cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case Report (Precis): Patient with MR-Documented Large Lateral Cervical Disc Misdiagnosed as Neurodegenerative Disease.

Background Patients who present to neurologists with cervical radiculopathy typically undergo initial MR scans. If reports show "abnormal" findings they, and other physicians, should review the studies with the interpreting radiologists/neuroradiologists. When patients' neurological deficits progress, neurologists should review their electromyographic (EMG) findings (i.e. especially if documenting neurodegenerative disease), the initial "abnormal" MR scans/reports (i.e. review with radiologists/neuroradiologists), and obtain spinal surgical consultations to rule out "surgical" disease. Case description A middle aged patient presented several months previously to a neurologist with the chief complaint of unilateral neck/arm pain, accompanied by focal weakness, and numbness in a specific distal cervical nerve root distribution. The patient's initial MR showed a large lateral disc herniation in the lower cervical spine on the symptomatic side. However, as the neurologist interpreted the EMG as consistent with a neurodegenerative syndrome, the patient was not referred to a spine specialist. Frustrated by progressive worsening, the patient ultimately referred himself for a spinal surgical consultation. By this time, he had developed severe unilateral upper extremity motor weakness (3/5), pin loss, atrophy, and fasciculations in the nerve root distribution that correlated with the location of the distal cervical disc seen on the original MR. When the repeat MR confirmed the same large distal lateral disc herniation, the patient successfully underwent an anterior cervical discectomy/fusion (ACDF). Conclusion This Case Report (Precis) highlights two "teachable moments". First, physicians, including neurologists and spinal surgeons, who order MR studies that show "abnormal" findings should review these studies with the interpreting radiologists/neuroradiologists. This is particuarly true if patients continue to demonstrate progressive neurological deterioration. Second, before patients are told that they have neurodegenerative syndormes, repeated review of the MR reports and/or repeating these studies, and obtaining spinal surgical consultations are warranted to rule out "surgical" disease.
Creating Perceptual Uncertainty in Agent-Based Models with Social Interactions

Simple Agent-Based Models (ABMs) of social influence assume that agents can perfectly discriminate between the actions of their peers or implicitly agree on a population-wide definition of states such as ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’. In reality, mistakes are a part of being human and incorrectly estimating the state of a peer is no exception. For instance, experimental studies show that whether we find a food ‘healthy’ also depends on the body size of those who eat it. In this paper, we introduce norm perception errors in models from common application areas of ABMs, namely computational sociology and public health. Using simulations, we examined whether an increase in perceptual uncertainty changed the outcome of the models reported by their authors. We found that the effect depends on the model: even frequent incorrect judgments by the agents had no effect in an eating model whereas correlations were statistically significant in a segregation model.
The Principles of Cancer Reconstruction

The surgical management of various types of cancer offers some of the most challenging opportunities in reconstruction that plastic surgeons can face. Although obtaining adequate surgical margins should never compromise the gold standards of treatment, care should be taken to preserve functional and specialized tissue whenever possible, keeping the reconstruction plan in mind from the onset of the operation. The principles of cancer reconstruction are rather broad, but can be better understood by dividing them into five key points: evaluation of the defect, the surgical goals, surgical options, the operative procedure, and finally outcome analysis. It is not only the size, location, and properties of the resected tissue that are important, but also the overall health of the patient, the pre-morbid body habitus, and the potential detrimental effects on the donor site that lend information to plastic surgeons, allowing them to formulate a reconstructive option for the patient that offers the best possible outcome (1).
A distributed Bi-directional hysteresis control algorithm for server-to-virtual bus differential power processing

This paper presents a control method for regulating serially connected server voltages. Following the discussion of the proposed control method, both simulations and an experimental study are performed for validation. A simulation model is used to optimize system parameters for maximizing the system-level power conversion efficiency. For the experimental study, a test-bed consisting of four 12 V servers and four dual active bridge converters is built and the control method is implemented on a digital controller. The experimental measurements show that the proposed control method achieves successful voltage regulation of serially connected servers and a system-level power conversion efficiency as high as 99.89%.
Type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes on chromosome 1q21-24.

Summary Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been linked to chromosome 1q21–24 in multiple samples, including a Utah family sample. Variants in 13 of the numerous candidate genes in the 1q region were tested for association with T2D in a Utah case-control sample. The most promising, 19 variants in 6 candidates, were genotyped on the Utah family sample. Herein, we tested the 19 variants individually and in pairs for an effect on T2D risk in family members using a logistic regression model that accounted for gender, age, and BMI and attributed residual genetic effects to a polygenic component. Seven variants increased risk significantly through 5 pairs of interactions. The significant variant pairs were apolipoprotein A-II (APOA2) rs6413453 interacting with calsequestrin 1 (CASQ1) rs617698, dual specificity phosphatase 12 (DUSP12) rs1503814, and retinoid X receptor γ (RXRG) rs10918169, a poly-T insertion-deletion polymorphism in liver pyruvate kinase (PKLR) interacting with APOA2 rs12143180, and DUSP12 rs1027702 interacting with RXRG rs10918169. Genotypes of these 5 variant pairs accounted for 25.8% of the genetic variance in T2D in these pedigrees.
The Dynamic Tension of the Human Potential Movement

(1977). The Dynamic Tension of the Human Potential Movement. Health Education: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 32-33.
Symbolic Interaction: Methodology

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 23, pp. 15347–15350, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd, with revisions made by the Editor.
Design Features for the Social Web: The Architecture of Deme

We characterize the "social Web" and argue for several features that are desirable for users of socially oriented web applications. We describe the architecture of Deme, a web content management system (WCMS) and extensible framework, and show how it implements these desired features. We then compare Deme on our desiderata with other web technologies: traditional HTML, previous open source WCMSs (illustrated by Drupal), commercial Web 2.0 applications, and open-source, object-oriented web application frameworks. The analysis suggests that a WCMS can be well suited to building social websites if it makes more of the features of object-oriented programming, such as polymorphism, and class inheritance, available to non-programmers in an accessible vocabulary.
A covalent crosslink converts the hammerhead ribozyme from a ribonuclease to an RNA ligase.

The hammerhead ribozyme is a more efficient ribonuclease than an RNA ligase. Under typical reaction conditions, the rate of RNA chain cleavage is ∼100-fold faster than the rate of the reverse ligation reaction such that virtually all of the hammerhead is in its cleaved form at equilibrium. Here we show that the introduction of a crosslink away from the catalytic core of the hammerhead has little effect on the cleavage rate but dramatically increases the ligation rate, thereby making the hammerhead an efficient RNA ligase. This experiment emphasizes the role of molecular flexibility in defining the properties of a macromolecular catalyst and suggests why other small ribozymes are more efficient ligases than ribonucleases.
Mechanisms of tonic, graded release: lessons from the vertebrate photoreceptor

The release of neurotransmitter via exocytosis is a highly conserved, fundamental feature of nervous system function. At conventional synapses, neurotransmitter release occurs as a brief burst of exocytosis triggered by an action potential. By contrast, at the first synapse of the vertebrate visual pathway, not only is the calcium-dependent release of neurotransmitter typically graded with respect to the presynaptic membrane potential, but release can be maintained throughout the duration of a sustained stimulus. The specializations that provide for graded and sustained release are not well-defined. However, recent advances in our understanding of basic synaptic vesicle dynamics and the calcium sensitivity of the release process at these and other central, glutamatergic neurons have shed some light on the photoreceptor's extraordinary abilities.
The generation of T waves by earthquakes

T waves propagate in the so-called SOFAR channel of minimum sound velocity acting as a waveguide for acoustic energy in the world's oceans. They can be excited by sources in the solid Earth such as earthquakes through conversion of seismic energy into acoustic waves at the solid–liquid interfaces. We present a historical perspective of the investigations of such conversions. In the context of geometrical optics, a sloping interface provides a mechanism for the penetration of the SOFAR channel after a series of reflections in the liquid wedge. This process, known as “downslope conversion”, successfully explained many characteristics of earthquake-generated T waves, but has severe limitations, notably regarding “abyssal” T phases, generated under flat oceanic basins. We review theoretical developments based on mode theory which describe coupling between elastic and acoustic modes under scattering by structural heterogeneities located at the ocean bottom, and which are becoming increasingly successful at modeling the waveshapes of abyssal T phases. As a particular form of seismic wave emanating from an earthquake, T waves can provide insight into seismic sources in the oceanic environment. We review the application of T waves to the detection of small earthquakes in marine basins, discuss the retrieval of seismic source properties from T -phase waveforms, and show that several algorithms combining measurements of their amplitude and duration can yield information on source rupture, and more specifically detect the presence of source slowness. In particular, anomalously slow earthquakes such as the so-called “tsunami earthquakes” are poor T -wave generators, and more generally, T -phase amplitudes and tsunami generation are not found to correlate. In the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, hydroacoustics has been recognized as a monitoring technology, and the deployment of state-of-the-art receivers at eleven sites will significantly improve long-range detection capabilities and open up new opportunities for the investigation of acoustic sources, including earthquakes, in the oceanic environment.
Successful Therapy of Convoluted T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in the Adult

Fifteen adult patients with biopsy-proven convoluted T-lymphoblastic lymphoma were treated with an aggressive regimen, modified from the LSA2-L2 protocol used for childhood lymphoma. The treatment schema consisted of induction phase, including cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, adriamycin, and 2000 rads to mediastinum, as well as intrathecal methotrexate. Consolidation phase included cytosine arabinoside, 6-thioguanine, L-asparaginase, and CCNU, along with cranial irradiation and further intrathecal methotrexate. Maintenance consisted of cyclical chemotherapy and intrathecal methotrexate, continuing for a total of 3 yr. Median age in the group was 25 yr (range 16–73). There were 8 males and 7 females. At diagnosis, 9 patients had mediastinal involvement, and 9 had bone marrow involvement. Five of these demonstrated malignant cells in the peripheral blood. Complete clinical response was attained in 11 patients. Three patients achieved partial response. Four complete responders have relapsed, 1 in the central nervous system at 6 mo. and 1 in nodal sites at 3 mo, 1 in multiple sites at 24 mo. and 1 in bone marrow at 42 mo while off all chemotherapy for 6 mos. At this time, median survival of all patients is 28.3 mo. and median relapse-free survival is 21 mo. The median survival for complete responders in excess of 71 mo. while the median relapse-free survival for this group is 41 mo.
Predictors of eclampsia in California

AbstractObjective: Eclampsia is a rare yet dangerous complication of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The objective was to elucidate the predictors of eclampsia in a large cohort of pregnant women with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 143 093 pregnancies with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension in California during 2005–2008 of which 1719 had eclampsia. Predictors included race/ethnicity, parity, chronic hypertension (CHTN), diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm delivery <32 weeks, maternal age ≥ 35, maternal age ≤ 20, socioeconomic status, education, and <5 prenatal visits. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results: Factors that increased the risk of eclampsia included Black (OR 1.46 [1.19–1.80]) and Hispanic race (OR 1.56 [1.35–1.79]), nulliparity (OR 1.59 [1.42–1.77]), maternal age ≤ 20 (OR 1.85 [1.61–2.11]), preterm delivery <32 weeks (OR 1.41 [1.16–1.70]), and <5 prenatal care visits (1....
FUNCTIONAL ROLES OF LEAF LITTER DETRITUS IN TERRESTRIAL FOOD WEBS

This chapter discusses that one group of terrestrial predators responds more strongly than the two common detritivores to the removal of leaf litter—the dominant basal resource in the system. Detritus is both food and habitat for members of detrital- and plant-based compartments of food webs. Smaller forms of detritus have often been treated solely as a resource for detritivores. For example, leaf litter is a fundamental component of almost all forested ecosystems. Like coarser forms of detritus, leaf litter can also determine the relative abundance of species not dependent on litter as an energy source. Spiders were greater than four times less abundant in riparian plots in which litter was experimentally removed, than in control plots in which litter was left undisturbed. Moreover, the spider response to litter was more consistent over time than the responses of detritivores. Detritivores appeared to recruit to plots with and without litter differentially, but differences between these two treatments typically changed between dry and monsoon seasons. These results suggest that spiders rely on litter as a cover from predators at higher trophic levels through dry and monsoon seasons, and that detritivores respond to some combination of structural, thermal, and energetic attributes of leaf litter.
Intersexuality resulting from the interaction of sex-specific lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Male specific lethals mle, msl-1 , and msl-2 interact with female specific mutations at the Sxl locus to bring about intersexuality in double mutant 2X;2A individuals. The frequency and degree to which females are sexually transformed vary among different combinations of alleles. All sexually dimorphic structures as well as the external and internal reproductive organs were found to be affected in some individuals. In general there do not appear to be substantial viability interactions between these mutants; however, under certain marginally permissive genetic and environmental conditions, lethality in double-mutant individuals did seem to be significantly less than expected. The sex-specific genes dealt with in this study were chosen because of their participation in the establishment of the level of X-chromosome function corresponding to the X/A ratio of the karyotype. The unexpected interactions of these genes leading to intersexuality are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis of a close relationship between the genetic control of sex determination and dosage compensation.
SemanticQA: web-based ontology-driven question answering

The ability to ask specific question to the internet using natural language and receiving answers instead of documents is highly desired. Recent advancements in semantic web technologies make it possible to support such capability with more accuracy compared to existing non-semantic techniques. Using our expertise in ontology building and semantic search and discovery we designed an ontology-driven question answering system that extracts answers from web documents. This system processes natural language queries using a background ontology and finds possible answer(s) to the question from web documents.
In Brief: Lisfranc Fracture Dislocations

Lisfranc injuries are injuries to the tarsometatarsal joints which separate the midfoot from the forefoot. These injuries can be purely ligamentous or involve the osseous structures in the foot, in which case they are classified as fracture-dislocations. They are usually high-energy injuries and occur most often when an axial load or rotational force is brought on a plantar-flexed foot (Fig. 1). Less commonly, a direct blow to the midfoot can cause disruption of the joint complex. Fig. 1A−D (A) AP and (B) lateral radiographs are shown for a patient with a Lisfranc fracture-dislocation. There is lateral and dorsal displacement of the base of the second metatarsal with respect to the middle cuneiform. Postoperative (C) AP and (D) lateral radiographs ... Injury to the Lisfranc joint commonly affects males, frequently during the third decade of life, and often as a result of a fall from a height or a motor vehicle accident [2]. The majority of patients who sustain such an injury are polytraumatized, therefore, a high index of suspicion must be maintained so that subtle injuries are not missed [16].
Comments on "A new theoretical model for the prediction of rapid fading variations in an indoor environment"

For original paper see IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol.46, p.748-54 (1997). The present author discusses the number of scatterers assumption in modeling the envelope probability density functions for indoor radio.
Quantum cosmology of superstrings

Abstract We study the quantum evolution of a ten-dimensional string universe using the Wheeler-De Witt equation with the Hartle-Hawking boundary condition. We find that the universe tunnels from an R × Sn × Sm euclidean space of the size of the Planck scale to an Mn+1 × Km space where the lorentzian space Mn+1 has macroscopic dimensions, and Km is stable Ricci-flat space. We also find that the size of Km is of the order of the Planck scale only for n = 3, m = 6 or n = 6, m = 3. We also study the dynamics and the asymptotic behavior of the dilaton field and the gauge coupling constants.
Situated empathy: Variations associated with target gender across situations

The aim in this study was to present a situated measure of empathy where person features such as gender of target and respondent vary within particular social contexts. The Empathy Situation Reaction Scale (ESRS; Manulik, Kelley, White, & Staats, 2004) has good psychometric properties for 3 different types of situations. Situations were associated with a much larger empathy effect size than gender of respondent. Gender differences on the ESRS were situation dependent, with women reporting more empathy in the social or threat situations than did men but not in situations where the target accidentally caused property damage or loss. The ESRS may be used to assess empathy in complex interactions of situation, target and respondent and provides a model for studying complex social situations.
Memoirs on Highway Traffic Flow Theory in the 1950s

T here has been a revival of interest in traffic flow theory in the late 1990s, mostly because vehicle detectors have been installed at many highway locations throughout the world to record the passing of vehicles. The purpose of these detectors is to monitor congestion and provide information for possible control or to advise motorists of possible alternative routing. To understand the consequences of some strategy, however, one must have some theories or models of how traffic will respond to various actions. Students who review the literature on traffic flow theory in an attempt to develop such models observe that most of the references on this subject are dated in the 1950s and 1960s. There is very little useful literature in the 1970s, 1980s, or early 1990s. Students wonder how this started, who were these people who wrote the early papers, and why did the subject die in the 1970s? There are not many people left who were involved in the early developments of traffic flow theory, so it is difficult to research the history of it. Many of these people were involved for only a short time and then moved on to other things. Most of them had grown up during the Depression era and had lived through World War II. Any one of them could have told stories about what the world was like then
The Local Spectra of Pure Quasinormal Operators

Abstract The local spectra of pure quasinormal operators are computed and some results concerning the structure of the local spectra of operators satisfying Dunford′s Condition C are presented.
Balanced media access methods for wireless networks

Fairness algorithms and access methods enable non-zero channel access for wireless communication systems operating in a random access channel environment. Fair access to a random access channel for each station in a wireless network is assured by each station calculating a priority or probability for accessing the channel based on logical connections among certain stations, based on other stations perception of the channel and based on each calculating station's own perception of the channel properties.
Synergistic effects of nerve growth factor and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on rapid motility and process formation in PC12 cells : the role of laminin

A126-1B2 cells, a PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase)-deficient variant of PC12 cells, but not parental PC12 cells, form processes within 15-30 min of exposure to both nerve growth factor (NGF) and activators of protein kinase C when grown on tissue culture plastic (Glowacka and Wagner, J Neurosci Res 25: 453-462, 1990). Time-lapse microscopy has demonstrated that these processes are formed by a novel mechanism, i.e., rapid movement of the cell body away from a point of attachment, which morphologically resembles a growth cone. These "fast" neurites are attached to the substratum at a number of points, which display membrane activity in the form of active ruffling and the extension of filopodia and membrane pleats. Thus, these processes are formed by a mechanism distinct from that used by PC12 and other neuronal cells to form processes in culture. Wild-type PC12 cells also migrate and form fast neurites in response to a combination of NGF and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), when they are grown in conditioned media or plates, suggesting that a secreted factor that can bind to the substratum is essential for the rapid formation of these neurites. Similarly, wild-type PC12 cells grown on a laminin-coated substratum also migrate and form "fast neurites" in response to a combination of NGF and PMA. This rapid migration is attenuated by an anti-alpha 1, beta 1-integrin antisera, implicating a laminin-integrin interaction; and it is inhibited by alpha-lactalbumin, suggesting an involvement of a beta 1,4 galactosyltransferase in the response. The formation of fast neurites is not dependent on concurrent protein synthesis, but it is inhibited by lithium, cytochalasin D, and methylthioadenosine or pretreatment of cells with NGF. Thus PC12 cells grown on the appropriate substrate have the ability to migrate rapidly and thereby form neuron-like processes within minutes of exposure to NGF and PMA. This morphological response to a combination of agents may provide an alternative means by which nerve cells form connections. Alternatively, it may reflect a mechanism that facilitates cellular migration during developmental processes.
DIRECT VENTRICULAR CONTRACTILITY EVALUATION ASSURES RESPONSE FOR RESYNCHRONIZATION PACING AMONG CONGENITAL HEART PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY HEART FAILURE

Cardiac resynchronization pacing (CRT) can be an effective mode of therapy in patients (pts) with advanced heart failure (HF). But there are no selection criteria applicable to pts with congenital heart defects (CHD). QRS duration varies with age, dyssynchrony can exist with a narrow QRS, CHD pts
QUANTUM STRUCTURES FOR FAR-INFRARED DETECTION

FIR photon detector development starting from the extrinsic detectors for LWIR to FIR wavelengths are presented. Several other types of IR detectors, including the cut-off wavelength extension into the FIR range for quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs), are summarized. Efforts in developing p-GaAs homojunction interfacial workfunction internal photoemission (HIWIP) far-infrared detectors and the most reason developments on GaAs/AlGaAs Heterojunction interfacial workfunction internal photoemission (HEIWIP) far-infrared detectors are presented.
Multi-detachable resin supports for solid phase fragment synthesis

Abstract Two multi-detachable resin supports, each containing orthogonally removable benzyl and photolabile esters were prepared and applied to the synthesis of Leu-enkephalin and angiotensin. These resins, called Pop and Pon, could be cleaved by acid to give the free peptide, by nucleophiles to give protected peptides, and by photolysis to give the protected peptide still esterified to an oxymethylphenylacetic acid handle. Peptides of the latter type were readily attached to an aminomethyl-resin for further peptide elongation.
Vascular mechanisms of cyclosporin-induced hypertension in the rat.

Abstract Numerous studies have explored the pathogenesis of cyclosporin A (CysA)-induced hypertension; however, none has assessed the impact of CysA treatment on resistance arteries in the setting of elevated blood pressure. Therefore, we studied the chronic effect of CysA on rat mesenteric artery resistance vessels (ex vivo). CysA (25 mg/kg per d for 7 d), but not vehicle, significantly raised systolic blood pressure (13.4 +/- 2.2 mmHg, P < 0.003, n = 9 per group). The resistance vessels from CysA-treated rats showed a small but significant decrease in norepinephrine sensitivity (P < 0.03) and a pronounced decrease in endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation (P < 0.001) compared to controls. Endothelin-1 sensitivity tended to be diminished (P = 0.07). The direct (in vitro) effect of CysA was subsequently evaluated in resistance vessels from nontreated animals (n = 8) and exposed to CysA (2 micrograms/ml) for 24 h. As observed in vivo, CysA significantly decreased endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations (P < 0.05) and attenuated norepinephrine sensitivity (P = 0.06). Methylene blue, a nitric oxide quencher, significantly inhibited the acetylcholine-induced relaxation in control, but not in CysA vessels, suggesting a selective action of CysA on the nitric oxide pathway. We conclude that CysA-induced hypertension is the consequence of a primary effect on resistance vessel relaxation, not increased vasoconstriction, as previously suggested.
High magnification imaging of neuronal somata undergoing Axon Stretch Growth in vitro

Axon Stretch Growth (ASG) is the process by which nerve fibers elongate in conjunction with growth of the enlarging body. During early embryonic development, neuronal growth cones traverse short distances to reach local synaptic targets. Subsequently, neuronal somata are separated from their targets by developmental growth of the enlarging organism. It is believed that mechanical forces, such as those due to skeletal growth, transduce a second mode of neuronal growth unique from growth cone extension. Such mechanotransduction results in the elongation of short processes into the long nerves characteristic of the adult nervous system. The majority of nerve regeneration studies focus heavily on the extension of growth cones, while neglecting affiliated body growth. Currently, regeneration of adult nerves by growth cone extension is limited to 3cm in total overall length [1, 2], despite the initial capacity for 30 Fold this limitation. As biomedical engineers, our objective is to define and characterize the role biomechanical forces play in promoting growth of the nervous system. Here, utilizing custom motion-controlled bioreactors, we developed a method to perform high magnification imaging of neuronal somata undergoing ASG. Embryonic rat cervical dorsal root ganglia neurons were dissociated and plated onto poly-d-lysine coated cover glass and stretch grown at 0.25mm/day for 1 week.
Supratentorial profile of white matter microstructural integrity in recovering alcoholic men and women.

Background Postmortem and in vivo studies consistently report degeneration of brain white matter in alcohol-dependent men and women. The full extent of the white matter involvement in uncomplicated alcoholism, however, is unknown, yet knowledge of the distribution of white matter degradation might provide clues to mechanisms underlying the pathology. Methods To examine whether the white matter involvement is widespread or, alternatively, is regionally restricted in uncomplicated alcoholism, we used in vivo magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to quantify the microstructure of brain tissue. Accordingly, we acquired DTI data in 57 alcoholics (40 men, 17 women) who had been sober, on average, for 3 months and 74 demographically-matched control subjects (32 men, 42 women). Alcoholic men had consumed about twice as much alcohol in their lifetimes as the alcoholic women. Supratentorial white matter fractional anisotropy (FA), a DTI measure of intravoxel orientational coherence of tissue, was calculated across the full anterior–posterior extent of the brain in coronal sections, and a slice profile of the mean white matter FA was created for each subject. Group differences between alcoholics and control subjects were tested for each slice in three regions: the left and right hemispheres and a midsagittal sample; men and women were tested separately. Results Alcoholic men and women each showed widespread FA deficits in all three regions relative to their gender-matched control subjects that were evident on a slice-by-slice basis. Furthermore, the number of slices showing FA deficits was significantly greater in the alcoholic men than women. Conclusions The widespread distribution of white matter deficits is in contrast to the highly regional-specific deficits seen in nutritional deficiency syndromes that can accompany alcoholism.
Effect of Relative Volume on Radio Transmitter Expulsion in Subadult Common Carp

Abstract Expulsion of surgically implanted radio transmitters is a problem in some fish telemetry studies. We conducted a 109-d experiment to test the hypothesis that variation in relative volume of transmitters surgically implanted in subadult common carp Cyprinus carpio would affect transmitter expulsion. We also necropsied fish at the end of the experiment to evaluate histological evidence for the mechanism of expulsion. Survival rate was high during our experiment; all control fish and 88% of the fish subjected to the implantation surgery survived. Expulsion rate was low; of the 23 fish that received transmitters and survived the experiment, only two (9%) expelled the transmitters. One of these expulsions occurred through a rupture of the incision and the other occurred via the intestine. Retained transmitters were all encapsulated by tissue, and most exhibited multiple adhesions to the intestine, gonads, and body wall. Adhesions were more numerous in fish that received larger transmitters.
Automatic electrode configuration selection for image-guided cochlear implant programming

Cochlear implants (CIs) are neural prosthetics that stimulate the auditory nerve pathways within the cochlea using an implanted electrode array to restore hearing. After implantation, the CI is programmed by an audiologist who determines which electrodes are active, i.e., the electrode configuration, and selects other stimulation settings. Recent clinical studies by our group have shown that hearing outcomes can be significantly improved by using an image-guided electrode configuration selection technique we have designed. Our goal in this work is to automate the electrode configuration selection step with the long term goal of developing a fully automatic system that can be translated to the clinic. Until now, the electrode configuration selection step has been performed by an expert with the assistance of image analysis-based estimates of the electrode-neural interface. To automatically determine the electrode configuration, we have designed an optimization approach and propose the use of a cost function with feature terms designed to interpret the image analysis data in a similar fashion as the expert. Further, we have designed an approach to select parameters in the cost function using our database of existing electrode configuration plans as training data. The results we present show that our automatic approach results in electrode configurations that are better or equally as good as manually selected configurations in over 80% of the cases tested. This method represents a crucial step towards clinical translation of our image-guided cochlear implant programming system.
Librarian-lead Tutorial for Enhancement of Pharmacy Students Information Searching Skills in Advanced Experiential Rotations

Pharmacy schools across the United States expose students to literature searching and evaluation mostly during required didactic drug information courses. The majority of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students do not utilize library-available electronic resources on a regular basis, and their didactic experience alone is not sufficient to make them successful in their advanced experiential drug information (DI) rotations. This pilot study demonstrates an improvement of students' perceptions regarding information searching and evaluating abilities as the result of their participation in a small group tutorial with a reference librarian, thus indicating effectiveness of the tutorial in refreshing and enhancing database knowledge skills.
Increased Precision of Ventricular Function Descriptors Achieved by Using a New Approach to Normalization |[dagger]| 102

Inter-subject comparisons of values of ventricular function descriptors remain imprecise. This imprecision contributes to observed weak correlations between descriptors and clinical symptoms. To decrease biological scatter and improve sensitivity and specificity, we investigated a new approach to normalization using extrapolated zero-lumen dimensions.
Encapsulation of mammalian cells in nanoporous silica gels: Interactions at the biointerface

Encapsulation of cells in nanoporous silica gels has shown great potential for the development of biotechnology applications such as biosensors, biocatalysis, bioremediation, energy conversion systems, and cellular therapies [1]. However, even though the inorganic matrix confers improved mechanical properties, chemical and thermal stability, and is resistant to microbial attacks, long-term viability and function after encapsulation remains as one of the principal setbacks of this technology [2].Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Alternative Strategies for Selling Land to the Highest Bidder

In this paper the properties of several models of sequential bidding behavior are evaluated. In particular, the returns to a seller who maximizes the probability of selling to the highest bidder ar...
Chemical Vapor Deposited Molybdenum Films for Use in Photothermal Conversion

High infrared reflectance, coupled with high solar absorptance, is required for efficient photothermal conversion. Converters can be fabricated by depositing an absorber on a highly reflecting metal. The absorber functions in the visible, yet becomes transparent in the near infrared, allowing the metal to suppress the thermal emittance. Economic considerations demand the use of thin films, rather than bulk materials. The thin film reflector must be capable of withstanding high temperatures of operation. Compatibility of the re-flector with the substrate below, and the absorber above, is required for long-time service. Highly reflective silver films suffer reflectance losses by agglomeration, and require stabilization layers. Refractory materials such as molybdenum avoid agglomeration at temperatures of operation of photothermal converters. Unlike other deposition methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) can produce molybdenum films with an infrared reflectance rivaling that of bulk molybdenum. CVD is a non-vacuum based technology with potential for sequential throughput fabrication. Studies are being undertaken to determine how sensitively the reflectance reacts to inclusions of impurities into the molybdenum. Thin film passivators deposited on the molybdenum prevent reflectance losses induced by oxidation, and insure high temperature survival of optimal reflectance. Complete converter stacks have been annealed at 550°C for over 1000 hours in air.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Native disorder mediates binding of dynein to NudE and Dynactin

In the present paper, I report the molecular overlap of the linkage of three essential protein complexes that co-ordinate the formation of the mitotic spindle. These proteins are dynein, a large motor complex that moves machinery inside cells, and two of its regulators: a protein complex called dynactin, a dynein activator, and a protein called NudE whose depletion in mice produces a small brain and mental retardation. What is intriguing about the dynein–dynactin–NudE interplay is that dynactin and NudE bind to a common segment of dynein that is intrinsically disordered. Elucidating differences in their binding modes may explain how one regulator can be selected over the other even when both are present in the same cellular compartment. These results not only have a far-reaching impact on our understanding of processes essential for the formation and orientation of the spindle, but also offer a novel role for protein disorder in controlling cellular processes, and highlight the advantages of NMR spectroscopy in elucidating atomic-level characterization of extremely complex dynamic cellular assemblies.
Comparison of LCD and CRT displays based on efficacy for digital mammography.

Rationale and Objectives To compare two display technologies, cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD), in terms of diagnostic accuracy for several common clinical tasks in digital mammography. Materials and Methods Simulated masses and microcalcifications were inserted into normal digital mammograms to produce an image set of 400 images. Images were viewed on one CRT and one LCD medical-quality display device by five experienced breast-imaging radiologists who rated the images using a categorical rating paradigm. The observer data were analyzed to determine overall classification accuracy, overall lesion detection accuracy, and accuracy for four specific diagnostic tasks: detection of benign masses, malignant masses, and microcalcifications, and discrimination of benign and malignant masses. Results Radiologists had similar overall classification accuracy (LCD: 0.83 ± 0.01, CRT: 0.82 ± 0.01) and lesion detection accuracy (LCD: 0.87 ± 0.01, CRT: 0.85 ± 0.01) on both displays. The difference in accuracy between LCD and CRT for the detection of benign masses, malignant masses, and microcalcifications, and discrimination of benign and malignant masses was –0.019 ± 0.009, 0.020 ± 0.008, 0.012 ± 0.013, and 0.0094 ± 0.011, respectively. Overall, the two displays did not exhibit any statistically significant difference ( P > .05). Conclusion This study explored the suitability of two different soft-copy displays for the viewing of mammographic images. It found that LCD and CRT displays offer similar clinical utility for mammographic tasks.
Care of pediatric tracheostomy in the immediate postoperative period and timing of first tube change

Abstract Objective To analyze the safety of a standardized pediatric tracheostomy care protocol in the immediate postoperative period and its impact on tracheostomy related complications. Study design Retrospective case series. Subjects Pediatric patients undergoing tracheotomy from February 2010–February 2014. Methods In 2012, a standardized protocol was established regarding postoperative pediatric tracheostomy care. This protocol included securing newly placed tracheostomy tubes using a foam strap with hook and loop fastener rather than twill ties, placing a fresh drain sponge around the tracheostomy tube daily, and performing the first tracheostomy tube change on postoperative day 3 or 4. Outcome measures included rate of skin breakdown and presence of a mature stoma allowing for a safe first tracheostomy tube change. Two types of tracheotomy were performed based on patient age: standard pediatric tracheotomy and adult-style tracheotomy with a Bjork flap. Patients were analyzed separately based on age and the type of tracheotomy performed. Results Thirty-seven patients in the pre-protocol group and 35 in the post-protocol group were analyzed. The rate of skin breakdown was significantly lower in the post-protocol group (standard: p = 0.0048; Bjork flap: p = 0.0003). In the post-protocol group, all tube changes were safely accomplished on postoperative day three or four, and the stomas were deemed to be adequately matured to do so in all cases. Conclusion A standardized postoperative pediatric tracheostomy care protocol resulted in decreased rates of skin breakdown and demonstrated that pediatric tracheostomy tubes can be safely changed as early as 3 days postoperatively.
Health Consequences of Fat Distribution

Body fat distribution is now recognized as an important predictor of the adverse health consequences of obesity. Upper body obesity, especially with increasing visceral fat, is associated with hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes mellitus and premature coronary death. Several lines of evidence suggest that abnormal adipose tissue lipolysis, resulting in elevated free fatty acid (FFA) availability, may contribute to some of the metabolic consequences of upper body obesity. The vast majority of the elevated systemic FFA release appears to come from upper body, non-splanchnic adipose tissue. Thus, dysregulation of upper body, non-splanchnic adipose tissue lipolysis may play an important role in contributing to health consequences of fat distribution.
Biodontics and Evidence-Based Dentistry

Those of us gathered under the umbrella of the emerging dental specialty Biodontics, who understand the importance of biotechnology to dental practice, welcome the shift in dental practice from one rooted in the 19 t h century experienced-based model to one that has embraced a 21 st century evidenced-based paradigm.
Java-based simulation of construction processes using Silk

The modeling and analysis of construction processes is gaining recognition in the construction industry. Recent developments, such as object-oriented modeling, Petri net-based simulation and construction project-level simulation, are being adopted by researchers in the field of construction simulation. This paper describes one such recent development. It highlights the work performed by the authors in using Java for the simulation of construction processes. The methodology used, the simulation toolkit adopted (Silk) and the construction process simulated are described.
A new flavor in phosphotyrosine recognition

The phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain, recently identified in a number of proteins, specifically recognizes tyrosine-phosphorylated sequences in other proteins. Although similar in function to the well-studied SH2 domain, the PTB domain appears to be structurally unrelated.
Everything as a Service: Powering the New Information Economy

The mobility/cloud ecosystem aims to deliver infrastructure, platforms, and software as a service, enabling more people to benefit from ubiquitous information access. The culmination of 10 years' research converges on-demand applications with the infrastructure-servers, storage, networks, and client devices-to support cloud computing.
Excitation energy effects in the photophysics of trans-stilbene in solution

Abstract Excitation of trans-stilbene with 306 nm pulses generates a narrower transient spectrum than with 265 nm. These spectra do not evolve in the same manner, suggesting that the spectral changes with 265 nm result from vibrational cooling. Spectral differences at longer times suggest there is a slow cross-relaxation component in the inhomogeneous distribution.
Healthcare utilization and comorbidity burden among children and young adults in the United States with systemic lupus erythematosus or inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective We sought to assess the feasibility of using a health insurance claims database to estimate the prevalence and health care utilization and costs among children diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Study design This was a retrospective analysis of the LifeLink insurance claims database for the years 2000-2006. Children (0-15 years) and young adults (16-25 years) with ≥2 diagnosis claims for SLE or IBD were selected as the 2 cohorts of interest. For each member of the SLE and IBD cohorts, 2 individuals were randomly selected for a matched comparison group. All the analyses were descriptive in nature, CI for differences between means and 2 proportions for measures including health care utilization, comorbidity burden were based on t tests and 2-group tests of proportions. Results We identified 278 patients with SLE (prevalence estimate: 7.9 per/100 000 population) and 1174 patients with IBD (33.2 per/100 000 population). The mean annual total medical costs was substantially higher for the SLE (difference: $22 223; 95% CI: $14 961-$29 485) and IBD (difference: $16 238; 95% CI: $14 395-$18 082) cohorts compared with those of the comparator cohort. We observed higher comorbidity burdens in the SLE and IBD cohorts than we saw in the comparator cohort. Conclusions Administrative claims data can be a useful tool for assessing the comparative prevalence and associated resource utilization of rare conditions such as SLE and IBD.
Race, social class, and student engagement in middle school English classrooms

Abstract Student level data on participation in classroom discourse and student effort on assignments in 117 middle school English classrooms are used to investigate the social determinants of student engagement in classroom instruction. Social identity theories of race, social class, and attachment to school, and research in the social psychology of achievement motivation both suggest differential levels of student engagement among diverse student groups. Using multilevel models, the author investigates the relationship between classroom context and students’ levels of engagement. Levels of engagement among black and low SES students are mostly insensitive to classroom context, suggesting there is little collective action directed at fostering anti-school norms among these student groups. However, consistent with research in the social psychology of achievement motivation, students who begin class with weaker reading and writing skills are less likely to be engaged, setting the stage for a cycle of reduced achievement growth.