cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post tracheostomy and post intubation tracheal stenosis: Report of 31 cases and review of the literature

Severe post tracheostomy (PT) and post intubation (PI) tracheal stenosis is an uncommon clinical entity that often requires interventional bronchoscopy before surgery is considered. We present our experience with severe PI and PT stenosis in regards to patient characteristics, possible risk factors, and therapy. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 31 patients with PI and PT stenosis treated at Lahey Clinic over the past 8 years. Demographic characteristics, body mass index, co-morbidities, stenosis type and site, procedures performed and local treatments applied were recorded. The most common profile of a patient with tracheal stenosis in our series was a female (75%), obese (66%) patient with a history of diabetes mellitus (35.4%), hypertension (51.6%), and cardiovascular disease (45.1%), who was a current smoker (38.7%). Eleven patients (PI group) had only oro-tracheal intubation (5.2 days of intubation) and developed web-like stenosis at the cuff site. Twenty patients (PT group) had undergone tracheostomy (54.5 days of intubation) and in 17 (85%) of them the stenosis appeared around the tracheal stoma. There was an average of 2.4 procedures performed per patient. Rigid bronchoscopy with Nd:YAG laser and dilatation (mechanical or balloon) were the preferred methods used. Only 1(3.2%) patient was sent to surgery for re-stenosis after multiple interventional bronchoscopy treatments. We have identified putative risk factors for the development of PI and PT stenosis. Differences in lesions characteristics and stenosis site were noted in our two patient groups. All patients underwent interventional bronchoscopy procedures as the first-line, and frequently the only treatment approach.
Aging and Random Task Switching: The Role of Endogenous Versus Exogenous Task Selection

Background/Study Context: Task switching research typically emphasizes two robust shifting effects between competing tasks: mixing costs (MCs), which indicate less efficient performance in mixed-task versus single-task conditions, and switch costs (SCs), which reflect differences between switch trials and repetition trials within mixed-task conditions. The current study examined age-related MC and SC influenced by the method of task selection in two procedures. Methods: Twenty-six young adults, 18 to 21 years of age (M = 18.4, SD = 1.1), and 25 older adults, 74 to 87 years of age (M = 80.3, SD = 5.4), participated as part of the Cognition, Health, and Aging Project (CHAP). Younger and older adults’ performed cued and voluntary task switching, requiring a random sequence of task changes, placing demands on externally versus internally directed processes. Results: Results indicated that SCs were not disproportionately larger for older adults during an exogenous switching condition, but large age differences...
Age at first molar emergence in early Miocene Afropithecus turkanensis and life-history evolution in the Hominoidea

Among primates, age at first molar emergence is correlated with a variety of life history traits. Age at first molar emergence can therefore be used to broadly infer the life histories of fossil primate species. One method of determining age at first molar emergence is to determine the age at death of fossil individuals that were in the process of erupting their first molars. This was done for an infant partial mandible of Afropithecus turkanensis (KNM-MO 26) from the w17.5 Ma site of Moruorot in Kenya. A range of estimates of age at death was calculated for this individual using the permanent lateral incisor germ preserved in its crypt, by combining the number and periodicity of lateral enamel perikymata with estimates of the duration of cuspal enamel formation and the duration of the postnatal delay in the inception of crown mineralization. Perikymata periodicity was determined using daily cross striations between adjacent Retzius lines in thin sections of two A. turkanensis molars from the nearby site of Kalodirr. Based on the position of the KNM-MO 26 M 1 in relation to the mandibular alveolar margin, it had not yet undergone gingival emergence. The projected time to gingival emergence was estimated based on radiographic studies of M1 eruption in extant baboons and chimpanzees. The estimates of age at M1 emergence in KNM-MO 26 range from 28.2 to 43.5 months, using minimum and average values from extant great apes and humans for the estimated growth parameters. Even the absolute minimum value is well outside the ranges of extant large Old World monkeys for which there are data (12.5 to <25 months), but is within the range of chimpanzees (25.7 to 48.0 months). It is inferred, therefore, that A. turkanensis had a life history profile broadly like that of Pan. This is additional evidence to that provided by Sivapithecus parvada (Function, Phylogeny, and Fossils: Miocene Hominoid Evolution and Adaptations, 1997, 173) that the prolonged life histories characteristic of extant apes were achieved early in the evolutionary history of the group. However, it is unclear at present whether life-history prolongation in apes represents the primitive catarrhine pace of life history extended through phyletic increase in body mass, or whether it is derived with respect to a primitive, size-adjusted life history that was broadly intermediate between those of extant hominoids and cercopithecoids. Life history evolution in primates as a whole may have occurred largely through a series of grade-shifts, with the establishment of fundamental life-history profiles early in the histories of major higher taxa. These may have included shifts that were largely body mass dependent, as well as those that occurred in the absence of significant changes in body mass. 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reversible Liquid−Liquid Transitions in the Early Stages of Monolayer Self-Assembly

Time-resolved atomic force microscopy, contact angle analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to study the effect of cyclic heating and cooling of a partial octadecyltrichlorosi...
907-105 Selectin Blockade as an Adjunct to Thrombolytic Therapy Successfully Reduces Infarct Size Following Reperfusion in the Electrolytic Canine Coronary Artery Model

Adhesion between neutrophils and endothelial cells has been demonstrated to be a requisite event for neutrophil migration into injured tissue. The selectins mediate transient, reversible adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells after ischemia reperfusion, and thus may facilitate neutrophil-mediated tissue damage. We tested the hypothesis that administration of an oligosaccharide analog of Sialyl Lewis-X(CY 1503), a known counter receptor for the selectins, may limit infarct size when given during coronary thrombolysis. A thrombus was formed in the circumflex (Cx) coronary artery of 20 dogs using electrolytic injury. Coronary blood flow was monitored with a Doppler flow probe, and continuous ECG monitoring was performed. After at least 1 hour of occlusion (mean ± SD; 80 ± 20 min), thrombolysis was induced in a random fashion with t-PA (1 mg/kg) given over 20 min with either placebo (n = 10) or CY 1503 given as a single bolus of 40 mg/kg (n = 10). At the onset of reflow each dog received a continuous infusion of t-PA (20 /μg/kg/min) to maintain reperfusion for 60 minutes. The heart was then explanted and perfused with Evan's blue and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride dyes to define the coronary distribution and regions of myocardial necrosis. Sections of myocardium from the area at risk were assayed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) content, an index of neutrophil infiltration. No hemodynamic or adverse effects were noted in the CY 1503 treated dogs. Infarct size, expressed as a percent of the area at risk was reduced by 68% in CY 1503 treated dogs (p = 0.007). MPO content in the ischemic Cx territory was also markedly reduced in the CY 1503 group (p = 0.02). Download : Download high-res image (55KB) Download : Download full-size image We conclude that inhibition of neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion by CY 1503 reduces infarct size well beyond thrombolytic-mediated reperfusion, and is a highly attractive strategy for future clinical investigation.
Kinetics of polymerization of gaseous formaldehyde

The polymerization of gaseous monomeric formaldehyde has been studied. The effects of the following variables have been investigated: temperature, initial monomer pressure, surface-to-volume ratio of reaction vessel, thickness of polymer deposit, and partial pressure of added oxygen. A three-step mechanism is proposed which successfully accounts for the results of experiments in which monomer is allowed to deposit on the bare wall of the reaction vessel. When a sufficient amount of polymer has been laid down, the termination reaction becomes negligible and a limiting two-step mechanism holds. The present results combined with literature values from work done on the depolymerization reaction give the activation energy of the propagation and termination reactions to be 14.2 ± 0.6 and 7.8 ± 0.9 kcal./mole, respectively. Although the reaction is heterogeneous, the activation energies are independent of surface-to-volume ratios within the experimental error. The nature of the polymer active sites is considered and these are thought to be hydroxyl groups. The results of work done with added oxygen show a small inhibitory effect.
Performance of the Magnetospheric Multiscale central instrument data handling

In order to study the fundamental physical processes of magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration and turbulence, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission employs a constellation of four identically configured observatories, each with a suite of complementary science instruments. Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) developed the Central Instrument Data Processor (CIDP) to handle the large data volume associated with these instruments. The CIDP is an integrated access point between the instruments and the spacecraft. It provides synchronization pulses, relays telecommands, and gathers instrument housekeeping telemetry. It collects science data from the instruments and stores it to a mass memory for later playback to a ground station. This paper retrospectively examines the data handling performance realized by the CIDP implementation. It elaborates on some of the constraints on the hardware and software designs and the resulting effects on performance. For the hardware, it discusses the limitations of the front-end electronics input/output (I/O) architecture and associated mass memory buffering. For the software, it discusses the limitations of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) File Delivery Protocol (CFDP) implementation and the data structure choices for file management. It also describes design changes that improve data handling performance in newer designs.
HIV vaccines for prevention of infection and disease in humans.

Intensive efforts are underway to develop vaccines to protect against HIV-1 infection and associated disease. Gaps exist in our knowledge, however, about the critical parameters of immunity to HIV, about the significance of viral genotypic variation for immunoprophylaxis, and about the need or ability to induce sterilizing immunity. Experimental animal model systems have facilitated investigation of such questions in other viral infections; however, there is as yet no fully satisfactory animal model for HIV-1 infection. Chimpanzees are the only naturally occurring species that can be infected consistently with HIV-1, but with a few exceptions, infection is only partly permissive and does not result in disease. 82,99 In addition, because chimpanzees are expensive and in short supply, they are not a practical model for extensive vaccine studies. Infection of macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has provided much important information in the field, 28,37,64,70 and the advent of chimeric HIV/SIV (SHIV) viruses may be particularly useful for the development of HIV vaccines. 71 As of this date, however, neither the critical correlates of immunity nor the preferred vaccine approach has emerged from studies in nonhuman primates. (For detailed information on these studies, the reader is referred to recent reviews of the subject. 100,101 With these considerations in mind, a variety of HIV-1 vaccine candidates have been studied in carefully conducted phase I and II trials in HIV-1 seronegative humans, and two vaccine candidates currently are undergoing large scale efficacy (phase III) trials. The studies in humans for which data are currently available will be reviewed in this article.
Synthesis and stereochemistry of optically active biliverdin cyclic esters

Abstract ( βS , β ′ S )-Dimethylmesobiliverdin-XIIIα dimethyl ester exhibits a positive long wave-length circular dichroism Cotton effect ( Δe 644 max = +6.1) in CHCl 3 , indicating an excess of the P - helical conformation of the pigment. But when the pigment's propionic acids are linked together by -(CH 2 ) n - chains in cyclic esters , the choice of cyclic ester conformation and pigment helicity is governed by the number ( n ) of CH 2 units, with Δϵ near 640 nm varying from positive when n =1, 5 and 6, to negative when n =2, 3 and 4.
Nucleolar transcription factor hUBF contains a DNA-binding motif with homology to HMG proteins

The eukaryotic upstream binding factor (DBF), recognizes the ribosomal RNA gene promoter and activates transcription mediated by RNA poly-merase I through cooperative interactions with the species-specific factor, SL1. Isolation of complementary DNA clones and sequence analysis reveals similarities between DNA binding domains of human UBF (hUBF) and high mobility group (HMG) protein 1. Expression, cellular localization and in vitro transcription studies establish that cloned hUBF encodes a nucleolar factor that binds specifically to the upstream control element and core of the rRNA gene promoter to activate transcription in a binding site-dependent manner.
Interventricular septal mass: an unusual manifestation of sarcoidosis demonstrated on helical computed tomography

The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis can be difficult to establish. We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in whom a contrast-enhanced helical computed tomographic examination of the thorax demonstrated an interventricular septal mass. Subsequent open biopsy confirmed cardiac sarcoidosis.
Clues about the star formation history of the M31 disc from WFPC2 photometry

Over the past several years, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has acquired many broadband images of various regions in the M31 disc. I have obtained 27 such fields from the HST data archive in order to produce colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the stellar populations contained within these areas of the disc. I have attempted to reproduce these CMDs using theoretical stellar evolution models in conjunction with statistical tools for determining the star formation history that best fits the observations. The wide range of extinction values within any given field makes the data difficult to reproduce accurately; nevertheless, I have managed to find star formation histories that roughly reproduce the data. These statistically determined star formation histories reveal that, like the disc of the Galaxy, the disc of M31 contains very few old metal-poor stars. The histories also suggest that the star formation rate of the disc as a whole has been low over the past ∼ 1 Gyr.
Dynamics of lung macrophage activation in response to helminth infection.

Most of our understanding of the development and phenotype of alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs) has been obtained from studies investigating the response of bone marrow- and peritoneal-derived cells to IL-4 or IL-13 stimulation. Comparatively little is known about the development of AAMs in the lungs, and how the complex signals associated with pulmonary inflammation influence the AAM phenotype. Here, we use Nippostrongylus brasiliensis to initiate AAM development and define the dynamics of surface molecules, gene expression, and cell function of macrophages isolated from lung tissue at different times postinfection (PI). Initially, lung macrophages take on a foamy phenotype, up-regulate MHC and costimulatory molecules, express reduced levels of TNF and IL-12, and undergo proliferation. Cells isolated between days 8 and 15 PI adopt a dense, granular phenotype and exhibit reduced levels of costimulatory molecules and elevated levels of programmed death ligand-1 (PDL-1) and PDL-2 and an increase in IL-10 expression. Functionally, AAMs isolated on days 13–15 PI demonstrate an enhanced capacity to take up and sequester antigen. However, these same cells did not mediate antigen-specific T cell proliferation and dampened the proliferation of CD3/CD28-activated CD4+ T cells. These data indicate that the alternative activation of macrophages in the lungs, although initiated by IL-4/IL-13, is a dynamic process that is likely to be influenced by other immune and nonimmune factors in the pulmonary environment.
The Encephalitogenic, Human Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein–Induced Antibody Repertoire Is Directed toward Multiple Epitopes in C57BL/6-Immunized Mice

Although Abs specific for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have been detected in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), their contribution to pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with recombinant human MOG (hMOG) results in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis involving MOG-specific, demyelinating Abs. This model is therefore informative for understanding anti-MOG humoral responses in MS. In the current study, we have characterized the hMOG-specific Ab repertoire in immunized C57BL/6 mice using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. We demonstrate that hMOG-specific mAbs are not focused on one specific region of MOG, but instead target multiple epitopes. Encephalitogenicity of the mAbs, assessed by the ability of the mAbs to exacerbate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice, correlates with the activity of the mAbs in binding to CNS tissue sections, but not with other in vitro assays. The targeting of different MOG epitopes by encephalitogenic Abs has implications for disease pathogenesis, because it could result in MOG cross linking on oligodendrocytes and/or immune complex formation. These studies reveal several novel features concerning pathogenic, humoral responses that may have relevance to human MS.
Fast wandering of slow birds.

I study a single slow bird moving with a flock of birds of a different and faster (or slower) species. I find that every species of flocker has a characteristic speed $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ne}{v}_{0}$, where ${v}_{0}$ is the mean speed of the flock such that if the speed ${v}_{s}$ of the slow bird equals $\ensuremath{\gamma}$, it will randomly wander transverse to the mean direction of flock motion far faster than the other birds will: Its mean-squared transverse displacement will grow in $d=2$ with time $t$ like ${t}^{5/3}$, in contrast to ${t}^{4/3}$ for the other birds. In $d=3$, the slow bird's mean-squared transverse displacement grows like ${t}^{5/4}$, in contrast to $t$ for the other birds. If ${v}_{s}\ensuremath{\ne}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, the mean-squared displacement of the slow bird crosses over from ${t}^{5/3}$ to ${t}^{4/3}$ scaling in $d=2$ and from ${t}^{5/4}$ to $t$ scaling in $d=3$ at a time ${t}_{c}$ that scales according to ${t}_{c}\ensuremath{\propto}{|{v}_{s}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}|}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$.
Open Source: Platform for virtual service learning and user-initiated research

Traditional service learning theories stress the face-to-face collaboration with community partners to produce learning results featured by real-world audiences and real-world purposes. This article proposes a virtual service learning model through collaboration and partnership with open source communities to introduce user-initiated research and documentation to professional communication classrooms.
Charting a Strategic Direction for the American Society of Preventive Oncology's Survivorship Interest Group

The mission of the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) is threefold: 1) to promote the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas relating to cancer prevention and control; 2) to identify and stimulate research areas in transdisciplinary cancer prevention and control; and 3) to
Expandable metal stents for malignant esophageal obstruction

Expandable stents have proven to be very helpful in the palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction and esophageal fistulae. They provide immediate relief of dysphagia , or sealing of a fistula, with a relatively low morbidity and mortality. Advances in stent technology have reduced the overall complication rate while increasing stent patency and prolonged effective palliation. The ideal stent, however, continues to be sought after. This report is a review of the current knowledge and status of the use of esophageal stents in the clinical setting of endoscopic palliation of esophageal malignancy.
Modafinil attenuates reinstatement of cocaine seeking: role for cystine–glutamate exchange and metabotropic glutamate receptors

Modafinil may be useful for treating stimulant abuse, but the mechanisms by which it does so are unknown. Indeed, a primary effect of modafinil is to inhibit dopamine transport, which typically promotes rather than inhibits motivated behavior. Therefore, we examined the role of nucleus accumbens extracellular glutamate and the group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2/3) in modafinil effects. One group of rats was trained to self-administer cocaine for 10 days and extinguished, then given priming injections of cocaine to elicit reinstatement. Modafinil (300 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited reinstated cocaine-seeking (but did not alter extinction responding by itself), and this effect was prevented by pretreatment with bilateral microinjections of the mGluR2/3 antagonist LY-341495 (LY) into nucleus accumbens core. No reversal of modafinil effects was seen after unilateral accumbens core LY, or bilateral LY in the rostral pole of accumbens. Next, we sought to explore effects of modafinil on extracellular glutamate levels in accumbens after chronic cocaine. Separate rats were administered non-contingent cocaine, and after 3 weeks of withdrawal underwent accumbens microdialysis. Modafinil increased extracellular accumbens glutamate in chronic cocaine, but not chronic saline pretreated animals. This increase was prevented by reverse dialysis of cystine-glutamate exchange or voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists. Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockade partly attenuated the increase in glutamate, but mGluR1 blockade did not. We conclude that modafinil increases extracellular glutamate in nucleus accumbens from glial and neuronal sources in cocaine-exposed rats, which may be important for its mGluR2/3-mediated anti-relapse properties.
“Advance” advance organizers

Two experiments were conducted in which subjects read and paraphrased an advance organizer under one of three conditions: (1) 48 h prior to reading organizer-relevant text, (2) 1 h prior to reading organizer-relevant text, and (3) immediately prior to reading organizer-relevant text. A fourth condition (4) was a control in which no organizer was available. The results of both experiments indicated that subjects in the experimental conditions recalled significantly more text content than subjects in the control conditions. Significant quadratic trends were observed among the experimental conditions in both experiments. The results support a knowledge activation and integration view of advance organizers.
Evidence-Based Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Women Who Received Chest Irradiation at a Young Age

Follow-upguidelinesareimportantforthelong-termhealthcare of cancer survivors, particularly those treated at a young age. Appropriate guidelines are powerful tools to improve quality of care, reduce variability in clinical practice, and contain cost. Instituting clear and evidence-based standards is essential for compliance of both patients and providers. Hence, it is encouraging that guidelines on routine imaging of cancer survivors for early detection of treatment-related breastcancer(BC)arefinallysupportedbydirectevidenceforefficacy. Inthearticlethataccompaniesthiseditorial,aprospectivestudybyNg et al 1 addressed the contribution of both mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the early detection of BC in femalesurvivorsofHodgkinlymphoma(HL)whoreceivedradiation to the chest at a young age. The Ng et al study supports recent retrospective data on this topic 2 and further solidifies a consensus that several groups have reached on imaging of women who had received chestradiotherapy(RT). 3-5 TheNgetalstudyexemplifieshowappropriately designed research can strengthen and clarify survivorship guidelinesthatpreviouslywerebasedmerelyoninferencefromimaging of familial/genetic high-risk groups. The increased risk for BC of women cured of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who had significant radiation exposure of the breast at a youngage(30years)hasbeenacentralissueinsurvivorshipscreening programs for almost 20 years. 6-8 Although the treatment practice
Golden Ghettos: Gated Communities and Class Residential Segregation in Montevideo, Uruguay:

In this paper, I examine the local expression of a global phenomenon: gated communities in Montevideo, Uruguay. Focusing on the residents' perspective, I investigate microlevel processes of class segregation. I analyze residential and class trajectories, motivations for moving, and consequences of the move. I rely on interviews with residents, developers, architects, and real-estate agents; advertisements; and ethnographic field notes. A major finding is that gated communities do not always increase social and residential segregation. In Montevideo, families in these neighborhoods were already segregated from lower classes. Residents experienced changes in family and community life, but those changes rarely corresponded to changes in their class segregation. This challenges the central focus of the literature on gated communities: a presumed effect on increased class segregation regardless of the context. Another major finding is that residents moved to new neighborhoods to secure class reproduction and g...
Decimal floating-point square root using Newton-Raphson iteration

With continued reductions in feature size, additional functionality may be added to future microprocessors to boost the performance of important application domains. Due to growth in commercial, financial, and Internet-based applications, decimal floating point arithmetic is now attracting more attention and hardware support for decimal operations is being considered by various computer manufacturers. In order to standardize decimal number formats and operations, specifications for decimal floating point arithmetic have been added to the draft revision of the IEEE-754 standard for floating point arithmetic (IEEE-754R). This paper presents an efficient arithmetic algorithm and hardware design for decimal floating point square root. This design uses an optimized piecewise linear approximation, a modified Newton-Raphson iteration, a specialized rounding technique, and a modified decimal multiplier. Synthesis results show that a 64-bit (16 digit) implementation of decimal square root, which is compliant with IEEE-754R, has an estimated critical path delay of 0.95 ns and a maximum latency of 210 clock cycles when implemented using a sequential multiplier and LSI Logic's 0.11 micron Gflx-P standard cell library.
Hermeneutic analysis of virtuous exemplar narratives of Cambodian-American Buddhists and Christians

Virtuous exemplars embody the virtues of a cultural community, a dynamic, contextual understanding that is best explored by critical hermeneutic analysis. In order to describe their lives and refine the mental-health treatment of Cambodian immigrants, 12 virtuous exemplars from a Cambodian-American Buddhist and 12 from a Cambodian-American Christian population were interviewed. Grounded theory and a mixed-methods analysis were used. Rigor-enhancing strategies include triangulation, collaboration, member checking, and researcher reflexivity, as well as interviewing a comparison group of 12 Euro-American Christians. Cambodian-American Buddhists and Christians take their religion seriously, and it influences their daily lives. These Buddhists focus on perseverence in the present life and gaining merit for the next. The Christians focus on serving God and nurturing relationships in this life. They report that they are more different from the Cambodian-American Buddhists than Latent Semantic Analysis indicates...
Program assessment in a college of pharmacy

Objective:The objective of this study was to describe a program assessment plan for one College of Pharmacy. Methods:Assessment surveys were developed to include items that assessed students’ and alumni’s perceptions of the School’s curriculum regarding opportunities to develop in the areas defined by the program’s ten global curricular outcomes.The surveys were administered at various points in time—at the end of each year of the program, at graduation from the program and after graduation. The data collected represented three viewpoints: currently enrolled and graduating students,alumni, and employers. Employer data was collected by utilizing a focus group, comprised of key employers of college alumni.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results:Means are reported on each of the ten global curricular outcomes for each group. The results of the employer focus group are presented. Conclusion:Faculty and the College Curriculum Committee use the results of the assessment plan for program improvement.
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis.

Background Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a syndrome characterized by the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms due to a misdirected tumor-activated antibody response that damages host neural tissue. Definitive treatment relies on the identification and ablation of the underlying tumor. Few publications describe the management of psychiatric symptoms associated with PLE. Objective Given the plethora of neuropsychiatric symptoms that may mimic primary psychiatric illness, and the possibility that PLE may herald a life-threatening malignancy, it is important that psychiatrists become familiar with this condition. Method The authors review and discuss the consensus literature on the various aspects of PLE. Discussion In this review, authors summarize proposed mechanisms and treatments of PLE.
An examination of fault exposure ratio

The fault exposure ratio, K, is an important factor that controls the per-fault hazard rate, and hence, the effectiveness of the testing of software. The authors examine the variations of K with fault density, which declines with testing time. Because faults become harder to find, K should decline if testing is strictly random. However, it is shown that at lower fault densities K tends to increase. This is explained using the hypothesis that real testing is more efficient than strictly random testing especially at the end of the test phase. Data sets from several different projects (in USA and Japan) are analyzed. When the two factors, e.g., shift in the detectability profile and the nonrandomness of testing, are combined the analysis leads to the logarithmic model that is known to have superior predictive capability. >
Plasticity in the Primary Auditory Cortex, Not What You Think it is: Implications for Basic and Clinical Auditory Neuroscience.

Standard beliefs that the function of the primary auditory cortex (A1) is the analysis of sound have proven to be incorrect. Its involvement in learning, memory and other complex processes in both animals and humans is now wellestablished, although often not appreciated. Auditory coding is strongly modified by associative learning, evident as associative representational plasticity (ARP) in which the representation of an acoustic dimension, like frequency, is re-organized to emphasize a sound that has become behaviorally important. For example, the frequency tuning of a cortical neuron can be shifted to match that of a significant sound and the representational area of sounds that acquire behavioral importance can be increased. ARP depends on the learning strategy used to solve an auditory problem and the increased cortical area confers greater strength of auditory memory. Thus, primary auditory cortex is involved in cognitive processes, transcending its assumed function of auditory stimulus analysis. The implications for basic neuroscience and clinical auditory neuroscience are presented and suggestions for remediation of auditory processing disorders are introduced.
A declarative approach to software requirement specification languages

The authors present a declarative approach to a software requirement specification language which is able to specify requirements for software systems under the emerging methodology. The language presented is based on first-order predicate logic, but augments standard first-order logic by introducing hierarchies and exceptions to its generalizations, to allow for a more natural description of the problem domain. The proposed requirement language is valid and can be determined to be internally consistent. A theorem prover that can interpret the language is implemented. >
The role of volume conductivities in simulation of implantable defibrillators

In the quest for patient specific models for predicting defibrillation efficacy, one of the questions is which tissue types to include into a volume conductor model of the torso. We present a comparison between a model consisting of 11 different tissue types to models with only a subset of of tissue types across a database of electrode orientations including transvenous, epicardial, and subcutaneous electrodes. The simulations show that the volume conductor models should at least include segmentations for the heart, lungs, blood, and bones, and possibly the fat layers and the amount of gaseous space in the stomach and intestines. The latter ones may be necessary for modeling subcutaneous electrode configurations and ICD ldquocansrdquo in the abdomen.
The risk of adverse events in orthopaedic trauma varies by anatomic region of surgery: an analysis of fifty thousand four hundred and twenty one patients.

Despite the high-risk nature of orthopaedic trauma, there is a dearth of data exploring adverse events following these interventions. With the current shift towards a reimbursement model grounded on episode-based payments, physicians may face financial penalties for higher rates of peri-operative complications and subsequent hospitalisations. The purpose of this study was thus to assess whether complication rates varied by anatomic region of surgery and to subsequently determine the pre-operative risk factors that elevated patients’ chances of developing complications in these regions. A total of 50,421 orthopaedic trauma patients treated between 2006 and 2013 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. Minor and major complications, demographics, surgical variables and pre-operative comorbidities were collected. Chi-square analyses identified pre-operative differences between the three regions. Multivariate regressions identified risk factors that significantly predicted adverse events. Hip and pelvis (HP) patients were found to be approximately seven times more likely to develop a peri-operative complication than upper extremity (UE) patients [odds ratio (OR) 7.38, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 6.33–8.10, p < 0.001]. In addition, lower extremity (LE) patients were found to be almost three times as likely to develop any complication compared to UE patients (OR 2.80, 95 % CI 2.53–3.09, p < 0.001). Certain risk factors, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the presence of a bleeding disorder, were significantly correlated with the development of all adverse events for all anatomic regions (p < 0.001). There is a significant difference in complication rates between the three cohorts of orthopaedic trauma patients. In addition, the predictability of certain risk factors varied between the three regions. Level of evidence: prognostic level II.
Sources of Biomass Feedstock Variability and the Potential Impact on Biofuels Production

Terrestrial lignocellulosic biomass has the potential to be a carbon neutral and domestic source of fuels and chemicals. However, the innate variability of biomass resources, such as herbaceous and woody materials, and the inconsistency within a single resource due to disparate growth and harvesting conditions, presents challenges for downstream processes which often require materials that are physically and chemically consistent. Intrinsic biomass characteristics, including moisture content, carbohydrate and ash compositions, bulk density, and particle size/shape distributions are highly variable and can impact the economics of transforming biomass into value-added products. For instance, ash content increases by an order of magnitude between woody and herbaceous feedstocks (from ∼0.5 to 5 %, respectively) while lignin content drops by a factor of two (from ∼30 to 15 %, respectively). This increase in ash and reduction in lignin leads to biofuel conversion consequences, such as reduced pyrolysis oil yields for herbaceous products as compared to woody material. In this review, the sources of variability for key biomass characteristics are presented for multiple types of biomass. Additionally, this review investigates the major impacts of the variability in biomass composition on four conversion processes: fermentation, hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, and direct combustion. Finally, future research processes aimed at reducing the detrimental impacts of biomass variability on conversion to fuels and chemicals are proposed. © 2015 Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, contract manager for Idaho National Laboratory.
Editorial: Between Greedy Individualism and Benevolent Collectivism

Given the close relationship between economic activity and material wealth, it is certainly important to closely examine motives as well as outcomes and to submit economic action to moral scrutiny. The association of economic thinking with greed, though, often illustrates frameworks that implicitly, or even explicitly, presume the benevolence of other institutions. In moving from the immoral businessperson to the realization of the moral society, such frameworks juxtapose the inherent greediness of economic activity with the benevolence of political power. This kind of moral logic lies behind the sentiment that the state is the only power capable of restraining the acquisitive appetites unleashed by markets.
Intakes and Outlets for Low-Head Hydropower

A state-of-the-art review on standardization in low-head hydroelectric development is presented. In addition, the current flow passage design practices are summarized. Several package units are available in the range from 100 hp to 6,700 hp (75 kW to 5,000 kW). These predesigned units reduce equipment costs through standardized manfacturing techniques. Several types of package units are considered. Manufacturer’s standard flow passage dimensions are given for bulb and rim-generator turbines. These standard dimensions can be used for initial layout of a low-head hydroelectric development. Standard flow passage designs are feasible for similar sites; however, structural and geological considerations may cause design variations when site conditions vary. Simplified intake and draft tube designs may lead to less costly structures.
Control Decision Rule for European Chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larvae Infesting Turfgrass

A control decision rule for European chafer, Rhizotrogus (Amphimallon) majalis (Razoumowsky), larvae infesting turfgrass was developed using data from 317 residential sites. Larvae were often abundant enough to cause damage to turf in portions (patches) of properties when average density over an entire site was much less than a damage threshold of 5-10 grubs per 950 cm 2 . To account for this, an empirical relationship between the size of the largest patch of European chafer larvae at a site and site-wide density was used in the development of the decision rule. Properties with a patch of grubs in excess of 30 m 2 were deemed to require insecticide treatment. Site characteristics (lawn age, shade, and percentage of Kentucky bluegrass) were related to site-wide density and this relationship was used to formulate a risk assessment system. This system is used to determine whether a site should be sampled or not. Properties that are not sampled are not to be treated. Other treatment decisions are based on the outcome of sampling. The relationship between site-wide density and patch size did not allow clear identification of a density that could be used as a threshold in a sampling program. Therefore, several sampling plans were constructed that classified density according to different threshold values. Operating characteristic functions were used in combination with the aforementioned relationship between density and patch size to calculate two types of errors for each sampling plan : the probability of not treating when treatment was necessary and the probability of treating when treatment was not required. Based on these error functions, a threshold of 0.25 grubs per 11-cm diameter turf plug was advocated. Use of the proposed control decision rule should result in few treatment errors but could lead to considerable reductions in pesticide use.
Cooling of High-Performance Server Modules Using Direct Immersion

An alternative to air-cooling of high performance computing equipment is presented. Heat removal via pool boiling in FC-72 was tested. Tests were conducted on a multichip module using 1.8 cm × 1.8 cm test die with multiple thermal test cells with temperature sensing capability. Measurements with the bare silicon die in direct contact with the fluid are reported. Additional testing included the test die directly indium-attached to copper heat spreaders having surface treatments. A screen-printed sintered boiling-enhanced surface (4 cm × 4 cm) was evaluated. Tests were conducted on an array of five die. Parameters tested include heat flux levels, dielectric liquid pool conditions (saturated or subcooled), and effect of neighboring die. Information was gathered on surface temperatures for a range of heat flux values up to 12 W/cm2. The highest heat dissipated from a circuit board with five bare die was 195 W (39 W per die). Addition of the heat spreader allowed heat dissipation of up to 740 W (from a five-die array). High-speed imaging was also acquired to help examine detailed information on the boiling process. Numerical modeling indicated that placing multiple boards in close proximity to each other did not degrade performance until board spacing was reduced to 3 mm.© 2012 ASME
Music Student Teaching Seminars: An Examination of Current Practices Across the United States.

The purpose of this study was to examine the structure and content of music student teaching seminars at 4-year, degree-granting institutions accredited by the National Association of Schools of Mu...
Clinical study on the treatment of 64 cases of chronic obstructive emphysema with pulmonary heart disease

Objective To discuss the clinical treatment of chronic obstructive emphysema with pulmonary heart disease. Methods 64 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary heart disease from June 2011 to June 2013 in our hospital, comparative analysis of clinical treatment and quality of life. Results The treatment of this group of patients after FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PaO2, PaCO2 values were significantly improved after the treatment, 6 min walking distance increased, and there were significant differences as compared with before treatment(P0.05). Conclusion In the clinical treatment of chronic obstructive emphysema with pulmonary heart disease, combined with daily life care can significantly improve lung function in patients with western medicine, improve the quality of life.
Health policy guided by five questions.

As the U.S. Congress pursues a course for the restructuring of the U.S. health care system, it will have to carefully evaluate potential solutions in terms of their effect on cost and access. This article explores five questions, the answers to which will have to guide any health care policy changes at the federal level.
Into the Cool: Energy Flow, Thermodynamics and Life

Some say its love that makes the world go ‘round, some say its money. Schneider and Sagan, wise in the way the world really works, credit the flow of energy mandated by the second law of thermodynamics. Earth is positioned in a gradient of energy between the hot sun and the cool of outer space (and makes its own geochemical contribution to that gradient). Organisms live by the flow of energy, drawing upon it to support work functions such as biosynthesis, motility, and reproduction.
It Project Risk Factors: The Project Management Professionals Perspective

The failure of systems development projects has plagued the IT industry for years. In fact, the 2004 Standish group report indicates that only 28 percent of software development projects are successful, down from previous estimates of 34%. This paper identifies IT project risk factors that pose threats to successful project implementation and describes project management professionals (PMPs) assessment of these risk factors. It concludes with suggested strategies for avoiding and/or mitigating these risks and associated implications.
Bio-printing cell-laden Matrigel-agarose constructs

3D printing of biological architectures that mimic the structural and functional features of in vivo tissues is of great interest in tissue engineering and the development of transplantable organ constructs. Printable bio-inks that are compatible with cellular activities play critical roles in the process of 3D bio-printing. Although a variety of hydrogels have been used as bio-inks for 3D bio-printing, they inherit poor mechanical properties and/or the lack of essential protein components that compromise their performance. Here, a hybrid Matrigel-agarose hydrogel system has been demonstrated that possesses both desired rheological properties for bio-printing and biocompatibility for long-term (11 days) cell culture. The agarose component in the hybrid hydrogel system enables the maintenance of 3D-printed structures, whereas Matrigel provides essential microenvironments for cell growth. When human intestinal epithelial HCT116 cells are encapsulated in the printed Matrigel-agarose constructs, high cell viability and proper cell spreading morphology are observed. Given that Matrigel is used extensively for 3D cell culturing, the developed 3D-printable Matrigel-agarose system will open a new way to construct Matrigel-based 3D constructs for cell culture and tissue engineering.
An Internal Voltage Generation System of Flash Memory Module Embedded in a Microcontroller

We present a new internal voltage generation system of flash memory module embedded in a microcontroller. One of the features is wide range voltage generator for the evaluation of the memory cell, which is effective mainly at the development early stage. The second feature is new temperature dependency voltage generator matched to memory cell property for the improvement of reliability. The third is an auto-trimming system that arranges output of internal voltage generators with target values. Using embedded CPU the auto-trimming system suppresses voltage variations for many chips simultaneously, so we can reduce test cost and improve reliability of flash memory module in the stage of mass production