cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Pandemrix and Arepanrix, two pH1N1 AS03-adjuvanted vaccines differentially associated with narcolepsy development

Narcolepsy onset in children has been associated with the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic and vaccination with Pandemrix. However it was not clearly observed with other adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccines such as Arepanrix or Focetria. Our aim was to characterize the differences between Pandemrix and Arepanrix that might explain the risk for narcolepsy after Pandemrix vaccination using 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry (MS). We found that Pandemrix (2009 batch) and Arepanrix (2010 batch) showed 5 main viral proteins: hemagglutinin HA1 and HA2 subunits, neuraminidase NA, nucleoprotein NP, and matrix protein MA1 and non-viral proteins from the Gallus gallus growth matrix used in the manufacturing of the vaccines. Latticed patterns of HA1, HA2 and NA indicated charge and molecular weight heterogeneity, a phenomenon likely caused by glycosylation and sulfation. Overall, Pandemrix contained more NP and NA, while Arepanrix displayed a larger diversity of viral and chicken proteins, with the exception of five chicken proteins (PDCD6IP, TSPAN8, H-FABP, HSP and TUB proteins) that were relatively more abundant in Pandemrix. Glycosylation patterns were similar in both vaccines. A higher degree of deamidation and dioxidation was found in Pandemrix, probably reflecting differential degradation across batches. Interestingly, HA1 146N (residue 129N in the mature protein) displayed a 10-fold higher deamidation in Arepanrix versus Pandemrix. In recent vaccine strains and Focetria, 146N is mutated to D which is associated with increased production yields suggesting that 146N deamidation may have also occurred during the manufacturing of Arepanrix. The presence of 146N in large relative amounts in Pandemrix and the wild type virus and in lower relative quantities in Arepanrix or other H1N1 vaccines may have affected predisposition to narcolepsy.
Towards incremental learning of nonstationary imbalanced data stream: a multiple selectively recursive approach

Difficulties of learning from nonstationary data stream are generally twofold. First, dynamically structured learning framework is required to catch up with the evolution of unstable class concepts, i.e., concept drifts. Second, imbalanced class distribution over data stream demands a mechanism to intensify the underrepresented class concepts for improved overall performance. To alleviate the challenges brought by these issues, we propose the recursive ensemble approach (REA) in this paper. To battle against the imbalanced learning problem in training data chunk received at any timestamp t, i.e., $${{\mathcal{S}}_t,}$$ REA adaptively pushes into $${{\mathcal{S}}_t}$$ part of minority class examples received within [0, t − 1] to balance its skewed class distribution. Hypotheses are then progressively developed over time for all balanced training data chunks and combined together as an ensemble classifier in a dynamically weighted manner, which therefore addresses the concept drifts issue in time. Theoretical analysis proves that REA can provide less erroneous prediction results than a comparative algorithm. Besides that, empirical study on both synthetic benchmarks and real-world data set is also applied to validate effectiveness of REA as compared with other algorithms in terms of evaluation metrics consisting of overall prediction accuracy and ROC curve.
Vertical Fiber Coupling For High-Density Optical Interconnection

A GaAs/AIGaAs fiber-optic interconnect structure for high-density applications is discussed. The vertical approach, which employs reactive-ion-etched cavities to couple fibers to the semiconductor substrate, permits interconnect arrays with densities up to 1600 sites/cm2. Factors affecting the applicability of the fiber coupler and the achievable packing density are considered.
Thermodynamics of zinc binding to rhodanese.

Abstract The binding of zinc ion (Zn2+) to rhodanese at two pH values was studied by microcalorimetry and the free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes determined. Binding exhibited rather large endothermic enthalpy changes quite similar to those observed for zinc-model compound interactions. The large positive entropy changes which accompany binding appear to be a feature common to Zn2+-apocarbonic anhydrase systems as well. The correlations between Zn2+ interaction with model compounds resembling protein side chains and the thermodynamic values obtained for Zn2+-protein interactions suggest that endothermic enthalpies of binding should commonly be observed under slightly acidic to basic conditions. It is found that commercial rhodanese binds Zn2+ with moderate to weak affinity by a process that is entropy driven much like that of other Zn2+-protein interactions.
G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 1, G-Protein Gα-Subunit 1, and Prephenate Dehydratase 1 Are Required for Blue Light-Induced Production of Phenylalanine in Etiolated Arabidopsis

Different classes of plant hormones and different wavelengths of light act through specific signal transduction mechanisms to coordinate higher plant development. A specific prephenate dehydratase protein (PD1) was discovered to have a strong interaction with the sole canonical G-protein Gα-subunit (GPA1) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). PD1 is a protein located in the cytosol, present in etiolated seedlings, with a specific role in blue light-mediated synthesis of phenylpyruvate and subsequently of phenylalanine (Phe). Insertion mutagenesis confirms that GPA1 and the sole canonical G-protein-coupled receptor (GCR1) in Arabidopsis also have a role in this blue light-mediated event. In vitro analyses indicate that the increase in PD1 activity is the direct and specific consequence of its interaction with activated GPA1. Because of their shared role in the light-mediated synthesis of phenylpyruvate and Phe, because they are iteratively interactive, and because activated GPA1 is directly responsible for the activation of PD1; GCR1, GPA1, and PD1 form all of or part of a signal transduction mechanism responsible for the light-mediated synthesis of phenylpyruvate, Phe, and those metabolites that derive from that Phe. Data are also presented to confirm that abscisic acid can act through the same pathway. An additional outcome of the work is the confirmation that phenylpyruvate acts as the intermediate in the synthesis of Phe in etiolated plants, as it commonly does in bacteria and fungi.
Surface emittance, temperature, and thermal inertia derived from Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) data for Death Valley, California

The NASA airborne Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) was flown over Death Valley, California, on both a daytime flight and a nighttime flight within a two‐day period in July 1983. This Daedulus scanner has six channels in the thermal infrared, between 8 and 12 μm. Calibrated digital spectral radiance data from these flights, along with Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) reflectance data, permit the calculation of both spectral emittance and thermal inertia. Spectral emittance images were derived for the test area for data sets from both the day and night tests, and they show good qualitative agreement. Comparison of the numerical values of emittance derived from these day and night images shows a decrease in spectral contrast at night. This is probably due primarily to an increased atmospheric contribution to the radiance reaching the sensor at night when the ground is cold, rather than to a change in spectral characteristics of the surface at night. These spectral emittance data contribute to an und...
The Effect of Gas-Cell Diameter on Dielectric Strength Determination

The electric breakdown of air and nitrogen was determined in test cell diameters of 2, 4, and 6 inches using electrode systems of a one-inch-diameter brass sphere to 1 4-inch-diameter square-edged brass plane and also using a sharp-pointed tungsten electrode to the same size brass plane. Also, these electrode systems were used in free ambient air with no enclosing cell. The electrode spacings used were from 100 to 2000 mils. Field plots of electric flux and equipotential lines were also made using conducting paper and copper-foil electrodes for these cell diameters and electrode systems.
High-gain observer design for domination of nonlinear perturbations: Transformation to a canonical form by dynamic output shaping

We consider the problem of observer design for a class of systems described by an observable linear system perturbed by nonlinear, time-varying terms. In particular, we investigate conditions under which the effect of the nonlinear terms may be dominated by using sufficiently high gain. Our main tool is the transformation of the original system to a canonical form suitable for high-gain design, which is similar to canonical forms used elsewhere in the high-gain literature. We demonstrate that linear, nonsingular transformations to this canonical form can easily be constructed using available tools, but that many systems do not allow for such a transformation. Our main contribution is a constructive algorithm that aims to rectify this problem by dynamically shaping the output through the addition of stable output filters.
Fluctuating temperatures and ectotherm growth: distinguishing non-linear and time-dependent effects

ABSTRACT Most terrestrial ectotherms experience diurnal and seasonal variation in temperature. Because thermal performance curves are non-linear, mean performance can differ in fluctuating and constant thermal environments. However, time-dependent effects – effects of the order and duration of exposure to temperature – can also influence mean performance. We quantified the non-linear and time-dependent effects of diurnally fluctuating temperatures for larval growth rates in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L., with four main results. First, the shape of the thermal performance curve for growth rate depended on the duration of exposure: for example, optimal temperature and thermal breadth were greater for growth rates measured over short (24 h during the last instar) compared with long (the entire period of larval growth) time periods. Second, larvae reared in diurnally fluctuating temperatures had significantly higher optimal temperatures and maximal growth rates than larvae reared in constant temperatures. Third, for larvae maintained at three mean temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) and three diurnal temperature ranges (±0, ±5 and ±10°C), diurnal fluctuations had opposite effects on mean growth rates at low versus high mean temperature. Fourth, both short- and long-term thermal performance curves yielded poor predictions of the non-linear effects of fluctuating temperature on mean growth rates (compared with our experimental results) at higher mean temperatures. Our results suggest caution in using constant temperature studies to model the consequences of variable thermal environments.
The effects of atorvastatin in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Aim: To investigate the effect of atorvastatin (Lipitor), a commonly used drug for dyslipidaemia in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Methods: 48 B10-RIII mice were immunised with human interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) peptide p161–180. They were divided into three groups of 16 each and treated orally once daily for 14 days; group one received phosphate buffered saline (control group), group two received 1 mg/kg of atorvastatin (low dose group), and group three received 10 mg/kg (high dose). On day 14 lymph nodes, spleens, and right eyes were harvested. RNA was extracted from lymph nodes for RNase protection assay (RPA) to determine proinflammatory (IL-1α and IL-1β), Th1 (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-12), and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) cytokine levels. Protein was extracted from spleens for western blot to detect the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 and STAT6. The severity of inflammation in enucleated eyes was graded by a masked observer. Paired t test was performed for the mean difference in histological scoring between treated groups and the immunised control group. Results: Surprisingly, atorvastatin did not modulate the immune response. The proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1α and IL-1β, and Th1 cytokines, TNF-α and IL-2, were upregulated equally in control and atorvastatin treated groups. IL-12 and Th2 cytokines were not upregulated in all three groups. Western blot analysis showed high levels of phosphorylated STAT4, but not STAT6 protein in the control and atorvastatin treated groups. Mean differences in histological scoring between treated groups and the immunised control group were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Atorvastatin treatment had no effect on Th1 and Th2 cytokine transcription. Although histological grading suggested mildly decreased inflammation in the high dose treated group, the equivalence of cytokine expression in all groups suggests that the statins may not modulate IRBP induced uveoretinitis.
The New Definition of Myocardial Infarction: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background The clinical implications of the recently revised criteria for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes are unknown. Methods To evaluate the prognostic implications of the new diagnostic criteria for AMI, we studied 493 consecutive patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes admitted to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, between May 1, 1999, and January 1, 2000. Patients with positive cardiac enzymes and symptoms suggestive of coronary ischemia (n = 275) were divided into 2 groups: group A, with elevated peak creatine kinase–MB fraction and/or new electrocardiographic changes suggestive of AMI regardless of troponin status (diagnosed as AMI by old criteria), and group B, with normal peak creatine kinase–MB fraction but elevated troponin I level (additional patients diagnosed as having AMI by new criteria). Results As compared with group A (n = 224), patients in group B (n = 51) were older women, with increased comorbidities such as previous stroke or aortic stenosis, and had fewer in-hospital procedures. In-hospital adverse events (reinfarction, heart failure, shock, and mortality) were similar between the groups, whereas 6-month mortality was higher among group B patients (16.3% vs 5.8%; P = .03). This difference was not statistically significant after adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics between the groups (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-5.9). Conclusions The new criteria result in a substantial increase in the diagnosis of AMI. Furthermore, they help to identify patients with acute coronary syndromes who have greater comorbidities and worse 6-month outcomes who are otherwise missed by the old criteria. Additional studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to determine the financial implications of the new criteria.
The role of DNA double strand breaks in lonizing radiation‐induced killing of eukaryotic cells

A widely accepted assumption in radiobiology is that ionizing radiation kills cells by inducing forms of damage in DNA structures that lead to the formation of lethal chromosome aberrations. One goal of radiation biology research is the identification of these forms of DNA damage, the characterization of the mechanisms involved in their repair and the elucidation of the processes involved in their transformation to chromosome damage, In recent years, evidence has accumulated implicating DNA double stranded breaks as lesions relevant for cell killing. Here, the available information on this topic is reviewed together with the methods most commonly used to quantitate induction and repair of this type of lesion. The presentation concludes with an outline of present research directions and future goals.
The geometric structure of Rb/Cu(111)investigated with X-ray standing waves: Rb coverage dependence

Abstract We have carried out a back reflection X-ray standing wave (BRXSW) investigation of the geometric structure and degree of ordering of the system Rb Cu (111) as a function of Rb coverage. We observe no change in the Rb-Cu(111) perpendicular spacing as a function of coverage from saturation coverage of θ = 1 4 down to a coverage of θ = 1 16 . We find a high degree of ordering of the Rb atoms perpendicular to the surface at all coverages, but a very low degree of order parallel to the Cu(111) surface. No differences in our results were detected for measurements at room temperature versus at ∼ 190 K.
The real‐time response survey in new product research: it’s about time

The real‐time response survey can be viewed as a dialectic elaboration of the focus group and the sample survey, incorporating some of the advantages of each and producing a program of research quickly. An evaluation of the methodology shows its predictive utility from: real‐time response purchase intentions to self‐reported actual purchases of common commodities seven days later (r = 0.97); real‐time response purchase intentions to self‐reported actual purchases of new products six months later (r = 0.94); and an index of three real‐time response ratings of a product (purchase intention, price, and extent to which product is new and different) by residents of Cincinnati to national sales data for the following year (r = 0.45). Considers some advantages and disadvantages of the methodology. It can be quite useful in new product development.
Sifting disease-causing signal from genomic noise

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology are transforming our understanding of the genetic basis of rare human diseases. It is now possible to rapidly and cost-effectively interrogate the majority of protein-coding bases in the human genome (known collectively as the exome), finding mutations that would have been difficult if not impossible to discover with the traditional approaches of linkage and candidate gene sequencing. However, unambiguously identifying the disease-causing mutations in a patient's exome remains challenging. Next-generation sequencing, while powerful, still requires careful filtering to remove errors and is underpowered for discovery of larger insertions/deletions (indels) and complex variants; coverage of genes is incomplete due to biases in DNA capture and sequencing; and predicting the likely functional impact of observed variants is still an immature science. Importantly, existing catalogues both of "normal" variation in reference populations and of reported disease-causing mutations are incomplete and biased. Finally, methods for communicating the results of large-scale sequencing to key target audiences - clinicians, patients and researchers from other fields - remain poorly developed. In this presentation I describe recent advances in variant-calling from next-generation sequencing technology, and their application to exome data from over 15,000 individuals from multiple different disease-specific studies. Functional annotation of sequence variants across these large samples illustrates the surprising degree of putatively functional genetic variation even in apparently healthy individuals. However, the existence of a very large and accurately called reference panel of exomes provides a powerful resource for interpreting the probability of disease causation for variants observed in rare disease samples. I also discuss new approaches to analyzing and presenting the results from family-based studies of protein-coding mutations in rare disease patients.
Host marrow stem cell potential and engraftability at varying times after low-dose whole-body irradiation

High levels of chimerism in syngeneic BALB/c transplants were reported when hosts were exposed to 1 Gy (100 cGy) whole body irradiation (WBI) and infused with 40 × 106 marrow cells. The recovery of host stem cells and alterations of enhanced host engraftability at varying times after 1 Gy WBI have now been evaluated in this study. Male BALB/c marrow (40 × 106 cells) was infused into female BALB/c hosts immediately or at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after 1 Gy WBI of host female BALB/c mice; engraftment percentages 8 weeks after cell injection at week 0, 6, 12, or 24 were 68% ± 12%, 45% ± 15%, 51% ± 12%, or 20% ± 8%, respectively. Eight-week engraftment levels in nonirradiated hosts average 7.7%. Conversely, engraftable stem cells measured at 8 weeks postengraftment in 1 Gy– exposed hosts were reduced to 8.6% ± 3% of nonirradiated mice at time 0, 35% ± 12% 6 weeks later, 49% ± 10% at 3 months, and 21% ± 7% at 6 months. Engraftment was still increased and stem cell decreased 1 year after 1 Gy. Furthermore, the primary cells transplanted into 1 Gy hosts can be serially transplanted, and the predominant effect of 1 Gy is directly on engrafting stem cells and not through accessory cells. These data show that transplantation in 1 Gy mice may be delayed until recovery of hematopoiesis, suggesting strategies in allogeneic transplantation to avoid the adverse effects of cytokine storm. The incomplete recovery of engraftable stem cells out to 12 months indicates that stem cell expansion, especially in patients previously treated with radiomimetic drugs, may not be feasible.
Learning to Use Working Memory in Partially Observable Environments through Dopaminergic Reinforcement

Working memory is a central topic of cognitive neuroscience because it is critical for solving real-world problems in which information from multiple temporally distant sources must be combined to generate appropriate behavior. However, an often neglected fact is that learning to use working memory effectively is itself a difficult problem. The Gating framework [1-4] is a collection of psychological models that show how dopamine can train the basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex to form useful working memory representations in certain types of problems. We unite Gating with machine learning theory concerning the general problem of memory-based optimal control [5-6]. We present a normative model that learns, by online temporal difference methods, to use working memory to maximize discounted future reward in partially observable settings. The model successfully solves a benchmark working memory problem, and exhibits limitations similar to those observed in humans. Our purpose is to introduce a concise, normative definition of high level cognitive concepts such as working memory and cognitive control in terms of maximizing discounted future rewards.
Valsartan use in pediatric hypertension.

Hypertension affects up to 5% of school-aged children and is defined by an average systolic or diastolic blood pressure greater than the 95th percentile for age, sex and height. In prepubertal children a secondary cause for hypertension including renal disease, coarctation of the aorta or endocrine disease should be excluded by appropriate evaluation. The incidence and prevalence of essential hypertension in adolescents has increased together with the increase in obesity and now accounts for at least 50% of hypertension in this age group. Many children with primary hypertension and most children with secondary causes for hypertension require drug therapy. There are numerous drug classes that are presently used to treat hypertensive pediatric patients, which include β-blockers, peripheral α-blockers, direct vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and ARBs. This article will review the pharmacology of the ARB valsartan with respect to its efficacy, tolerability and safe use in hype...
Pushing Your Point of View: Behavioral Measures of Manipulation in Wikipedia

As a major source for information on virtually any topic, Wikipedia serves an important role in public dissemination and consumption of knowledge. As a result, it presents tremendous potential for people to promulgate their own points of view; such efforts may be more subtle than typical vandalism. In this paper, we introduce new behavioral metrics to quantify the level of controversy associated with a particular user: a Controversy Score (C-Score) based on the amount of attention the user focuses on controversial pages, and a Clustered Controversy Score (CC-Score) that also takes into account topical clustering. We show that both these measures are useful for identifying people who try to “push” their points of view, by showing that they are good predictors of which editors get blocked. The metrics can be used to triage potential POV pushers. We apply this idea to a dataset of users who requested promotion to administrator status and easily identify some editors who significantly changed their behavior upon becoming administrators. At the same time, such behavior is not rampant. Those who are promoted to administrator status tend to have more stable behavior than comparable groups of prolific editors. This suggests that the Adminship process works well, and that the Wikipedia community is not overwhelmed by users who become administrators to promote their own points of view.
Antibiotic interactions that select against resistance

Multidrug combinations are increasingly important in combating the spread of antibiotic-resistance in bacterial pathogens. On a broader scale, such combinations are also important in understanding microbial ecology and evolution. Although the effects of multidrug combinations on bacterial growth have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about their impact on the differential selection between sensitive and resistant bacterial populations. Normally, the presence of a drug confers an advantage on its resistant mutants in competition with the sensitive wild-type population. Here we show, by using a direct competition assay between doxycycline-resistant and doxycycline-sensitive Escherichia coli, that this differential selection can be inverted in a hyper-antagonistic class of drug combinations. Used in such a combination, a drug can render the combined treatment selective against the drug's own resistance allele. Further, this inversion of selection seems largely insensitive to the underlying resistance mechanism and occurs, at sublethal concentrations, while maintaining inhibition of the wild type. These seemingly paradoxical results can be rationalized in terms of a simple geometric argument. Our findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated feature of the fitness landscape for the evolution of resistance and point to a trade-off between the effect of drug interactions on absolute potency and the relative competitive selection that they impose on emerging resistant populations.
Assessing students’ ability to detect melanomas using standardized patients and moulage

Background Detection of melanoma by physicians via opportunistic surveillance during focused physical examinations may reduce mortality. Medical students may not encounter a clinical case of melanoma during a dermatology clerkship. Objective This study examined the proficiency of fourth-year University of Illinois at Chicago medical students at detecting melanomas. Methods Melanoma moulages were applied to the second digit of the left hand of standardized patients (SPs) participating in a wrist pain scenario during a required clinical skills examination. An observer reviewed videotapes of the examination, written SP checklists, and student notes for evidence that the student noticed the moulage, obtained a history, or provided counseling. Results Among the 190 fourth-year medical students, 56 students were observed noticing the lesion; however, 13 failed to write it in their notes or advise the patient. The detection rate was 22.6% (43 of 190 students). Students who detected the probable melanoma consistently inquired about changes in the lesion and symptoms, but did not examine the rest of the skin or regularly palpate for adenopathy. Limitations Testing one class of students from a single medical school with a time-restricted SP encounter while focusing the students' attention toward a different presenting symptom may hinder exploration of medical issues. Conclusion The low detection rate and failure of students who noticed the moulage to identify the lesion as atypical represents a lost opportunity to provide a patient intervention. Use of SP examinations may help physicians in training build confidence and competence in cutaneous malignancy screening.
Markov chain approximation methods on generalized HJB equation

This work is concerned with numerical methods for a class of stochastic control optimizations and stochastic differential games. Numerical procedures based on Markov chain approximation techniques are developed in a framework of generalized Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations. Convergence of the algorithms is derived by means of viscosity solution methods.
Active shape modeling of the hip in the prediction of incident hip fracture.

The objective of this study was to evaluate right proximal femur shape as a risk factor for incident hip fracture using active shape modeling (ASM). A nested case-control study of white women 65 years of age and older enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) was performed. Subjects (n = 168) were randomly selected from study participants who experienced hip fracture during the follow-up period (mean 8.3 years). Controls (n = 231) had no fracture during follow-up. Subjects with baseline radiographic hip osteoarthritis were excluded. ASM of digitized right hip radiographs generated 10 independent modes of variation in proximal femur shape that together accounted for 95% of the variance in proximal femur shape. The association of ASM modes with incident hip fracture was analyzed by logistic regression. Together, the 10 ASM modes demonstrated good discrimination of incident hip fracture. In models controlling for age and body mass index (BMI), the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for hip shape was 0.813, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.771-0.854 compared with models containing femoral neck bone mineral density (AUROC = 0.675, 95% CI 0.620-0.730), intertrochanteric bone mineral density (AUROC = 0.645, 95% CI 0.589-0.701), femoral neck length (AUROC = 0.631, 95% CI 0.573-0.690), or femoral neck width (AUROC = 0.633, 95% CI 0.574-0.691). The accuracy of fracture discrimination was improved by combining ASM modes with femoral neck bone mineral density (AUROC = 0.835, 95% CI 0.795-0.875) or with intertrochanteric bone mineral density (AUROC = 0.834, 95% CI 0.794-0.875). Hips with positive standard deviations of ASM mode 4 had the highest risk of incident hip fracture (odds ratio = 2.48, 95% CI 1.68-3.31, p < .001). We conclude that variations in the relative size of the femoral head and neck are important determinants of incident hip fracture. The addition of hip shape to fracture-prediction tools may improve the risk assessment for osteoporotic hip fractures.
A Severe Sore Throat in a Middle-Aged Man: Calcific Tendonitis of the Longus Colli Tendon

Abstract Background: Neck pain is a common presentation to the Emergency Department (ED), requiring appropriate evaluation to exclude serious pathology. Objectives: To review an atypical clinical presentation of neck pain and to distinguish this case and its associated radiographic features from more common clinical entities. Case Report: We present an ED case of calcific tendonitis of the longus coli muscle. Summary: Acute calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis is a rare, benign etiology of non-traumatic neck pain that is poorly recognized and often mistaken for other conditions secondary to infection or trauma. The importance of this disorder, as well as a review of the literature on the subject, is presented.
Isaac Newton and Student College Completion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion and once in motion, that is when it develops momentum, it will tend to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. First elucidated in 1687 in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Newton’s first law of motion can also be applied to study of student completion for like objects students at rest tend to stay at rest and students in motion tend to stay in motion. Once they gain momentum, that is acquire degree credits, they are more likely to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Furthermore, the greater the rate at which students acquire degree credits, the greater their momentum toward degree completion and in turn the greater the likelihood they will stay in motion to degree completion even when external forces intervene (Astin & Oseguera, 2005). Gaining and maintaining momentum is key to student completion. This is but one reason why a number of states have begun to focus on the importance of student momentum to college completion. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, for instance, utilized the analysis of the transcripts of more than 87,000 first-time community and technical college students who entered the Washington system in the 2001-2002 academic year to
Do we really know how much we are feeding our patients

Background: Nutrition support is important in critical illness, and accurate recording is particularly important to determine whether nutritional goals are met both from a caloric and volume perspe...
Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia: a review of physiology, diagnosis, and treatment strategies

Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) is the urodynamic description of bladder outlet obstruction from detrusor muscle contraction with concomitant involuntary urethral sphincter activation. DSD is associated with neurologic conditions such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and spina bifida and some of these neurogenic bladder patients with DSD may be at risk for autonomic dysreflexia, recurrent urinary tract infections, or upper tract compromise if the condition is not followed and treated appropriately. It is diagnosed most commonly during the voiding phase of urodynamic studies using EMG recordings and voiding cystourethrograms, although urethral pressure monitoring could also potentially be used. DSD can be sub-classified as either continuous or intermittent, although adoption of this terminology is not widespread. There are few validated oral pharmacologic treatment options for this condition but transurethral botulinum toxin injection have shown temporary efficacy in reducing bladder outlet obstruction. Urinary sphincterotomy has also demonstrated reproducible long term benefits in several studies, but the morbidity associated with this procedure can be high.
Wildfire and the Economic Value of Wilderness Recreation

The idea that wildfires play an integral role in maintaining healthy forests has begun to change the ways that scientists, managers, and the general public view fire policy and programs. New approaches to forest management that seek to integrate natural disturbances with the provision of goods and services valued by people impose a greater need for a full accounting of the economic effects of wildfire (as well as other disturbances). In addition to the effects that forest fires have on commodities and assets that are traded in markets, such as timber and residential structures, fires also affect the condition and value of public goods that are not traded in markets, such as outdoor recreational sites. Understanding the economic consequences of wildfires on the provision and value of public goods requires the use of non-market valuation methods (Champ et al. 2003). The goal of this chapter is to demonstrate how wildfires affect the demand for, and value of, Wilderness recreational sites, which is illustrated using the travel cost method. Wilderness areas provide the public with a special opportunity to observe the effects of wildfires on natural processes in fire-adapted ecosystems. Lightningcaused fires are sometimes allowed to bum in Wilderness areas (a prescribed natural fire) when conditions are deemed suitable. Management ignited prescribed fires are also used to reduce fuel loads and mimic natural processes (Geary and Stokes 1999). Although fire suppression activities are permitted in Wilderness areas, management of forest regeneration and succession after a wildfire (including timber salvage and tree planting) is not permitted. Consequently, Wilderness areas provide a natural laboratory where visitors can experience firsthand the ecological dynamics following the occurrence of wildfire. Since the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, more than 100 million acres of wild lands have been included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Recent estimates suggest that roughly 15 million annual visits were made to
Ecopolitics and Ideology: Relocating Green Themes in Modern Ideological Thinking

The origin and development of the concept of ecopolitics is debated and so is the nature and content of the concept of ecopolitics itself. This owes to the fluid nature of the concept of ecopolitics which is still in its nascent stage, at the same time occasionally claiming its root to be rooted in antiquity. The present paper, focusing on the complex and even paradoxical relationship between ecopolitics and modernity, attempts to relocate ecopolitics, and for that matter, the green thoughts and ideas across the broad canvass of the modern ideologies. This exercise is expected to give an insight into the relationship between the modern ideologies and ecopolitics. For this purpose, the paper is broadly divided in to three sections. The first section attempts a conceptualization of the concept of ecopolitics; the second section explores across the broad canvass of modern ideologies and attempts to explore the Green -ness or otherwise of the various ideologies in question. The third and the final section shall be presented in lieu of a conclusion.
Statistical Model of the Natural History of Cervical Carcinoma. II. Estimates of the Transition Time From Dysplasia to Carcinoma In Situ

Estimates are presented of the transition probabilities and transition times from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix based on a statistical model of the natural history of this disease. The estimates, obtained from a longitudinal study of 557 women, were contrasted with prevalence rates obtained in a self-selected sample of over 11,000 women from Barbados, West Indies. These two independent sets of estimates, based on two different experimental designs, were shown to be concordant. The formula for the computation of the standard deviation of these estimates was given, together with the results of this computation for the observed sample data. The effects of those covariables that have been associated with the incidence of cervical neoplastic disease on these estimates were examined. The transition times and probabilities were associated with the total number of pregnancies but were not dependent on age at first coitus or age at first pregnancy. The results of this investigation provide an index of the history of cervical neoplastic disease that might be of use in contrasting the experience of different subsets of the population with respect to their transition probabilities and transition times through the several stages of the disease process.
Synchrophasor visualizer

The deployment of synchrophasor technology is a task that many institutions are interested in. The granularity of the information provided by synchrophasors allow for smarter operation of the electricity grid. The Synchro Phasor Visualizer (SPV) is an application that covers the general functionality of the synchrophasor technology. The application aims to introduce a prototype of a functional form of the synchrophasor technology that would be deployed within operation of the electricity grid: visualization, event detection, and data quality issue remediation. In the process of attaining this functional form, SPV identifies the potential challenges and requirements for synchrophasor usage.
Dissecting gene-environment contributions to Type 2 diabetes

Braxton Mitchell is professor of medicine and of epidemiology & public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, USA. He obtained his PhD degree at the University of Michigan, MI, USA. He is a genetic epidemiologist whose research program focuses on assessing the genetic contributions to common age-related diseases, gene mapping and evaluating the impact of discovered variants at the population level. In addition to diabetes, his current research focuses mainly in the areas of cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Robert Hanson is staff clinician at the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Phoenix, AZ, USA. He obtained his MD degree at the University of Kansas (KS, USA) and his MPH degree at Columbia University (NY, USA). He is an internist and epidemiologist and his research program focuses on the genetic epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and complicati...
Effect of arsenicals and antimonials on the activity of glycolytic enzymes in lysed preparation of Trypanosoma equiperdum.

Phosphorylative glycolysis has recently been shown to be a pathway of glucose metabolism in Trypanosoma equiperdum.1 In the present report, data of the effects of arsenicals and antimonials on the activity of hexokinase and 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase systems in a preparation of lysed T. equiperdum will be presented. The effect of these compounds on the activity of adenosine triphosphatase of such a preparation and the antagonism between them and sulfhydryl compounds were also investigated.
Hierarchical control of rotorcraft for enhanced performance and structural durability

This paper presents a hierarchical control law architecture for future generation rotorcraft for enhanced performance (i.e., handling qualities) and structural durability. The proposed control system has a two-tier hierarchical architecture. The lower-tier is designed using a combination of probabilistic robust control and damage mitigating control methodologies. By allowing different levels of risk under different flight conditions, probabilistic robust control achieves the desired trade off between stability, robustness and nominal performance. Minimization of damage rate is achieved via damage mitigating control, improving health management and durability of the rotorcraft. The upper-tier is designed using discrete-event supervisory control methodology, which monitors the system response for any anomalous behavior, performance degradation and/or potential loss of structural durability. Based on the observed data, the upper-tier supervisor may decide to switch between different modes to satisfy the specified requirements. The system is demonstrated using a high fidelity simulation of the UH-60A helicopter.
Malignant Histiocytosis with Cutaneous Involvement and Eosinophilia

Four patients, aged 46, 61, 22, and 73 years, were studied for their fatal disease characterized by fever, cutaneous infiltrate, pruritus, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and eosinophilia. Pathologically, there was a systemic proliferation of non-phagocytic immature histiocytes in various organs in every patient. Their clinical courses lasted 7, 21, 36, and 6 months, respectively. Their disease process shared certain clinical and pathologic features with malignant histiocytosis, reported as histiocytic medullary reticulosis, and leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, and partly with histiocytosis X. It is best classified as a variant of malignant histiocytosis.
12 WHERE DID THE BLOOD COME FROM? HEMOPTYSIS RESULTING FROM AN UNUSUAL ABERRANT VESSEL.

Background Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood originating from the tracheobronchial tree or pulmonary parenchyma. Hemoptysis is a frightening symptom for the patients and often is a manifestation of significant underlying pathology. Common causes of hemoptysis include pneumonia, congestive heart failure, cancer, vasculitis, pulmonary embolus, or tuberculosis. We are describing an interesting case of hemoptysis with an uncommon etiology. Case Presentation A 70-year-old healthy female presented with acute onset of submassive hemoptysis without any chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, or chills. The patient was hemodynamically stable, and her physical examination was unremarkable. She had a similar episode 4 years ago, which had resolved spontaneously. Chest radiography showed a lingular infilterate without any effusion. Bronchoscopy revealed a blood clot in the left lingual, and in an attempt to remove the clot, severe bleeding occurred. Bleeding was controlled by instilling epinephrine. Pulmonary angiography was then performed and the identified bleeding vessel was embolized. However, the patient continued to have hemoptysis with fresh blood. This raised the suspicion for an additional source for bleeding. Repeat angiography located an aberrant vessel to the left pulmonary artery, which was an arteriovenous malformation off the aortic arch; which was subsequently embolized. Bronchoscopy was performed again to clear off the old blood clots from airways and to rule out any other source of active bleeding. The patient9s hemoptysis resolved, and she was discharged home. Discussion Review of the literature shows that most cases of hemoptysis result from the erosion of systemic rather than pulmonary arteries, with the exceptions of arteriovenous malformations and pulmonary artery aneurysms. Our patient had an unusual aberrant vessel to left pulmonary artery as the most likely source of bleeding. The availability of endobronchial techniques and bronchial arterial embolization helped us control the bleeding. Mortality rates have been reported as high as 80% in those with hemoptysis, and up to 30% of cases have cryptogenic hemoptysis. This case illustrates the importance of having a broad diffrential diagnosis of hemoptysis until a definitive source can be located.
45nm next generation Intel® Core™ microarchitecture (Penryn)

This article consists of a collection of slides from the author's conference presentation on Intel's Penryn, a 45nm next generation core microarchitecture. Some of the specific topics discussed include: the benefits of next generation 45nm process technology; the Penryn architecture and new features; highlights of new microarchitecture changes; new power management features in Penryn; enhanced dynmaic acceleration technology; and CC3 in servers.
The Menstrual Cycle

The chapter provides an overview of the female menstrual cycle. The gonadotropins regulate ovarian activity in females by controlling the ovarian steroid hormone secretion and by causing maturation of the follicles, the oocytes, and the inducing ovulation. The ovarian steroid hormones then regulate the function of the female sex accessory structures and the secondary sexual characteristics. However, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the menstrual cycle is the result of finely tuned interactions among the brain, the pituitary gland, the ovaries, and the uterus. Many mammals exhibit seasonal reproduction with estrous behavior during the breeding season and some evidence exists for this phenomenon in human females. Human females ovulate spontaneously, but they may also exhibit induced ovulation. The human menstrual cycle, which is usually 25 to 35 days long, consists of menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases. Cyclic secretion of hormones from the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland, and the ovaries controls the cycle. The negative and positive feedback plays an important role. The methods used to detect ovulation in the home or the laboratory is not reliable in predicting when ovulation occurs. Many women experience premenstrual syndrome before menstruation. Some common menstrual disorder is painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) and missed menstruation (amenorrhea).
Human Rights in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland was born in 1920 out of violence and civil strife, and violence and civil strife have punctuated its 65 years of existence. But during the relatively quiet years from 1923 to 1968 what went on in the Province passed largely unnoticed in British political circles, except on those few occasions when violence spilled over into mainland Britain. But since 1968 violence and unrest on a fearful scale have brought the question of Northern Ireland to the attention of successive frustrated British governments and of an increasingly bewildered British public.