cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case 23-2007: A 9-year-old boy with bone pain, rash, and gingival hypertrophy

From the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital (C.P.D.); the Departments of Radiology (S.J.W.) and Pathology (A.E.R.), Massachusetts General Hospital; and the Departments of Pediatrics (C.P.D.), Radiology (S.J.W.), and Pathology (A.E.R.), Harvard Medical School — all in Boston.
Ultrafast Photoinduced Electron Transfer from Peroxide Dianion.

The encapsulation of peroxide dianion by hexacarboxamide cryptand provides a platform for the study of electron transfer of isolated peroxide anion. Photoinitiated electron transfer (ET) between freely diffusing Ru(bpy)32+ and the peroxide dianion occurs with a rate constant of 2.0 × 1010 M–1 s–1. A competing electron transfer quenching pathway is observed within an ion pair. Picosecond transient spectroscopy furnishes a rate constant of 1.1 × 1010 s–1 for this first-order process. A driving force dependence for the ET rate within the ion pair using a series of Ru(bpy)32+ derivatives allows for the electronic coupling and reorganization energies to be assessed. The ET reaction is nonadiabatic and dominated by a large inner-sphere reorganization energy, in accordance with that expected for the change in bond distance accompanying the conversion of peroxide dianion to superoxide anion.
Amyloid triangles, squares, and loops of apolipoprotein C-III.

While a significant component of atherosclerotic plaques has been characterized as amyloid, the specific proteins remain to be fully identified. Probable amyloidogenic proteins are apolipoproteins (Apos), which are vital for the formation and function of lipoproteins. ApoCIII is an abundant protein implicated in atherosclerosis, and we show it forms a ribbonlike looped amyloid, strikingly similar to that previously reported for ApoAI and ApoCII. Triangles and squares with a width of ∼50 nm were also observed, which may be a novel form of amyloid or related to previously reported amyloid rings.
Causes, Types, and Outcome of Holoprosencephaly

Recent advances in genetics and neuroimaging of children with holoprosencephaly (HPE) are reviewed from Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.
Combining large area fluorescence with multiphoton microscopy for improved detection of oral epithelial neoplasia(Conference Presentation)

Volumetric Multiphoton Autofluorescence Microscopy (MPAM) and Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy (SHGM) show promise for revealing indicators of neoplasia representing the complex microstructural organization of mucosa, potentially providing high specificity for detection of neoplasia, but is limited by small imaging area. Large area fluorescence methods on the other hand show high sensitivity appropriate for screening but are hampered by low specificity. In this study, we apply MPAM-SHGM following guidance from large area fluorescence, by either autofluorescence or a targeted metabolic fluorophore, as a potentially clinically viable approach for detection of oral neoplasia. Sites of high neoplastic potentially were identified by large area red/green autofluorescence or by a fluorescently labelled deoxy-glucose analog, 2-deoxy-2-[(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]-D-glucose (2-NBDG) to highlight areas of high glucose uptake across the buccal pouch of a hamster model for OSCC. Follow-up MPAM-SHGM was conducted on regions of interests (ROIs) to assess whether microscopy would reveal microscopic features associated with neoplasia to confirm or exclude large area fluorescence findings. Parameters for analysis included cytologic metrics, 3D epithelial connective tissue interface metrics (MPAM-SHGM) and intensity of fluorescence (widefield). Imaged sites were biopsied and processed for histology and graded by a pathologist. A small sample of human ex vivo tissues were also imaged. A generalized linear model combining image metrics from large area fluorescence and volumetric MPAM-SHGM indicated the ability to delineate normal and inflammation from neoplasia.
Pulmonary function tests, interstitial lung disease, and lung function decline in outpatients with classic and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common among patients with both classic dermatomyositis (DM) and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), patients with classic skin manifestations without weakness. ILD prognosis is thought to be worse in patients with CADM, but this observation may be due primarily to an increased frequency of rapidly-progressive ILD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Aortic Endograft and Epithelioid Sarcoma: A Random Association or Causality?

BACKGROUND Angiosarcoma is an uncommon, malignant neoplasm often found in skin and soft tissue. Epithelioid angiosarcoma (EA) is a rarer, more aggressive form of angiosarcoma most common in men in their seventh decade. Dacron®, a polymer comprised of polyethylene terephthalate used in endografts for abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, has been a suspected carcinogen associated with EA. Currently, three case reports exist in the literature purporting Dacron®-associated epithelioid angiosarcoma. Herein we report a case of Dacron®-associated EA. CASE A 64-year-old male with a recent history of a repaired type 2 endoleak and Dacron® endograft for his AAA presented with a painful skin eruption, fever, and weight loss. On exam, erythematous and violaceous papules and nodules were present on the patient's lower back. Biopsy revealed atypical, epithelioid cells forming vascular channels in a sheet-like and infiltrative pattern. These results and subsequent immunostaining were consistent with the diagnosis of EA. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed metastatic angiosarcoma. CONCLUSION This case further highlights Dacron® as a rare, but, potential carcinogen associated with EA. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(7):897-899.
Salient Cues and Wayfinding in Alzheimer’s Disease Within a Virtual Senior Residence

Wayfinding is a problem for persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), especially in complex environments such as senior residential communities. In this study, persons with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and a control group of older adults were asked to navigate a virtual reality simulation of a senior residential community. Subjects had to find their way repeatedly over multiple trials for two consecutive days in standard (no extra cues) and salient (colorful, memorable cues placed at key decision points) cue conditions. The results showed that all subjects found their way faster and more effectively in the salient cue condition than in the standard cue condition. Those in the AD/MCI group were significantly more impaired in wayfinding ability compared with those in the control group. Persons with impaired wayfinding ability due to AD and MCI can find their way more effectively in virtual environments enhanced with salient environmental cues.
Interventions to Manage Uncertainty and Fear of Recurrence in Female Breast Cancer Survivors: A Review of the Literature.

Background Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the largest unmet needs in the breast cancer survivor population. This review addresses this unmet need with the question. Objectives The purpose of this article is to better understand potential interventions to manage FCR when caring for breast cancer survivors. Methods Databases used were PubMed, CINAHL®, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Scopus. Articles published in English from 2009-2014 with female breast cancer survivors and interventions that address FCR as an endpoint or outcome measure or objectively illustrate an improvement in FCR were included. One hundred ninety-eight articles were initially identified in this literature review search. Upon detailed review of content for relevance, seven articles met criteria to be included in this review. Findings This literature review provided current evidence of published interventions to manage uncertainty in the female breast cancer survivor population, as well as future research recommendations. Interventions surrounding being mindful, managing uncertainty, having more effective patient-provider communication, and handling stress through counseling are options for managing FCR.
Critical Race Design: An Emerging Methodological Approach to Anti-Racist Design and Implementation Research

This article is about introducing Critical Race Design CRD, a research methodology that centers race and equity at the nucleus of educational opportunities by design. First, the authors define desi...
Endovascular Therapies for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Children

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the pediatric population occurs in 2.3 of 100 000 children.1,2 With a mortality of 3% to 6% and morbidity up to 70%, patients with pediatric AIS experience recurrent strokes, life-long deficits, and decreased quality of life.3,4 The outcome of pediatric AIS is worsened by delayed diagnosis and lack of treatment protocols.5 Children are often brought in early after symptom onset (on average 1.7 hours after onset). There is a 12.7-hour median time to diagnosis, with >50% of diagnoses made >24 hours after arrival.6–9 Common differentials include epilepsy, complex migraines, inflammatory disease, intracranial infection, and intracranial tumors. In adult AIS, there is overwhelming evidence to support intravenous (IV) tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) within 4.5 hours of symptom onset and mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusions within 6 hours of symptom onset.10–15 With the delay in diagnosis and lack of treatment protocols in the pediatric population, the efficacy and safety of these treatment strategies are unknown in this population. To date, there are no prospective trials on endovascular treatment in children. However, multiple case reports have demonstrated promising results. We performed here a retrospective case review of endovascular management of pediatric AIS, with a focus on efficacy and safety. We performed a PubMed search of all pediatric AIS cases managed with endovascular treatment from January 1990 through October 2016 using the following medical subject headings (MESH) keywords: child, pediatric, stroke, thrombolysis, endovascular, thrombectomy, tissue plasminogen activator, and case report. We also searched the relevant articles in the bibliographies. All English written articles with reports of patients <18 years who received intra-arterial (IA) fibrinolysis and IA mechanical thrombectomy with or without IV or IA fibrinolysis were included. Articles written in a language other than English or …
The mismeasure of science: Citation analysis

For several decades we, among others, have criticized the use of citations for evaluative purposes. Although these criticisms have been noted, they have been largely brushed aside or ignored, not addressed head on. This may be for a number of reasons, but we believe the main one is that these criticisms undermine the desire to have an easy “scientific”—that is, quantitative—method of evaluation. Consequently, we continue and update our criticism of the use of citations for evaluation.
Opportunities for Pulses in Foods and Non-Food Industrial Processes by Fractionation

An important way to increase utilization of legumes in the food and non-food industry is through the wet fractionation process. The main components of legumes, (starch, protein and fiber), utilized separately, could increase the value of legumes by broadening their application. The complexity of the wet fractionation process could be simplified by selecting a material which has desirable properties. Research of the microstructure of legume seeds, distribution of main components within the cotyledon, dry milling and the relationship between them could be very helpful in this selection. The well-defined properties of legume main components separated in the wet process are necessary for their proper utilization.
Investigations of Heat Transfer in Vacuum between Room Temperature and 80 K

The heat transfer between room temperature and 80 K is controlled using various insulating material combinations. The modes of heat transfer are well established to be conduction and thermal radiation when in a vacuum. Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) in a vacuum has long been the best approach. Typically this layered system is applied to the cold surface. This paper investigates the application of MLI to both the cold and warm surface to see whether there is a significant difference. In addition if MLI is on the warm surface, the cold side of the MLI may be below the critical temperature of some high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials. It has been proposed that HTS materials can serve to block thermal radiation. An experiment is conducted to measure this effect. Boil-off calorimetry is the method of measuring the heat transfer.
Practice-Based Patient Management Strategies in Gluteal Augmentation with Implants

This article focuses on practice-based recommendations for surgeons performing gluteal augmentation with implants (GAI). Preoperative planning, including the indications, precautions, and contraindications to GAI, is discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of subfascial and intramuscular implantation are addressed along with recommendations for implant size, shape, and position. Recommendations for patient management before and after surgery along with operative and nonoperative strategies for postoperative complications, including wound dehiscence, infection, and seroma, are included. Aesthetic concerns and recommendations for the management of poor results are addressed. A comprehensive literature review is included along with illustrative preoperative and postoperative photos.
One continuous and digital chaotic attractor

Implementation of continuous chaotic systems in not easy task, because of strong sensitivity on parts parameters values, e.g. temperature dependence etc. On the other hand the digital systems can be easily simulated and inexpensive constructed with almost the same behavior as continuous systems. Digital chaotic attractor also enables simply changing parameters of system. This paper describes a new four-dimensional digital autonomous chaotic system derived from continuous chaotic system. Analysis of the results shows that this system has complex dynamics with some interesting characteristics. The digital chaotic system was also realized by means of microcontroller.
CELLULOSE DISSOLUTION AND DERIVATIZATION IN LITHIUM CHLORIDE/N, N-DIMETHYLACETAMIDE SOLUTIONS

ABSTRACT Dissolution of cellulose in N,N-dimethylacetamide/LiCl solvent is discussed. A mechanism involving association of a Li[DMAc]+ macrocation with the chloride ioncellulose complex is proposed based on NMR studies of model compounds and on polyelectrolyte behavior. Preparation of carbamate, ether, and ester derivatives of cellulose under homogeneous reaction conditions are reported.
Next steps in campaign strategies to reduce teen dating violence: Examining media campaigns through the lens of “boy culture”

Research frames applied to dating violence media campaigns traditionally have not emphasized teenaged boys' self-efficacy relative to the pressures they feel to conform to a social code of masculin...
Temporal trends and predictors of antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus spp. isolated from canine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory.

Background Resistance to commonly used antimicrobials is a growing concern in both human and veterinary medicine. Understanding the temporal changes in the burden of the problem and identifying its determinants is important for guiding control efforts. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate temporal patterns and predictors of antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus spp. isolated from canine specimens submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) between 1993 and 2009. Methods Retrospective data of 4,972 Staphylococcus isolates assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility using the disk diffusion method at the UKVDL between 1993 and 2009 were included in the study. Temporal trends were assessed for each antimicrobial using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Logistic regression models were used to investigate predictors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR). Results A total of 68.2% (3,388/4,972) Staphylococcus isolates were S. intermedius group (SIG), 18.2% (907/4,972) were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 7.6% (375/4,972) were S. aureus, 5.8% (290/4,972) were S. hyicus, and S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans comprised 0.2% (12/4,972) of the isolates. The overall percentage of AMR and MDR were 77.2% and 25.6%, respectively. The highest levels of AMR were seen in CoNS (81.3%; 737/907), S. aureus (80.5%; 302/375), and SIG (77.6%; 2,629/3388). The lowest levels of AMR were observed in S. hyicus (57.9%; 168/290) and S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans (33.3%; 4/12). Overall, AMR and MDR showed significant (p<0.001) decreasing temporal trends. Significant temporal trends (both increasing and decreasing) were observed among 12 of the 16 antimicrobials covering 6 of the 9 drug classes assessed. Thus, significant increasing temporal trends in resistance were observed to β-lactams (p<0.001) (oxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalothin, and penicillin (p = 0.024)), aminoglycosides (p<0.001) (gentamicin, and neomycin), bacitracin (p<0.001), and enrofloxacin (p<0.001). In contrast, sulfonamide (p<0.001) (sulfadiazin) and tetracycline (p = 0.010) resistant isolates showed significant decreasing temporal trends in AMR. Staphylococcus spp., geographic region, and specimen source were significant predictors of both AMR and MDR. Conclusions Although not unexpected nor alarming, the high levels of AMR to a number of antimicrobial agents and the increasing temporal trends are concerning. Therefore, continued monitoring of AMR among Staphylococcus spp. is warranted. Future studies will need to identify local factors responsible for the observed geographic differences in risk of both AMR and MDR.
Mutation analysis in 35 cases of newly diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by next-generation sequencing (NGS): A clinico-pathologic correlation.

e18525Background: AML has numerous mutations that predict response to treatment and overall survival. We aimed to assess various mutations in newly diagnosed therapy related AML cases by NGS and th...
Multidimensional Sleep and Mortality in Older Adults: A Machine-Learning Comparison With Other Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND Sleep characteristics related to duration, timing, continuity, and sleepiness are associated with mortality in older adults, but rarely considered in health recommendations. We applied machine learning to: (i) establish the predictive ability of a multidimensional self-reported sleep domain for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older adults relative to other established risk factors and (ii) to identify which sleep characteristics are most predictive. METHODS The analytic sample includes N = 8,668 older adults (54% female) aged 65-99 years with self-reported sleep characterization and longitudinal follow-up (≤15.5 years), aggregated from three epidemiological cohorts. We used variable importance (VIMP) metrics from a random survival forest to rank the predictive abilities of 47 measures and domains to which they belong. VIMPs > 0 indicate predictive variables/domains. RESULTS Multidimensional sleep was a significant predictor of all-cause (VIMP [99.9% confidence interval {CI}] = 0.94 [0.60, 1.29]) and cardiovascular (1.98 [1.31, 2.64]) mortality. For all-cause mortality, it ranked below that of the sociodemographic (3.94 [3.02, 4.87]), physical health (3.79 [3.01, 4.57]), and medication (1.33 [0.94, 1.73]) domains but above that of the health behaviors domain (0.22 [0.06, 0.38]). The domains were ranked similarly for cardiovascular mortality. The most predictive individual sleep characteristics across outcomes were time in bed, hours spent napping, and wake-up time. CONCLUSION Multidimensional sleep is an important predictor of mortality that should be considered among other more routinely used predictors. Future research should develop tools for measuring multidimensional sleep-especially those incorporating time in bed, napping, and timing-and test mechanistic pathways through which these characteristics relate to mortality.
Robust and stochastic formulations for ambulance deployment and dispatch

Abstract In Emergency Medical Systems, operators deploy a fleet of ambulances to a set of locations before dispatching them in response to emergency calls, with the goal of minimizing the fraction of calls with late response times. We propose stochastic and robust formulations for the ambulance deployment problem that use data on emergency calls to model uncertainty. By incorporating advances in column and constraint generation, our formulations are solved to exact optimality within minutes. In extensive computational experiments on Washington DC, our approach outperforms previous approaches (i.e. the MEXCLP and MALP) that rely on probabilistic assumptions about the availability of ambulances. Our formulations achieve a reduction of 19 to 28% in number of shortfalls, requiring only 70% of the total number of ambulances required in probabilistic models to attain comparable out-of-sample performance.
Industry 4.0: The use of simulation for human reliability assessment

Abstract Nowadays, many manufacturers and organizations are successfully transitioning to Industry 4.0 by realizing the advantages of digitized manufacturing and adapting highly data-driven and automated processes, which enable them to deliver improved services and products to customers. Yet, the human factor seems not to be considered adequately in the Industry 4.0 processes. Neglecting the humans in a complex system such as the Industry 4.0 will have impacts on the system performance and the system’s ability to function safely. This work explores the impact of human error on Industry 4.0 by considering the deployment of an anthropocentric approach, where human operators will make decisions, supported by cyber physical systems, rather than human work being dominated and determined by technology. More specifically, this work proposes a human reliability assessment simulation model that takes into consideration performance shaping factors that affect human work in a complex Industry 4.0 system. The simulation model allows quantifying human error in a given scenario. The model’s functionality and the implementation of the human reliability assessment formulas were verified. Finally, we discuss future plans and steps to validate the model using a detailed case study in the Industry 4.0 context in order to draw conclusions about the impact of each performance shaping factor and their effect on the human error.
Sharp L2-Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg inequalities for Grushin vector fields

Abstract In this paper sharp L 2 -Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg (CKN) inequalities on Euclidean space equipped with Grushin vector fields are established. By use of a Kelvin-like transform, and Grushin cylindrical coordinates, it is shown here that these inequalities are sharp for all possible parameter values for these inequalities.
Planning for Succession: Preparing Faculty for the Kinesiology Department Head Role.

The role of the department head is one of the most vital and challenging positions held within higher education. Due to lack of training, many department heads experience role strain and subsequent...
Information loss under coarse graining: A geometric approach

We use information geometry in which the local distance between models measures their distinguishability from data to quantify the flow of information under the renormalization group. We show that information about relevant parameters is preserved with distances along relevant directions maintained under flow. By contrast, irrelevant parameters become less distinguishable under the flow with distances along irrelevant directions contracting according to renormalization group exponents. We develop a covariant formalism to understand the contraction of the model manifold. We then apply our tools to understand the emergence of the diffusion equation and more general statistical systems described by a free energy. Our results give an information-theoretic justification of universality in terms of the flow of the model manifold under coarse graining.
Optimal Management of Resectable Pancreatic Head Cancer in the Elderly Patient: Does Neoadjuvant Therapy Offer a Survival Benefit?

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is a growing strategy for patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Elderly patients are at increased risk of treatment withdrawal due to functional decline, and the benefit of NAT in this cohort remains to be studied. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of elderly patients with resectable head PDAC who underwent NAT or a surgery-first (SF) approach. All patients 75 years of age and older with radiographically resectable (National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria) PDAC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at a single institution from 2008 to 2017 were analyzed. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were compared between the SF and NAT cohorts. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by treatment strategy. Overall, 158 patients were identified: SF cohort = 90 (57%) and NAT cohort = 68 (43%). Patients in the SF cohort were older (80 vs. 78 years; p = 0.01) but there were no differences in preoperative comorbidities or frailty indices. SF patients had a trend toward higher rates of major complications (38% vs. 24%; p = 0.06) with higher Comprehensive Complication Index totals (20.9 vs. 20; p = 0.03). There were similar rates of adjuvant therapy. NAT was associated with significantly longer OS (24.6 vs. 17.6 months; p = 0.01) in both the intent-to-treat and resected cohorts. On multivariable analysis (MVA), NAT remained an independent predictor of OS (hazard ratio 0.60; p = 0.02). NAT is safe and effective for elderly patients with PDAC. This study suggests NAT is associated with fewer complications after surgery, equal rates of adjuvant therapy receipt, and increased OS over a surgery-first approach.
Perceptions of Stakeholders in School Reform

The ability of a wide and diverse range of local actors to come together to solve a common problem can be extremely difficult. This text has analyzed how change in local education has occurred, who drove such change, and the results of that change. This chapter is an analysis of the opinions and views of those both inside and outside the traditional education regime on school reform, including efforts to overcome obstacles, facilitate collaboration, and organize and sustain new coalitions to improve the schools. Data is collected through surveys and interviews. The population from which the sample is drawn represents a wide variety of actors in both Chicago and Milwaukee. These actors included traditional education establishment stakeholders such as teachers and administrators, as well as leaders in the private and non-profit actors, parents, and other stakeholders.
The (Unnoticed) Revitalization of the Doctrine of Equivalents

Earlier empirical studies unanimously concluded that patent law’s doctrine of equivalents was dead. This Article presents data revealing the doctrine’s unnoticed revitalization and its more recent evolution. Patentees are winning at significantly higher rates than they were a decade ago. The doctrine has transitioned from cases involving primarily mechanical inventions to those in the “new economy” – drugs and medical devices, as well as computer and communications-related inventions. The Article also reports on other findings of interest to academics and practitioners, including how judges applied the doctrine, its limitations and exceptions to those limitations, the role of rivalry in patentee win rates, the strategy alleged infringers use to as well as the district courts and the Federal Circuit judges shaping the doctrine today.
Patient and Surgeon Predictors of Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Repair for Infective Endocarditis.

Mitral repair (MVr) is superior to replacement for degenerative disease; however, its benefit is less established for endocarditis. We report outcomes of repair or replacement for mitral/tricuspid endocarditis and identify predictors of MVr. Patients undergoing first-time surgery for mitral (n = 260) or tricuspid (n = 71) endocarditis between 1992 to 2018 were identified. Patients with aortic endocarditis were excluded. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcome was MVr. Patients were stratified into active and treated endocarditis separately for mitral and tricuspid groups. Predictors of MVr were assessed through multivariable logistic regression and adjusted likelihood of MVr through marginal effects estimates. A mitral specialist was defined by performing ≥25 annual degenerative MVr. Among 331 patients, 70% (181/260) of those with mitral valve endocarditis and 52% (37/71) of those with tricuspid endocarditis underwent repair. The MVr group compared with replacement had a higher proportion of elective acuity and less diabetes, hypertension, active endocarditis, cardiogenic shock, and dialysis. Estimated 5-year survival did not differ between repair versus replacement for active mitral (68 ± 14% vs 60 ± 14%, P = 0.34) or tricuspid endocarditis (60 ± 17% vs 61 ± 19%, P = 0.67), but was superior after repair for treated mitral endocarditis (86 ± 7% vs 51 ± 24%, P = 0.014). Independent predictors of mortality included dialysis for active and treated mitral endocarditis, and mitral replacement (vs MVr) for treated mitral endocarditis. The likelihood of MVr was 82 ± 5% for mitral specialists and 47 ± 9% for non-specialists (P
Decentralizing the IRS to Redirect Field Oversight Away From an Overstretched and a Remote National Office

Like America, our Internal Revenue Service is a work in progress. Yet, for best results, it’s better to avoid thinking too much about what it is or is not! Instead, let’s think more about what the IRS ought to be! This Article thusly offers a realistic path forward with a decentralizing local presence, which can once again make it taxpayer/customer-centric. For more effective tax administration, it also offers a return to something that inexcusably went missing in 1998, senior-executive “on-site oversight" of field operations. If today’s Internal Revenue Service can be fairly described, by more people than ever before, as an exploding volcano of public mistrust and suspicion, which it undoubtedly is, how can we meet the challenge? That’s not an easy question; but there are reasonable answers and practical options.
Hybrid Sterility, Genetic Conflict and Complex Speciation: Lessons From the Drosophila simulans Clade Species

The three fruitfly species of the Drosophila simulans clade- D. simulans, D. mauritiana, and D. sechellia- have served as important models in speciation genetics for over 40 years. These species are reproductively isolated by geography, ecology, sexual signals, postmating-prezygotic interactions, and postzygotic genetic incompatibilities. All pairwise crosses between these species conform to Haldane's rule, producing fertile F1 hybrid females and sterile F1 hybrid males. The close phylogenetic proximity of the D. simulans clade species to the model organism, D. melanogaster, has empowered genetic analyses of their species differences, including reproductive incompatibilities. But perhaps no phenotype has been subject to more continuous and intensive genetic scrutiny than hybrid male sterility. Here we review the history, progress, and current state of our understanding of hybrid male sterility among the D. simulans clade species. Our aim is to integrate the available information from experimental and population genetics analyses bearing on the causes and consequences of hybrid male sterility. We highlight numerous conclusions that have emerged as well as issues that remain unresolved. We focus on the special role of sex chromosomes, the fine-scale genetic architecture of hybrid male sterility, and the history of gene flow between species. The biggest surprises to emerge from this work are that (i) genetic conflicts may be an important general force in the evolution of hybrid incompatibility, (ii) hybrid male sterility is polygenic with contributions of complex epistasis, and (iii) speciation, even among these geographically allopatric taxa, has involved the interplay of gene flow, negative selection, and positive selection. These three conclusions are marked departures from the classical views of speciation that emerged from the modern evolutionary synthesis.
A Snapshot of HIV in Pakistan: On the brink of an epidemic

As the life expectancy of patients with HIV/AIDS in developing countries steadily approaches that of uninfected persons, the effort to fight and cure AIDS has lost priority to other top killers (Hogg, Lima, Sterne, Grabar, & Battegay, 2008). Therefore, the total funding for HIV/AIDS has declined in the past few years (UNAIDS, 2010). Although this may be construed as a welcome change, this news does not bode well for the developing world - particularly for countries like Pakistan, where the fight against HIV/AIDS has just begun. In Pakistan, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has steadily risen in the past decade among vulnerable groups such as sex workers and drug users. Despite the best efforts of national and international authorities to prevent a generalized epidemic, with the recent floods in Pakistan and the overall decline in HIV/AIDS funding, health care workers are finding themselves with increasingly tighter budgets. Thus, Pakistan stands at the crossroads that developed nations were at just a few decades ago, but with fewer and ever dwindling resources.
Tapas: Theory Combinations and Practical Applications

Satisfiability Modulo Theories is about checking the satisfiability of logical formulas over one or more theories. We provide an appetizer of SMT solving, illustrate an application for test-case generation based on dynamic symbolic execution and summarize an array of existing applications, enabling features, challenges and future directions.
The Tobacco Strategy Entrenched

Doubt Is Their Product. How Industry9s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health. By David Michaels. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008. 384 pp. $27.95, £14.99. ISBN 9780195300673. The author describes the prevalence and effectiveness of industry efforts to promote doubt and fan controversy in order to undermine research that supports public health and environmental regulations.
Engineering Applications of Virtual Reality

This chapter introduces the techniques involved in the design and development of virtual reality (VR) systems. It describes the main techniques and applications of the VR technology, including its hardware, software, and engineering applications. The chapter reviews various VR applications in engineering, including concept design, data visualization, virtual manufacturing, driving simulation, and construction engineering. Dani and Gadh presented an approach for creating shape designs in a VR environment called Conceptual VIRtual Design System (COVIRDS). This system uses VR technology to provide a 3D virtual environment in which the designer can create and modify 3D shapes with an interface based on bimodal voice and hand tracking. There are four areas of VR in manufacturing applications: process simulation, factory layout, assembly method prototyping, and part flow simulation. By immersing the user in the virtual environment (VE), VR reveals spatially complex structures in a way that makes them easy to understand and study. Keywords: construction engineering; data visualization; driving simulation; engineering applications; virtual environment (VE); virtual manufacturing; virtual reality (VR) systems
Matrices of Sign-Solvable Linear Systems

Preface 1. Sign-solvability Bibliography 2. L-matrices Bibliography 3. Sign-solvability and digraphs Bibliography 4. S*-matrices Bibliography 5. Beyond S*-matrices Bibliography 6. SNS-matrices Bibliography 7. S2NS-matrices Bibliography 8. Extremal properties of L-matrices Bibliography 9. The inverse sign pattern graph Bibliography 10. Sign stability Bibliography 11. Related Topics Bibliography Master Bibliography Index.
Effects of uremia and chronic hemodialysis on the reproductive cycle

Abstract Abnormal menstrual patterns in 22 women with chronic renal failure are presented. In 4 of these women, ovulatory function was evaluated. Three of the 4 women subjected to the ovulatory study were receivingg maintenance hemodiailysis therapy and the fourth patient studied had severe urenal failure but was receiving medical management only. The nature of the menstrual abnormalily in all 23 women was correlated with the degree of renal failure as estimated by creatinine clearance, endogenous and/or effective. Ovulatury cycles were demonstrated in one woman receiving maintenance hemodialysis therapy. On the basis of three of the four parameters studied, another woman receiving maintenance hemodialysis therapy probably ovulated. Contraceptive therapy is recommended for women in the childbearing age group receiving maintenance hemodiaysis theapy.
Free-electron laser effects on fibrin tissue glue: a preliminary study

One glaucoma challenge is the treatment of leaking trabeculectomy blebs. Simple methods such as patching, autologous blood injection, compression sutures or cyanoacrylate glue application often fail. Because the conjunctiva is thin and ischemic, it often can't be sutured together so major surgery is required to excise the thin tissue and advance healthy conjunctiva. We report the preliminary results of Tisseel and Tisseel treated with two wavelengths from Vanderbilt's free electron laser placed on leaking trabeculectomy bleb holes in Dutch belted rabbits. The holes were healed at one week in the sutured group and in the 7.7 micrometer FEL-treated Tisseel group. One hole was healed in the cyanoacrylate glue-treated group. Holes remained in the other treatment groups. Tisseel irradiated with 7.7 micrometer energy from the free electron laser may promote healing of trabeculectomy bleb holes.
Gossip-based random projection algorithm for distributed optimization: Error bound

We consider a fully distributed constrained convex optimization problem over a multi-agent network. We discuss an asynchronous gossip-based random projection (GRP) algorithm that solves the distributed problem using only local communication and computation. We analyze its error bound for a constant stepsize and provide simulation results on a distributed robust model predictive control problem.
Inferential Comparisons of Student Evaluations of Teaching

A method is presented for analyzing the response data from student evaluations of teaching. The method is an objective one, based on inferential statistical techniques which assume only the known structure of the response data and are sensitive to the numbers of respondents involved. Provision is made for comparing instructors of similar classes, but the comparative information supplied pertains to specific aspects of teaching performance rather than overall rankings. The method is conservative yet sufficiently discriminatory, detecting both deficient and outstanding teaching. Consequently, the method can provide the reliable information necessary if evaluations by students are to be effective in promoting good instruction.
Inventing home:(de)membering the nation

This paper examines how identity is constructed and given meaning, especially for diasporic subjects. It focuses on a recent documentary film My Mother India by the Sikh-Australian, Safina Uberoi, whose work is a powerful mechanism to interpolate questions that are germane to considerations of identity, trauma and memory that have been characteristic of the Sikh condition. Safina Uberoi's film makes one confront civil violence through a personal narrative, centring on the experiences of an ordinary family. It illustrates what happens when neighbours perpetrate violence on their fellow citizens. Such violence fundamentally alters the way in which communities function. There is little wonder that the trauma which arises from such carnage is hardly talked about. A silence pervades the most horrific instances of violence that have marked Sikh identity in the last century.
Improving electron transport in Ga-doped Zn0.7Mg0.3O, a wide-gap band-edge-energy-tunable transparent conducting oxide

The band gap increase in Zn(Mg)O alloys with increasing Mg enables tunable control of the conduction band alignment. However, the conductivity decreases monotonically with increasing Mg. Here, we show that the leading cause of the conductivity decrease is the increased formation of acceptor-like compensating intrinsic defects, such as zinc vacancies (V Zn ), which reduce the free electron concentration and decrease the mobility through ionized impurity scattering. Post-deposition annealing of Ga-doped Zn 0.7 Mg 0.3 O films grown by pulsed laser deposition increases the mobility by 50% due to pairing of oppositely charged defects, resulting in a conductivity as high as σ = 475 S/cm.
The effect of intravenous vitamin E and menadiol sodium diphosphate on vitamin K dependent clotting factors

During a Phase I study of intravenous vitamin E-free alcohol (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol or Ephynal) in patients with neuroblastoma, we noticed a bleeding diathesis in two patients receiving 2300 mg/m2 daily for four or more days in succession. Both blood prothrombin time and accelerated partial thromboplastin times were prolonged. These spontaneously returned to normal levels three days after interrupting vitamin E infusions. It was also noted that factors VII, IX and X were decreased, which corresponded with the prolonged PT and APTT. It was found that by infusing menadiol sodium diphosphate just prior to the vitamin E, these inhibiting effects on procoagulant factors could be abrogated and high dosages of vitamin E-free alcohol safely given.
The future of ergonomics/the future of work: 45 years after Bartlett (1962).

It is always dangerous to predict the future, as ground truth eventually emerges for us to observe. When we are brave enough to predict, we typically see the future through the eyes of the immediat...
Discrimination of simple and complex gratings.

Abstract We investigated the discriminability of simple and complex gratings containing one or two barely detectable sinusoidal luminance modulations at 3 and 9 c/deg, which will be referred to as ƒ and 3ƒ. Our major findings were the following: (1) frequency discrimination of the simple gratings seems to be limited only by their detectability; (2) relative phase differences between components in a complex grating are essentially indiscriminable even when each component is nearly perfectly detectable in the presence of the other; (3) when the contrast of the ƒ-component is at least 4 times its threshold value, it is only the detectability of the 3ƒ-component which limits the discriminability of complex gratings differing in relative phase by π radians; (4) a high contrast 3ƒ-component hinders the detection of ƒ while a high contrast ƒ component facilitates the detection of 3ƒ It is possible to offer a plausible explanation of some of these phenomena by invoking the existence in the human visual system of broad-band, phase-sensitive channels, as well as of narrow-band channels.
Software synthesis with sketching

Software verification and synthesis are among the most promising ideas contributed to computer science by our community. Recent advances in formal verification turned verifiers and checkers into invaluable industrial tools. It is now time to revisit the promise of software synthesis.Making synthesis practical poses several challenges. We believe that the chief of them are: (1) The synthesis process relies on search. How do we synthesize realistic programs given the computing capabilities of realistic machines? (2) The synthesizer cannot come up with clever insights; these must come from a domain expert, typically in the form of a domain theory. How do we allow a programmer to state his insights without the formal reasoning involved in axiom formulation? (3) The programmer often wants control over details of the synthesized code. How do we allow him to control the synthesizer without burdening him with the details of the synthesis process?.This talk will argue that these challenges motivate new problems in language design, synthesis and verification algorithms, debugging, and programming methodology. We will also present our answers to some of these questions.
Decomposition of Sparganium eurycarpum under controlled pH and nitrogen regimes

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the combined effect of acidity and nitrogen (N) concentration on decomposition of Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. litter. Decomposition was examined in the laboratory for 200 days with a factorial arrangement of three pH levels (pH 4, 6 and 8) and two N regimes (high and low) in water surrounding Sparganium litter. Increasing acidity inhibited decomposition (47.5%, 27.9% and 7.3% dry weight remaining after 200 days at pH 4, 6 and 8, respectively), but N fertilization had no overall effect on weight loss. Under all treatments, both N and phosphorus (P) were exported from decaying litter. After 200 days, maximum export of N and P from decaying tissues occurred at pH 8 (maximum losses of 13.07 mg N g−1 and 1.22 mg P g−1 of initial litter mass). Conversely, the least export occurred at pH 4 (minimum losses of 4.79 mg N g−1 and 0.68 mg P g−1). The effects of N fertilization on nutrient export varied with pH. After 200 days, nitrogen export was virtually the same between high and low N treatments at pH 4; however, at the two higher pH regimes, less N was exported in the high N treatment (as much as −2.12 mg N g−1 less at pH 8). For P, losses were actually higher (+0.14 mg P g−1) under the high N treatment at pH 4, but lower under high N conditions at pH 6 (−0.02 mg P g−1) and 8 (−0.26 mg P g−1) after 200 days. In each case the effects of acidification and N fertilization were greater after 100 days of decomposition. In summary, low pH slowed N and P export from decaying litter and N fertization seemed to retard N and P export at high pH.
EUV analysis of an active region

A sequence of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroheliograms of McMath region No. 10283 were obtained by the Harvard College Observatory experiment on OSO-6. The lines Ovi λ1032 Mg × λ625, Si xii λ499 and Fe xvi λ 335 were used to determine coronal temperatures and densities above the active region. A comparison of theoretical and observed line ratios yielded coronal temperatures of 2.2 to 2.3 × 106K above the active region and 2.0 to 2.1 × 106K in the surrounding area. The temperatures derived from ratios involving the O vi intensities are systematically higher than the others. This is attributed to an error in the theoretical O vi intensities. The intensities observed above the limb are compared with intensities predicted with a simple model based on cylindrical geometry. The overall agreement shows that the assumption of an iso-thermal corona in hydrostatic equilibrium above the active region is a reasonable working hypothesis and that the adopted geometrical model for the electron density distribution is adequate.
Applications of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

We describe the application of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) to some selected technologically important systems. The method involves a nondestructive probe to detect low levels of open-volume defects. The discussion shows the application of PAS to a wide range of advanced material systems