cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Posterior-lateral foraminotomy as an exclusive operative technique for cervical radiculopathy: a review of 846 consecutively operated cases.

Abstract Between 1963 and 1980, one or more posterior-lateral foraminotomies were performed for simple cervical radiculopathy as the sole operative procedure for 736 patients. One hundred three patients (14%) required a second posterior procedure, but only 24 (3%) cases represented true recurrent radiculopathy. There were 13 minor complications (1.5%) and no deaths or detectable incidence of air embolism. All operations were done with the patient in the sitting position. Central venous pressure monitoring was used only infrequently. There was a 96% incidence of relief of significant arm pain and/or paresthesia and a 98% incidence of resolution of preoperatively present motor deficit. Eight hundred twenty-eight procedures (98%) were preceded by Pantopaque cervical myelography. There was a 71.5% incidence of correlation between preoperative clinical findings (both sensory and motor) and operative findings. In 13% of the cases, two spaces were thought by the operating surgeon to be equally involved by the spondylotic process. Most (91.5%) of the patients describe themselves as either "good or excellent" postoperatively. There was no significant difference postoperatively regarding results or recurrence between patients with suspected soft or hard disc protrusions and those with strictly spondylotic radiculopathy. Nor was there any statistical difference in results among the three patient population groups ("private" vs. compensation vs. liability). The mean length of time to return to work or other "normal" activities was 9.4 weeks. The mean length of follow-up time was 146 weeks (2.8 years). There was an associated incidence of significant lumbar disc and/or foraminal disease requiring operation of 33.4%.
Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli

Summary Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli was first described by Kitamura and colleagues in 19601. However, the condition has only rarely been reported in Caucasians. This syndrome, of unknown aetiology, characteristically occurs in adolescent males and is asymptomatic. We report a case of erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli in a 15-year-old male patient. The histological features and differential diagnosis are discussed.
Callus induction and high efficiency plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in Paspalum

Paspalum vaginatum Swartz (seashore paspalum) is a warm season grass that can be used for turf, forage, erosion control, or bioremediation. The species is a sexual diploid, but produces less than 5% viable seed, which poses problems for genetic enhancement by conventional breeding methods. The selection of somaclonal variants is one alternative method for genetic improvement. The objective of this study was to develop a standard tissue-culture regeneration protocol for this species. Immature inflorescences of nine seashore paspalum ecotypes were used as explants for the induction of embryogenic callus in two controlled laboratory experiments during 1993 to 1994 in Georgia. Five levels of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D; 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 6.0 mg L -1 ) and three 6-benzylaminopurine levels (BAP; 0.0, 1.0, 2.0 mg L -1 ) were tested for callus induction during 1993 and four levels of 2,4-D (2.0, 3.0, 6.0, 10.0 mg L -1 ) during 1994 in a factorial experiment with all treatment combinations. BAP effects were not significant for all ecotypes except Adalayd. The 2,4-D response varied by ecotype, but all ecotypes responded to the lowest rate (1 mg L -1 ). A significant embryogenic response was obtained in all ecotypes with 1 mg L -1 BAP in combination with 0.5 to 2.0 mg L -1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). HI-1, Mauna Key, PI 299042, and K3 were highly embryogenic and PI 509021 and Adalayd were less embryogenic. High frequency plant regeneration of five ecotypes (PI 509021, HI-1, Mauna Key, Adalayd, PI299042) was successfully achieved. The protocol from callus induction to plant regeneration for seashore paspalum has been streamlined to be effective and efficient.
Design and implementation of an FPGA-based processor for compressed images

This paper deals with the implementation of a systolic array architecture in hardware using FPGAs for processing compressed binary images without decompressing them. Specifically, run-length encoding (RLE) is used for compression. Processing images in compressed form provides a significant speedup in the computation. Using a systolic architecture and implementing it in hardware further increases the speed.
Proteases and the Depletion and Restoration of Skin Responsiveness to Radiation

THE intravenous injection of a vital dye (pontamine sky blue, 1.2 ml. of 5 per cent solution/kg body-weight) immediately after local irradiation of a rabbit's skin (1,000 r., 60–140 kV) is followed within a few minutes by an intense blueing of the irradiated area, allowing the investigation of tissue events hitherto unnoticed in the so-called latent period. This circumscribed leakage of dye in the early phase of inflammation is abolished if the animals are pretreated with total or partial body irradiation (400 r., 230 kV, half-value layer = 1.8 mm Cu) or systemically with alkylating agents, and also with softer radiations used in order to avoid effects on deep-seated organs. This unresponsiveness is temporary, as the restoration of local reactivity occurs within six days in the experimental conditions described1.
Functional evidence for the presence of a phosphoramidon-sensitive enzyme in rat brain that converts big endothelin-1 to endothelin-1.

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is produced from its precursor, big endothelin-1 (BigET-1), by a putative endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE), but it is not known whether the nzyme is present in the brain. This study was conducted to examine the central hemodynamic effects of BigET-1 and to indirectly determine the presence of an ECE in rat brain. Cardiovascular efffects of centrally administered BigET-1 and ET-1 were examined in anesthetized, ventilated rats. BigET-1 (100 pmol) or ET-1 (10 pmol) applied to the IV ventricle produced similar prolonged decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal blood flow (RBF). Thus, peak decreases with BigET-1 were (mean ± S.E.): MAP=−35 ± 4%; RBF=−27 ± 5%, while those with ET-1 were: MAP=−36 ± 5%; RBF=−29 ± 9%. Pretreatment with phosphoramidon, a metalloprotease inhibitor (90 nmol), abolished the hemodynamic responses elicited by BigET-1 (MAP=−9 ± 2%; RBF=−3 ±2%) but not those produced by ET-1. These data indicate that: i) conversion of BigET-1 to ET-1 in the brain is essential for the expression of hemodynamic actions and ii) a metalloprotease capable of converting BigET-1 to ET-1 is present in rat brain.
A Simulation of Techniques for Forecasting Shipments Using Firm Orders-to-Date

Many companies use firm orders-to-date to make forecasts of units to be shipped at a future time t that is j periods away, j = 1, 2,..., h. A number of methods for making these forecasts were developed and evaluated using simulation. The time series for bookings was decomposed into a shipment time series and a time series for factors representing the fraction of shipments booked j periods ahead. Separate techniques were used for the shipments series (namely, naive, exponential smoothing and Bayesian procedures) and for the factors (naive and exponential smoothing procedures). The accuracy of these approaches, as well as an ARIMA model that ignored orders-to-date, was evaluated by using several simulated patterns of bookings. No approach was dominant, but one of the simplest approaches (naive/smoothing) did comparatively well.
Use of demand pacemarker in children with Guillain-Barré syndrome and cardiac arrhythmias

We report 2 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome who exhibited autonomic dysfunction, including lability of blood pressure and heart rate, frequent episodes of profound bradycardia, and occasional asystole. Both patients required insertion of a temporary venous pacemaker which was activated a few times during the following days. The potential need for ventilatory support in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome is well known; however, death in these patients due to acute cardiovascular failure during autonomic dysfunction continues to occur. The patients' courses emphasize the significance of cardiac monitoring and the potential use of cardiac pacing in Guillain-Barre syndrome patients who exhibit autonomic dysfunction.
The cauchy problem of a degenerate parabolic equation

This note is concerned with the existence of a weak solution for a degenerate Cauchy problem of parabolic type in then-dimensional spaceRn. The degenerate property is in the sense that the matrix (aij(t,x)) involved in the differential operator is not necessarily positive definite. The essential idea is the construction of a suitable function spaceH and to prove the existence of a weak solution inH.
A model predictive control framework for industrial turbodiesel engine control

This article describes the development and implementation of a practical explicit model predictive control (MPC) approach that allows subcontrollers to receive and accommodate time-varying setpoints and constraints from higher levels in standard industrial automotive controller hierarchies. The MPC approach requires a small computational footprint that is suitable for implementation within a modern electronic control unit (ECU). This article presents the approach, method of implementation, and preliminary results on a 2.2 litre turbodiesel engine.
Interpretation of dispersion relations for bounded systems.

Treatment of the problem of constructing normal modes for an arbitrarily bounded system from roots of the linear dispersion relation D(omega, k) = 0 for the corresponding infinite or periodically bounded system. For a system described by continuous macroscopic variables, and of general cylindrical form, each transverse eigenmode gives rise to a set of axial normal modes constructed from a pair of dominant roots of D = 0 satisfying the boundary conditions which are characterized by complex reflection coefficients for the dominant waves. The implications of the results for the interpretation of experiments on plasma waves and instabilities on finite cylinders are discussed, with particular reference to the effects of end-plate damping and axial current on Q-machines.
Metal Surface Changes during Porcelain Firing

The gold-alloy surface of a dental gold-porcelain system was studied by optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy before and after firing of porcelain. Changes in surface structure along with the appearance of tin oxide, believed to influence interfacial bonding strongly, were detected after firing.
RAM: Rate Adaptation in Mobile Environments

Channel asymmetry and high fluctuation of channel conditions are two salient characteristics of wireless channels in mobile environments. Therefore, when using IEEE 802.11 devices in mobile environments, it is critical to have an effective rate adaptation scheme that can deal with these issues. In this paper, we propose a practical rate adaptation scheme called Rate Adaptation in Mobile environments (RAM) and implement it in the MadWifi device driver. RAM uses a receiver-based approach to handle channel asymmetry and a conservative SNR prediction algorithm to deal with high channel fluctuation. More importantly, RAM allows the receiver to convey the feedback information to the transmitter in a creative manner via ACK transmission rate variation, which does not require changes to the device firmware and hence is implementable at the device driver level. In addition, RAM adopts an effective scheme to guarantee that RAM-based and legacy IEEE 802.11 devices can interoperate with each other. The effectiveness of RAM is demonstrated via in-depth experimental evaluation in indoor static and mobile environments as well as outdoor vehicular environments.
Information extraction and manipulation threats in crowd-powered systems

Crowd-powered systems have become a popular way to augment the capabilities of automated systems in real-world settings. Many of these systems rely on human workers to process potentially sensitive data or make important decisions. This puts these systems at risk of unintentionally releasing sensitive data or having their outcomes maliciously manipulated. While almost all crowd-powered approaches account for errors made by individual workers, few factor in active attacks on the system. In this paper, we analyze different forms of threats from individuals and groups of workers extracting information from crowd-powered systems or manipulating these systems' outcomes. Via a set of studies performed on Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform and involving 1,140 unique workers, we demonstrate the viability of these threats. We show that the current system is vulnerable to coordinated attacks on a task based on the requests of another task and that a significant portion of Mechanical Turk workers are willing to contribute to an attack. We propose several possible approaches to mitigating these threats, including leveraging workers who are willing to go above and beyond to help, automatically flagging sensitive content, and using workflows that conceal information from each individual, while still allowing the group to complete a task. Our findings enable the crowd to continue to play an important part in automated systems, even as the data they use and the decisions they support become increasingly important.
Detection of expansin proteins and activity during tomato fruit ontogeny.

Expansins are plant proteins that have the capacity to induce extension in isolated cell walls and are thought to mediate pH-dependent cell expansion. J.K.C. Rose, H.H. Lee, and A.B. Bennett ([1997] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94: 5955–5960) reported the identification of an expansin gene ( LeExp1 ) that is specifically expressed in ripening tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) fruit where cell wall disassembly, but not cell expansion, is prominent. Expansin expression during fruit ontogeny was examined using antibodies raised to recombinant LeExp1 or a cell elongation-related expansin from cucumber (CsExp1). The LeExp1 antiserum detected expansins in extracts from ripe, but not preripe tomato fruit, in agreement with the pattern of LeExp1 mRNA accumulation. In contrast, antibodies to CsExp1 cross-reacted with expansins in early fruit development and the onset of ripening, but not at a later ripening stage. These data suggest that ripening-related and expansion-related expansin proteins have distinct antigenic epitopes despite overall high sequence identity. Expansin proteins were detected in a range of fruit species and showed considerable variation in abundance; however, appreciable levels of expansin were not present in fruit of the rin or Nr tomato mutants that exhibit delayed and reduced softening. LeExp1 protein accumulation was ethylene-regulated and matched the previously described expression of mRNA, suggesting that expression is not regulated at the level of translation. We report the first detection of expansin activity in several stages of fruit development and while characteristic creep activity was detected in young and developing tomato fruit and in ripe pear, avocado, and pepper, creep activity in ripe tomato showed qualitative differences, suggesting both hydrolytic and expansin activities.
Economic Considerations and the 2008 Presidential Election

The idea that economic conditions influence election outcomes and voting behavior is hardly novel and would appear to be close to uniformly accepted, especially in the case of American presidential elections. Beginning with the early aggregate studies (Arcelus and Meltzer 1975; Bloom and Price 1975; Kramer 1971; Tufte 1978) and the important individual-level work that followed soon thereafter (Kiewiet 1983; Kinder and Kiewiet 1979, 1981; Fiorina 1981), election scholars have devoted considerable attention to the influence of the economy on voting behavior and election outcomes. Although the findings are many and sometimes disparate, a few general conclusions have emerged: economic voting is incumbency oriented rather than policy oriented (Fiorina 1981; Kiewiet 1983); at the individual level, evaluations of the national economy are more closely tied to vote choice than are evaluations of personal finances (Kiewiet 1983; Kinder and Kiewiet 1979, 1981; Kinder, Adams, and Gronke 1989); and, with the exception of 2000, the incumbent party is habitually returned to office when economic times are good and tossed out when economic times are bad (Campbell and Garand 2000). In short, we know a lot about how the economy influences voters and elections, and it would seem that there are few issues left to resolve.
QTL mapping for resistance to root-knot nematodes in the M-120 RNR Upland cotton line ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) of the Auburn 623 RNR source

Root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) can cause severe yield loss in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The objectives of this study were to determine the inheritance and genomic location of genes conferring root-knot nematode resistance in M-120 RNR, a highly resistant G. hirsutum line with the Auburn 623 RNR source of resistance. Utilizing two interspecific F(2) populations developed from the same M-120 RNR by Gossypium barbadense (cv. Pima S-6) cross, genome-wide scanning with RFLP markers revealed a marker on Chromosome 7 and two on Chromosome 11 showing significant association with the resistant phenotype. The association was confirmed using SSR markers with the detection of a minor and a major dominant QTL on Chromosome 7 and 11, respectively. Combined across the two populations, the major QTL on Chromosome 11 Mi-C11 had a LOD score of 19.21 (9.69 and 9.61 for Pop1 and Pop2, respectively) and accounted for 63.7% (52.6 and 65.56% for Pop1 and Pop2, respectively) of the total phenotypic variation. The minor QTL locus on Chromosome 7 Mi ( 1 ) -C07 had a LOD score of 3.48 and accounted for 7.7% of the total phenotypic variation in the combined dataset but was detected in only one population. The allele from the M-120 RNR parent contributed to increased resistance in the Mi-C11 locus, but surprisingly, the Pima S-6 allele contributed to increased resistance in the Mi-C07 locus. The M-120 RNR allele in the Mi-C11 locus, derived from the Auburn 623 RNR, is likely to have originated from the Clevewilt 6 cultivar. Results from this study indicated that the SSR marker CIR316 may replace the laborious greenhouse screening in breeding programs to identify genotypes resistant to M. incognita.
Tsp57: A Novel Gene Induced During a Specific Stage of Spermatogenesis

Recently, we described the identification of a novel protein, nuclear receptor-associated protein 80 (RAP80), which is highly expressed in spermatocytes and appears to have a role in regulating gene expression. To identify proteins interacting with this protein, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening using fulllength RAP80 as bait. This screen identified one in-frame clone encoding a novel testis-specific protein (Tsp), referred to as Tsp57. Tsp57 encodes a basic protein with a mass of 56.8 kDa. The amino acid sequence of Tsp57 is highly conserved (87%) between mouse and human. The mouse and human Tsp57 genes map to chromosomes 9A1 and 11q21, respectively. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of Tsp57 mRNA was highly restricted to the testis and temporally regulated during testicular development. Tsp57 mRNA was greatly induced between Day 21 and Day 25 of postnatal testicular development. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that the hybridization signal for Tsp57 mRNA was strongest in sections of seminiferous tubules at stages VI‐VIII of spermatogenesis, consistent with the conclusion that Tsp57 is most highly expressed in round spermatids. Study of Tsp57 expression in several purified subpopulations of spermatogenic cells confirmed maximum levels of expression in round spermatids. Consistently, Tsp57 expression was absent in testes from vitamin A-deficient mice, which do not have any round spermatids, and was reduced in RARa null mice, which have lowered numbers of round spermatids in their testes. These results indicate the possibility that Tsp57 protein plays a role in the postmeiotic phase of germ cell differentiation. Tsp57 contains two putative nuclear localization signals: NLS1 and NLS2. Examination of the cellular localization showed that the green fluorescent protein-Tsp57 fusion protein localized to both cytoplasm and nucleus. After deletion of NLS1 but not NLS2, Tsp57 localized solely to the cytoplasm, indicating a role for NLS1 in the nuclear localization of Tsp57. The localization suggests a nuclear function for Tsp57. Pull-down analysis demonstrated that Tsp57 and RAP80 form a complex in intact cells.
Mature beech trees (Fagus grandifolia; Fagaceae) are persistently clonal in coves and beech gaps in the Great Smoky Mountains.

• Premise of the study: Angiosperms frequently have mixed sexual and asexual reproductive strategies, which can have significant consequences for population and community structure. Many tree species respond to disturbance by vegetative sprouting over sexual reproduction, but the ability to do so varies within and among species and is poorly studied. We tested the hypothesis that root sprouting in Fagus grandifolia is more important in high-elevation beech forests (extreme environmental conditions), relative to lower-elevation cove hardwood forests (optimal environmental conditions), in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.• Methods: Four cove hardwood and two high-elevation beech gap forests were sampled. Fagus grandifolia trees were tagged, mapped, and genotyped at each site using six nuclear microsatellite loci. A subset of trees was cored to determine minimum ages of identified clonal lineages. Relationships between measures of clonal richness, diameter, forest type, and elevation were compared by nonparametric analyses.• Key results: Five of six sites were highly dependent on sprouting; one site was entirely dependent on reproduction by seed. Clonal richness did not differ significantly by forest type or elevation, but differed significantly from previously published work. Tree diameter was significant by elevation and significant between the present study and previously published work.• Conclusions: The results of this study in the context of previously published work suggest that relatively recent recruits may be more likely to reflect both sexual and asexual strategies, whereas mature F. grandifolia may be more likely to be the result of persistent clonal lineages.
Carotid intimal-medial thickness in active professional American football players aged 23 to 35 years.

Risk of cardiovascular disease and death in retired professional American football players may be higher than that in the general population. Previously published data have demonstrated that American football players have less glucose intolerance, less smoking, similar lipid profiles, and higher blood pressure despite a much larger body compared to the general population, although the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in these subjects has not been evaluated. This study compared the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in active professional American football players to that in age-, gender-, and race-matched controls derived from the Bogalusa Heart Study. Carotid intimal–medial thickness (CIMT) was used as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in 75 active American football players (23 to 35 years old, 31 white, 44 African-American) as measured by B-mode ultrasonography at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, on September 13 and 14, 2009. CIMT measurements of 75 athletes were compared to those of 518 matched controls who had CIMT determinations in 1995 and 1996. Two-group t tests determined population similarities between groups. In a generalized linear model, players (overall and by race) had lower CIMT values than controls after age and race adjustment (p
Molybdenum Adsorption on Oxides, Clay Minerals, and Soils

Molybdenum adsorption behavior was investigated on various crystalline and x-ray amorphous Al and Fe oxide minerals, clay minerals, CaC@, and arid-zone calcareous and noncalcareou s ssoils. Molybdenum adsorption on botb Al and Fe oxides exhibited a maximum at low pH extending to about pH 4 to 5. Above pH 5 adsorption decreased rapidly, with little adsorptio noccurring above pH 8. Molybdenum adsorption was higher for the oxide minerals having higher specific surface area and lower crystallinity. Molybdenum adsorption on the clay minerals exhibited a peak near pH 3 and then decreased rapidly with increasing pH until adsorption was virtually zero near pH 7. The magnitude of MO adsorption on clays increased in the order: kaolinite < illite < montmorillonite. Shifts in point of zero charge were observed on Al and Fe oxides and kaolinite following MO adsorption, indicating an inner-sphere adsorption mechanism for MO on these surfaces. Molybdenum adsorption behavior on three arid-zone noncalcareous soils resembled that on clays, exhibiting a peak near pH 3 to 4 and decreasing with increasing pH up to pH 7. This behavior is expected since the oxide content of these soils is low. Molybdenum adsorption on calcite and tw ocalcareous arid-zone soils was low, indicating that CaCOJ is not a significant sink for MO in soils.
Sampling Errors of Ssm/I and Trmm Rainfall Averages: Comparison with Error Estimates from Surface Data and a Sample Model

Quantitative use of satellite-derived maps of monthly rainfall requires some measure of the accuracy of the satellite estimates. The rainfall estimate for a given map grid box is subject to both remote-sensing error and, in the case of low-orbiting satellites, sampling error due to the limited number of observations of the grid box provided by the satellite. A simple model of rain behavior predicts that Root-mean-square (RMS) random error in grid-box averages should depend in a simple way on the local average rain rate, and the predicted behavior has been seen in simulations using surface rain-gauge and radar data. This relationship was examined using satellite SSM/I data obtained over the western equatorial Pacific during TOGA COARE. RMS error inferred directly from SSM/I rainfall estimates was found to be larger than predicted from surface data, and to depend less on local rain rate than was predicted. Preliminary examination of TRMM microwave estimates shows better agreement with surface data. A simple method of estimating rms error in satellite rainfall estimates is suggested, based on quantities that can be directly computed from the satellite data.
Authentication and Affect: Why the Turks Don't Like Enchanted Counterpublics, A Review Essay

Anthropological fashion moves in a rhythm unlike the deliberate seasonal cycle of the couture houses that design the foulards the French find so troubling these days. But if gray or green is the new black this season in Paris and New York, public has been the new structure in anthropology for several long seasons now, and is only just beginning to live up to some of its considerable potential as a design element in cultural analysis, and also to show its age. The advantage of the public sphere as a concept is that—like its predecessor, structure, which can stand against chaos, anti-structure, agency, process, and so on—“public” resides within a rich semantic network in which it can signify a number of oppositions and complements: privacy, secrecy, domesticity, isolation, individualism, sectarianism, market, state. Despite its normative reputation as a concept associated with rational deliberation over the public good, in the hands of John Bowen, Lara Deeb, Charles Hirschkind, and Esra Ozyurek, the public sphere turns out rather surprisingly to rely on cultivated affect and on sets of embodied dispositions that it shapes in the process of people's participation in it. Like Bourdieu's Kabyle house writ large, the public sphere is an opus operatum, a space channeling the interactions that create it, a set of relationships maintained by the interests and capacities it generates.
Work in progress - Project La COSTA: IT experiences for 8-10 graders in South Texas

The results of student surveys taken at the end of the first year of Project La COSTA are described and evaluated. The CSTEP Computer Science Training Academy Program (La COSTA), consists of a three-year educational IT experience, supported by local coalitions of higher education, business, and community organizations, for 250 eighth, ninth and tenth grade Hispanic boys and girls in five Central and South Texas school districts, leading to a Computer Science career pathway. Project La COSTA includes after-school, weekend, and summer activities integrating computer skills, family involvement, role modeling, tutoring, mentoring, career development, and externships. The educational model uses hands-on activities to give students marketable computer skills and preparation for college-level IT-related coursework. Student surveys completed at the end of the first year of the project demonstrate significant positive changes in student attitudes toward computer use, confidence in problem solving abilities, and interactions with classroom teachers.
Object-Oriented Multi-Methods in Cecil

Multiple dispatching provides increased expressive power over single dispatching by guiding method lookup using the values of all arguments instead of only the receiver. However, existing languages with multiple dispatching do not encourage the data-abstraction-oriented programming style that is encouraged by traditional single-dispatching languages; instead existing multiple-dispatching languages tend to foster a function-oriented programming style organized around generic functions. We propose an alternative view of multiple dispatching that is intended to promote a data-abstraction-oriented programming style. Instead of viewing a multi-method as “outside” of all objects, we view a multi-method as “inside” the objects for which the multi-method applies (on which it dispatches). Because objects are closely connected to the multi-methods implementing their operations, the internals of an object can be encapsulated by being accessible only to the closely-connected multi-methods. We are exploring this object-oriented view of multi-methods in the context of a new programming language named Cecil.
An approach to the identification of anomalies and etiologies in neonates with identified or suspected VACTERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, cardiac anomalies, renal anomalies, and limb anomalies) association

VATER association was first described in the early 1970s as the non-random co-occurrence of congenital malformations including: Vertebral defects, Anal atresia, Tracheo-Esophageal fistula (TEF) with or without esophageal atresia (EA), and Radial and Renal dysplasia.1 Following initial reports, it was suggested that “V” should include Vascular anomalies (including single umbilical artery). Cardiac malformations (“C”) and Limb (“L”) anomalies other than radial anomalies were also added, such that the term “VACTERL” became the most common descriptor, despite variable evidence for the inclusion of features such as cardiac or renal anomalies.2–6 The presence of VACTERL association, which usually requires at least 3 component features and the absence of evidence for an overlapping condition, is estimated to occur in approximately 1/10,000–1/40,000 live births.7, 8 Just as there are challenges in defining the condition, there is no standard approach for the initial diagnostic work-up of a neonate with identified or suspected VACTERL association. This can be problematic: missed manifestations may obfuscate the etiological work-up8; delay medical interventions, potentially contributing to higher morbidity and mortality9; result in less informed and effective counseling. To attempt to address these issues, we assembled a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians and researchers whose expertise focuses on VACTERL association and/or its individual component features. Following review of the literature, and based upon our collective experience, we offer suggestions for the evaluation of individuals identified or suspected to have VACTERL association. Literature Search We conducted a PubMed-based literature search for case reports and collections of patients identified or suspected of having VACTERL association and/or associated component features. Search terms included the following: Anal atresia; Anorectal malformations; Cardiac anomalies; Cardiac malformations; Cardiovascular anomalies; Cardiovascular malformations; Esophageal atresia; Genitourinary anomalies; Genitourinary malformations; Imperforate anus; Limb anomalies; Limb malformations; Radial anomalies; Radial dysplasia; Renal anomalies; Renal malformations; TEF; Tracheo-esophageal fistula; VACTERL; VATER; Vertebral anomalies; Vertebral malformations. Only articles describing human patients were considered, and articles were excluded if they did not pertain to component features specifically seen in VACTERL association.
Bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis less than one year after replacement and an ablative MAZE procedure: a case report

Occurrence of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis less than a year after replacement is very uncommon. Here, we describe a case of a 57 year old male, who presented 10 months after receiving a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement with a two week history of dyspnea on exertion, worsening orthopnea and decreased exercise tolerance. Echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation (MR), thrombosis of the posterior mitral leaflet, left atrial (LA) mural thrombus and a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of twenty-five percent. Given severe clot burden and decompensated heart failure (New York Heart Association - NYHA class III) repeat sternotomy was done to replace the bioprosthetic mitral valve and remove LA mural thrombus. MR was resolved postoperatively. This brief report further reviews promoting factors, established guidelines and management strategies of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis.
Performance and Design of Mobility Allowance Shuttle Transit Services: Bounds on the Maximum Longitudinal Velocity

We develop bounds on the maximum longitudinal velocity to evaluate the performance and help the design of mobility allowance shuttle transit (MAST) services. MAST is a new concept in transportation that merges the flexibility of demand responsive transit (DRT) systems with the low-cost operability of fixed-route bus systems. A MAST system allows buses to deviate from the fixed path so that customers within the service area may be picked up or dropped off at their desired locations. However, the main purpose of these services should still be to transport customers along a primary direction. The velocity along this direction should remain above a minimum threshold value to maintain the service attractive to customers. We use continuous approximations to compute lower and upper bounds. The resulting narrow gap between them under realistic operating conditions allows us to evaluate the service in terms of velocity and capacity versus demand. The results show that a two-vehicle system, with selected widths of the service area of 0.5 miles and 1 mile, is able to serve, respectively, a demand of at least 10 and 7 customers per longitudinal mile of the service area while maintaining a reasonable forward progression velocity of about 10 miles/hour. The relationships obtained can be helpful in the design of MAST systems to set the main parameters of the service, such as slack time and headway.
AT1-IR-beta Association: A New Mechanism for the Inhibition of Insulin Receptor Function in Breast Cancer

Epidemiological evidence show that increased mortality in breast cancer is linked to hypertension and insulin resistance. Because Angiotensin II (Ang II), a hormone implicated in hypertension and insulin resistance, is a normal mitogen for breast tissue and elevated expression of the Ang II receptor AT1 is seen in breast cancer, we analyzed the effects of Ang II exposure on the functions of IR in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Exposure of MCF-7 to Ang II for 2 hours a) significantly reduced 125I-insulin binding to IR, and b) induced co-immuno-precipitation of the AT1 with IR-beta subunit. These Ang II-mediated effects on IR were inhibited by the AT1 antagonist losartan, and were not observed when exposure time was below 1-hour. These observations suggest extended exposure to Ang II have detrimental effects on insulin binding to IR that were not discovered in the previous studies where Ang II-exposure of insulin responsive cells was performed for periods less than one hour. In addition, they suggest a novel mechanism that involves AT1-IR-beta association for the inhibition of insulin binding to IR in response to extended exposure (2-hours) of breast cancer cells to elevated levels of Ang II (as seen in hypertensive patients), and provides a molecular link for the inhibition of normal IR signaling by Ang II in breast cancer.
Nitrogen-stable isotope signatures in estuarine food webs : A record of increasing urbanization in coastal watersheds

Nutrient enrichment as a result of anthropogenic activity concentrated along the land-sea margin is increasing eutrophication of near-shore waters across the globe. Management of eutrophication in the coastal zone has been hampered by the lack of a direct method to trace nitrogen sources from land into coastal food webs. Stable isotope data from a series of estuaries receiving nitrogen loads from 2 to 467 kg N ha -1 yr -1 from the Waquoit Bay watershed, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, indicate that producer and consumer 15 N-to- 14 N ratios record increases in wastewater nitrogen inputs. Nitrate from groundwater-borne wastewater introduces a 15 N-enriched tracer to estuaries. This study explicitly links anthropogenically derived nitrogen from watersheds to nitrogen in estuarine plants and animals, and suggests that wastewater nitrogen may be detectable in estuarine biota at relatively low loading rates, before eutrophication leads to major changes in species composition and abundance within estuarine food webs.
Cryptogenic New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) in adults-Infectious or not?

Abstract Introduction In the majority of cases of New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) in adults, a cause is discovered. However, some cases of NORSE remain undiagnosed, i.e. cryptogenic. They are usually presumed to be due to infectious encephalitis and typically have devastating consequences. We describe our experience with six adults who presented with NORSE and raise the possibility of non-infectious causes. Methods Retrospective case series from an epilepsy service in a tertiary care urban hospital. We compare the clinical features of these cases with patients who develop NORSE in the setting of clinically-defined encephalitis from the California Encephalitis Project (most of whom are etiologically cryptogenic) as well as with patients who develop NORSE in the setting of proven infectious encephalitis. Results We describe 6 previously-normal adults with NORSE where a cause was not established despite an exhaustive search. With an average duration of 36 days (range 6–68), the in-hospital and long-term morbidities were high; one patient died of the propofol infusion syndrome. In contradistinction to NORSE in the setting of etiologically-proven infectious encephalitis, these patients were afebrile and the abnormalities evident during their evaluation could be attributed to the ictal activity itself. Neuropathological examination revealed non-specific findings in 4 patients. Conclusions Though an underlying etiology remains unproven in these patients, we contend that NORSE is etiologically heterogeneous, with a proportion of cases due to non-infectious causes. Further study of this poorly understood form of status epilepticus is needed.
Allograft Reconstruction of a Chronic Quadriceps Tendon Rupture with Use of a Novel Technique.

Chronic ruptures of the quadriceps tendon are uncommon injuries, most frequently seen in patients over the age of forty1. The mechanism of injury is often a slip and a fall, either on a flat surface or on stairs1. It can also be associated with underlying medical conditions, such as gout or diabetes mellitus2. More than half of these patients generally are not able to return to their preinjury recreational activities, and many are not able to return to their preinjury occupation1. The results after chronic or recurrent ruptures are worse, primarily caused by tendon retraction that leads to a gap between the tendon and patella; in these cases, a V-Y advancement or allograft reconstruction is generally necessary3. We present a novel technique with use of an Achilles tendon allograft with bone block fixation, which we believe provides superior fixation in cases of chronic or recurrent quadriceps tendon ruptures. An Achilles tendon-bone block allograft is commonly used for reconstruction of the patellar tendon, in which case the bone block is fitted into the proximal aspect of the tibia4. However, to our knowledge, the placement of an Achilles tendon bone block into the patella for quadriceps tendon reconstruction previously has not been reported in the literature. The patient was informed that data concerning the case …
A Dynamic Optimization Approach for Maximum Aerodynamic Coefficient of a Wind Turbine

Wind energy is the most abundant resource in the renewable energy portfolio. Increasing the wind capture capability improves the economic viability of this technology, making it more competitive with traditional fossil-fuel based approaches. Therefore, it is beneficial to explore optimal control strategies that maximize aerodynamic efficiency, thus, the wind energy capture. Accordingly, this paper presents a dynamic programming approach to find the control inputs for the blade pitch angle and speed ratio, that maximizes the power coefficient. The process uses historical wind data to evaluate the performance of various inputs over a simulated time horizon. A dynamic wind turbine model facilitates this process by characterizing the performance of the various possible input scenarios. Each scenario is scored through the programming technique, and the optimal control inputs are identified following simulation. The results are presented to compare the wind energy capture under the proposed algorithm with the traditional feedback control design.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Combined exposure to cigarette smoke and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae drives development of a COPD phenotype in mice

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the major etiologic factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CS-exposed mice develop emphysema and mild pulmonary inflammation but no airway obstruction, which is also a prominent feature of COPD. Therefore, CS may interact with other factors, particularly respiratory infections, in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in COPD. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to CS for 2 h a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Mice were also exposed to heat-killed non-typeable H. influenzae (HK-NTHi) on days 7 and 21. One day after the last exposure to CS, mice were sacrificed and lung inflammation and mechanics, emphysematous changes, and goblet cell metaplasia were assessed. Mice exposed to CS or HK-NTHi alone or room air served as controls. To determine the susceptibility to viral infections, we also challenged these mice with rhinovirus (RV). Unlike mice exposed to CS or HK-NTHi alone, animals exposed to CS/HK-NTHi developed emphysema, lung inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia in both large and small airways. CS/HK-NTHi-exposed mice also expressed increased levels of mucin genes and cytokines compared to mice in other groups. CS/HK-NTHi-exposed mice infected with RV demonstrated increased viral persistence, sustained neutrophilia, and further increments in mucin gene and chemokine expression compared to other groups. These findings indicate that in addition to CS, bacteria may also contribute to development of COPD, particularly changes in airways. Mice exposed to CS/HK-NTHi are also more susceptible to subsequent viral infection than mice exposed to either CS or HK-NTHi alone.
Efficient and Practical Approach for Private Record Linkage

Record linkage is used to associate entities from multiple data sources. For example, two organizations contemplating a merger may want to know how common their customer bases are so that they may better assess the benefits of the merger. Another example is a database of people who are forbidden from a certain activity by regulators, may need to be compared to a list of people engaged in that activity. The autonomous entities who wish to carry out the record matching computation are often reluctant to fully share their data; they fear losing control over its subsequent dissemination and usage, or they want to insure privacy because the data is proprietary or confidential, and/or they are cautious simply because privacy laws forbid its disclosure or regulate the form of that disclosure. In such cases, the problem of carrying out the linkage computation without full data exchange has been called private record linkage. Previous private record linkage techniques have made use of a third party. We provide efficient techniques for private record linkage that improve on previous work in that (1) our techniques make no use of a third party, and (2) they achieve much better performance than previous schemes in terms of their execution time while maintaining acceptable quality of output compared to nonprivacy settings. Our protocol consists of two phases. The first phase primarily produces candidate record pairs for matching, by carrying out a very fast (but not accurate) matching between such pairs of records. The second phase is a novel protocol for efficiently computing distances between each candidate pair (without any expensive cryptographic operations such as modular exponentiations). Our experimental evaluation of our approach validates these claims.
Brown & Hanlon revisited: mothers' sensitivity to ungrammatical forms*

Brown & Hanlon (1970) reported that parents' explicit approval or disapproval of their child's utterances was not contingent on the well-formedness of that utterance. Rather, parents seemed attuned to the semantic value of their child's speech. Using 40 mother–child dyads, 10 from each of four age groups, 2–5 years, we replicated these results. We expanded upon this earlier work, however, to suggest that parents are not totally indifferent to the grammatical form of their child's utterances. Focusing on repetitions, we found that mothers are more inclined to repeat ungrammatical than grammatical sentences generated by 2- year-old subjects. This indicates that the language learning environment does present subtle cues that distinguish between well-formed and ill-formed sentences. Whether the child is capable of capitalizing on these cues remains unanswered.