cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis on bone marrow biopsy.

39-year-old gentleman recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS with CD4 count of 30 mm presented with 1 week history of fever and shortness of breath. Initial work-up failed to reveal any specific source of infection. A urinary histoplasma antigen was negative. The patient was discharged home on antibiotic therapy for mycobacterium avium complex infection with blood cultures pending. The patient returned 2 weeks later with complains of fever (104 F), headache, and shortness of breath at rest. The physical examination revealed a well-nourished individual with scattered faint erythematous macular rash over the upper chest and shoulders. He had bilateral crackles on chest auscultation. However, he did not have palpable lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly or clinical signs of meningitis. The chest X-ray showed diffuse interstitial pattern. He was admitted to intensive care unit where he required mechanical ventilation. He was started empirically on intravenous cefepime, vancomycin, amphotericin B, bactrim and antituberculosis treatment. Blood, urine, stool and CSF cultures were negative for any growth. Specific antigens for legionella, mycoplasma, cryptococcus, coccidioides were negative. Bedside bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. Staining for pneumocystis carinii, acid fast bacilli and culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis/atypical mycobacterium were negative. Skin biopsy was negative for viral inclusions. Hematology was consulted for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Gomori methenamine silver-stained section of the bone marrow biopsy showed the small darkly stained budding yeasts compatible with a diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis (Fig. 1). Based on this finding and in the absence of any other infection, patient was continued on
Myosin-dependent targeting of transmembrane proteins to neuronal dendrites

The distinct electrical properties of axonal and dendritic membranes are largely a result of specific transport of vesicle-bound membrane proteins to each compartment. How this specificity arises is unclear because kinesin motors that transport vesicles cannot autonomously distinguish dendritically projecting microtubules from those projecting axonally. We hypothesized that interaction with a second motor might enable vesicles containing dendritic proteins to preferentially associate with dendritically projecting microtubules and avoid those that project to the axon. Here we show that in rat cortical neurons, localization of several distinct transmembrane proteins to dendrites is dependent on specific myosin motors and an intact actin network. Moreover, fusion with a myosin-binding domain from Melanophilin targeted Channelrhodopsin-2 specifically to the somatodendritic compartment of neurons in mice in vivo. Together, our results suggest that dendritic transmembrane proteins direct the vesicles in which they are transported to avoid the axonal compartment through interaction with myosin motors.
Maximal Deviation between Sample and Population Means in Finite Populations

Abstract Bounds are presented for the maximal deviation in finite populations between sample and population means in units of (a) the population mean deviation, (b) the population range, and (c) the population mean, extending previous results for the population standard deviation. The efficiency of sampling is illustrated by various sample size calculations. The effect of symmetry on these bounds is considered. An application is made, in the symmetric case, to the expression for the bias of the ratio estimator.
High-flux reverse osmosis membranes incorporated with hydrophilic additives for brackish water desalination

Abstract Novel high-flux reverse osmosis membranes with hydrophilic additives were synthesized and characterized under brackish water desalination conditions. Four selected hydrophilic additives, o-aminobenzoic acid-triethylamine salt, m-aminobenzoic acid-triethylamine salt, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyridine, and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) morpholine, were added into m-phenylenediamine (MPD) solution to react with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) during the interfacial polymerization between MPD and TMC. The effects of different concentrations for each hydrophilic additive were evaluated using brackish water desalination tests with 2000 ppm NaCl solution at 225 psi and 25 °C. After the additive concentration was optimized, the synthesized membranes were post-treated to further improve the water flux using aqueous solutions containing glycerol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and camphorsulfonic acid-triethylamine salt. The resulting membrane showed a flux of 52.6 gal/ft2/day and a salt rejection of about 98.8% or greater. This membrane outperformed the other membranes evaluated, and it also exhibited a good stability in terms of water flux and salt rejection during the entire period of a 30-day test.
Human ventricular tachycardia: Precise intraoperative localization with potential distribution mapping

Abstract Electrophysiologically guided operations for ventricular tachycardia (VT) have been directed exclusively by activation time maps. Even with computer-assisted mapping, extensive editing is required, which prolongs the duration of the operation and which may introduce significant error. In contrast, potential distribution maps can be constructed in less than 3 minutes and can be viewed as a movie of developing and receding potentials. In 4 patients undergoing operation for VT, endocardial mapping was performed using form-fitting electrodes containing 160 points. A computerized mapping system, capable of simultaneously recording 256 channels of data, was used to analyze data and to display potential distribution maps sequentially at 1-millisecond intervals as a color movie. A total of eight morphologies of sustained VT were mapped. The mean VT cycle length was 340 ± 40 milliseconds (range, 274 to 394 milliseconds). In 3 patients with ischemic heart disease, four VT morphologies originated from the subendocardium. All were successfully ablated with cryoablation alone or in conjunction with aneurysmectomy and endocardial resection. A fourth patient with VT secondary to cardiomyopathy had multiple morphologies and received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Potential distribution maps correlated well with the concomitant activation time maps. Thus, potential distribution mapping provides a rapid and accurate means of identifying the site of origin of VT facilitating intraoperative mapping in patients undergoing surgical ablation.
Quaternion correlation filters for color face recognition

Face image recognition has been an active research topic for many years, and many algorithms have been proposed for the grayscale face images. However, only a few methods are devoted to color face images, even though most cameras produce color images. Color can be important for face recognition. Among the proposed color face recognition methods, most treat the three color channels separately and apply some grayscale face recognition methods to each of the channels and combine the results. In this paper we propose the quaternion correlation filter techniques for color face recognition by processing all color channels jointly. Quaternion numbers are the generalization of the complex numbers and can be considered as a number with a real part and three orthogonal imaginary parts. A color image (e.g., in RGB) may be represented using quaternion by encoding the three color components to the imaginary parts of the quaternion number. The quaternion correlation filter is extended from the standard correlation filter based on the recently developed concepts of quaternion Fourier transform (QFT), quaternion convolution (QCV), and quaternion correlation (QC). Face recognition is performed by cross-correlating (QC) an input face image with a designed filter. Numerical results show that quaternion correlation filters can improve the recognition performance over conventional face recognition methods.
Bending and Internal Tension of an Intramolecular Kissing Complex

RNA tertiary base pairs are often bent and twisted by relative orientation of the interacting domains and by structures connecting these domains. Kissing complex, a basic RNA tertiary interaction, is formed by base pairing between distal hairpin loops. It remains unclear how much structure distortion a kissing complex can withstand. Crystal and NMR structures of several RNA kissing dimers show either a head-to-head coaxial helix or a slightly bent structure. An adenine riboswitch forms a well-bent two-base-pair kissing complex around its ligand. We designed two RNAs both consisting of a pair of hairpins connected by a single-strand. The two tetraloop hairpins in each RNA can form two GC kissing base pairs. The two RNAs, KC15 and KC30, have 15- and 30-nucleotide single-stranded linkers, respectively. Using optical tweezers, we examined mechanical folding of the two structures. With applied force, both RNAs can form an intramolecular kissing complex but show distinct mechanical unfolding patterns. Based on measured size and stability of the structures, we propose a mechanical model that such intramolecular kissing complexes, particularly the KC15, are bent to a blunt angle by internal tension of the single strand. Formation of such RNA triangle requires externally applied force by optical tweezers to offset the internal tension. Measurement of internal tension and structure distortion may facilitate understanding and prediction of tertiary interaction.
Interconnection Services Their Classification and Evaluation

The services rendered by an interconnection between two or more electric power systems may be classified as: 1. Emergency service?by which assistance is given by one system to the other in event of breakdown of equipment or other abnormal conditions. 2. Load diversity?arising from the non-coincidence of the times of peak loads in the interconnected systems. S. Firm power?transactions involving a definite advance commitment by one company to sell power and energy to the other for use in lieu of installed capacity. 4. Storage power?by which off-peak energy from one system is converted into peak capacity in the other through the medium of storage. 5. Intra-company use?referring to the use of interconnecting facilities for the internal purposes of one of the parties. 6. Economy flow?by which generation in one system is replaced by more economical generation in the other system; and 7. Unintentional flow. The foregoing services may be evaluated, as far as capital cost is concerned, by determining the aggregate saving in generating capacity and multiplying by the estimated cost per kilowatt of generating capacity and then comparing the result with the capital cost of the interconnection. The more important annual-cost comparison is made by: 1. Determining the difference between the fixed charges on the avoided generating station investment and the fixed charges, including operation and maintenance, on the interconnecting facilities. 2. Determining the saving in fixed element of production expense arising from the avoided capacity. 3.
Separate and interactive effects of cocaine and alcohol dependence on brain structures and metabolites: quantitative MRI and proton MR spectroscopic imaging

The effects of chronic cocaine and alcohol abuse on human brain structure and metabolites are not fully known. We studied controls (n = 13) and abstinent subjects dependent on cocaine (8), alcohol (12), and cocaine and alcohol (17) using quantitative MRI and proton MR spectroscopic imaging. Talairach-based techniques yielded tissue and CSF volumes and gray- and white-matter concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine and choline metabolites in multiple brain regions. Alcohol dependents had lower gray-matter NAA concentrations and more sulcal CSF than non-alcohol dependents throughout the brain. They also had less subcortical gray matter and (regionally) less white matter. Cocaine dependents compared with non-cocaine dependents had higher posterior parietal white-matter creatine concentration. They also had less gray and white matter in the prefrontal lobes and in a region encompassing the temporal lobes and cerebellum. Structural white-matter deficits in cocaine dependents were greater with longer duration of cocaine use. Subjects with concurrent cocaine and alcohol dependence had less prefrontal white matter, especially in the anterior cingulate, than subjects dependent on only one substance. Chronically abused cocaine and alcohol each leave multiple metabolic and structural brain defects after long-term abstinence. Concurrent dependence on both substances may aggravate white-matter structural defects, primarily in frontal brain.
Crystallization Kinetics as a Probe of the Dynamic Network in Lightly Sulfonated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Ionomers

The effect of alkali metal counterion type on the crystallization kinetics of sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene with ion contents of 1.4 mol % was investigated. For crystallization temperatures l...
Design requirements and feasibility study for a 3-DOF MRI-compatible robotic device for MRI-guided prostate intervention

This paper reports the design requirements, practical challenges, and a preliminary design for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided, three degree-of-freedom (DOF) transrectal prostate intervention robot. We show the operational space constraints imposed by patient anatomy when performing transrectal prostate procedures in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner bore, as determined by analyzing data from 12 patient procedures with a device. We also describe practical challenges arising in designing a compact actuated MR compatible needle placement robot for MRI-guided transrectal needle intervention in the prostate. We present a preliminary design which aims to improve upon previous un-actuated and partially-actuated devices with the addition of an actuated needle insertion module. Such an enhancement enables needle driving to take place inside the MR scanner bore and thereby may reduce the overall procedure time — thus improving patient comfort and reducing likelyhood of needle targeting errors resulting from patient motion. We show that it is feasible to add such actuation while reducing the footprint of the device in accordance with the anatomical and MR scanner constraints and practical design requirements.
Metrics on complex manifolds

In this note we discuss various canonical metrics on complex manifolds. A generalization of the Bergman metric is proposed and the relations of metrics on moduli spaces are commented. At last, we review some existence theorems of solutions to the Strominger system.
Study of tRNA fragment interactions by Sephadex chromatography

Abstract Studies on the interaction of large fragments of yeast tRNAPhe are reported. Aggregation of these fragments and restoration of amino acid acceptor activity can be conveniently studied on Sephadex G-100 columns at room temperature in the presence of Mg++. All data can be presented in a single composite graph, the “difference” or “interaction” profile which at once and directly reveals reconstitution of size and function.
Comments on Professor Etzioni's “Terrorists: A Distinct Species”

Professor Etzioni correctly notes that the call to treat terrorists in a category of law and policy distinct from either ordinary criminal law or armed conflict and its law does not command many fo...
17O NMR spectroscopic study of substituted benzoquinones and α,β‐unsaturated cyclic ketones

The 17O NMR chemical shift data for a series of substituted benzoquinones and α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones in acetonitrile at 75°C are reported. In general, for the unsymmetrically substituted quinones two signals were observed, the assignments of which were made by 17O enrichment and exchange experiments. For the benzoquinones, the effect of α-methyl substitution (shielding) was greater on the signal for the 1-carbonyl group than on that for the 4-carbonyl group. α-tert-Butyl substitution resulted in deshielding of the proximate carbonyl group compared with that in the methyl analog. For the five- and six-membered ring enones the shielding effect of β-substituents was interpreted as electronic in origin. The large shielding effects observed for α-substitution in the quinone and enone systems appeared to be the result of a combination of electronic and attractive van der Waals effects.
The role of information technology in the “fit” between culture, business strategy and organizational structure of global firms

This paper examines the impact of culture on the organizational and information technology infrastructures of global competitors while considering the role business strategy plays on both infrastructures. Prior research has suggested that when managers consider how culture impacts the information flow and structure of the organization, a more effective "fit" between business strategies and performance results. In this article, we propose a conceptual framework comparing national cultures and two important organizational factors-components of organizational structures and components of information systems. Specifically, we propose a framework for understanding how organizational structures and information technology will vary based on national culture within the confines of the firmâ€™s chosen competitive strategy. We examine the differences in organizational structures and information technology in three cultures to demonstrate how our framework may be used by international management practitioners and researchers to better understand the impact of cultural differences on the operations of firms choosing to operate in international markets. Finally, we suggest propositions for future empirical testing by information management researchers as well as make suggestions for testing.
Micro-Raman spectroscopy studies of changes in lipid composition in breast and prostate cancer cells treated with MPA and R1881 hormones

Increasing interest in the role of lipids in cancer cell proliferation or resistance to drug therapies has motivated the need to develop better tools for cellular lipid analysis. Quantification of lipids in cells is typically done by destructive chromatography protocols that do not provide spatial information on lipid distribution and prevent dynamic live cell studies. Methods that allow the analysis of lipid content in live cells is therefore of great importance for research. Using Raman micro-spectroscopy we investigated whether the female hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and the synthetic androgen R1881 affect the lipid expression in breast (T47D) and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cells. Differences were noted in the spectral regions at 830-1800 cm -1 and 2800-3000 cm -1 when comparing different drug treatments. Significant changes were noticed for saturated (1063 - 1125 cm -1 , 1295 cm -1 and 1439 cm -1 ), unsaturated (1262 cm -1 and 1656 cm -1 , and 1720 - 1748 cm -1 ) chemical bonds, suggesting that the composition of the lipid droplets was changed by the hormone treatments. Also, significant differences were observed in the high frequency regions of lipids and proteins at 2851 cm -1 and around 2890 cm -1 . Principal component analysis with Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA-LDA) of the Raman spectra was able to differentiate between cancer cells that were treated with MPA, R1881 or vehicle (P < 0.05). Future work includes analysis to determine exact lipid composition and concentrations as well as development of clinical techniques to characterize differences in patient tumor lipid profiles to determine response to drug treatment and prognosis.
Emotional and familial determinants of elevated blood pressure in black and white adolescent males.

Abstract The relationships between blood pressure and several personality and traditional risk factors were examined in a sample of black and white adolescent males who were enrolled in a health science course in Tampa, Florida. Although a number of personality and traditional risk factors significantly predicted elevated blood pressure for both groups of adolescent males, suppressed anger and weight were the major independent predictors. Among black and white males, those who generally harbored grudges and suppressed their anger had higher systolic blood pressure; diastolic blood pressure was higher only for the white males who frequently held in their angry feelings. Weight and excessive salt usage significantly predicted both elevated systolic and diastolic pressures for white males, while these variables significantly predicted systolic pressures for black males. Familial factors were found to be independent predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure only for the white adolescent males. A further examination of the relationship between the frequency that anger is suppressed shows that the shape of the curves relating anger-in scores to blood pressure appers to have a ‘threshold’. These findings indicate that adolescent males who are at increased risk for elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure can be identified by how often angry feelings are held-in and suppressed.
A lifelong smoker with hypopituitarism: rethinking the hypothesis of a tumor in the hypophysis.

Pituitary adenomas are the most common cause of a sellar mass. Metastases to the pituitary gland, a rare occurrence, may mimic benign pituitary adenomas. We report here a case of a 61-year-old woman with an 80-pack-year smoking history who presented with headache and diplopia. Visual field testing demonstrated bitemporal hemianopsia. Pituitary MRI revealed a 2.0 cm sellar mass impinging upon the optic chiasm. Hypopituitarism was present, with no evidence of diabetes insipidus. The patient was referred to our service for transsphenoidal resection of a presumed pituitary macroadenoma. As part of her preoperative evaluation, a chest radiograph was obtained, which showed a large hilar mass. In light of the patient’s extensive smoking history, the differential diagnosis was expanded to include metastatic lesion to the sella. Transsphenoidal resection of the tumor was performed and histopathology revealed small cell carcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy, but died 18 months later due to widespread brain metastases. Although the presence of diabetes insipidus may help to discriminate between pituitary adenomas and metastatic lesions, this is not a sensitive finding. This case illustrates the need for maintaining a high index of suspicion for pituitary metastasis in patients with known risk factors for malignancy.
Respiratory care clinical education: a needs assessment for preceptor training.

BACKGROUND: There has been a growing interest in the use of volunteer clinical preceptors to provide clinical instruction to respiratory therapy (RT) students. However, many RT preceptors have had little or no training in preceptorship. We sought to identify the preceptor training needs of programs that lead to the Registered Respiratory Therapist or Certified Respiratory Therapist credential (RT programs). METHODS: Via e-mail we asked the directors of accredited RT programs to respond to a Web-based survey. RESULTS: Seventy-four RT program directors, from programs across the United States, responded. Eighty-two percent of the respondents’ programs offer an associate’s degree and 16% offer a baccalaureate degree. The majority of the respondents’ programs use unpaid clinical preceptors. Thirty-two percent of the respondents indicated that the preceptors had received no preceptor training. Among the preceptors who did receive training, the duration of training ranged from 1 hour to 6 weeks. The training was typically delivered by the director of clinical education or program faculty. Eighty-one percent of the respondents believed there is a need for a standardized preceptor-training program. The respondents’ understanding of, curriculum for, and implementation of preceptor training differed considerably, and there were substantial differences in the content and duration of the existing preceptor-training programs. Seventy-two percent of the respondents had experienced barriers to preceptor training. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized preceptor-training program is needed to improve the quality of precep
Aquinas on Teaching and Learning

Thomas Aquinas has a philosophy of education. In this article I try to indicate what it amounts to by focusing not only on his theoretical discussions of teaching and learning but also on what can be gleaned about his approach to teaching by looking at his own teaching practice as displayed in some of his writings. In addition, I look at two of Aquinas's sermons that shed light on what he thinks about teaching and learning.
Script Directionality Affects Depiction of Depth in Representational Drawings

This research examined the influence of directional reading/writing habits on the representation of depth in a scene. Participants with English vs. Arabic language backgrounds were asked to represent an imagined scene containing two houses, a “near house” and a “far house.” Nearly all participants drew the near house larger than the far house and drew the near house before drawing the far house. However, significant group differences in spatial strategies and movement biases were noted. Whereas the majority of native English readers drew the near house on the left side of the page and the far house to the right of it, native Arabic readers showed a slight right bias in placement of the near house and tended to place the far house to the left of the near house. This effect of script direction characterized right-handed and left-handed users of each group. Taken together, the findings support a cultural account of asymmetries in representational drawing reflecting biases arising from prolonged experience in...
A Climatology of Hurricane Eye Formation

AbstractThis paper presents a climatology of the initial eye formations of a broad set of Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) during 1989–2008. A new dataset of structure and intensity parameters is synthesized from the vortex data messages transmitted by routine aircraft reconnaissance. Using these data together with satellite imagery and other established datasets, the times when each TC achieved various stages of eye development are tabulated to form the basis of the climatology. About 60% of Atlantic TCs form eyes. Most often, aircraft observe the eye structure before it appears in IR satellite imagery. Eyes tend to form in high potential intensity environments characterized by high sea surface temperatures and low-to-moderate environmental vertical wind shear. A notable discovery is that most (67%) TCs that form eyes tend to do so within 48 h of the cyclone’s reaching tropical storm strength. This suggests the existence of an opportune time window during which a TC can readily form an eye. From the leng...
Lincoln's Citadel: The Civil War in Washington, DC. By Kenneth J. Winkle. (New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2013. Pp. xviii, 486. $29.95.)

Portraying the capital city as a “main character” in his story and as Abraham Lincoln's “window on the war,” the author of this book has written an engaging, thought‐provoking, and thoroughly resea...
Elucidating the Molecular Origins of Solute/Solvent Friction

This paper describes experimental studies of the friction a solute molecule experiences in a solvent. More specifically, this work focuses on the dielectric friction needed to describe the rotational diffusion of medium-sized molecules (displaced volume of a few hundred cubic angstroms) in polar solvent and electrolyte solution
Fear as a Way of Life: Mayan Widows in Rural Guatemala.

Fear as. Way of Life: Mayan Widows in Rural Guatemala. Linda Green. New York; Columbia University Press, 1999.213 pp.
A new approach to detect the ground clutter mixed with weather echoes

A Spectrum Clutter Identification (SCI) algorithm has been developed to identify ground clutter mixed with weather signals. The performance of SCI algorithm is shown by applying it to radar data collected by OU-PRIME (University of Oklahoma-Polarimetric Radar Innovation in Meteorology and Engineering) and by comparing its performance to other published approaches.
Alcohol consumption and psychological distress among U.S. Anglos, Hispanics and Blacks.

Data from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Augmentation Component of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics were analysed to assess differences between Anglos ( N =5546), Blacks ( N =872), less-acculturated Hispanics ( N =182), and more-acculturated Hispanics ( N =58) with regard to alcohol use, psychological distress, and alcohol consumption-psychological distress relationships. Alcohol consumption differences were more notable for quantity rather than frequency, with Hispanics reporting significantly higher quantity than Anglos or Blacks. Drinkers were more depressed than non-drinkers among Anglos and Blacks; an opposite, though insignificant, pattern emerged among Hispanics. Higher quantity of alcohol use was generally associated with greater depressive symptomatology and lower well-being. More frequent drinking was generally associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher well-being. Additional findings that pointed to negative relationships between quantity and both reported nervous breakdowns and help-seeking for emotional problems among less-acculturated Hispanics suggest a greater use of alcohol as a coping mechanism in this group.
A Complete Computational Model of Ultrasound Vibro-Acoustography

Ultrasound vibro-acoustography is a novel medical imaging modality that combines the high resolution of high-frequency ultrasound with the speckle-free images obtained using low-frequency methods. This imaging modality relies on the non-linear interaction of two high frequency beams at slightly different frequencies. We describe the physics of ultrasound vibro-acoustography and outline a strategy for its modeling, simulation, and optimal design.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The neurosurgical treatment of pain.

The referral of a patient to a neurosurgeon for pain relief was once considered bad news, because the choice of procedures was limited to the creation of lesions offering significant risk and only modest success. The good news is that much has changed. Advances in technology and an improved understanding of pain have added sophisticated options and have guided attention to more effective procedures. An awareness of these capabilities has expanded the surgical indications for pain relief so extensively that a recent definitive textbook 1 discusses more than 30 types of procedures used in more than 18 major categories of pain.
Cyclic strain upregulates VEGF and attenuates proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy and proliferation occur in response to strain-induced local and systemic inflammatory cytokines and growth factors which may contribute to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. We hypothesize VSMC strain, modeling normotensive arterial pressure waveforms in vitro, results in attenuated proliferative and increased hypertrophic responses 48 hrs post-strain. Using Flexcell Bioflex Systems we determined the morphological, hyperplastic and hypertrophic responses of non-strained and biomechanically strained cultured rat A7R5 VSMC. We measured secretion of nitric oxide, key cytokine/growth factors and intracellular mediators involved in VSMC proliferation via fluorescence spectroscopy and protein microarrays. We also investigated the potential roles of VEGF on VSMC strain-induced proliferation. Protein microarrays revealed significant increases in VEGF secretion in response to 18 hours mechanical strain, a result that ELISA data corroborated. Apoptosis-inducing nitric oxide (NO) levels also increased 43% 48 hrs post-strain. Non-strained cells incubated with exogenous VEGF did not reproduce the antimitogenic effect. However, anti-VEGF reversed the antimitogenic effect of mechanical strain. Antibody microarrays of strained VSMC lysates revealed MEK1, MEK2, phospo-MEK1T385, T291, T298, phospho-Erk1/2T202+Y204/T185+T187, and PKC isoforms expression were universally increased, suggesting a proliferative/inflammatory signaling state. Conversely, VSMC strain decreased expression levels of Cdk1, Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 by 25-50% suggesting a partially inhibited proliferative signaling cascade. Subjecting VSMC to cyclic biomechanical strain in vitro promotes cell hypertrophy while attenuating cellular proliferation. We also report an upregulation of MEK and ERK activation suggestive of a proliferative phenotype. Hhowever, the proliferative response appears to be aborogated by enhanced antimitogenic cytokine VEGF, NO secretion and downregulation of Cdk expression. Although exogenous VEGF alone is not sufficient to promote the quiescent VSMC phenotype, we provide evidence suggesting that strain is a necessary component to induce VSMC response to the antimitogenic effects of VEGF. Taken together these data indicate that VEGF plays a critical role in mechanical strain-induced VSMC proliferation and vessel wall remodeling. Whether VEGF and/or NO inhibit signaling distal to Erk 1/2 is currently under investigation.
GI Science, Disasters, and Emergency Management

Societal responses to disasters begin with the initial post-event rescue and relief operations, followed by recovery, reconstruction, and then transcend into mitigation actions including the development of pre-impact preparedness measures, collectively known as the emergency response cycle. This paper highlights some of the applications of GI Science to the emergency response cycle, citing examples from natural hazards and from the World Trade Center disaster on 11th September 2001. More importantly, the paper describes some of the constraints on the utilization of GI Science by the practitioner community: understandable user interfaces; data quantity, quality, and integration; real-time data and information. Finally, the paper suggests some important GI Science research areas based on the needs of the disasters and emergency management research and practitioner communities.
A Stochastic Theory of Limit Order Transactions in Securities Markets

Professor of Finance and EconomicsLubin School of BusinessPace University1 Martine AvenueWhite Plains, New York 10606E-mail: Emantell@pace.eduThe subject of this research paper is the same as the focus of criticisms in arecently released SEC report: namely, failures to display and execute limit or-ders in securities markets. Based on a statistical sample, the SEC study foundfrequent violations of limit order display rules. How pervasive are these kindsof violations in the market ?The theory in the paper addresses the question byidentifying the probability density functions governing the display and execu-tion of limit orders in properly functioning markets. The paper demonstratesthat two distinct stochastic processes are suﬃcient to completely describe theexecution of limit orders in markets: a conditional Binomial distribution com-pounded with a conditional Poisson distribution. These distributions permitrigorous tests of the statistical signiﬁcance of the SEC sample ﬁndings.
A novel biodegradable device for intestinal lengthening

Abstract Purpose Previous studies demonstrated successful mechanical lengthening of rat jejunum using an encapsulated Nitinol spring device over a stabilizing guidewire. We sought to improve the applicability of intestinal lengthening by creating a biodegradable device. Methods Using properties of the Nitinol spring device, polycaprolactone (PCL) springs with similar outer diameter and spring constant were created. After in vitro testing in dry and hydrated environments, they were used to lengthen 1-cm isolated segments of rat jejunum in vivo. Retrieved segments were analyzed histologically. Results Optimal PCL spring devices had an average spring constant 1.8 ± 0.4 N/m, pitch 1.55 ± 0.85 mm, and band width 0.825 ± 0.016 mm. In vitro testing demonstrated stable spring constants. Jejunal segments were lengthened from 1.0 cm to 2.7 ± 0.4 cm without needing a stabilizing guidewire. Histology demonstrated increased smooth muscle thickness and fewer ganglia compared to controls. Lengthened jejunum was successfully restored into intestinal continuity and demonstrated peristalsis under fluoroscopy. Conclusions A novel biodegradable spring device was successfully created and used to mechanically lengthen intestinal segments. Use of a biodegradable device may obviate the need for retrieval after lengthening. This improves device applicability and may be useful for the treatment of short bowel syndrome.
Hypothesis processing as a new tool to aid managers of mental health agencies in serving long-term regional interests.

SUMMARY Mental health planning is partly a political process, involving the articulation of the long-range interests of a regional community, formation of consensus among key people and the appropriate investment of authority, power and responsibility. Conflicts between the short-term self-interests of planners and the longer-term general interest usually arise. This paper claims that it is feasible to increase the expected number of cases in which a region’s longer-term interest is served without radical changes in existing planning processes or ideologies. The means for doing this are new kin& of information systems that serve planners as tools to increase their awareness about assumptions, hypotheses and problem representations. The conceptual and technological bases for developing such systems stem from progress in arttficial intelligence in the direction of hypothesis-processing algorithms. The proposed application to mental health planning is described. Arguments are presented to show how the use of such tools would increase the likelihood that longer-term regional interests are served.
Digitally-tunable mems filter using mechanically-coupled resonator array

This paper reports on the design of a bandwidth-tunable RF MEMS filter using a series-coupled array of dielectrically-transduced square-extensional mode resonators. The proposed digital tuning scheme provides channel-agility and bandwidth granularity for analog spectral processors and RF spectrum analyzers. The resonators and filters are fabricated on the 3 mum thick device layer of a heavily doped SOI wafer with a 100 nm thick silicon nitride film sandwiched between the polysilicon electrodes and the silicon device layer. A 511 MHz overtone square-extensional mode resonator is demonstrated with a quality factor (Q) of 1,800 in air and motional impedance (RX) of 1.1 kOmega. An array of four such resonators is coupled mechanically to form a channel-select filter with 1.4 MHz bandwidth at 509 MHz center frequency. By switching the DC-biasing scheme, the filter is split into narrower high and low sub-bands, each 700 kHz wide.
Predicting complications with pretreatment testing in infantile haemangioma treated with oral propranolol

Background Since 2008, orally administered propranolol has rapidly gained acceptance as the preferred therapy for haemangiomas, and is usually initiated by ophthalmologists, dermatologists or plastic surgeons who do not routinely use propranolol for any other indication. During the initial years when experience was limited, most healthcare professionals justifiably adopted a cautious approach when initiating and monitoring treatment. A consensus recommendation from the American Society of Dermatologists suggests routine observation, monitoring and cardiology assessments prior to propranolol initiation. Aim This study aims to analyse treatment initiation in a large tertiary children9s hospital and investigate the value of pretreatment testing in predicting commonly seen adverse reactions of propranolol. Method 104 eligible patients treated between January 2009 and July 2012 were included. All patients underwent pretesting either with protocol A (administration of test dose with routine observations) or protocol B (cardiology clinic assessment, including two-dimensional echocardiography without test dose). Results 38.5% (40/104) of patients developed adverse reactions during treatment; however, there were no severe or life-threatening reactions. Protocol A has a sensitivity of 0 (95% CI 0 to 0.17) and specificity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.99). Protocol B has a sensitivity of 0.07 (95% CI 0 to 0.34) and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.96). Conclusions The predictive values of both protocols for the commonly observed adverse reactions are low. In this series, there is no evidence to suggest that routine pretreatment testing before propranolol initiation is of any value in otherwise healthy children.
Endovascular treatment of common femoral artery disease viable alternative to surgery or just another short-term fix.

Femoral endarterectomy with patch angioplasty has long been the favored approach to the treatment of patients with symptomatic common femoral artery (CFA) occlusive disease. The procedure can be performed through a small incision, and the plaque can often be removed en bloc, followed by enlargement
Getting Involved at a National Level

Developing a successful academic career depends on networking. Out of necessity, much of networking in the context of surgical education takes place at a national level. Unfortunately, the majority of surgeons have had little or no instruction on how to get involved in national organizations and professional societies. This chapter describes a strategy and tips on how junior faculty can successfully increase their national profile in surgical education. In addition, specific opportunities at a selection of national organizations are presented as reference.
Loss of the Chest Wall

High-velocity bullets, close-range shotgun blasts, explosions, secondary projectiles, and impalements can cause significant chest wall destruction. The majority of patients with these devastating injuries require urgent endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation. Prior to transport from the scene, a brief attempt to clamp arterial and venous bleeding from the intercostal vessels or chest wall musculature is advised to prevent exsanguination. A nonocclusive dressing allowing egress of air from the pleural space is placed to protect the wound from further contamination and to prevent a tension pneumothorax. Upon arrival to a hospital with a qualified surgeon, operative intervention commences with definitive control of hemorrhage and proceeds to wound debridement and cleansing. Damage control principles and a staged operation strategy apply. At the first operation, the wound is packed with gauze, an occlusive dressing with closed suction is fashioned, and a pleural tube is placed under water seal and suction. Surgical reconstruction at serial operations depends on the extent of chest wall tissue loss. Small defects can be closed with secondary rib and skin approximation but larger defects will need a biologic tissue patch and potentially a muscle flap rotation with a skin graft.
Abstract C96: Community education; community advocacy

Community Education; community advocacy is an initiative that has been utilized to address disparities in the west Alabama Area. Utilizing a small college, a faith based group, and the local chapter of a national sorority with an emphasis in community service, this project has worked to involve African Americans in all levels of cancer prevention and advocacy, including fundraising, education, outreach, and clinical trials. The Victorious Cancer Support Group is a grassroots faith-based organization that provides cancer related education and support in the west Alabama area. Stillman College is a private HBCU affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. The Tuscaloosa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Victorious Cancer Support Group, and Stillman have provided cancer related education and services including smoke free campus initiatives and smoke-free Tuscaloosa advocacy, bone marrow education and registry opportunities, Sister Study Breast Cancer registration, and Cancer Prevention Study 3 registration. Fundraising efforts include support and participation in Race for the Cure, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay for Life. Advocacy efforts have included visits to lawmakers to discuss funding for cancer research and in support of smoke-free initiatives. Stillman college students have been educated based on health promotion models and have been empowered to take the information back to their communities and to their respective churches and civic groups. Citation Format: Jacqueline Waldine Currie. Community education; community advocacy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C96.
Acoustic Detection Reveals Fine-Scale Distributions of Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, and Perimyotis subflavus in Eastern Nebraska

Before white-nose syndrome arrives in Nebraska, it is important to document the preexposure distributions of cave bats in the state. We examined the distributions of Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis), Myotis septentrionalis (northern long-eared myotis), and Perimyotis subflavus (tri-colored bat) in eastern Nebraska by setting acoustic detectors for a single night at 105 sites in wooded habitats during summers of 2012 and 2014. We compared 2 methods of determining presence at each site. Results of our analyses are fine-scale distributional maps for these bats and some range extensions from published records. Results for M. septentrionalis and P. subflavus are largely consistent with previous reports. Results for M. lucifugus vary depending on the method of determining presence; however, our preferred method creates a pattern consistent with the known vouchered distribution of this species. The differences between published distributions of these species and distributions based on acoustic detection from our study might result from a lack of extensive netting in many areas of eastern Nebraska, underrepresentation of P. subflavus from mist net surveys in Nebraska, and a recent westward range expansion of P. subflavus and M. septentrionalis in southern Nebraska.