patients. Methods We performed a retrospective descriptive study of video telehealth visits conducted by an academic urban surgery department from February 2017 to November 2017. We report our experience in accordance with the National Quality Forum recommended domains of access, experience and effectiveness. Results Six hundred and fifty-five (655) video telehealth encounters were performed during the study period: 152 were immediate postoperative visits, 424 were established patient visits, and 79 were group sessions. Our 30-day readmission rate of the post-operative visits was very low (4 of 152). One hundred and forty-one (141) patient survey responses show very high satisfaction and time savings. Conclusions Our results demonstrate a single institution's successful experience in offering telehealth to surgical patients in an urban setting.
Research as resistance: Revisiting critical, Indigenous, and anti-oppressive approaches

In 2005, Leslie Brown and Susan Strega edited the first edition of Research as Resistance. This second edition, published 10 years later, stays true to the original’s focus on the political, theore...
OUTCOMES OF OFF-LABEL DOSING OF DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS IN MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Chronic conditions such as renal impairment impact DOAC effectiveness and safety, and may require dose adjustment for some patients. We evaluated adherence to FDA-approved dosing criteria for patients with AF who initiated dabigatran and rivaroxaban, and the impact of off-label dosing on ischemic
Homeless but Not Helpless

Wherever there are homeless people, squatting activity goes on—under freeways, on sidewalks, in parks,* and in empty houses and buildings. Some of these settlements are more permanent than others, but few are more than ad hoc claims on available space. Organized squatting could turn these ad hoc arrangements into political claims for shelter rights.
Navigating Scientific Literature

Conducting a review of the knowledge base is a common first step in tackling environmental problems. It provides insights to potential causes, impacts, or solutions, ensures that we are not duplicating efforts, wasting time, or missing key information necessary to help solve or mitigate an environmental problem. But in this age of technology, the amount of information available can be overwhelming, making it challenging to cover, assess and synthesize the many sources of information efficiently. Knowing your way around technical reports, government documents, and scientific articles is an important skill to master. In this chapter, we explore some of the most widely available tools for searching the scientific knowledge base, offer tips for sorting and evaluating search results, and consider strategies for efficiently reading, digesting, summarizing, and citing the information you need.
Subtalar joint preparation using the Two Portal posterior arthroscopic technique versus the sinus tarsi Open approach: A cadaver study.

Abstract Background Subtalar fusion is the treatment of choice for subtalar arthritis when conservative management fails. The procedure can be performed arthroscopically or through the open lateral sinus tarsi (LST) approach. The arthroscopic technique is less invasive and is associated with rapid recovery, but it is more technically challenging. One of the most important aspects of fusion is adequate preparation of the joint via denudation of articular cartilage. This study compares the efficacy of subtalar joint preparation between the lateral sinus tarsi approach and the posterior two-portal arthroscopic technique using cadaveric specimens. Materials and Methods Nineteen below-knee fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were used. The subtalar joints of nine specimens were prepared through the LST approach, while ten were prepared arthroscopically. After preparation, all ankles were dissected at the subtalar joint and photographs were taken of the posterior facets of the calcaneus and talus. Total and prepared surface areas of the articular surfaces for both approaches were measured using ImageJ software and compared. Results The LST technique resulted in significantly greater percent preparation of the posterior facet of the calcaneus, as well as of the subtalar joint as a whole. Overall, 92.3% of the subtalar joint surfaces (talus and calcaneus combined) were prepared using the LST technique, compared to 80.4% using the arthroscopic technique (p = 0.010). The posterior facet of the calcaneus was 94.0% prepared using the open technique, while only 78.6% prepared using the arthroscopic technique (p = 0.005). Conclusion The LST approach for subtalar arthrodesis provides superior articular preparation compared to the two-portal posterior arthroscopic technique. Given that joint preparation is a critical component of fusion, maximizing prepared surface area is desirable and the open approach may be more efficacious for fusion. When using the arthroscopic approach, it may be advisable to use an accessory portal if there is poor visualization or limited access to the joint space secondary to severe arthritis. Level of Evidence V
Muon Capture and Supermultiplet Symmetry Breaking in OXYGEN-16.

The validity of assuming the equality of the unretarded-dipole muon-capture matrix elements, ${({{M}_{V}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}$, ${({{M}_{P}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}$, and ${({{M}_{A}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D}}$, is investigated for muon capture in ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$. Earlier investigation has employed supermultiplet theory to obtain ${({{M}_{V}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}={({{M}_{P}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}={({{M}_{A}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}$. Therefore, we also consider the correctness of a supermultiplet grouping of the important muon-capture nuclear final states when realistic supermultiplet-symmetry-breaking interactions are included in the nuclear Hamiltonian. Basis wave functions are taken to be simple harmonic-oscillator shell-model $\mathrm{LS}$-coupled states belonging to the ${(1p)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}2s$ and ${(1p)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}1d$ configurations of ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$. It is found that all particle-hole states of interest for muon capture belong to vector supermultiplets. These states will not be mixed with the other supermultiplet type (scalar) of the configuration if isotopic spin is a good quantum number. Energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of various nuclear Hamiltonians are obtained by diagonalizing the residual interaction matrices that mix the simple basis states. The results indicate that the spin-independent interparticle forces isolate the unretarded-dipole muoncapture strength in the supermultiplet lying highest in energy. The energy difference between this supermultiplet and lower lying supermultiplets has a tendency to suppress the large amount of supermultiplet mixing one might expect in the giant-resonance region when tensor and spin-orbit forces are added to the Hamiltonian. Therefore, it is found that the muon-capture strength remains concentrated in the giant-dipole region, and the muon-capture supermultiplet remains substantially pure. In all cases, ${({{M}_{V}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}={({{M}_{P}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}={({{M}_{A}}^{2})}_{\mathrm{U},\mathrm{D},}$ remains a valid assumption to within 12%.
Preliminary study examining the mediational link between mild traumatic brain injury, acute stress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms following trauma

Background: The presence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) increases post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the months following injury. However, factors that link mTBI and PTSD deve...
Experimental Research Methodologies in Organizational Behavior Management

Organizational behavior management (OBM) is a scientific approach to understanding behavior and its relation to the workplace. As a natural science it relies on the use of sound experimental resear...
sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic frameworks: synthesis, properties, and applications

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent an emerging class of well-ordered porous materials that precisely reticulate organic units into extended networks and have been at the forefront of porous materials research over the past decade. In the quest to expand the reticular chemistry and develop next-generation COFs with peculiar material properties, sp2 carbon-conjugated COFs (sp2c-COFs) have garnered a surge of interest since their inception in 2016 due to the unparalleled features of continuous π-conjugation, high crystallinity, permanent porosity, unique optoelectronic properties, and extraordinary chemical stability. A rapidly growing number of 2D sp2c-COFs (more than 40 in total within just 4 years) have been hitherto constructed and broadly used in various areas. In this review, we scrutinize the design principles, synthetic routes, key features, and mechanistic investigations of sp2c-COFs. We survey the advances in their broad applications spanning heterogeneous catalysis, radionuclide sequestration, lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and optical applications, and rationalize their superior performance against structurally analogous imine-linked COFs. We further discuss the unsettled scientific challenges and provide future perspectives of sp2c-COFs.
Predictors of renal replacement therapy in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices.

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) after continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation significantly affects patients’ quality of life and survival. To identify preoperative prognostic markers in patients requiring RRT after CF-LVAD implantation, we retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent implantation of a CF-LVAD at our institution during 2012–2017. Patients who required preoperative RRT were excluded. Preoperative and operative characteristics, as well as survival and adverse events, were compared between 74 (22.2%) patients requiring any duration of postoperative RRT and 259 (77.8%) not requiring RRT. Patients requiring RRT experienced more postoperative complications than patients who did not, including respiratory failure necessitating tracheostomy (35.7% vs 2.5%, p < 0.001), reoperation for bleeding (34.3% vs 11.7%, p < 0.001), and right heart failure necessitating perioperative mechanical circulatory support (32.4% vs 6.9%, p < 0.001). Patients requiring postoperative RRT also had poorer survival at 30 days (74.7% vs 98.8%), 6 months (48.2% vs 95.1%), and 12 months (45.3% vs 90.2%) (p < 0.001). Significant predictors of RRT after CF-LVAD implantation included urine proteinuria (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.7–7.6], p = 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 3.4, 95% CI [1.5–17.8], p = 0.004), and mean right atrial pressure to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio ≥ 0.54 (OR 2.6, 95% CI [1.3–5.], p = 0.01). Of the 74 RRT patients, 11 (14.9%) recovered renal function before discharge, 36 (48.6%) still required RRT after discharge, and 27 (36.5%) died before discharge. We conclude that preoperative renal and right ventricular dysfunction significantly predict postoperative renal failure and mortality after CF-LVAD implantation.
Essential and Expendable: Migrant Domestic Workers and the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this article, we examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor conditions of domestic workers in the epicenter of the United States. We focus our analysis on the symbolic categorization of domestic work as “essential labor.” While domestic workers are lauded as heroes in public discourse, we argue that this symbolic recognition does not extend to material remuneration. Instead, we find that labor conditions better fit their categorization as expendable essential workers, meaning those whose essential labor is magnified during the pandemic but whose work remains materially undervalued. Data used in this article draw from observations of more than 30 hours of virtual town hall meetings on the pandemic hosted by migrant domestic worker advocacy groups in Los Angeles and New York.
Germline rare deleterious variant load alters cancer risk, age of onset and tumor characteristics

Abstract Background Inherited genetic variants play an important role in cancer susceptibility. Recent studies show that rare, deleterious variants (RDVs) in a few genes are critical determinants of heritable cancer risk. Better understanding of germline RDVs will contribute to improved precision prevention, screening and treatment. Methods We have performed the largest to date jointly processed germline pan-cancer case-control association study from whole-exome sequencing (WES) data of 20,789 participants, split into discovery and validation cohorts. We focused on high-penetrance RDVs based on ClinVar database. To increase the statistical power, we pursued a collapsing approach and compared the cumulative RDV burden at gene and gene-set levels using penalized logistic regression. Next, we investigated how the accumulation of RDVs in an individual (RDV load) is associated with cancer risk. Finally, we studied how personal RDV load in specific gene-sets affected i) age of diagnosis; ii) tumor immune microenvironment; and iii) tumor mutational burden using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results Our results confirm known associations between cancer risk and germline RDVs in BRCA1/2 genes, and show associations with risk for RDVs in Fanconi Anemia (FA), DNA damage repair (DDR), cancer predisposition (CPD) and somatic cancer driver gene-sets in two independent cohorts. Furthermore, increased personal germline RDV load in these gene-sets increased cancer risk, and once cancer developed, tumor characteristics. Notably, we show that the personal RDV load of an individual in FA, DDR or CPD genes is a potential marker for younger age of onset, M1 macrophage fraction in tumor microenvironment, and, in specific cancers, increased tumor mutation burden. Conclusions Our findings will help better stratification of individuals at high cancer risk, as well as the characterization of the influence of their personal germline RDV load on age of diagnosis, tumor microenvironment and mutational burden. These high-risk individuals may benefit from increased surveillance, earlier screening and prevention efforts, and treatments that exploit their tumor characteristics, improving prognosis.
Lack of Awareness of Reimbursement and Compensation Models amongst Cardiothoracic Surgery Trainees.

ABSTRACT Background The objective of this study was to identify trainee knowledge gaps in reimbursement and compensation, determine the perceived importance of understanding these topics, and to explore if the Thoracic Surgery Curriculum needs additional educational material. Methods The Thoracic Surgical Residents Association (TSRA) Executive committee selected the research proposal and distributed an anonymous electronic survey to 531 ACGME cardiothoracic surgery trainees. Standard descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed. Results 114 responses were collected (response rate 21.5%). Most trainees understand little or not at all about how attending surgeons are reimbursed (n=74, 69%). Most trainees reported knowing little or nothing about pay-for-performance compensation (n=73, 67%), bundled care (n=82, 75%) or value-based reimbursement (n=84, 77%). Only approximately 20% of trainees were accurate in estimating surgeon reimbursement for three common cardiothoracic surgery procedures to within 20% of the true reimbursement value, while approximately 30% were accurate to within 50% of the true reimbursement value. No respondent characteristics were found to be associated with a more or less accurate reimbursement response. Additionally, 81% of trainees responded that by the conclusion of training, understanding surgeon reimbursement is very important or extremely important (n=87) and 90% of trainees either somewhat agree or strongly agree with including these topics in the Thoracic Surgical Curriculum (n=95). Conclusions Despite acknowledging the importance of understanding physician compensation and reimbursement, cardiothoracic surgery trainees do not understand how the current models work. This study exemplifies the need for a succinct curriculum in this domain for trainees nationwide.
Female Inmates: Coping with Imprisonment and Separation from Family and Friends

In this study coping with imprisonment among female inmates, and how it relates to experiencing separation from family and friends, is being explored. Data was collected via a survey of 194 female ...
Ethical Issues in Genetic Choices

My intention is to think about some of the more ambitious genetic programs that have been seriously proposed. If you ask why I am crossing bridges and thinking about crossing them before we get to them, I have two reasons.
Resistance of wheat to Mycosphaerella graminicola involves early and late peaks of gene expression

Abstract Large-scale cDNA-AFLP profiling identified numerous genes with increased expression during the resistance response of wheat to the Septoria tritici blotch fungus, Mycosphaerella graminicola . To test whether these genes were associated with resistance responses, primers were designed for the 14 that were most strongly up-regulated, and their levels of expression were measured at 12 time points from 0 to 27 days after inoculation (DAI) in two resistant and two susceptible cultivars of wheat by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. None of these genes was expressed constitutively in the resistant wheat cultivars. Instead, infection of wheat by M. graminicola induced changes in expression of each gene in both resistant and susceptible cultivars over time. The four genes chitinase , phenylalanine ammonia lyase , pathogenesis-related protein PR-1 , and peroxidase were induced from about 10- to 60-fold at early stages (3 h–1 DAI) during the incompatible interactions but were not expressed at later time points. Nine other genes ( ATPase , brassinosteroid-6-oxidase , peptidylprolyl isomerase , peroxidase 2 , 40S ribosomal protein , ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase , putative protease inhibitor , methionine sulfoxide reductase , and an RNase S-like protein precursor ) had bimodal patterns with both early (1–3 DAI) and late (12–24 DAI) peaks of expression in at least one of the resistant cultivars, but low if any induction in the two susceptible cultivars. The remaining gene (a serine carboxypeptidase) had a trimodal pattern of expression in the resistant cultivar Tadinia. These results indicate that the resistance response of wheat to M. graminicola is not completed during the first 24 h after contact with the pathogen, as thought previously, but instead can extend into the period from 18 to 24 DAI when fungal growth increases dramatically in compatible interactions. Many of these genes have a possible function in signal transduction or possibly as regulatory elements. Expression of the PR-1 gene at 12 h after inoculation was much higher in resistant compared to susceptible recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) segregating for the Stb4 and Stb8 genes for resistance. Therefore, analysis of gene expression could provide a faster method for separating resistant from susceptible lines in research programs. Significant differential expression patterns of the defense-related genes between the resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars and RILs after inoculation with M. graminicola suggest that these genes may play a major role in the resistance mechanisms of wheat.
Carbon tetrachloride and bromotrichloromethane toxicity: Dual role of covalent binding of metabolic cleavage products and lipid peroxidation in depression of microsomal calcium sequestration

We have investigated the importance of covalent binding and lipid peroxidation on the depression of microsomal calcium sequestration associated with in vitro metabolism of 14CCl4. Studies with CBrCl3 are also reported. In aerobic systems, promethazine was used to block lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) generation. Effects of low levels of lipid peroxidation were tested in Fe2+ -supplemented systems free of halogenated hydrocarbons. The results indicate that microsomal calcium sequestration can be depressed significantly by metabolism of either CCl4 or CBrCl3 in the absence of MDA generation, or by lipid peroxidation occurring in the absence of halogenated hydrocarbons.
Trollope’s Chapters

The unit of the chapter – so fundamental to nineteenth-century prose narrative, yet so thoroughly ignored in accounts of the form of novels – is fundamental to Anthony Trollope’s work. The chapter stems from the textual practices of antiquity and of medieval biblical transmission, ultimately finding a home in the novel form. Chapters are key to Trollope’s understanding of readerly experience, in that they both license and manage the occasional inattention of the reader, while tacitly permitting an interplay between reading and not-reading; they are also key to his understanding of the temporality of personal experience, which is based on the bounded unit known as the “episode.”
Electrochemical and In Situ Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Nickel Hydroxide Electrodes: I. Pure Nickel Hydroxide

In situ laser Raman spectra of electrochemically precipitated thin‐film electrodes in alkaline NaOH electrolytes were recorded, and the effect of repeated charge‐discharge cycling on the structure and phase composition of the discharged and charged films was investigated. Careful deconvolution analyses of the Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman spectra showed that freshly precipitated films of contain not only an α‐like phase but also small amounts of a β‐phase. By combining cyclic voltammetry with in situ Raman spectroscopy, spectral changes that accompanied charge‐discharge cycling could be associated with a partial transformation of the predominant α‐phase into a disordered β‐ phase. A new phase characterized by a vibration at 522 cm −1 was also discovered in the film at the end of the cycling procedure. Analysis of the Raman spectra of the oxidized electrode (NiOOH active material) revealed for the first time a slight variation of the 477/559 cm−1 peak pair ratio, which corresponds to phase transitions in the Ni(III) hydrous oxide film, as the electrode was cycled. Significant differences between the low‐frequency‐region Raman spectra of chemically synthesized α,β‐ and those of highly disordered hydrous films, as well as the absence of characteristic vibrations in the OH stretching region of the in situ Raman spectra of the electrode, suggest that chemically prepared α,β‐nickel hydroxides should not be regarded as structural models for electrochemically precipitated thin‐film materials.
Reformulating linear programs with transportation constraints—With applications to workforce scheduling

We study linear programming models that contain transportation constraints in their formulation. Typically, these models have a multistage nature and the transportation constraints together with the associated flow variables are used to achieve consistency between consecutive stages. We describe how to reformulate these models by projecting out the flow variables. The reformulation can be more desirable since it has fewer variables and can be solved faster. We apply these ideas to reformulate two well-known workforce staffing and scheduling problems: the shift scheduling problem and the tour scheduling problem. We also present computational results. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Why Do Landlords Still Discriminate (and What Can Be Done About It)

This Article deals with the problem of racial discrimination in rental housing in the United States and the role of the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 ('FHA') in addressing this problem. National testing studies show that the levels of rental discrimination against blacks and Hispanics have remained virtually unchanged for the past three decades, despite the FHA having had the most effective enforcement system of any of the Nation's civil rights laws for most of this time. By now, it is clear that FHA litigation has failed to put a dent in rental discrimination based on race. Something new must be tried. This Article is an attempt to start a new conversation about this issue. Part I reviews the evidence for the ongoing nature of rental discrimination in the United States. Part II surveys the record of the legal 'cure' for this problem (i.e., enforcement of the FHA), particularly in the two decades since the FHA's 1988 amendments strengthened its enforcement provisions. Part III provides an overview of the rental housing market in the United States, which shows, inter alia, that minorities make up an ever increasing portion of this market. Part IV reviews what we know - and don't know - about race discrimination in housing rentals. A lengthy concluding Part V tries to identify some lessons from other fields, such as economics and psychology, that might help guide the effort to achieve better FHA compliance in rental opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities.
An adenosine triphosphate-dependent, avidin-sensitive enzymatic cleavage of urea in yeast and green algae.

Abstract A partially purified enzyme preparation has been obtained from urease-negative extracts of urea-grown Candida utilis which catalyzes the Mg++- and K+-dependent decomposition of 1 mole of urea to 1 mole of carbon dioxide and 2 moles of ammonia, concomitant with the cleavage of 1 mole of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate. This activity is also found in extracts of the green alga Chlorella when the organism is grown on urea as sole nitrogen source. Potent inhibition of the reaction by avidin (with nullification of this effect by biotin) suggests that the process is mediated via a biotin-containing enzyme. The possible significance of this new reaction in the utilization of urea carbon and nitrogen for biosynthetic purposes is briefly discussed.
Distribution of radon sources and effects on radon emanation in granitic soil at Ben Lomond, California

The abundance and distribution of radioelements on bulk and microscopic scales were investigated in residual granitic-derived soil at a facility for investigating the movement of radon into structures. In bulk soil samples, Ra concentrations range from 0.6 to 1.3 pCi/g, and variations in Ra, Th, and K appear to be controlled mainly by heterogeneities inherited from the parent granitic rock, which contains abundant dikes and inclusions. U in soil and parent rock is concentrated in primary minerals (mainly zircon and sphene), and in secondary sites that are of greater importance for Rn emanation. The main U-bearing secondary sites are weathered sphene, grain boundary coatings, weathered biotite and plagioclase, as well as dense Fe-rich coatings and a REE-phosphate mineral present in near-vertical fracture zones in saprolite underlying shallow loam. Elevated U in these sites generally correlates with high Ti, Al, Fe, and/or P. Preferential distribution of U and Ra on grain boundaries and porous weathered minerals is reflected in relatively high Rn emanation rates in the soil. Highest emanation occurs between 1.3 and 2.3 m depth, where fine pedogenic phasesgibbsite and amorphous silica and Fe-OOH—are most abundant; it is related to fixation of Ra by these phases, which precipitate close to the surface and accumulate at these depths by illuviation. Separation of Ra from U may occur locally, given remobilization of U-series elements from secondary sites, and large differences between Ra and U sorption capabilities of several phases present in the soil. Concentration of U along permeable fracture zones in saprolite suggests that contribution of soil-gas Rn from depth (> 2 m) could be significant to Rn availability near the surface.
A novel greedy algorithm for the minimum common string partition problem

The Minimum Common String Partition problem (MCSP) is to partition two given input strings into the same collection of substrings, where the number of substrings in the partition is minimized. This problem is a key problem in genome rearrangement, and is closely related to the problem of sorting by reversals with duplicates. MCSP is NP-hard, even for the most trivial case, 2-MCSP, where each letter occurs at most twice in each input string. There are various approximation algorithms which can achieve very good approximation ratios but with complicated implementations, for example, 1.5-approximation algorithm for 2-MCSP, 1.1037-approximation algorithm for 2-MCSP and a 4-approximation algorithm for 3-MCSP. There is also a simple greedy algorithm for MCSP which extracts the longest common substring from the given strings at each step. In this paper, we propose a novel greedy algorithm for MCSP, where we extract the longest common substring containing a symbol occurring only once at each step whenever there is a such symbol. We show our algorithm is more "worst case" greedy at each step than the greedy algorithm and the expected performance of our algorithm is better than that of the greedy algorithm. Our experiments show that our method achieves a better partition on average than the greedy algorithm does. Another advantage of our algorithm is that it is much faster than the greedy algorithm.
SLA for the 21st Century: Disciplinary Progress, Transdisciplinary Relevance, and the Bi/multilingual Turn

The goals of this article are to appraise second language acquisition's (SLA) disciplinary progress over the last 15 years and to reflect on transdisciplinary relevance as the field has completed 40 years of existence and moves forward into the 21st century. I first identify four trends that demonstrate vibrant disciplinary progress in SLA. I then turn to the notion of transdisciplinarity, or the proclivity to pursue and generate SLA knowledge that can be of use outside the confines of the field and contribute to overall knowledge about the human capacity for language. I propose an understanding of transdisciplinary relevance for SLA that results from the ability: (a) to place one's field in a wider landscape of disciplines that share an overarching common goal and (b) to develop critical awareness of one's disciplinary framings of object of inquiry and goals and others’ likely reception of them. Finally, I argue that it is by reframing SLA as the study of late bi/multilingualism that the remarkable progress witnessed in the last 15 years will help the field reach new levels of transdisciplinary relevance as a contributor to the study of the ontogeny of human language and a source of knowledge in support of language education in the 21st century.
New dosages and formulations of AEDs for use in pediatric epilepsy

Since 1993, eight antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been added to the armamentarium for treating seizure types and epilepsy syndromes in adult and pediatric patients. Although most of the clinical trials of these agents have been conducted in adult populations, some data regarding use of AEDs in pediatric patients are available. This review of newer AEDs provides information about currently approved indications, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and dosage and titration for recommended doses and for doses that are often used in clinical practice, even though they may not be specifically indicated or may deviate from recommended doses. Finally, the review describes available formulations for use in pediatric patients who require treatment with an AED. Felbamate, first indicated for use either as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures (with or without secondary generalization) in adults, was approved in 1993 for use as adjunctive treatment to control partial and generalized seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).1 In a long-term study of efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with severe refractory epilepsy, use of felbamate was associated with a reduction in the frequency of seizures in as many as 69% of the 36 study participants.2 In one-third of the patients in that same study, felbamate maintained a substantial improvement in seizure control during the 3-year follow-up period.2 The dosage of felbamate in the study was titrated over a 3-week period from 15 mg/kg/day during the first week to 30 mg/kg/day the second week and, finally, to 45 mg/kg/day the third week and thereafter.2 The use of felbamate has been markedly limited by its known association with aplastic anemia and liver failure. Felbamate is available in 400-mg and 600-mg scored tablets and in an oral suspension of 600 mg/5 mL (120 mg/mL).3 Based on the dosage and …
An encapsulated dopamine-releasing polymer alleviates experimental parkinsonism in rats

The effect of sustained intrastriatal release of dopamine (DA) from polymer matrices on apomorphine-induced turning behavior in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) unilaterally lesioned rat model was analyzed. A biocompatible semipermeable tube was placed in a denervated striatum as a receptacle for DA-releasing polymer rods. In vitro kinetics showed sustained release of DA from a polymeric rod for 15 days. Implantation of a DA-releasing rod within the striatal receptacle significantly decreased apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in lesioned animals. Upon removal of the DA-releasing system from the receptacle, rotational behavior increased within 2 weeks and approached preimplant control values 4 weeks later. Acute microdialysis revealed that DA appeared in the extracellular space within 20 min after the implantation of a DA-releasing rod into a denervated striatum. Significant DA amounts were still measurable 7 days postimplantation, indicating sustained DA release from the polymer rod. Dopamine released from a polymer matrix through a semipermeable receptacle alleviates experimental parkinsonism in rats, suggesting that controlled intrastriatal release of DA from a polymer matrix may provide and alternative method for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Power and energy-aware processor scheduling

Power consumption is a critical consideration in high computing systems. We propose a novel job scheduler that optimizes power and energy consumed by clusters when running parallel benchmarks with minimal impact on performance. We construct accurate models for estimating power consumption. These models are based on measurements of power consumption on benchmarks with different characteristics and on systems with processors using different micro-architectures. We show the power estimation models achieve less than 2% error versus actual measurements. We show a job scheduler can be enhanced to make it 'power-aware' and to optimize power consumption of jobs with similar performance characteristics. The enhanced scheduler can estimate the power consumed by a particular job using the power estimation model, configure the nodes in the cluster via suitably adjusting processor frequency on each of the nodes to maximize performance, minimize power, or minimize energy with a predictable impact on power, energy and performance.
The Essential Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Protein FIT1 Is Required for the Iron Deficiency Response

Regulation of iron uptake is critical for plant survival. Although the activities responsible for reduction and transport of iron at the plant root surface have been described, the genes controlling these activities are largely unknown. We report the identification of the essential gene Fe-deficiency Induced Transcription Factor 1 (FIT1), which encodes a putative transcription factor that regulates iron uptake responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Like the Fe(III) chelate reductase FRO2 and high affinity Fe(II) transporter IRT1, FIT1 mRNA is detected in the outer cell layers of the root and accumulates in response to iron deficiency. fit1 mutant plants are chlorotic and die as seedlings but can be rescued by the addition of supplemental iron, pointing to a defect in iron uptake. fit1 mutant plants accumulate less iron than wild-type plants in root and shoot tissues. Microarray analysis shows that expression of many (72 of 179) iron-regulated genes is dependent on FIT1. We demonstrate that FIT1 regulates FRO2 at the level of mRNA accumulation and IRT1 at the level of protein accumulation. We propose a new model for iron uptake in Arabidopsis where FRO2 and IRT1 are differentially regulated by FIT1.
Algorithm 707: CONHYP: a numerical evaluator of the confluent hypergeometric function for complex arguments of large magnitudes

A numerical evaluator for the confluent hypergeometric function for complex arguments with large magnitudes using a direct summation of Kummer's series is presented. Extended precision subroutines using large arrays to accumulate a single numerator and denominator are ultimately used in a single division to arrive at the final result. The accuracy has been verified through a variety of tests and they show the evaluator to be consistently accurate to 13 significant figures, and on rare occasion accurate to only 9 for magnitudes of the arguments ranging into the thousands in any quadrant in the complex plane. Because the evaluator automatically determines the number of significant figures of machine precision, and because it is written in FORTRAN 77, tests on various computers have shown the evaluator to provide consistently accurate results, making the evaluator very portable. The principal drawback is that, for certain arguments, the evaluator is slow; however, the evaluator remains valuable as a benchmark even in such cases.
Behavioral effects of morphine and naloxone following chronic morphine administration

The effects of morphine, naloxone, and combinations of these drugs were examined in squirrel monkeys under shock-postponement schedules. In the absence of a lever press, shocks could be presented every 4s, and each response postponed shock for 20s. Acutely, morphine (0.10–3.00 mg/kg) produced not only overall response-rate decreases, but also increases in the number of shocks, whereas naloxone (0.10–30.00 mg/kg) had little effect on responding. When given in combination with morphine, several doses of naloxone antagonized the rate-reducing and shock-increasing effects of morphine. Daily administration of morphine resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of shocks received and a moderate attenuation of the rate-decreasing effects of morphine (tolerance). Lower doses substituted for the fixed daily dose resulted in a smaller effect on behavior than under acute administration. Naloxone given in combination with the daily morphine dose or substituted for the daily administration of morphine, produced effects similar to those seen prior to chronic drugging. Thus, behavioral effects of naloxone were not altered even though tolerance to morphine was observed. Larger doses of naloxone continued to antagonize the effects of morphine for at least 24h. No signs of physical dependence were noted when naloxone was administered or when administration of morphine ended.
The contribution of vertical and horizontal connections to the receptive field center and surround in V1

Here we review the results of anatomical and physiological studies in tree shrew visual cortex which focus on the contribution of vertical and horizontal inputs to receptive field center and surround properties of layer 2/3 neurons. A fundamental feature of both sets of connections is the arrangement of axon arbors in a fashion that respects both the orientation preference and retinotopic displacement of the target site. As a result, layer 2/3 neurons receive convergent input from populations of layer 4 and other layer 2/3 neurons whose receptive fields are displaced along an axis in visual space that corresponds to their preferred orientation. Although, horizontal connections extend for greater distances across the cortical surface than vertical connections, the majority of these inputs link neurons with overlapping receptive fields, emphasizing that both feed-forward and recurrent circuits are likely to play a constructive role in generating properties (such as orientation selectivity) that define the receptive field center. Both within and beyond the dimensions of the receptive field center, the distribution of horizontal connections accords remarkably well with the magnitude and axial tuning of length summation effects. Taken together, these results suggest a continuum of functional properties that transcends the traditional designation of receptive field center and surround. By extension, we suggest that the perceptual effects of stimulus context may arise from stimulus interactions within the receptive field center as well as between center and surround.
Synthesis of new C-19-functionalized cholesterols.

Abstract A series of new derivatives of cholesterol bearing polar functional groups on carbon-19 were synthesized, including 19-oximino-, 19-amino-, 19-(methylimino)-, 19-(methylamino)-, 19-mercapto-, and 19-(methylthio) cholesterol, and 3β-hydroxycholest-5-en-19-oic acid, as well as an unusual cyclosterol, 5,19-cyclocholest-6-en-3β-ol.
Placental-site trophoblastic tumors: a case of resistant pulmonary metastasis

Placental-site trophoblastic tumors (PSTTs) are often resistant to chemotherapy and have a high incidence of lung metastasis. Cole et al. report the case of a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed with metastatic chemoresistant PSTT. The patient was managed with abdominal hysterectomy, salpingo-oophrectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and thoracotomy with wedge resection. The authors discuss the treatment options for patients with PSTTs, especially for those with persistent metastatic disease. Background A 52-year-old woman whose last known pregnancy was 12 years before presentation was diagnosed with mixed trophoblastic tumor that included placental-site trophoblastic tumor, epithelioid trophoblastic tumor, and focal choriocarcinoma. There was no clear evidence of metastatic disease on initial evaluation. Investigations Histopathology, laboratory tests, immunohistochemistry, chest X-ray, CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, PET-CT scan. Diagnosis Metastatic chemoresistant placental-site trophoblastic tumor positive for EGFR, VEGF receptor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Management Abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic radiation, etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D/cyclophosphamide and vincristine chemotherapy, left thoracotomy with wedge resection, taxol, etoposide, cisplatin therapy, right thoracotomy with wedge resection.
A generalized floor bound for the minimum distance of geometric Goppa codes

Abstract We prove a new bound for the minimum distance of geometric Goppa codes that generalizes two previous improved bounds. We include examples of the bound applied to one- and two-point codes over certain Suzuki and Hermitian curves.
Nuclear Trapping of the Forkhead Transcription Factor FoxO1 via Sirt-dependent Deacetylation Promotes Expression of Glucogenetic Genes

Activation of NAD-dependent deacetylases, or Sirtuins, prolongs life span and mimics the effects of caloric restriction in yeast. The FoxO subfamily of forkhead transcription factors has been shown to mediate some of the effects of Sirtuins. Here we have shown that Sirtuin activation or hydrogen peroxide treatment overrides the phosphorylation-dependent nuclear exclusion of FoxO1 caused by growth factors and causes nuclear translocation of FoxO1 in hepatocytes. Kinetic measurements of nuclear fluorescence recovery after photobleaching show that FoxO1 is readily diffusible within the nucleus under normal conditions but becomes restricted within a nuclear subdomain following treatment with the prototypical Sirtuin agonist resveratrol or oxidative stress. Expression of FoxO1 target genes is accordingly increased, leading to activation of gluconeogenesis and increased glucose release from hepatocytes. Selective modulation of the FoxO/Sirtuin interaction represents a promising therapeutic modality for metabolic disorders.
Formaldehyde is mutagenic for cultured human cells

Abstract We have found formaldehyde to be mutagenic for human cells in culture. At concentrations above 130 μM or 4 parts per million by weight (2 h exposure at 37°C), formaldehyde induces the appearance of F3TdR-resistant mutants in the diploid human lymphoblastoid TK6 line. This finding suggests but does not prove that formaldehyde is a mutagenic hazard for humans.
Thiophene and butadiene-thiolate complexes of molybdenum: observations relevant to the mechanism of hydrodesulfurization.

Mo(PMe3)6 reacts with thiophene to give the η5-thiophene complex (η5-C4H4S)Mo(PMe3)3 and the η5-butadiene−thiolate complex (η5-C4H5S)Mo(PMe3)2(η2-CH2PMe2), which are the first examples of (i) η5-thiophene coordination and (ii) C−S cleavage and hydrogenation by a molybdenum compound. Deuterium labeling studies suggest that the hydrogenation of thiophene may involve an alkylidene intermediate, an observation that has ramifications for the mechanisms of hydrodesulfurization.
The future of bioactive ceramics

Two important worldwide needs must be satisfied in the future; (1) treatment of the deteriorating health of an aging population and, (2) decreasing healthcare costs to meet the needs of an increased population. The ethical and economic dilemma is how to achieve equality in quality of care while at the same time decreasing cost of care for an ever-expanding number of people. The limited lifetime of prosthetic devices made from first-generation nearly inert biomaterials requires new approaches to meet these two large needs. This paper advises an expanded emphasis on: (1) regeneration of tissues and (2) prevention of tissue deterioration to meet this growing need. Innovative use of bioactive ceramics with genetic control of in situ tissue responses offers the potential to achieve both tissue regeneration and prevention. Clinical success of use of bioactive glass for bone regeneration is evidence that this concept works. Likewise the use of micron sized bioactive glass powders in a dentifrice for re-mineralization of teeth provides evidence that prevention of tissue deterioration is also possible. This opinion paper outlines clinical needs that could be met by innovative use of bioactive glasses and ceramics in the near future; including: regeneration of skeletal tissues that is patient specific and genetic based, load-bearing bioactive glass–ceramics for skeletal and ligament and tendon repair, repair and regeneration of soft tissues, and rapid low-cost analysis of human cell-biomaterial interactions leading to patient specific diagnoses and treatments using molecularly tailored bioceramics.