cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recruiting students into surgery

Abstract Purpose: We initiated a program to improve student perceptions of surgery as a career. This study was performed to determine if providing a multi-faceted program to recruit students into surgery increased the percentage of the class applying to surgery residencies. Methods: The Valentine Mott Surgical Society (VMSS), a multi-faceted program was designed to recruit students into surgery residencies (general, uro, neuro, ent, optho, derm, and ortho) was started in 1998 and fully implemented in 1999. Faculty in all specialties facilitated educational conferences, research opportunities in surgical laboratories and clinical projects, hands-on workshops, a competition to attend the ACS meeting, mock interviews with feedback, and individualized advising and mentoring. Results: By X 2 , an increase in students matching in surgery occurred after full implementation of VMSS, p Conclusions: After implementation of the Valentine Mott Surgical Society a significant increase in the number of students who matched in a surgical residency was noted. The quality of our students who selected surgical residencies remained high and the applicants were diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, and prior family experience with a surgical career. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a focused prospective program to foster student interest in surgery. TABLE—ABSTRACT 60 . Percent of Graduating Class Matching in a Surgical Residency PRE-V.M.S.S. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 (%) 20 19 23 13 16 V.M.S.S. 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 (%) 14 20 21 22 21 26
The structure of a random relation with an application to a nomination network

Abstract Stochastic relations frequently occur in the social sciences; however, their statistical properties are not well-known. A random relation can be used to model noise or observational error. This paper characterizes the structure of a random relation by deriving the distribution of the structural vector from Q-analysis and by simulating random relations. We propose a measure of structure and apply these concepts to the nominations of esteemed peers by mathematicians.
Verb frame preferences: Descriptive norms

This paper presents normative data about the frequency with which college students construct sentences with different syntactically defined frames for 127 English verbs. The norms are intended to be of use to experimenters in preparing materials to study sentence comprehension.
Seismic signatures of a hydrated mantle wedge from antigorite crystal-preferred orientation (CPO)

Abstract We report electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements of antigorite crystal preferred orientations (CPOs) from 7 samples of antigorite schist from serpentinite melanges adjacent to the Motagua fault system in central Guatemala. The CPOs range from diffuse girdle to point distributions of (001) atg . Girdle distributions of (001) atg are not expected from deformation theory or experiments, suggesting that they are a result of growth rather than deformation, and may thus be topotactically related to the CPO of the olivine from which the antigorite grew. The calculated seismic anisotropy ranges from 6% to 28% in V P , and 5% to 33% in V S , and is highest for samples with a point maximum of (001) atg . For all samples the minimum V P corresponds to the pole to (001) atg , and the maximum V P occurs within the foliation for samples with a clearly defined foliation. Trench-parallel shear-wave splitting observations for subduction zones can best be explained by a combination of olivine B-type CPO and antigorite oriented with (001) parallel to the foliation; only a relatively thin (~20 km) zone of hydrated mantle is required to explain the observed splitting times.
Cultural-Familial Predictors of Children's Metacognitive and Academic Performance

Abstract This study explored the interrelations between cultural-familial factors and measures of metacognitive and academic performance in second-grade children (n= 154). Information concerning socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, family structure, and parental behavior were collected from each child. In addition, data concerning metacognitive functioning, GPAs, and CTBS scores were also obtained. A MANCOVA revealed that the ethnic differences which were apparent for metacognitive and academic measures completely disappeared when SES was treated as the independent variable with ethnicity as its covariate. Furthermore, the evidence indicated that different cultural-familial backgrounds systematically relate to the variety of metacognitive experiences that are available to children. A multiple regression analysis revealed that SES, family size, and parental assistance on homework (but not ethnicity), all contribute to the development of metacognition. These findings corroborate assertions (e.g., Scarr-Sa...
A Study of the Effects of Irrelevant Information on the Short-Term Retention of Relevant Information

(1965). A Study of the Effects of Irrelevant Information on the Short-Term Retention of Relevant Information. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 257-262.
Unilateral volume reduction after single-lung transplantation for emphysema

Background. Single-lung transplantation has become accepted therapy for patients with end-stage emphysema. Hyperinflation of the native lung can occur after single-lung transplantation with mediastinal shifting and compression of the transplanted lung. A volume reduction operation (pneumonectomy) may relieve symptoms of dyspnea and improve exercise tolerance. Methods. Three of 66 patients who underwent single-lung transplantation for emphysema had development of native lung hyperexpansion and mediastinal shifting causing compression of the transplanted contralateral lung at 12, 17, and 42 months after transplantation. There were 2 men and 1 woman. Unilateral volume reduction was performed without complication in all 3 patients. Results. All patients were noted to have marked improvement in chest radiographs after volume reduction, substantial relief of dyspnea, and improvement in exercise tolerance. An improvement in pulmonary function test results was noted in 1 patient, but tests were not done for the other 2 patients. Conclusions. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who undergo single-lung transplantation may have symptomatic hyperexpansion of the native lung requiring volume reduction months to years after transplantation. Unilateral volume reduction can be safely performed in the posttransplantation period.
Experiments with Hardware-based Transactional Memory in Parallel Simulation

Transactional memory is a concurrency control mechanism that dynamically determines when threads may safely execute critical sections of code. It provides the performance of fine-grained locking mechanisms with the simplicity of coarse-grained locking mechanisms. With hardware based transactions, the protection of shared data accesses and updates can be evaluated at runtime so that only true collisions to shared data force serialization. This paper explores the use of transactional memory as an alternative to conventional synchronization mechanisms for managing the pending event set in a Time Warp synchronized parallel simulator. In particular, we explore the application of Intel's hardware-based transactional memory (TSX) to manage shared access to the pending event set by the simulation threads. Comparison between conventional locking mechanisms and transactional memory access is performed to evaluate each within the warped Time Warp synchronized parallel simulation kernel. In this testing, evaluation of both forms of transactional memory found in the Intel Haswell processor, Hardware Lock Elision (HLE) and Restricted Transactional Memory (RTM), are evaluated. The results show that RTM generally outperforms conventional locking mechanisms and that HLE provides consistently better performance than conventional locking mechanisms, in some cases as much as 27%.
Changes in available nitrogen and nematode abundance in response to Brassica seed meal amendment of orchard soil

Abstract A better understanding of the effects of Brassicaceae seed meals on resident soil microbial communities is necessary to predict the efficacy of these plant residues as either a biofumigant or organic fertilizer. This study analyzed the influence of high ( Brassica juncea ) and low ( Brassica napus ) glucosinolate content seed meals in addition to myrosinase-inactive derivatives on soil microbial community function with respect to nitrogen (N) cycling. All of the seed meal amendments stimulated nitric oxide (NO) generation in an orchard soil. N-mineralization occurred in response to B. juncea seed meal application but the amount of mineralization was reduced by the presence of active myrosinase and corresponding generation of allyl isothiocyanate. Microbial communities responded differentially to seed meal amendments: nematode abundance was enhanced by seed meals with either low glucosinolate or no myrosinase activity whereas fungal and bacterial abundance in soil did not exhibit significant changes in response to any seed meal amendment. In addition to changes in overall abundance, nematode diversity was also modified in response to seed meal amendment and differed among the amendments that enhanced nematode abundance. Collectively, these results indicate that microbial communities and overall soil function respond differentially to both seed meal type/glucosinolate content and isothiocyanate generation. These findings have significance for the efficient use of Brassicaceae residues as a source of plant available nitrogen.
K alpha satellite transition assignments for medium-Z elements.

Nonrelativistic Hartree-Fock calculations have been used in intermediate coupling to calculate transition energies and relative intensities for K\ensuremath{\alpha} satellites for all elements from K (Z=19) through Ge (Z=32). It is found that the 2s spectator-hole transitions (1s2s${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(2s2p${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ contribute negligibly, whereas all satellites except ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2\mathrm{sprime}}$ can be assigned to allowed transitions from the (1s2p${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(2p${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$ complex.
Scaling behavior and surface-plasmon modes in metal-insulator composites

The ac dielectric response of metal-insulator composites is studied numerically, using the transfer-matrix algorithm of Derrida and Vannimenus. For two-dimensional random composites with site percolation, we verify numerically that the effective dielectric function can be written numerically in the form ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathrm{e}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{1}$=${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{t}/\ensuremath{\nu}}$${\mathrm{G}}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$((${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{2}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{1}$)${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{(\mathrm{t}+\mathrm{s})/\ensuremath{\nu}}$\ensuremath{\xi}/L, where ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ are the dielectric functions, \ensuremath{\xi} is the correlation length, L is the system size (or wavelength of the electric field), ${G}_{+}$ and ${G}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ are universal functions above and below percolation, and t, s, and \ensuremath{\nu} are standard percolation exponents. A similar form has been previously verified for bond percolation by Bug et al. We also study surface-plasmon resonances in a two-dimensional lattice model of a composite of Drude metal and insulator. The effective conductivity of the composite in this case is found to consist of a Drude peak which disappears below the metal percolation threshold, plus a band of surface-plasmon states separated from zero frequency by a gap which appears to vanish near the percolation threshold. The results in this case agree qualitatively with effective-medium predictions. The potential relation of these results to experiment, and the possibility of a Lifshitz tail in the surface-plasmon density of states, are briefly discussed.
A simple method of four-jet analysis ine+e− annihilation

For four-jet events in electron-positron annihilation at center-of-mass energies of 30 GeV or higher, a simple procedure is described to determine all four jet axes and jet energies. The result is insensitive to missing particles such as neutrals and the required computer time is quite moderate.
Small oscillations of inviscid incompressible stratified parallel and swirling flows

Abstract Existence theorems, minimax principles and comparison theorems are obtained for the real eigenfrequencies of inviscid, incompressible, stratified plane parallel flow and swirling flow.
Light-dependent chlorophyll a biosynthesis upon chlL deletion in wild-type and photosystem I-less strains of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Part of the chlL gene encoding a component involved in light-independent protochlorophyllide reduction was deleted in wild type and in a photosystem I-less strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In resulting mutants, chlorophyll biosynthesis was fully light-dependent. When these mutants were propagated under light-activated heterotrophic growth conditions (in darkness except for 15 min of weak light a day) for several weeks, essentially no chlorophyll was detectable but protochlorophyllide accumulated. Upon return of the chlL - mutant cultures to continuous light, within the first 6 h chlorophyll was synthesized at the expense of protochlorophyllide at a rate independent of the presence of photosystem I. Chlorophyll biosynthesized during this time gave rise to a 685 nm fluorescence emission peak at 77 K in intact cells. This peak most likely originates from a component different from those known to be directly associated with photosystems II and I. Development of 695 and 725 nm peaks (indicative of intact photosystem II and photosystem I, respectively) required longer exposures to light. After 6 h of greening, the rate of chlorophyll synthesis slowed as protochlorophyllide was depleted. In the chlL - strain, greening occurred at the same rate at two different light intensities (5 and 50 μE m-2s-1), indicating that also at low light intensity the amount of light is not rate-limiting for protochlorophyllide reduction. Thus, in this system the rate of chlorophyll biosynthesis is limited neither by biosynthesis of photosystems nor by the light-dependent protochlorophyllide reduction. We suggest the presence of a chlorophyll-binding ‘chelator’ protein (with 77 K fluorescence emission at 685 nm) that binds newly synthesized chlorophyll and that provides chlorophyll for newly synthesized photosynthetic reaction centers and antennae.
Duopoly pricing game in networks with local coordination effects

In this paper, we study a duopoly pricing problem in which two firms compete for selling two products in a network. Our proposed model consists of two stages. In the first stage, firms set the price they charge agents for their product and the quality of the product they offer. For agents, the quality of the product can be interpreted as the payoff of a local coordination game played among them in the network. In the second stage, agents in the network decide what fraction of these two products to purchase. We first characterize the Nash equilibrium of the game played among agents in the network. We show that agents' actions in the Nash equilibrium consist of two terms, one of which is proportional to the agents' centrality in the network. Conditioned on agents playing the equilibrium policy, we find the Nash equilibrium of the pricing game played between firms. We show that even when firms are similar and offer a uniform price for agents, their Nash equilibrium price depends on the network structure.We then analyze sensitivity of the agents' consumption with respect to the price and quality of the product. We finally show that depending on a firm's opponent's price and quality, the optimal price of a firm can be higher, equal or less than the monopoly optimal price.
Stimulation of D1‐like or D2 dopamine receptors in the shell, but not the core, of the nucleus accumbens reinstates cocaine‐seeking behaviour in the rat

Although increases in dopamine transmission in the brain are clearly involved in the reinstatement of cocaine seeking, the role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in cocaine priming-induced reinstatement remains controversial. The goal of these experiments was to evaluate the relative contributions of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens core and shell in the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behaviour. Initially, rats were trained to press a lever for cocaine (0.25 mg, i.v.) using a fixed-ratio 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Responding was then extinguished by substituting saline for cocaine. During the reinstatement phase, subtype-specific dopamine receptor agonists were microinjected into the nucleus accumbens core or medial shell in order to assess their ability to induce cocaine seeking. Administration of the D1/D5 dopamine receptor agonist SKF-81297 (1.0 microg) into the nucleus accumbens shell, but not core, reinstated drug-seeking behaviour. Similarly, microinjection of quinpirole (3.0 microg), a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist, into the nucleus accumbens shell and not core reinstated drug-seeking behaviour. In contrast, administration of the D3- or D4-preferring dopamine receptor agonists PD 128,907 (1.5 and 3.0 microg) and PD 168,077 (0.3 and 3.0 microg), respectively, did not promote reinstatement when administered into either the core or the shell. Taken together, these results indicate that activation of D1/D5 or D2 dopamine receptors, in the limbic shell subregion of the nucleus accumbens but not the basal ganglia-orientated accumbens core, promotes the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behaviour.
Optimization of operations in a steel wire manufacturing company

The project was conducted in a high quality steel wire manufacturing company with the production capacity of over 120,000 tones/annum. The wire drawn from the high speed wire drawing (KOCH) machine is fed as the raw material for BEKEART (zinc coating galvanization) furnace. The problem faced by the company is the variability in the amount of input to the furnace, which results from the breakdowns occurring on the KOCH machine resulting in low production. Apart from its speed, KOCH machines have other advantages due to their automation by which they can be set as per the requirements and different parameters of the company. It can be concluded that any downtime in the process occurring at the KOCH machine adversely affects the productivity of the BEKEART furnace, as a result of which the total production on this line suffers and hence the profits of the company. A simulation study was done with the objective of increasing the throughput and ensuring smooth product flow through the system by finding the optimum arrival batch size.
FATCA and Schedule UTP: Are these Unilateral US Actions Doomed Unless Adopted by Other Countries?

In the past two years, the US has unilaterally adopted two, very controversial transparency initiatives: •FATCA - Imposes a 30% withholding tax on a foreign financial institution (FFI) that desires to access the US financial market unless the FFI agrees to report information about its US customers. •Schedule UTP - Requires large corporations to disclose uncertain tax positions (UTPs) for which a tax reserve has been recorded in audited financial statements. While a senior US government tax official, the author was heavily involved in developing both FATCA and Schedule UTP. The primary purpose of this article is to discuss certain of the global considerations of these two ground-breaking initiatives. For example: Does the US need multilateral action to accomplish its goals with respect to either FATCA or Schedule UTP, and if so, what form might such action take? The paper concludes the following: •The US likely needs multilateral action to successfully implement FATCA, but it does not for Schedule UTP. •Foreign countries would benefit greatly from using the US’s leverage to effectively force financial institutions to join a multilateral FATCA system. The US would benefit from reducing the number of viable investment options available to US tax cheats. •A successful multilateral FATCA system could incorporate multiple design features. For example, it could accommodate both a reporting and withholding model. However, if this option is selected, a “punitive withholding model” should be adopted that has a relatively high tax rate and applies to both investment income and new money. The failure to apply withholding tax to new money is a major deficiency of the recent withholding agreements between Switzerland and the UK/Germany. •Schedule UTP requires a corporation to link a tax reserve with a specific tax issue. If tax reserves are recorded on an aggregate basis, the link between a tax reserve and a specific tax issue may be more difficult to establish. This issue had been resolved by FIN 48 in US GAAP, but it still exists for IFRS. Fortunately, there is a solution.
A single-phase, non-isothermal model for PEM fuel cells

Abstract A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell produces a similar amount of waste heat to its electric power output, and tolerates a small temperature deviation from its design point for best performance and durability. These stringent thermal requirements present a significant heat transfer problem. In this work, a three-dimensional, non-isothermal model is developed to account rigorously for various heat generation mechanisms, including irreversible heat due to electrochemical reactions, entropic heat, and Joule heating arising from the electrolyte ionic resistance. The thermal model is further coupled with the electrochemical and mass transport models, thus permitting a comprehensive study of thermal and water management in PEM fuel cells. Numerical simulations reveal that the thermal effect on PEM fuel cells becomes more critical at higher current density and/or lower gas diffusion layer thermal conductivity. This three-dimensional model for single cells forms a theoretical foundation for thermal analysis of multi-cell stacks where thermal management and stack cooling is a significant engineering challenge.
Compensation of Raman scattering and EDFA's nonuniform gain in ultra-long-distance WDM links

Two physical mechanism effects which cause nonuniform spectral gain in a long-distance WDM system are Raman scattering and EDFA's, with the Raman gain increasing with wavelength and the EDFA gain profile in a cascaded-amplifier system having a peak at 1560 nm. Both effects limit system capacity by causing a wide variation in signal powers and SNR among several WDM channels. We analyze the scenario in which these two deleterious effects partially compensate each other so that a more uniform overall spectral gain can be achieved. By adjusting the link-loss between amplifiers and by strategically placing six WDM channels between 1560 and 1563 nm, the SNR differential among these channels is reduced from 10 dB to 0.5 dB for a 10 000 km link, thereby significantly enhancing the system performance.
Pro-IL-16 Regulation in Activated Murine CD4+ Lymphocytes

Prior DNA microarray studies suggested that IL-16 mRNA levels decrease following T cell activation, a property unique among cytokines. We examined pro-IL-16 mRNA and protein expression in resting and anti-CD3 mAb-activated primary murine CD4 + T cells. Consistent with the microarray reports, pro-IL-16 mRNA levels fell within 4 h of activation, and this response is inhibited by cyclosporin A. Total cellular pro-IL-16 protein also fell, reaching a nadir at 48 h. Pro-IL-16 comprises a C-terminal cytokine domain and an N-terminal prodomain that are cleaved by caspase-3. Pro-IL-16 expressed in transfected tumor cells was previously shown to translocate to the nucleus and to promote G 0 /G 1 arrest by stabilizing the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 Kip1 . In the present study, we observed increased S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 mRNA expression in IL-16 null mice, but basal expression and activation-dependent regulation of p27 Kip1 were no different from wild-type mice. Stimulation with anti-CD3 mAb induced transiently greater thymidine incorporation in IL-16-deficient CD4 + T cells than wild-type controls, but there was no difference in cell survival or in the CFSE dilution profiles. Analysis of CD4 + T cell proliferation in vivo using BrdU labeling similarly failed to identify a hyperproliferative phenotype in T cells lacking IL-16. These data demonstrate that pro-IL-16 mRNA and protein expression are dynamically regulated during CD4 + T cell activation by a calcineurin-dependent mechanism, and that pro-IL-16 might influence T cell cycle regulation, although not in a dominant manner.
A federated model for secure Web-based videoconferencing

This paper describes efforts underway within Internet2 to create a secure federated IP based videoconferencing model. The objective is to create an environment that is user-friendly, ensures user privacy, and simplifies user management. This model makes use of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as the underlying session establishment protocol. Since the session can (and most often will) be, between domains, securing the process will involve inter-realm authentication and authorization, which gives rise to a host of issues such as user privacy and authorization granularity. To address this issue, we make use of a federated trust model for sharing resources based on Shibboleth and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), an XML-based security standard that describes the format and exchange of authentication and authorization information, such as identity, attributes, and artifacts.
A novel approach to computer-aided diagnosis of mammographic images

The article is a work-in-progress report of a research endeavor that deals with the design and development of a novel approach to computer aided diagnosis (CAD) of mammographic images. With the initial emphasis being on the analysis of microcalcifications, the proposed approach defines a synergistic paradigm that utilizes new methodologies together with previously developed techniques. The new paradigm is intended to promote a higher degree of accuracy in CAD of mammograms with an increased overall throughput. The process of accomplishing these goals is initiated by the fractal encoding of the input image, which gives rise to the generation of focus-of-attention regions (FARs), that is, regions that contain anomalies. The primary thrust of this work is to demonstrate that by considering FARs, rather than the entire input image, the performances of the ensuing processes (i.e., segmentation, feature extraction, and classification) are enhanced in terms of accuracy and speed. An experimental study is included that demonstrates the impact of FAR generation on the process of microcalcification segmentation.
Adverse Events Following Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine in Adults Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 2003–2013

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) for children [1]. One dose of MMR is recommended for unvaccinated adults born in 1957 or later or those without immunity to MMR [2]. Students in postsecondary educational institutions, healthcare workers, and adults traveling internationally should receive a second dose. More than 95% of individuals will develop immunity to measles after the first MMR dose and nearly all after a second dose [3]. MMR is well tolerated, and most adverse events (AEs) are mild and self-limited (eg, fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, parotitis, transient arthralgias/arthritis). MMR has been associated with febrile seizures [3–5] and, on rare occasions, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in the 6 weeks following vaccination [6]. Information on safety of MMR in adults is limited, but data from large-scale vaccination programs are reassuring [7–9]. Although endemic measles transmission was eliminated in the United States in 2000, outbreaks related to imported cases continue [3]. In the first half of 2014, numbers of confirmed measles cases (288) exceeded each yearly total since elimination [10]. Recent large-scale measles outbreaks in European Union countries [11, 12], likely resulting from pockets of unvaccinated individuals, have prompted European Union countries to consider catch-up MMR vaccination programs targeting adults. To evaluate the safety of MMR in adults and inform potential catch-up vaccination programs, we reviewed reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) following MMR for individuals aged ≥19 years.
A PASSIVE MEANS FOR ELIMINATING RANGE LOSS FOR PROJECTILES WITH PARTIALLY RESTRAINED INTERNAL MEMBERS

A theory is developed to investigate offsetting the center of gravity (cg) of a Partially Restrained Internal Member (PRIM) from the projectile spin axis to provide a passive means for eliminating the PRIM-induced instabilities that sometimes cause large losses in range and deflection. Results for cylindrical PRIM geometries indicate that, except for large-diameter thin PRIM shapes, small PRIM cg offsets, including some that occur randomly within manufacturing tolerances, should be sufficient to reduce the instability-induced range and deflection losses to acceptable levels. Experimental results are presented to confirm the stabilizing effect of PRIM cg offset.
Optimal ratios of topical stratum corneum lipids improve barrier recovery in chronologically aged skin

Abstract Background: Chronologically aged skin exhibits delayed recovery rates after defined barrier insults, with decreased epidermal lipid synthesis, and particularly a reduction in cholesterol synthesis. Prior studies in young mice ( Objective and methods: Our purpose was to compare the ability of equimolar and cholesterol- and FFA-dominant molar lipid mixtures (2% in propylene glycol/n-propanol, 7:3) versus vehicle alone on barrier recovery rates at 0, 3, 6, 24, 48 hours, and 1 week after tape stripping of aged hairless mouse (> 18 months) and chronologically aged human skin (80 ± 5 years). Results: Whereas a single topical application of the equimolar mixture only allows normal recovery in young mice, it appeared to improve barrier recovery in chronologically aged mice ( p p p p n = 6). In contrast, in aged mice, an FFA-dominant mixture significantly delayed barrier recovery at 3, 6, and 24 hours ( p Conclusion: These findings show that barrier recovery is accelerated in chronologically aged murine epidermis with optimized ratios of physiologic lipids, provided that cholesterol is the dominant lipid and that the same mixture also accelerates barrier recovery in chronologically aged human skin. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:403-8.)
Network Games: Theory, Models, and Dynamics

Traditional network optimization focuses on a single control objective in a network populated by obedient users and limited dispersion of information. However, most of today's networks are large-scale with lack of access to centralized information, consist of users with diverse requirements, and are subject to dynamic changes. These factors naturally motivate a new distributed control paradigm, where the network infrastructure is kept simple and the network control functions are delegated to individual agents which make their decisions independently ("selfishly"). The interaction of multiple independent decision-makers necessitates the use of game theory, including economic notions related to markets and incentives. This monograph studies game theoretic models of resource allocation among selfish agents in networks. The first part of the monograph introduces fundamental game theoretic topics. Emphasis is given to the analysis of dynamics in game theoretic situations, which is crucial for design and control of networked systems. The second part of the monograph applies the game theoretic tools for the analysis of resource allocation in communication networks. We set up a general model of routing in wireline networks, emphasizing the congestion problems caused by delay and packet loss. In particular, we develop a systematic approach to characterizing the inefficiencies of network equilibria, and highlight the effect of autonomous service providers on network performance. We then turn to examining distributed power control in wireless networks. We show that the resulting Nash equilibria can be efficient if the degree of freedom given to end-users is properly designed.
The Mouse t-Complex-encoded Protein Tctex-1 Is a Light Chain of Brain Cytoplasmic Dynein

Mammalian brain cytoplasmic dynein contains three light chains of Mr = 8,000, 14,000, and 22,000 (King, S. M., Barbarese, E., Dillman, J. F., III, Patel-King, R. S., Carson, J. H., and Pfister, K. K. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19358-19366). Peptide sequence data (16/16 residues correct) implicate the Mr = 14,000 polypeptide as Tctex-1, a protein encoded within the mouse t-complex. Tctex-1 cosediments with microtubules and is eluted with ATP or salt but not with GTP as expected for a dynein subunit. The ATP-eluted protein precisely cosediments with known cytoplasmic dynein proteins in sucrose density gradients. Tctex-1 also is immunoprecipitated from brain and other tissue homogenates by a monoclonal antibody raised against the 74-kDa cytoplasmic dynein intermediate chain. Quantitative densitometry indicates that Tctex-1 is a stoichiometric component of the dynein complex. As Tctex-1 is a candidate for involvement in the transmission ratio distortion (meiotic drive) of mouse t-haplotypes, these results suggest that cytoplasmic dynein dysfunction may play an important role in non-mendelian chromosome segregation.
Exploration and Assessment of the NORC Transformation Process

Forty-nine stakeholders at two naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) were interviewed. Preliminary empirical data was identified through exploratory face-to-face individual and small group interviews and an analysis of historical documents using qualitative methodologies. Analysis revealed patterns of strategies that included skilled staff focused on relationship building, use of engagement activities, and the inclusion of key services. These aided in the perceptions of the stakeholders where the NORC was perceived to have been transformed into a community, labeled an enhanced NORC, and one where they could grow old. Findings also indicated the need for substantive funding to begin the processes and to maintain and sustain the perceived transformation.
Inducible gene expression: diverse regulatory mechanisms

The rapid activation of gene expression in response to stimuli occurs largely through the regulation of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription. In this Review, we discuss events that occur during the transcription cycle in eukaryotes that are important for the rapid and specific activation of gene expression in response to external stimuli. In addition to regulated recruitment of the transcription machinery to the promoter, it has now been shown that control steps can include chromatin remodelling and the release of paused polymerase. Recent work suggests that some components of signal transduction cascades also play an integral part in activating transcription at target genes.
A manual and automated procedure for measuring serum cholinesterase activity and identifying enzyme variants. Differentiation by means of Tris and phosphate buffers.

A simplified manual and automated method is described for measuring serum cholinesterase activity and identifying the homozygous "usual," heterozygous, and homozygous "atypical" forms of the enzyme. With butyrylthiocholine as substrate at pH 7.4, the activity is determined in two 0.05 mol/liter buffer systems, Tris and phosphate. The "usual" enzyme has the same activity in both buffer systems. The phosphate buffer inhibits the heterozygous enzyme about 13% and the "atypical" enzyme about 43% relative to its activity in Tris buffer. The range of normal serum cholinesterase values (measurements on plasma from 1842 preschool children) is 2.10 to 5.25 U (mean, 3.67 U). In this population, 3.28% of the Caucasians, but only 0.29% of the Negroes, were heterozygous for the trait.
Mining connected global and local dense subgraphs for bigdata

The problem of discovering connected dense subgraphs of natural graphs is important in data analysis. Discovering dense subgraphs that do not contain denser subgraphs or are not contained in denser subgraphs (called significant dense subgraphs) is also critical for wide-ranging applications. In spite of many works on discovering dense subgraphs, there are no algorithms that can guarantee the connectivity of the returned subgraphs or discover significant dense subgraphs. Hence, in this paper, we define two subgraph discovery problems to discover connected and significant dense subgraphs, propose polynomial-time algorithms and theoretically prove their validity. We also propose an algorithm to further improve the time and space efficiency of our basic algorithm for discovering significant dense subgraphs in big data by taking advantage of the unique features of large natural graphs. In the experiments, we use massive natural graphs to evaluate our algorithms in comparison with previous algorithms. The experimental results show the effectiveness of our algorithms for the two problems and their efficiency. This work is also the first that reveals the physical significance of significant dense subgraphs in natural graphs from different domains.
Relationship between pain relief, reduction in pain-associated sleep interference, and overall impression of improvement in patients with postherpetic neuralgia treated with extended-release gabapentin

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) interferes with patients’ quality of life, and disturbed sleep is a prevalent complaint. Pain-associated sleep interference in turn enhances pain and/or reduces pain tolerance. Therefore, reducing sleep interference by pain, in addition to pain control, may improve patient care. To address this notion, we characterized relationships among changes in pain intensity, sleep interference, and overall impression of improvement in PHN patients treated with gastroretentive gabapentin (G-GR). Patients with PHN (n = 556) received G-GR 1800 mg once-daily in two phase 3 and one phase 4 study. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were completed at baseline and the end of study. Patients’ Global Impression of Change (PGIC) was completed at the end of study. Regression analyses examined relationships between VAS, BPI sleep interference by pain, and PGIC. At the end of treatment, 53.7 and 63.2 % of patients reported a ≥30 % reduction in VAS and BPI pain-associated sleep interference (BPISI) respectively; 46.3 % reported feeling “Much” or “Very Much” improved on the PGIC. There were positive correlations between the percent reductions in VAS and BPISI; both correlated with PGIC improvements. Percent changes in VAS and BPISI were significant (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0082, respectively), and were independent predictors of feeling “Much” or “Very Much” improved on the PGIC. Reductions in pain intensity and in BPISI were correlated, and both also correlated with overall impression of improvement for patients with PHN treated with G-GR. Both pain relief and improvement BPISI independently predicted improvement in PGIC. For optimal patient care, clinicians should consider reducing the impact of pain on quality of sleep as well as overall pain reduction. ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00335933 , NCT00636636 , NCT01426230 .
Bio-optical characteristics of a red tide induced by Mesodinium rubrum in the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela

Abstract The bio-optical changes of the water induced by red tides depend on the type of organism present, and the spectral characterization of such changes can provide useful information on the organism, abundance and distribution. Here we present results from the bio-optical characterization of a non-toxic red tide induced by the autotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum . Particle absorption was high [ a p (440) = 1.78 m − 1 ], as compared to measurements done in the same region [ a p (440) = 0.09 ± 0.06 m − 1 ], with detrital components contributing roughly 11% [ a d (440) = 0.19 m − 1 ]. The remainder was attributed to absorption by phytoplankton pigments [ a ph (440) = 1.60 m − 1 ]. These a ph values were ~ 15 times higher than typical values for these waters. High chlorophyll a concentrations were also measured (52.73 μg L − 1 ), together with alloxanthin (9.52 μg L − 1 ) and chlorophyll c (6.25 μg L − 1 ). This suite of pigment is typical of the algal class Cryptophyceae , from which Mesodinium obtains its chloroplasts. Remote sensing reflectance showed relatively low values [ R rs (440) = 0.0007 sr − 1 ], as compared to other R rs values for the region under high bloom conditions [ R rs (440) = 0.0028 sr − 1 ], with maxima at 388, 484, 520, 596 and 688 nm. Based on the low reflection in the green-yellow, as compared to other red tides, we propose a new band ratio [ R rs (688)/ R rs (564)] to identify blooms of this particular group of organisms.
Abstract CN08-04: Novel Gemini vitamin D compounds for prevention of breast cancer by targeting stem cells

Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells in cancer development offers a new promising strategy in cancer prevention. Targeting cancer stem cells by novel cancer preventive agents may provide a new approach to blocking the progression of premalignant tumors into invasive cancer. CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is a major receptor for extracellular proteins involved in invasion and metastasis of human cancers. CD44 has been recognized as one of the key cell surface markers for tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer. Our laboratory has demonstrated that the novel Gemini vitamin D analog BXL0124 [1α,25-dihydroxy-20R-21(3-hydroxy-3-deuteromethyl-4,4,4-trideuterobutyl)-23-yne-26,27-hexafluro-cholecalciferol] represses CD44 expression in MCF10DCIS.com basal-like human breast cancer cells and inhibits MCF10DCIS xenograft tumor growth. We have investigated potential factors downstream of CD44 and the biological role of CD44 repression by BXL0124 in MCF10DCIS cells. CD44 forms a complex with STAT3 and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) to activate STAT3 signaling, which was inhibited by BXL0124 in MCF10DCIS cells. The knockdown of CD44 by small hairpin RNA significantly decreased mRNA expression levels of invasion markers in MCF10DCIS cells and decreased tumor size and weight as well as invasion markers in MCF10DCIS xenograft tumors. Repression of CD44-STAT3 signaling by the Gemini vitamin D analog BXL0124 appears to be a key molecular mechanism in the inhibition of breast cancer invasion. Identification of new targets and pathways in specific populations of cancer stem cells, such as those expressing CD44, may open a new direction in cancer prevention research. (Supported by NIH grant R01 CA127645). Citation Format: Nanjoo Suh. Novel Gemini vitamin D compounds for prevention of breast cancer by targeting stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr CN08-04.
Yap and Taz play a crucial role in neural crest-derived craniofacial development

The role of the Hippo signaling pathway in cranial neural crest (CNC) development is poorly understood. We used the Wnt1(Cre) and Wnt1(Cre2SOR) drivers to conditionally ablate both Yap and Taz in the CNC of mice. When using either Cre driver, Yap and Taz deficiency in the CNC resulted in enlarged, hemorrhaging branchial arch blood vessels and hydrocephalus. However, Wnt1(Cre2SOR) mutants had an open cranial neural tube phenotype that was not evident in Wnt1(Cre) mutants. In O9-1 CNC cells, the loss of Yap impaired smooth muscle cell differentiation. RNA-sequencing data indicated that Yap and Taz regulate genes encoding Fox transcription factors, specifically Foxc1. Proliferation was reduced in the branchial arch mesenchyme of Yap and Taz CNC conditional knockout (CKO) embryos. Moreover, Yap and Taz CKO embryos had cerebellar aplasia similar to Dandy-Walker spectrum malformations observed in human patients and mouse embryos with mutations in Foxc1. In embryos and O9-1 cells deficient for Yap and Taz, Foxc1 expression was significantly reduced. Analysis of Foxc1 regulatory regions revealed a conserved recognition element for the Yap and Taz DNA binding co-factor Tead. ChIP-PCR experiments supported the conclusion that Foxc1 is directly regulated by the Yap-Tead complex. Our findings uncover important roles for Yap and Taz in CNC diversification and development.
Allergic fungal sinusitis with intracranial extension and frontal lobe symptoms: a case report.

This is the first report of AFS which caused frontal lobe symptomatology and which resolved with surgical therapy. The surgical approach used provided excellent exposure and the sinuses could be ex...
Aborted and Refractory Status Epilepticus Compared

Clinical and EEG characteristics, etiologies, treatment response, and predictors of long-term outcome were determined in 154 children with status epilepticus (SE) hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 1994-2004.
Talent Versus Payroll as Strategic Variables in Game Theoretic Models of Sports Leagues: Response to Madden

This is a response to Madden’s comment on our original article: It’s Not Over ‘til the Fat Lady Sings: Game-Theoretic Analyses of Sports Leagues.
Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota.

The gastrointestinal microbiota has an important role in human health, and there is increasing interest in utilizing dietary approaches to modulate the composition and metabolic function of the mic...
A Silicon-Based Porous Thin Membrane as a Cancer Cell Transmigration Assay

This paper presents a novel microfabricated Boyden chamber in silicon with well-defined pore sizes and controlled membrane thickness for cell migration analysis. The chip-based chamber is fabricated employing lithography and deep reactive ion etching techniques on a double-sided polished silicon wafer. The device contains micro-pores with a silicon oxide layer at the top and a deep microfluidic channel at the bottom, which is anodically-bonded to a glass wafer for sealing and facilitating the imaging and chemoattractant feeding. The applicability of the chip has been demonstrated through the distinct migratory behaviors of highly metastatic breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, through pores with 8 $\mu \text{m}$ in diameter, 50 $\mu \text{m}$ in spacing, and 30 $\mu \text{m}$ in thickness. Employing the above technique, the membrane thickness variation among different chips was below 10%. Utilizing this micro-Boyden chamber device, we have shown that MDA-MB-231 cells migrated distinctively in higher rate than the cells which had gone through sphingosine kinase inhibitor drug treatment or no chemoattractant feeding over a course of 12 hours. Furthermore, we validated the performance of the micro-Boyden chamber by quantifying the migration rate of the cancer cells under different chemoattractant gradient profiles. [2016-0103]
Promising diphoton signals of the little radion at hadron colliders

In little Randall-Sundrum models, the bulk couplings of the radion to massless gauge fields can yield a greatly enhanced diphoton signal at hadron colliders. We examine the implications of the Tevatron data for the little radion and also show that the 7 TeV run at the Large Hadron Collider will have an impressive reach in this channel. The diphoton signal is crucial in the search for a light radion, or the dual dilaton, and can potentially probe the ultraviolet scale of the theory.