cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transition metal ion FRET to measure short-range distances at the intracellular surface of the plasma membrane

Biological membranes are complex assemblies of lipids and proteins that serve as platforms for cell signaling. We have developed a novel method for measuring the structure and dynamics of the membrane based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The method marries four technologies: (1) unroofing cells to isolate and access the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane; (2) patch-clamp fluorometry (PCF) to measure currents and fluorescence simultaneously from a membrane patch; (3) a synthetic lipid with a metal-chelating head group to decorate the membrane with metal-binding sites; and (4) transition metal ion FRET (tmFRET) to measure short distances between a fluorescent probe and a transition metal ion on the membrane. We applied this method to measure the density and affinity of native and introduced metal-binding sites in the membrane. These experiments pave the way for measuring structural rearrangements of membrane proteins relative to the membrane.
The Salesman's Role Revisited:

Selection of salesmen, based on the simple concepts of personnel psychology, is one of the most difficult problems for marketing executives.The author of this article holds that selection problems ...
Observations on a family epidemic of infectious hepatitis.

AN epidemic of infectious hepatitis occurring in 9 of 10 children in a single family was followed for five months in New York City. Such a high incidence of the disease in a group is unique in itse...
A Survey on the Hygienic Conditions of Water Filling Lines in Bottled Drinking Water Manufacturers in Guangzhou

Objective To investigate the hygienic conditions,especially the air quality,of water filling lines in bottled drinking water manufacturers in Guangzhou,and to setup a standard for the future monitoring of the hygienic conditions in these factories. Methods 15 bottled drinking water factories were selected in this study. The levels of airborne microorganisms,airborne particles,and the hygienic conditions were determined according to GB/T16292～16294-1996 testing methods,GB50073-2001 Code for designing of clean rooms and GB50333-2002 Architectural technical code for hospital theatre. The major criteria adopted for the judgment were as following: airborne bacteria ≤ 25 cfu; airborne particles with a size of ≥ 0.5 μm,≤35 000 particles/m3; and airborne particles with a size of ≥ 5 μm,≤300/m3. Results The numbers of airborne particles (≥0.5 μm and 5 μm) in these 15 factories were lower than the limit. 92% of the factories passed the microbiological standard. There was a positive correlation between the levels of airborne particles and the numbers of airborne bacteria. Conclusion Results obtained from this study provide the basis for the future design of monitoring system for the hygienic conditions of bottled water manufacturers. Based on the existing criteria,it is difficult to achieve the class 1 000 standard.
A Model for Protein-Protein Interactions Involved in the Linkage of the Actin Cytoskeleton to Transmembrane Receptors for Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Actin filament bundles in cultured fibroblasts can be seen by electron microscopy to emanate from specialized regions of the cell membrane where the cell adheres tightly to the underlying substratum — the adhesion plaques or focal adhesions (see Chen and Singer, 1982, for discussion). Results from immunofluorescence and protein binding experiments have implicated a number of proteins in the anchorage of the actin filaments (F-actin) to the membrane at these locations (see Burridge, 1986, for a recent review). A schematic model of possible interactions among these proteins based on current information is presented in Figure 1.
WDHA (Watery Diarrhea, Hypokalemia, Achlorhydria) Syndrome: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Treatment

WDHA (watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria) syndrome is an unusual paraneoplastic condition caused by excess vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) secreted by certain tumors. The onset of the syndrome is insidious, and diagnosis is usually delayed by months to years. Morbidity and mortality from untreated WDHA syndrome are related to long-standing dehydration and electrolyte and acid-base disturbances resulting in chronic renal failure. Diagnosis requires documentation of large volumes of secretory diarrhea, elevated serum VIP levels, and localization of the VIP-secreting tumor. Treatment includes correction of volume, electrolyte, and metabolic abnormalities, pharmacotherapy to decrease gastrointestinal secretion and increase absorption, and ultimately surgical resection or debulking of the vipoma.
Use of Anthropometry and Dynamic Strength in Developing Screening and Placement Procedures for Workers

Pre-employment strength testing is an important tool by means of which a proper match between job demands and worker’s capacity can be achieved. Until very recently worker strengths utilized in such matching were isometric (static). Since most jobs are dynamic in nature, it is preferable that dynamic (isotonic) strengths be used. This paper describes the prototype of a dynamic strength equipment and demonstrates its effectiveness. The experimental data collected shows that simulated job dynamic strengths (SJDSs) are better means of estimating physical demands of manual lifting and carrying activities. Preliminary screening models, based on SJDS, are also proposed.
A fundamental study of refrigerant-line transients. Part 2: Pressure excursion estimates and initiation mechanisms

Dangerous pressure excursion incidents have been associated with condensation-induced shock and vapor-propelled liquid slugging; however, some of the mechanisms responsible for initiating these hydraulic transients in industrial refrigerating systems are unclear. In a companion paper (part 1), an exhaustive compendium of the relevant literature was presented. In this paper, specific shock initiation mechanisms are described, an analysis for estimating the pressure excursion of a shock is presented, and a method for avoiding one possible path to hydraulic shock in refrigerating systems is presented.
Discovering Amorphous Indium Phosphide Nanostructures with High-Temperature ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

We employ high-temperature ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) as a sampling approach to discover low-energy, semiconducting, indium phosphide nanostructures. Starting from undercoordinated models of InP (e.g., a single layer of InP(111)), rapid rearrangement into a stabilized, higher-coordinate but amorphous cluster is observed across the size range considered (In3P3 to In22P22). These clusters exhibit exponential decrease in energy per atom with system size as effective coordination increases, which we define through distance-cutoff coordination number assignment and partial charge analysis. The sampling approach is robust to initial configuration choice, as consistent results are obtained when alternative crystal models or computationally efficient generation of structures from sequential addition and removal of atoms are employed. This consistency is observed across the 66 structures compared here, and even when as many as five approaches are compared, the average difference in energy per pair of atom...
Caregiver: Roles in Health Management

Overview: As the number of caregivers increase in America, it is important for providers to understand the unique ethnic and cultural characteristics and needs of caregivers in order to provide the highest quality care for our aging patients. This chapter is focused primarily on the unpaid informal caregiver.
Veterans' mental health beliefs: Facilitators and barriers to primary care-mental health use.

Introduction The Veterans Health Administration (VA) Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) program aims to increase availability and acceptability of mental health (MH) care by integrating these services into primary care. Little is known about veterans' perceptions of this of method MH care delivery. This study explored the range of veterans' beliefs and perceptions of MH and MH services with the aim of describing potential facilitators and barriers to the uptake of PC-MHI services. Method Team-based qualitative analysis of proceedings from focus groups. Participants included 41 veterans from across service eras. Focus groups were organized by service era and use of PC-MHI services. Codes pertaining to beliefs about MH and MH treatment were identified, grouped into subthemes, and then larger organizing themes. Barriers and facilitators to treatment seeking were identified. Results Although our study was focused on veteran perceptions of PC-MHI, participants did not appear to discriminate between PC-MHI and other MH services when discussing their decisions to seek services. Facilitators and barriers to MH treatment-seeking included systems, personal and social influences. Stigma was mentioned infrequently relative to other beliefs. Discussion Veterans with and without experience of PC-MHI services described a variety of beliefs about MH without regard to whether this service location. These findings suggest that while integration increases access, it may not in itself decrease some barriers to seeking treatment. These findings suggest that more work is needed to address the way potential PC-MHI patients decide whether or not to engage in care. (PsycINFO Database Record
Small world properties changes in mild traumatic brain injury.

Purpose To investigate local and global efficiency changes characterized by small-world properties based on resting-state functional MRI, such as centrality and clustering coefficient, in mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) patients; and to associate these findings with axonal injury as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as well as with post-concussive symptom (PCS). Materials and Methods Thirty patients (mean age 35 ± 13 years) with clinically defined MTBI and 45 age-matched healthy controls (mean age 37 ± 10 years) participated in the experiments. Resting-state functional MRI was performed using gradient echo planar imaging sequence with 3 Tesla MRI scanner to obtain functional small-world networks. Out of all participants, 20 MTBI patients and 20 controls had available DTI data with three b-values (0, 500, 1000) s/mm2 and 30 directions for diffuse axonal injury analyses. Results Compared with controls, MTBI patients showed lower relative betweenness centrality (P = 0.01), but significantly higher clustering coefficient (P = 0.04), and these two metrics correlated negatively in patients (r = -0.77; P < 0.001). Regions with lower betweenness centrality (e.g., frontal and occipital) corresponded with the regions of reduced FA in patients, while global FA reduction correlated with betweenness centrality (r = 0.48; P = 0.03) and clustering coefficient (r = -0.46; P = 0.04) in MTBI patients. In addition, there was significantly higher thalamocortical connectivity that correlated with clustering coefficient (r = 0.39; P = 0.03) in patients. Also, patients with higher clustering coefficient tended to have less PCS score with negative correlation (r = -0.4; P = 0.04). Conclusion Our results demonstrated significant functional small-world properties changes in patients with MTBI, and suggest decreased global efficiency, possibly due to diffuse axonal injury and local network upregulation including increased thalamo-cortical connectivity. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:518–527
Breaking the Taboo About the US-Iran Relationship

This chapter utilizes a comparative case study analysis to explain the US-Iran relationship after the dethroning of the Shah in 1979. It challenges the conventional wisdom by arguing that Iran is a rational actor and, despite the regime change and the political rhetoric that followed it, US foreign policy toward it has remained unchanged on issues involving geostrategic interests. Also, geostrategic objectives and strategies have remained the same because there has been no change in their geography and positions in regional and global politics. In addition, the USA and Iran share mutual geostrategic interests and cooperation is almost inevitable. The cases on the Iran-Contra affair, the 2001 Afghanistan war, the 2003 Iraq war, and the war on the ISIL provide sufficient evidence to support the claim.
Bacteria in Oceanic Carbon Cycling as a Molecular Problem

This paper is written to facilitate dialogue between molecular biologists and marine microbial ecologists on research strategies in understanding the role of marine microbes in the oceanic carbon cycle. We think molecular biology can revolutionize marine microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, but at this early stage the challenge is to articulate fundamental unsolved problems in a way that shows how molecular approaches might be applied. In this paper we discuss one of the central problems in oceanic carbon cycling, namely bacteria-organic matter coupling. We will explain why bacteria-organic matter coupling is an important problem, stress the need for studying the problem in a suitable ecosystem context, formulate hypotheses for future research, and suggest how molecular approaches might be of value.
Abstract TP365: Surgical Performance in Minimally Invasive Surgery Plus rt-PA for ICH Evacuation (MISTIE) Phase III Clinical Trial

Introduction: The MISTIE III trial aims to compare outcome following minimally invasive surgery plus thrombolysis versus best medical treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). An image guided c...
Thrombospondin1 (TSP1) replacement prevents cerebral cavernous malformations.

KRIT1 mutations are the most common cause of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). Acute Krit1 gene inactivation in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) changes expression of multiple genes involved in vascular development. These changes include suppression of Thbs1, which encodes thrombospondin1 (TSP1) and has been ascribed to KLF2- and KLF4-mediated repression of Thbs1 In vitro reconstitution of TSP1 with either full-length TSP1 or 3TSR, an anti-angiogenic TSP1 fragment, suppresses heightened vascular endothelial growth factor signaling and preserves BMEC tight junctions. Furthermore, administration of 3TSR prevents the development of lesions in a mouse model of CCM1 (Krit1ECKO ) as judged by histology and quantitative micro-computed tomography. Conversely, reduced TSP1 expression contributes to the pathogenesis of CCM, because inactivation of one or two copies of Thbs1 exacerbated CCM formation. Thus, loss of Krit1 function disables an angiogenic checkpoint to enable CCM formation. These results suggest that 3TSR, or other angiogenesis inhibitors, can be repurposed for TSP1 replacement therapy for CCMs.
Diagnostic Solution Assistant (DSA): Intelligent System Monitoring, Management, Analysis, and Administration

The Diagnostic Solution Assistant (DSA) provides diagnostics of International Space Station hardware and software; the advanced Honeywell ‘smart’ model based technology performs real-time diagnostics. An astronaut or mission specialist can perform diagnostics of problems with Space Station electronic equipment and software on board the Space Station at any time. This feature provides 24-hour access to the knowledge of the best International Space Station hardware and software experts. The architecture of the DSA consists of a human-centered interface, diagnostic engine, system fault model, and system infrastructure.
Global change: eruptions linked to El Niño.

Statistical validation of a relationship between explosive volcanic eruptions and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation is a step forward in understanding the effects of such eruptions on climate.
Histologic validation of vacuum sealed, formalin-free tissue preservation, and transport system.

We describe five validation trials of new vacuum sealing technologies that change the approach to the preanalytic “front end” of specimen transport, handling, and processing and illustrate their adaptation and integration into existing Lean laboratory operations with reduction in formalin use and personnel exposure to this toxic and potentially carcinogenic fixative. These trials provide histologic assessment by numerous pathologists of tissues processed in this new paradigm and define the financial advantages of applying this technology to the postanalytic or “back end” process of tissue storage. We conclude that the TisssueSAFE and SealSAFE vacuum sealing systems are both promising technologies for preserving fresh human specimens that can promote a safer environment by markedly reducing formalin use in operating room theaters and can minimize formalin use by laboratories.
Kinematic indicators in shear zones

Shear zones are fundamental components of all continental margin orogenic belts, irrespective of style or age. They can occur at any depth in the lithosphere and may be cataclastic, transitional, or mylonitic. They dominate much large- and small-scale lithospheric deformation and control the formation and siting of many economic deposits. Kinematic indicators are asymmetric structures developed within the zones during shearing. They can indicate: (1) presence of a shear zone; (2) lithospheric depth of shearing; (3) direction of shear; (4) sense of shear; and possibly (5) absolute amount of shear. Typical kinematic indicators are Riedel fracture assemblage (cataclastic), deformed sigmoidal and en echelon vein arrays (transitional), and S-C textures and shear-band foliation (mylonitic). Kinematic indicators are developed in sheared rocks of any original composition, texture and protolith; they are not confined to sheared granitoids as commonly thought.
Calculations of the pH-Dependent Onset Potential for CO Electrooxidation on Au(111).

CO electrooxidation on the Au(111) surface exhibits an onset potential that depends strongly on the pH of the electrolyte. In alkaline solution, the onset potential for CO electrooxidation is found...
Factors Associated with Clinician Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Dementia (P6.194)

Objective: We wanted to determine what factors affect clinician adherence to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnostic guidelines. Background: In February 2001, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released practice parameters for the diagnosis of AD; in 2011, a workgroup of the National Institute of Aging and Alzheimer’s Association also published guidelines for diagnosing AD. Design/Methods: Data on patients diagnosed with AD from September 2013 to June 2016 were extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR) at an academic medical center. We collected demographic and clinician-specific variables. Assessment variables recommended as necessary for diagnosis and those that were labeled as unnecessary in the guidelines, were recorded as dichotomous variables indicating presence or absence. We then categorized patients into “diagnosed in accordance to guidelines” and “not diagnosed in accordance to guidelines.” Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and a t-test were used for comparisons. A logistic regression model was created to determine the effect of specialty of diagnosing physician on adherence to guidelines. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS. Results: Of the 101 patients included in the study, 51 (50.5%) were diagnosed in accordance to guidelines and 50 (49.5%) were not. Patients diagnosed by a Neurologist or a Geriatricians were 2.98 times as likely to have been diagnosed in accordance to guidelines as those who were diagnosed by less specialized physicians, after adjusting for clinical setting of diagnosis and level of physician training, and after stratifying by language spoken by the patient (OR 2.98 95% CI 1.3–6.9, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Physicians more specialized in caring for elderly patients or in caring for cognitive disorders are more likely to diagnose AD patients in accordance to published guidelines. More quality improvement studies should be conducted to study the broader pattern of adherence. Physicians and residents of other specialties should be made aware of this gap in diagnostic care. Disclosure: Dr. Malik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cibula has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sanders has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Dr. Sanders received compensation for disability file review consultations for PsyBar, Dane Street, Professional Disability Associates, and Academic Insurance.
VALUE RELEVANCE OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION IN A TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY: THE CASE OF NIGERIA STOCK MARKET

This study assessed the value relevance of accounting information of firms quoted on Nigeria Stock Exchange. Three specific objectives were formulated which dealt with determining the extent to which the accounting variables affect share prices of companies on Nigeria Stock Exchange. From the specific objectives, three hypotheses were also formulated. To test the hypotheses, a sample of 68 companies were selected, using multiphase sampling techniques from the population of 213 companies listed on Nigeria stock market in 2001. This study adopted the Edward – Ben Ohlson 1995 model transformed into an ordinary least square approach to test the research hypotheses. The analyses of the test shows that hypotheses one was rejected hence the acceptance of the alternate hypotheses which invariably means that earning per share is value relevant to equity share investment in Nigeria stock exchange market. Hypotheses two and three were accepted indicating that there are no significant relationship between book value per share, dividend per share and prices of companies listed on Nigeria stock exchange market. We therefore recommend among others that companies listed on Nigeria stock exchange market should prepare simplified investors summary account (SISA) with emphases on earning per share , dividend per share and cash flow in addition to the detailed financial statement, and investors having complementary information sources other than published accounting reports to become more informational efficient.
A closure model for predicting crack growth under creep-fatigue loading

Abstract A strip-yield model was formulated to simulate creep-fatigue crack growth and to quantify the influence of hold time on plasticity-induced crack closure during creep-fatigue crack growth. Creep-fatigue experiments have shown that longer creep hold times result in faster crack growth rates in subsequent fatigue cycles. This model advances the idea that a decrease of plasticity-induced crack closure is experienced by the crack during fatigue loading when a longer hold time is applied each creep-fatigue cycle. Consequently, the crack tip experiences an increase in the effective stress intensity factor range causing faster growth rate during the fatigue loading. The weight function method was used to compute stress intensity factors and surface displacements for cracks embedded in a material experiencing elastic, plastic and creep deformations at elevated temperatures. It is shown that the longer the hold time, the larger the creep deformation and crack opening displacements in the near crack-tip region. In turn, this leads to a decrease in the crack-tip opening stress/load and faster crack growth rates during the subsequent fatigue cycle. The model was used to perform simulations of creep-fatigue crack growth at elevated temperatures in a nickel-base superalloy and AISI 316 austenitic steel.
Influence of Cigarette Smoking at the Time of Surgery on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Matched-Pair Cohort Analysis.

Background:There is literature on the association between smoking in patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures and poor short-term outcomes. However, there are few data on smoking as an independen...
The future of CMHCs: The role of the state

The author contends that the “new de-institutionalization” is masking the inability of states to establish clear authority and responsibility for the mentally ill. The determination of authority and responsibility was fatally flawed by the community Mental Health Centers Act when it did not clarify the state's role. Also discussed is how the withdrawal of direct federal funds affected community mental health center services.
Social Media, Political Mobilization, and High-Stakes Testing

Social media posts in a Facebook group organized around the issue of refusing high-stakes testing in New Jersey were analyzed to understand how individuals and organizations use social media to engage in political protest against educational policies. Posts were categorized by their theme (reasons for opposing high-stakes testing), whether they discussed political protest tactics (both traditional and virtual), and whether they contained web links to other social media sites. Interviews with Test Refusal Movement participants were conducted to supplement the Facebook analysis by providing a more nuanced understanding of how movement participants navigate online affinity spaces and how new forms of protest have transformed but not replaced traditional political protest against policies.
2,100 years of human adaptation to climate change in the High Andes.

Humid montane forests are challenging environments for human habitation. We used high-resolution fossil pollen, charcoal, diatom and sediment chemistry data from the iconic archaeological setting of Laguna de los Condores, Peru to reconstruct changing land uses and climates in a forested Andean valley. Forest clearance and maize cultivation were initiated during periods of drought, with periods of forest recovery occurring during wetter conditions. Between ad 800 and 1000 forest regrowth was evident, but this trend was reversed between ad 1000 and 1200 as drier conditions coincided with renewed land clearance, the establishment of a permanent village and the use of cliffs overlooking the lake as a burial site. By ad 1230 forests had regrown in the valley and maize cultivation was greatly reduced. An elevational transect investigating regional patterns showed a parallel, but earlier, history of reduced maize cultivation and forest regeneration at mid-elevation. However, a lowland site showed continuous maize agriculture until European conquest but very little subsequent change in forest cover. Divergent, climate-sensitive landscape histories do not support categorical assessments that forest regrowth and peak carbon sequestration coincided with European arrival. Multi-proxy palaeoecological methods reconstruct phases of land clearance, maize cultivation and forest regrowth in the High Andes centuries before European incursion, and do not support the idea that forest regrowth and peak carbon sequestration were coincident with European arrival.
Respiratory Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by cough, dyspnea, and sputum production caused by inhalation of harmful chemicals, such as tobacco smoke. COPD should be suspected in patients with a significant smoking history, shortness of breath, and sputum production. The diagnosis is made by spirometry. A forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio of less than 0.7 after bronchodilator administration confirms the diagnosis. Therapy for patients with stable COPD should include a bronchodilator, either a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) or a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). For patients who continue to experience dyspnea with a single bronchodilator, dual therapy with a LABA and LAMA is appropriate. For patients with continued exacerbations, inhaled corticosteroids can be added to LABA-LAMA therapy. Acute exacerbations are characterized by a worsening of symptoms that requires additional therapy. Short-acting beta2-agonists with or without short-acting muscarinic antagonists are the basic therapy for acute exacerbations of COPD. Systemic glucocorticoids have been shown to shorten exacerbations and improve lung function. Antibiotics have been shown to reduce rates of treatment failure and sputum purulence. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation is preferred for patients with respiratory failure.
Reliability and Similarity of the Stuttering Severity Instrument-Fourth Edition and a Global Severity Rating Scale

Purpose: The present study compared reliability and similarity for two measures of stuttering severity: The Stuttering Severity Instrument – Fourth Edition (SSI-4) Final Severity Rating and a 5-poi...
4.10 – Earthquake Hydrology

Coseismic static stress changes and dynamic stresses generated by seismic waves cause changes in water level in wells and in streamflow and alter hydrogeologic properties such as permeability and porosity. These hydrologic responses occur over a wide range of timescales, from as short as the duration of shaking to permanent changes, and over a wide range of length scales, from within the fault zone to more than 10 000 km away. Consequently, they provide an opportunity to study hydrogeological processes and properties at spatial and temporal scales that are often difficult to study. Water-level changes in wells can reflect the pattern of volumetric strain caused by seismic slip. The sign and amplitude of observed water-level changes in many wells, however, are not consistent with this pattern of strain. Instead, such anomalous changes in water level can be caused by shaking-induced changes in unconsolidated sediments through consolidation, liquefaction, or even dilation close to the rupture. In consolidated rock, anomalous changes in water level may reflect changes in permeability or storage properties. Changes in streamflow may similarly have multiple explanations. Many recorded examples of streamflow changes can be explained by changes in vertical permeability caused by shaking. Other hydrologic phenomena that can be attributed to dynamic, rather than static, strains include the eruption of mudvolcanoes from depths greater than hundreds of meters and changes in the eruption interval of geysers. Because the stability of faults is sensitive to pore pressure, changes in hydrogeologic properties or pore pressure induced by earthquakes can, in turn, influence seismicity. It is thus not unreasonable to expect that some earthquakes may have a hydrological origin. Hydrological processes can greatly amplify small strains, and some hydrologic responses appear to have very small strain thresholds. This provides some hope that hydrological and hydrogeochemical monitoring may detect any hypothetical, diagnostic precursory strains. Although it is unclear whether future documented hydrological precursors could actually be used for earthquake prediction, they may at least provide new insight into the physics of earthquakes.
Generalized derivatives of computer programs

A method for evaluating lexicographical directional (LD)-derivatives of functional programs is presented, extending previous methods to programs containing conditional branches and loops. A languag...
Occupational dermatitis to facial personal protective equipment in health care workers: A systematic review.

Background Prolonged wear of facial protective equipment can lead to occupational dermatoses. Objective To identify important causes of occupational dermatoses from facial protective equipment. Methods A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed using PubMed and Embase databases. Articles were included if they reported occupational dermatoses caused by surgical/procedure masks or N95 respirators, or both. Results We identified 344 articles, and 16 were suitable for inclusion in this review. Selected articles focused on facial occupational dermatoses in health care workers. Allergic contact dermatitis to the elastic straps, glue, and formaldehyde released from the mask fabric was reported. Irritant contact dermatitis was common on the cheeks and nasal bridge due to pressure and friction. Irritant dermatitis was associated with personal history of atopic dermatitis and prolonged mask wear (>6 hours). Acneiform eruption was reported due to prolonged wear and occlusion. Contact urticaria was rare. Limitations Only publications listed in PubMed or Embase were included. Most publications were case reports and retrospective studies. Conclusion This systematic review from members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society highlights cases of occupational dermatitis to facial protective equipment, including potential offending allergens. This work may help in the diagnosis and treatment of health care workers with facial occupational dermatitis.
Editorial Commentary: Moving the Needle: Traditional Inside-Out Meniscal Repair Has Advantages Over All-Inside Repair

Meniscus repairs for vertical, peripheral tears can be troublesome due to poor tissue quality and/or vascularity that can lead to re-rupture and subsequent removal. The gold standard, inside-out repair technique, has been challenged by all-inside devices for the benefit of improved efficiency and less morbidity but for the sake of expense and potential structural inferiority. Successful meniscus repair requires multiple components, only one of which is deciding the repair construct of choice. I feel the most important aspect will always be the indication based on tear configuration while respecting biology, because all fixation will eventually fail if the meniscus does not ultimately heal. While all-inside devices may have biomechanical properties that are similar to inside-out techniques, the burden of proof still lies on showing superiority of these devices in a clinical setting. Clinically, I still use inside-out repair techniques for large tears or for high-demand patients due to its structural integrity and small penetration of the meniscus.
The surface area effect: How the intermediate dose spill depends on the PTV surface area in SRS

PURPOSE Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is rapidly becoming the standard of care for many intracranial targets. The characteristics of the planning target volume (PTV) can affect the intermediate dose spill and thus normal brain volume dose which is correlated with brain toxicity. R50% (volume receiving 50% of prescription dose divided by PTV volume) is a useful metric to quantify the intermediate dose spill. We propose a novel understanding of how the PTV surface area (SAPTV ) affects the intermediate dose spill of SRS treatments. METHODS Using a phantom model provided by a computed tomography (CT) of the IROC Head Phantom® and Eclipse® Treatment Planning System, we investigate the relationship of R50% and SAPTV in single-target SRS treatments. The planning studies are conducted for SRS treatments on a Varian TrueBeam® linear accelerator with high-definition MLC and a 6 MVFFF beam mode. These data are analyzed to ascertain trends in R50% related to SAPTV . Since SAPTV is not available as a structure property in the Eclipse RTPS, we introduce an Eclipse script to extract PTV surface area of arbitrary-shaped PTVs. We compare a physically reasonable theoretical prediction of R50%, R50%Analytic , to the R50% achieved in treatment planning studies. RESULTS The SRS phantom study indicates good correlation between the plan R50% and SAPTV . A near-linear relationship of plan R50% vs SAPTV is observed as predicted by the R50%Analytic model. Agreement between plan R50% values and R50%Analytic predictions is good for all but the very smallest PTV volumes. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate dependence of the intermediate dose spill measured by R50% on the SAPTV . We call that dependence the surface area effect. This dependence is explicit in the R50%Analytic prediction model. The predicted value of R50%Analytic for a given PTV could be used for guidance during SRS treatment plan optimization, and plan evaluation for that PTV.
Environmental Contamination on Dairy Farms with Cattle Infected with Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis

The extent and persistence of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis environmental contamination on farms with a known history of Johne's disease is a commonly asked question by the agricultural community. Prospective buyers of farms following a dispersal sale often inquire about the possibility of newly acquired cattle becoming infected with M. paratuberculosis from the environment where Johne's cattle had previously been located. Thus, based on continuing inquiries from cattlemen, we developed a prospective research proposal to assess the extent of environmental contamination with M. paratuberculosis associated with known levels of infection in the herds as determined with whole herd fecal culture tests of adult cattle using a sensitive technique utilizing centrifugation1. Previous studies on the survival of M. paratuberculosis have been largely conducted under standardized laboratory conditions and not from samples taken from the immediate farm environment2,3,4. Those studies suggested that M. paratuberculosis is somewhat long lived in a variety of environmental conditions. Non-laboratory based studies have focused on the survival of M. paratuberculosis in slurry and no studies have focused on the extent of soil and environmental contamination on farms with Johne's disease. The frequency of occurrence of M. paratuberculosis in the environment of farms with known infection of cattle with M. paratuberculosis has not been reported. But, the survival of M. paratuberculosis in water, slurry, urine and other media has been published2,3,4,5. Previous authors often used laboratory-grown isolates then inoculated a variety of materials and monitored the recovery rate over time. Vishnewskii6 first reported that bovine urine markedly reduced the survival time of M. paratuberculosis to less than 10 days. The inhibitory effect of urine on tubercle bacteria growth has also been recognized for some time but the factor responsible for the inhibition has not been isolated7,8. Urine has a similar inhibitory effect on salmonella9.
Critical Pressure of Intramural Delamination in Aortic Dissection

Computational models of aortic dissection can provide novel insights into possible mechanisms by which this potentially lethal condition develops and propagates. We present results from a phase-field based finite element simulation of a classical experiment that had not previously been understood. Initial simulations agreed qualitatively and quantitatively with the experimental findings, but because of the complexity of the boundary value problem it was still difficult to build intuition. Hence, simplified analytical models were extended to gain further insight. Together, the simplified models and phase-field simulations revealed a power-law-based relation between the pressure required to initiate an intramural tear and key geometric and mechanical factors - area of the initial insult, stiffness of the wall, and characteristic energy of tearing. The degree of axial stretch and luminal pressure similarly influenced the value of the tearing pressure, which was ~70 kPa for a healthy aorta having a sub-millimeter-sized initial insult but even lower for larger tear sizes. Finally, the simulations showed that the direction a tear propagates can be altered by focal regions of weakening or strengthening, which can drive the tear towards the lumen (re-entry) or adventitia (rupture). Additional data are needed, however, on aortas having different predisposing disease conditions.
Stability and Control

Chapter 4 reviews the concepts of static stability, dynamic stability, eigenanalysis, and Lyapunov analysis required for the development of necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of a class of nonlinear systems, Hamiltonian natural systems. The combination of static stability of conservative systems and dynamic stability of adiabatic irreversible work processes in the form of exergy and entropy rate equations will be utilized to develop Hamiltonian Surface Shaping and Power Flow Control (HSSPFC).
Increased oncogenic potential of ErbB is associated with the loss of a COOH-terminal domain serine phosphorylation site.

The erbB oncogene encodes an altered form of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that lacks the extracellular ligand binding domain. This oncogene is exclusively leukemogenic. However, an increase in oncogenic potential and a broadening of the tissue specificity of tumor formation occurs after retroviral transduction of erbB. The increased oncogenic potential correlates with structural alterations within the erbB gene. One common event is the deletion of a serine phosphorylation site located within the COOH-terminal domain. This site of phosphorylation has been demonstrated to be required for EGF-induced desensitization of signaling by the EGF receptor (Countaway, J. L., Nairn, A. C., and Davis, R.J. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1129-1140). Here we show that the mutation of erbB at this negative regulatory serine phosphorylation site causes fibroblast transformation in vitro and is associated with an increased oncogenic potential in vivo.
Three Different Consequences of X-autosome Translocation

Although they possess the nearly identical DNA value, placental mammals of today display an enormous array of karyotypes, with diploid chromosome numbers ranging from a high of 80 to a low of 17. This indicates that during extensive speciation from a common ancestor, autosomal linkage groups have undergone countless rearrangements. Yet, the original X-chromosome of a common ancestor has apparently been preserved in its entirety by a great majority of placental mammals of today, and in its multiplicated forms by a small number of exceptional species. This conservation of the original X as one unit clearly reveals that the type of X-autosome translocations which split the original X into two separate halves has always been severely deteriorative to speciation, and that these translocations were eliminated as they arose.
Model systems for anatexis of pelitic rocks

A consistent arrangement of solidus curves for reactions involving white mica, alkali feldspar, Al2SiO5, quartz and H2O, as expressed by the components KAlO2-NaAlO2-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O, provides a generally accurate and useful model for the origin of migmatites and peraluminous granites through partial melting of pelitic rocks. The complexities of the univariant (Na-K) reactions may be easily seen on the projection from SiO2 and H2O onto the Ab-Or-Al2O3 plane. Alternative topologies for the appearance of muscovite, paragonite and Al2SiO5 on the quartz and H2O-saturated liquidus may be eliminated by a consideration of possible compositions of liquid and solid phases and Schreinemakers' analysis around (Na-K) invariant points. Paragonite is not likely to be an important phase on the liquidus for most melting paths. Melting paths for natural assemblages may be easily constructed appropriate to P-T-aH2O paths in the model system. Such paths are consistent with observed textures in natural assemblages. Although general models can be developed for decreased aH2O, it is difficult to separate such effects from those involving participation of a calcic component without careful examination of natural assemblages and experimental calibration of appropriate reactions.
Use of restriction fragment polymorphism analysis of rRNA genes to assign species to unknown clinical isolates of oral viridans streptococci.

This study evaluated restriction fragment length polymorphisms of rRNA genes (ribotyping) for genotypic identification of 53 oral isolates classified as "Streptococcus sanguis" by colony morphology. Isolates were from 8-h buccal plaque on lower first permanent molars of 20 subjects. DNA was digested with AatII and hybridized with digoxygenin-labeled cDNA of Escherichia coli 16S and 23S rRNA. Strains were ribotyped again with AlwNI or PvuII on the basis of the presence or absence of a 2,290-bp AatII band. Band patterns were compared with reference ribotypes for Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus crista, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus parasanguis strains. Forty-eight isolates could be assigned to a species (22 S. sanguis, 14 S. oralis, 12 S. gordonii). Multiple species were seen in 14 subjects; multiple strains of the same species occurred in 11 subjects. Our findings suggest that ribotyping can be used for genotypic identification of S. sanguis, S. oralis, and S. gordonii isolates. Images
Fast camera motion analysis in MPEG domain

Camera motion estimation is crucial in video analysis and in object tracking query systems when the motion need to be neutralized before object analysis. In today's ever growing amount of video data provided in compressed formats namely MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, it increasingly makes more sense to perform camera estimation in the compressed domain. Much work has gone into the uncompressed domain, but the time to decompress and analyze is simply too great for population of large video databases. This paper presents a recursive outlier-rejecting least square algorithm for parametric camera estimation in MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 domain. The algorithm has a very low time complexity, results show that it works much faster than real-time playback rate and consumes little system resource. Experiments on synthesized video clips and real world video clips show that the algorithm is effective. Experiments are also none on a large set of real-world video clips to analyze the performance and a query system is built in the process.
Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) for the treatment of hyperkalemia

Introduction: Hyperkalemia is a common, sometimes fatal electrolyte abnormality seen in patients with heart failure (HF) or kidney disease. Acute treatments that cause the intracellular translocation of potassium can be effective in the short-term but they simply buy time until definitive removal by dialysis or binding agents (e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate) can occur. In contrast, treatment for chronic hyperkalemia, which often occurs in the setting of HF treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors (RAASi) or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), is limited and has questionable efficacy.Areas covered: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9), a novel, non-absorbed, potassium-selective cation exchanger, has demonstrated activity in acutely lowering and maintaining normal potassium levels. When used chronically, maintenance of normal serum potassium has been demonstrated for up to 1 month. Although higher doses of ZS-9 have been associated with modest increases in the rates of edema and ...
Level Set Methods for Simulation of Thin Film Growth

The level set method is a general approach to numerical computation for the motion of interfaces. Epitaxial growth of a thin film can be described by the evolution of island boundaries and step edges, so that the level set method is applicable to simulation of thin film growth. In layer-by-layer growth, for example, this includes motion of the island boundaries, merger or breakup of islands, and creation of new islands. A system of size 100 × 100 nm may involve hundreds or even thousands of islands. Because it does not require smoothing and or discretization of individual island boundaries, the level set method can accurately and efficiently simulate the dynamics of a system of this size. Moreover, because it does not resolve individual hopping events on the terraces or island boundaries, the level set method can take longer time steps than those of an atomistic method such as kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC). Thus the level set approach can simulate some systems that are computationally intractable for KMC.