cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to special issue on the Proceedings of the 3rd International Urolithiasis Research Symposium held in Indianapolis.

The 3rd International Urolithiasis Research Symposium, organized by the International Kidney Stone Institute, was held in Indianapolis, IN, USA, on 3–4 December 2009. The Symposium included special sessions on Nephrocalcinosis, Pediatric Stone Disease, Hypercalciuria and Plaque, and Stone Analysis. There were additionally two sessions on Shock Wave Lithotripsy, looking at renal injury and the mechanisms underlying tissue damage by shock waves. The Symposium also included two live stone surgeries that allowed participants to see two distinctly different pathologies on live video, with added commentary by experts in the auditorium showing biopsy results from similar patients. A main theme running throughout the Symposium was that we have much to learn about the pathologies underlying the different forms of stone disease. For too long these pathologies have been lumped together, but it is quite clear from recent studies in patients that trying to study ‘stone disease’ in a ‘calcium stone’ patient group that includes, for example, both idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formers and patients who form calcium oxalate stones as a consequence of bowel disease is very much a study of ‘‘apples and oranges.’’ Such confusion has clouded work in the past. In contrast, new clarity in this field promises to allow an acceleration of study of the diseases that result in urinary calculi. Included in this second installment of papers from the Symposium is a series comparing renal tissue calcifications between human disease and animal models. Miller et al. show how endoscopic viewing of the calyceal system can allow one to know with certainty which radiologic calcifications are nephrocalcinosis and which are urinary stones, while Khan reviews various animal models of renal calcification. Then Evan et al. relate the pathologic findings of two new mouse models to those found in humans with idiopathic calcium oxalate stone disease. Matlaga et al. give us a review of pediatric stone diseases, and Daudon et al. lead off a series of papers on stone analysis with a comprehensive review of phosphate stones and what is known of their etiology. We end with four papers on the general topic of lithotripsy, highlighted by the study of Shah et al. reporting a novel method to non-invasively displace small stones or stone fragments from the calyceal system to the ureteropelvic junction using pulsed ultrasound. The next International Urolithiasis Research Symposium is scheduled for 16–17 June 2011, again in Indianapolis. We look forward to seeing you there.
Evaluating image quality--A new formulation.

Abstract A new formulation of the image evaluation problem is presented which provides a reasonable approach for any given application. The approach consists of determining if one image can be judged “better” than another and, if so, how much better. The formulation is in terms of decision theory and requires that classes of images of similar quality be considered. Measurement extraction and classification are then performed on these classes. If satisfactory classification can be achieved between “good” and “bad” images, then one may proceed to the question of, how good? A “goodness function” approach is suitable for this problem. The significance of the formulation is that it provides a reasonable approach to the image evaluation problem for many applications rather than encouraging the search for a single (possibly non-existant) measure of image quality.
Sampling Unfolding Intermediates in Calmodulin by Single-Molecule Spectroscopy

We used single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) measurements to characterize denatured and partially denatured states of the multidomain calcium signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) in both its apo and Ca(2+)-bound forms. The results demonstrate the existence of an unfolding intermediate. A CaM mutant (CaM-T34C-T110C) was doubly labeled with fluorescent probes AlexaFlour 488 and Texas Red at opposing globular domains. Single-molecule distributions of the distance between fluorophores were obtained by spFRET at varying levels of the denaturant urea. Multiple conformational states of CaM were observed, and the amplitude of each conformation was dependent on urea concentration, with the amplitude of an extended conformation increasing upon denaturation. The distributions at intermediate urea concentrations could not be adequately described as a combination of native and denatured conformations, showing that CaM does not denature via a two-state process and demonstrating that at least one intermediate is present. The intermediate conformations formed upon addition of urea were different for Ca(2+)-CaM and apoCaM. An increase in the amplitude of a compact conformation in CaM was observed for apoCaM but not for Ca(2+)-CAM upon the addition of urea. The changes in the single-molecule distributions of CaM upon denaturation can be described by either a range of intermediate structures or by the presence of a single unfolding intermediate that grows in amplitude upon denaturation. A model for stepwise unfolding of CaM is suggested in which the domains of CaM unfold sequentially.
Type of instructional delivery and second language teacher candidate performance: online versus face-to-face

Research conducted over the past decade has consistently reported no significant differences in learning outcomes for students of fully online or face-to-face (F2F) instruction. Only a small number of these studies, however, have focused on courses in second language (L2) teacher preparation programs. Even fewer studies have compared the impact of online and F2F instruction on classroom practice. To fill this void in the research, an investigation was conducted of the impact of method of instructional delivery on the performance of teacher candidates in a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) program during their culminating student teaching internship. Focusing on a group of TESL interns who completed either online or F2F methodology training, a mixed methodology was used to compare student teacher outcomes on two key performance assessments and to compare university supervisor perceptions of student teacher performance. While the type of instructional setting was not found to significantly impact...
Nonlinear operator integration factor splitting for the shallow water equations

The purpose of this paper is to explore an alternative to the traditional interpolation based semi-Lagrangian time integrators employed in atmospheric models. A novel aspect of the present study is that operator splitting is applied to a purely hyperbolic problem rather than the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The underlying theory of operator integration factor splitting is reviewed and the equivalence with semi-Lagrangian schemes is established. A nonlinear variant of integration factor splitting is proposed where the advection operator is expressed in terms of the relative vorticity and kinetic energy. To preserve stability, a fourth order Runge-Kutta scheme is applied for sub-stepping. An analysis of splitting errors reveals that OIFS is compatible with the order conditions for linear multi-step methods. The new scheme is implemented in a spectral element shallow water model using an implicit second order backward differentiation formula for Coriolis and gravity wave terms. Numerical results for standard test problems demonstrate that much larger time steps are possible.
Storage‐ and Heat‐induced Changes in the Microscopic Appearance of Rabbit Muscle

SUMMARY A study was made of the effects of length of cold storage and of heating on histological appearance of muscles from 4–5-month-old rabbits. The rabbit muscles appeared to contain little if any elastin except in and around blood vessels. The changes in histological appearance with increasing cold storage and with heating resembled in general those found in beef, although there were several exceptions. The rabbit muscle fibers showed less tendency to granulate, but the contraction nodes tended to disappear with longer storage, especially in the heated tissue. Also, at the longer storage times, heating tended to destroy even the granulated structure of collagen, reducing it to an amorphous state. Within the muscle bundles, rabbit muscles appeared to have more fine strands of collagen in the endomysium than did beef. Also, within the bundles, heating appeared to produce some granulation from the muscle fibers themselves, from the fine collagen strands, and from the endomysial reticulum, rather than primarily from the muscle fibers as in beef.
Scale Insects, edition 2, a tool for the identification of potential pest scales at U.S.A. ports-of-entry (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Coccoidea).

We provide a general overview of features and technical specifications of an online, interactive tool for the identification of scale insects of concern to the U.S.A. ports-of-entry. Full lists of terminal taxa included in the keys (of which there are four), a list of features used in them, and a discussion of the structure of the tool are provided. We also briefly discuss the advantages of interactive keys for the identification of potential scale insect pests. The interactive key is freely accessible on http://idtools.org/id/scales/index.php
A finite element model of the infarcted left ventricle

Abstract A membrane theory model of the infarcted left ventricle is described which represents the pressure-volume relation of the ventricle in diastole and end-systole, states in which the contraction velocity is zero. This membrane theory model is shown to give essentially the same diastolic pressure-volume relation as a more elaborate model which fully accounts for variations through the wall thickness. The end-systolic pressure-volume relation of an infarcted ventricle is obtained by means of a specially tailored finite element method, which is described in detail. From the end-systolic and diastolic pressure-volume relations the effect of infarction on the pumping performance of the ventricle can be determined. Representative numerical results are presented.
Midlife refit of UNOLS research vessel debated

Approximately 50 marine scientists from most of the major U.S. marine research groups recently convened to debate the planned refit of the 239-ft research vessel Maurice Ewing, which is owned by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by Columbia University's Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. The workshop focused on defining the science priorities and research capabilities that should determine the nature of the planned refit.
Drosophila as a model for epilepsy: bss is a gain-of-function mutation in the para sodium channel gene that leads to seizures.

We report the identification of bang senseless (bss), a Drosophila melanogaster mutant exhibiting seizure-like behaviors, as an allele of the paralytic (para) voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channel gene. Mutants are more prone to seizure episodes than normal flies because of a lowered seizure threshold. The bss phenotypes are due to a missense mutation in a segment previously implicated in inactivation, termed the “paddle motif” of the NaV fourth homology domain. Heterologous expression of cDNAs containing the bss1 lesion, followed by electrophysiology, shows that mutant channels display altered voltage dependence of inactivation compared to wild type. The phenotypes of bss are the most severe of the bang-sensitive mutants in Drosophila and can be ameliorated, but not suppressed, by treatment with anti-epileptic drugs. As such, bss-associated seizures resemble those of pharmacologically resistant epilepsies caused by mutation of the human NaV SCN1A, such as severe myoclonic epilepsy in infants or intractable childhood epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Joint Consideration of Distal and Proximal Predictors of Premature Mortality among Serious Juvenile Offenders

Abstract Purpose Juvenile offenders are at heightened risk of death in adolescence and young adulthood compared to adolescents in the general population. The current study extends previous research by testing the joint contributions of distal (historical and demographic characteristics) and proximal (closer to the time of the death) predictors of mortality. We also tested whether proximal variables were potential mediators of the effects of distal variables on mortality. Methods Participants were 1,354 serious juvenile offenders, 45 (3.32%) of whom were deceased by the completion of the study. Data were collected through self-reports and official records. Results Significant distal predictors of mortality were being African-American and having a history of substance use disorder. Proximal predictors that added significantly to prediction included gun carrying, gang membership, and substance use problems. Potential mediators of the effects of substance use disorder history were continuing substance use problems and gang membership. However, proximal variables could not explain the heightened risk for African-Americans. Conclusions Gang membership, gun carrying, and substance use problems are risk factors for early mortality among juvenile offenders, but they do not explain the elevated risk for death among African-Americans. Thus, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying risk for premature death among African-American adolescent offenders.
When to order a lead level

Abstract Elevated lead levels are a common problem in adults and especially children in the United States today. Lead is absorbed usually through the gastrointestinal tract after ingestion of leaded paint or dust contaminated with lead. Another route of exposure is inhalation from polluted air particularly in the vicinity of smelters or battery manufacturing plants. Children are especially at risk of lead toxicity because they absorb lead much more easily than adults. The pathogenesis of lead toxicity is not known. Patients can easily be screened for risk of lead toxicity with a simple series of questions. Awareness of the possibility of lead poisoning in children as well as adults is important in detection of this often subtle condition that usually causes subtle but irreversible neuropsychologic findings. Elevated lead levels can result in loss of intelligence as measured by iq paints, as well as neurobehavioral sequelae including hyperactivity and antisocial behavior. In adults lead toxicity can manifest as memory loss or mood disturbances. Treatment of lead toxicity involves removal of the source of exposure and then ehelation therapy.
Review of Recent Developments in the CGC

Abstract I review recent developments in the CGC approach to high-energy collisions. The focus is on topics related to the Quark Matter conference, specifically on predictions for the upcoming p + Pb run at the LHC; as an added bonus some of these predictions are confronted with preliminary data taken during the p + Pb machine performance test at the LHC performed in september 2012. I also highlight recent work related to particle production fluctuations, suppression of nuclear modification factors in p + A from rcBK evolution, (partial) NLO corrections in forward production, and photon–hadron as well as di-hadron correlations.
Cyclin D1 expression in human prostate carcinoma cell lines and primary tumors.

Background The cyclin D1 gene is amplified and/or overexpressed in several types of human cancer, including cancers of the breast, esophagus, head, and neck. However, the role of cyclin D1 in prostate cancer has not been previously studied in detail. Methods Six human prostate cancer cell lines and cultures of normal human prostate cells were examined by Western and Northern blot analyses for levels of expression of the cyclin D1 protein and mRNA, respectively. Southern blot analyses were performed to examine possible amplification of this gene. Immunostaining for cyclin D1 was performed on 50 primary prostate cancer samples. Results Cyclin D1 protein was expressed at relatively high levels in all of the six human prostate cancer cell lines examined, but was not detected in the cultures of normal human prostate cells. The ALVA 41 cell line expressed the highest level of this protein. Relatively high levels of cyclin D1 mRNA were also found in all of the prostate cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, none of these cell lines revealed amplification of the cyclin D1 gene. Twelve of the 50 primary prostate cancer samples (24%) revealed regions of moderate to strongly positive staining for cyclin D1. Conclusions The increased expression of cyclin D1 in several prostate cancer cell lines and in a subset of primary prostate cancer samples suggests that further studies on the expression of this gene and related genes may be of interest in understanding the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.
A new preconditioning technique for implicitly coupled multidomain simulations with applications to hemodynamics

In cardiovascular blood flow simulations a large portion of computational resources is dedicated to solve the linear system of equations. Boundary conditions in these applications are critical for obtaining accurate and physiologically realistic solutions, and pose numerical challenges due to the coupling between flow and pressure. Using an implicit time integration setting can lead to an ill-conditioned tangent matrix that causes deterioration in performance of traditional iterative linear equation solvers (LS). In this paper we present a novel and efficient preconditioner (PC) for this class of problems that exploits the strong coupling between the flow and pressure. We implement this PC in a LS algorithm designed for solving systems of equations governing incompressible flows. Excellent efficiency and stability properties of the proposed method are illustrated on a set of clinically relevant hemodynamics simulations.
Analysis of Power Consumption and BER of Flip-flop Based Interconnect Pipelining

This paper addresses the problem of interconnect pipelining from both power consumption and bit error rate (BER) point of view and tries to find the optimal solution for a given wire pipelining scheme in nanometer scale very large scale integration technologies. In this paper a detailed analysis for the dependency of power consumption and BER on the number of flip-flops inserted and repeater size is performed. For the best tradeoff between the wire delay, BER and power consumption, a methodology is developed to optimize the repeater size and the number of flip-flops inserted which maximize a user-specified figure of merit. Then this methodology is applied to calculate the optimal solutions for some International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor technology nodes
How and Why Do Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasms Overproduce Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

From the published data, the present mini-review attempts to answer two fundamental questions about the gestational trophoblastic neoplasms. In addition, it extrapolates the findings to other cancers that produce small amounts of hCG and how a novel therapies could be developed.
Rural/Urban Patterns of Aging and Caregiving in the United States

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of different residential environments on informal and formal caregiving provided to older people. The author uses two kinds of evidence to address this central concern. First, recent demographic trends are examined to ascertain the availability of informal caregivers among older people living in different places of residence. This line of inquiry focuses on the supply of potential caregivers. Second, previous research on rural/urban patterns of informal and formal caregiving for older people is reviewed. In conjunction with these two lines of inquiry, the author discusses past, present, and future trends in aging and caregiving. Because little direct evidence exists with which to examine particular aspects of rural/urban patterns of caregiving, the author discusses needed areas of future research.
Anatomical and physiological effects of silver thiosulfate on ethylene-induced abscission in Coleus

Petioles of expiants ofColeus blumei Benth. exposed to 20 μl/l ethylene abscised within 36 h. Pretreatment of expiants with 4 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) inhibited ethylene-induced abscission. Delaying treatment with STS reduced its effectiveness in retarding ethylene-promoted abscission, suggesting that some events leading to abscission are initiated during the first hours of ethylene treatment. Microscopic study of abscission zones of ethylene-treated expiants showed greatly increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, disruptions of the plasma membrane, and some cell separation in the region of the middle lamella. Pretreatment with STS prevented ethylene-induced reorganization of the endomembrane system and the subsequent middle lamellar dissolution.
Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Externalizing Problems: Moderating Effects of Emotionally Maltreating Parenting Behaviors

While prior research has examined the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and child externalizing behaviors, little research has focused specifically on the moderating effects of observed parenting behaviors on this relationship. This study was conducted to investigate the role of emotionally maltreating parenting behaviors, which were hypothesized to exacerbate the strength of the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems. Maternal depressive symptoms, child externalizing problems, and emotionally maltreating parenting behaviors were assessed in a community sample of 62 mother–child dyads (with children age 8–11 years). Results indicated the overall model was significant, after controlling for maternal race, as was the interaction between maternal depressive symptoms and emotionally maltreating parenting behaviors. Based on these findings, future research is needed to identify potential protective factors that may prevent depressive symptoms from negatively affecting parenting behaviors, with the attendant goal of decreasing risk for emotional maltreatment.
Functional patterns of molar occlusion in platyrrhine primates

Mechanico-functional features of molar form were studied in Callithrix, Alouatta, Pithecia and Cebus. Molars of Callithrix and Alouatta are adapted to loading foods under relatively high occlusal pressure; those of Pithecia and Cebus, under relatively low occlusal pressure. General functional considerations suggest that these taxa are adapted to insectivorous, folivorous, frugivorous and omnivorous diets, respectively. The physical properties of foods, principally mechanical strength and deformability, determine the selective pressures involved in the evolutionary adaptation of molar form. A dietary classification based upon percentages of foods eaten does not always reflect morphological adaptations. Homologous parts of teeth and homologous parts of the masticatory cycle do not always subserve equivalent functions. The relevance of functional occlusal analysis for deciphering phylogeny and explaining evolutionary grades is stressed.
Metabonomics in preclinical drug development

Metabonomics has emerged as a key technology in preclinical drug discovery and development. The technology enables noninvasive systems assessment of untoward effects induced by candidate compounds characterising a broad spectrum of biological responses on an individual animal basis in a relatively rapid-throughput fashion, thus making it an ideal addition to early preclinical safety assessment. However, the implementation and interpretation of the technology and data it generates is not something that should be trivialised. Proper expertise in biological sciences, analytical sciences (nuclear magnetic resonance and/or mass spectrometry) and chemometrics should all be considered necessary prerequisites. If these factors are properly considered, the technology can add significant value as a tool for preclinical toxicologists.
Choice of induction regimens on the risk of cytomegalovirus infection in donor-positive and recipient-negative kidney transplant recipients.

Background. Late occurrence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a concern in CMV-seronegative kidney and/or pancreas transplant recipients of CMV-seropositive organs (donor positive/recipient negative, D 1 /R ) despite the use of prophylaxis. We investigated the impact of various antibody induction regimens on CMV infection in this group of patients. Methods. A total of 254 consecutive D 1 /R kidney and/or pancreas transplant patients were studied. The induction agents rabbit anti- thymocyte globulin (rATG) or basiliximab were used according to the center practice. All patients received prophylaxis with valganciclovir (VGCV) for either 3 or 6 months. The occurrence of CMV infection was con¢rmed by positive DNA viremia. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors for CMV infection. Results. The cumulative incidence of CMV infection was 58, 112, and 59 cases per 1000 patient-years for patients who received no antibody induction, induction with rATG, or basiliximab induction, respectively (P 5 0.02). The use of rATG but not basiliximab was associated with an increased risk for CMV infection (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 2.13, 95% con¢dence interval (CI) 1.24^3.54, P 5 0.006). Acute rejection and its treatment with rATG were not associated with an increased risk for CMV infection when an additional course of VGCV was given following the treatment. Longer duration of prophylaxis was associated with a reduced risk for CMV infection (AHR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33^0.87, P 5 0.011). Conclusions. Induction with rATG is associated with increased risk of CMV infection. Longer duration of prophylaxis is bene¢cial.
A VARIANT OF THE EMD METHOD FOR MULTI-SCALE DATA

In this paper, we propose a variant of the Empirical Mode Decomposition method to decompose multiscale data into their intrinsic mode functions. Under the assumption that the multiscale data satisfy certain scale separation property, we show that the proposed method can extract the intrinsic mode functions accurately and uniquely.
Copper tolerance by the freshwater algal species Oocystis pusilla and its ability to alter free-ion copper

Abstract Previous studies with copper-stressed microcosms found that recovery was dependent on a copper-resistant algal species [Taub, 1989. Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Fundamental Concepts and Methodologies, pp. 47–92. Meador, J.P., Taub, F.B., Sibley, T.H., 1993. Ecol. Appl. 3, 139–155]. One algal species, Oocystis pusilla, was able to bloom in microcosms that had been devoid of organismal activity for several weeks due to the addition of copper at a high concentration (31.5 μM). In the present study, experiments were performed to characterize the range in tolerance of O. pusilla to copper, determine its growth under low and high pH regimes as a function of copper exposure, and to examine its ability to alter pH and ionic-copper activity (ICu) over time. Total-copper (TCu) concentrations up to 78.7 μM and ICu values as high as 0.9 μM had no negative effects on O. pusilla, indicating that it is highly copper-tolerant. The best growth for O. pusilla generally occurred in the range of 8–20 μM (total or dissolved copper), indicating a hormetic effect (enhanced response at intermediate concentrations). Even though its abundance was severely depressed in a TCu solution of 157.5 μM, this species was able to increase fourfold in 14 days. O. pusilla increased its numbers at a faster rate in high pH (≈9) solutions; however, it was able to propagate when pH was lower (≈7) and copper was high. These characteristics would allow this species to bloom in highly copper-stressed environments that would characteristically have a low pH. From this work, and related studies, we concluded that the primary mechanism allowing O. pusilla to reduce ionic-copper activity in culture solutions and microcosms was the release of organic copper-complexing ligands and that biomass sorption may have been important only at very high cell densities.
V-Loc urethro-intestinal anastomosis during robotic cystectomy with orthotopic urinary diversion.

Introduction: Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is an emerging minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of invasive bladder cancer. The V-loc (Covidien, Mansfield, MA) suture is a unidirectional barbed suture that provides even distribution of tension. We determined the rate of urinary leak at the urethro-intestinal anastomosis following orthotopic neobladder construction performed with V-loc suture. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts on all patients that underwent RARC with orthotopic neobladder urinary diversion performed with a V-loc suture from February 2010 to February 2012. The urethro-intestinal anastomosis was evaluated for urinary leak by cystogram at 3 to 4 weeks, postoperatively. Results: In total, 11 patients were available for analysis. The mean patient age was 57.2 years (range: 47-71). The average clinical follow-up was 8 months (range: 4-15). On surgical pathology, 8 (73%) patients had pT2 or less disease, 3 (27%) had pT3/T4 disease, and 1 (9%) had N+ disease. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 315 mL (range: 150-600) and the average operative time was 496 minutes (range: 485-519). No patient (0%) demonstrated a urinary leak at the urethro-intestinal anastomosis on postoperative cystogram. Eight patients (73%) were continent by 4 months, postoperatively. Conclusions: Orthotopic neobladder urethro-intestinal anastomosis can be performed effectively and safely with V-loc suture with an acceptably low urinary leak rate.
OH Radicals and Oxidizing Products in the Gamma Radiolysis of Water

Abstract LaVerne, J.A. OH Radicals and Oxidizing Products in the Gamma Radiolysis of Water. The production of OH radicals in the γ radiolysis of water has been examined with radical scavenger techniques employing formic acid. OH radical yields were found to vary from 2.4 radicals/100 eV at the low scavenger concentration limit to 4.2 at a formic acid concentration of 3 M. An inverse Laplace transform technique was applied to the scavenger concentration dependence to obtain the temporal dependence of OH radicals in pure water. It was found that the relative decrease in OH radical yields from 200 ps to 3 ns was virtually the same for the transform of the scavenger data and the directly measured time-resolved results. The absolute yields for the time-resolved experiments are about 10% higher than expected from the present results with scavengers. The agreement can be considered to be good, and reasons for the observed difference are given. Approximately 40% of the OH radicals produced lead to the formation o...
Mathematical model of an identified stomatogastric ganglion neuron

1. The ionic currents in the lateral pyloric (LP) cell of the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) described in the preceding paper of the rock crab Cancer borealis were fit with a set of differential equations that describe their voltage, time, and Ca2+ dependence. The voltage-dependent currents modeled are a delayed rectifier-like current, id; a Ca(2+)-activated outward current, io(Ca); a transient A-like current, iA; a Ca2+ current, iCa; an inwardly rectifying current, ih; and a fast tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive Na+ current, iNa. 2. A single-compartment, isopotential model of the LP cell was constructed from the six voltage-dependent currents, a voltage-independent leak current il, a Ca2+ buffering system, and the membrane capacitance. 3. The behavior of the model LP neuron was compared with that of the biological neuron by simulating physiological experiments carried out in both voltage-clamp and current-clamp modes. The model and biological neurons show similar action-potential shapes, durations, steady-state current-voltage (I-V) curves, and respond to injected current in a comparable way.
DOCUMENTING WOUND AREAS VIA DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY: EFFECT OF CAMERA ANGLE ON AREA ACCURACY

Problem Statement: A useful method to document and track a wound’s progress is via digital photography. Resultant photos can be used as reference and, via planimetry of digitized photographs, yield quantitative assessments of area changes. However, without care, this method can result in large apparent and absolute errors. Rationale: One important potential error source relates to the angle (θ) between the camera’s line-of-sight and wound plane. We sought to mathematically and experimentally estimate this area error. Our goal is to describe and illustrate potential errors of using digital photography to assess wound areas and to describe appropriate procedures to eliminate or substantially reduce these errors Methods: Shapes of known area, and shapes resembling complex wounds, were photographed with a digital camera at various angles. Photographs included horizontal and vertical scales for calibration. Areas were estimated by tracing the perimeter of the digitized image shape using computerized planimetry. Results: Mathematical analysis predicted shortening of the shape’s width in proportion to sinθ. For example, in comparison to a photo taken at θ=90o (pointing directly down to the wound), a photo taken at 30o has a projected width that is 1⁄2 of the true dimension. This results in an area estimate that is 1⁄2 of the actual wound area. The predicted area errors for various angles were confirmed by measurements of various shapes. Conclusions: The intrinsic potential error described can be overcome in two ways. (1) Take wound photos as close to 90o as possible – this yields no angular area error and a horizontal calibration is sufficient. (2) If this is not possible, and the photographic angle is less than 75o, then calibrating the image in both dimensions will eliminate most of the angular area error. This requires that calibration scales in both directions are included in the wound photograph. References: 1. Lagan KM, Dusoir AE, McDonough SM, Baxter GD. Wound measurement: the comparative reliability of direct versus photographic tracings analyzed by planimetry versus digitizing techniques. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000;81(8):1110-16 2. Wunderlich RP, Peters EJ, Armstrong DG, Lavery LA. Reliability of digital videometry and acetate tracing in measuring the surface area of cutaneous wounds. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2000;49(2-3):87-92. 3. Thawer HA, Houghton PE, Woodbury MG, Keast D, Campbell K. A comparison of computer-assisted and manual wound size measurement. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2002;48(10):46-53. 5. Gethin G, Cowman S. Wound measurement comparing the use of acetate tracings and Visitrak digital planimetry. J Clin Nurs. Apr 2006;15(4):422-427. 6. Hanson D, Langemo D, Anderson J, Hunter S, Thompson P. Measuring wounds. Nursing. Feb 2007;37(2):18, 21.
Laboratory Studies on Insect Predators of Potato Leafhopper Eggs, Nymphs, and Adults

Laboratory tests showed that Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and the common damsel bug, Reduviolus americoferus (Carayon) (Hemiptera: Nabidae), were able to locate and destroy eggs of the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). O. insidiosus appeared to be the more efficient egg predator. The average daily mortality of leafhopper adults and nymphs attributed to the feeding of the coccinellids, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville and Coccinella novemnotata Herbst. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the common green lacewing, Chrysopa carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and R. americoferus ranged from 1.9 to 3.2, with the exception of C. carnea adults, which averaged 0.4 nymphs.
Tool-Replacement Policies: Variations in Cost, Tool Quality, and Monitoring Rules

Abstract A computer simulation experiment was conducted to examine cutting-tool operating costs under varying conditions. The input variables included the level of tool quality (high versus low), cost structure (two cost structures were used), and tool-replacement policies incorporating four types of quality-control decision rules. The rate of tool deterioration, the length of tool life, and the stage of tool life at which significant deterioration began were all stochastically defined. A primary finding was that replacement policies incorporating quality-control decision rules were not significantly better than a strict interval-replacement policy for the cost structure and input variables used in the study. It was further demonstrated that the relative performance of the decision rules was not consistent for variations in input characteristics (tool quality) and cost structure.
Quantitative integration of geophysical models in mineral resource assessment

Incorporation of geophysical models at all stages of the exploration and extraction of a mineral resource is often not implemented in a quantitative fashion. As geophysical tools and interpretation methods improve, so do the quality of the geophysical models and their potential to contribute to evaluating a resource. While there are multiple potential approaches to integrating geophysical models into the quantitative assessment of a mineral resource, here we focus on the use of physical property models and derived models as a supplemental variable in cokriging for modeling of mineral content. In particular, geophysical models can contribute to modeling and estimation through the spatial information that can be extracted.
A parallel sweeping preconditioner for frequency-domain seismic wave propagation

The authors thank TACC for access to Lonestar, and particularly Bill Barth for suggesting that we enforce local memory allocations and Tommy Minyard for organizing the large runs. We also thank Sergey Fomel, Anshul Gupta, Edgar Solomonik, and Laura Grigori for helpful discussions. The work is financially supported by KAUST and the TCCS sponsors.
Asian Indian American Children's Creative Writing: An Approach for Cultural Preservation

Many children from diverse cultures experience disconnectedness between their home and school. As they attempt to reconcile the conflicts among their multiple worlds, they must negotiate their situatedness in a variety of contexts, i.e., home community versus school, and construct a multifaceted identity. Absent support from school, Asian Indian American adolescents engage in acts of cultural preservation (CP), which, in turn, support their scholastic achievement. This article explores the thematic content of a group of Asian Indian American children's creative writing generated for the Kahani Project—a culturally contextualized version of Writers’ Workshop. In their texts, the six adolescents discuss the importance of their cultural traditions as tools to contest the various micro-aggressions they experience in school. Data from this study argue for cultural inclusion, not only for those at risk, but also for those students who successfully navigate a mainstream curriculum.
A Novel β-Globin Chain Hemoglobin Variant, Hb Allentown [β137(H15)Val→Trp (GTG>TGG) HBB: c.412_413delinsTG, p.Val138Trp], Associated with Low Oxygen Saturation, Intermittent Aplastic Crises and Splenomegaly

Hemoglobin (Hb) variants may be associated with low oxygen saturation and exacerbated episodes of anemia from common stressors such as viral infections. These attributes frequently cause increased clinical concern and unnecessary and expensive testing if not considered early in the evaluation of the patient. Some clinically significant Hb variants result in a normal Hb electrophoresis result, which can be method-dependent. Herein we describe a patient with low oxygen saturation and a history of hemolytic anemia who was subsequently found to carry a novel, unstable β-globin variant that we have named Hb Allentown [β137(H15)Val→Trp (GTG>TGG) HBB: c.412_413delinsTG, p.Val138Trp] for the place of identification of the variant. Hb Allentown is formed by a rare double nucleotide substitution within the same codon. Additionally, positive identification of rare Hb variants characterized by a single method is discouraged, as the Hb variant was misclassified as Hb S-South End or β6(A3)Glu→Val;β132(H10)Lys→Asn (HBB: c.[20A > T;399A > C]) by the initial laboratory.
NCTCP: a network coded TCP protocol

This paper presents the design of Network Coded TCP (NCTCP). NCTCP is a reliable TCP-like transport protocol that uses network coding to dramatically improve the overall performance in networks with lossy links. By sending datagrams that represent a linear combination of packets, we are able to receive data in an orderless fashion and still push data in byte-correct order to the receiver's application layer. To eliminate round off errors we generate consecutive-ones linear combinations of packets which form totally unimodular matrices. NCTCP has an Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD) congestion control mechanism that uses Round Trip Times to increase the performance on wireless networks without hurting the performance on wired networks. Unlike TCP, NCTCP does not use a congestion window and can be implemented in user space and hence does not need any changes to the kernel. We test our protocol using ns-2 simulator using several performance measurements, namely, throughput, goodput, efficiency and receiver efficiency. Our simulations show that NCTCP performs better than standard TCP implementations and previously proposed network coding protocols; TCP/NC and CTCP in terms of the aforementioned performance measures. We demonstrate that NCTCP is TCP-friendly and maintains the fairness property essential for the health of the Internet.
Conformal metric optimization on surface (CMOS) for deformation and mapping in laplace-beltrami embedding space

In this paper we develop a novel technique for surface deformation and mapping in the high-dimensional Laplace-Beltrami embedding space. The key idea of our work is to realize surface deformation in the embedding space via optimization of a conformal metric on the surface. Numerical techniques are developed for computing derivatives of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions with respect to the conformal metric, which is then applied to compute surface maps in the embedding space by minimizing an energy function. In our experiments, we demonstrate the robustness of our method by applying it to map hippocampal atrophy of multiple sclerosis patients with depression on a data set of 109 subjects. Statistically significant results have been obtained that show excellent correlation with clinical variables. A comparison with the popular SPHARM tool has also been performed to demonstrate that our method achieves more significant results.
Enhancement and the Conservative Bias

Nicholas Agar argues that we should avoid certain ‘radical’ enhancement technologies. One reason for this is that they will alienate us from current sources of value by altering our evaluative outlooks. We should avoid this, even if enhancing will provide us with novel, objectively better sources of value. After noting the parallel between Agar’s views and G. A. Cohen’s work on the ‘conservative bias’, I explore Agar’s suggestion in relation to two kinds of radical enhancement: cognitive and anti-ageing. With regard to both, there are reasons to doubt Agar’s empirical predictions about the severity of the evaluative changes we will undergo. Nonetheless, there is some force to the argument as applied to cognitive enhancement; in particular, radical cognitive enhancement may endanger our current valuable relationships with our loved ones. However, even if we find this a plausible worry for radical cognitive enhancement, it is not plausible for even radical anti-ageing enhancement, because the change Agar predicts will not affect our core motivations in the way that cognitive enhancement threatens to.
Economic Impact of Hearing Loss and Reduction of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in the United States.

Purpose Hearing loss (HL) is pervasive and debilitating, and noise-induced HL is preventable by reducing environmental noise. Lack of economic analyses of HL impacts means that prevention and treat...
Brief Report: Metformin for Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Antipsychotic treatment in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is becoming increasingly common, placing individuals at risk for antipsychotic-induced weight gain and associated complications. Metformin hydrochloride, a biguanide medication FDA-approved for treatment of type-2 diabetes in youth, may hold promise for treatment of antipsychotic-induced weight gain in youth with ASD. In this report we assess the long-term impact of metformin on antipsychotic-associated weight gain in a naturalistic sample of 53 youth with ASD. Results indicate that treatment with metformin stabilized BMI z-score over a nearly 2 year mean treatment period. Further work is indicated to determine the safety and efficacy of metformin treatment in youth with ASD, as well as predictors of response as a treatment for antipsychotic-induced weight gain.
Cascading Effects of Nanoparticle Coatings: Surface Functionalization Dictates the Assemblage of Complexed Proteins and Subsequent Interaction with Model Cell Membranes.

Interactions of functionalized nanomaterials with biological membranes are expected to be governed by not only nanoparticle physiochemical properties but also coatings or “coronas” of biomacromolecules acquired after immersion in biological fluids. Here we prepared a library of 4–5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with either ω-functionalized thiols or polyelectrolyte wrappings to examine the influence of surface functional groups on the assemblage of proteins complexing the nanoparticles and its subsequent impact on attachment to model biological membranes. We find that the initial nanoparticle surface coating has a cascading effect on interactions with model cell membranes by determining the assemblage of complexing proteins, which in turn influences subsequent interaction with model biological membranes. Each type of functionalized AuNP investigated formed complexes with a unique ensemble of serum proteins that depended on the initial surface coating of the nanoparticles. Formation of protein–nanop...
The Effect of Blackout Duration and Number of Responses on Pause Length in Fixed-Ratio Schedules

The present study compares postreinforcement pause lengths following large and small fixed-ratio schedules when the interreinforcement intervals for the two ratios were approximately equal. Blackouts followed each unreinforced response in each ratio. Interreinforcement intervals were equated by using long blackouts with the small ratio and short blackouts with the large ratio. The postreinforcement pause was longer on the ratios requiring the largest number of responses. These results indicate that the number of interreinforcement responses affects postreinforcement pause length under fixed-ratio schedules.
Clinical Utility of BRAF-Targeted Therapy in Melanoma

The identification of BRAFV600 mutations in melanoma rapidly translated into a search for strategies to exploit this recurrent genetic alteration. The selective BRAF inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib have demonstrated impressive antitumor activity with objective response rates of approximately 50 % and improved progression-free and/or overall survival compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The MEK inhibitor trametinib also subsequently demonstrated improved survival compared to chemotherapy. Acquired resistance, however, has limited the long-term antitumor efficacy of these therapies. Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition represents one strategy to delay the onset of resistance and potentially extend survival. Additional BRAF and MEK inhibitors and combinations are being developed with a goal of improving outcomes further. In this chapter, we review the development of approved BRAF and MEK inhibitors, the experience with combination therapy, and special clinical situations for BRAF-targeted therapy.
Drowning in a river with an average depth of 3 ft: interpreting athletic performance gains

This is an invited editorial on the manuscript by Foss JL, Constantini K, Mickleborough TD, and Chapman RF. Short-term arrival strategies for endurance exercise performance at moderate altitude. J Appl Physiol (1985), 2017.