cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Role of Potential Vorticity Perturbations in the Spontaneous Generation of Gravity Waves

Mechanisms of internal gravity wave generation have been intensively studied because of the role of gravity waves in the large-scale atmospheric circulation. One source of gravity waves that is poorly understood is spontaneous wave generation by the low frequency mesoscale and large scale motions in the atmosphere. In this work, we study the interaction among potential vorticity perturbations and gravity waves in a stably stratified, horizontally sheared zonal flow, with the goal of clarifying the role of these interactions in the process of spontaneous wave generation. We find that vorticity perturbations amplify in energy due to downgradient Reynolds stress when their phase lines tilt towards the west with increasing latitude for a northward increasing shear flow. For a Froude number of order one, there is strong coupling between the vorticity perturbations and the gravity wave manifold. As a result, the large growth attained by vorticity perturbations is transferred to propagating gravity waves. When the flow geometry permits wave propagation, significant gravity wave emission occurs.
Competition between a Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) Edrioasteroid and a Bryozoan for Living Space on a Brachiopod

Abstract We describe a Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) Parapostibulla edrioasteroid that competed for living space with an encrusting cryptostome bryozoan on the brachiopod Composita. The colonial bryozoan grew faster than the solitary edrioasteroid, and the bryozoan increased its colony size by slowly encircling the edrioasteroid. Neither organism was able to overgrow the other, even where the margins became thick, and each had to accommodate the presence and possible defenses of the other. Evidence for defensive measures by edrioasteroids has not previously been reported, but this interaction does emphasize that edrioasteroids could not move away from severe crowding or overgrowth by other organisms.
Drawing on Media Studies, Gender Studies, and Media Literacy Education to Develop an Interdisciplinary Approach to Media and Gender Classes

Media scholars see audiences as agentic, and people’s relationships with media texts and tools as complex and not easily predictable. At the same time, we are reminded that media representations of...
Tumble Polishing of Faster-Coated Glow Discharge Polymer Capsules

CH capsules fabricated by glow discharge plasma polymerization have been used as the capsule point design for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The coating time ranges from 6 to 8 weeks. We hav...
Advances in On-Chip Fluorescence Detection for DNA Analysis Systems

Developing an on-chip fluorescence detection involves construction of ultrasensitive photodetectors that can be integrated onto a fluidic platform. In this work, we report a novel doping and construction of a P-I-N-N + photodiode with an on-chip interference filter and a robust liquid barrier layer. This new design yields a highly sensitive, low-noise photodiode and its applications in several areas of DNA analysis are presented.
A User's Guide to Crystallographic Models

In research, study of molecular models by computer graphics is an indispensable tool in formulating mechanisms of protein action—binding or catalysis—searching for modes of interaction between molecules, choosing sites to modify by chemical methods or site-specific mutagenesis, and designing inhibitors of proteins involved in disease. This chapter provides an insight into the field of crystallography and answers many questions related to the subject, such as: how precise are the relative locations of atoms; how much does molecular motion alter atomic positions; and how well does the model fit the original diffraction data from which it was extracted. It starts off with the knowledge to help one become a discriminating consumer of the crystallographic product. It describes several criteria of model quality and provides knowledge to extract these criteria from published accounts of crystallographic structure determination, or from the model and X-ray data itself, by way of online validation tools. The chapter also presents the inherent strengths and limitations of molecular models obtained by X-ray diffraction. Its aim is to help the readers use crystallographic models wisely and appropriately. The chapter concludes with the claim that all crystallographic models are not equal. The noncrystallographer can assess model quality by carefully reading original publications of a macromolecular structure.
Understanding the Individualism-Collectivism Cleavage and Its Effects: Lessons from Cultural Psychology

The central role of culture on economic development has been recognized at least since Max Weber who, in his classic work ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism’, argued that the protestant ethic of Calvinism was a very powerful force behind the development of capitalism in its early phases. Recently economic historians such as Landes (1998) and Mokyr (2010) have emphasized the crucial role of culture in explaining the industrial revolution.
Smart LaBLEs: Proximity, Autoconfiguration, and a Constant Supply of Gatorade(TM)

The availability of the low-power, simple communication model of Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE) has resulted in the explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices. IoT in the retail space has the potential to improve both user experience as well as business practices. For example, IoT-enabled retail systems could eliminate the need for human intervention to update product signage when product locations are shifted or in response to changes in product information (e.g., price changes). Such smart inventory systems would rely on the ability to automatically determine which products were nearest to relevant labels. In this paper, we present a detailed study of BLE channel characteristics using a battery of tests with real devices. We then present the design and implementation of Smart LaBLEs, our BLE-based, autoconfiguring product labels. Smart LaBLEs detect BLE-tagged products in their environment, determine the nearest shelved product, and autoconfigure a colored LCD with product information from the nearest products advertising message. The Smart LaBLEs act as decentralized IoT hubs, opening the door for product tags detected by the Smart LaBLE to reduce the frequency at which they send advertising messages, thus conserving bandwidth and energy.
Venous thromboembolic events: How low can you go?

Abstract Background We evaluated postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemical prophylaxis adherence to assess the preventability of VTEs. Methods A case-control study was performed using the 2011–2015 ACS-NSQIP single institution database. Cases were identified as patients who experienced postoperative VTE within 30 days following surgery. Controls were matched 2:1 on procedure, age, and BMI. Association between inpatient chemical prophylaxis adherence and postoperative VTE was evaluated with conditional logistic regression. Results Seventy-three cases were matched to 145 controls. Complete inpatient VTE chemical prophylaxis adherence did not differ between cases and controls (45.2% vs. 46.2%, p = 1.00). Odds of postoperative VTE increased if a patient's prophylaxis was interrupted (OR 6.34, 95% CI 1.82–22.13). However, 53.7% of instances of interrupted prophylaxis were medically justified by concern for bleeding, spine operation, or for additional upcoming procedure. Conclusions Nearly half of patients who experienced postoperative VTEs received appropriate guideline-driven care. Most interruptions in chemical prophylaxis were justified medically. This further questions the preventability of postoperative VTEs and the utility of this outcome as a valid measure of hospital quality.
Medical Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease

An estimated 8–12 million Americans are believed to suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) according to the American Heart Association [1]. The prevalence of PAD has been estimated at almost 10% in the general population and almost 20% in those older than 70 years. Patients with PAD present a unique challenge to the provider due to their typically older age, high rates of underdiagnosis due to asymptomatic state, and the higher prevalence of comorbid conditions. The prototypical risk factors for PAD are similar to that of coronary arterial disease and include tobacco use, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. The mainstay of PAD therapy is aggressive risk factor modification followed by pharmacologic therapy and exercise therapy as warranted.
Understanding the Puzzle behind the Pictures: A Content Analysis of Children's Picture Books about Autism.

The growing visibility of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the trend toward inclusive classroom practices present teachers with the unique responsibility of providing an inclusive learning enviro...
“The Monkey King Meets the Spiderman”: Narrative Inquiry into Chinese Students’ Academic Socialization Experiences in a U.S. University

This narrative study explores four Chinese students’ academic socialization experiences in one research-intensive public university in the US. By drawing upon Wenger’s (1998) communities of practice and Gee’s (2000) theorizing on identity as the synthesized theoretical framework, this research uncovers four Chinese students’ academic socialization stories nestled in the shifting cross-cultural landscape. Meanwhile, this study reveals that the Chinese students’ academic socialization intersects a matrix of factors, which can be categorized into “personal landscape” and “professional landscape.” Last, this narrative case study concluded that the Chinese students’ academic socialization involves the continuous negotiations of their multiple identities embedded in the cross-cultural contexts.
Unique histologic features of tonsils from patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome

The objective of this study is to compare the histology and immune cell composition of tonsils from patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome to those from patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients with PFAPA and age-matched controls with OSA who had undergone tonsillectomy at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital were recruited. After informed consent, archival paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tonsil tissues were obtained. Sizes of major histologic regions were measured. Cores of germinal centers, crypts, and squamous epithelium were assembled on a tissue microarray for immunohistochemical staining and digital image analysis. Features of tonsils from PFAPA and OSA patients were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Samples from 16 cases with PFAPA and 16 controls with OSA were evaluated. Tonsils from PFAPA cases had significantly smaller germinal centers (0.18 vs. 0.47 mm2, p = 0.001) and wider squamous epithelia (176 vs. 138 μm, p = 0.008) than those of OSA patients. The percentages of B and T lymphocytes and myeloid cells were comparable in germinal centers, crypts, and squamous epithelia from PFAPA and OSA patients. Longer time from the last febrile episode in PFAPA cases was associated with larger germinal center area (Spearman’s rho = 0.61, p = 0.02). We found differences in the sizes of germinal centers and squamous epithelia in tonsils of patients with PFAPA and OSA, but the cellular compositions within these areas were comparable. Our results suggest that tonsils from patients with PFAPA change histologically over time with enlarging germinal centers following a febrile episode. Additional studies are needed to understand the pathogenesis of PFAPA.
Machine learnt bond order potential to model metal–organic (Co–C) heterostructures

A fundamental understanding of the inter-relationships between structure, morphology, atomic scale dynamics, chemistry, and physical properties of mixed metallic-covalent systems is essential to design novel functional materials for applications in flexible nano-electronics, energy storage and catalysis. To achieve such knowledge, it is imperative to develop robust and computationally efficient atomistic models that describe atomic interactions accurately within a single framework. Here, we present a unified Tersoff–Brenner type bond order potential (BOP) for a Co–C system, trained against lattice parameters, cohesive energies, equation of state, and elastic constants of different crystalline phases of cobalt as well as orthorhombic Co2C derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The independent BOP parameters are determined using a combination of supervised machine learning (genetic algorithms) and local minimization via the simplex method. Our newly developed BOP accurately describes the structural, thermodynamic, mechanical, and surface properties of both the elemental components as well as the carbide phases, in excellent accordance with DFT calculations and experiments. Using our machine-learnt BOP potential, we performed large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of metal/carbon concentration on the structure and mechanical properties of porous architectures obtained via self-assembly of cobalt nanoparticles and fullerene molecules. Such porous structures have implications in flexible electronics, where materials with high electrical conductivity and low elastic stiffness are desired. Using unsupervised machine learning (clustering), we identify the pore structure, pore-distribution, and metallic conduction pathways in self-assembled structures at different C/Co ratios. We find that as the C/Co ratio increases, the connectivity between the Co nanoparticles becomes limited, likely resulting in low electrical conductivity; on the other hand, such C-rich hybrid structures are highly flexible (i.e., low stiffness). The BOP model developed in this work is a valuable tool to investigate atomic scale processes, structure–property relationships, and temperature/pressure response of Co–C systems, as well as design organic–inorganic hybrid structures with a desired set of properties.
Proton therapy for pediatric brain tumors

Proton therapy is a form of charged particle radiation therapy that has potential benefits to reduce toxicities in children with brain tumors. Despite the theoretical benefits of PRT, full acceptance of this treatment modality in this patient population has not occurred. This chapter will review the history, potential benefits, current status, evidence, and future opportunities of proton therapy for children with brain tumors. It will discuss the role of PRT, the type of patients that are being treated, and where this modality may be most beneficial.
The early partial remission of juvenilediabetes mellitus

Ten children with juvenile diabetes mellitus were studied with oral glucose tolerancetests at the onset of their disease and during the period of partial remission. No significant improvement in carbohydrate tolerance was observed. Free fatty-acid responses improved, but abnormalities were still demonstrable. Fasting growth hormone levels were normal, and no changes were noted in the growth-hormone responses before therapy and during remission. Plasma insulin concentrations were very low at the time of the clinical onset, and no significant improvement in insulin secretion was observed during the phase of partial remission. These data suggest that increased insulin production or changes in growth hormone do not play roles in the early partial remission of juvenile diabetes.
Prospective Association between Gestational Diabetes and Subsequent Abnormal Liver Function Scores 9 to 16 Years after Pregnancy

Chronic hyperglycemia is a risk factor for liver dysfunction. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), glucose intolerance first recognized in pregnancy, may identify a population of individuals at an increased risk for liver complications. However, large prospective studies examining liver function following a GDM pregnancy are lacking. The Diabetes & Women’s Health (DWH) Study (2012-2014) followed women with and without GDM in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). DNBC was a population-based cohort study of pregnant Danish women (1996-2002). At 9-16 years postpartum, the DWH Study conducted a clinical exam and collected bio-specimens on 607 of 1,274 women with GDM and 619 of a random sample of 1,457 women without GDM during the index DNBC pregnancy. Markers of liver function measured at follow-up included: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Liver function scoring indices were used to assess liver capacity including: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat score (NAFLD-LFS), fatty liver index (FLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), and liver fat percentage. The mean (standard deviation) age (years) at follow-up for women without and with prior GDM was 43.4 (4.5) and 43.8 (4.6), respectively. Women with prior GDM had an increased risk at follow-up of elevated NAFLD-LFS (Adjusted Relative risk [RR], 2.34; 95% CI, 1.68-3.27), FLI (RR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.27-1.99), and HSI (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.21-1.71) adjusted for pre-pregnancy BMI and other relevant risk factors compared to women without prior GDM. Women with prior GDM also had a significantly higher fatty liver percentage (Adjusted difference (%), 1.93; 95% CI, 1.10-2.77). Women with GDM during pregnancy were at an increased risk for subsequent abnormal liver function 9-16 years postpartum. GDM may serve as another risk indicator for the early identification and prevention of liver dysfunction. Disclosure S. Donnelly: None. S. Hinkle: None. S. Rawal: None. L. Grunnet: None. J.E. Chavarro: None. A.A. Vaag: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. J. Wu: None. P. Damm: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Other Relationship; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. M. Li: None. A.A. Bjerregaard: None. A. Thuesen: None. R.E. Gore-Langton: None. E.C. Francis: None. F. Hu: None. M.Y. Tsai: None. S.F. Olsen: None. C. Zhang: None.
General Method for the Identification of Crystal Faces Using Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Machine Learning and Application to the Epitaxial Growth of Acetaminophen.

Crystal morphology is one of the key crystallographic characteristics that governs the macroscopic properties of crystalline materials. The identification of crystal faces, or face indexing, is an ...
Networked Acoustics Around Human Ears

Ear devices, such as noise-canceling headphones and hearing aids, have dramatically changed the way we listen to the outside world. We re-envision this area by combining wireless communication with acoustics. The core idea is to scatter IoT devices in the environment that listen to ambient sound and forward it over their wireless radio. Since wireless signals travel much faster than sound, the ear-device receives the sound much earlier than its actual arrival. This "glimpse" into the future allows sufficient time for acoustic digital processing, serving as a valuable opportunity for various signal processing and machine learning applications. We believe this will enable a digital app store around human ears.
Study of Voltage Overshooting of Gate-Coupled Silicon Controlled Rectifier on HBM Protection

Case study on HBM ESD protection using gate-coupled SCR is presented. The failure mechanism of DENMOS devices due to the voltage overshooting of SCR is discussed. It is demonstrated that effective HBM protection cannot be estimated by only comparing the TLP triggering voltage of gatecoupled SCR and internal circuitry. Additional protection scheme need to be implemented to provide sufficient HBM ESD protection.
Preparing Native American Special Education Teachers: Lessons Learned from the Rural Special Education Project:

Twelve Navajo preservice teachers in the Rural Special Education Project on the Navajo Nation in Kayenta, Arizona, shared their perceptions regarding the factors which enabled them and constrained ...
Teacher evaluation as data use: what recent research suggests

Most recent research on teacher evaluation examines evaluation’s measurement properties and accountability uses. Less research studies how evaluation data can improve teaching and student learning. In other contexts, researchers have examined how teachers use data to improve their practice. From general research on teachers’ data use, we apply the data-driven decision-making (DDDM) framework to synthesize research on teacher evaluation since 2009. We illustrate how evaluation data are collected, analyzed, and synthesized to inform instruction and improve student learning. Most research focused on teachers’ use of observation data, not their use of student data. We find that the teachers’ use of evaluation data involves more social learning than the DDDM model implies. The effects of observation on instruction and student learning are often weak, apparently because observers lack the time and knowledge to support teachers’ thorough analysis and synthesis of evaluation data. Implications for policy and further research are offered.
Pituitary apoplexy mimicking meningoencephalitis: case report and scoping study.

Background: Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that may require urgent surgical intervention.Case Presentation: We report a case of a patient who was initially diagnosed with meningoencephalitis (ME) based on clinical presentation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, but was eventually diagnosed with PA. We present a summary of other cases reported in the literature of PA mimicking ME and analyze their clinical features and CSF findings.Results: Among all 22 PA cases reviewed, headache was the most commonly reported symptom. Hypopituitarism was seen in 94.4% of the cases; of these, panhypopituitarism was noted in 38.9%. The sensitivity of magnetic resonance image (MRI) for detecting PA was 94.7%, much higher than that of computed tomography (CT), which was only 31.6%. Neutrophil predominant pleocytosis was present in all cases with a neutrophil percentage ranging from 73% to 98%. CSF leukocyte count was less than 1000/ul in 86% of the cases. CSF erythrocytosis was seen in 92.9% of the cases with a count ranging from 15 to 2030/ul. Elevated CSF protein was present in all cases with a range of 69.8 to 239 mg/dl. CSF glucose level varied with a range between 12 and 136 mg/dl; the level was greater than 40 mg/dl in 73% of the cases.Conclusion: PA tends to be misdiagnosed as ME due to the similarities of semiology and CSF findings. PA should be considered in refractory acute headache cases, especially those with visual and endocrine abnormalities. Early recognition and treatment may lead to significant reduction in morbidity and mortality.Abbreviations: ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; CT: computed tomography; GRE: gradient echo; HRT: hormone replacement therapy;HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus; IV: intravenous; ME: meningoencephalitis; MRI: magnetic resonance image; PA: pituitary apoplexy; RBC: red blood cell; WBC: white blood cell.
Emerging siRNA design principles and consequences for biotransformation and disposition in drug development

After two decades teetering at the intersection of laboratory tool and therapeutic reality, with two siRNA drugs now clinically approved, this modality has finally come into fruition. Consistent with other emerging modalities, initial proof-of-concept efforts concentrated on coupling pharmacologic efficacy with desirable safety profiles. Consequently, thorough investigations of siRNA absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties are lacking. Advancing ADME knowledge will aid establishment of in vitro-in vivo correlations and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships to optimize candidate selection through discovery and translation. Here, we outline the emerging siRNA design principles and discuss the consequences for siRNA disposition and biotransformation. We propose a conceptual framework for siRNA ADME evaluation, contextualizing the site of biotransformation product formation with PK-PD modulation, and end with a discussion around safety and regulatory considerations and future directions for this modality.
Movement of the people: Violence and internal displacement

Individuals internally displaced by conflict are a prominent feature of wars, political violence and other forms of repression. We suggest that a subnational analysis of internally displaced person...
Assessing Cochlear Implant Insertion Angle From an Intraoperative X-ray Using a Rotating 3D Helical Scala Tympani Model

Background Angular insertion depth (AID) of the electrode array provides valuable information regarding intracochlear positioning, which can be used to predict outcomes and optimize performance. While computed tomography (CT) offers high-resolution imaging, there is a need to develop technology to accurately determine AID from intraoperative x-rays acquired at unknown angles. Methods An algorithm was developed using a three-dimensional model of the scala tympani to estimate AID from an x-ray acquired at an unknown angle. The model is manipulated over the x-ray until the projection angle is inferred and the location of the round window and individual electrode contacts are identified. Validation of the algorithm involved 1) assessing accuracy with deviation from cochlear view by comparing AID determined with simulated x-rays to those determined with CT in a temporal bone model, and 2) assessing reproducibility in the clinical setting, by comparing intra- and inter-rater reliability with intraoperative x-ray in cochlear implant (CI) recipients, which were subsequently compared to AID determined with postoperative CT. Results Estimates of AID from x-rays were generally within 10 degrees of CT regardless of deviation from cochlear view. Excluding two outliers with poor imaging quality, the intraclass correlation coefficients for intra- and inter-rater reliability were excellent (0.991 and 0.980, respectively). Conclusion With intraoperative x-rays of sufficient quality, the helical scala tympani model can be used to accurately and reliably determine AID without the need to specify a preferred image angle. The application can therefore be used in most CI recipients when a postoperative CT is not available.
Genetic and Molecular Basis of Cardiac Arrhythmias

In recent years, the identification of gene defects in a vast array of monogenic disorders has revolutionized our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying many disease processes. Mutations in cardiac ion channels, signaling molecules, and structural proteins have been identified as the basis of a wide range of inherited arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy syndromes, including the long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome, Andersen-Tawil syndrome, progressive cardiac conduction disease, familial atrial fibrillation, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. We have also learned that marked clinical and genetic heterogeneity is almost universal across all these syndromes. Individuals carrying the same mutation may have varied disease manifestations, whereas several genes can be responsible for disease pathogenesis. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of inherited arrhythmia syndromes has not only provided important insights into the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms and identified novel therapeutic targets but also enabled consideration of more mechanism-based and personalized therapies.
Multi-modal biomarkers of low back pain: A machine learning approach.

Abstract Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a very common health problem worldwide and a major cause of disability. Yet, the lack of quantifiable metrics on which to base clinical decisions leads to imprecise treatments, unnecessary surgery and reduced patient outcomes. Although, the focus of LBP has largely focused on the spine, the literature demonstrates a robust reorganization of the human brain in the setting of LBP. Brain neuroimaging holds promise for the discovery of biomarkers that will improve the treatment of chronic LBP. In this study, we report on morphological changes in cerebral cortical thickness (CT) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) measures as potential brain biomarkers for LBP. Structural MRI scans, resting state functional MRI scans and self-reported clinical scores were collected from 24 LBP patients and 27 age-matched healthy controls (HC). The results suggest widespread differences in CT in LBP patients relative to HC. These differences in CT are correlated with self-reported clinical summary scores, the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores. The primary visual, secondary visual and default mode networks showed significant age-corrected increases in connectivity with multiple networks in LBP patients. Cortical regions classified as hubs based on their eigenvector centrality (EC) showed differences in their topology within motor and visual processing regions. Finally, a support vector machine trained using CT to classify LBP subjects from HC achieved an average classification accuracy of 74.51%, AUC = 0.787 (95% CI: 0.66–0.91). The findings from this study suggest widespread changes in CT and rsFC in patients with LBP while a machine learning algorithm trained using CT can predict patient group. Taken together, these findings suggest that CT and rsFC may act as potential biomarkers for LBP to guide therapy.
Paracicatricial melanocytes as a sign of melanoma.

Intradermal melanocytes in the setting of melanoma represent a diagnostic challenge to dermatopathologists as their presence may represent superficially invasive melanoma vs benign nevus cells or reactive dermal melanocytes. Previous dermatologic literature suggests that the absence of cytologic atypia in intradermal melanocytes and their presence in nonmelanocytic neoplasms lends to their characterization as reactive, benign, melanocytic proliferation. A 67-year-old female presented for evaluation of a 10-mm irregularly pigmented dark brown macule on the left cheek. Initial shave biopsy showed transected malignant melanoma measuring at least 0.6 mm in thickness. Multiple reexcision specimens demonstrated residual melanoma with banal appearing intradermal epithelioid melanocytes within and surrounding the scar. The melanocytes tracked into the skin graft, which had previously been free from involvement. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT) and lymph node biopsies did not show evidence of metastatic melanoma. Ten months after her diagnosis and following five surgical excisions, the patient was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma to the brain and succumbed to intracranial hemorrhage. We present a case in which paracicatricial melanoma may simulate benign paracicatricial melanocytic hyperplasia. These findings have significant therapeutic and prognostic implications for the practicing dermatologist and dermatopathologist.
Neonatal and maternal outcomes with trial of labor after two prior cesarean births: stratified by history of vaginal birth.

To determine the impact of prior vaginal birth on neonatal and maternal outcomes among individuals undergoing a trial of labor after two cesarean births.This was a cross-sectional study using the U...
Recurrent Duplication and Diversification of Acrosomal Fertilization Proteins in Abalone

Reproductive proteins mediating fertilization commonly exhibit rapid sequence diversification driven by positive selection. This pattern has been observed among nearly all taxonomic groups, including mammals, invertebrates, and plants, and is remarkable given the essential nature of the molecular interactions mediating fertilization. Gene duplication is another iimportant mechanism that facilitates the generation of molecular novelty. Following duplication, paralogs may parse ancestral gene function (subfunctionalization) or acquire new roles (neofunctionalization). However, the contributions of duplication followed by sequence diversification to the molecular diversity of gamete recognition genes has been understudied in many models of fertilization. The marine gastropod mollusk abalone is a classic model for fertilization. Its two acrosomal proteins (lysin and sp18) are ancient gene duplicates with unique gamete recognition functions. Through detailed genomic and bioinformatic analyses we show how duplication events followed by sequence diversification has played an ongoing role in the evolution of abalone acrosomal proteins. The common ancestor of abalone had four members of its acrosomal protein family in a tandem gene array that repeatedly experienced positive selection. We find that both sp18 paralogs contain positively selected sites located in different regions of the paralogs, consistent with a subfunctionalization model where selection acted upon distinct binding interfaces in each paralog. Further, a more recent species-specific duplication of both lysin and sp18 in the European abalone H. tuberculata is described. Despite clade-specific acrosomal protein paralogs, there are no concomitant duplications of egg coat proteins in H. tuberculata, indicating that duplication of egg proteins per se is not responsible for retention of duplicated acrosomal proteins. We hypothesize that, in a manner analogous to host/pathogen evolution, sperm proteins are selected for increased diversity through extensive sequence divergence and recurrent duplication driven by conflict mechanisms.
Combustion of mechanically activated Ni/Al reactive composites with microstructural refinement tailored using two-step milling

Abstract Metal-based reactive composites are high energy-density materials that have potential uses as multifunctional energetics. However, when composed of micron size particles they can be difficult to ignite and have slow reaction rates. Recent work has shown that mechanically activated (MA) materials can have increased ignition sensitivity and reaction rate, yet the role of microstructure refinement (i.e., mechanical activation duration) in controlling combustion behavior is not well understood. In this work, the combustion velocities and flame temperatures were measured for equiatomic MA Ni/Al reactive powders produced using different milling durations in a two-step dry/wet milling process. For MA Ni/Al pellets pressed to 70% of the theoretical maximum density, it was shown that the combustion velocities increase as the milling time increases from ∼9.4 cm/s at 25% of the critical reaction milling time (t cr ) to ∼20 cm/s at a milling time of 97% t cr . For the cases considered, the average maximum flame temperatures were measured to be ∼1873 ± 30 K for samples milled for 25% t cr to 1786 ± 30 K at 97% t cr . It was also found that hydrocarbon contaminants are milled into the MA Ni/Al composite particles during the wet milling step and result in expansion of the pellets during combustion. Differential scanning calorimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the release of hydrocarbon contaminants occurs at a temperature of ∼630 K. It was also shown that the concentration of hydrocarbon contamination decreased as the dry milling times increased, which suggests particle structure and mechanical property evolution during initial dry milling also affects contamination during subsequent wet milling.
Peptide-MHC-I from Endogenous Antigen Outnumber Those from Exogenous Antigen, Irrespective of APC Phenotype or Activation.

Naive anti-viral CD8+ T cells (TCD8+) are activated by the presence of peptide-MHC Class I complexes (pMHC-I) on the surface of professional antigen presenting cells (pAPC). Increasing the number of pMHC-I in vivo can increase the number of responding TCD8+. Antigen can be presented directly or indirectly (cross presentation) from virus-infected and uninfected cells, respectively. Here we determined the relative importance of these two antigen presenting pathways in mousepox, a natural disease of the mouse caused by the poxvirus, ectromelia (ECTV). We demonstrated that ECTV infected several pAPC types (macrophages, B cells, and dendritic cells (DC), including DC subsets), which directly presented pMHC-I to naive TCD8+ with similar efficiencies in vitro. We also provided evidence that these same cell-types presented antigen in vivo, as they form contacts with antigen-specific TCD8+. Importantly, the number of pMHC-I on infected pAPC (direct presentation) vastly outnumbered those on uninfected cells (cross presentation), where presentation only occurred in a specialized subset of DC. In addition, prior maturation of DC failed to enhance antigen presentation, but markedly inhibited ECTV infection of DC. These results suggest that direct antigen presentation is the dominant pathway in mice during mousepox. In a broader context, these findings indicate that if a virus infects a pAPC then the presentation by that cell is likely to dominate over cross presentation as the most effective mode of generating large quantities of pMHC-I is on the surface of pAPC that endogenously express antigens. Recent trends in vaccine design have focused upon the introduction of exogenous antigens into the MHC Class I processing pathway (cross presentation) in specific pAPC populations. However, use of a pantropic viral vector that targets pAPC to express antigen endogenously likely represents a more effective vaccine strategy than the targeting of exogenous antigen to a limiting pAPC subpopulation.
Regional Fat Mass Estimations in Caucasian Adults from Regional Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Ultrasound

Objective. Obesity is increasingly characterized based on the regions of the body where fat is accumulated. Ultrasound measurement of subcutaneous fat thicknesses has been used to determine whole-body fat content. We report the use of ultrasound to determine regional fat mass. Methods. Multiple regression equations were developed for estimating fat mass in six body regions (upper arms, upper torso, mid-torso, lower torso, upper leg, and lower leg) using anthropometric data and regional subcutaneous fat thickness measured using ultrasound as compared to regional fat mass measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 99 female and 113 male subjects. Results. Multiple regression p-values were all significant at p<0.0001 while R2 values were 0.5577 and 0.6906 (chest), 0.7712 and .6763 (waist), 0.7535 and 0.2245 (hips), 0.8256 and 0.6309 (upper leg), 0.6699 and 0.5684 (calf), and 0.6711 and 0.5649 (upper arm) for females and males, respectively. Standard deviation of the residual ranged from 354g (u...
Location and Regeneration of Enterovirus Receptors of HeLa Cells

Zajac, Ihor (Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.), and Richard L. Crowell. Location and regeneration of enterovirus receptors of HeLa cells. J. Bacteriol. 89:1097–1100. 1965.—Treatment of live HeLa cells with chymotrypsin or trypsin completely inactivated the viral receptors for coxsackievirus B3 and poliovirus T1, respectively. Enzyme-treated cells regained their enterovirus receptor activity after incubation in culture medium. The existence of intracellular receptors for virus could not be demonstrated when live HeLa cells were treated with enzyme prior to disruption and fractionation. These results suggested that receptors for enteroviruses are limited to the cell surface.
Exploiting conjugate symmetry in power minimization based pre-processing for GPS: reduced complexity and smoothness

Space-time power minimization pre-processing can exhibit a significant improvement in GPS receiver performance by exploiting spatial and temporal processing techniques. This type of preprocessing however, will require significant computations due to the large dimensionality of the complex valued space-time correlation matrix and will cause some distortion of the PN codes due to temporal processing. To reduce the computational complexity and distortion effects simultaneously, a conjugate symmetry space-time pre-processor has been proposed. It is demonstrated that this pre-processor enhances smoothness across angle and frequency and facilitates the use of real valued space-time correlation matrices in a reduced dimension utilizing the multi-stage nested Wiener filter (MSNWF).
The Septic Shock-Associated IL-10 -1082 A > G Polymorphism Mediates Allele-Specific Transcription via Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 in Macrophages Engulfing Apoptotic Cells

The biallelic IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphism at -1082 of the promoter region linked to individual variation in cytokine inducibility has been strongly implicated in several pathological conditions including the development of, and outcomes in, septic shock during pneumococcal infection, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and cardiac dysfunction. However, the molecular basis of the single nucleotide polymorphism-mediated variable IL-10 production levels has not been explored. In this study, we report that the -1082G > A alleles in the promoter region of the human IL-10 gene physically interact with a nuclear protein in an allele-specific manner that results in different levels of IL-10 transcription. This protein has been identified as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1). We show that PARP-1 acts as a transcription repressor, and its DNA-binding activity is strongly regulated in macrophages that engulf apoptotic cells but not stimulated with LPS. These findings unveil a novel role of PARP-1 in the regulation of IL-10 production in an allele-dependent way, which determines individual susceptibility to sepsis-induced inflammatory pathology and the immunological sequelae in a physiological process in which clearance of infection-induced apoptotic cells by professional phagocytes triggers the cytokine synthesis.
Future silicon technology trends from a system application perspective

Digital CMOS is fast reaching its scaling limits. Nonetheless, CMOS will remain the backbone technology for building all computing functions. While attempts to extend the limits of CMOS will continue, there will also be increasing focus on other silicon technologies that are needed by system designers. For computing systems, large amounts of high-performance on-chip memory are needed to minimize memory-bottleneck penalty. For systems where magnetic disks are not available, large amounts of NVRAM are needed for data storage. High-performance and low-power mixed-signal technology is needed for systems requiring wireless communication. Recent as well as expected advances in these developments are discussed.
Stevenson receives Hess Medal

David J. Stevenson was awarded the Harry H. Hess Medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on May 27, 1998, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Harry H. Hess Medal recognizes outstanding achievements in the research of the constitution and evolution of Earth and its sister planets. A meaningful understanding of the Earth and planets requires explaining their differences. This explanation of planetary processes is difficult partly because it entails a wide range of scales—from microscale, operating at the atomic level, to macroscale, determined by boundaries thousands of kilometers apart. David Stevenson's graduate study was mainly in theoretical condensedmatter physics, but he is remarkable in his grasp of large-scale planetary processes such as mantle convection and the dynamos. He is also remarkable in his ‘instinct to attack the jugular,’ that is to go for the most important problems and for the versatility of his approaches thereto.
Three-dimensional computer graphic display in medicine: the MIPG perspective

We concentrate on the problem of producing three-dimensional displays of organ surfaces from computerized tomograms. The theory of such surfaces is discussed. This theory leads to efficient methods of surface detection, visible surface determination, and rendering. The methods have been implemented in a software package especially designed for producing high quality displays inexpensively and efficiently for the medical end-user.
Filamentous Bacterial Viruses IV. Fate of the Infecting Parental Single-Stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Abstract Some of the infecting fd single-stranded viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules were found to be degraded after having initiated infection. The degradation products were reused for synthesis of DNA, primarily bacterial. Degradation was most extensive when viral DNA was replicating.
In vivo microdialysis sampling of adipokines CCL2, IL-6, and leptin in the mammary fat pad of adult female rats.

Adipocytes from white adipose tissue secrete cytokines and other bioactive proteins which are collectively termed adipokines. Adiposity has been linked with increased breast cancer risk as adipokines secreted by adipocytes significantly affect epithelial cells from which breast cancer arises. Measurement of extracellular adipokine concentrations that would be involved in signaling through mammary tissue is therefore of importance. In this work, microdialysis sampling was used to collect adipokines from the interstitial space of the mammary fat pad of female rats under isoflurane anesthesia. The adipokines CCL2 (MCP-1), leptin and IL-6 were quantified from dialysate samples and compared to total tissue concentrations surrounding the implanted probes. After three hours of microdialysis sampling at 1 μL min−1, the respective median values for these adipokines in dialysate samples were approximately 175 pg mL−1 (CCL2), 150 pg mL−1 (IL-6) and 750 pg mL−1 (leptin). Adipokine protein levels from dialysates were an order of magnitude lower than levels obtained directly from mammary tissue. However, the adipokine concentrations between excised tissue surrounding the microdialysis sampling probes and control tissue without implants did not differ. This work demonstrates the utility of microdialysis sampling to quantify mammary gland adipokine levels, with relevance to understanding mammary physiology.
Perinatal development of the endorphin- and enkephalin- containing systems in the rat brain

Radioimmunoassay and microdissection procedures were used to study the perinatal development of the endorphin- and enkephalin-containing systems in the rat brain. In contrast to values reported on adult rat, endorphin levels are much higher than enkephalin levels on embryonic day 16. The highest endorphin values are found in the diencephalon, midline telencephalon and medulla-midbrain regions. Perinatally, enkephalin content increases at a faster rate than endorphin in all brain regions, producing a marked drop of the endorphin/enkephalin ratios. Between postnatal days 6 and 25, both endorphin and enkephalin levels increase, approaching their adult distribution pattern. No correlation was found between regional distributions or rates of increase of endorphin and enkephalin in any of these developmental stages, suggesting that the two peptide systems develop independently from each other.
On a class of integral operators on a half-space with discontinuous symbol

This paper is concerned with the spectral asymptotics of the integral operator A on L2(Ω) with kernel (α2π)n ∝Γeiαξ · (x − y)σ(x,ξ)dξ where Ω and Γ are regions in Rn and α is a large parameter. More precisely we consider the asymptotics as α → ∞ of tr ƒ(A) for suitable functions f. The first-order asymptotics are classical and there is a conjectured second-order result. The conjecture is proved here if one of the regions Γ or Ω is a half-space.
Distributed thermal management for embedded heterogeneous MPSoCs with dedicated hardware accelerators

This paper addresses thermal management in heterogeneous MPSoCs where the power states of the general purpose cores can be controlled by the operating system (OS) while OS is not able to control power states of the dedicated hardware accelerators (DHAs). We propose a scalable and cooperative distributed thermal management technique 1 which works based on the cooperation of local controllers deployed in some of the cores. Through low overhead message passing, these controllers communicate in order to exchange temperature and performance related information which is used to find the best thermally safe set of frequency settings for the cores. Experimental results show that for our technique can successfully reduce the deadline miss rate by 47.16% in average compared to localized thermal management techniques while successfully satisfying temperature constraints.