cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF) AND ATRIAL FLUTTER (AFL) PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS FOR PERSONS WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV+) AND MATCHED UNINFECTED CONTROLS

Background: HIV+ persons have elevated risks for various manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but no studies to our knowledge have evaluated AF and AFL for HIV+ persons and matched uninfected controls. Methods: Patients from an electronic cohort of 5,052 HIV+ patients and 10,121
Liver Metastasis: Update on Thermal and Nonthermal Ablative Therapies

The liver is one of the most common sites of metastatic disease from several primary malignancies. While most treatment regimens incorporate a combination of chemotherapy and surgical treatments, ablative techniques are increasingly being used for the treatment of recurrent disease. This article will provide an update on the current status of thermal and nonthermal therapies to treat metastatic liver disease.
Detection of gate oxide and channel degradation in SiC power MOSFETs using reflectometry

In this paper, the degradation at the gate oxide layer of a SiC MOSFET has been studied. The online condition monitoring was achieved by Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) for the first time in SiC based devices. An accelerated aging station was built to age the power semiconductor devices in a standardized way, and power cycling test was performed to induce degradation. Finally, the SSTDR data, before and after aging, were compared and plotted in order to identify the degradation at the gate of the device. This proposed method can rely on monitoring only gate-source interface meaning it does not involve any high voltage at the drain.
A wavelet-based protection scheme for smart grids

Transformation of traditional electrical power networks into a Smartgrid has provided numerous ways to integrate clean and sustainable energy resources in the electrical grid. Effective management of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) becomes a formidable task with their increasing penetration at the distribution level. One of the technical challenges associated with the implementation of smartgrids is an effective protection strategy for grid connected and island mode. In this paper, we have proposed a wavelet based protection scheme for microgrids which is able to detect faults in gird connected and island mode of operation. The proposed protection scheme is independent of the variations in fault current magnitude. A microgrid model, consisting of renewable energy based DERs is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink to verify the effectiveness of the proposed wavelet based scheme.
Economics of Design: Product Design For Manufacture - A Case Study

Abstract A case study is developed to illustrate the importance of incorporating manufacturability concerns in the economical design of a product. This case study reports on an actual student design experience from sophomore industrial engineering students at Rutgers University. Students were asked to develop a product concept to be manufactured in a student laboratory that satisfied constraints on material selection, process alternatives, equipment performance, time, and costs. Each student group then followed their own process plan to produce the product. The students developed manufacturing cost estimates and generated an alternative process of manufacture that was more economical than the original process. To heighten student awareness of global competition, the student groups were asked to explore the possibility of profitably exporting their product to another country. This case study demonstrates the process of designing for manufacturing while developing an appreciation for the economics of design.
Rescue of Mammary Epithelium of Early Lethal Phenotypes by Embryonic Mammary Gland Transplantation as Exemplified with Insulin Receptor Null Mice

We describe a method to transplant embryonic mammary anlagen into the mammary fat pad of a virgin host whose endogenous mammary epithelium has been removed. The transplanted epithelium grows into the fat pad and is exposed to a physiological hormonal milieu of puberty and pregnancy when the host is mated. This technique allows studies on the developmental potential of mammary epithelia of mutants that result in lethality after embryonic day 13. Transplanted mammary epithelial cells derived from insulin-receptor-deficient mice show reduced size of alveoli at lactation and reduced expression of milk protein genes. These results underscore the importance of insulin receptor signaling in mammary epithelial development.
1322 Comparison of Two Endometrial Ablation Techniques

Study Objective To compare the effectiveness of two methods (Novasure and Minerva) of endometrial ablation in a single community private practice. Design Retrospective chart review of all practice patients undergoing Novasure or Minerva endometrial ablation between 2015 and 2018. Minimum follow-up after the procedure was six months. Setting Procedures were all performed at Saddleback Center for Surgery (ambulatory surgery center) under general anesthesia by the physicians of Orange Coast Women's Medical Group. Patients or Participants All ablations performed between 2015 and 2018 were reviewed. 208 total ablations were performed. There were 127 in the Minerva cohort and 81 in the Novasure cohort. Interventions Not Applicable Measurements and Main Results Charts were reviewed for patient age, amenorrhea rates, rate of subsequent hysterectomy, improvement in bleeding, number of procedures performed by each provider, and days of follow up. Key results revealed no significant difference in the rate of amenorrhea in patients undergoing ablation with Minerva 32.3% (41/127) and Novasure 40.7% (33/81), (p=0.21). There was no significant difference in the rate of subsequent hysterectomy, 5.5% in the Minerva group and 9.9% in the Novasure group (p=0.24). There was no significant difference in patients showing improvement in bleeding without amenorrhea, 48.8% in the Minerva group and 44.4% in the Novasure group (p=0.72). There was no significant difference in the total combined amenorrhea and bleeding improvement; 81.1% in the Minerva group and 85.1% in the Novasure group (p= 0.45). Conclusion In our series, there was no significant difference in the Minerva or Novasure endometrial ablation systems in the rate of amenorrhea, subsequent hysterectomy, and overall decrease in bleeding.
Perturbations in imprinted methylation from assisted reproductive technologies but not advanced maternal age in mouse preimplantation embryos

Over the last several decades, the average age of first-time mothers has risen steadily. With increasing maternal age comes a decrease in fertility, which in turn has led to an increase in the use of assisted reproductive technologies by these women. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), including superovulation and embryo culture, have been shown separately to alter imprinted DNA methylation maintenance in blastocysts. However, there has been little investigation on the effects of advanced maternal age, with or without ARTs, on genomic imprinting. We hypothesized that ARTs and advanced maternal age, separately and together, alter imprinted methylation in mouse preimplantation embryos. For this study, we examined imprinted methylation at three genes, Snrpn, Kcnq1ot1, and H19, which in humans are linked to ART-associated methylation errors that lead to imprinting disorders. Our data showed that imprinted methylation acquisition in oocytes was unaffected by increasing maternal age. Furthermore, imprinted methylation was normally acquired when advanced maternal age was combined with superovulation. Analysis of blastocyst-stage embryos revealed that imprinted methylation maintenance was also not affected by increasing maternal age. In a comparison of ARTs, we observed that the frequency of blastocysts with imprinted methylation loss was similar between the superovulation only and the embryo culture only groups, while the combination of superovulation and embryo culture resulted in a higher frequency of mouse blastocysts with maternal imprinted methylation perturbations than superovulation alone. Finally, the combination of increasing maternal age with ARTs had no additional effect on the frequency of imprinted methylation errors. Collectively, increasing maternal age with or without superovulation had no effect of imprinted methylation acquisition at Snrpn, Kcnq1ot1, and H19 in oocytes. Furthermore, during preimplantation development, while ARTs generated perturbations in imprinted methylation maintenance in blastocysts, advanced maternal age did not increase the burden of imprinted methylation errors at Snrpn, Kcnq1ot1, and H19 when combined with ARTs. These results provide cautious optimism that advanced maternal age is not a contributing factor to imprinted methylation errors in embryos produced in the clinic. Furthermore, our data on the effects of ARTs strengthen the need to advance clinical methods to reduce imprinted methylation errors in in vitro-produced embryos.
A cross-sectional retrospective study of normal changes in the pharyngeal airway volume in white children with different skeletal patterns. Part 2: Cervical vertebral maturation method and hyoid bone.

Introduction The purpose of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to evaluate the patterns of pharyngeal airway volume change determined by cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stage and compare it with that which was characterized by chronological age. Correlations between hyoid bone positions and airway volumes were also examined. Methods CVM staging was determined from cone-beam computed tomography scans of 420 white patients aged 9-15 years. Patients were stratified on the basis of sex and skeletal pattern to establish pharyngeal airway volume clusters for each CVM stage. The horizontal and vertical positions of hyoid bones were measured using Hyoidius and Sella. Results Males had larger pharyngeal airway volumes compared with females. In males, the largest increases in pharyngeal airway volumes occurred at an earlier CVM stage than females. No statistically significant differences in pharyngeal airway volumes were noted in subjects with skeletal Class I, II, and III malocclusion. The hyoid bone in males was more anteriorly and inferiorly positioned compared with females. The Class III group had a further forward position of the hyoid bone than the Class I and II groups. Conclusions The patterns of pharyngeal airway change obtained using CVM staging did not correlate well with traditional maturational models for skeletal growth. It implies that chronologic age could be a relatively reliable indicator for the assessment of pharyngeal airway volumes in adolescents, as outlined in part 1 of the present study. Subjects with anteriorly and superiorly positioned hyoid bones exhibited smaller pharyngeal airway volumes, which highlights the role of soft tissue and its influence on airway patency.
Simulating particle movement inside subcutaneous injection site simulator (SCISSOR) using Monte-Carlo method.

Abstract This study used Monte Carlo method to simulate particle movement inside a commercialized instrument called Subcutaneous Injection Site Simulator (SCISSOR). A series of parameters related to instrument, injection device, operation, formulation, as well as medium were thoroughly investigated. Also, several events that particles may occur in the subcutaneous (SC) space, including diffusion, binding, and aggregation, were implemented in our Monte Carlo based algorithms. The simulation result revealed that membrane area and position, diffusivity in the simulated SC medium, as well as injection position significantly affected release profile. Diffusivity in the injection volume could only influence release profile when this diffusivity was extremely low. Other factors, including initial injection shape, injection volume, and formulation concentration, had only minor impact on release profile. In addition, binding slowed down release, whereas aggregation reduced both total percentage of release and release rate. This study presented Monte Carlo method would potentially become a powerful tool to support multiple development activities related to experimental design, parameter sensitivity analysis, and control strategy development.
The Reimaging of Criminal Justice Education: A Preliminary Study of Students’ Classroom Experiences and Perceptions of Racial Justice

Race-related issues in criminal justice are often challenging topics to discuss in the classroom because of their sensitivity and complexity. The growing political polarization in the American publ...
The λ-cosine transforms, differential operators, and Funk transforms on Stiefel and Grassmann manifolds

Abstract We introduce a new family of invariant differential operators associated with λ-cosine and Funk-Radon transforms on Stiefel and Grassmann manifolds. These operators reduce the order of the λ-cosine transforms and yield new inversion formulas. Intermediate Funk-cosine transforms corresponding to integration over matrices of lower rank are studied. The main tools are polar decomposition and Fourier analysis on matrix space.
Flexible Multi-Modal Capacitive Sensors with Polyurethane Foam Dielectrics for Wearables

We present on the design of highly-sensitive capacitive sensors using conductive textile electrodes and polyurethane (PU) foams as the dielectric layer for wearable sensing applications. Previous works involve complex processes in the fabrication of flexible, stretchable, and composite dielectrics using additional fillers or microstructures. In this work, we demonstrate a simple and cost-effective fabrication technique using polyurethane foam as the dielectric material to form capacitive sensors that are sensitive to stretching, bending and pressure. The magnitude of change in capacitance (10-60%) is increased due to the combined effect of micropores in the dielectric foam and the air gaps at the interface between the textile electrodes and dielectric layer. With the use of microporous PU foam, the change in capacitance under a mechanical load is not only due to the change in the thickness of the dielectric layer but also due to the change in the relative permittivity. Hence the proposed textile capacitive sensors can capture critical information when deployed in different locations on the body demonstrated via a shoe insert, speech detection, breathing and heart rate monitoring.
In Memoriam: Gary Kielhofner, DrPH, FAOTA

Professor Gary Kielhofner died September 2, 2010, after a short battle with cancer. Dr. Kielhofner was a visionary who developed the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) to better understand and help t...
Adaptive Friction Compensation for Line-of-Sight Pointing and Stabilization

This paper presents a new and practical adaptive friction compensation (AFC) technique developed at Texas Instruments for either analog or digital implementation. AFC is designed to augment conventional stabilization rate loops for the purpose of adapting to the characteristics of friction and canceling its torque disturbances before they cause LOS jitter. Estimates of coulomb friction level (CFL) and spatial time constant (STC), a measure of the disturbance rise time, are generated in real-time using a novel algorithm with minimal computational requirements. These estimates of CFL and STC are used to update a simple friction reference model which generates commands to cancel friction disturbances using relative rate feedforward. Laboratory tests show that stabilization can be improved by 90% to 75% depending on the base rotary environment characteristics: a) single sinusoid and b) band-limited random, respectively.
Candidate Entry and Political Polarization: An Antimedian Voter Theorem

We study a citizen-candidate-entry model with private information about ideal points. We fully characterize the unique symmetric equilibrium of the entry game and show that only relatively “extreme” citizen types enter the electoral competition as candidates, whereas more “moderate” types never enter. It generally leads to substantial political polarization, even when the electorate is not polarized and citizens understand that they vote for more extreme candidates. We show that polarization increases in the costs of entry and decreases in the benefits from holding office. Moreover, when the number of citizens goes to infinity, only the very most extreme citizens, with ideal points at the boundary of the policy space, become candidates. Finally, our polarization result is robust to changes in the implementation of a default policy if no citizen runs for office and to introducing directional information about candidates’ types that is revealed via parties.
SEWA Trade Facilitation Center: Changing the Spool

The case is about the decision to convert a not-for-profit organization into a for-profit company. STFC, which is part of a larger non-profit organization - the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) - works to improve the livelihoods of very poor rural and urban women in India. It does so by translating traditional Indian embroidery skills into contemporary apparel and home furnishings that STFC then helps to market and sell around the world. Organized as a producers' cooperative, STFC is owned by its artisan-members. STFC is thinking of changing to for-profit status because it would enable faster and more sustainable growth by providing access to outside funds, and also allow the payment of dividends, which would further improve the women's livelihoods. The legal and financial implications of such a move aside, it is not clear that STFC would be able to withstand the changes such a transformation would entail. Most importantly, would an organization accustomed to taking decisions based solely on social benefit criteria be able to adjust to a for-profit mentality? And, would customers accept the change?Learning Objective:To help students understand the implications of choosing a for-profit or non-profit model and the implications of changing an element of the business model.Subjects Covered:Economic growth; Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Social enterprise.
Audio-visual data association for face expression analysis

We present a novel facial expression recognition framework using audio-visual information analysis. In particular, we design a single good image representation of the image sequence by weighted sum of registered face images where the weights are derived using auditory features. We use a still image based technique for the expression recognition task. We performed experiments using eNTERFACE'05 audio-visual emotional database. The analysis shows that our framework can improve the recognition performance while significantly reducing the computational cost by avoiding redundant or insignificant frame processing by incorporating auditory information.
Adrenergic receptor activated ion transport in human fetal retinal pigment epithelium.

Purpose To identify the apical and basolateral membrane mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways in human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) that mediate membrane voltage and resistance changes caused by apical membrane adrenergic receptor activation. Methods Intact sheets of RPE-choroid from human fetal eyes were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. Ringer's solution composition changes on the retina-facing and choroid-facing sides of the tissue were separately controlled. Intracellular microelectrodes recorded the membrane voltage and resistance changes after the addition of pharmacologic agents to the apical or basal baths. Results Apical adrenergic agonists, isoproterenol and epinephrine (10(-8) M), depolarized the basolateral membrane, decreased total tissue resistance (R:(t)) and increased the ratio of apical-to-basolateral membrane resistance (R:(A)/R:(B)). Experiments using antagonists for alpha(1) and ss adrenergic receptors, prazosin and propranolol, respectively, indicated that both receptor types were present. The epinephrine responses were inhibited by apical bumetanide and basal 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2' disulfonic acid (DIDS). A cocktail of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents produced basolateral membrane voltage and resistance changes very similar to the isoproterenol responses. The cAMP-induced electrical responses were strongly inhibited by basal 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB). Ionomycin (to elevate intercellular Ca(2+), [Ca(2+)](i)) produced electrical responses similar to those caused by epinephrine. The Ca(2+) responses were unaffected by NPPB but were inhibited by 3 mM DIDS in the basal bath. Conclusions The results provide evidence for two apical membrane adrenergic receptors, alpha(1) and ss, activated by epinephrine and isoproterenol, respectively. The membrane voltage and resistance changes produced by these two agonists mimic those produced by elevating [Ca(2+)](i) and [cAMP](i), suggesting that these ubiquitous signaling molecules activate separate basolateral membrane Cl channels inhibited by DIDS and NPPB, respectively. These two receptors, the apical membrane NaK2Cl cotransporters and the basolateral membrane Cl channels form a complex of proteins that help mediate fluid absorption across human RPE.
Completely Bounded Maps and Operator Algebras: Completely Positive Maps

Let A be a C * -algebra, and let be a subspace. Then we shall call an operator space . Clearly, M n can be regarded as a subspace of M n ( A ), and we let M n have the norm structure that it inherits from the (unique) norm structure on the C *-algebra M n ( A ). We make no attempt at this time to define a norm structure on M n without reference to A . Thus, one thing that distinguishes from an ordinary normed space is that it comes naturally equipped with norms on M n for all n ≥ 1. Later in this book we shall give a more axiomatic definition of operator spaces, at which time we shall begin to refer to subspaces of C *-algebras as concrete operator spaces . For now we simply stress that by an operator space we mean a concrete subspace of a C *-algebra, together with this extra “baggage” of a well-defined sequence of norms on M n . Similarly, if S ⊆ A is an operator system, then we endow M n ( S ) with the norm and order structure that it inherits as a subspace of M n ( A ). As before, if B is a C *-algebra and ϕ: S → B is a linear map, then we define ϕ n : M n ( S ) → M n ( B ) by ϕ n (( a i, j )) = (ϕ( a i, j )). We call ϕ n-positive if ϕ n is positive, and we call ϕ completely positive if ϕ is n - positive for all n .
Optimization of pattern sidelobes in arrays with regular subarray architectures

An algorithm is developed which yields an optimum low sidelobe illumination for an array antenna which is weighted only at a subarray level and not at the individual element level. This technique can be viewed as a way to manage the amplitude quantization grating lobes that naturally occur when elements are fed in regular groups. The method provides a sidelobe control mechanism for arrays designed with subarrays where the weights at the element level are fixed or in some way constrained. The technique provides this sidelobe control mechanism for difference patterns as well as sum patterns. Additionally, it can be used to synthesize gain optimized "spoiled" or "flat topped" beams. It is extremely conducive to the application of digital beamforming (DBF) at the subarray level and further provides a means for enhancing the performance for any array where the desire to reduce the number control elements is viewed as a figure of merit. The technique is equally applicable to mechanically scanned and electronically scanned arrays with a subarray based feed architecture.
Neutralization of channel catfish virus by serum of channel catfish.

Sera from 71 adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), with a history of channel catfish virus (CCV) association, were assayed for CCV neutralization activity. Sixty-seven serum samples had positive CCV neutralization indices. Sera from 10 fish with no known history of CCV exposure, showed no evidence of virus neutralization activity. Viable CCV was not isolated from 232 organs or excretory products of studied fish. Serum from channel catfish experimentally immunized with viable CCV reached peak neutralization indices 60 days after virus injection. Detection of CCV serum neutralization activity can afford a possible method of identifying channel catfish populations with a previous exposure to CCV.
The effect of previous visual experience upon the response to depth in domestic chickens

Performance on a visual cliff was observed in 84 domestic chicks reared in one of three conditions. Ss reared in nests with opaque walls and transparent floors, affording a view of a textured surface located 1 ft below, were most likely to descend during testing. Ss reared in nests with opaque floors and transparent walls, affording a view of the same textured surface, did not differ from Ss reared with opaque walls and floors.
Pension plan accounting estimates and the freezing of defined benefit pension plans

Abstract This study provides evidence that, when “hard” freezing their defined benefit pension plans, employers select downward biased accounting assumptions to exaggerate the economic burden of their benefit plans. Downward biased expected rates of return and discount rates allow managers to increase reported pension expenses and, for discount rates, allow managers to increase reported pension liabilities. We find that prior to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, both rates are downward biased when firms freeze their plans, whereas after SOX the bias is lower. This finding is consistent with managers opportunistically biasing pension estimates to obtain labor concessions during periods of reduced regulatory scrutiny.
Abstract 4043: Loss of imprinting of KCNK9 in breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL KCNK9 (TASK-3) encodes a two-pore potassium channel that functions in tumor growth and survival. The potassium channel function is necessary for tumor proliferation and survival, by enhancing resistance to hypoxia and apoptosis. KCNK9 overexpression is observed in melanoma, colorectal cancer, and breast and brain tumors, but with no associated mutations found. Rather, the overexpression is often the apparent result of gene amplification of KCNK9, but any other mechanism that increases expression would presumably have a similar effect on tumorigenesis. This importance of gene dosage and expression levels is particularly relevant, as KCNK9 has been demonstrated to be a maternally expressed imprinted gene, which, in effect, reduces copy number. Monoallelic expression of KCNK9 was originally found in brain tissue, but our work has found that it is also imprinted in breast tissue. Thus, we hypothesized that loss of imprint control would be similar to a gene duplication, increasing the effective copy number, and therefore KCNK9 gene expression. To study the regulation of KCNK9 imprinting in tumors, we have screened for differentially methylated regions that may function as imprint control regions (ICRs), and examined the expression status of KCNK9 in breast tumor samples relative to the methylation state of the putative ICRs. Approximately 40-50% of breast tumor samples analyzed show loss of imprinting, seen as expression of both alleles of an exonic polymorphism. Additionally, loss of methylation at a putative ICR upstream of the transcription start site is observed in combination with loss of imprint regulation. This correlated loss of methylation and imprint control is seen most commonly in tumors of the “triple negative” subtype - tumors negative for expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/neu. These novel findings regarding KCNK9 imprint regulation and its disruption in a subset of tumors may lead to new approaches in diagnosis and targeted therapy of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4043. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4043
Redox regulation of the VEGF signaling path and tissue vascularization: Hydrogen peroxide, the common link between physical exercise and cutaneous wound healing.

Abstract Vascularization, under physiological or pathophysiological conditions, typically takes place by one or more of the following processes: angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, arteriogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Although all of these mechanisms of vascularization have sufficient contrasting features to warrant consideration under separate cover, one common feature shared by all is their sensitivity to the VEGF signaling pathway. Conditions such as wound healing and physical exercise result in increased production of reactive oxygen species such as H 2 O 2 , and both are associated with increased tissue vascularization. Understanding these two scenarios of adult tissue vascularization in tandem offers the potential to unlock the significance of redox regulation of the VEGF signaling pathway. Does H 2 O 2 support tissue vascularization? H 2 O 2 induces the expression of the most angiogenic form of VEGF, VEGF-A, by a HIF-independent and Sp1-dependent mechanism. Ligation of VEGF-A to VEGFR2 results in signal transduction leading to tissue vascularization. Such ligation generates H 2 O 2 via an NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanism. Disruption of VEGF–VEGFR2 ligation-dependent H 2 O 2 production or decomposition of such H 2 O 2 stalls VEGFR2 signaling. Numerous antioxidants exhibit antiangiogenic properties. Current evidence lends firm credence to the hypothesis that low-level endogenous H 2 O 2 supports vascular growth.
The effect of services coordination teams on outcomes for children in state custody.

The author describes the results of a quasi-experimental study of the effects of interorganizational services coordination teams on the quality and outcomes of services to children in state custody. The findings suggest that services coordination teams improve access to services and enhance service outcomes. Children served by services coordination teams were more likely to be placed in less restrictive residential settings, more like to be placed in settings appropriate to their levels of psycho-social functioning, and more likely to receive needed services from the state's mental health system. Moreover, those children with the most serious externalizing problem (i.e., aggressive, antisocial) behavior made more progress when served by services coordination teams.
GPU accelerated isosurface volume rendering using depth-based coherence

With large scientific and medical datasets, visualization tools have trouble maintaining a high enough frame-rate to remain interactive. In this paper, we present a novel GPU based system that permits visualization of isosurfaces in large data sets in real time. In particular, we present a novel use of a depth buffer to speed up the operation of rotating around a volume data set. As the user rotates the viewpoint around the 3D volume data, there is much coherence between depth buffers from two sequential renderings. We utilize this coherence in our novel prediction buffer approach, and achieve a marked increase in speed during rotation. The authors of [Klein et al. 2005] used a depth buffer based approach, but they did not alter their traversal based on the prediction value. Our prediction buffer is a 2D array in which we store a single floating point value for each pixel. If a particular pixel pij has some positive depth value dij, this indicates that the ray Rij, which was cast through pij on the previous render, intersected an isosurface at depth dij. The prediction buffer also handles three special cases. When the ray Rij misses the isosurface, but hits the bounding box containing the volume data, we store a negative flag value, dhitBoxMissSurf in pij. When Rij misses the bounding box, we store the value dmissBox. Lastly, when we have no prediction stored in the buffer, we store the value dnoInfo.
Book Review: Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Seth Thaller and Zubin Panthaki. eds. Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012. ISBN-10: 1841848476, ISBN-13: 978-1841848471, $279.95. ![Graphic][1] The text Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery is an additional book that adds to the existing base of breast surgery texts that have been published. Nowadays, the majority of young surgeons and residents turn to online journals, texts, and videos to gather the most up-to-date information. By the time a text is printed, some of the relevant information many no longer be valid. But, the principles discussed remain important. This text is a quick reference guide with 206 pages summarizing a variety of procedures in breast surgery. Two of the 18 chapters are dedicated to aesthetic surgery, though 1 of the most common aesthetic procedures (breast augmentation) is not included. Illustrations are included to summarize some of the key principles. Complications of the procedures … Corresponding Author: Dr Allen Gabriel, Department of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA. E-mail: gabrielallen{at}yahoo.com [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Molecular simulations of DNA transport in solution

A proposed novel nanotechnology concept utilizes tunneling conductance measurements across nanoelectrodes to identify individual nucleotides as a DNA strand crosses its path. Such a device offers the possibility of unprecedented rapidity in the detection of DNA sequences. Preliminary simulations of this device have indicated that single-stranded (ss)-DNA sequences behave differently depending on the location of the molecule within the device. Motivated by the similarity of the comparison of the transport properties of the ss-DNA molecule in bulk solution to experimental capillary electrophoresis data, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of ss-DNA and double-stranded (ds)-DNA in free solution to directly compare electrophoretic mobility as calculated by simulation. Drift velocity at the lowest magnitude applied electric field was consistent with expected experimental data; however, at the larger applied fields necessary under timescale constraints, drift velocity appeared inconsistent with ext...
What Is an Output

A recurrent idea in the history of psychology is that one is conscious of outputs but not of the complex processes underlying the generation of outputs, which is evident in the out-of-the-blue, “eureka-like” experiences associated with intuition. We examine how this idea may suffer from a logical fallacy and may thus have inadvertently hindered progress on the study of the intimate liaisons among high-level central processes, intuition, and overt action. It is proposed that, for various reasons, the only undisputable output in the nervous system is overt action. Once this is accepted, the overlooked relationship between conscious central processes and overt action can be examined. A review of the evidence reveals that conscious processing is in the business of, not low-level perceptual processing, motor control, or action production per se, but of constraining a peculiar form of knowledge-based, integrated action-goal selection, which can lead to integrated actions such as holding one's breath. Unconsciou...
Hostility in asymptomatic men with angiogaphically confirmed coronary artery disease

The association of hostility and coronary artery disease was evaluated in a case-control study of aircrew members who had been referred for coronary angiography on the basis of noninvasive tests or risk factor status. The asymptomatic status of the sample and the structured nature of the referral process minimize the methodologic problems normally associated with studies of patients undergoing angiography. Cases (n = 24) had some angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease, whereas controls (n = 25) were found to have no evidence of occlusion. An interaction was observed between smoking history and a measurement of hostility based on observations of the respondent's behavior during a standard interview. Among nonsmokers, cases had higher hostility scores than did controls (p = 0.004). This association was not present among smokers. Self-reported hostility did not discriminate cases from controls. These findings support the notion that hostility plays a role in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and point to the potential importance of interactions between hostility and other risk factors.
Enhancement of χ3 in nanoparticle composite media exhibiting electrostriction and quantum confinement

Abstract A new model is described that combines the interaction between two physical mechanisms responsible for bulk third-order optical nonlinearity. They are: (1) saturable absorption, due to quantum confinement in nanoparticles, and (2) electrostriction, causing particles to migrate in the fluid host. We show that enhanced nonlinearities are predicted resulting from local field coupling and that oscillations can occur under certain conditions.
Effect of dietary soybean and licorice on the male F344 rat: an integrated study of some parameters relevant to cancer chemoprevention.

Abstract The individual and combined effects of dietary toasted soybean meal (3.13–25%) and dietary licorice root extract (0.38–3.0%) on selected liver and intestinal enzyme levels and on clinical chemistry and histopathological parameters were evaluated on male F344 rats. All parameters were measured one and three months after the 50‐day‐old rats were started on the diets. By use of newly developed high‐performance liquid chromatography‐based analytic methods, measurable levels of daidzein (2.67 μg/ml) and glycyrrhetinic acid (7.87 μg/ml) were detected in the sera of rats on the 25% soybean and 3% licorice diets, respectively. Histopathological evaluations of organs and tissues yielded only nonsignificant strain‐related changes. At all dosages, there were no significant soybean‐ or licorice‐related anatomic lesions or hematologic changes. In the clinical biochemistry profile, soybean meal caused moderate but significant dose‐dependent decreases in serum cholesterol and increases in alkaline phosphatase, ...
Retrograde nailing of fractures of the femoral shaft

The technique of antegrade nailing of femoral shaft fractures has changed only incrementally over the last 60 years. Kuntscher's original method using a straight nail through an entry portal in the greater trochanter or piriform fossa evolved slowly. Introduction of a closed technique for insertion necessitated fluoroscopy, guide pins, and a change in the cross-sectional geometry of the nail. More recent technical changes have focused on nails with various interlocking screw designs. Retrograde nailing of femoral fractures through a site in the distal femur has a shorter and more active history. In 1970, Kuntscher described a retrograde nailing technique through the medial femoral condyle for fixation of pertrochanteric fractures. 1 Subsequently, a variety of retrograde nails popularized by Enders, Harris, Zickel, and others were advocated for elastic fixation of metaphyseal fractures of the proximal and distal femur. 24 Fracture stability was afforded by the use of multiple contoured nails inserted either medially or laterally to the condylar joint surface. In 1984, Swiontkowski proposed the use of a single standard Kuntscher nail through an extraarticular portal for fixation of the shaft component of ipsilateral femoral neck/shaft fractures. 5 Several intraoperative manoeuvres were developed for nail insertion out of line with the longitudinal axis of the medullary canal. Sanders attempted to avoid some of the technical problems of the Swiontkowski method by using tibial nails but malreductions remained problematic. 6
Studies on the morphologic alterations of axonal membraneous organelles in neurofilamentous neuropathies.

Abstract Alterations in the membraneous organelles were studied in two experimental neuropathies: 2,5-hexanedione (2,5- HD) and s,s′-iminodiproprionitrile (IDPN), both of which exhibit massive neurofilamentous accumulation. The membranous organelles were stained using the diaminobenzidine potassium ferrocyanide (DPF) method. In 2,5-HD, where there is a progressive impairement of fast axoplasmic transport, studies of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) revealed a fragmentation and disruption of the continuity of the longitudinally oriented interconnecting tubules and a significant increase in the number of free vesicles. In IDPN, where studies of fast transport have been normal, the longitudinal orientation of the smooth SER tubules was not disturbed although channels of longitudinally oriented tubules of SER were clustered with microtubules and mitochondria. This study suggests that in 2,5-HD the accumulation of vesicles in association with fragmentation and disorganization of the SER is one of the morphologic correlates of the impaired fast anterograde transport system.
Diagnostic Laparoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit.

Primary and acquired abdominal pathology accounts for a significant proportion of sepsis and SIRS in the ICU population. Abdominal processes often present a difficult diagnostic dilemma in the truly critically ill patient who, due to hemodynamic instability or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring high-level ventilatory support, is at significant risk during transport to radiology department. Furthermore, the accuracy of radiologic studies in the ICU setting is often limited. Laparoscopy provides a “minimally invasive” definitive modality to diagnose intra-abdominal problems. It may quickly provide the necessary information to define further management. In selective circumstances, it may actually allow appropriate intervention. However, the overall mortality of patients who undergo diagnostic laparoscopy in the ICU is high regardless of diagnostic findingsduring this procedure. Although not a technically difficult procedure, diagnostic laparoscopy does require a certain skill level, ...
What is the current status of second-line chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer?

Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who show progression of disease after first-line chemotherapy with docetaxel have few proven treatment options. Mitoxantrone plus prednisone is frequently used in this setting. The retrospective analysis by Berthold et al. of mitoxantrone after first-line docetaxel in patients with CRPC suggests that mitoxantrone has a modest level of activity in this setting, with a second-line PSA response rate of 15% and a median time to PSA progression of 3.2 months. Patients with CRPC treated with docetaxel after progression on first-line mitoxantrone had a PSA response rate of 28% and a median time to PSA progression of 5.9 months. In this analysis, median survival of patients was 10 months and did not differ according to choice of first-line agent. Mitoxantrone therapy can be considered in select patients after failure of first-line docetaxel, and vice versa. Other cytotoxic agents such as carboplatin might have a limited role in this patient population. In general, patients with CRPC should be directed towards clinical trials, when available.
Quantum molecular dynamics simulations of fullerenes and graphitic microtubules

We describe the results of extensiveab initio molecular dynamics calculations of the properties of fullerenes and microtubules. Our finite temperature quantum MD simulations for solid C60 are in excellent agreement with NMR, photoemission and neutron scattering data. The C60 isomer containing two pairs of adjacent five-fold rings has a binding energy only 1.6 eV smaller than that of perfect C60, but the transformation between these two structures is hindered by a 5.4 eV barrier. It thus requires high temperatures and long annealing times. High temperatures are also needed for the transformation of the lowest energy C20 isomer, a dodecahedron, to a corannulene structure, which can be thought of as a fragment of C60. The corannulene structure is a natural precursor for the formation of C60. Simulations of reactions show that C2 can insert into C58, perfect C60, and defect C60 fullerenes without an activation barrier, while C3 attaches only to their surfaces. Evaporative fragmentation of carbon clusters during annealing is unlikely, but atom and fragment exchange during collision favor "locally" most stable structures, such as C60. These results may explain the large increase in the abundance of C60 and C70 when carbon clusters are annealed at high density. We have also carried out calculations for paradigmatic microtubules, both reflection-symmetric and chiral. We find that the optimized geometries of the tubules are close to the ideal ones. It is possible to fabricate tubules with direct band gaps away from the Γ point by exploiting the similarities between the projected band structure of graphite and that of the tubule. The semiconducting tubules can be doped n- and p-type by substitutional N and B, respectively.
Molecular phenomena in colloidal nanostructure synthesis

We review our recent studies of molecular phenomena that can affect the shapes of colloidal nanocrystals grown in solution-phase syntheses. We first present an overview of our first-principles stud...
Developing a register for randomized controlled trials in prosthodontics: results of a search from prosthodontic journals published in the United States.

Abstract Statement Of Problem. Treatment decisions are often made despite absence of evidence from well-conducted clinical trials. Conclusions about treatment efficacy derived from nonexperimental approaches often overestimate treatment effect. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the most reliable basis for evaluating effectiveness of treatment interventions. Purpose. This study attempted to identify and catalog RCTs in prosthodontic journals published in the United States as an initial step in creating a register of clinical trials that would be a resource in setting up systemic overviews of prosthodontic literature. Methods. The International Journal of Prosthodontics , The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry , and The Journal of Prosthodontics published between 1988 and 1997 were searched manually to identify clinical trials. Clinical trials had to meet the following criteria for inclusion in the register: the trial must involve human subjects, must include at least 2 treatment groups, and treatment group allocation must be randomized. Results. A total of 3631 articles in 196 journal issues were screened. Sixty-two articles (1.7%) met the minimum criteria for inclusion in the RCT register. Conclusion. Given the lack of randomized controlled trials in prosthodontic journals, a concerted effort by the organized prosthodontic community should be made to screen national and international journals and contribute to the development of a register of randomized controlled trials relevant to prosthodontics. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;82;699-703.)
A hyperelastic‐based large strain elasto‐plastic constitutive formulation with combined isotropic‐kinematic hardening using the logarithmic stress and strain measures

SUMMARY This paper addresses the formulation of a set of constitutive equations for finite deformation metal plasticity. The combined isotropic-kinematic hardening model of the infinitesimal theory of plasticity is extended to the large strain range on the basis of three main assumptions: (i) the formulation is hyperelastic based, (ii) the stress-strain law preserves the elastic constants of the infinitesimal theory but is written in terms of the Hencky strain tensor and its elastic work conjugate stress tensor, and (iii) the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient is adopted. Since no stress rates are present, the formulation is, of course, numerically objective in the time integration. It is shown that the model gives adequate physical behaviour, and comparison is made with an equivalent constitutive model based on the additive decomposition of the strain tensor.