cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative Fates of Paused Ribosomes during Translation Termination

The bacterial tmRNA·SmpB system facilitates recycling of stalled translational complexes in a process termed “ribosome rescue.” During ribosome rescue, the nascent chain is tagged with the tmRNA-encoded ssrA peptide, which targets the tagged polypeptide for degradation. Translational pausing also induces a variety of recoding events such as frameshifts, ribosome hops, and stop codon readthrough. To examine the interplay between recoding and ribosome rescue, we determined the various fates of ribosomes that pause during translation termination. We expressed a model protein containing the C-terminal Asp-Pro nascent peptide motif (which interferes with translation termination) and quantified the protein chains produced by recoding and ssrA-peptide tagging. The nature and extent of translational recoding depended upon the codon for the C-terminal Pro residue, with CCU and CCC promoting efficient +1 frameshifting. In contrast, ssrA-peptide tagging was unaffected by C-terminal Pro coding. Moreover, +1 frameshifting was not suppressed by tmRNA·SmpB activity, suggesting that recoding and ribosome rescue are not competing events. However, cells lacking ribosomal protein L9 (ΔL9) exhibited a significant increase in recoding and a concomitant decrease in ssrA-peptide tagging. Pulse-chase analysis revealed that pre-termination ribosomes turn over more rapidly in ΔL9 cells, suggesting that increased recoding alleviates the translational arrest. Together, these results indicate that tmRNA·SmpB does not suppress transient ribosome pauses, but responds to prolonged translational arrest.
High Peak Power Laser Technologies: New Directions

This tutorial introduces the basics of ultrashort duration laser pulse amplification and reviews present technologies for both femtosecond and kJ petawatt peak power laser systems. A survey of present worldwide efforts will also be presented.
How Often Are Teens Arrested for Sexting? Data From a National Sample of Police Cases

Objective: To examine characteristics of youth sexting cases handled by police and their outcomes in response to clinical and other concerns about the risks of sexting behavior. Methods: Mail surveys were sent to a stratified national sample of 2712 law enforcement agencies followed by detailed telephone interviews with investigators about a nationally representative sample of sexting cases handled by police during 2008 and 2009 ( n = 675). The cases involved “youth-produced sexual images” that constituted child pornography under relevant statutes according to respondents. Results: US law enforcement agencies handled an estimated 3477 cases of youth-produced sexual images during 2008 and 2009 (95% confidence interval: 3282–3672). Two-thirds of the cases involved an “aggravating” circumstance beyond the creation and/or dissemination of a sexual image. In these aggravated cases, either an adult was involved (36% of cases) or a minor engaged in malicious, non-consensual, or abusive behavior (31% of cases). An arrest occurred in 62% of cases with an adult involved, in 36% of the aggravated youth-only cases, and in 18% of the “experimental” cases (youth-only and no aggravating elements). Most of the images (63%) were distributed by cell phone only and did not reach the Internet. Sex offender registration applied in only a few unusual cases. Conclusions: Many of the youth sexting cases that come to the attention of police include aggravating circumstances that raise concerns about health and risky sexual behavior, although some cases were relatively benign. Overall, arrest is not typical in cases with no adults involved.
Aggregation behaviour below the gelation threshold for metal-olefin coordination in diene polymers

This study focuses on aggregation below the gelation threshold in ternary solutions containing diene polymers, atactic 1,2-polybutadiene (PBu) or 3,4-polyisoprene (PI), and an inorganic salt, bis(acetonitrile) dichloropalladium(II). Upon mixing, effective coordination crosslinks are formed because the acetonitrile ligands of the palladium salt are displaced by olefinic pendant groups of the polymers. In all cases, the aggregation kinetics correlate with PdCl2 concentration because the polymer concentration is 100 times greater than the salt concentration. Aggregation is the process that occurs prior to gelation as the transition-metal salt forms a coordination bridge between two different polymer chains. Differential analysis of the initial aggregation rate on the basis of light scattering data at 45° relative to the incident throughput beam reveals that the ‘true’ order of the coordination reaction is close to unity. This suggests that coordination crosslinking is diffusion-controlled in the early stages of aggregation. Half-life analysis of viscous solutions yields an overall reaction order of 1.6 for aggregation of polybutadiene and palladium chloride in tetrahydorfuran (THF). Scaling analysis of the weight-average molecular weight dependence of the root-mean-square size of isolated scattering particles yields an effective exponent of 0.7 for polymer/metal-salt complexes at infinite dilution. This experimental scaling law agrees with literature values for cross-linked polymer networks. In all cases, the size of the aggregates increases at higher PdCl2 concentration. For polybutadiene/PdCl2 mixtures in THF or toluene below the gelation threshold, the light-scattering-detected average aggregation number (AN = Mw, complex/Mw, pure polymer via Zimm-plot intercepts) for low-viscosity solutions is 2, while AN ∼ 9 for viscous THF solutions. In contrast, low aggregation numbers (AN ∼ 2) were calculated for viscous ternary mixtures of 3,4-polyisoprene and PdCl2 in THF.
Maximin behavior and efficient allocation

Abstract A mechanism that can implement any Pareto-efficient allocation in a two-person Edgeworth box economy when agents choose among uncertain alternatives by the maximin criterion is described. This, coupled with the association of maximin and its generalizations with complete ignorance, suggests that deliberately withholding information from agents about each other's preferences might allow the design of mechanisms with improved performance.
Extracting oil from shale using solar energy

Abstract We used two solar receiver reactors, one fixed and the other fluidized, to study, on a laboratory scale, the pyrolysis of oil shale and the recovery of the volatile product. We observed the distribution of the products in a series of traps as well as the overall oil yield. Yields greater than the Fischer Assays can be obtained. The high temperatures obtainable with solar energy can also be used to pyrolize the substrate and remove CO 2 .
Ixodes scapularis:Salivary Kininase Activity Is a Metallo Dipeptidyl Carboxypeptidase☆

Saliva and salivary gland homogenates of Ixodes scapularis contain a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase activity that accounts for the previously described salivary kininase activity of this tick. Reversed phase HPLC and laser desorption mass spectrography of the reaction products identified bradykinin fragment 1-7 and 1-5 as being produced subsequent to incubation of purified salivary kininase with bradykinin. The activity was inhibited by captopril and EDTA and was activated by cobalt and manganese, a behavior similar to that displayed by angiotensin-converting enzymes of vertebrate and invertebrate origins.
Epidural abscess after epidural anesthesia and continuous epidural analgesia in a patient with gastric lymphoma

A case of spinal epidural abscess, a rare but possibly devastating complication of epidural instrumentation and catheterization, is described in an immunocompromised patient, which presented atypically and which resulted in the patient's death.
Situating experiences of HIV-related stigma in Swaziland

Abstract With the world's highest antenatal HIV prevalence rate (39.2%), Swaziland has also been described as among the most stigmatising. Yet, only recently was an anti-HIV stigma and discrimination (S&D) platform included in the government's National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Policy. This study draws on a medical anthropological project in rural Swaziland to examine experiences of stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). Qualitative methods included a semi-structured questionnaire and interviews (n=40) to identify patterns of stigma across three domains: verbal, physical and social. Key informant interviews (n=5) were conducted with health personnel and support group leaders. Descriptive statistics were situated within a thematic analysis of open-ended content. Among the findings, participants reported extensive HIV-related rumouring (36.4%) and pejorative name-calling (37.5%). Nearly one in five (18.2%) could no longer partake of family meals. Homesteads, which are an organising principle of S...
Separation of Alkali-Metal Ions from Each Other and from Other Metal Ions on Ion-Exchange Papers

Abstract Cation-exchange paper chromatography with mixed solvents provides for the mutual separation of the alkali-metal ions. Development with a complexing solution on anion-exchange paper provides for the separation of the alkali metals as a group from other monovalent and multivalent metal ions.
Sequence of candicidin action on yeast cells.

The action of the polyene antibiotic candicidin (a heptaene) on yeast cells in growth medium has been studied. Candicidin at the growth-inhibiting concentration produced the following sequence of events. (1) There was an immediate and rapid loss of K+. (2) After about 10 min, Mg2+ was lost to the medium and protein synthesis and uptake of amino acids decreased rapidly while the intracellular ATP level rose. Candicidin caused a temporary stimulation of amino acid uptake in salt-free buffer. (3) After about 20 min RNA synthesis and glucose consumption declined. Transport of sugars did not appear to be inhibited but energy-dependent accumulation and assimilation were sharply restricted. (4) Candicidin did not cause release of phosphate, amino acids, uracil or uridine from the internal pools, or make the membrane permeable to uridine 5′-phosphate or ATP. Damage to the cell membrane by candicidin appears to be relatively slight and affects primarily membrane components related to ion transport. The various metabolic changes noted probably result from the K+ loss and the eventual decline of the energy-generating systems.
Preparation and structural characterization of sputtered CoO, NiO, and Ni0.5Co0.5O thin epitaxial films

Single phase CoO, NiO, and Ni{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O epitaxial films have been prepared by reactive sputtering onto {l angle}0001{r angle} {alpha}--Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} substrates maintained at 373 K. Epitaxy was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) techniques. XRD experiments indicate that these monoxide films are cubic and contain rotation twins with the twin axis parallel to {l angle}111{r angle}. Lattice parameters for the CoO and NiO films are 0.4254{plus minus}0.0001 nm and 0.4173{plus minus}0.0006 nm, respectively, and agree with published values for the corresponding bulk oxides. The lattice parameter 0.4220{plus minus}0.0001 nm for the Ni{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O film lies between those of CoO and NiO and suggests that the mixed oxide film is compositionally homogeneous. Cross-sectional HREM images of the Ni{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O specimen show {Sigma}3(1{bar 1}2) twin boundaries perpendicular to the oxide-substrate interface. The twin regions are approximately 30 nm in size and are uniformly distributed throughout the film. The epitaxial orientation of the monoxide films with respect to the substrate can be summarized by the relationships (111) monoxide //(0001) {alpha}--Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, (1{bar 1}0) monoxide //(1{bar 1}00) {alpha}--Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and (11{bar 2}) monoxide //(11{bar 2}0) {alpha}--Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}.
Effects of dehydration and exogenous growth regulators on dormancy, quiescence and germination of grape somatic embryos

Dormant grape somatic embryos from five genetically distinct culture lines were subjected either to dehydration or exogenous growth regulators (benzyladenine, gibberellin or abscisic acid). Of growth regulator treatments tested, benzyladenine resulted in the highest germination rate but postgermination growth was abnormal. Abscisic acid treatment resulted in the least germination. Dehydration for 21 d under 75–95% relative humidity was effective only for the culture line that produced well developed embryos. However, for this line, more embryos produced shoots after dehydration (34%) when compared to growth regulator treatments and the postgermination growth resembled that of a seedling. Moisture content of dehydrated somatic embryos was similar to that of seed at equivalent relative humidities. Because dehydrated embryos germinate after addition of water, they are considered to be quiescent or nondormant. Plant recovery rates of 34% after 21 d of dehydrated storage at 70% relative humidity suggests that dehydration of somatic embryos may eventually provide for the conservation of clonally propagated crops in seed gene banks.
Regulating phospholipase C activity in human neutrophils

Bacterial-derived formylated peptide, (FMLP) stimulates the respiratory burst activity of human neutrophils via phospholipase C (PLC) activation followed by increased production of second messengers, IP3 and DG(1). One synthetic bisphosphonate, clodronate was tested to see how it might affect Ca2+-mediated activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst. Clodronate itself did not significantly change the respiratory burst, measured by Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). However, clodronate inhibited the FMLP-mediated stimulation of CL significantly (p<0.001). A selective inhibitor of PLC, quinacrine, alone inhibited CL significantly (p<0.0001) but with clodronate the inhibition was potentiated. The sensitivity to EGTA-treatment with clodronate indicated that clodronate is a Ca2+ mobilizing agent. Furthermore, clodronate-mediated CL was sensitive (p<0.001) to inhibitors of protein kinase C or tyrosine kinase and potentiated with vanadate treatment. Data suggests possible involvement of bisphosphonate ...
A Fourier Transform Spectrometer for Measurement of Atmospheric Transmission at Submillimeter Wavelengths

We describe a Fourier transform spectrometer for measurements of atmospheric transmission in the spectral interval 300 GHz to 3.5 THz. This instrument has been developed to evaluate prospective sites for radio astronomical observations at frequencies above 1 THz. Measurements have been made on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and at the site of the future Millimeter Array near Cerro Chajnantor in northern Chile. Chajnantor frequently exhibits significant transmission in atmospheric windows at frequencies above 1 THz. Here we outline the design and characteristics of the instrument, discuss data processing methods, and present sample measurements from Chajnantor.
Load capacities of glass panels

Abstract 60s load capacities are estimated for glass cladding panels of aspect ratios less than or equal to four. The estimation procedure requires the characterization of the initial strength of the panel in probabilistic terms. The traditional two parameter and recent ring-on-ring based three parameter Weibull distributions are employed for the initial strength. It is shown that load capacities based on the three parameter distribution provide a closer estimate to published results for new glass than those based upon the traditional two parameter distribution. Preliminary results suggest that the lower bound pressure estimated in the Weibull model may be an appropriate load capacity for new glass.
Therapeutic intimacy in nursing

Capturing essential elements of the client-nurse relationship is an ongoing quest for nursing theorists and practitioners. The concepts which can describe this relationship may in fact have a long history of study in nursing and related disciplines. The concept of intimacy does have a trail of previous study. Giving credence to this work, in preference to developing a new lexicon, enables nurses to see interpersonal relationships with clients in the context of interdisciplinary, indeed human endeavour. In this article, the concept of intimacy is reviewed as it has been studied from a variety of perspectives. Selected aspects of intimacy in client-nurse relationships are also explored.
ATP’s impact on accelerating development and commercialization of advanced technology

One of ATP’s legislated mandates is to accelerate industry’s development and commercialization of new technologies. This survey of 28 projects funded in 1991 found that ATP helped cut technology development cycle time by 50% in most cases. Slightly more than half of the interviewees provided quantitative estimates of the economic value of reducing cycle time by a single year. Most interviewees expected the positive impact on cycle time experienced in the applied-research stage to flow through to later stages in the technology development cycle allowing them to enter the marketplace more quickly. Cycle-time improvements in other technology development projects were attributed by the companies to their ATP project. Two types of acceleration were implied: (1) overcoming delays in starting technology development projects, and (2) speeding up performance of research once it is under way.
High strain-rate response of spiropyran mechanophores in PMMA

This work was funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Basic Sciences program under grant number HDTRA139181 and managed by Su Peiris.
Influence of Karst Landscape on Planetary Boundary Layer Atmosphere: A Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model–Based Investigation

AbstractKarst hydrology provides a unique set of surface and subsurface hydrological components that affect soil moisture variability. Over karst topography, surface moisture moves rapidly below ground via sink holes, vertical shafts, and sinking streams, reducing surface runoff and moisture infiltration into the soil. In addition, subsurface cave blockage or rapid snowmelt over karst can lead to surface flooding. Moreover, regions dominated by karst may exhibit either drier or wetter soils when compared to nonkarst landscape. However, because of the lack of both observational soil moisture datasets to initialize simulations and regional land surface models (LSMs) that include explicit karst hydrological processes, the impact of karst on atmospheric processes is not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of karst hydrology on planetary boundary layer (PBL) atmosphere using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). This research is a first attempt t...
Breastfeeding the borderline (near-term) preterm infant.

The special physical and developmental needs of near-term infants and their mothers in establishing and maintaining breastfeeding are discussed. Collaborative planning with lactation consultants in assessing and supporting the breastfeeding near-term infant-mother dyad is examined. Some of the more common problems encountered when breastfeeding near-term infants are discussed; preventative strategies and responses are examined. (non-author abstract)
Origin of the induced circular polarization in the light scattering from a dinoflagellate

The S11 and S14 scattering matrix elements were measured for light scattered from single dinoflagellates and single irregularly-shaped, alumina particles suspended in a transparent gel. The S14 matrix element indicates the degree of circularly-polarized light induced on incident unpolarized light. The S4 signal from the dinoflagellates was found to be significantly larger than that measured for the alumina particles. The nucleus of the dinofiagellate investigated, Prorocentrum micans, contains about 50 structurally complex, chromosomes with a helical structure. This work provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that the observed S14 signal produced by the light scattering from P. micans is due to the helical nature of their chromosomes.
Divergent Production Abilities as Constructs of Musical Creativity

The investigation concerned the construction of a test of musical creativity that would assess the hypothesized divergent production abilities of music fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, and quality in school instrumental music students. The developed test, Measures of Musical Divergent Production (MMDP), was based on models of Guilford and Torrance. Tests were scored for the number of improvised phrases produced, shifts of musical content, varied use of musical content, rarely used content, and music appeal. Evidence for content validity was provided by expert opinion. The multiple correlation of the five ability scores with teacher ratings of musical creativity was .57. Factors of fluency, flexibility, originality, and quality were demonstrated. Only quality scores were not distinct from measures of general intelligence. Reliability coefficients were moderately high. MMDP scores showed no pattern of correlation with selected music aptitude and achievement test scores and were not dependent ...
A Ku-band reflectarray using variable rings and slots on the ground plane

Microstrip reflectarrays are flat, light-weight and high gain antennas and often replace conventional parabolic antennas or arrays for high gain and light-weight applications. The reflectarrays normally consist of microstrip elements on a grounded substrate and a primary source antenna. The microstrip elements are designed to reradiate the incident wave with the proper phases required to form a planar phase surface in front of the aperture [1]. The phase range is required up to 360° to compensate for the spatial phase delay between the parabolic curvature and each radiating element location on the flat reflectarray. The required phase of the reflected wave for microstrip rings can be achieved by rotating elements for circular polarization [2] or changing ring sizes [3], but the phase ranges are normally limited to less than 360° on a single layer. To increase the phase range over 360°, a new design of a unit cell, using a microstrip ring and a slot on the ground plane, is proposed in this paper. A prototype Ku-band reflectarray has been fabricated and measured to verify its performance.
Adaptive learning for damage classification in structural health monitoring

A key challenge in real-world structural health monitoring (SHM) is diversity of damage phenomena and variability in environmental and operational conditions. Conventional learning techniques, while adequate for moderately complex inference tasks, can be limiting in highly complex and rapidly changing environments, especially when insufficient data is available. We present an adaptive learning methodology where stochastic models continuously evolve with the time-varying environment and Dirichlet process mixture models are utilized to self-adapt to structure within the data. Coupled with appropriate physics-based phenomenology, the approach provides an adaptive and effective framework for online SHM. The proposed technique is demonstrated for the detection of progressive fatigue damage in a metallic structure under variable-amplitude loading.
Device-Based In Vitro Techniques for Mechanical Stimulation of Vascular Cells: A Review

The most common cause of death in the developed world is cardiovascular disease. For decades, this has provided a powerful motivation to study the effects of mechanical forces on vascular cells in a controlled setting, since these cells have been implicated in the development of disease. Early efforts in the 1970 s included the first use of a parallel-plate flow system to apply shear stress to endothelial cells (ECs) and the development of uniaxial substrate stretching techniques (Krueger et al., 1971, "An in Vitro Study of Flow Response by Cells," J. Biomech., 4(1), pp. 31-36 and Meikle et al., 1979, "Rabbit Cranial Sutures in Vitro: A New Experimental Model for Studying the Response of Fibrous Joints to Mechanical Stress," Calcif. Tissue Int., 28(2), pp. 13-144). Since then, a multitude of in vitro devices have been designed and developed for mechanical stimulation of vascular cells and tissues in an effort to better understand their response to in vivo physiologic mechanical conditions. This article reviews the functional attributes of mechanical bioreactors developed in the 21st century, including their major advantages and disadvantages. Each of these systems has been categorized in terms of their primary loading modality: fluid shear stress (FSS), substrate distention, combined distention and fluid shear, or other applied forces. The goal of this article is to provide researchers with a survey of useful methodologies that can be adapted to studies in this area, and to clarify future possibilities for improved research methods.
Vibrations of thick isotropic plates with higher order shear and normal deformable Plate theories

We use a higher order shear and normal deformable plate theory of Batra and Vidoli and the finite element method to analyze free vibrations and stress distribution in a thick isotropic and homogeneous plate. The transverse shear and the transverse normal stresses and strains in the plate are considered and traction boundary conditions on the top and the bottom surfaces of the plate are exactly satisfied. All components of the stress tensor are computed from equations of the plate theory. Equations governing deformations of the plate involve second-order spatial derivatives of generalized displacements with respect to in-plane coordinates. Thus triangular or quadrilateral elements with Lagrange basis functions can be employed to find their numerical solution. Results have been computed for rectangular plates of aspect ratios varying from 4 to 20 and with all edges either simply supported or clamped, or two opposite edges clamped and the other two free. Computed frequencies, mode shapes, and through the thickness distribution of stresses for a simply supported plate are found to match very well with the corresponding analytical solutions. Advantages of the present approach include the use of Lagrange shape functions, satisfaction of traction boundary conditions on the top and the bottom surfaces and the use of the plate theory equations for accurate determination of transverse stresses. The order of the plate theory to be used depends upon several factors including the aspect ratio of the plate.
European Opinion About Immigration: The Role of Identities, Interests and Information

This article assesses the influence of material interests and cultural identities on European opinion about immigration. Analysis of respondents in twenty countries sampled in the 2002–03 European Social Survey demonstrates that they are unenthusiastic about high levels of immigration and typically overestimate the actual number of immigrants living in their country. At the individual level, cultural and national identity, economic interests and the level of information about immigration are all important predictors of attitudes. ‘Symbolic’ predispositions, such as preferences for cultural unity, have a stronger statistical effect than economic dissatisfaction. Variation across countries in both the level and the predictors of opposition to immigration are mostly unrelated to contextual factors cited in previous research, notably the amount of immigration into a country and the overall state of its economy. The ramifications of these findings for policy makers are discussed in the context of current debates about immigration and European integration.
BLACKS, WHITES, AND ANTI‐SEMITISM

Major national surveys conducted in 1964 and 1981 indicated that blacks were more negatively oriented toward Jews than were whites. Drawing on a national survey conducted in 1992, this article esta...
Analysis of affiliation-related traits in terms of the PAD Temperament Model.

Abstract Affiliation-related traits were explored using findings relating to the Affiliative Tendency (MAFF) and Sensitivity to Rejection (MSR) scales and 3 nearly independent dimensions of the PAD Temperament Model: trait pleasure-displeasure (P), trait arousability (A), and trait dominance-submissiveness (D). Summary equations showed that Affiliative Tendency involved pleasantness and arousability [.66P + .34A], whereas Sensitivity to Rejection was mostly submissiveness [.15A − .85D]. Dependency resembled affiliative tendency but also included submissiveness [.26P + .30A − .44D]. Emotional empathy also resembled affiliative tendency but emphasized arousability over pleasantness [.30P + .70A]. Conformity consisted only of submissiveness. Loneliness [−.77P − .23D] resembled boredom and depression. Popularity, moderately opposed to loneliness [.45P + .17A + .38D] resembled the MAFF augmented by dominance. Shyness [−.30P + .13A −.57D] resembled anxiety and neuroticism.
Management of the infected temporomandibular joint total joint prosthesis.

Purpose Patients with specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions and pathology may benefit from TMJ reconstruction by use of total joint prostheses. A potential risk to patients receiving TMJ total joint prostheses is infection. The purpose of this study was to present our experience in treating infected TMJ total joint prostheses over a 12-year period, as well as the protocol we have developed to manage acute infections and the protocol we follow for chronic infections of TMJ total joint prostheses. Patients and Methods This retrospective study evaluated the records of 316 consecutive patients (290 female and 26 male patients) who had TMJ reconstruction from 1997 to 2009 by 1 surgeon, using patient-fitted TMJ Concepts total joint prostheses (TMJ Concepts, Ventura, CA), with a total of 579 prostheses placed, to determine the occurrence and management methods of postoperative infections. Postoperative infections involving the TMJ prostheses developed in 8 of 316 patients (2.5%) and 9 of 579 prostheses (1.6%): 7 patients unilaterally and 1 patient bilaterally. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 5) had acute infections in 6 joints and group 2 (n = 3) had chronic infections in 3 joints. Patient 5 began in group 1 but was transferred to group 2. One patient with Munchausen syndrome and self-induced infections was eliminated from the study. Patients were treated by our protocol for management of acute or chronic infections. Results In group 1 (n = 5) the onset of infection symptoms averaged 12 days after surgery (range, 5-24 days). The time from onset of symptoms to surgical intervention was 3.4 days (range, 2-5 days). We found that 4 of 5 patients (80%) and 5 of 6 joints (83%) were successfully treated with retention of the prostheses. Patient 5 varied from the protocol and maintained a chronic infection of her right TMJ prosthesis that transferred her to group 2. In group 2 (n = 3) all 3 patients (including patient 5) had chronic infections with draining fistulas that were successfully treated by the chronic infection protocol including prosthesis removal and replacement. Conclusions TMJ total joint prostheses can become infected. The earlier the diagnosis is made and the acute infection protocol initiated (within 2-5 days), the greater the chance of salvage of the prosthesis. For chronic infections, the treatment protocol has likewise been very successful, but it does require 2 surgical stages for removal and replacement of the prosthesis. Management of infected total joint prosthesis can be challenging, but with aggressive treatment following the appropriate protocol, infected prostheses can be successfully managed.
Boulder ALignment Editor (ALE)

Summary: The explosion of interest in non-coding RNAs, together with improvements in RNA X-ray crystallography, has led to a rapid increase in RNA structures at atomic resolution from 847 in 2005 to 1900 in 2010. The success of whole-genome sequencing has led to an explosive growth of unaligned homologous sequences. Consequently, there is a compelling and urgent need for user-friendly tools for producing structure-informed RNA alignments. Most alignment software considers the primary sequence alone; some specialized alignment software can also include Watson–Crick base pairs, but none adequately addresses the needs introduced by the rapid influx of both sequence and structural data. Therefore, we have developed the Boulder ALignment Editor (ALE), which is a web-based RNA alignment editor, designed for editing and assessing alignments using structural information. Some features of BoulderALE include the annotation and evaluation of an alignment based on isostericity of Watson–Crick and non-Watson–Crick base pairs, along with the collapsing (horizontally and vertically) of the alignment, while maintaining the ability to edit the alignment. Availability: http://www.microbio.me/boulderale. Contact: jesse.stombaugh@colorado.edu
Pricing the American put using a new class of tight lower bounds

We present new families of lower bounds for the price of the American put option on a dividend paying stock when the stock follows a log normal process and the option can be exercised continuously to a finite horizon T. By put call parity, these bounds can be easily converted to bounds on the price of the American call option on a dividend paying stock. By numerically optimizing these bounds, we obtain tighter bounds on the option price. Our methodology simultaneously furnishes us with an (exponential) exercise strategy. We provide an extensive experimental computation, comparing with convergent binomial tree pricing methods. Our bounds deliver an accuracy comparable to a 2000 step binomial tree, with a computational cost comparable to a 400 step binomial tree.
SPN-model based simulation of a wearable health monitoring system

The deployment of Wearable Health Monitoring Systems (WHMS) can potentially enable ubiquitous and continuous monitoring of a patient's physiological parameters. Moreover by incorporating multiple biosensors in such a system a comprehensive estimation of the user's health condition can possibly be derived. In this paper we present a Stochastic Petri Net (SPN) model of a multi-sensor WHMS along with a corresponding simulation framework implemented in Java. The proposed model is built on top of a previously published multisensor data fusion strategy, which has been expanded in this work to take into account synchronization issues and temporal dependencies between the measured bio-signals.
The narrative styles of normal first and third grade children.

The present study assessed the oral narrative abilities of normal first and third grade children. Narratives were assessed using Applebee's (1978) system for the development of story organization. The narratives were also examined for the specific components used within the stories themselves. Findings revealed different developmental levels of narrative structure and a differentiation in the specific components within the story episodes between the groups of subjects. These findings are discussed relative to the need for establishing a data base on normal children as a precursor to assessing the stories of children with language-learning problems.
Addressing Severe Bone Deficiency What a Cage Will Not Do

Managing severe acetabular bone loss in total hip arthroplasty revision can be a tremendous challenge. Osteolysis and migration of the acetabular component can lead to large uncontained defects. Traditionally, these deficiencies have been treated with allograft with or without the support of a cage. In severe cases, a majority of the cage support is via allograft instead of host bone. Sometimes, with remodeling and resorption of the allograft, the cage can lose structural support, leading to fatigue and failure. In these situations, trabecular metal has become a viable alternative. Deficiencies of acetabular bone can be independently addressed and reconstructed providing initial stability and, we believe, long-term biologic fixation to host bone.
Traumatic Injury to Vessels

This chapter shows images of complete and incomplete traumatic aortic rupture, traumatic pseudoaneurysm of arteries and veins including pulmonary artery. There are images of acute injury to IVC with pseudoaneurysm formation and with foreign body in IVC and also acute endoleak rupture.
Linguistic control of mobile robots

We study the interactions between symbolic computer programs and mechanical devices, e.g. mobile robots. We show that by using motion description languages for generating continuous motions from symbolic input strings, this interaction between the continuous and the discrete can be given a meaningful control theoretic interpretation. We furthermore illustrate how robot behaviors can be learned within this framework. We also investigate how to choose the motion description languages in order to minimize the lengths of the inputs to the robots.
Industry Financial Relationships in Orthopaedic Surgery: Analysis of the Sunshine Act Open Payments Database and Comparison with Other Surgical Subspecialties

Background: Industry financial relationships for orthopaedic surgeons in the United States are now publicly reported in the Sunshine Act Open Payments database. We sought to present these data in a more easily understandable format and to describe how industry relationships in orthopaedic surgery compare with other surgical subspecialties. Methods: The Open Payments database was searched for all records of industry financial relationships for orthopaedic surgeons. Data analyzed included the value of reported financial relationships per surgeon, the type of financial relationship, and geographic region. Similar analytics were collected for neurological surgery, urology, plastic surgery, and otolaryngology. Data were normalized to the overall number of providers in each subspecialty in the United States from the American Medical Association 2012 data. Results: For 12,320 orthopaedic surgeons, 58,127 industry financial relationships were reported, with a total value of $80.2 million. Royalties or licensing fees, which were received by 1.7% of U.S. orthopaedic surgeons, accounted for 69.5% of the total monetary value of payments to orthopaedic surgeons. Between August and December 2013, 50.1% of U.S. orthopaedic surgeons had a reported financial relationship. Orthopaedics had the second lowest percentage of physicians with industry financial relationships among the five surgical subspecialties studied. The overall value of payments per orthopaedic surgeon was higher than in the other subspecialties, driven by the large value of royalties and licensing. Conclusions: One-half of U.S. orthopaedic surgeons have industry financial relationships reported in the Open Payments database. Orthopaedic surgeons are less likely than most surgical subspecialists to receive industry payments, and the majority of the overall value of orthopaedic financial relationships is driven by a small number of orthopaedic surgeons receiving royalties and licensing for reimbursable innovation within the field.
Unexpected, dismal left ventricular function after surgery for mitral regurgitation: there is just no excuse for it anymore.

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines [(1)][1]concerning surgery for non-ischemic, severe mitral regurgitation (MR) are complex in that they address 11 distinct clinical categories of patients. Among those categories of patients for whom there is still
Aleksandr Blok : poised between a visionary Utopia and petrified reality

The focus of this study is a reading of Aleksandr Blok's poem 'The Twelve' as a pursuit of an ideal, visionary, imaginative literary meta-utopia of Russian society which was situated at a crossroads. Blok's personal tragedy and his gift as a poet both related to the fact that he was poised between the visionary utopia, which the poem expresses, and the encroaching reality that shattered his maximalist utopian ideal. In 'The Twelve' the heterotopic space of the city street remains laden with historical disappointment, even as it registers the compensatory theatre of the everyday, which he posits as universal.
Effect of afterload resistance on end-systolic pressure-thickness relationship.

The influence of afterload resistance on the end-systolic pressure-thickness relationship (ESPTR) was assessed in six isolated canine left ventricles made to eject into a simulated arterial system. An increase of simulated peripheral resistance from 1.5 to 6.0 mmHg.s.ml-1 resulted in a modest but significant shift of the ESPTR upward and to the right, indicating augmented contractile performance. A relationship between the extent of systolic wall thickening and end-systolic performance was also observed: increased wall thickening impairing and decreased wall thickening enhancing end-systolic performance. The dependence of end-systolic performance on wall thickening history in this setting is consistent with shortening deactivation. This phenomenon appears to account at least in part for the observed shift in the ESPTR with altered afterload resistance.
A study of near-field aperture geometries on VSALs

We have investigated apertures on VSALs with different geometries using far-field measurements, near-field measurements, and FDTD simulation methods. We have attempted to correlate the relationship between far-field power and near-field power.
IMPACT OF POTENT P2Y12 INHIBITOR USE VERSUS CLOPIDOGREL IN REAL-WORLD PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: RESULTS FROM A LARGE SINGLE-CENTER REGISTRY

In patients with high-risk acute coronary syndrome ACS), potent P2Y12 inhibitors prasugrel (pras) and ticagrelor (tica) are superior to clopidogrel (clop) in the prevention of thrombotic events. Whether or not a similar efficacy profile is maintained in a real-world setting remains unclear. We
The Changing Relationship between Banking Crises and Capital Inflows

Different types of capital inflows have varied effects when predicting banking crises in emerging and developing economies, and these relationships have meaningfully changed over time. In a sample of 29 developing and emerging economies over the period 1976–1991 increases in short-term debt inflows raised the probability of a banking crisis while increases in inflows for long-term borrowing by the private sector had the opposite effect. Conversely, over the period 1992–2007 increases in inflows for long-term borrowing by the private sector and for equity investment both increased the probability of a banking crisis. The findings suggest distinct optimal capital account liberalization policies between the two periods.
The Signification of Huang Di and Bo Ya in the Bronze Mirror Inscription of the Han Dynasty

The words of "Huang Di" and "Bo Ya" are often found in the blessing inscriptions on the bronze mirrors of the Han dynasty.The essay analyzes the signification of these two terms from the perspective of cultural study and reveals that there are combined reasons for the simultaneous appearance of "Huang Di" and "Bo Ya" in the bronze mirror inscription in the Han dynasty.
Baseline Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels in Midlife Predict Lethal Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in midlife predicted future prostate cancer (PCa) mortality in an unscreened Swedish population. Our purpose was to determine if a baseline PSA level during midlife predicts lethal PCa in a US population with opportunistic screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a nested case-control study among men age 40 to 59 years who gave blood before random assignment in the Physicians' Health Study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin and β-carotene among 22,071 US male physicians initiated in 1982 and then transitioned into a prospective cohort with 30 years of follow-up. Baseline PSA levels were available for 234 patients with PCa and 711 age-matched controls. Seventy-one participants who developed lethal PCa were rematched to 213 controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, with 95% CIs, of the association between baseline PSA and risk of lethal PCa. RESULTS Median PSA among controls was 0.68, 0.88, and 0.96 ng/mL for men age 40 to 49, 50 to 54, and 55 to 59 years, respectively. Risk of lethal PCa was strongly associated with baseline PSA in midlife: odds ratios (95% CIs) comparing PSA in the > 90th percentile versus less than or equal to median were 8.7 (1.0 to 78.2) at 40 to 49 years, 12.6 (1.4 to 110.4) at 50 to 54 years, and 6.9 (2.5 to 19.1) at 55 to 59 years. A total of 82%, 71%, and 86% of lethal cases occurred in men with PSA above the median at ages 40 to 49, 50 to 54, and 55 to 59 years, respectively. CONCLUSION PSA levels in midlife strongly predict future lethal PCa in a US cohort subject to opportunistic screening. Risk-stratified screening on the basis of midlife PSA should be considered in men age 45 to 59 years.
Serotonin modulates voltage-dependent calcium current in Necturus taste cells.

Delay, Rona J., Sue C. Kinnamon, and Stephen D. Roper. Serotonin modulates voltage-dependent calcium current in Necturus taste cells. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 2515–2524, 1997. Necturus taste buds conta...
Measurement of the Second-Order Nonlinear Susceptibility and Probing Symmetry Properties of Few-Layer MoS2 and h-BN by Optical Second-Harmonic Generation

We have measured optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) from atomically thin samples of MoS2 and h-BN with one to five layers. We observe strong modulation of the SHG intensity with layer number. This modulation is understood as the consequence of broken inversion symmetry in odd layers and the contrary for even layers. SHG for materials with odd layer thickness was measured as a function of crystal orientation. This dependence reveals the rotational symmetry of the lattice and is shown to provide a purely optical method of determining the orientation of crystallographic axes. We report values for the nonlinearity of monolayers and odd layers of MoS2 and h-BN and compare the variation as a function of layer thickness with a model that accounts for wave propagation effects [1].
Generalised models of design interation using signal flow graphs

Changing customer preferences, demand for quality, and new technologies have led to very short product life cycles. This requires firms to have short product development lead times while keeping product costs low and quality high in order to stay competitive. In this context, we focus on improved understanding of time-consuming design iterations. We are creating tools for modeling product development projects in order to predict the performance of product development organisations. In this paper, signal flow graphs are presented as a flexible tool for design process modeling, and illustrated using an industrial example. Analysis of the model allows computation of the probability distribution of lead time and identification of the key drivers of lead time.