cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unusual cardiac paraganglioma mimicking an atypical carcinoid tumor of the lung

We present a case of unusual cardiac paraganglioma (PG) initially misdiagnosed as atypical carcinoid tumor of the lung and discuss key clinical and pathologic characteristics that guide surgical management of these rare chromaffin cell tumors. A 64-year-old female with persistent cough and back pain was found to have a 4 cm × 3 cm mass abutting multiple cardiopulmonary structures. A biopsy was performed at an outside institution and pathology reported "atypical neuroendocrine carcinoma, consistent with carcinoid". The patient was transferred to our institution and pericardial resection with right pneumonectomy was performed to excise the tumor. Histology of the mass was that of PG with multiple ethanol embolizations. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that type I (chief) cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin A and synaptophysin), while type II (sustentacular) cells were positive for S100. There was no evidence of atypical carcinoid tumor in the lung. PG is an entity of chromaffin cell tumors that often affects the adrenal glands and carotid body. PG rarely occurs in the thoracic region, accounting for just 1-2% of all PG. Proper diagnosis of cardiac PG is challenging owing to its rare prevalence, subtle symptoms of presentation, and the neuroendocrine histopathological features it shares with atypical carcinoids. These tumors are typically benign and are best treated by surgical resection. Our report examines the approach to appropriate diagnosis of cardiac PG vs. atypical carcinoid, preoperative management, and surgical treatment by describing successful resection through thoracotomy without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.
Unilateral limitation of abduction of the hip. A valuable clinical sign for DDH

Between 1992 and 1997, we undertook a prospective, targeted clinical and ultrasonographic hip screening programme to assess the relationship between ultrasonographic abnormalities of the hip and clinical limitation of hip abduction. A total of 5.9% (2 of 34) of neonatal dislocatable hips and 87.5% (7 of 8) of 'late' dislocated hips seen after the age of six months, presented with unilateral limitation of hip abduction. All major (Graf type III) and 44.5% of minor (Graf type II) dysplastic hips presented with this sign. Statistically, bilateral limitation of hip abduction was not a useful clinical indicator of underlying hip abnormality because of its poor sensitivity, but unilateral limitation of abduction of the hip was a highly specific (90%) and reasonably sensitive sign (70%). It was more sensitive than the neonatal Ortolani manoeuvre, which has been considered to be the method of choice. It was, however, not sensitive enough to be of value as a routine screening test in developmental dysplasia of the hip. We consider unilateral limitation of hip abduction to be an important clinical sign and its presence in an infant over the age of three to four months makes further investigation essential.
Dynamic Testing and Analysis of a Football Stadium

The enthusiasm of people during popular events may cause excessive vibration in stadium structures especially if this movement is coordinated, e.g. if a song is played in the stadium. For certain cases, this vibration may even exceed the acceptable limits defined in different standards. These dynamic vibration levels are generally very difficult to simulate and determine at the design stage. Therefore, the stadia are sometimes monitored to determine the performance of the existing structure during real events such as games and concerts. In this study, dynamic response monitoring of a steel football stadium is presented. The objective of this study is to determine the vibration levels in the context of human-comfort levels in design codes in a comparative way for different events. Especially, the dynamic response caused by human-stadium interaction is evaluated for specific events such as scoring and playing certain songs. The characteristics of these events are also explored in terms of frequency content in relation to the dynamic characteristics of the stadium.
Imaging Targets to Identify Chromosomal Abnormalities in Cells

Ensuring genetic stability in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) cultures is essential for the development of successful cell therapies. Many laboratories have found the emergence of genetic abnormalities in PSCs when cultured in vitro for prolonged amounts of time. These cells are mostly cultured in non-physiological stiff substrates like tissue culture polystyrene which produces the suspicion that the cause of these abnormalities may be influenced by substrate mechanics. In order to verify this, it is important to be able to determine and image, using fluorescence microscopy, potential targets within the cells that are indicative of genetic abnormalities. These genetic abnormalities are most likely to occur during cell division. Microtubules, comprised of the cytoskeletal protein tubulin, organize and separate chromosomes during cell division, thus it has been our main imaging target. We have been able to detect chromosomal abnormalities in human embryonic stem cells by fluorescence microscopy.
Evaluating Trigger Conditions on Streaming Time Series with User-given Quality Requirements.

For many applications, it is important to evaluate trigger conditions on streaming time series. In a resource constrained environment, users' needs should ul- timately decide how the evaluation system balances the competing factors such as evaluation speed, result precision, and load shedding level. This paper presents a ba- sic framework for evaluation algorithms that takes user-specified quality requirements into consideration. Three optimization algorithms, each under a different set of user- defined probabilistic quality requirements, are provided in the framework: (1) minimize the response time given accuracy requirements and without load shedding; (2) min- imize the load shedding given a response time limit and accuracy requirements; and (3) minimize one type of accuracy errors given a response time limit and without load shedding. Experiments show that these optimization algorithms effectively achieve their optimization goals while satisfying the corresponding quality requirements.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Nodulisporic Acids D, C and B: Evolution of a Unified Synthetic Strategy

A unified synthetic strategy leading to the total synthesis of (-)-nodulisporic acids D, C, and B is described. Key synthetic transformations include a nickel-chromium-mediated cyclization, an aromatic ring functionalization employing a novel copper-promoted alkylation, a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling cascade/indole ring construction, and a palladium-mediated regio- and diastereoselective allylic substitution/cyclization reaction, the latter to construct ring D.
Rosiglitazone augments antioxidant response in the human trophoblast and prevents apoptosis

Insufficient perfusion of the trophoblast by maternal blood is associated with an increased generation of reactive oxygen species and complications of the placenta. In this study, we first examined whether rosiglitazone, an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), protects the human trophoblast from oxidative injury by regulating key antioxidant proteins, catalase (CAT) and the superoxide dismutases (SOD1 and SOD2). In first trimester placental explants, localization of CAT was limited to cytotrophoblasts, whereas SOD1 was expressed in both the cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts. In first trimester placental explants, hypoxia decreased the expression of both SOD1 and SOD2, and increased apoptosis. Treatment with rosiglitazone dose-dependently upregulated anti-oxidative CAT and SOD2, and rescued hypoxic injury in first trimester villous explants and JEG-3 cells, strongly suggesting the involvement of the PPARγ in regulating their expressions. Rosiglitazone facilitated transcription activity of PPARγ, and enhanced promotor binding, increased transcriptional activity at the CAT promoter, and elevated protein expression/activity. Treatment of hypoxic JEG-3 cells with rosiglitazone resulted in mitochondrial membrane potential increase and a reduction of caspase 9 and caspase 3 activity which is consistent with improved cell survival. To complement PPARγ activation data, we also utilized the antagonist (SR-202) and siRNA to suppress PPARγ expression and demonstrate the specific role of PPARγ in reducing ROS and oxidative stress. Ex vivo examination of term human placenta revealed lower expression of antioxidant proteins in pathologic compared to healthy placental tissues, which could be rescued by rosiglitazone, indicating that rosiglitazone can improve survival of the trophoblast under pathological conditions. These findings provide evidence that the PPARγ pathway directly influences cellular antioxidants production and the pathophysiology of placental oxidative stress.
Application of airborne remote sensing data on mapping local climate zones: Cases of three metropolitan areas of Texas, U.S.

Abstract Urban and vegetation morphology profiles are important factors in local climate-related studies, but they are not as easily measured as land cover information to study urban landscape at metropolitan area. This study aims to develop a GIS-based Local Climate Zones (LCZs) mapping scheme to map and compare the LCZs for three major metropolitans in Texas: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Austin, and San Antonio. Based on an analysis of the land cover and urban morphology, variables including land cover, height of roughness elements, building surface fraction, pervious surface fraction (PSF), and land use planning codes were generated and selected as LCZs classification properties. Then we designed the LCZs mapping scheme with decision-making algorithm was built for LCZs mapping. The key findings of LCZs of our study areas are that: 1) Most of the urbanized area are categorized into LCZ “open” types (characterized by building surface fraction of 15–40% and pervious surface fraction of 30–60%) for all three metropolitan areas with different proportions and spatial diversity; 2) LCZ D Low plants is dominant in areas surrounding DFW, while LCZ A Dense trees and LCZ D Low plants are dominant in Austin and San Antonio with clear regional contrast; 3) LCZs maps are in accordance with the underlying regional environment of the areas. Our study indicated that LiDAR-derived products can support LCZs mapping to identify urban morphological information and standardize the mapping scheme for further comparative studies of metropolitan areas.
Support Vector Machine and Neural Network Applications in Transient Stability

Phasor measurement units and wide area measurement systems are becoming more and more popular due to their capability to record operational data with high sampling rates. By storing and processing this large amount of data, faster and more reliable approaches can be developed that overcome some of the drawbacks of traditional methods, such as response speed and accuracy. Many research studies use pattern recognition methods and machine learning techniques to predict the stability of a system following disturbances (unpredicted events). This paper aims to deliver a review of research work carried out in recent years for the assessment of transient stability by focusing particularly on the machine learning techniques. Specifically, supervised and unsupervised learning techniques such as support vector machines, neural networks including hybrid and ensemble models. Moreover, the methodologies that the researchers followed to develop such models including data generation, feature selection and validation are also reviewed
Prediction of galaxy halo masses in SDSS DR7 via a machine learning approach

We present a machine learning (ML) approach for the prediction of galaxies' dark matter halo masses that achieves an improved performance over conventional methods. We train three ML algorithms (\texttt{XGBoost}, Random Forests, and neural network) to predict halo masses using a set of synthetic galaxy catalogues that are built by populating dark matter haloes in N-body simulations with galaxies, and that match both the clustering and the joint-distributions of properties of galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We explore the correlation of different galaxy- and group-related properties with halo mass, and extract the set of nine features that contribute the most to the prediction of halo mass. We find that mass predictions from the ML algorithms are more accurate than those from halo abundance matching (\texttt{HAM}) or dynamical mass (\texttt{DYN}) estimates. Since the danger of this approach is that our training data might not accurately represent the real Universe, we explore the effect of testing the model on synthetic catalogues built with different assumptions than the ones used in the training phase. We test a variety of models with different ways of populating dark matter haloes, such as adding velocity bias for satellite galaxies. We determine that, though training and testing on different data can lead to systematic errors in predicted masses, the ML approach still yields substantially better masses than either \texttt{HAM}or \texttt{DYN}. Finally, we apply the trained model to a galaxy and group catalogue from the SDSS DR7 and present the resulting halo masses.
Kyphosis and 3-year fall risk in community-dwelling older men

Hyperkyhosis is thought to be a fall risk factor in older adults. This large study of older men found that fall risk increased with greater kyphosis measured with the blocks method, but did not find an association between kyphosis and falls when measured by the commonly used the Cobb angle method. Research suggests an association between hyperkyphosis and falls in community-dwelling older adults, though this has not been investigated within large, population-based studies. This study sought to determine whether two measures of kyphosis prospectively predict fall risk over 3 years among older men. Within the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS), we conducted two 3-year prospective studies of 2346 and 2928 men. The first group had kyphosis measured by the Cobb angle at visit 1, while the second group had kyphosis assessed with the blocks method at visit 3; both groups then self-reported falls tri-annually for 3 years. Poisson regression with GEE was used to obtain relative risks (RR) of falls. The fall rates over 3 years were 651/1000 person-years among the visit 1 sample (mean age 74 ± 6 years) and 839/1000 person-years among the visit 3 sample (mean age 79 ± 5 years). In adjusted models of the visit 3 sample, the risk of falls was increased by 12% for each standard deviation increase (1.4 blocks) in the number of blocks required to achieve a neutral head and neck position (RR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.18). The Cobb angle was not associated with falls in the visit 1 sample. Although the Cobb angle did not predict falls in community-dwelling older men over 3 years, the blocks method of measuring kyphosis was predictive of falls in this population. This difference could be due to the Cobb angle’s focus on thoracic kyphosis, whereas the blocks method may additionally capture abnormal cervical spine curvature.
Thermochemistry of Fluorinated Dimethyl and Ethyl Methyl Ethers and Corresponding Radical Species

Standard enthalpies of formation (ΔfH°298), standard entropies (S°(T)), and heat capacities (Cp(T)) are calculated for dimethyl and ethyl methyl fluorinated ethers, both the parent and related radical species. The parent and radical species are utilized to determine carbon–hydrogen, carbon–fluorine, carbon–carbon, and carbon–oxygen bond dissociation energies (C–H, C–F, C–C, and C–O BDEs). The ΔfH°298 and BDEs are calculated using a variety of error-canceling isogyric and/or isodesmic reactions at the MN15/cc-pVTZ, CBS-QB3, and CBS-APNO levels of theory. ΔfH°298 calculations from the MN15 functional for these ether species are shown to have consistency with the CBS-QB3 and CBS-APNO composite methods with our recommended ideal gas phase ΔfH°298 values from the average of these two composite methods. C–F BDE values are shown to range overall between 111 and 128 kcal mol–1, the C–H BDEs are in the 93–106 kcal mol–1 range, the C–O BDEs are in the 83–107 kcal mol–1 range, and the C–C BDEs are in the 88–101 kcal...
Incidence and progression of hand osteoarthritis in a large community-based cohort: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Summary Objective To describe the incidence and progression of radiographic and symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (rHOA and sxHOA) in a large community-based cohort. Design Data were from the Johnston County OA Project (1999–2015, 12 ± 1.2 years follow-up, age 45+). Participants had bilateral hand radiographs each visit, read for Kellgren–Lawrence grade (KLG) at 30 joints. We defined rHOA as KLG ≥2 in ≥1 joint. SxHOA was defined in a hand/joint with rHOA and self-reported symptoms or tenderness on exam. Incidence was assessed in those without, while progression was assessed in those with, baseline rHOA. Proportions or medians are reported; differences by sex and race were assessed using models appropriate for dichotomous or continuous definitions, additionally adjusted for age, education, body mass index (BMI), and weight change. Results Of 800 participants (68% women, 32% African American, mean age 60 years), 327 had baseline rHOA and were older, more often white and female, than those without rHOA (n = 473). The incidence of HOA was high, for rHOA (60%) and for sxHOA (13%). Women were more likely than men to have incident HOA, particularly for distal interphalangeal joint radiographic osteoarthritis (DIP rOA) (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 1.60 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) [1.03, 2.49]) and sxHOA (aOR 2.98 [1.50, 5.91]). Progressive HOA was more similar by sex, although thumb base rOA progressed more frequently in women than in men (aOR 2.56 [1.44, 4.55]). Particularly HOA incidence, but also progression, was more frequent among whites compared with African Americans. Conclusion This study provides much needed information about the natural history of HOA, a common and frequently debilitating condition, in the general population.
Crowdsourcing Market Information from Competitors

Market price information is not widely available to many firms in the developing world. In these settings, information sharing agreements among competing firms can create significant benefits. However, such agreements may be difficult to implement, because a firm might fear that sharing its information will benefit competitors, allowing them to steal its market share. We show that an appropriately designed information-sharing platform can disclose partial information that will benefit all firms. By eliminating business stealing concerns, our information disclosure policy creates a Pareto improvement and is implementable if the information shared by the platform is sufficiently valuable. The model requires minimal assumptions and can account for general market dynamics. The interpretability of our results allows us to propose a heuristic for use in practice by an Indonesia-based information-sharing platform we collaborate with.
Constrictive Pericarditis: A Commonly Missed Cause of Treatable Diastolic Heart Failure.

Constrictive pericarditis arises as a result of the fibrous thickening of the pericardium due to chronic inflammatory changes from various injuries. Increased pulmonary and systemic venous pressures manifest clinical features of left and right heart failure. Idiopathic or post-viral pericarditis is the most common cause followed by postpericardiotomy, radiation-induced causes. Right-sided heart failure symptoms predominate over left-sided heart failure symptoms due to the equalization of pressures. No single diagnostic test can provide a definitive diagnosis or evidence of constrictive pericarditis. Medical management is difficult for constrictive pericarditis. The treatment of choice for constrictive pericarditis is pericardiectomy.
The Kevorkian Chapter: Physician-Assisted Death in You Don’t Know Jack (2010)

If you’re teaching about end of life issues in any healthcare ethics class, you need to discuss physician-assisted suicide (PAS), more recently known as physician-assisted death (PAD).
The COVID-19 Misinformation Challenge: An Asynchronous Approach to Information Literacy

The coronavirus pandemic introduced a “new normal” to the everyday lives of people the world over, including an evolving understanding of the virus’s spread and long-term impact. With each new deve...
NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia relapsing as acute lymphoblastic leukemia with clonal persistence of IDH1 mutation.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive leukemia with poor outcomes even among patients eligible for intensive anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy [1]. While complete remission (CR) is...
Exploring the Impact of an Open Access Mindfulness Course with Online Graduate Students: A Mixed Methods Explanatory Sequential Study

As enrollment in online graduate education increases, retention continues to be problematic for many colleges and universities across the United States. Non-traditional students, who represent the majority of online graduate student enrollment, have unique issues related to persistence considering they often must juggle the demands of graduate school with work and families. The competing demands can lead to increased levels of perceived stress, which can impact academic performance due to increased mind wandering and decreased attention. Mindfulness is a practice that has been shown in the literature to decrease levels of perceived stress and mind wandering, therefore, the integration of mindfulness practice could have a positive effect on student persistence in online graduate education. Therefore, an online open access mindfulness course was created at one large urban university. The purpose of this explanatory sequential study was to explore the impact of teaching mindfulness to online graduate students. Self-report levels of perceived stress and mind wandering were significantly lower after students completed Module One of an open access mindfulness course. Self-reported perceived persistence levels were found to be significantly higher after Module One with students in the first or second quarter of their program, students with little or no mindfulness experience, and students who meditated four or more times a week. Furthermore, students interviewed felt that the course provided excellent foundational information about mindfulness that could be immediately applied, and therefore should be a requirement for all incoming students.
Bacterial transfer from Pristionchus entomophagus nematodes to the invasive ant Myrmica rubra and the potential for colony mortality in coastal Maine.

Summary The necromenic nematode Pristionchus entomophagus has been frequently found in nests of the invasive European ant Myrmica rubra in coastal Maine, United States, and may contribute to ant mortality and collapse of colonies by transferring environmental bacteria. Paenibacillus and several other bacterial species were found in the digestive tracts of nematodes harvested from collapsed ant colonies. Serratia marcescens, Serratia nematodiphila, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were collected from the hemolymph of nematode-infected wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae. Virulence against waxworms varied by the site of origin of the nematodes. In adult nematodes, bacteria were highly concentrated in the digestive tract with none observed on the cuticle. In contrast, juveniles had more on the cuticle than in the digestive tract. Host species was the primary factor affecting bacterial community profiles, but Spiroplasma sp. and Serratia marcescens sequences were shared across ants, nematodes, and nematode-exposed G. mellonella larvae.
Are Amphetamines Associated with Adverse Cardiovascular Events Among Elderly Individuals

Background: Prescription amphetamines are the most common pharmacological treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and use among older age groups is increasing. The purpose of this study is to assess the risk of adverse cardiovascular events among individuals older than 65 years. Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study using TriNetX database with propensity score matching (PSM) to assess the odds of a cardiovascular event among individuals with ADHD exposed to amphetamine compared with individuals with ADHD who were not exposed to this medication. During the index period of January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020, 13,233 individuals older than 65 years (mean age = 69 years) met the study criteria. Results: The cohort exposed to amphetamine had increased blood pressure and increased odds of cardiovascular events (odds ratio [OR], 6.16; absolute risk difference = 3.31%) compared with the control group. Conclusions: Amphetamines have clear safety data in younger age cohorts; however, this safety data may not generalize to older populations. Additional research is warranted to clarify further exposure and subpopulation-level risk factors associated with adverse cardiovascular events among older patients.
Fuzzy logic control of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle

In this paper a Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) will be developed to stabilize and control a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The development, simulation and implementation of the control are the main objectives. The FLC must be able to direct the airplane towards different waypoints while at the same time maintaining the UAV stable.
The effect of problem/project-based learning on a desired skill set

The purpose of this study was to investigate if a Problem/Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach can affect certain non-technical, “soft” skills of construction engineers. Such skills include leadership, adaptability, and stress management. In mixed design research, quantitative and qualitative data are assembled and analyzed collectively. For this study, two separate assessment tools were used for the quantitative portion, while open-ended written reflections and a partially closed-ended senior questionnaire were implemented for the qualitative portion. A hypothetical model was used to investigate certain soft skills based on prior research documenting need. Skills investigated were confidence, stress coping, leadership, communication skills, adaptability, and management skills. Descriptive statistics, openended final written reflections, and a partially closed-ended senior questionnaire were used to analyze the data. PBL is a process in which the students are challenged to develop realistic solutions on open, less structured, real world type problems. The results of this study performed with the combined count of nearly 60 students suggest that PBL can influence several soft skills of senior construction engineers. Specifically, these findings demonstrate the following: (a) PBL appears to affect students’ soft skills; (b) students appear to recognize the realism and “real world” applicability that PBL brings to their skill development; and (c) the data suggest that the experience is holistic and offers opportunities for balanced growth in several ways. Some key competencies such as communication and leadership indicated significant enhancements. Although this study was limited to one academic year of the university’s
Judging Faces in Context

Previous judgment studies of facial expressions of emotion in context have provided mixed results. These contradictory findings arise, in part, because of a lack of consideration of the different aspects of context with which facial expressions of emotion can be combined, and different meanings of face-context pairings vis-a`-vis real-life phenomena. In this paper, we provide a framework of how faces and contexts combine and describe possible meanings of consistent and inconsistent face-context pairings. We also discuss methodological caveats that should be considered in the conduct of such judgment studies. We argue that future research in this area will benefit not from more studies of different combinations of stimuli created merely because we have the technological ability to create them, but instead from careful consideration of the ecological validity of the various types of combinations that can be produced, and their meaning.
Interactions between poly(Gly‐Pro‐Pro) triple helices: A model for molecular packing in collagen

Potential-energy calculations are reported on the interaction between two collagenlike triple-stranded poly(Gly-L-Pro-L-Pro) helices. Short helices can pack in a variety of orientations, but there is a unique parallel packing arrangement of the two helices for longer polypeptide chains.
A review of NMDA receptors and the phencyclidine model of schizophrenia

Current models of drug-induced psychosis insufficiently describe the symptoms of schizophrenia. Phencyclidine-induced psychosis is a model that more completely reflects the pathophysiology of the disease. By decreasing glutamatergic neurotransmission, phencyclidine decreases gamma-aminobutyric acid release from the nucleus accumbens, striatum, and hippocampus (manifested by MK-801); may inhibit tonic release of dopamine from the nucleus accumbens and striatum, resulting in increased dopamine phasic reactivity; and decreases long-term potentiation. Glutamatergic system dysfunction may be involved, but pharmacologic manipulation has not revealed a clear mechanism of this dysfunction.
Using multiple regression analysis to develop energy consumption indicators for commercial buildings in the U.S.

Abstract Multiple regression analysis plays an important role in evaluating the energy consumption of buildings. These models are commonly used to assess the energy performance of commercial buildings and to predict any potential for energy consumption reduction. In this study, the building simulation software DOE-2 was used to predict energy consumption. A total of 17 key building design variables were identified related to building envelope, building orientation, and occupant schedule. Since, building energy consumption depends on many operational and design parameters; large numbers of simulations are needed to generate data for the multiple regression models. To tackle this problem, a randomized approach was adopted to reduce the required number of simulations examining the whole design space. Monte Carlo simulation technique was used to generate thirty thousand combinations of design parameters, covering the full range for each climate region. In order to implement the Monte Carlo simulation, an in-house computer program was developed to interface with DOE-2 energy simulation software. Stepwise regression was used to reduce the number of parameters and only include the most effective parameters. R statistical analysis program was also used to develop the set of linear regression equations. Parametric study and sensitivity analysis between levels of most effective parameters were performed. The developing models can be used to estimate the energy consumption of office buildings in early stages of design.
Dual radiotracer SPECT/CT for osteomyelitis: Patterns of Tc-99m MDP and In-111 WBC uptake

1628 Objectives To assess patterns of uptake and to assess the sensitivity of combined bone and WBC imaging with SPECT/CT in the evaluation of suspected osteomyelitis. Methods In this retrospective review, 48 consecutive patients were evaluated with a three-phase Tc-99m MDP planar bone scan and with a 24-hour In-111 labeled WBC planar scan, utilizing simultaneous radiotracer acquisition protocols. 24-hour dual radiotracer SPECT/CT imaging was also performed, allowing for precise localization, specifically whether uptake was in bone versus soft tissue structures. Results Of the 48 patients evaluated, 27/48 had findings on bone scan suspicious for osteomyelitis. Of these 27 patients, 11/27 had abnormal WBC uptake within the bone (+/- adjacent soft tissue uptake), 12/27 had WBC uptake only within adjacent soft tissues, and 4/27 had no suspicious WBC uptake. Most of the patients with positive bone scan findings were treated for osteomyelitis without pathologic confirmation, though 12/48 total patients did have pathologic confirmation, either through histology or through specimen culture. Of these 12 patients, 10/12 had a positive three-phase bone scan. 5/12 patients had positive WBC uptake within the bone (+/- adjacent soft tissue uptake), 5/12 had positive WBC uptake only within adjacent soft tissues, and 2/12 had no suspicious WBC uptake. There were two patients with proven osteomyelitis and a negative bone scan. Neither of these two patients had uptake within bone on WBC imaging; one had WBC accumulation in adjacent soft tissues, and one had no suspicious WBC uptake. Conclusions In the majority of patients with osteomyelitis, there is no abnormal In-111 WBC uptake within the bone. SPECT/CT imaging with In-111 WBC’s is helpful in determining the depth of soft tissue infection, but does not add to the sensitivity of detecting osteomyelitis relative to three-phase bone imaging
Developmental meta-analyses of the functional neural correlates of bipolar disorder.

Importance Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating mental illness associated with high costs to diagnosed individuals and society. Within the past 2 decades, increasing numbers of children and adolescents have been diagnosed as having BD. While functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have begun to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying BD, few have directly compared differences in youths with BD and adults with BD (hereafter BD-youths and BD-adults, respectively). Objective To test the hypothesis that BD-youths ( Data Sources PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched on July 17, 2013, for original, task-related coordinate-based fMRI articles. Study Selection In total, 21 pediatric studies, 73 adult studies, and 2 studies containing distinct pediatric and adult groups within the same study met inclusion criteria for our ALE analyses. Data Extraction and Synthesis Coordinates of significant between-group differences were extracted from each published study. Recent improvements in GingerALE software were used to perform direct comparisons of pediatric and adult fMRI findings. We conducted activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analyses directly comparing the voxelwise convergence of fMRI findings in BD-youths vs BD-adults, both relative to healthy control (HC) participants. Results Analyses of emotional face recognition fMRI studies showed significantly greater convergence of amygdala hyperactivation among BD-youths than BD-adults. More broadly, analyses of fMRI studies using emotional stimuli showed significantly greater convergence of hyperactivation among BD-youths than BD-adults in the inferior frontal gyrus and precuneus. In contrast, analyses of fMRI studies using nonemotional cognitive tasks and analyses aggregating emotional and nonemotional tasks showed significantly greater convergence of hypoactivation among BD-youths than BD-adults in the anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusions and Relevance Our data suggest that amygdala, prefrontal, and visual system hyperactivation is important in the emotional dysfunction present in BD-youths, as well as that anterior cingulate cortex hypoactivation is relevant to the cognitive deficits in BD-youths. Future studies are required to determine if the developmental fMRI differences between BD-youths and BD-adults identified by our ALE meta-analyses are useful as brain-based diagnostic or treatment markers of BD, including either longitudinal neuroimaging studies of BD-youths as they become adults or cross-sectional imaging studies directly comparing BD-youths with BD-adults.
The white-topped pitcher plant—a case of precarious abundance

White-topped pitcher plants, among the most attractive members of the genus Sarracenia, are in great demand for floral displays, in the USA and Europe. It is doubtful whether current levels of exploitation are sustainable; there is no way of controlling harvesting for the domestic market and the monitoring of exports is difficult. As well as this pressure, wild populations are perhaps in even greater danger from changes in land use.
From Accountability to Decision-Making? Budgeting with Mandated Performance Measures

Government agencies in many nations, including local school districts in the United States, are under pressure to shift to an outcome-based approach to accountability. While the implications of such systems are widely debated, the use of performance measures within local school districts for budgetary decision-making has received relatively little attention. This study of school business officials finds that mandated performance measures, specifically standardized test scores, are important factors in budgetary decision-making but less influential than other factors. Variables that help explain the influence of mandated performance measures include district performance, socio-economic status, and the importance of community involvement in decision-making.
Adaptive control of distributed parameter systems: The ultimate reduced-order problem

For many distributed parameter systems (DPS), such as highly mechanically flexible structures, it is essential to provide stable on-board/on-line adaptive control in the presence of poorly known system parameters. However, such a controller must be based on a reduced-order model of the DPS and spillover from the unmodeled residuals can deteriorate the performance of the controller and, in some cases, defeat the whole purpose of the adaptive control. In this paper, we investigate direct and indirect adaptive controllers based on reduced-order models of a DPS and point out the mechanisms whereby spillover can upset the stability of adaptive controllers. We present some conditions under which the adaptive controllers remain stable in closed-loop with the actual DPS and point out certain generic problems that must be overcome for successful operation of adaptive DPS control.
Stable, strongly attractive, two-state mixture of lithium fermions in an optical trap

2100a0 at B 8.3 G. This result confirms for the first time that very large scattering lengths exist in 6 Li mixtures. The predicted scattering length is 2490a0 at B 8.3 G, consistent with our observations, and is expected to increase to 21615a0 as B ! 0. Second, we find that this system is stable against spin exchange collisions provided that B fi 0. In addition, the dipolar decay rate is predicted to be very small [13], consistent with our observations. Finally, in the experiments, a Raman p pulse is employed to abruptly create an interacting mixture from a noninteracting one, a desirable feature for studies of many-body quantum dynamics [14]. Figure 1 shows the hyperfine states for 6 Li labeled j1 j6, in order of increasing energy in a magnetic field. At low field, the states j1 and j2 correspond to the jF 12, m states, while states j3 through j6 correspond to states jF 32, m. At nonzero magnetic field,
DNA complexes containing joined triplex and duplex motifs: Melting behavior of intramolecular and bimolecular complexes with similar sequences

Our laboratory is interested in predicting the thermal stability and melting behavior of nucleic acids from knowledge of their sequence. One focus is to understand how sequence, duplex and triplex stabilities, and solution conditions affect the melting behavior of complex DNA structures, such as intramolecular DNA complexes containing triplex and duplex motifs. Nucleic acid oligonucleotides (ODNs), as drugs, present an exquisite selectivity and affinity that can be used in antigene and antisense strategies for the control of gene expression. In this work, we try to answer the following question: How does the molecularity of a DNA complex affect its overall stability and melting behavior? We used a combination of temperature-dependent UV spectroscopy and calorimetric (DSC) techniques to investigate the melting behavior of DNA complexes with a similar helical stem sequence, TC+TC+TC+T/AGAGAGACGCG/CGCGTCTCTCT, but formed with different strand molecularity. We determined standard thermodynamic profiles, and t...
Correlation of void distribution to VARTM manufacturing techniques

Abstract Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is a liquid composite molding (LCM) technique used to manufacture large scale composite structures. Fiber preforms are placed on a tool surface and covered by a flow enhancement layer and a plastic bag. A vacuum is drawn on the system to infuse the resin. When the resin does not fully saturate the empty regions in between the fibers, voids are created. The fiber tows in woven and stitched preforms have a much lower permeability as compared to the bulk permeability of the fabric. Hence, fiber tows saturate with resin later than the pores between fiber tows and are more prone to voids. This study explores the impact of extended resin bleeding time and additional flow resistance at the vent on the void content within fiber tows both experimentally and by numerical simulation. Samples were machined from each of the manufactured panels and analyzed using image analysis techniques to obtain a relative void content. The experimental results were compared to results obtained by numerical simulation. The experimental void distribution showed that if resin is not allowed to bleed or if no external resistance is attached at the vent, the void content over the length of the part is not uniform. All void levels reduced when resistance was added or bleeding was allowed. The discrepancy between experimental and numerical results was addressed by including deformable distribution media in numerical model to capture the continuation of resin flow after the injection gate is closed.
Steady-state analysis of α-melanotropin in the pars intermedia of Anolis carolinensis: Effect of background adaptation

Abstract The steady-state levels of α-melanotropin-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-related peptides were examined in the pars intermedia of the reptile Anolis carolinensis as a function of background adaptation. After a 7-day period, the content of immunoreactive α-MSH-related material in the pars intermedia of light-adapted animals was approximately fourfold higher than that of animals maintained on a dark background for the same period. The immunoreactive α-MSH-related material present in the pars intermedia of light-adapted and dark-adapted animals was separately analyzed by gel filtration chromatography, reversephase HPLC, and cation-exchange chromatography. For light-adapted animals the major form of α-MSH had an apparent molecular weight of 1,5 kDa and a net charge of +4 at pH 3.5. Following reverse-phase HPLC this material eluted as a single peak of immunoreactivity with a retention time distinct from that of both mammalian ACTH(1–13)amide and N -acetyl-ACTH(1–13)amide. For dark-adapted animals a peak of α-MSH-sized material with an apparent molecular weight of 1.5 kDa was also detected. Following reverse-phase HPLC analysis this material eluted as an apparent single peak of immunoreactivity with a retention time distinct from that of the mammalian standards. Subsequent analysis of this major HPLC peak by cation-exchange chromatography revealed the presence of at least two forms of immunoreactive α-MSH. These forms differed in relative proportions. The major peak of immunoreactivity had a net charge of +4, whereas the minor peak had a net charge of +3. The +3 immunoreactive form was not detected to any appreciable degree in light-adapted animals.
Rogers-Ramanujan identities for partitions with “N copies of N”

Demonstration de quelques identites de partitions pour une classe d'objets combinatoires: les partitions a «n copies de n»
A painted devil: Constructing the satanic ritual abuse of children problem

This article uses the social construction theory of Spector and Kitsuse (1973, 1977) to explain and analyze the evolution of satanic ritual abuse of children from cultural lacuna to social problem. The article also contributes to the analysis of social problems by suggesting some cautions that should be taken in examining what often proves to be the hasty and injudicious construction of social problems that have to do with violence against children.
Selective axonal and terminal degeneration in the chicken brainstem and cerebellum following exposure to bis(1-methylethyl)phosphorofluoridate (DFP).

Abstract Utilizing a variation of the Fink-Heimer method, we examined the extent and location of axonal and terminal degeneration within the chicken cervical spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum resulting from a single subcutaneous dose ofbis(1-methylethyl)phosphorofluoridate (DFP). The effects of DFP on the activities of whole-brain neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and cholinesterase (ChE) were also assessed as were the development and severity of clinical signs characteristic of organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). Both whole brain NTE and ChE activities were maximally inhibited during the first 24 h post-exposure, showing gradual recovery over a period of e weeks. OPIDN clinical signs were not observed at 7 days post-DFP but progressed to severe ataxia by day 14 and paralysis by day 21. There was a relative absence of degeneration at 7 days, a dramatic increase in degeneration density at 14 days, and high density degeneration at both 21 and 28 days. Cervical spinal and medullary tracts containing axonal degeneration included the fasciculus gracilis, dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts, spinal lemniscus, and the intramedullary portions of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Brainstem nuclei containing terminal degeneration included the lateral cervical, gracile-cuneate, external cuneate, and inferior olivary nuclei, the nucleus tractus solitarius, and the lateral and paragigantocellular lateral reticular nuclei. Mossy fiber degeneration was also present in cerebellar folia I–Vb. These results show that exposure to DFP causes axonal and terminal degeneration in ascending spinal tracts, brainstem nuclei and cerebellar folia associated with the transmission of somatic and visceral sensory information.
From Theory to Practice: Evaluating Static Channel Assignments on a Wireless Mesh Network

Multi-radio nodes in wireless mesh networks introduce extra complexity in utilizing channel resources. Depending on the configuration of the radios, bad mappings between radio to wireless frequencies may result in sub-optimal network topologies. Static channel assignments in wireless mesh networks have been studied in theory and through simulation but very little work has been done through experiments. This paper focuses on evaluating static channel assignments on a live wireless mesh network. We chose three popular types of static channel assignment algorithms for implementation and comparison purposes. The three types are breadth-first search, priority-based selection and integer linear programming. We find that there is no single channel assignment algorithm that does well overall. BFS algorithm can create the shortest paths to the gateway and also generate balanced channel usage topologies. The PBS algorithm can use all the best links in the network but have poor performance from each radio to the gateway. Overall, we find the channel assignments given by the algorithms to be suboptimal when applied to a live mesh network because temporal variations in the link quality metrics are not taken into account. Looking at the interflow and intraflow performance of these channel assignment algorithms in a live mesh network, we can conclude that routing protocols must be modified to take advantage of the underlying channel assignment algorithms.