cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical dilation, botulinum toxin A injection, and surgical myotomy with fundoplication for treatment of lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome in dogs.

Background Megaesophagus (ME) carries a poor long-term prognosis in dogs. In people, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) achalasia is a rare cause of ME that may respond to targeted intervention. Dogs with lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome (LES-AS) have been described recently, warranting investigation of analogous targeted treatment. Hypothesis/objectives Evaluate response of dogs with LES-AS to LES mechanical dilation and botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections, with or without surgical myotomy and fundoplication. We hypothesized that clinical and videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) features of LES-AS would improve after treatment targeting functional LES obstruction. Animals Fourteen client-owned dogs with LES-AS diagnosed by VFSS. Methods Retrospective study. Dogs diagnosed with LES-AS underwent treatment between April 2015 and December 2017. Outcome measures included client perception of clinical severity, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), regurgitation frequency, and VFSS parameters (ME, esophageal motility, gastric filling). Dogs with positive responses were considered candidates for LES myotomy with fundoplication. Results By a median IQR of 21 (IQR, 14-25) days after mechanical dilation and BTA, clients reported clinical improvement in 100% of dogs, BW increased 20.4% (IQR, 12.7%-25%), pre- and post-treatment BCS was 3 (IQR, 3-4) and 5 (IQR, 4-5), respectively, and frequency of regurgitation decreased by 80% (IQR, 50%-85%). Duration of effect was 40 (IQR, 17-53) days. Despite clinical improvement, ME and abnormal esophageal motility persisted in 14 dogs. Six dogs subsequently underwent myotomy and fundoplication and maintained improvement observed after mechanical dilation and BTA. Conclusions and clinical importance Dogs with LES-AS experienced significant, temporary, clinical improvement after mechanical dilation and BTA. Preliminary results suggest myotomy with fundoplication provide lasting clinical benefit despite persistence of ME.
Synaptic Proteome Alterations in the Primary Auditory Cortex of Schizophrenia

Abstract Importance Findings from unbiased genetic studies have consistently implicated synaptic protein networks in Schizophrenia (Sz), but the molecular pathology at these networks and their potential contribution to the synaptic and circuit deficits thought to underlie disease symptoms remain unknown. Objective To determine if protein levels are altered within synapses from primary auditory cortex (A1) of subjects with Sz; and if so, are these differences restricted to the synapse or present throughout the grey matter? Design A paired case-control design was utilized for this study. Biochemical fractional – targeted Mass Spectrometry (MS) was used to measure the levels of >350 proteins in A1 grey matter homogenate and synaptosome preparations, respectively. All experimenters were blinded to diagnosis at every stage of sample preparation, MS analysis, and raw data processing. The effects of postmortem interval (PMI) and antipsychotic drug treatment on protein levels were assessed in mouse and monkey models, respectively. Setting All cases were recruited from a single site, The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner, and all tissues were processed at the University of Pittsburgh. Participants Brain specimens from all subjects were obtained during autopsies conducted at the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner after receiving consent from the next-of-kin. An independent panel of experienced clinicians made consensus Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition diagnoses. Unaffected comparison subjects underwent identical assessments and were determined to be free of lifetime psychiatric illness. Each Sz subject was matched by sex, and as closely as possible for age and PMI, with one unaffected comparison subject. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary measures were homogenate and synaptosome protein levels and their co-regulation network features. Prior to data collection we hypothesized: 1. That levels of canonical postsynaptic proteins in A1 synaptosome preparations would differ between Sz and control subjects; and 2. That these differences would not be explained by changes in total A1 homogenate protein levels. Results Mean subject age was 48 years for both groups with a range of 17-83; each group included 35 males and 13 females; mean PMI was 17.7 hours in controls and 17.9 in Sz. We observed robust alterations (q Conclusions and Relevance Our findings indicate a robust and highly coordinated rearrangement of the synaptic proteome likely driven by aberrant synaptic, not cell-wide, proteostasis. In line with unbiased genetic findings, our results identified alterations in synaptic levels of postsynaptic proteins, providing a road map to identify the specific cells and circuits that are impaired in Sz A1.
Verification of Newly FDA-Approved Kappa and Lambda Free Light Chain Assays on a Previously Untested Platform

Background: κ and λ free light chains (FLCs) are monitored to aid in the diagnosis of plasma cell disorders. Our goal was to validate the Diazyme Human κ and λ assays on Beckman Coulter UniCel DxC 800 Synchron and compare to Freelite κ and λ assays on Roche Cobas Integra. Methods: Linearity verification, within- and between-run precision, method comparison, and reference range (RR) verification were conducted using CLSI guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using EP Evaluator®. Mean, SD, CV, and bias were determined. Results: Diazyme κ FLC assay was linear within 0.00–191.00 mg/L. Diazyme λ FLC assay was linear within 0.00–205.30 mg/L. Diazyme κ FLC QC1 had a mean of 16.70 mg/L, CV of 7.0%. QC2 had a mean of 33.37 mg/L, CV of 2.6%. Diazyme λ FLC QC1 had a mean of 21.73 mg/L, CV of 2.3%. QC2 had a mean of 42.05 mg/L, CV of 1.5%. Bias of DxC-Diazyme FLCs compared to Integra-Freelite FLCs was −2.55 mg/L (κ FLC), and 4.54 mg/L (λ FLC). Qualitative comparison of κ FLC assays indicated 100% agreement for both normal and abnormal values. For λ FLC assay, agreement was 95% for normal values and 75% for abnormal values. For κ/λ ratio there was 50% agreement for normal values, and 100% for abnormal values. For RR verification, 1 sample was outside the Diazyme κ RR. For λ, all samples were within the manufacturer9s RR. Conclusions: Diazyme assays for FLCs have excellent precision and accuracy and are comparable to Freelite assays.
A Comparative Analysis of Earth Science Curriculum Using Inquiry Methodology between Korean and the U.S. Textbooks

The purpose of this study is to investigate in what ways the inquiry task of teaching and learning in earth science textbooks reflect the unique characteristics of earth science inquiry methodology, and how it provides students with opportunities to develop their scientific reasoning skills. This study analyzes a number of inquiry activities in both Korean and American earth science curriculums by using an analysis framework of earth science inquiry methodology. Results suggest that Earth science activities in Korean textbooks appropriately reflect comprehensive earth science methodologies and provide students with more opportunities to develop their earth scientific literacy, while the American curriculum used in the U.S. included only a small number of inquiry-based activities.
Computationally - Efficient Fuel-Economic High-Level Control Strategy for Connected Vehicles with Probabilistic Collision Avoidance

This paper presents a computationally-efficient fuel-economic control strategy for connected vehicles in urban roads in the presence of uncertainty in shared information. The proposed high-level controller also focuses on reducing red-light idling, which improves traffic mobility and vehicle emissions. We model the red-light idling avoidance problem with a terminal constraint and evaluate the equivalent deterministic constraints that ensure probabilistic collision avoidance. We then employ a sampling-based approach to evaluate a feasible solution in real-time. This leads to control solutions -if a feasible solution is obtained- that can ensure avoidance of red-light idling despite the number of vehicles in front of it. We have shown that sampling from a Gaussian distribution whose mean depends on the target velocity can improve fuel economy to a good extent. This high-level controller provides a good initial solution for any deterministic low-level controller. Simulation results show the efficacy of the proposed method in terms of fuel economy and computational efficiency.
Amphetamine Dose-Dependently Decreases and Increases Binge Intake of Fat and Sucrose Independent of Sex.

Objective Amphetamine was formerly used as a treatment to combat obesity, but amphetamine's use as an appetite suppressant was discontinued because of its significant abuse potential. Most of the rewarding and reinforcing effects of amphetamine differ by sex, with females showing higher levels of drug intake and amphetamine-induced motivation, relapse, and locomotion, but it is unknown whether amphetamine's effects on feeding also differ by sex. Furthermore, previous research on the anorectic effects of amphetamine has been focused primarily on its effects on baseline homeostatic feeding, but it is unknown whether amphetamine also affects hedonic, reward-related feeding, which is an important factor driving the rise in obesity levels. Methods This study tested whether amphetamine alters food intake in a sex-dependent manner in two reward-related feeding paradigms: a sucrose two-bottle choice test and a high-fat/high-sugar binge intake model. Results Amphetamine altered food intake equally in males and females in both paradigms, with higher doses significantly inhibiting feeding and low doses of amphetamine increasing feeding at later time points. Conclusions Amphetamine's effects on feeding and drug reward may be mediated by distinct mechanisms, which could allow for the development of new approaches to combat obesity with limited abuse and addiction-related side effects.
Lessons learned at the biology–geology interface

Geoscience is increasingly transdisciplinary, requiring researchers from many different scientific backgrounds to work together. Jayme Feyhl-Buska, a biologist pursuing a doctoral degree in an Earth Science department, highlights lessons that she learned on the cusp of the two fields, and urges collaborators to convey lines of thinking and define terminology upfront.
Accelerating Model-Free Reinforcement Learning With Imperfect Model Knowledge in Dynamic Spectrum Access

Current studies that Our records indicate that Hao-Hsuan Chang is a Graduate Student Member of the IEEE. Please verify. Our records indicate that Jonathan D. Ashdown is a Member of the IEEE. Please verify. apply reinforcement learning (RL) to dynamic spectrum access (DSA) problems in wireless communications systems mainly focus on model-free RL (MFRL). However, in practice, MFRL requires a large number of samples to achieve good performance making it impractical in real-time applications such as DSA. Combining model-free and model-based RL can potentially reduce the sample complexity while achieving a similar level of performance as MFRL as long as the learned model is accurate enough. However, in a complex environment, the learned model is never perfect. In this article, we combine model-free and model-based RL, and introduce an algorithm that can work with an imperfectly learned model to accelerate the MFRL. Results show our algorithm achieves higher sample efficiency than the standard MFRL algorithm and the Dyna algorithm (a standard algorithm integrating model-based RL and MFRL) with much lower computation complexity than the Dyna algorithm. For the extreme case where the learned model is highly inaccurate, the Dyna algorithm performs even worse than the MFRL algorithm while our algorithm can still outperform the MFRL algorithm.
Frequent Pattern Mining

This comprehensive reference consists of 18 chapters from prominent researchers in the field. Each chapter is self-contained, and synthesizes one aspect of frequent pattern mining. An emphasis is placed on simplifying the content, so that students and practitioners can benefit from the book. Each chapter contains a survey describing key research on the topic, a case study and future directions. Key topics include: Pattern Growth Methods, Frequent Pattern Mining in Data Streams, Mining Graph Patterns, Big Data Frequent Pattern Mining, Algorithms for Data Clustering and more. Advanced-level students in computer science, researchers and practitioners from industry will find this book an invaluable reference.
Popliteal entrapment syndrome-The case for a new classification.

Objectives To assess the ability of the current classification system for popliteal entrapment syndrome to accurately capture all patients, and if not, to design an all-inclusive new classification. Methods Retrospective review of all interventions performed for popliteal entrapment syndrome between 1994 and 2013 at our institution was performed. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings were used to establish the compressive morphology of popliteal entrapment syndrome. Patients were categorized, when possible, into six types of the current classification system (Rich classification, modified by Levien) and into seven types of a new classification. Results Sixty-seven limbs of 49 patients were operated on for unilateral (31) or bilateral (18) popliteal entrapment syndrome. The current classification system captured the anatomy of only 43 (64%) of 67 limbs with popliteal entrapment syndrome. Compressive morphologies without a defined class included aberrant insertion of the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle, muscle slip originating from the lateral head of gastrocnemius or hamstrings, hypertrophied hamstring muscle, abnormal fibrous bands, perivascular connective tissue, and prominent lateral femoral condyle. The new classification captured 100% of the limbs with popliteal entrapment syndrome. Conclusions Current classification of popliteal entrapment syndrome is inadequate as more than one-third of the cases reviewed fell outside of the standard classification system. Consideration of a more inclusive new anatomic classification system is warranted.
Improving beef cattle welfare

Animal welfare is at the epicenter of values-based and science-based reasoning. A question which must be posed is "Do scientific professionals consider animal welfare an established scientific field?" In many areas of animal production and research, the answer is a resounding yes. However, it must be established in all areas of science involving animals, and it must be maintained as a scientific field. To do so, we must be able to show that animal welfare can be measured and assessed using both subjective and objective measures. Animal welfare can be measured on a day-to-day basis by the producers and veterinarian who work directly with the animals, using outcome-based measures. When outcome based measures are used, we can assess why certain management practices are put into place, and what impact those practices are making on production and welfare. According to the OIE (2008), the criteria for measurement of animal welfare include cattle behavior, morbidity rates, mortality rates, changes in weight and body condition, reproductive efficiency, physical appearance, handling responses, and com¬ plications due to routine procedure management. By using these and other outcome-based measures, animal welfare will become an established scientific field in which observations can be measured and recorded so that management changes and improvements can be implemented to maintain and improve welfare on production units.
How Much Clinic for How Many Students?: Examining the Decision to Offer Clinics for One Semester or an Academic Year

Many law schools are engaged in curricular reform aimed at more effectively preparing students for practice. Two publications that have influenced these reform efforts, Best Practices for Legal Education and the Carnegie Foundation’s report Educating Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law, suggest that there should be more clinical opportunities. With limited resources, there is an apparent tension between providing live-client clinics to as many students as possible versus a deeper clinical experience over an academic year. This article examines the questions raised by a law school’s decision to offer a clinic for one semester or two. In designing a coherent curriculum, law schools should be able to articulate the justification for the particular mix in length and types of experiential opportunities. The first part of the article analyzes clinical scholarship, adult learning theory and the author’s experience teaching a child advocacy clinic to assess the advantages and disadvantages of one-semester and year-long clinics. The author concludes that there are sufficient benefits to a full year of clinic that some year-long clinics should be part of a robust curriculum. Notwithstanding this view, she recognizes that providing the maximum number of students with a clinic is a laudable goal and students can get a meaningful experience in one semester. The second part of the article offers recommendations for designing one-semester clinics based on the author’s experience converting a year-long clinic to a one-semester clinic. The author suggests that, in offering clinics for one semester, clinicians cannot do it all and instead must make conscious choices in clinic objectives and design to ensure that students maximize the identified learning goals.
Increased Bite Distance From the Edge Lowers Risk of Pullout of Simple Sutures from Acellular Dermal Allograft.

Purpose To investigate whether pullout strength in the acellular dermal allograft matrix (ADM) used for superior capsule reconstruction depends on the distance from the edge of the graft. Methods ADM used for superior capsule reconstruction was obtained and cut into 30 squares. Two sutures were placed through the center of each graft by using a loaded Keith needle and forming a simple stitch. The grafts were divided into 3 groups of 10 grafts with a distance of 5 mm, 10 mm or 15 mm from the closest edge of the graft, respectively. The grafts were then preloaded to 5 N and pulled to failure at a rate of 12 mm/s on an MTS 858 MiniBionix servohydraulic mechanical test frame. The load to failure was recorded as well as the stiffness of each graft. Results The mean load to failure was 34.5 N (SD 7.89) for the 5 mm grafts, 31.7 N (SD 5.99) for the 10 mm grafts, and 66.2 N (SD 18.4) for the 15 mm grafts. There was a significant difference (< 0.0001) between the large grafts (15 mm) and the 2 smaller grafts (10 mm, 5 mm). There was no significant difference in stiffness between the groups of graft (P 0.40). Conclusion Placing the suture at least 15 mm from the edge of the graft increases the graft's ultimate yield strength to suture pullout. Clinical Relevance The depths of the suture in ADM could improve pullout strength for constructs of superior capsular reconstructions.
Water Molecules: A Closer Look at Their Behavior at Protein-Protein Interfaces and Their Contributions to the Docked Model of Pyridoxal Kinase - Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase Complex

xii Chapter Page 1 General Introduction 1 1.1 Role of water in protein-protein complex interface 1 1.1.1 Water the vivacious molecule 1 1.1.2 Different roles of water in biological processes 1 1.1.2.1 Role of water molecules in protein-ligand binding... 2 1.1.2.2 Role of water molecules in protein-DNA binding.... 3 1.1.2.3 Role of water molecules in protein-protein binding.. 4 1.2 Pyridoxal kinase (PLK) – Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) complex 8 1.2.1 Pyridoxal 5‟-Phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes 8 1.2.2 Pyridoxal Kinase (PLK) 8 1.2.3 Pyridoxal 5‟-Phosphate (PLP) metabolic pathways 10 1.2.4 Mechanism of transfer of PLP from PLK to SHMT and other
Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War

Review of: "Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War," a part of the "Civil War America Series," by Christian McWhirter.
Enhancement of anthracycline growth inhibition in parent and multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells by cyclosporin A and its analogues.

Cyclosporins have been shown to sensitize multidrug-resistant cells to chemotherapeutic agents but, generally, have minimal effect on sensitive lines. We studied the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) and two nonimmunosuppressive analogues, 11-methyl-leucine- (11-Me-Leu-CsA) and 6-methyl-alanine-cyclosporin A (6-Me-Ala-CsA), on the action of doxorubicin (DOX) and 4′-epidoxorubicin against parent (AuXB1) and multidrug-resistant (CHRC5) Chinese hamster ovary cells. CsA and its two analogues reduced the IC50 values for DOX in sensitive AuXB1 cells from 0.1 to 0.01–0.02 µm. Cyclosporins reduced the IC50 of DOX in resistant CHRC5 cells from 9 to 0.1 (CsA), 0.7 (6-Me-Ala-CsA), and 1.2 µm (11-Me-Leu-CsA). Similar results were seen when cyclosporins were combined with 4′-epidoxorubicin. The cyclosporins alone had no effect at these concentrations (1–2.0 µg/ml). Dose-response curves suggested that CsA was a more potent modifying agent than 11-Me-Leu-CsA towards resistant CHRC5 cells. The ability of the cyclosporins to enhance anthracycline growth inhibition in parent AuXB1 cells may be related to an increase in drug uptake and an increase in anthracycline-induced DNA damage. CsA increased DOX accumulation as well as DOX-associated DNA single-strand breaks in AuXB1 cells over those seen in cells exposed to DOX alone. The degree of increase in DNA breaks paralleled the degree of growth inhibition seen in cells exposed to the same concentrations of drugs. In contrast, CsA had no effect on DOX accumulation or DNA single-strand breaks in CHRC5 cells. These findings imply that, in the resistant cell line, the enhanced anthracycline growth inhibition in the presence of CsA is independent of DOX accumulation and single-strand DNA breaks. These studies demonstrate that CsA and two nonimmunosuppressive analogues can sensitize both sensitive and resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells to anthracyclines. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying this effect may differ between sensitive and multidrug-resistant cells.
Bilateral Primary Uveal Melanoma: Bad Luck or Bad Genes?

Background: The occurrence of bilateral primary uveal melanoma has been assumed to be a rare, random event. Bilaterality of a primary cancer is suggestive of an inherited cancer predisposition. The authors therefore evaluated patients with bilateral primary uveal melanoma for such cancer predisposition. Methods: The charts of 4500 patients with uveal melanoma were reviewed for the presence of bilaterality. The clinical profile of patients with bilateral primary uveal melanoma was studied. The presence of ocular melanocytosis, familial atypical mole and melanoma syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, cutaneous melanoma, familial uveal melanoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and second primary cancers also was investigated. Results: Of 4500 patients with primary uveal melanoma, 8 (0.18%) were identified to have bilateral primary uveal melanoma. Using the annual incidence rate (Shammas and Watzke) and normal approximation to the binomial, the expected number of patients with primary bilateral uveal melanoma in the authors' series was calculated to be less than one person. Observation of eight patients with bilateral primary uveal melanoma represented greater than expected occurrence ( P P = 0.001). No relation to familial atypical mole and melanoma syndrome, cutaneous melanoma, neurofibromatosis type 1, familial uveal melanoma, second primary cancers, or Li-Fraumeni syndrome was observed. Conclusions: Bilateral primary uveal melanoma occurs more frequently than expected by chance, and may be associated with ocular melanocytosis. In the authors' series, there was no clinical evidence of an inherited genetic predisposition for bilateral primary uveal melanoma. Unidentified germ-line mutations may be involved in pathogenesis of bilateral primary uveal melanoma.
Desires, Whims and Values

Neo-Humean instrumentalists hold that anagent's reasons for acting are grounded in theagent's desires. Numerous objections have beenleveled against this view, but the mostcompelling concerns the problem of ``aliendesires'' – desires with which the agent doesnot identify. The standard version ofneo-Humeanism holds that these desires, likeany others, generate reasons for acting. Avariant of neo-Humeanism that grounds anagent's reasons on her values, rather than allof her desires, avoids this implication, but atthe cost of denying that we have reasons to acton innocent whims. A version of neo-Humeanismthat holds that an agent has reason to satisfyall of her desires that are not in conflictwith her values appears to allow us to grantthe reason-giving force of innocent whims whiledenying the reason-giving force of alien desires.
Office Employment Growth and the Changing Function of Cities

The proportion of a city's local and regionally/nationally supported office employment changes as the city assumes more central place functions. Certain mixes of office employment should reflect the central place function of the city and promote office growth. Forty-five cities are studied using data from 1976, 1982 and 1985. The results indicate that the variance of office employment does not help predict a city's growth, but that certain cluster categories of office employment are associated with office employment growth. Finally, the results indicate that office employment profiles of cities have become more homogenized over time.
Acknowledging, Noticing, and Reimagining Disciplinary Instruction: The Promise of New Literacies for Guiding Research and Practice in Teacher Education

In this theoretical article the authors review the theories and issues surrounding new literacies to determine their possible consequences for the preparation of teachers. The authors examined these theories alongside artefacts from the disciplines, content-area classrooms, and teacher education curricula. This interpretive work allowed the authors to (1) acknowledge the presence of new literacies in disciplinary practices, (2) notice that content-area classrooms are new literacies spaces, and (3) reimagine the curricula used to prepare teachers for work in content-area classrooms. Implications for classroom instruction and teacher education are discussed.
Comparison of treatment outcomes in digital and conventional complete removable dental prosthesis fabrications in a predoctoral setting.

Abstract Statement of problem Scientific evidence is lacking regarding the clinical effectiveness of digital complete removable dental prostheses (CRDP). Purpose This prospective clinical study was conducted to compare clinical treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction, and dental student preferences for digitally and conventionally processed CRDP in a predoctoral setting. Material and methods This clinical study rated and compared CRDP fabricated by predoctoral students, using a 2-appointment digital prosthesis fabrication process as opposed to the conventional 5-appointment process. Fifteen completely edentulous patients were treated in the predoctoral clinic at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Fifteen predoctoral (third- and fourth-year) dental students fabricated 2 sets of maxillary and mandibular CRDP for each patient. Each patient received 1 conventional set and 1 digital (AvaDent) set of CRDP. Faculty and patient ratings, patient and student preferences, and perceptions of the conventional versus digital prostheses were recorded and analyzed. The average treatment time for the fabrication of each type of prostheses was analyzed. Results Significantly higher average scores were observed for digital dentures than for conventional dentures according to criteria evaluated by faculty ( P =.007 ) . Patients reported significantly higher overall average satisfaction scores with digital dentures ( P =.001). Patients preferred the digital dentures ( P P =.001) compared with that for the digital mandibular and conventional complete dentures. Students preferred digital prostheses compared with conventional prostheses ( P P Conclusions The digital process proved to be an equally effective and more time-efficient option than the conventional process of prosthesis fabrication in the predoctoral program. The digital denture process was preferred and effectively used by predoctoral dental students under faculty supervision.
'New' bilirubin recommendations questioned.

Newman and Maisels are to be congratulated on their diligence in ferreting out information relevant to the evaluation, toxicity, and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Their reviews should be read by all physicians caring for jaundiced newborns so that they can be fully informed of the data now available.1,2 The identification of jaundiced infants can result in the cessation of breast-feeding and the view of the infant as being at increased risk for other illnesses.3,4 This must be balanced against the risk of bilirubin toxicity. In this issue of Pediatrics, Newman and Maisels5 make recommendations for changes in the evaluation and treatment of jaundiced infants.
Evaluation of Pharyngeal Function in Dogs with Laryngeal Paralysis Before and After Unilateral Arytenoid Lateralization.

Objective To evaluate pharyngeal and laryngeal function using esophagography, topical pharyngeal/laryngeal sensitivity testing, and electromyography (EMG) in normal and dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) before and after unilateral arytenoid lateralization. Study Prospective controlled cohort study. Animals Dogs with laryngeal paralysis (ILP; n = 8) and age/breed-matched (AB, n = 8) and young breed-matched dogs (B, n = 8) were recruited. Methods Evaluation consisted of esophagography, topical pharyngeal/laryngeal sensitivity testing, and electrodiagnostic testing. Esophagography was performed with liquid and canned phases. Pharyngeal and laryngeal sensitivity was tested by applying a cotton-tipped applicator to the mucosa of pharynx/larynx at anesthetic induction. In all dogs, electrophysiological testing included EMG, direct evoked muscle potentials, motor nerve conduction velocities, and F wave testing. These were performed in the thoracic/pelvic limbs, extrinsic laryngeal muscles, epaxial, and masticatory muscles. Results Topical pharyngeal and laryngeal sensitivity testing was decreased in LP dogs compared with age-matched healthy control dogs. Esophagram showed dysmotility in the cranial and caudal esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux was significantly higher in ILP dogs compared with the other 2 groups (P < .03). In all affected dogs, EMG abnormalities were limited to the interosseous muscles of both pelvic and thoracic limbs bilaterally. Conclusion Dogs with ILP not only have recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and pararecurrent laryngeal nerve (pRLN) dysfunction, but may also have concurrent cranial laryngeal nerve dysfunction.
RIG-I mediates nonsegmented negative-sense RNA virus-induced inflammatory immune responses of primary human astrocytes

While astrocytes produce key inflammatory mediators following exposure to neurotropic nonsegmented negative-sense RNA viruses such as rabies virus and measles virus, the mechanisms by which resident central nervous system (CNS) cells perceive such viral challenges have not been defined. Recently, several cytosolic DExD/H box RNA helicases including retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) have been described that function as intracellular sensors of replicative RNA viruses. Here, we demonstrate that primary human astrocytes constitutively express RIG-I and show that such expression is elevated following exposure to a model neurotropic RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Evidence for the functional nature of RIG-I expression in these cells comes from the observation that this molecule associates with its downstream effector molecule, interferon promoter stimulator-1, following VSV infection and from the finding that a specific ligand for RIG-I elicits astrocyte immune responses. Importantly, RIG-I knockdown significantly reduces inflammatory cytokine production by VSV-infected astrocytes and inhibits the production of soluble neurotoxic mediators by these cells. These findings directly implicate RIG-I in the initiation of inflammatory immune responses by human glial cells and provide a potential mechanism underlying the neuronal cell death associated with acute viral CNS infections.
Couplings of a fifth order nonlinear integrable equation: Multiple kink solutions

Abstract We construct nonlinear integrable couplings of a fifth order nonlinear integrable equation. We use the algebra of coupled scalars to develop this class of couplings. The Backlund transformation and the simplified Hirota’s method will be used to study the derived couplings. We show that this class of couplings possesses multiple kink solutions the same as the multiple kink solutions of the fifth order equation, but differ only in the coefficients of the Backlund transformation. This difference exhibits kink solution then anti-kink solution respectively.
Closing the Loop on Favorable Banking Practices: Regulation B

In June of 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the SEC”) voted to publish Proposed Regulation B (“Regulation B”), which will implement provisions of the Gramm‐Leach‐Blily Act of 1999 (“GLBA”) that identify activities which banks may engage in without registering as brokers or dealers under The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“The Exchange Act”); effectively governing the manner in which banks, savings associations and savings banks effect securities transactions. By enacting the GLBA, Congress repealed most of the remaining vestiges of the ownership restrictions that prevented banks, securities and insurance firms from combining, thereby allowing them to adopt the universal banking model through the creation of financial conglomerates known as “financial holding companies.” Proposed Regulation B (“Regulation B”) supercedes the SEC's final interim rules issued in May of 2001 with respect to banking and brokering activities. In general, banks and their regulators have found Regulation B to be far more acceptable than the final interim rules of 2001. On a practical level, Regulation B results in considerably more work for banks. This article will examine the existing law as it pertains to banks engaging in broker‐dealer activities and highlight the key provisions of Regulation B.
The Impact of Centralized Personnel Functions in State Governments

The authors, using a questionnaire, get the views of 46 of our state personnel administrators on the interrelationships of factors such as centralization, urbanization, merit rating and unionization.
Schematic-designer: a knowledge-based CAD system for schematic design in architecture

Abstract Considering the nature of design problems and problem-solving behaviour, three major problem areas of computer-aided architectural design are the ill-defined nature of design problems, knowledge representation and manipulation, and knowledge acquisition. This study follows a model-based approach to address and analyse the problems. A conceptual model of schematic design is developed taking into consideration geometry, topology, and orientation of spaces. This model is translated into predicate logic and represented in PROLOG. A knowledge-based system named Schematic-Designer is developed to test the representation scheme. Knowledge acquisition of Schematic-Designer follows a process of architectural programming to acquire the domain knowledge. The system is demonstrated using as an example a single-family house to generate schematic diagrams. The demonstration shows that the system is able to generate designs which satisfy the design goals.
Functional dyspepsia: the economic impact to patients

Summary Background Although highly prevalent, little is known about the economic impact of functional dyspepsia (FD). Aims To quantify FD patients' health care utilisation patterns and to estimate direct and indirect costs of FD to patients. Methods ICD-9 codes identified adult patients with dyspepsia. A validated questionnaire was mailed to patients who met Rome III criteria for FD. Results Three hundred and fifty-five patients met all inclusion criteria. The response rate was 63%. The respondents' mean age was 50 (14) years; 75% were women; 52% of respondents rated their FD as moderate. Patients reported 3 visits (mean) to their PCP over 12 months; 75% reported having blood work, 92% an EGD, 59% an ultrasound and 40% a CT scan. The direct cost of testing using Medicare reimbursement rates per patient was $582. To treat FD symptoms, 89% tried dietary changes, 89% over-the-counter medications, 87% prescription medications and 25% alternative therapies. Mean patient expenditure over the last year was $246 for OTC medications (range $0–12,000), $290 for co-payments (range $0–9,000) and $110 for alternative treatments (range $0–3,741). Total mean direct cost yearly to patients was $699. In the 7 days prior to completing the questionnaire, respondents reported a mean of 1.4 h absence from work. Extrapolating the results to the US population, we conservatively calculate the costs of FD were $18.4 billion in 2009. Conclusions Functional dyspepsia patients incur significant direct and indirect costs and work productivity is impaired by dyspeptic symptoms.
Regional topical hypothermia of the beating heart : Preservation of function and tissue

Abstract Background . Protection of the myocardium during beating heart operations is paramount. The goal of this study is to determine if regional topical hypothermia (RTH) preserves myocardial viability and function during periods of temporary coronary artery occlusion. Methods . Sixteen pigs were divided into two groups (RTH and control). Each group received 40 minutes of midleft anterior descending coronary occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. The RTH group (n = 10) received RTH and the control group (n = 6) received no cooling. Myocardial and core temperatures were measured with thermistors. Sonomicrometers and micromonameters were used to determine load independent indices of myocardial function. These indices were measured at base line, during coronary occlusion, and at 3 hours of reperfusion. The myocardium at risk and the infarct area were determined with monastral blue dye and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Results . The mean myocardial temperature in the risk zone during coronary occlusion was significantly less in the RTH group (29.4°C ± 5.6°C versus 35.7°C ± 1.1°C, p p p p Conclusions . Regional topical hypothermia during isolated temporary coronary occlusion provides regional myocardial protection expressed as a return of function and decreased necrosis. Regional topical hypothermia may be clinically applicable to myocardial preservation during beating heart operations.
Has Hering been hooked

New findings apparently refute Hering's Law which holds that the eye movements of primates are yoked—that is, the two eyes are controlled as if they are one. On closer inspection they may prove to be compatible with it.
Law & Psychiatry: Lost in the Crowd: Prison Mental Health Care, Overcrowding, and the Courts

Skyrocketing inmate populations have put considerable pressure on prison mental health services. In California, prison populations have exceeded 200% of capacity, and litigation to rectify constitutionally inadequate care has been under way for more than two decades. After the failure of other remedies, a federal court ordered the state to reduce its inmate population to 137.5% of capacity in two years. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the order, although it signaled that California could obtain more time to comply. Other states now are on notice that the justices will not permit grossly inadequate treatment conditions to continue indefinitely. (Psychiatric Services 62:1121–1123, 2011)
Experimental drought in a tropical rain forest increases soil carbon dioxide losses to the atmosphere

Climate models predict precipitation changes for much of the humid tropics, yet few studies have investigated the potential consequences of drought on soil carbon (C) cycling in this important biome. In wet tropical forests, drought could stimulate soil respiration via overall reductions in soil anoxia, but previous research suggests that litter decomposition is positively correlated with high rainfall fluxes that move large quantities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the litter layer to the soil surface. Thus, reduced rainfall could also limit C delivery to the soil surface, reducing respiration rates. We conducted a throughfall manipulation experiment to investigate how 25% and 50% reductions in rainfall altered both C movement into soils and the effects of those DOM fluxes on soil respiration rates. In response to the experimental drought, soil respiration rates increased in both the -25% and -50% treatments. Throughfall fluxes were reduced by 26% and 55% in the -25% and -50% treatments, respectively. However, total DOM fluxes leached from the litter did not vary between treatments, because the concentrations of leached DOM reaching the soil surface increased in response to the simulated drought. Annual DOM concentrations averaged 7.7 +/- 0.8, 11.2 +/- 0.9, and 15.8 +/- 1.2 mg C/L in the control, -25%, and -50% plots, respectively, and DOM concentrations were positively correlated with soil respiration rates. A laboratory incubation experiment confirmed the potential importance of DOM concentration on soil respiration rates, suggesting that this mechanism could contribute to the increase in CO2 fluxes observed in the reduced rainfall plots. Across all plots, the data suggested that soil CO2 fluxes were partially regulated by the magnitude and concentration of soluble C delivered to the soil, but also by soil moisture and soil oxygen availability. Together, our data suggest that declines in precipitation in tropical rain forests could drive higher CO2 fluxes to the atmosphere both via increased soil 02 availability and through responses to elevated DOM concentrations.
INVOLVEMENT OF ETHYLENE IN THE HARDCORE SYNDROME OF SWEET POTATO ROOTS

Evidence presented supports our thesis that anethylene mediated reaction(s) functions in the series of events which lead to a market disorder of sweet potatoes called “hardcore.” Storage of roots in an environment conducive to ethylene accumulation or containing exogenous ethylene resulted in a higher incidence of hardcore. Alternatively, storage conditions designed to minimize endogenous ethylene accumulation decreased the extent of hardcore. Induction of hardcore was markedly reduced by carbon dioxide, a competitive inhibitor of ethylene mediated reactions. Sweet potato roots weighing less than 200g had a lower incidence of hardcore compared to larger roots. Also, low levels of ethylene gas were detected in the volatiles of sweet potato roots after long-term chilling.
Modern Outcomes of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Purpose To report contemporary outcomes for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients treated in the modern era of trastuzumab and taxane-based chemotherapy. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 104 patients with nonmetastatic IBC treated between January 2000 and December 2009. Patients who received chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy were considered to have completed the intended therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves estimated locoregional control (LRC), distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival. Results The median follow-up time was 34 months; 57 (55%) patients were estrogen receptor progesterone receptor (ER/PR) negative, 34 (33%) patients were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (her2)/neu amplified, and 78 (75%) received definitive postoperative radiation. Seventy-five (72%) patients completed all of the intended therapy, of whom 67 (89%) received a taxane and 18/28 (64%) of her2/neu-amplified patients received trastuzumab. For the entire cohort, the 5-year rates of overall survival, LRC, and DMFS were 46%, 83%, and 44%, respectively. The ER/PR-negative patients had a 5-year DMFS of 39% vs. 52% for ER/PR-positive patients ( p = 0.03). The 5-year DMFS for patients who achieved a pathologic complete response compared with those who did not was 83% vs. 44% ( p 60.4 Gy ( n = 15) to the chest wall had a 5-year LRC rate of 100% vs. 83% for those who received 45 to 60.4 Gy ( n = 49; p = 0.048). On univariate analysis, significant predictors of DMFS included achieving a complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4–24.4; p = 0.02) and pathologically negative lymph nodes (HR = 4.1; 95% CI=1.4–11.9; p Conclusions For IBC patients, the rate of distant metastases is still high despite excellent local control, particularly for patients who received >60.4 Gy to the chest wall. Despite the use of taxanes and trastuzumab, outcomes remain modest, particularly for those with ER/PR-negative disease and those without a pathologic complete response.
Paleolithic socionatural relationships during MIS 3 and 2 in central Portugal

Abstract Throughout the Pleistocene climatic shifts repeatedly impacted the Mediterranean region. In response to these perturbations, the Mediterranean bioclimatic zones evolved as some of the most diverse, dynamic and resilient in the world. The appearance of modern humans in western Iberia ∼30–35 ka co-occurred with important environmental changes, especially regarding animal communities. These transformations are associated with the onset of MIS 2 and introduction of new land-use practices. Combined data from zooarchaeological, paleontological and paleovegetation records are used to identify patterns in human–environment interaction at different spatial and temporal scales. Evidence suggests that humans modified their environment creating long-term dynamic and resilient socionatural systems during the Upper Paleolithic.
Local pattern classification differentiates processes of economic valuation

For effective decision making, individuals must be able to form subjective values from many types of information. Yet, the neural mechanisms that underlie potential differences in value computation across different decision scenarios are incompletely understood. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in conjunction with the machine learning technique of support vector machines (SVM), to identify brain regions that contain unique local information associated with different types of valuation. We used a combinatoric approach that evaluated the unique contributions of different brain regions to model generalization strength. Local voxel patterns in left posterior parietal cortex contained unique information differentiating probabilistic and intertemporal valuation, a result that was not accessible using standard fMRI analyses. We conclude that the early valuation phases for these reward types differ on a fine spatial scale, suggesting the existence of computational topographies along the value construction pathway.
Circumstellar material around rapidly rotating B stars. II - On the nature of ultraviolet shell lines in the spectra of Be and shell stars

Using high-resolution (FWHM approximately 0.05 A) ultraviolet spectral data obtained with Copernicus, the nature of shell lines in Be and shell stars. Scans were obtained for various excited fine-structure lines of Fe III, Si II, and O I. It is found that Be stars, in general, do not display shell lines in the ultraviolet, contrary to the findings of previous work at lower resolution. The only Be stars that display strong UV shell lines are the 'classical' shell stars, i.e., stars that also display shell lines in the optical region. Furthermore, it is found that the shell lines, when present, have essentially zero velocity shift with respect to the star. The resonance shell lines seen in the shell stars are generally asymmetric on the short-wavelength side, indicating that the lines are formed in a low-velocity outflowing region. The results presented here argue strongly in favor of a flattened disk structure for the shell line forming region, and against some recent scenarios involving spherical symmetry.