cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjustment to perceived ovarian cancer risk.

Eighty-three women who perceived themselves to be at risk for ovarian cancer completed a battery of surveys. In addition to demographics, subjects were asked to complete the Brief Symptom Inventory, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, Death Anxiety Scale, Taylor Anxiety Scale, Index of Sexual Satisfaction, Impact of Event Scale, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Overall, the respondents were more similar to normal controls than to psychiatric outpatients. A correlation was drawn between higher levels of education and lower scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory, which measures characteristics such as somatization, obsessive compulsive behaviors, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety. However, those who had the highest scores on the Death Anxiety Scale were less likely to comply with the recommendation for a physical/gynecological examination. Patients who were most influenced by an external locus of control or ‘powerful other’ were more compliant with their physicians' recommendations for testing and examination. It is the authors' belief that individualized educational efforts and the presence of a solid support system may increase women's adherence to the recommended health care practices. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lidar characteristics for detecting and tracking high-speed bullets

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the possible use of a light-weight lidar system to detect and track a snipers high-speed bullet. The analysis includes the calculation of the beam waist, the irradiance per pulse, average irradiance, the maximum time between pulses and the minimum pulse repetition frequency, all as functions of range, beam diameter and beam quality ( M 2 ). We discuss, briefly, the possible cueing of such a lidar system by an IR system. The measurem ent of the BRDF of a bullet is briefly described. Finally, we report on the detection range, based on SNR calculations, as a function of energy per pulse, beam diameter and M 2 . Introduction This paper provides results of a physics-based analysis that focuses on the lidar system characteristics needed to be able to track a high-spe ed bullet. From a military perspective, it may be desirable to be able to track a high-speed bullet; for example, to estimate the location of the bullets origin or the terminal point. This ability would require a cueing device and an electronically steerable lidar system (Reference 1). This analysis does not address this aspect of the problem. The analysis takes into account beam divergence, energy per pulse, pulse repetition frequency, bullet properties and atmospheric characteristics. The ma in goal is to determine the detection range as a function of the above-mentioned parameters.
A framework for testing concurrent programs

This study proposes a new framework that can effectively apply unit testing to concurrent programs, which are difficult to develop and debug. Test-driven development, a practice enabling developers to detect bugs early by incorporating unit testing into the development process, has become wide-spread, but it has only been effective for programs with a single thread of control. The order of operations in different threads is essentially non-deterministic, making it more complicated to reason about program properties in concurrent programs than in single-threaded programs. Because hardware, operating systems, and compiler optimizations influence the order in which operations in different threads are executed, debugging is problematic since a problem often cannot be reproduced on other machines. Multi-core processors, which have replaced older single-core designs, have exacerbated these problems because they demand the use of concurrency if programs are to benefit from new processors. The existing tools for unit testing programs are either flawed or too costly. JUnit, for instance, assumes that programs are single-threaded and therefore does not work for concurrent programs; ConTest and rstest predate the revised Java memory model and make incorrect assumptions about the operations that affect synchronization. Approaches such as model checking or comprehensive schedule-based execution are too costly to be used frequently. All of these problems prevent software developers from adopting the current tools on a large scale. The proposed framework (i) improves JUnit to recognize errors in all threads, a necessary development without which all other improvements are futile, (ii) places some restrictions on the programs to facilitate automatic testing, (iii) provides tools that reduce programmer mistakes, and (iv) re-runs the unit tests with randomized schedules to simulate the execution under different conditions and on different machines, increasing the probability that errors are detected. The improvements and restrictions, shown not to seriously impede programmers, reliably detect problems that the original JUnit missed. The execution with randomized schedules reveals problems that rarely occur under normal conditions. With an effective testing tool for concurrent programs, developers can test programs more reliably and decrease the number of errors in spite of the proliferation of concurrency demanded by modern processors.
Segmented shape descriptions from 3-view stereo

We address the recovery of segmented, 3-D descriptions of an object from intensity images. We use three views of an object from slightly different viewpoints as our input. For each image we extract a hierarchy of groups based on proximity, parallelism and symmetry in a robust manner. The groups in the three images are matched by computing the epipolar geometry. For each set of matched groups from the three images, we then label the contours of the groups as "true" or "limb" edges. Using the information about groups, the label associated with their contours and projective properties of subclasses of Generalized Cylinders, we infer the 3-D structure of these groups. The proposed method not only allows robust shape recovery but also produces segmented parts. Our approach can also deal with groups generated as a result of texture or shadows on the object. We present results on real images of moderately complex objects. >
A new parallel banyan ATM switch architecture

Proposes an ATM switch architecture using multiple banyan networks connected in parallel (MBCP) which can resolve the inherent blocking problems in banyan-based switches. In various traffic simulations, the MBCP switch has shown very good performance in terms of packet loss rate, switching latency, and hardware complexity under heavy traffic load and nonuniform traffic patterns for large-scale ATM switching applications.
Risk assessment of an interacting structure-soil system due to liquefaction

The present study deals with the non-linear stochastic dynamic analysis of a soil-structure interacting system. The ultimate objective is to determine the risk of damage to the system due to liquefaction under a wide range of earthquake intensities. A Monte Carlo simulation approach is followed in conjunction with advanced finite element procedures. The stochastic spatial variability of soil properties and the randomness of the seismic excitation are taken into account in order to estimate the statistics of the response, measured in terms of uniform foundation settlement and tilting. Specifically, soil properties are modelled as non-Gaussian random fields and seismic excitations as non-stationary random processes. The probabilistic characteristics of the stochastic field modelling soil properties are established from in situ tests. The risk of damage to the soil-structure system due to liquefaction is assessed by establishing fragility curves, which are of paramount importance for risk assessment and management studies of such systems. Fragility curves express the probability of exceeding various thresholds in the response. The relative effect of the variability of various soil parameters on the variability of the response is also examined. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.
Simulating Mechanical Behavior of Ceramics Under Extreme Conditions

The mechanical behavior of ceramics in extreme environments can be qualitatively different from that observed at ambient conditions and at typical loading rates. For instance, during shock loading the fracture of ceramics is not controlled by the largest flaw. Computer simulations play an increasingly important role in understanding and predicting material behavior, in particular under conditions in which experiments might be challenging or expensive. Here, we review the strengths and limitations of simulation techniques that are most commonly used to model the mechanical behavior of ceramics. We discuss specific application areas of simulations, focusing on the effects of high strain rate, confined deformation volume, altered material chemistry, and high temperature. We conclude by providing examples of future opportunities for modeling studies in this field.
Exact sample sizes needed to detect dependence in 2 × 3 tables

Summary. In the Georgia Centenarian Study (Poon et al., Exceptional Longevity, 2006 ), centenarian cases and young controls are classified according to three categories (age, ethnic origin, and single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] of candidate longevity genes), where each factor has two possible levels. Here we provide methodologies to determine the minimum sample size needed to detect dependence in 2 × 2 × 2 tables based on Fisher’s exact test evaluated exactly or by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), assuming only the case total L and the control total N are known. While our MCMC method uses serial computing, parallel computing techniques are employed to solve the exact sample size problem. These tools will allow researchers to design efficient sampling strategies and to select informative SNPs. We apply our tools to 2 × 2 × 2 tables obtained from a pilot study of the Georgia Centenarians Study, and the sample size results provided important information for the subsequent major study. A comparison between the results of an exact method and those of a MCMC method showed that the MCMC method studied needed much less computation time on average (10.16 times faster on average for situations examined with S.E. = 2.60), but its sample size results were only valid as a rule for larger sample sizes (in the hundreds).
Modeling and Optimization of Solar-Control Glasses

Computer-assisted design of experiments based on the D-optimal design methodology and multiple linear regression analysis has been applied to the control and optimization of solar-control properties of a sulfate-fined soda-lime-silicate glass (72.7% SiO 2 , 14.2% Na 2 O, 10.0% CaO, 2.5% MgO, 0.6% Al 2 O 3 ) which has been modified with Fe 2 O 3 (0.0 to 0.8 wt%), NiO (0.0 to 0.15 wt%), CoO (0.0 to 0.15 wt%), V 2 O 5 (0.0 to 0.225 wt%), TiO 2 (0.0 to 1.5 wt%), SnO (0.0 to 3.0 wt%), ZnS (0.0 to 0.09 wt%), ZnO (0.0 to 2.0 wt%), CaF 2 (0.0 to 2.0 wt%), and P 2 O 5 (0.0 to 2.0 wt%) additions. The experimental design consisted of 64 initial glass compositions which were fired as 500 g batches under ambient conditions in platinum crucibles at 1500°C for 3 h. The samples were then measured for total solar transmittance in accordance with the specifications of ASTM E903-96 (weighted ordinate method) using a Cary-500 UV/vis/near-IR spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere. CIE-LAB color and visible transmittance (illuminant-A) was measured in accordance with the specification of ASTM E308. The total metal content, calculated as of V 2 O 5 , CoO, NiO, Fe 2 O 3 , FeO, P 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , SnO, ZnO, F, and SO 3 , was measured for each glass sample. A modified Lambert-Beer absorption law was utilized to correlate the apparent optical density at 210 discrete wavelengths necessary for the calculation of solar and visible transmittances to the glass batch composition. The developed model was then validated and was shown to exhibit excellent agreement with the measured optical transmission data. Innovative solar-control glasses with exceptional performance characteristics have been realized in the current investigation by application of novel computer-assisted design and multiple correlation methodologies.
Enhanced A/D Converter Signal-to-Noise-Ratio Testing in the Presence of Sampling Clock Jitter

Random jitter, present in the clock that is used for sampling the test input signal, is a major impediment to the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) measurement accuracy using the conventional dynamic testing methodology. However, most low cost testers do not provide the low-jitter clock required for SNR measurement of high-resolution and high-speed A/D converters. This paper presents a test methodology to estimate the SNR of high-performance A/D converters accurately in the presence of sampling clock jitter. The proposed approach uses the "locked-histogram" technique to gather the statistical data on the aperture uncertainty of the device-under-test. It further correlates the data obtained from the locked-histogram technique to the true SNR of the device-under-test. The proposed approach was simulated using Matlab models and validated by performing the hardware experiments. The results show an accuracy of 0.1dB in SNR estimation using the proposed test methodology
Taking Stock Of Health: An Examination Of Health Insurance Expenditures By Employer Categories

This research uses the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) data to examine the cost of health insurance coverage for government as well as private sector employees and for the self-employed. The findings show that, when compared with private-sector employees, the self-employed spend more and government employees spend less on health insurance premium payments. Factors such as education, marital status, region of residence, age, family size and educational attainment are significant determinants of the amount spent on health insurance. In addition, the likelihood of participation in Preferred Provider Option (PPO) health plans is lower for government employees and for self-employed individuals than for private sector employees.
Arabidopsis RTM2 gene is necessary for specific restriction of tobacco etch virus and encodes an unusual small heat shock-like protein.

Arabidopsis plants have a system to specifically restrict the long-distance movement of tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) without involving either hypersensitive cell death or systemic acquired resistance. At least two dominant genes, RTM1 and RTM2 , are necessary for this restriction. Through a series of coinfection experiments with heterologous viruses, the RTM1/RTM2‐ mediated restriction was shown to be highly specific for TEV. The RTM2 gene was isolated by a mapbased cloning strategy. Isolation of RTM2 was confirmed by transgenic complementation and sequence analysis of wild-type and mutant alleles. The RTM2 gene product is a multidomain protein containing an N-terminal region with high similarity to plant small heat shock proteins (HSPs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the RTM2 small HSP‐like domain is evolutionarily distinct from each of the five known classes of plant small HSPs. Unlike most other plant genes encoding small HSPs, expression of the RTM2 gene was not induced by high temperature and did not contribute to thermotolerance of seedlings. The RTM2 gene product was also shown to contain a large C-terminal region with multiple repeating sequences.
Performance of nonlinear speech enhancement using phase space reconstruction

The paper presents the implementation of two nonlinear noise reduction methods applied to speech enhancement. The methods are based on embedding the noisy signal in a high-dimensional reconstructed phase space and applying singular value decomposition to project the signal into a lower dimension. The advantages of these nonlinear methods include that they do not require explicit models of noise spectra and do not have the typical "musical tone" side effects associated with traditional linear speech enhancement methods. The proposed nonlinear methods are compared with traditional speech enhancement techniques, including spectral subtraction, Wiener filtering, and Ephraim-Malah filtering, on example speech utterances with additive white noise for a variety of SNR levels. The results show that the local nonlinear noise reduction method outperforms Wiener filtering and spectral subtraction, but not Ephraim-Malah filtering, as had been suggested by previous studies.
Frequent value locality and value-centric data cache design

By studying the behavior of programs in the SPECint95 suite we observed that six out of eight programs exhibit a new kind of value locality, the frequent value locality, according to which a few values appear very frequently in memory locations and are therefore involved in a large fraction of memory accesses. In these six programs ten distinct values occupy over 50% of all memory locations and on an average account for nearly 50% of all memory accesses during program execution. This observation holds for smaller blocks of consecutive memory locations and the set of frequent values remains quite stable over the execution of the program.In the six benchmarks with frequent value locality, on an average 50% of all cache misses occur during the reading or writing of the ten most frequently accessed values. We propose a new data cache structure, the frequent value cache (FVC), which employs a value-centric approach to caching data locations for exploiting the frequent value locality phenomenon. FVC is a small direct-mapped cache which is dedicated to holding only frequently occurring values. The value-centric nature of FVC enables us to store data in a compressed form where the compression is achieved by encoding the frequent values using a few bits. Moreover this simple compression scheme preserves the random access to data values in a cache line.Our experiments demonstrate that by augmenting a direct mapped cache (DMC) with a direct mapped FVC of size no more than 3 Kbytes we can obtain reductions in miss rates ranging from 1% to 68%. In fact we observed that higher reductions in miss rates can he achieved by augmenting a DMC with a small FVC as opposed to doubling the size of DMC for the 124.m88ksim and 134.perl benchmarks.
Aprotinin and pediatric heart surgery: children are not small adults

Voluntary withdrawal of the drug aprotinin from the US market in 2008 has increased the risk of bleeding in babies and young children after reconstructive cardiac surgery. The data on which the Bayer Corporation and FDA based their decision to withdraw the drug were obtained entirely from adults who are at risk of a different profile of complications following cardiac surgery than children. Furthermore, serious questions have been raised regarding the initial widely publicized article which questioned the safety of aprotinin. Some believe that the article was a misapplication of the new statistical method of propensity scoring. The fact that the principal author has not allowed free access to the raw data has raised further questions. Aprotinin is no longer under patent protection and could be evaluated under the pediatric exclusivity provision. It presents an excellent opportunity for alternative suppliers to undertake a clinical trial in a pediatric population of heart surgery patients.
Prevention and Treatment of Liver Fibrosis Based on Pathogenesis

Multiple agents have been proposed for the prevention and treatment of fibrosis. S-adenosylmethionine was reported to oppose CCl 4 -induced fibrosis in the rat, to attenuate the consequences of the ethanol-induced oxidative stress, and to decrease mortality in cirrhotics. Anti-inflammatory medications and agents that interfere with collagen synthesis, such as inhibitors of prolyl-4-hydroxylase and antioxidants, are also being tested. In nonhuman primates, polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC), extracted from soybeans, protected against alcohol-induced fibrosis and cirrhosis and prevented the associated hepatic phosphatidylcholine (PC) depletion by increasing 18:2 containing PC species; it also attenuated the transformation of stellate cells into collagen-producing transitional cells. Furthermore, it increased collagen breakdown, as shown in cultured stellate cells enriched with PPC or pure dilinoleoyl PC, the main PC species present in the extract. Because PPC and dilinoleoyl PC promote the breakdown of collagen, there is reasonable hope that this treatment may be useful for the management of fibrosis of alcoholic, as well as nonalcoholic, etiologies and that it may affect not only the progression of the disease, but may also reverse pre-existing fibrosis, as demonstrated for CCl 4 -induced cirrhosis in the rat and as presently tested in an ongoing clinical trial.
Evaluating the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Making Room for Families

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) in 2010 as the domestic response to an illness that currently impacts over 1 million Americans. The pol...
Somatic panic-attack equivalents in a community sample of Rwandan widows who survived the 1994 genocide

The present study is the first to attempt to determine rates of panic attacks, especially ‘somatically focused’ panic attacks, panic disorder, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression levels in a population of Rwandans traumatized by the 1994 genocide. The following measures were utilized: the Rwandan Panic-Disorder Survey (RPDS); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ); and the PTSD Checklist (PCL). Forty of 100 Rwandan widows suffered somatically focused panic attacks during the previous 4 weeks. Thirty-five (87%) of those having panic attacks suffered panic disorder, making the rate of panic disorder for the entire sample 35%. Rwandan widows with panic attacks had greater psychopathology on all measures. Somatically focused panic-attack subtypes seem to constitute a key response to trauma in the Rwandan population. Future studies of traumatized non-Western populations should carefully assess not only somatoform disorder but also somatically focused panic attacks.
Mechanical grafting and morphology characterization in immiscible polymer blends

Blends of PS/HDPE and PS/PP were investigated for synergism in flexural modulus with varying composition. The evolution of blend morphology was studied and related to the improvement in flexural modulus around the co-continuous composition. DSC studies were conducted to study crystallinity variations in the semi-crystalline component of the blend. We found that co-continuous morphologies help in developing strong mechanical bonds between the components. Crystallization is inhibited in the co-continuous region and is related to the spatial constraints during the solidification process.
The view from everywhere: disciplining diversity in post-World War II international social science.

This paper explores the attempt of social scientists associated with Unesco to create a system of knowledge production to provide the international perspective necessary for democratic governance of a world community. Social scientists constructed a federal system of international associations that institutionalized American disciplines on an international scale. An international perspective emerged through the process of interdisciplinary international research. I call this ideal of coordinating multiple subjectivities to produce objectivity the “view from everywhere.” Influenced by social psychological “action-research,” collaborative research was group therapy. The attempt to operationalize internationalists’ rallying slogan, “unity in diversity,” illuminated tensions inherent in the mobilization of science for social and political reform. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative study of motion control methods: a case study for a nonlinear system

In the context of controlling an inverted pendulum, the novel ideas presented in this paper relate to i) the design of a fuzzy logic controller; ii) the design of a neural-network controller; and iii) implementation of a nonlinear controller based on differential- geometric notions. These novel ideas are presented in a comparative setting where five different control schemes are compared: a proportional and derivative controller, a linear quadratic controller, a nonlinear controller, a neural network controller, and a fuzzy logic controller. The paper shows how the controllable portion of the four dimensional space of control variables changes with the different control schemes. This is done by defining an "effectiveness coefficient" that is the ratio of the portion of the size of the controllable region to the size of the overall space as spanned by the position variables. The overall conclusion may be summarized by the following values of the effectiveness coefficient for the five different control schemes:
Methods for studying human organogenesis

This review details methods for utilizing D & C suction abortus specimens as a source of human fetal organs to study the morphogenetic and molecular mechanisms of human fetal organ development. By this means it is possible to design experiments elucidating the molecular mechanisms of human fetal organ development and to compare and contrast human developmental mechanisms with that of laboratory animals. Finally human fetal organs can be grown in vivo as grafts to athymic mice, thus allowing ethical analysis of potential adverse effects of environmental toxicants.
DINING ON DISEASE: HOW INTERACTIONS BETWEEN INFECTION AND ENVIRONMENT AFFECT PREDATION RISK

Despite growing interest in ecological interactions between predators and pathogens, few studies have experimentally examined the consequences of infection for host predation risk or how environmental conditions affect this relationship. Here we combined mesocosm experiments, in situ foraging data, and broad-scale lake surveys to evaluate (1) the effects of chytrid infection (Polycaryum laeve) on susceptibility of Daphnia to fish predators and (2) how environmental characteristics moderate the strength of this interaction. In mesocosms, bluegill preferred infected Daphnia 2-5 times over uninfected individuals. Among infected Daphnia, infection intensity was a positive predictor of predation risk, whereas carapace size and fecundity increased predation on uninfected individuals. Wild-caught yellow perch and bluegill from in situ foraging trials exhibited strong selectivity for infected Daphnia (3-10 times over uninfected individuals). In mesocosms containing water high in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), however, selective predation on infected Daphnia was eliminated. Correspondingly, lakes that supported chytrid infections had higher DOC levels and lower light penetration. Our results emphasize the strength of interactions between parasitism and predation while highlighting the moderating influence of water color. P. laeve increases the conspicuousness and predation risk of Daphnia; as a result, infected Daphnia occur predominantly in environments with characteristics that conceal their elevated visibility.
Education as a Colonizing Effort

Many would like to believe that racism, homophobism, classism, ableism and other “isms” are a thing of the past, and that events such as I have described are isolated incidents of hatred and prejudice that can be overcome by good will. However, the long history of exclusionary practices in higher education institutions founded upon these “isms” has become embedded in the structures of our educational system, as it is in institutions across society.1
Origin of antibody-dependent, lymphoid-cell-independent hemolytic plaques in rabbit spleen cell cultures.

SummaryThis report describes a phenomenon that may be a significant source of error in the data acquired from hemolytic plaque assays of lymphocyte cultures. The data show that background antibody in the normal-serum supplement of the culture medium does not actually support initiation of a vigorous primary-type plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep erythrocytes (SE). Instead, the background antibody causes the development of numerous spurious lymphoid-cell-independent plaques (LCIP). In general agreement with the literature, primary-type rabbit spleen cell responses in vitro were low in culture media supplemented with fetal bovine serum, a serum which does not contain background antibodies to SE.We thank Drs. P. Leder, M. Cashel, and S. G. Bradley for criticizing the manuscript and Ms. Catherine Kunkle for typing it.
EEG Patterns in Angelman Syndrome

The sensitivity of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the diagnosis of Angelman syndrome (AS) was studied in 26 patients (3/1 : F/M ratio) at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
Kinetics of calcium transport across the lymphocyte plasma membrane

We have investigated plasma membrane Ca2+ transport by monitoring the fluorescence of human peripheral T-lymphocytes loaded with fura 2. Thapsigargin (TG) was utilized the block the Ca(2+)-ATPase o...
18F-FDG positron emission tomography CT (FDG PET-CT) in the management of pancreatic cancer: initial experience in 12 patients.

Introduction. Staging and restaging of pancreatic malignancy can be demanding. Often, there are liver lesions seen on diagnostic CT suspicious for secondary deposits. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT may have a great potential in confirming or ruling out actual malignancy in those areas. Methods We prospectively studied 12 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients, who had undergone PET-CT imaging as part of their staging or restaging process. Imaging was performed after intravenous administration of 10 mCi F-18 FDG. Results were compared with CT, histopathological findings and/or clinical follow up.Results. PET-CT correctly identified 11 lesions and ruled the absence of disease in 4 out of 4 patients (PPV 92%, NPV of 100%, and accuracy 94%), compared to CT which had (PPV 79%, NPV 50% and accuracy 75%). CT identified 4 metastatic liver lesions in 12 patients of which 3 were actually benign processes. Conclusion. FDG-PET detects pancreatic malignancy and metastatic disease with higher accuracy than conventional CT. The ability of PET-CT to rule out or correctly identify metastases greatly enhances the physician's decision-making process to choose the right therapeutic intervention.
SSTAR, a Stand-Alone Easy-To-Use Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Predictor

We present the easy-to-use Sequence Search Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance, SSTAR. It combines a locally executed BLASTN search against a customizable database with an intuitive graphical user interface for identifying antimicrobial resistance (AR) genes from genomic data. Although the database is initially populated from a public repository of acquired resistance determinants (i.e., ARG-ANNOT), it can be customized for particular pathogen groups and resistance mechanisms. For instance, outer membrane porin sequences associated with carbapenem resistance phenotypes can be added, and known intrinsic mechanisms can be included. Unique about this tool is the ability to easily detect putative new alleles and truncated versions of existing AR genes. Variants and potential new alleles are brought to the attention of the user for further investigation. For instance, SSTAR is able to identify modified or truncated versions of porins, which may be of great importance in carbapenemase-negative carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. SSTAR is written in Java and is therefore platform independent and compatible with both Windows and Unix operating systems. SSTAR and its manual, which includes a simple installation guide, are freely available from https://github.com/tomdeman-bio/Sequence-Search-Tool-for-Antimicrobial-Resistance-SSTAR-. IMPORTANCE Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is quickly becoming a routine method for identifying genes associated with antimicrobial resistance (AR). However, for many microbiologists, the use and analysis of WGS data present a substantial challenge. We developed SSTAR, software with a graphical user interface that enables the identification of known AR genes from WGS and has the unique capacity to easily detect new variants of known AR genes, including truncated protein variants. Current software solutions do not notify the user when genes are truncated and, therefore, likely nonfunctional, which makes phenotype predictions less accurate. SSTAR users can apply any AR database of interest as a reference comparator and can manually add genes that impact resistance, even if such genes are not resistance determinants per se (e.g., porins and efflux pumps).
Neurosurgical approaches to cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea

The evolutionary concepts of pinpointing and treating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas over the past few decades are reviewed taking into consideration the dynamic character of CSF circulation. The localization of the site of leakage is greatly facilitated by the judicious use of a variety of radioisotope and radiological techniques. The most recent are Metrizamide CT Cisternography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is asserted that still the most challenging cases are those with intermittent liquorrheas, and those patients in which the site of the fistula is not easily defined. The authors will describe their personal experience with intracranial surgical repair of fistulas located in the anterior fossa.
Structure of Immunoglobulins

This chapter presents the structure and characteristics of immunoglobulins. The ability to synthesize antibodies or immunoglobulins in response to antigenic stimulation is the most unique feature of vertebrate immunity. Immunoglobulins of mammals can be divided into five major classes, usually called IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE; these differ both physicochemically and immunologically. Enormous advances have been made recently in furthering the understanding of the chemical structure of immunoglobulins. Immunologists agree on an international nomenclature that distinguishes five different classes of immunoglobulins. There are now readily available methods for fragmenting the immunoglobulin molecule by chemical cleavage and by pepsin digestion. The evolution of immunoglobulin structure is greatly aided by understanding immunoglobulins of vertebrates other than mammals. There is still much to learn about the biological properties of certain immunoglobulins. The specificity that distinguishes the antigen-antibody interaction awaits a more detailed description after analysis of the finite structure of the antibody-combining site.
PaaS dependability integration architecture based on cloud brokering

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way IT is provisioned nowadays since it exposes computing capabilities as rental resources to consumers. The emergence of cloud computing services hasn't though prevented outages in these environments even among high profile ranked cloud providers. Tremendous efforts concentrated on fault management measures have been applied for these environments. But they have been focused mainly on the IaaS service model and have been operated on the cloud provider side alone. In this context, this paper proposes an architecture for cloud brokering that implements dependability properties in an end to end way involving different cloud actors and all over the cloud service models SaaS, PaaS and IaaS.
Comment letter activity: A response to proposed changes in lease accounting

Abstract This study examines the motivations that lead some firms to lobby, via comment letters, against the changes in accounting for leases proposed by FASB/IASB. There are at least three distinct motivations for a company to lobby against the proposed changes: a high perceived cost of implementation/operation, a belief that the changes will increase the cost of capital, and a desire on the part of management to avoid any administrative burden associated with the changes. Our research suggests that companies that engage in lobbying are concerned with the costs of such changes (renegotiation of debt covenants, auditor fees, change in IT systems, etc.), but they also seem to be motivated by their accounting manager's desire to avoid any additional effort that the changes will require.
Design of BST-on-Si composite FBARs for switchable BAW filter application

This paper presents optimal design of switchable BST-on-Si composite film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) for bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter applications. To design BAW filters with lower insertion losses and wider bandwidth, resonators' Q×K,2 is maximized. Furthermore, lateral wave spurious resonances that can significantly degrade the composite FBARs performance, are eliminated by designing a frame at the border of ferroelectric-on-Si FBARs. Using COMSOL simulations, a raised frame is designed at the border of BST-on-Si composite FBAR, which is dispersion type I resonator. Designed structure has been validated by fabrication and measurement and it is compared to typical composite FBAR structures without frame.
Toward an Integrated Model of Student Learning in the College Classroom

In the last special issue devoted to this topic, Pintrich (Educ Psychol Rev 16:385–407, 2004) provided an in-depth critique of his conceptual framework on self-regulated learning (SRL), comparing and contrasting it to Biggs’ student approaches to learning (SAL) perspective. Since then, there have been a number of advances in the study of learning in higher education. To that end, the purpose of this article is to provide a critical analysis of three distinct yet overlapping streams of research in higher education, namely SRL, patterns of learning (including SAL), and student engagement. The theoretical bases of each of these approaches are outlined followed by a review of recent trends. Finally, an integrative model of student learning is proposed, which draws on the strengths of each of these traditions.
Genetics and Diabetes

Abstract Type 2 diabetes has become a major public health challenge worldwide. It is now widely accepted that genetic components affect the development of type 2 diabetes, in concert with environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet. Traditional linkage mapping, positional cloning, and candidate gene association studies have identified a few genetic variants; and genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have led to identification of more than 90 genome-wide significant susceptibility loci since 2007. Genetic variants affecting glucose homeostasis (such as fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, HbA1c) showed modest overlap with type 2 diabetes loci. Most of the GWAS-identified genes are not previously considered to play roles in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies investigate causal variants and biological mechanisms responsible for the disease, and also explore potential interactions with environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle.
Audit Reviewers' Judgments in Multiple Client Audit Environments

ABSTRACT: This study replicates Bhattacharjee, Maletta, and Moreno (2007), who find that audit preparers are susceptible to contrast effects in a multi-client environment. We demonstrate that auditors in the role of reviewers are also susceptible to contrast effects from a prior client. Audit reviewers' assessments of internal audit quality of a current client were significantly affected by the quality of the internal audit group of a client they previously reviewed. Specifically, when auditors first reviewed a client with a weak internal audit group they assessed the subsequent moderate internal audit group as being of higher quality than when they first reviewed a prior client with a strong internal audit group or did not review a prior client. Reviewers' documentation of evidence was also influenced by comparative information from the prior client. These results corroborate the key findings of Bhattacharjee et al. (2007) and confirm audit reviewers' susceptibility to contrast effects.
System-level cost evaluation for economic viability of cellulosic biofuel manufacturing

Biofuel is a clean and renewable energy source and is considered a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The economic viability is crucial in promoting large-scale adoption and long-term sustainability of biofuel. Most of the current literature on biofuel economics assumes the individual biofuel manufacturing processes are independent of each other. Consequently, the interrelationships between parameters within and across processes regarding manufacturing cost and biofuel yield are not well investigated. In this paper, a system-level cost model for cellulosic biofuel manufacturing is established across multiple production processes to investigate the relationships between the individual process characteristics and the system performance to reduce the overall cost under the constraint of biofuel yield. Two numerical case studies are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. Compared with the baseline case, the cost-effective case shows that 12.8% of the total cost is reduced without ethanol yield loss.
84 – Audiovisual Communications as a Research Skill

Oral communication is a vital component of research, and its principles must be learned and practiced by the academic surgeon at a high level of sophistication. When the opportunity to speak before colleagues and peers arises, one should take full advantage of the occasion and treat it as a privilege to share what has been learned. Generally, there is only a short time to convey a message in a way that an audience will understand and incorporate into their fund of knowledge. It is the artful and thoughtful integration of the spoken word and visual images that has the greatest impact. When preparing an oral presentation, one should follow the same approach as in writing an abstract: introduction, methods, results, conclusions. One should list no more than a few key points at the outset and organize everything around these key points. Most often, the focus should be on the hypothesis being tested and how the results and conclusions are derived from that hypothesis.
Debilidad fláccida de las extremidades en la infancia

L a mayoria de los ninos con debilidad aguda o cronica de los miembros sufren un trastorno de la unidad motora. La paralisis flaccida de las piernas puede constituir la manifestacion inicial de trastornos de la region lumbosacra, pero suelen existir otros sintomas de disfuncion de la medula espinal. Consulte tambien la tabla 12-1 al planear el diagnostico diferencial de la debilidad flaccida de las piernas sin afectacion de los brazos. Los trastornos cerebrales pueden causar paralisis flaccida, pero tambien suelen existir demencia (vease capitulo 5 ) o convulsiones (vease capitulo 1 ).
International Perspectives on Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba

Since the economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba has restructured their agriculture with a greater focus on domestic production of domestically consumed produce, and a dramatic reduction of petroleum products in all aspects of food production. This overhaul has included the broad application of what is termed agroecology – agricultural practices which focus on principles of biodiversity and sustainability – and inter-farm cooperation facilitated by the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) and Campesino a Campesino. Academics and journalists from within and abroad have critically examined aspects of the novel reforms developed in the country in starkly contrasting terms, as either an impressive example of sustainability in farming meeting human needs, or as an inefficient, bureaucratically bloated attempt to cope with an enduring food crisis in the country. This author speculates that both perspectives have political agendas unrelated to the observable successes or failures of food production in Cuba. The challenge is in finding the common ground between these poles of argument to clarify how Cuba’s agricultural system has shown remarkable success in recovery from crisis, and in modeling sustainable agriculture; and how it is impeded from further success by circumstances such as governmental bureaucracy, social prejudice, and insufficient profit for farmers with which to motivate ingenuity. While both perspectives can provide insight into food production in Cuba, the context of the broader political
Perceptions and Culturally Responsive Care of Asian Americans with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Approximately 5.4 million Americans have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, with 1% being Asian American (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011). Gerontologists increasingly recognize the important influence that ethnic background has on a person’s perception of dementia, caregiving experience, and use of formal assistance. There is wide variation among the ethnic subgroups of the Asian American population as far as the amount of available information on the risk of dementia and effective interventions. The chapter discusses the available research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias within some of the largest and most distinctive Asian American subpopulations including: Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Vietnamese Americans, and Hmong Americans. Available demographic characteristics, data on the prevalence of dementia, perceptions of dementia and other cultural issues affecting dementia care, assessment, and family caregiving is presented. The chapter concludes with a discussion of community resources and future research needs.
Microbial modulation of the gut microbiome for treating autoimmune diseases

Introduction: Many studies have shown the relationship between autoimmune diseases and the gut microbiome in humans: those with autoimmune conditions display gut microbiome dysbiosis. The big quest...
Towards a scenario-based approach to participatory design

ABSTRACT: Scenario-based community design enables designers and community members to work together to address uncertainty in future community growth and develop a range of alternative design solutions to envision and plan for possible future conditions. This essay traces the history of scenario-based design practice and attempts to understand its application to community design from a socio-technical perspective, which sees community design as both spatial inquiry and communicative action. The essay discusses the three fundamental components that enable the implementation of scenario-based design. These three components can be best understood from the three common perspectives of design: 1) evaluation: design as an iterative feedback loop; 2) visualization: design as spatial thinking; 3) collaboration: design as a participatory process. This essay then discusses two projects and demonstrates the key steps to implement these scenario analysis methods, including visioning, compiling data, and conducting community design workshops. KEYWORDS: scenario planning, participatory design, citizen participation, community design, geographic information system
Inhibition of esophageal cancer growth through the suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Background The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is implicated in several cancers. AKT allosteric inhibitor MK2206 and dual PI3K and mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 are promising drug candidates with potential anti-tumor effects. Purpose In this study, we aimed to detect the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and assess the efficacy of MK2206 and BEZ235 in inhibiting esophageal cancer growth. Materials and methods We used three different systems including carcinogen-induced animal model, human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines, and xenograft mouse model. Results Our data indicated that components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were overexpressed and activated in esophageal SCC. MK2206 and BEZ235 inhibited cell proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and induced cell-cycle arrest through downstream effectors SKP2, MCL-1, and cyclin D1 in esophageal SCC cells. MK2206 and BEZ235 also inhibited tumor growth in xenograft mice through the inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. MK2206/BEZ235 combination showed greater anti-tumor effect than MK2206 or BEZ235 alone. The enhanced efficacy of the combination was associated with the inhibition of phosphorylation ATK on both Thr308 and Ser473. Conclusion The combination of MK2206 and BEZ235 exhibits potent antitumor effects and may have important clinical applications for esophageal SCC treatment.