cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunity and protection by live attenuated HIV/SIV vaccines

Live attenuated virus vaccines have shown the greatest potential to protect against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, a model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Immunity against the vaccine virus is thought to mediate protection. However, it is shown computationally that the opposite might be true. According to the model, the initial growth of the challenge strain, its peak load, and its potential to be pathogenic is higher if immunity against the vaccine virus is stronger. This is because the initial growth of the challenge strain is mainly determined by virus competition rather than immune suppression. The stronger the immunity against the vaccine strain, the weaker its competitive ability relative to the challenge strain, and the lower the level of protection. If the vaccine virus does protect the host against a challenge, it is because the competitive interactions between the viruses inhibit the initial growth of the challenge strain. According to these arguments, an inverse correlation between the level of attenuation and the level of protection is expected, and this has indeed been observed in experimental data.
Sarcoma of the vulva in a seven-month-old infant

Summary A case of fibrosarcoma of the vulva in a 7-month-old infant is presented. Comparatively radical surgery was resorted to in this case. Only four other cases have been reported in young children.
The biochemistry of natural fasting at its limits.

There are several groups of animals that are adapted for extremely long duration fasting as part of their reproductive cycle. Penguins, bears and seals routinely fast without food or water for months at time. However, they do not ‘starve’, as the biochemical implications of starving are very different from those of successful fasting. There are distinct biochemical adaptations in lipid, carbohydrate and especially protein metabolism that allow these animals to survive. It appears, at least for penguins and seals, that the duration of the fast may be limited by changes that occur in biochemical regulation near the end of the fast. In all of these species, the biochemistry of fasting and the ecological and behavioral demands of their breeding cycles are closely interrelated.
Concurrent comparison of the Cobe Spectra and Fenwal CS3000 for the collection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cells, collected by leukapheresis from peripheral blood, can be used as an alternative to autologous bone marrow transplantation following high-dose chemotherapy as treatment of several malignancies. We compared the ability of the Cobe Spectra and the Fenwal CS3000 to collect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Ten patients experienced repeated leukapheresis (10 L blood processed per procedure) using both instruments. Procedures were alternated between the two until a total of 7 x 10(8) MNC/kg was collected. Data from 61 Spectra and 50 CS3000 collections were analyzed. The yield (mean per procedure) of nucleated cells (NC) and MNC was higher (P less than .005) with the Spectra (0.77 x 10(10) NC and 0.54 x 10(10) MNC) than with the CS3000 (0.59 x 10(10) NC and 0.40 x 10(10) MNC). However, colony forming units (CFU-GM) were not different (P greater than .05) for Spectra (0.92 x 10(4)) and Fenwal (0.65 x 10(4) collections. Platelet contamination was lower (P less than .001) with the Spectra (2.2 x 10(11)) than the CS3000 (5.0 x 10(11)). This correlated with a higher patient blood platelet count immediately following Spectra collections (117 x 10(9)/L) versus the CS3000 (86 x 10(9)/L). Using the methods described, the Spectra product contained greater yields of NC and MNC with less platelet contamination than did the CS3000.
SLOAVx: scalable logarithmic alltoallv algorithm for hierarchical multicore systems

Scientific applications use collective communication operations in Message Passing Interface (MPI) for global synchronization and data exchanges. Alltoall and AlltoallV are two important collective operations. They are used by MPI jobs to exchange messages among all of MPI processes. AlltoallV is a generalization of Alltoall, supporting messages of varying sizes. However, the existing MPI AlltoallV implementation has linear complexity, i.e., each process has to send messages to all other processes in the job. Such linear complexity can result in sub optimal scalability of MPI applications when they are deployed on millions of cores. To address above challenge, in this paper, we introduce a new Scalable LOgarithmic AlltoallV algorithm, named SLOAV, for MPI AlltoallV collective operation. SLOAV aims to achieve global exchange of small messages of different sizes in a logarithmic number of rounds. Furthermore, given the prevalence of multicore systems with shared memory, we design a hierarchical AlltoallV algorithm based on SLOAV by leveraging the advantages of shared memory, which is referred to as SLOAVx. Compared to SLOAV, SLOAVx significantly reduces the inter-node communication, thus improving the entire system performance and mitigating the impact of message latency. We have implemented and embedded both algorithms in Open MPI. Our evaluation on large-scale computer systems shows that for the 8-byte and 1024-process MPI Alltoallv operation, the SLOAV can reduce the latency by as much as 86.4%, when compared to the state-of-the-art, and SLOAVx can further optimize the SLOAV by up to 83.1% in terms of message latency on multicore systems. In addition, experiments with NAS Parallel Benchmark (NPB) demonstrate that our algorithms are very effective for real-world applications.
Amphotericin B with and without itraconazole for invasive aspergillosis : A three-year retrospective study

Abstract Background: Treatment of invasive aspergillosis is frequently unsuccessful, so innovations in therapy are needed. Clinical studies demonstrate that itraconazole may be an effective alternative to amphotericin B. Itraconazole also has been combined with amphotericin B in animal models of aspergillosis, but this regimen produced antagonistic effects. Objectives: To determine the role of itraconazole in the adjunctive treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Methods: A review was conducted of all patients with definite or probable aspergillosis from January 1995 to December 1997 who were treated with conventional amphotericin B alone or in combination with itraconazole. Results: Of 21 patients, 10 received amphotericin B and 11 received the combination. The two groups of patients were comparable clinically at baseline (including similar mean APACHE III scores). Both groups received similar doses and days of amphotericin B treatment. Of the patients who received combination therapy, nine (82%) were cured or improved, and of those who received only amphotericin B, five (50%) were cured or improved. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that itraconazole and amphotericin B given together are not clinically antagonistic and that the promise of combination therapy for aspergillosis should be evaluated further in a randomized clinical trial.
Diagnosis of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections by Using Immunohistochemical and Molecular Assays

Invasive group A streptococcus (GAS) infections cause 1,100 to 1,300 deaths annually in the United States. Diagnosis is made when Streptococcus pyogenes is isolated from pus or body fluids; however, cultures are not always obtained, and antibiotic treatment can preclude bacterial growth. An immunohistochemical assay for GAS was applied to formalin-fixed tissue samples from 122 patients with suspect GAS infection. Immunohistochemical staining of well-defined cocci and small, granular antigen fragments was observed in 27 cases. S pyogenes was isolated in 18 cases, whereas in 8 cases, immunohistochemical staining was confirmed by amplification of the sepB gene of S pyogenes from paraffin-embedded samples in a heminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. A primary focus of infection (respiratory, mucocutaneous, or gynecologic) was present in 22 patients, whereas 5 had no identifiable primary focus of infection. Eighteen patients had systemic infection. Immunohistochemical analysis and PCR can be used for diagnosis of GAS infections in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples.
Ethnicity as a Background Factor in College Education

URBAN STUDIES:Does ethnic background influence success in college? These students think not: A research note.
COMMENT IN REPLY

(1974). COMMENT IN REPLY. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 64, No. 4, pp. 605-606.
Type III cartilage "shield" tympanoplasty: an effective procedure for hearing improvement.

ObjectiveTo report the hearing results following type III cartilage “shield” tympanoplasty.Study DesignRetrospective chart review at a tertiary referral center.MethodsConchal cartilage, shaped as a...
Amyloid-beta transporter expression at the blood-CSF barrier is age-dependent

Background Age is the major risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is an accumulation of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ) in both the AD brain and the normal aging brain. Clearance of Aβ from the brain occurs via active transport at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). With increasing age, the expression of the Aβ efflux transporters is decreased and the Aβ influx transporter expression is increased at the BBB, adding to the amyloid burden in the brain. Expression of the Aβ transporters at the choroid plexus (CP) epithelium as a function of aging was the subject of this study.
The Internet Citizenry: Access and Participation

By drawing attention to estates in governance and politics, especially the role of the scientific estate, Price has provided a model of "what ought to be," as well as a way of studying "what is." It is significant that scientists' most important resources in public engagement are their specialized expertise, and the perception that they are apolitical in their policy stances. These are resources they must use carefully if they wish to protect their autonomy as well as their influence. The interaction of science, technology, and public policy is emerging again as an important sub ject of action and analysis given today's public agenda. In observing and comprehending issues associated with the subject, it is useful to recall Price's still relevant book.
A statistical comparison of calculated brightness temperatures with aircraft-based observations from 10 to 325 GHz

An appropriate level of detail in the microphysical parameterization of clouds and rain cells is essential to the development of realistic atmospheric forward radiative transfer models. Too much detail can inflate computation time and complexity by supporting meaningless degrees of freedom, while too little detail can result in an inadequate model. The particle phase, size distribution, aggregate density, shape, and dielectric constant govern the absorption and scattering properties of a hydrometeor-laden atmosphere. In order to evaluate hydrometeor parameterizations for wideband (10-325 GHz) RT modelling a statistical comparison was performed between brightness temperatures observed over a mature oceanic convective storm and those calculated for a similar storm using two- and five-phase hydrometeor parameterizations in a planar-stratified RT model. While general agreement is obtained, the comparisons suggest that neither the two-phase nor five-phase model is entirely satisfactory for wideband brightness temperature simulations. >
Mass Media and the Reconfiguration of Gender Identities: The Bharatiya Nari in the United States:

This article examines the role of US and Indian mass media in maintaining and/or refuting the Bharatiya Nari (Indian Woman) stereotype for middle-class immigrant Indian women in the US. In-depth in...
Distortion of genealogical properties when the sample is very large.

Study sample sizes in human genetics are growing rapidly, and in due course it will become routine to analyze samples with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of individuals. In addition to posing computational challenges, such large sample sizes call for carefully reexamining the theoretical foundation underlying commonly used analytical tools. Here, we study the accuracy of the coalescent, a central model for studying the ancestry of a sample of individuals. The coalescent arises as a limit of a large class of random mating models, and it is an accurate approximation to the original model provided that the population size is sufficiently larger than the sample size. We develop a method for performing exact computation in the discrete-time Wright–Fisher (DTWF) model and compare several key genealogical quantities of interest with the coalescent predictions. For recently inferred demographic scenarios, we find that there are a significant number of multiple- and simultaneous-merger events under the DTWF model, which are absent in the coalescent by construction. Furthermore, for large sample sizes, there are noticeable differences in the expected number of rare variants between the coalescent and the DTWF model. To balance the trade-off between accuracy and computational efficiency, we propose a hybrid algorithm that uses the DTWF model for the recent past and the coalescent for the more distant past. Our results demonstrate that the hybrid method with only a handful of generations of the DTWF model leads to a frequency spectrum that is quite close to the prediction of the full DTWF model.
Data assimilation in large time-varying multidimensional fields

In the physical sciences, e.g., meteorology and oceanography, combining measurements with the dynamics of the underlying models is usually referred to as data assimilation. Data assimilation improves the reconstruction of the image fields of interest. Assimilating data with algorithms like the Kalman-Bucy filter (KBf) is challenging due to their computational cost which for two-dimensional (2-D) fields is of O(I/sup 6/) where I is the linear dimension of the domain. In this paper, we combine the block structure of the underlying dynamical models and the sparseness of the measurements (e.g., satellite scans) to develop four efficient implementations of the KBf that reduce its computational cost to O(I/sup 5/) in the case of the block KBf and the scalar KBf, and to O(I/sup 4/) in the case of the local block KBf (lbKBf) and the local scalar KBf (lsKBf). We illustrate the application of the IbKBf to assimilate altimetry satellite data in a Pacific equatorial basin.
Virtual mobility domains — A mobility architecture for the future Internet

This paper presents a novel mobility architecture called Virtual Mobility Domains that is designed to work with the Floating Cloud Tiered Internetworking model. Virtual Mobility Domains supports both inter Autonomous System (macro) and intra Autonomous System (micro) mobility by leveraging a tiered addressing, a network cloud concept, and a unique packet forwarding scheme introduced by the Floating Cloud Tiered Internetworking model. The proposed mobility architecture is distinct from others by not using IP addressing and classic routing protocols, and deploying user-centric overlapping mobility domains. The comparative simulation study of Virtual Mobility Domains against Mobile IPv6, Hierarchical Mobile IPv6, and Proxy Mobile IPv6 using OPNET shows that Virtual Mobility Domains brings lower latency, lesser signaling overhead, and fewer packets loss during handoffs, specially during inter Autonomous System roaming. The results highlight the potential for a seamless mobility management.
Cryo-electron energy loss spectroscopy: observations on vitrified hydrated specimens and radiation damage.

Abstract Valence electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) has been used to characterize the composition of frozen-hydrated specimens in the electron microscope. Fine structure in the energy range up to 30 eV provides a means of distinguishing between vitreous and crystalline ice. Some features of the ice spectrum can be understood in terms of transitions between molecular orbitals in the water molecule and by the existence of excitons in the solid. Spectra from hydrated biological specimens can be analyzed to obtain quantitative estimates of the water content by fitting contributions from the ice and organic components. EELS also provides information about the radiation chemistry that occurs when hydrated specimens are exposed to the electron beam. From the observation of the hydrogen K-edge at ∼ 13 eV, it can be deduced that bubbles of molecular hydrogen are evolved during irradiation at doses of > 10 4 nm −2 , and that these bubbles contain gas at pressures in excess of one thousand atmospheres.
Area-time optimal adder design

A systematic method of implementing a VLSI parallel adder is presented. A family of adders based on a modular design is defined. The design uses three types of component cells, which are implemented in static CMOS. The adder design is formulated as a dynamic programming problem, optimizing with respect to area and time. The result is an area-time optimal adder in the design family. The approach is illustrated by implementing a 66-bit adder for use in a floating-point processor. It is shown how to use the method for implementations in technologies and design styles other than static CMOS. >
p-21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) maintains stem cell-like phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells through activation of STAT3 signaling

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a highly lethal malignancy due to its unusual chemoresistance and high aggressiveness. A subpopulation of pancreatic tumor cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is considered responsible not only for tumor-maintenance, but also for its widespread metastasis and therapeutic failure. Here we investigated the role of p-21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) in driving PC stemness properties. Our data demonstrate that triple-positive (CD24+/CD44+/EpCAM+) subpopulation of pancreatic CSCs exhibits greater level of PAK4 as compared to triple-negative (CD24−/CD44−/EpCAM−) cells. Moreover, PAK4 silencing in PC cells leads to diminished fraction of CD24, CD44, and EpCAM positive cells. Furthermore, we show that PAK4-silenced PC cells exhibit decreased sphere-forming ability and increased chemosensitivity to gemcitabine toxicity. PAK4 expression is also associated with enhanced levels of stemness-associated transcription factors (Oct4/Nanog/Sox2 and KLF4). Furthermore, our data show decreased nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity of STAT3 in PAK4-silenced PC cells and restitution of its activity leads to restoration of stem cell phenotypes. Together, our findings deliver first experimental evidence for the involvement of PAK4 in PC stemness and support its clinical utility as a novel therapeutic target in PC.
Benzene Hexachloride Emulsion for Controlling Black Turpentine Beetle in Logging Areas

Sprays of 1.0% gamma benzene hexachloride in water emulsion were tested in 1963 for their effectiveness in protecting pine stumps and damaged live trees from the black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier). The emulsion prevented infestation in stumps, and, with the addition of a wetting agent, was highly effective on tiecs. Over a 6-month period, preventive control for both treatments was 98%. This performance equaled that generally expected from 0.5% benzene hexachloride in diesel oil, which is the standard formulation for preventing attacks in residual stands when pines are selectively cut (Smith 1954).
Low-temperature solvothermal approach to the synthesis of La4Ni3O8 by topotactic oxygen deintercalation.

A chimie douce solvothermal reduction method is proposed for topotactic oxygen deintercalation of complex metal oxides. Four different reduction techniques were employed to qualitatively identify the relative reduction activity of each including reduction with H2 and NaH, solution-based reduction using metal hydrides at ambient pressure, and reduction under solvothermal conditions. The reduction of the Ruddlesden–Popper nickelate La4Ni3O10 was used as a test case to prove the validity of the method. The completely reduced phase La4Ni3O8 was produced via the solvothermal technique at 150 °C—a lower temperature than by other more conventional solid state oxygen deintercalation methods.
Learning and inference using complex generative models in a spatial localization task

A large body of research has established that, under relatively simple task conditions, human observers integrate uncertain sensory information with learned prior knowledge in an approximately Bayes-optimal manner. However, in many natural tasks, observers must perform this sensory-plus-prior integration when the underlying generative model of the environment consists of multiple causes. Here we ask if the Bayes-optimal integration seen with simple tasks also applies to such natural tasks when the generative model is more complex, or whether observers rely instead on a less efficient set of heuristics that approximate ideal performance. Participants localized a "hidden" target whose position on a touch screen was sampled from a location-contingent bimodal generative model with different variances around each mode. Over repeated exposure to this task, participants learned the a priori locations of the target (i.e., the bimodal generative model), and integrated this learned knowledge with uncertain sensory information on a trial-by-trial basis in a manner consistent with the predictions of Bayes-optimal behavior. In particular, participants rapidly learned the locations of the two modes of the generative model, but the relative variances of the modes were learned much more slowly. Taken together, our results suggest that human performance in a more complex localization task, which requires the integration of sensory information with learned knowledge of a bimodal generative model, is consistent with the predictions of Bayes-optimal behavior, but involves a much longer time-course than in simpler tasks.
Skin Acts: Race, Psychoanalysis and the Black Male Performer by Michelle Ann Stephens

Michelle Ann Stephens displays great care in the construction and execution of Skin Acts: Race, Psychoanalysis and the Black Male Performer, weaving together analyses of literature, film, photograp...
Seroepidemiological studies on viral hepatitis among natural population in rural Tongzhou District,Beijing

Objective To understand the personal distribution of varied types of viral hepatitis in rural Tongzhou District.Methods Multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to study prevalence of varied types of viral hepatitis in natural population aged over 12 months at Guacun Village of Zhangjiawan Town and Qijicun Village of Lucheng Town,Tongzhou of Beijing,with microenzyme immune assay(MEIA)reagents and AXSYM apparatus made by Abbott Corp.In the United States for viral hepatitis A,B and C(HAV,HBV and HCV),and with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)reagent made by Kehua Co.in China for viral hepatitis E(HEV).Positive was defined as serum level equal to or greater than 20 mIU/ml for anti-HAV,ratio of S/N equal to or greater than 2 for HBsAg,serum level equal to or greater than 10 mIU/ml for anti-HBs,ratio of S/CO between 0～1 for anti-HBc and ratio of S/CO equal to or greater than 1 for HBeAg.Results Totally,serum was detected for prevalence of varied types of viral hepatitis in 502 persons,and 467 of them were positive for anti-HAV(93.0 percent),245 positive for HBV(48.8 percent),2.6 percent positive for HBsAg,34.9 percent positive for anti-HBs,34.1 percent positive for anti-HBc,23.1 percent positive for HBeAg,six positive for anti-HVC(1.2 percent)and 11 positive for anti-HEV(2.2 percent).Conclusions Prevalence of serum markers for viral hepatitis infection in this study on natural population changed,as compared to that study in 1992,showing ① serum prevalence of anti-HAV increased by 25.3 percent,② carriage of HBsAg decreased by 42.6 percent,and ③ prevalence of HCV and HEV decreased by 53.1 percent and 81.1 percent,respectively.
Clinical research on treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis

Objective To study the effect of combination therapy in treating neonatal dacryocystitis and the best treatment methods in the different periods.Method Total 205 patients(241 eyes) with neonatal dacryocystitis were divided into two groups by month,group A(82 eyes,3 months) and group B(159 eyes, 3 months).The both groups were treated by massaging and squeezing the lacrimal sac for two weeks,and the invalid ones received syphilis of lacrimal passages(3 times/week).The cure rate of the two groups was analysed.The patients who weren′t cured in groups A or B were as group C(169 eyes),received lacrimal passage probing,and the cure rate of group C was analysed.Results The overall cure rate of combination therapy was 98.8%.The cure rates of group A and group B were 51.2% and 18.9%,respectively,the difference was statistically significant(P0.01).The cure rate of group C was 98.2%.Conclusion The combination therapy is a safe,practical and effective method in the treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis.The patients less than 3 months can be treated with squeezing and massaging dacryocyst and syphilis of lacrimal passages,and those older than 3 months should receive lacrimal passage probing.
Accurate disparity estimation in light field using ground control points

The recent development of light field cameras has received growing interest, as their rich angular information has potential benefits for many computer vision tasks. In this paper, we introduce a novel method to obtain a dense disparity map by use of ground control points (GCPs) in the light field. Previous work optimizes the disparity map by local estimation which includes both reliable points and unreliable points. To reduce the negative effect of the unreliable points, we predict the disparity at non-GCPs from GCPs. Our method performs more robustly in shadow areas than previous methods based on GCP work, since we combine color information and local disparity. Experiments and comparisons on a public dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Spatiotemporal oviposition and habitat preferences of Ochlerotatus triseriatus and Aedes albopictus in an emerging focus of La Crosse virus

The number of cases of encephalitis caused by La Crosse virus recently has increased in southwestern Virginia counties. This article presents results of a study conducted from May to September 2000 in Wise County, VA, that examined the area-wide oviposition activity and habitat preferences of Ochlerotatus triseriatus and Aedes albopictus, potential vectors of La Crosse virus in the region. Data from 490 ovitrap collections made throughout the county showed that mean oviposition activity throughout the study was higher for Oc. triseriatus (20.4 eggs/trap-day) than for Ae. albopictus (3.7 eggs/trap-day). The 2 species also had distinct habitat preferences for oviposition, with Oc. triseriatus favoring forested habitats and Ae. albopictus favoring urban/residential habitats. A landcover map of 6 habitat types derived from Landsat satellite imagery of the county showed that 63% of the county was forested and 18% was urban/residential. A Bayesian decision-rule model that incorporated the ovitrap data and landcover map was moderately successful at predicting the occurrence of high oviposition activity and abundance of the 2 species. The predictions reflected seasonal and spatial fluctuations in oviposition activity, with accuracies between 55 and 79% for Oc. triseriatus and 70 and 94% for Ae. albopictus. Kappa (K), a measure of the predictive power of the model, varied from poor (K < 0.4) to good (0.4 < K < 0.75) for both species, and was highest during periods when actual egg abundance was high. This suggests that the predictions were most accurate during periods when the risk for La Crosse virus transmission is greatest. Limitations and suggestions for improving the model are discussed.
Synthesis of Cycloparaphenylenes Bearing Furan-2,5-diyl or 2,2'-Bifuran-5,5'-diyl Units in the Macrocyclic Structures.

Synthetic pathways to furan-containing cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) as molecular nanohoops bearing 10, 12, and 15 aromatic units including furan-2,5-diyl or 2,2′-bifuran-5,5′-diyl units have been developed. A [4 + 2]cycloaddition reaction, homo- or cross-coupling reactions, and an oxidative aromatization reaction are the key steps of the synthetic pathways. The X-ray structures of a partially hydrogenated bifuran-containing CPP precursor and the corresponding fully aromatized bifuran-containing CPP were obtained to allow the determination of their conformational arrangements in the crystal lattice. The optical and electrochemical properties of the furan-containing CPPs were investigated.
Configuring Software and Systems for Defense-in-Depth

The computer security community has long advocated defense in depth, building multiple layers of defense to protect a system. Realizing this vision is not yet practical, as software often ships with inadequate defenses, typically developed in an ad hoc fashion. Currently, programmers reason about security manually and lack tools to validate assurance that security controls provide satisfactory defenses. In this keynote talk, I will discuss how achieving defense in depth has a significant component in configuration. In particular, we advocate configuring security requirements for various layers of software defenses (e.g., privilege separation, authorization, and auditing) and generating software and systems defenses that implement such configurations (mostly) automatically. I will focus mainly on the challenge of retrofitting software with authorization code automatically to demonstrate the configuration problems faced by the community, and discuss how we may leverage these lessons to configuring software and systems for defense in depth.
Book review: Turquoise, Water, Sky: Meaning and Beauty in Southwest Native Arts

Turquoise, Water, Sky: Meaning and Beauty in Southwest Native Arts presents an accessible discussion of the importance and utilization of turquoise by Southwestern cultures throughout the past 1500 years, albeit heavily focused on the modern era. Primarily meant for a lay audience, this short volume is divided into six chapters and interspersed by approximately 160 images and illustrations. While beautiful, these images greatly limit the amount of text in the book. Turquoise, Water, Sky begins with a discussion of the prehistoric use of the material and its meaning in both past and contemporary contexts. However, the majority of the volume presents an evolution of contemporary form of both Puebloan and Navajo stonework. This portion will likely be the most appealing aspect of the book for the intended general audience, but it has limited utility for archaeologists and others interested in lithic studies.
Does Polyoma (BK) Virus Contribute to Development of Hemorrhagic Cystitis (HC) in Unrelated Donor Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (UD HSCT) Recipients? A Prospective Evaluation.

BK virus infection is highly prevalent in humans, and has been associated with development of HC after HSCT. Previously we determined that UD HSCT is independently associated with higher prevalence of HC (El-Zimaity et al. Blood 2004). In order to further investigate the association of BK with HC, we hypothesized that patients who have positive urine PCR for BK virus before UD transplant have a higher incidence of HC. Methods: we studied 62 consecutive patients transplanted from 09/05 to 05/06. Preparative regimens were ablative (n=26) or reduced intensity (n=36); 15 patients (23%) received cyclophosphamide-containing regimens. GVHD prophylaxis was tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate. Stem cell source was bone marrow (n=28), peripheral blood (n=25) or umbilical cord (n=9). BK virus quantitative PCR was performed on urine samples collected upon admission. Results: Median age was 53 years (range, 19–67). Diagnoses were leukemias (n=36), multiple myeloma (n=2), Hodgkin’s disease (n=4), non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (n=16), and other (n=4). Median time to platelet engraftment was 16 days (range, 0–62; n=51). Median follow-up is 97 days. BK PCR was positive in 28 patients (45%). Number of viral copies ranged from 300 to > 200 million copies. Eleven patients (18%) developed HC, at a median of 25 days after HSCT. HC was of grade 1 (n=1), grade 2 (n=4), grade 3 (n=5), grade 4 (n=1; required bilateral nephrostomies). In the PCR positive group, 7 patients (25%) had HC, versus 4 (12%) in the PCR-negative group (hazard ratio = 3.4 for a positive PCR; log-rank p = 0.057). 100-day cumulative incidence of HC is shown in the figure. 45% of CB recipients developed HC. Incidence of HC was not statistically significantly increased among recipients of ablative or cyclophosphamide-containing regimens. Likewise, development of grade II-IV acute GVHD (n=18, 29%) was not associated with higher rates of HC. Six patients developed HC before platelet engraftment. Viral load did not correlate with development of HC. Four patients had viruria of 50–200million/mL; only one developed HC. Conclusion: BK viruria pre-HSCT may be a risk factor for development of HC; further study is needed in a large cohort of patients.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

One of the most important roles of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). PTC is the most common malignancy of the thyroid, representing approximately 60–80% of thyroid malignancies. PTC occurs more often in women, and although it can occur at any age, even in childhood, the peak incidence is in patients between 30 and 50 years of age. PTC typically has an indolent clinical course and can be cured by thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy, even if metastatic. Because of these therapeutic implications, an accurate FNA diagnosis is essential. When metastatic, PTC spreads to regional cervical lymph nodes that drain the thyroid gland. Consequently, FNA can also be used to monitor patients for recurrence of PTC. An array of PTC variants are recognized, and some, such as the tall cell variant, columnar cell variant, and diffuse sclerosing variant, can display a more aggressive clinical course and may even develop resistance to radioactive iodine therapy. The molecular mechanisms for PTC development are not well understood, but often involve chromosomal translocations of the RET proto-oncogene and abnormal cell growth stimulated by mutations in genes such as NRAS or BRAF. In addition, there is growing evidence that PTCs that harbor a BRAF mutation may have a higher risk of recurrence than those without BRAF mutations.
Effect of tube processing methods on microstructure, mechanical properties and irradiation response of 14YWT nanostructured ferritic alloys

Abstract In this research, innovative thermal spray deposition (Process I) and conventional hot extrusion processing (Process II) methods have been used to produce thin walled tubing (∼0.5 mm wall thickness) out of 14YWT, a nanostructured ferritic alloy. The effects of processing methods on the microstructure, mechanical properties and irradiation response have been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and, micro- and nano-hardness techniques. It has been found that these two processes have a significant effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-fabricated 14YWT tubes. Even though both processing methods yield the formation of various size Y-Ti-O particles, the conventional hot extrusion method results in a microstructure with smaller, homogenously distributed nano-oxides (NOs, Y-Ti-O particles
Fracture detection and imaging through relative seismic velocity changes using distributed acoustic sensing and ambient seismic noise

Abstract Fracture systems are important pathways for fluid and solute transport and exert a critical influence on the hydraulic properties of aquifers and reservoirs. Therefore, detailed knowledge of fracture locations, connections, and evolution is crucial for both groundwater and energy applications (e.g., enhanced geothermal, oil and gas recovery, carbon sequestration, and wastewater injection). The innovative combination of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and ambient seismic noise techniques has the potential to detect and characterize fracture systems at high-spatial and temporal resolution without an active source. To test this, we conducted a multiphysics field experiment at Blue Canyon Dome, New Mexico. A novel energetic material developed by Sandia National Laboratories was used to generate fractures in two separate stimulations. Ambient noise was recorded before and after each stimulation using fiber-optic cables installed in the outer annulus of four boreholes surrounding the stimulation hol...
Antidepressant Use and Cognitive Outcomes in Very Old Women.

Background Antidepressant use is very common in the elderly, but the effects of antidepressants on cognition in the elderly are controversial with some studies suggesting harm and others protection. We aimed to investigate the association between different antidepressant use and change in cognition and risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia in very old women. Methods We examined 1,234 community-dwelling women (mean age 83.2 years) from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Baseline antidepressant use was reported and verified by medication containers, and medications were coded with computerized dictionary. Cognitive status (normal, MCI, or dementia) was adjudicated by an expert clinical panel 5 years later. Change in a short-form Mini-Mental State Examination and Trails B were evaluated over 5 years. Results Eleven per cent of the women were taking antidepressants. Users of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had the greatest cognitive decline over 5 years, after adjustment for demographics, medical comorbidities, benzodiazepine use, and baseline cognition. Multivariable logistic regression shows that the users of SSRIs were more than twice (OR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.64-4.41) and trazodone users more than three times (3.48, 1.12-10.81) as likely to develop MCI or dementia compared with the nonusers. Further adjustment for baseline cognition or depressive symptoms did not appreciably alter the results, and the association remained after excluding women with high depressive symptoms. The use of tricyclic antidepressants or other antidepressants was not significantly associated with cognitive outcomes. Conclusions The use of antidepressants, especially SSRIs and trazodone, was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment 5 years later among the oldest old women.
The linear combination of vectors implies the existence of the cross and dot products

ABSTRACTGiven two vectors u and v, their cross product u × v is a vector perpendicular to u and v. The motivation for this property, however, is never addressed. Here we show that the existence of ...
The Test of Infant Motor Performance at 3 months predicts language, cognitive, and motor outcomes in infants born preterm at 2 years of age

Aim To determine the relationship between the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) at 3 months and cognitive, language, and motor outcomes on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) at 2 years of age in high-risk infants born preterm. Method One hundred and six infants (47 females, 59 males) born at earlier than 31 weeks gestational age were prospectively tested with the TIMP at 10 to 15 weeks after term age and were assessed again with the Bayley-III at 2 years corrected age. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for various cut points of the TIMP z-score and Bayley-III composite scores of no more than 85. Results The TIMP z-scores at 10 to 15 weeks of age were significantly associated with all three subscales on the Bayley-III at 2 years of age (p<0.001). Using a TIMP z-score cutoff of −0.5, specificity was relatively high for cognitive (87%), language (88%), and motor (89%) outcomes, but sensitivity was low (cognitive 41%, language 49%, motor 57%). Interpretation This study demonstrates that the TIMP is related to cognitive, language, and motor outcomes on the Bayley-III at 2 years of age in high-risk infants born preterm. What this paper adds The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) predicts Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition outcomes at 2 years of age. The TIMP is relatively good at discriminating between children who will and will not have typical development.
T cell mediated immunity induced by the live-attenuated Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine candidate CVD 1208S in humans

Shigellosis persists as a public health problem worldwide causing ~ 165,000 deaths every year, of which ~ 55,000 are in children less than 5 years of age. No vaccine against shigellosis is currently licensed. The live-attenuated Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine candidate CVD 1208S (S. flexneri 2a; ΔguaBA, Δset, Δsen) demonstrated to be safe and immunogenic in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Earlier reports focused on humoral immunity. However, Shigella is an intracellular pathogen and therefore, T cell mediated immunity (T-CMI) is also expected to play an important role. T-CMI responses after CVD 1208S immunization are the focus of the current study. Consenting volunteers were immunized orally (3 doses, 108 CFU/dose, 28 days apart) with CVD 1208S. T-CMI to IpaB was assessed using autologous EBV-transformed B-Lymphocytic cell lines as stimulator cells. T-CMI was assessed by the production of 4 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17A and TNF-α) and/or expression of the degranulation marker CD107a in 14 volunteers (11 vaccine and 3 placebo recipients). Following the first immunization, T-CMI was detected in CD8 and CD4 T cells obtained from CVD 1208S recipients. Among CD8 T cells, the T effector memory (TEM) and central memory (TCM) subsets were the main cytokine/CD107a producers/expressors. Multifunctional (MF) cells were also detected in CD8 TEM cells. Cells with 2 and 3 functions were the most abundant. Interestingly, TNF-α appeared to be dominant in CD8 TEM MF cells. In CD4 T cells, TEM responses predominated. Following subsequent immunizations, no booster effect was detected. However, production of cytokines/expression of CD107a was detected in individuals who had previously not responded. After three doses, production of at least one cytokine/CD107a was detected in 8 vaccinees (73%) in CD8 TEM cells and in 10 vaccinees (90%) in CD4 TEM cells. CVD 1208S induces diverse T-CMI responses, which likely complement the humoral responses in protection from disease. Trial registration This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT01531530)
Numerical study of combustion characteristics and emissions of a diesel–methane dual-fuel engine for a wide range of injection timings:

Computational fluid dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel/natural gas dual-fuel engine. The computational fluid dynamics model is...
Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Techniques and Complications

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) has gained increasing importance in the laparoscopic urologic oncology field and has become an established treatment for localized prostate cancer. The indications for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy are the same as those for the open technique. The advantages of the laparoscopic approach are a magnified view of the anatomic structures and a decreased venous bleeding in the surgical field allowing an accurate dissection of the prostate and neurovascular bundles. The LRP technique is well standardized. Five trocars are used; the patient is placed in the Trendelenburg position. The different steps of the operation are: dissection of the seminal vesicles, via a direct approach, after incising the peritoneum above Douglas’ cul-de-sac; creation of a space between the rectum and prostate behind Denonvilliers’ fascia; release of the bladder to approach the space of Retzius; opening of the endopelvic fascia and intracorporeal ligature of the dorsal vascular complex; dissection of the prostate from the bladder, by close dissection of the bladder neck; control of the pedicles and dissection of the neurovascular bundles; sectioning of the urethra and removal of the prostate in a bag, urethrovesical anastomosis performed with interrupted intracorporeal sutures, Foley catheter installation; placement of an aspiration drain; and closure. Knowledge of the prostatic anatomy, advanced laparoscopic skills, and expertise in surgical oncology are essential to provide optimal oncologic outcomes while maintaining the highest standards of life quality.
Abstract 12: Overutilization and Financial Impact of Intravenous Magnesium Repletion - a High Value Care Initiative

Introduction: Serum magnesium levels ([Mg]) are often maintained at >2 mg/dl in hospital patients, especially those on cardiology services, despite a poor correlation between serum and total body M...
Surgical management of atypical mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis in an outbreak of odontological infection.

Abstract Introduction We report on our experience with surgical management of nosocomial Mycobacterium abscessus cervical lymphadenitis in the setting of an epidemic linked to a dental practice in the community. Methods This is an observational case series of children who required surgical treatment of cervical lymphadenitis as part of multidisciplinary management of nosocomial M. abscessus infections. We describe the criteria for surgical management of cervical lymphadenitis as well as patient characteristics and outcomes. Results Over 1000 children undergoing pulpectomies and pulpotomies at a local dental practice with a contaminated water source were identified as potentially susceptible to atypical mycobacteria infection, identified as M. abscessus. Between August 2016 and May 2017 108 children underwent inpatient evaluation at our institution by general pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists. 90 children required at least 1 surgical intervention by pediatric otolaryngology and/or oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). Children were evaluated by the Pediatric Otolaryngology service if computer tomography (CT) scan of the neck demonstrated lymph nodes of at least 1.5 cm in shortest dimension or lymph nodes with central hypolucencies suspicious for infection with central necrosis. Pediatric Otolaryngology intervened on 11 patients all of whom required selective cervical lymphadenectomy with or without curettage. These patients ranged in age from 3 to 8 years; 8 were male, 6 had concurrent pulmonary nodules. Two patients underwent curettage in addition to lymphadenectomy. Five patients required at least 2 surgical interventions by Pediatric Otolaryngology. Conclusion We found M. abscessus to be an aggressive infection requiring early cervical lymphadenectomy in select patients.
Malaria Parasitemia and Nutritional Status during the Low Transmission Season in the Presence of Azithromycin Distribution among Preschool Children in Niger

The relationship between malaria and malnutrition is complicated, and existence of one may predispose or exacerbate the other. We evaluated the relationship between malaria parasitemia and nutritional status in children living in communities participating in a cluster-randomized trial of biannual azithromycin compared with placebo for prevention of childhood mortality. Data were collected during the low malaria transmission and low food insecurity season. Parasitemia was not associated with weight-for-height Z-score (24 months: P = 0.11 azithromycin communities, P = 0.75 placebo communities), weight-for-age Z-score (24 months: P = 0.83 azithromycin, P = 0.78 placebo), height-for-age Z-score (24 months: P = 0.30 azithromycin, P = 0.87 placebo), or mid-upper arm circumference (24 months: P = 0.12 azithromycin, P = 0.56 placebo). There was no statistically significant evidence of a difference in the relationship in communities receiving azithromycin or placebo. During the low transmission season, there was no evidence that malaria parasitemia and impaired nutritional status co-occur in children.