cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smart People Ask for My Advice: Seeking Advice Boosts Perceptions of Competence

Although individuals can derive substantial benefits from exchanging information and ideas, many individuals are reluctant to seek advice from others. We find that people are reticent to seek advice for fear of appearing incompetent. This fear, however, is misplaced. We demonstrate that individuals perceive those who seek advice as more competent than those who do not. This effect is moderated by task difficulty, advisor egocentrism, and advisor expertise. Individuals perceive those who seek advice as more competent when the task is difficult rather than when it is easy, when people seek advice from them personally rather than when they seek advice from others and when people seek advice from experts rather than from nonexperts or not at all. This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
Radiographic and Functional Analysis of Movement Allowed by Four Wrist Immobilization Devices

Immobilization of the wrist is a common practice throughout the healthcare industry. The main forms of wrist immobilization are short-arm casts, prefabricated wrist splints, custom volar wrist splints, and custom circumferential wrist splints. It is generally accepted, by the medical community, that each form of immobilization allows for some movement. The amount each device allows is unknown. Establishing data that accurately describe the amount of mobility in each immobilization device will allow clinicians to make an evidence-based decision each time they are confronted with the need to order an orthosis. The purpose of this study was to identify the specific amount of motion allowed and to identify the level of function allowed by each immobilization device. For each device, the exact wrist range of motion in flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation was explored through radiographic analysis. In addition, functional ability was explored with the QuickDASH, Timed In-Hand Manipulation Exam (TIME), and the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function. A convenience sample of 24 participants was recruited. All subjects wore each of the four different immobilization devices for 24 hours and then were evaluated for range of motion and functional abilities. MANOVA and post hoc testing were performed on the data to identify statistically significant differences in anterior-posterior total active motion between the cast (31.3°), the volar wrist splint (48.3°), circumferential wrist splint (54.8°), and the prefabricated wrist splint (88.5°). Statistically significant differences were also measured in lateral total active motion between the cast (27.7°), the volar wrist splint (36.7°), the circumferential wrist splint (35.4°), and the prefabricated wrist splint (51.7°). QuickDASH scores of perceived function indicated a statistically significant difference with the prefabricated wrist splint (28.24), the cast (54.6), the volar splint (41), and the circumferential splint (43.9). Similarly, the score on the TIME was statistically significantly faster for the prefabricated wrist splint with an average of 13.88 seconds. More research should be performed to identify an ultra low profile external device that is highly conforming to maximize immobilization while allowing as close to normal functional activities as possible.
Elements of a Wittgensteinian Philosophy of the Human Sciences

In this paper, a Wittgensteinian account of the human sciences is constructed around the notions of the surface of human life and of surface phenomena as expressions. I begin by explaining Wittgenstein’s idea that the goal of interpretive social science is to make actions and practices seem natural. I then explicate his notions of the surface of life and of surface phenomena as expressions by reviewing his analysis of mental state language. Finally, I critically examine three ideas: (a) that the goal of interpretive inquiry is realized through a descriptive, context-constructing method that enables investigators to grasp the instincts, mental states, and experiences (“Geist”) expressed in surface phenomena; (b) that uncovering rules plays a minor role in this enterprise; and (c) that surface phenomena not only can be made natural but also have causes and are subject to causal explanation.
FACTORS INFLUENCING UNEMPLOYMENT DURATION WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MIGRATION: AN INVESTIGATION USING SIPP DATA AND EVENT HISTORY METHODS

The length of time that individuals are unemployed has considerable political and policy significance. Important questions about the factors influencing the duration of unemployment remain to be answered. The purpose of this paper is to carry out an empirical investigation of the factors that cause unemployment to be of a longer or shorter duration. Such factors are identified within a micro-economic framework drawn from human capital and job search theories. Event history methods and panel data are used to model unemployment duration. The data come from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) which contains weekly information on labor force status over about a two and a half year period, as well as data on a number of individual and locational attributes. Evidence from the empirical investigation suggests that migration, temporary layoff and income during unemployment combine with individual characteristics to influence the duration of unemployment spells.
Cytokines enhance opsonophagocytosis of type III group B Streptococcus.

UNLABELLED Neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated killing is important to host defense against type III group B Streptococcus (GBS). In neonates, a qualitative and quantitative deficiency in PMN-mediated host defense may contribute to an impaired neonatal response to this pathogen. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) would enhance neonatal PMN-mediated killing of III GBS. STUDY DESIGN PMNs from adults or neonates were incubated with TNF-alpha, G-CSF, or GM-CSF; next, PMN-mediated killing of III GBS was assessed in an in vitro opsonophagocytic assay. RESULTS Treatment of PMNs with these cytokines for an interval of 5 minutes before addition of GBS to the reaction mixture enhanced opsonophagocytosis of bacteria both by adult PMNs and neonatal PMNs. The effect was statistically significant for TNF-alpha- and GM-CSF-treated adult PMNs and for GM-CSF-treated neonatal PMNs. The enhanced killing of III GBS by GM-CSF-treated PMNs was reduced by monoclonal antibody blockade of FcRIII. CONCLUSION G-CSF enhances the neonatal PMN-mediated killing of III GBS in vitro. These studies suggest that use of FcRIII receptors may be one mechanism by which GM-CSF augments the PMN-mediated killing of III GBS. The addition of purified immunoglobulin G containing III GBS-specific antibody facilitated opsonophagocytosis by GM-CSF-treated PMNs. We speculate that the administration of GM-CSF alone or in combination with intravenous immunoglobulin may improve the neonatal host response to III GBS.
Expanding the concept of medical information: an observational study of physicians' information needs

Abstract Obtaining and managing clinically relevant information constitutes a major problem for physicians, for which the development of automated tools is often proposed as a solution. However, designing and implementing appropriate automated solutions presumes knowledge of physicians' information needs. We describe an empirical study of information needs in four clinical settings in internal medicine in a university teaching hospital. In contrast to the retrospective data often used in previous studies, this research used ethnographic techniques to facilitate direct observation of communication about information needs. On the basis of this experience, we address two main issues: how to identify and interpret expressions of information needs in medicine and how to broaden our conception of “information needs” to account for the empirical data.
Effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors on amygdaloid histone acetylation and neuropeptide Y expression: a role in anxiety-like and alcohol-drinking behaviours

Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism. Here, we investigated the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) on amygdaloid HDAC-induced histone deacetylation and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression and on anxiety-like and alcohol-drinking behaviours in alcohol-preferring (P) and -non-preferring (NP) rats. It was found that P rats displayed higher anxiety-like and alcohol-drinking behaviours, higher amygdaloid nuclear, but not cytosolic, HDAC activity, which was associated with increased HDAC2 protein levels and deficits in histone acetylation and NPY expression in the central (CeA) and medial nucleus of amygdala (MeA), as compared to NP rats. TSA treatment attenuated the anxiety-like and alcohol-drinking behaviours, with concomitant reductions in amygdaloid nuclear, but not cytosolic HDAC activity, and HDAC2, but not HDAC4, protein levels in the CeA and MeA of P rats, without effect in NP rats. TSA treatment also increased global histone acetylation (H3-K9 and H4-K8) and NPY expression in the CeA and MeA of P, but not in NP rats. Histone H3 acetylation within the NPY promoter was also innately lower in the amygdala of P rats compared with NP rats; which was normalized by TSA treatment. Voluntary ethanol intake in P, but not NP rats, produced anxiolytic effects and decreased the HDAC2 levels and increased histone acetylation in the CeA and MeA. These results suggest that higher HDAC2 expression-related deficits in histone acetylation may be involved in lower NPY expression in the amygdala of P rats, and operative in controlling anxiety-like and alcohol-drinking behaviours.
A comparison of T-wave alternans, signal averaged electrocardiography and programmed ventricular stimulation for arrhythmia risk stratification

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to compare T-wave alternans (TWA), signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) and programmed ventricular stimulation (EPS) for arrhythmia risk stratification in patients undergoing electrophysiology study. BACKGROUND Accurate identification of patients at increased risk for sustained ventricular arrhythmias is critical to prevent sudden cardiac death. T-wave alternans is a heart rate dependent measure of repolarization that correlates with arrhythmia vulnerability in animal and human studies. Signal-averaged electrocardiography and EPS are more established tests used for risk stratification. METHODS This was a prospective, multicenter trial of 313 patients in sinus rhythm who were undergoing electrophysiologic study. T-wave alternans, assessed with bicycle ergometry, and SAECG were measured before EPS. The primary end point was sudden cardiac death, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation or appropriate implantable defibrillator (ICD) therapy, and the secondary end point was any of these arrhythmias or all-cause mortality. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the primary end point showed that TWA predicted events with a relative risk of 10.9, EPS had a relative risk of 7.1 and SAECG had a relative risk of 4.5. The relative risks for the secondary end point were 13.9, 4.7 and 3.3, respectively (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis of 11 clinical parameters identified only TWA and EPS as independent predictors of events. In the prespecified subgroup with known or suspected ventricular arrhythmias, TWA predicted primary end points with a relative risk of 6.1 and secondary end points with a relative risk of 8.0. CONCLUSIONS T-wave alternans is a strong independent predictor of spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias or death. It performed as well as programmed stimulation and better than SAECG in risk stratifying patients for life-threatening arrhythmias.
Natural and spectral convergence measures of leslie matrices: Additive norms and the imprimitive cases

Processes and measures of convergence for population matrices are considered based on additive norms other than the eigen-norm. Prior results on natural and spectral converges measures for population matrices [1] are shown to be partly valid for an arbitrarily weighted norm termed the W-norm. Special cases of imprimitive population matrices are analyzed for applicability of results on stability and convergence measures. These include the truncated case that includes post-fertile age groups and periodic cases, i.e., ones in which fertility occurs periodically across age groups.
Theory and practice of soil densification

THE THERMAL RESISTIVITY of soils is an important factor in the economy of systems of buried electric power cables. This resistivity is a function of the volume fractions of the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of which soils are normally composed, and of their structural arrangement. Inasmuch as the solid phases usually possess lower thermal resistivities than the liquid and gaseous phases and, because the latter are greatly affected by external factors such as weather and topography and, hence, are subject to cyclic variations, the volume proportion and the structural arrangement of the solid soil constituents determine the maximum theoretical thermal resistivity of a soil. The dry densities of soils are often used instead of the volume proportions of solids. An increase in dry density by one pound per cubic foot results in an average decrease of thermal resistivity of 3 per cent. Soil systems, as found in nature or as obtained by normal backfilling practices, are usually neither at their most loose nor at their densest possible state. Between these two states, there is normally a difference of about 36 pounds with the natural state often having a density of about 12 pounds above the most loose. This indicates the potentialities of decreasing the thermal resistance of soils by means of better and more appropriate compaction methods.
Salvage of ring degloving injury with wraparound flap from adjacent mutilated digit.

Severe ring avulsion injuries (Urbaniak class HI complete degloving ~) not amenable to revascularization can be expected to have a poor cosmetic and functional result following skin coverage with a skin graft, pedicled flap, or after primary amputation, z,3 Denuded yet intact skeletal and tendinous structures can be salvaged as a functional unit using an immediate free flap or toe transfer to restore the skin envelope) Total fillet of a concomitantly severely injured but still perfused adjacent digit for use as a wraparound flap to cover the degloved finger may be a simpler method of preserving the best possible musculoskeletal components of both digits, while obviating any need for microsurgical skills or violation of a distant donor site.
Dimerization of a pathogenic human mitochondrial tRNA

Mutations of human mitochondrial transfer RNA (tRNA) are implicated in a variety of multisystemic diseases. The most prevalent pathogenic mitochondrial mutation is the A3243G substitution within the gene for tRNA(Leu(UUR)). Here we describe the pronounced structural change promoted by this mutation. The A3243G mutation induces the formation of a tRNA dimer that strongly self-associates under physiological conditions. The dimerization interface in the mutant tRNA is a self-complementary hexanucleotide in the D-stem, a particularly weak structural element within tRNA(Leu(UUR)). Aminoacylation of the A3243G mutant is significantly attenuated, and mutational studies indicate that dimerization is partially responsible for the observed loss of function. The disruption of a conserved tertiary structural contact also contributes to the functional defect. The pathogenic mutation is proposed to interfere with the cellular function of human mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) by destabilizing the native structure and facilitating the formation of a dimeric complex with low biological activity.
Deuteron elastic scattering at 34.4 MeV

Abstract Differential cross sections were measured for the elastic scattering of 34.4 MeV deutrons from 18 nuclei in the A = 12–96 region. An optical model analysis of the data was made both with and without a vector spin-orbit term in the potential. Including the spin-orbit term resulted in essentially no improvement of the fits for 12 C and 16 O in the angular range studies. For the heavier targets, however, the spin-orbit potential did improve the quality of the fits. From “best-fit” parameters for each nucleus, an “average” family was obtained as a function of Z and A . Comparison of the data with predictions using the average parameters gave generally satisfactory results.
Temporal variability of neustonic ichthyoplankton assemblages of the eastern Pacific warm pool: Can community structure be linked to climate variability?

Abstract Considerable evidence exists, showing an accelerated warming trend on earth during the past 40–50 years, attributed mainly to anthropogenic factors. Much of this excess heat is stored in the world's oceans, likely resulting in increased environmental variability felt by marine ecosystems. The long-term effects of this phenomenon on oceanic tropical ecosystems are largely unknown, and our understanding of its effects could be facilitated by long-term studies of how species compositions change with time. Ichthyoplankton, in particular, can integrate physical, environmental and ecological factors making them excellent model taxa to address this question. While on eight (1987–1990, 1992 and 1998–2000) NOAA Fisheries cruises to the eastern Pacific warm pool, we characterized the thermal and phytoplankton pigment structure of the water column, as well as the neustonic ichthyoplankton community using CTD casts and Manta (surface) net tows. Over the 13-year period, 852 CTD and Manta tow stations were completed. We divided the study area into three regions based on regional oceanography, thermocline depth and productivity, as well as a longitudinal gradient in species composition among stations. We then analyzed temporal trends of ichthyoplankton species composition within each region by pooling stations by region and year and making pairwise comparisons of community similarity between all combinations of the eight cruises within each region. We also identified environment-specific species assemblages and station groupings using hierarchical clustering and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). Our analyses revealed a longitudinal gradient in community structure and temporal stability of ichthyoplankton species composition. Over the 13 years ichthyoplankton assemblages in the two westernmost regions varied less than in the eastern region. MDS and cluster analyses identified five ichthyoplankton assemblages that corresponded to oceanographic habitats and a gradient in community composition. We hypothesize that the changes in thermocline depth during the El Ninos of 1987–1988, 1997–1998 and the extended period of warmth during 1990–1994 altered productivity sufficiently to cause a shift in the abundances of foundation species of the upwelling systems of the eastern Pacific warm pool. Our study suggests that ichthyoplankton assemblages in oligotrophic waters are more resilient to changes in the thermocline than assemblages in upwelling regions; or that oligotrophic regions simply have less physical variation compared to upwelling regions.
Opportunities for Instructional Leadership at Rolling Ridge Middle School

This case was developed for use in a course on learning-centered leadership with a focus on supervision. Varied data are presented about the school, the district, the students, and the community. Students must analyze the data, identify inconsistencies, formulate additional questions and strategies for gaining additional information, and begin to develop a plan for working in a new leadership role to improve instruction and student performance.
On surfaces with a rectilinear geodesic circle

We say that a surface has a “rectilinear geodesic circle“ if it contains a straight line segment AB and a point F whose geodesic distance from a variable point of AB is a constant.
Construction of Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Arrays (NAPPA) 2: Preparing bacterial cultures in a 96-well format

INTRODUCTIONFunctional proteomics enables protein activities to be studied in vitro using high-throughput (HT) methods. Protein microarrays are the method of choice because they display many proteins simultaneously and require only small reaction volumes to assess function. Protein microarrays are typically used to (1) measure the abundance of many different analytes in a sample or (2) study the functions or properties of many proteins spotted on the array. Target protein microarrays are usually generated by expressing, purifying, and spotting the proteins onto a solid surface at very close spatial density. An alternative approach is to translate the proteins in situ on the array surface. This approach, termed "Nucleic Acid Protein Programmable Array" (NAPPA), enables the simultaneous expression of proteins in microarray format without the need for individual protein purification. This method uses cell-free extracts that transcribe and translate DNA into proteins which are then captured in situ, thus converting cDNA copies of genes into the desired target proteins. Instead of printing proteins at each feature of the array, the cDNA molecules for the corresponding genes that produce desired proteins are affixed to the array. Chemical treatment of glass slides and DNA isolation can be performed in advance and stored. The plasmid DNA can then be printed to make NAPPA slides, which can be stored dry for use. For experiments, NAPPA slides are expressed followed by detection of proteins and DNA using antibodies and stains. This protocol describes preparation of the bacterial cultures in deep-well blocks.
Forest soils education and research: Trends, needs, and wild ideas

Abstract Requirements of an excellent forestry education have changed. Students are now required to complete more quantitative, social science and humanities courses. There are cogent reasons for this, but it has resulted in a marked decrease in the emphasis being placed on the land. Only 15% of the North American forestry schools require geology or geomorphology, while 15% have it as a recommended elective. Thus, as many as two-thirds of forestry graduates may be geologically illiterate! Ninety percent of US forestry schools require a soils course, but only 50% require forest soils. All Canadian forestry schools require both soils and forest soils. While this erosion of emphasis placed on the soil resource has taken place in education, the use of soils information in natural resource management has dramatically increased. Many organizations are increasing the intensity of forest management and moving toward the domesticated forest, which requires more knowledge of forest soils. All natural resource professionals need a firm understanding of the land and the processes that shape it. Nineteenth century forest soils research was basic and in the 20th century it was largely empirical. The 21st century requires a balanced mix of basic and applied research with more integration with other natural resource disciplines. Many principles remain to be elucidated, but in some areas descriptive research is still necessary. The establishment of long-term regional data sets that can be used in testing hypotheses to be translated into management guidelines should be a priority. Planning tools must be developed so that the best knowledge can be applied to management. In both research and planning, science rather than politics must set the agenda. We need to teach students the full range of soil management possibilities including active management as well as conservation and preservation. We must ‘bust’ our conceptual blocks in both education and research. We do not need more education; we need better education. Forest soils research needs to utilize emerging remote sensing technology both to improve our research efforts and to aid in land management planning. Remote sensing, GIS, and GPS technology can revolutionize silvicultural research, but we may need to alter our research paradigm to take advantage of it. We are too often prisoners of our past. We, those of us in education, government agencies, industry, and NGOs, must learn to work together or we will not meet the challenges of the new century.
Ovarian myxoma: ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings.

The ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings are reported in two ovarian myxomas, one of which was also associated with a sclerosing stromal tumor of the same ovary. Both neoplasms showed a...
Development of polynorbornene as a structural material for microfluidics and flexible BioMEMS

Polynorbornene is a class of polymer that exhibits significant potential as a structural material in microelectromechanical systems owing to its dielectric constant and compatibility with silicon-based microfabrication processes. A commercially available version of PNB (AvatrelTM 2585P) is particularly attractive for bioMEMS applications because of its low moisture absorption characteristics, photodefinability, and potential biocompatibility. This study furthers the advancement of PNB as an enabling structural material for microfluidics and flexible bioMEMS applications by developing the following key processing techniques: (1) oxygen plasma-based surface modification for bonding PNB layers to glass substrates, and (2) the monolithic fabrication of free-standing, mechanically flexible electrode arrays using silicon wafers as mechanical supports during fabrication. To further develop PNB for flexible, implantable bioMEMS applications, this study also includes an evaluation of: (1) the tensile properties of free standing structures after accelerated lifetime testing in phosphate-buffered saline, and (2) the in vitro performance of free-standing, mechanically flexible neural microelectrode array-based neural interfaces. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40969.
Airborne Fine and Ultrafine Particles Near the World Trade Center Disaster Site

Documentation of the airborne fine and ultrafine particles produced by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC), particularly while fires were burning, was essential for evaluating the risk of adverse health effects in people who live and work in this area. We collected airborne particles for 3 months at a site about 400 m east of the former WTC. Ultrafine particles were collected by deposition onto small detector chips for morphometric analysis by atomic force microscopy. Some chips were coated with an iron nanofilm for detection of strong acids. A condensation nucleus counter and two impactors measured particle number concentrations and size distributions. Collected particles exhibited a variety of globular forms, and most appeared to be agglomerates. No ultrafine acid particles were detected. Particle number concentrations ranged from below 1 × 104 cm−3 to about 5 × 104 cm−3. Occasional peaks reached values over 7 × 104 cm−3. The average total mass concentration was about 17 μ g/m3 in mid-O...
Ultrastructure of mast cells in the hyperplastic buccal mucosa of the zinc-deficient rat.

As previously reported, young rats on zinc-deficient diets develop a marked epithelial hyperplasia in the mucosa of the cheek, associated with a four-fold increase in the number of mast cells in the lamina propria. We now report the results of a quantitative and qualitative ultrastructural study of these mast cells. In contrast to the cells in mast cell-related disease, the cells were of normal morphology, but of consistently increased size, containing proportionally increased numbers of mitochondria and specific granules. The size distribution of the granules was as in controls. Microvilli were lengthened in proportion to the increase in the cell circumference. The number of nuclear pores was increased but their spacing was as in controls. In all these measurements, the experimental mast cells were a remarkably homogeneous population. We conclude that mast cells are capable of developing into cells of larger size showing evidence of greater activity. It may be that this development occurs in response to the same (unknown) stimulus which causes their number to increase. By virjuc of their increased number and size, mast cells may play an important role in the enhancement of the microcirculation commonly seen in conditions of epithelial hyperplasia.
Variation of eye size in butterflies: Inter- and intraspecific patterns

Differences in behaviour, such as the mate-locating tactic, may favour the evolution of interspecific and intersexual differences in the structure of the visual system. This notion was tested by examining the relationships between eye size, body size, sex and mate-locating tactic in 16 species of butterflies. The 16 species were grouped in eight phylogenetically close pairs that differed in the mate-locating tactic displayed by the males. Eye size was characterized by eye surface area, which was estimated from a set of linear eye measurements made on 10 individuals of each sex in each species. The major findings were that eye surface area was positively correlated with body size both among and within species, males have larger eyes relative to their body size than females, and after controlling for body size and phylogeny, interspecific differences in the mate-locating tactic of males does not explain interspecific variation in the size of male eyes or in the magnitude of sexual difference in eye size. The optical and behavioural consequences of variation in eye size with body size and sex will await a better understanding of how eye structure varies with size within and between species.
Computing bounded reach sets from sampled simulation traces

This paper presents an algorithm which uses simulation traces and formal models for computing overapproximations of reach sets of deterministic hybrid systems. The implementation of the algorithm in a tool, Hybrid Trace Verifier (HTV), uses Mathwork's Simulink/Stateflow (SLSF) environment for generating simulation traces and for obtaining formal models. Computation of the overapproximation relies on computing error bounds in the dynamics obtained from the formal model. Verification results from three case studies, namely, a version of the navigation benchmark, an engine control system, and a satellite system suggest that this combined formal analysis and simulation based approach may scale to larger problems.
Orthodontic and surgical management of cleidocranial dysplasia

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), an autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of 1 in 1,000,000 individuals, is mainly caused by mutations in Runx2, a gene required for osteoblastic differentiation. It is generally characterized by hypoplastic clavicles, narrow thorax, and delayed or absent fontanel closure. Importantly, its orofacial manifestations, including midfacial hypoplasia, retained primary teeth, and impacted permanent and supernumerary teeth, severely impede the well-being of affected individuals. Successful treatment of the orofacial problems requires the combined efforts of dental specialists. However, only a few successfully treated cases have been reported because of the rarity of CCD and complexity of the treatment. This article presents the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) treatment protocol for the dentofacial manifestations of CCD based on two treated and 17 diagnosed cases. The records of two patients with CCD who had been treated at the UCSF School of Dentistry and the treatment options reported in the literature were reviewed. The UCSF treatment protocol produced a successful case and a partially successful one (inadequate oral hygiene in the retention stage resulted in decay and loss of teeth). It provides general guidelines for successfully treating the orofacial manifestations of CCD.
Application of convolutionally coded DPSK in meteor-burst communication systems

Convolutionally coded DPSK MBC system is analyzed based on the time-varying SNR model and the statistical nature of the burst duration and the decaying time constant. The performance is evaluated in terms of the average bit error rate, the throughput, the average waiting time, and the system complexity. The average bit error rate is stressed in this paper, whereas only maximum acceptable BER is used as a parameter in earlier literature. The results obtained by this method are more accurate than that by the classical methods. The new results are about 1 dB more optimistic in terms of minimum SNR. The performance of the CC-DPSK is compared with that of a Reed-Solomon coded-DPSK. It shows that for similar performance the CC-DPSK has a much smaller system complexity and for similar complexity the soft-decision decoded CC-DPSK has a much better performance. >
Massively parallel isosurface extraction

Experiences during the investigation of parallel methods for faster isosurface generation on SIMD (single instruction stream, multiple data stream) machines are described. A sequential version of a well-known isosurfacing algorithm is algorithmically enhanced for a particular type of SIMD architecture. The SIMD implementation takes full advantage of the data parallel nature of the algorithm, and experiments have proven the implementation to be highly scalable. A parallel tool, which can generate 170 K polygons/s, gives scientists the means to explore large 3D scalar or vector fields interactively. >
TECA: A Parallel Toolkit for Extreme Climate Analysis

We present TECA, a parallel toolkit for detecting extreme events in large climate datasets. Modern climate datasets expose parallelism across a number of dimensions: spatial locations, timesteps and ensemble members. We design TECA to exploit these modes of parallelism and demonstrate a prototype implementation for detecting and tracking three classes of extreme events: tropical cyclones, extra-tropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers. We process a modern TB-sized CAM5 simulation dataset with TECA, and demonstrate good runtime performance for the three case studies.
Short-lived radionuclides (7Be and 210Pb) as tracers of particle dynamics in a river system in southeast Michigan

Riverine water samples (dissolved and particulate), surficial bottom sediments, and trapped sediments were collected mostly monthly from three stations along the Clinton River, in southeastern Michigan, over a period of ,1 yr and analyzed for 7Be and 210Pb to elucidate the types and rates of processes affecting particle dynamics in a riverine system. Using a simple irreversible scavenging box model approach, sources and sinks for dissolved and particulate 7Be and 210Pb were quantified to estimate their residence times in the dissolved and particulate phases. Resuspension rates of surficial bottom sediments calculated from the mass balance of particulate 7Be varied from 0.50 to 1.34 (geometric mean: 0.83 6 0.34) g cm22 yr21, while corresponding values varied from 0.16 to 1.48 (GM: 0.38 6 0.38) g cm22 yr21 using particulate 210Pb. Based on the 210Pb mass balance, it appears that only ,2% of 210Pb was derived from direct atmospheric deposition, while ,98% was derived from resuspension of bottom sediments. Additionally, there was a large discrepancy between mass flux collected in the trap (GM: 8.9 g cm22 yr21) compared to net sediment accumulation rates (GM: 0.88 6 0.38 g cm22 yr21), which was attributed to sediment resuspension; this may provide insight into the frequency of particle-recycling events. Furthermore, desorption of particle-reactive species during resuspension events could result in the mobility of contaminants to farther distances from the contaminated site. Therefore, this study has direct relevance to the uptake of particle-reactive species in a riverine system and thereby the water quality of rivers.
A fresh look at the role of CaMKII in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory

Advances in molecular, genetic, and cell biological techniques have allowed neuroscientists to delve into the cellular machinery of learning and memory. The calcium and calmodulin-dependent kinase type II (CaMKII) is one of the best candidates for being a molecular component of the learning and memory machinery in the mammalian brain. It is present in abundance at synapses and its enzymatic properties and responsiveness to intracellular Ca2+ fit a model whereby Ca2+ currents activate the kinase and lead to changes in synaptic efficacy. Indeed, such plastic properties of synapses are thought to be important for memory formation. Genetic analysis of the alpha isoform of CaMKII in mice support the hypothesis that CaMKII signaling is required to initiate the formation of new spatial memories in the hippocampus. CaMKII is also required for the correct induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus, consistent with the widely held belief that LTP is a mechanism for learning and memory. Recent cell biological, genetic, and physiological analyses suggest that one of the cellular explanations for LTP and CaMKII function might be the trafficking of AMPA-type receptors to synapses in response to neural activity. BioEssays 24:223–233, 2002. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.; DOI 10.1002/bies.10057
Clinical Pearls and Strategies to Optimize Patient Outcomes

Increasing evidence suggests that a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes do not meet glycemic targets. Early diagnosis, realistic goal setting, improved patient adherence, and a better understanding of the pharmacotherapeutic treatment options are crucial to improving diabetes treatment outcomes in the United States. There are many reasons why patients do not achieve glycemic control. Barriers faced by clinicians, such as clinical inertia, lack of education time, and inappropriate use and titration of medications, need to be overcome to improve patient care. At the same time, patients are challenged by lifestyle management, lack of understanding of therapeutic options, and failing to see themselves as partners in their own care. Successful diabetes management programs incorporate several key features, including proactive reminders, consistent follow-up procedures, and use of clinical information systems to improve patient adherence and overall quality of care. Both clinicians and patients face barriers to advancing to injectable medications. Patients' attitudes may include fears of injections, technical challenges, and "punishment" for "failing" treatment. Clinicians have concerns about inadequate resources to address the needs of patients, patient nonadherence, and hypoglycemic events associated with certain injectable medications. Many of the strategies to overcome these barriers are reviewed.
Ureteroenteric Anastomotic Strictures After Radical Cystectomy—Does Operative Approach Matter?

Purpose: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy has been increasingly used to decrease the morbidity of radical cystectomy. However, whether it truly lowers the complication rate compared to open radical cystectomy is not well established. We examined the benign ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture rates of open and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy.Materials and Methods: In the 478 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy at our institution from December 2007 to December 2011 we examined the proportion diagnosed with benign ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture. Clinicopathological variables were compared by treatment group. Cox multivariable analysis was performed to determine which patient or disease specific factors were independently associated with stricture diagnosis.Results: A total of 375 patients (78.5%) underwent open radical cystectomy and 103 (21.5%) underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Of the patients 45 (9.4%) were diagnosed with uretero...
Squirrel Monkey Behavior in Research

Squirrel monkeys have been a valuable animal model in biomedical research (Abee 2000). They have been utilized in a wide variety of study areas including, but not limited to, atherosclerosis, neuroscience, pharmacology, psychiatry, toxicology, and vision research. A quick search of on-line databases MEDLINE and PS YCHINFO indicates that approximately 200 articles have been published in the last 10 yr that have used behavioral testing of squirrel monkeys. Analysis of experimental manipulations of Saimiri behavior has been an important tool. Depending on the level of analysis needed, several different behavioral testing protocols have been used successfully in biomedical research using squirrel monkeys. If a predicted effect is on the whole organism, other than studying the natural behavior of an animal, investigating its interaction with social partners and its environment has been most appropriate. If the effects of interest are more limited, more specific tests of the squirrel monkey's motor performance, cognitive ability, or reflex actions may enable an investigator to isolate the consequence of the experimental intervention. The purpose of this article is to review how behavior has been employed using squirrel monkeys in biomedical research. We describe three general types of behavioral analysis: natural behavior, conditioned behavior, and neurobehavioral assessment profiles. Natural behavior refers to data collected on squirrel monkeys as they move about the environment. This type of analysis includes studies of animals in seminatural and captive laboratory environments as well as field studies. Although an investigator can arrange particular situations in all three study types, a key difference between behavioral analysis and conditioned tests is usually in the investigator's direct supply of rewards or punishments ("conditions") in the latter. Conditioned behavior tests (cognitive, classical, and instrumental paradigms) are used to investigate the squirrel monkey's ability to learn or react to environmental stimuli. Classical conditioning entrains reflexive behavior to stimuli that do not normally elicit it. Cognitive and instrumental conditioning relies on animal tendencies to maximize rewards and minimize punishment in an effort to examine its
An Application Of The Rational Unified Process For Requirements Analysis

The Rational Unified Process® (RUP)[1] is an effective implementation technique for object oriented systems development. The RUP® approach allows for flexible process modification and a customization of artifacts to meet the needs of the particular situation. Marriott International developed a variation of this process as its standard for its SDLC. This process was implemented in the requirements analysis and design phases of a software project for the Ritz-Carlton subsidiary. A context-level treatment of the RUP® metamodel produced use cases and a supplementary specification that lead to the systems analysis model development by an external vendor. [1] Rational Unified Process®, Version 2003 Copyright © 1987 – 2003. Rational Software Corporation.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Oxyguanidine Analogues of the Cysteine Protease Inhibitor WRR-483 against Cruzain.

A series of oxyguanidine analogues of the cysteine protease inhibitor WRR-483 were synthesized and evaluated against cruzain, the major cysteine protease of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Kinetic analyses of these analogues indicated that they have comparable potency to previously prepared vinyl sulfone cruzain inhibitors. Co-crystal structures of the oxyguanidine analogues WRR-666 (4) and WRR-669 (7) bound to cruzain demonstrated different binding interactions with the cysteine protease, depending on the aryl moiety of the P1′ inhibitor subunit. Specifically, these data demonstrate that WRR-669 is bound noncovalently in the crystal structure. This represents a rare example of noncovalent inhibition of a cysteine protease by a vinyl sulfone inhibitor.
Using fixed anatomical landmarks to avoid medial rectus injury: a radiographic analysis in patients with and without Graves' disease.

Abstract Background Injury to the medial rectus (MR) is a potentially devastating complication of orbital and sinus surgery. Precise knowledge of the MR relative to the lamina papyracea (LP) is important during endoscopic surgery for both Graves' ophthalmopathy and inflammatory disease. The objective of this study is to determine the location of the MR in relation to easily identified and frequently encountered intranasal landmarks in patients with and without Graves' disease. Methods High-resolution computed tomography scans were analyzed in 100 controls and 63 patients with Graves' disease. The MR position was recorded relative to the maxillary sinus ostium (MSO), anterior ethmoid artery (AEA), and posterior ethmoid artery (PEA)/horizontal basal lamella (BL). Clinically relevant variables recorded at each level included the Keros stage, AEA position, MR height, and distance of the MR to orbital floor, skull base, and LP. Results The mean distances between the MR and LP were statistically different for both groups. Controls at the MSO, AEA, and PEA/BL were 2.92, 1.69, and 1.06 mm; for Graves' patients measurements at these sites were 2.12, 1.20, and 0.029 mm. When comparing the two groups, each of these distances were statistically significant (p 0.05) between controls (9.66 mm) and Graves' patients (9.70 mm). Sex, age, and skull base depth were not statistically significant factors. Conclusion This study illustrates the position of the MR from the perspective of an endoscopic surgeon utilizing fixed intranasal landmarks. Knowledge of the position of MR is critical to safely perform decompression surgery and when operating adjacent to the LP during endoscopic surgery.
Bacterial microbiome of breast milk and child saliva from low-income Mexican-American women and children

The childhood salivary microbiome, which plays an important role in healthy development, may be influenced by breast milk consumption. The composition of the milk microbiome and the role it plays in the establishment of the infant microbiome are not well understood. Here, we sequenced the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize microbial communities in breast milk and 5-year-old child saliva from 10 low-income, Mexican-American mother–child pairs with a high prevalence of obesity. Members of the genus Streptococcus dominated both milk and salivary microbial communities in most subjects. Staphylococcus was observed predominately in milk samples while Prevotella was more prevalent in child saliva. No statistically significant relationships were observed between maternal and child microbiomes or between child microbiome and BMI. However, prepregnancy BMI was correlated with both lower Streptococcus abundance (r = −0.67) and higher microbial diversity (r = 0.77) in breast milk (P < 0.05 for both). Diversity estimates were notably similar to data from other low-income cohorts or children. These findings contribute to the currently limited state of knowledge regarding the breast milk and salivary microbiomes in mother–child pairs and may inform future studies seeking to elucidate the relationship between early-life microbial exposures and pediatric health.
Speech: Economic Realities and Legal Issues of Professional Athletes

This speech discusses the life and financial status of the typical professional athlete − illustrating how multimillionaire celebrity athletes are the exception to the rule, and how even the wealthiest of professional athletes have made big sacrifices to earn their paychecks. The speech then explains how the U.S. legal system, over the second half of last century, has played an important role in improving the living conditions for professional athletes of all economic statuses. Finally, the speech concludes by discussing how during the past several years there have been some new legal challenges for professional athletes that threaten to reverse the trend of their improving financial conditions.