cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Edible vaccines: To eat, perchance to immunize

Introduction Problem 1 (Pin Cushion Syndrome): The January 2008 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines on pediatric immunization recommend fi ve injectable vaccines for infants at the age of 2 months. Infants have only four small extremities to use. Problem 2 (Food Priority Syndrome): The relatively recently licensed adult varicella-zoster vaccine to decrease the incidence of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia is not covered by Medicare part B and can require a substantial outlay for geriatric patients with fi xed incomes. Problem 3 (Developing World Syndrome): Issues with funding and public health infrastructure (including an effective cold chain) for universal immunization produce children, adolescents, and adults from the developing world who are susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases because of the inability to procure and deliver these vaccines. All these problems and others (including the potential hazard of needles) have led, with advances in unrelated scientifi c fi elds, to various technologies to deliver stable immunogens potentially easier, cheaper, and safer. One method involves using edible, genetically modifi ed (GM) plants to produce antigens that can elicit immunity by oral administration. GM or transgenic plants have been produced since the 1960s to create crops resistant to herbicides, pests, and disease. Although not without its own issues, this methodology (producing so-called “edible vaccines”) may result in an inexpensive, easily administered, stable vehicle that could solve many problems associated with the current system.
A compact, high resolution Michelson interferometer for atmospheric spectroscopy in the near ultraviolet

A new, compact Fourier Transform Michelson interferometer (FTUV) with an apodized resolving power greater than 300,000 at 300 nm, high throughput and wide spectral coverage has been developed. The objectives include atmospheric spectroscopy (direct solar absorption and solar scattering) and laboratory spectroscopy of transient species. In this paper, we will briefly describe the prototype FTUV instrument and the results of preliminary laboratory investigations of OH and ClO spectra in emission and absorption.
Genetic and demographic responses of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki girard 1859) populations stressed by mercury

Genetic and demographic changes in mosquitofish populations are reported after chronic (111 d) exposure to mercury. Sex ratios, normally female-biased in field populations, were also female-biased in control mesocosms. However, the sex ratio was male-biased in the mercury treatments. Frequencies of glucosephosphate isomerase-2 (Gpi-2) allozymes for fish exposed to mercury differed from initial frequencies and from those of control fish. In a selection-component analysis, female sexual selection was statistically significant for the mercury-treated fish; the proportional of females that were gravid differed among Gpi-2 genotypes. The number of developing embryos per female also differed among Gpi-2 genotypes. Mercury had genotype-specific effects on mosquitofish reproduction in addition to genotype-specific effects on mortality reported earlier. These effects may reflect metabolic qualities of the Gpi-2 genotypes or loci closely linked to the Gpi-2 locus.
Reduction in mortality in pediatric patients with inhalation injury with aerosolized heparin/acetylcystine therapy

Smoke-inhalation injury causes a destruction of the ciliated epithelium that lines the tracheobronchial tree. Casts produced from these cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mucus, can cause upper-airway obstruction, contributing to pulmonary failure. We have reported that a combination of aerosolized heparin and a mucolytic agent, N-acetylcystine [corrected], can ameliorate cast formation and reduce pulmonary failure secondary to smoke inhalation. In this study, 90 consecutive pediatric patients between 1985 and 1995 who had bronchoscopically diagnosed inhalation injury requiring ventilatory support were studied. Forty-three children admitted between 1985 and 1989 acted as controls. Forty-seven children admitted between 1990 and 1994 received 5000 units of heparin and 3 ml of a 20% solution of N-acetylcystine [corrected] aerosolized every 4 hours the first 7 days after the injury. All patients were extubated when they were able to maintain spontaneously a PaO2/FIO2 ratio of more than 400. The number of patients requiring reintubation for successive pulmonary failure was recorded, as was mortality. The results indicate a significant decrease in reintubation rates, in incidence of atelectasis, and in mortality for patients treated with the regimen of heparin and N-acetylcystine [corrected] when compared with controls. Heparin/N-acetylcystine [corrected] nebulization in children with massive burn injury and smoke-inhalation injury results in a significant decrease in incidence of reintubation for progressive pulmonary failure and a reduction in mortality.
Mycobacterial Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients: Report of Five Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract Five cases of mycobacterial disease in renal transplant recipients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania were studied. In addition, another 42 cases reported in the literature were reviewed. Disseminated tuberculosis was common, accounting for 20 of the 47 cases. Infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria was also common, accounting for 16 cases. In two cases, a tuberculin nonreactor developed tuberculosis after receiving a transplant from a donor who was a reactor; these cases may represent reactivation tuberculosis in the transplanted kidney. A number of cases appeared preventable. For example, two patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania had evidence of previous tuberculosis but had not received isoniazid prophylaxis. On the basis of a survey of 26 transplantation centers, it was estimated that the minimal tuberculosis rate among renal transplant recipients is 480 cases per 100,000, vs. 13.1 per 100,000 in the general population.
Case Routinization in Investigative Police Work

This study of the interpretation and handling of criminal incidents is based on nine months of participant observation in a city police detective division. Detectives' ethods for handling ordinary cases do not follow from the formal organization of the work or the character of normal supervisory practices, but rather from the bureaucratic requirements of 1) producing reports and 2) making the proper number and type of arrests. The essence of the case handling process lies in the interpretation of particular criminal incidents in terms of commonalities between the specific case and typified conceptions of routine or normal cases. The extent to which a case is investigated depends primarily on whether the incident is defined as routine or nonroutine. The case routinization procedures employed by detectives reflect their shared understandings of typical crimes, typical involved parties, and the expected behavior of different types of residents in the urban environment.
Total neutron cross-sections for rare isotopes using a digital-signal-processing technique: Case study 48Ca

Abstract A digital-signal-processing method was developed and used to measure the total neutron cross-sections of 48 Ca from 15 to 300 MeV. This technique allows for cross-sections to be obtained with high statistical accuracy even for samples that are an order of magnitude smaller than those used with conventional (non-digital) techniques. The isotopic and energy dependence of rare-isotope total neutron cross-sections are of considerable value for extracting the n/p asymmetry dependence of optical-model potentials.
A high-density catalog for online browsing

In brick-and mortar stores and paper catalogs, the experiential, non-directed consumer activity called browsing can expose a prospective buyer to hundreds of images, scents, and sounds in the space of seconds. On the World Wide Web, however, the browser's experience is attenuated, not only by the limited number of items represented at a given time on a given page, but by the number of arbitrary decisions that are often required to navigate to that page. The High-Density Online Catalog (HDOC) is a single-page, interactive visualization derived from parallel coordinate plots and intended for browsing many items with common attributes. A fully populated HDOC immediately communicates its depth and breadth, and engages the user to dip freely into its contents. A prototype of HDOC, illustrating many hundreds of musical works, has been developed in conjunction with the composer, Philip Glass. The paper discusses the HDOC interface design and initial usability studies.
On the Time Required for Timing&#8212;The Halting Problem Rephrased

The proof of the unsolvability of the halting problem can be reformulated to show that, in general, the best one can do to estimate the run time of programs is to execute them.
Proposed classification system for reporting 532-nm pulsed potassium titanyl phosphate laser treatment effects on vocal fold lesions.

Objectives/Hypothesis Currently, no standard exists for reporting treatment results for the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser. The goal of this study was to establish a validated classification schema for reporting immediate tissue effects after laser treatment. Study Design Evaluation of KTP laser video sequences by academic laryngologists with use of the rating system. Methods A five-point classification system was developed; this included noncontact angiolysis, epithelial blanching, epithelial disruption, contact epithelial ablation, and contact epithelial ablation with tissue removal. Video recordings were made prospectively for each treatment effect. Ten treatment recordings, with two repeated recordings, were presented to seven academic laryngologists, who were asked to categorize each based on the given classification scheme. Results Overall accuracy for the combined reviewers in rating the treatments was 82%. Six of seven reviewers showed perfect intrarater reliability. Accuracy in rating clips did not correlate with the previous number of 532-nm KTP or 585-nm pulsed dye laser procedures performed but showed a trend toward correlating with total years in practice. This study reveals that standardized reporting of effects of the KTP laser is feasible. Conclusions We believe that results of KTP treatment should be reported using a validated classification system of immediate laser effect, along with specific laser settings. This classification system allows for future systematic evaluation of long-term treatment results prospectively from single laser treatments. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 124:1170–1175, 2014
Using the Amazing atmosphere to Foster Student Learning and Interest in Meteorology

To engage students in active learning, the Oceanography Department at the United States Naval Academy developed a new, not-for-course-credit training activity for its students, the Severe Weather InField Training (SWIFT). In SWIFT, 10 students and 2 faculty members traveled to the Great Plains and met with operational and research meteorologists, led daily weather discussions, made daily convective forecasts, and verified their convective forecasts by observing severe storms. Participation was solicited from sophomore- and junior-level students. SWIFT built on similar activities developed by other universities with its particular emphasis on assessing student learning and broadening awareness of both Department of Defense and civilian career opportunities in meteorology. Assessment outcomes from SWIFT indicate that students deepened their understanding of severe weather processes, were equipped to use observational and modeling data in real time, applied course content to real-world situations, became act...
Predicting solution rank to improve performance

Many applications of evolutionary algorithms utilize fitness approximations, for example coarse-grained simulations in lieu of computationally intensive simulations. Here, we propose that it is better to learn approximations that accurately predict the ranks of individuals rather than explicitly estimating their real-valued fitness values. We present an algorithm that coevolves a rank-predictor which optimizes to accurately rank the evolving solution population. We compare this method with a similar algorithm that uses fitness-predictors to approximate real-valued fitnesses. We benchmark the two approaches using thousands of randomly-generated test problems in Symbolic Regression with varying difficulties. The rank prediction method showed a 5-fold reduction in computational effort for similar convergence rates. Rank prediction also produced less bloated solutions than fitness prediction.
Does the A·T or G·C base-pair possess enhanced stability? Quantifying the effects of CH⋯O interactions and secondary interactions on base-pair stability using a phenomenological analysis and ab initio calculations

An empirically based relationship between overall complex stability (−ΔG°) and various possible component interactions is developed to probe the question of whether the A·T/U and G·C base-pairs exh...
Discovery and hot replacement of replicated read-only file systems, with application to mobile computing

We describe a mechanism for replacing files, including open files, of a read-only file system while the file system remains mounted; the act of replacement is transparent to the user. Such a "hot replacement" mechanism can improve fault-tolerance, performance, or both. Our mechanism monitors, from the client side, the latency of operations directed at each file system. When latency degrades, the client automatically seeks a replacement file system that is equivalent to but hopefully faster than the current file system. The files in the replacement file system then take the place of those in the current file system. This work has particular relevance to mobile computers, which in some cases might move over a wide area. Wide area movement can be expected to lead to highly variable response time, and give rise to three sorts of problems: increased latency, increased failures, and decreased scalability. If a mobile client moves through regions having partial replicas of common file systems, then the mobile client can depend on our mechanism to provide increased fault tolerance and more uniform performance.
Imaging of large airways disorders

OBJECTIVE. Recent technical advances, including the routine use of CT thin sections and techniques such as 2D minimum-intensity-projection and 3D volume images, have increased our ability to detect large airways diseases. Furthermore, dedicated CT protocols allow the evaluation of dynamic airway dysfunction. CONCLUSION. With diseases of the large airways more commonly seen in daily practice, it is important that radiologists be familiar with the appearances, differential diagnosis, and clinical implications of these entities.
The asymmetric synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics - IV. A formal synthesis of thienamycin.

Abstract Oxidative cleavage of crotonate imide aldol adduct 6b provides the configurationally stable aldehyde 4 . Transformation of this aldehyde to enantiomerically pure β-lactams is described.
An Occupancy Problem

In a recent ar-ticle appearing in The American Statistician [1], the authors provide a solution to the following problem: "A group contains N persons, any w of whom can be selected at random to form a committee. If r committees are formed, find the probability that exactly m persons will be committee members." Their approach involves setting up a recursion relation and a number of algrebraic steps to find the required probability. A simple and general alternative approach is to consider the N subsets A1, . . , v AN where each Ai is defined as the event that the ith person is selected on none of the r committees. Let Ii be an indicator random variable assuming the value 1 if Ai occurs and the value O otherwise. The sum X = 2Ii is a simple random variable representing the number of persons never selected on any of the r committees. An explicit form for the probability distribution of X provides the required solution to the committee problem. We shall proceed by finding the moments of X and then expressing Pr(X = x) in terms of its moments using the inversion theorem for discrete random variables. It is well known [2, 3, 4] that the kth binomial moment of a discrete random variable as defined above is given by
Reliability and validity of self-reported height and weight among high school students.

Purpose: To assess the reliability and validity of selfreported height and weight, and variables calculated from these values, in a diverse sample of adolescents. Methods: A convenience sample of students (n 4619) in grades 9 through 12 reported their height and weight on two questionnaires administered approximately 2 weeks apart. Using a standard protocol, a subsample of these students (n 2032) also were weighed and had their height measured following completion of the first questionnaire. Results: Self-reported heights at Time 1 and Time 2 were highly correlated, and the mean difference between height at Time 1 and Time 2 was small. Results were similar for self-reported weight at Time 1 and Time 2 and body mass index (BMI) calculated from these values. Although self-reported values of height, weight, and BMI were highly correlated with their measured values, on average, students overreported their height by 2.7 inches and underreported their weight by 3.5 pounds. Resulting BMI values were an average of 2.6 kg/m 2 lower when based on self-reported vs. measured values. The percentages of students classified as “overweight” or “at risk for overweight” were therefore lower when based on self-reported rather than on measured values. White students were more likely than those in other race/ethnic groups to overreport their height, and the tendency to overreport height increased by grade. Female students were more likely than male students to underreport their weight. Conclusions: Self-reported height, weight, and BMI calculated from these values were highly reliable but were discrepant from measured height, weight, and BMIs calculated from measured values. BMIs based on self-reported height and weight values therefore underestimate the prevalence of overweight in adolescent populations.
Purification and characterization of the central segment of prothymosin‐α: methodology for handling highly acidic peptides

Prothymosin-alpha is a highly acidic protein consisting of 110 amino acids. The central segment of this protein, residues 51-89, is thought to be involved in metal binding which may be necessary for its physiological function. To carry out studies of this peptide, this central segment was synthesized in a linear fashion using Fmoc-based methods on rink amide MBHA resin. However, this peptide could not be purified with the typical straightforward approach of RP HPLC followed by negative mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This was attributed to the high proportion of acidic residues: 26 out of the 39 residues are aspartic and glutamic acids. The acidity of the peptide prevented retention on the RP HPLC column. Additionally, the ability of the highly negatively charged peptide to retain sodium ions prevented molecular weight determination with ESI-MS. A systematic approach to the purification of this highly acidic peptide was undertaken. Ultimately, strong anion exchange chromatography was used to purify the peptide. Extensive desalting using dialysis was required prior to ESI-MS, and the choice of the buffer proved to be critical. In the end, a purification method was devised that yielded a highly purified peptide and is readily compatible with analysis by ESI-MS.
BRAF V600E mutation and the tumour suppressor IGFBP7 in atypical genital naevi

First described by Clark et al., atypical genital naevi (AGN) are a relatively uncommon subset of clinically benign naevi of the genitalia or perineum that exhibit atypical histological features.1,2 Similar lesions have subsequently been described along the anatomical milk line including the groin area.3 Unifying histological features of AGN include variably sized nests with retraction artefact, consumption of the epidermis, cellular dyshesion, dermal fibrosis and cytological atypia ranging from mild to moderate severity.1 As these features are concerning for melanoma, overdiagnosis of AGN is not uncommon and may lead to unnecessary surgical intervention and sentinel lymph node biopsy.1 This is of particular concern given that these naevi typically occur in women of childbearing age.1,2 No study to date has sought to elucidate the genomic profile of AGN as compared with benign genital naevi without atypia. We recently found that in oncogenic BRAF-positive naevi, constitutive activation of the BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway increases expression and secretion of IGFBP7,4 a protein that suppresses the growth of a range of cancer cell types.5,6 We also noted that IGFBP7 expression is maintained or enhanced in BRAF wild-type (WT) melanomas but is not detectable in oncogenic BRAF-positive melanomas. Based on these findings, we concluded that IGFBP7 inhibits BRAF-MEK-ERK signalling and activates senescence via an autocrine/paracrine pathway. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to assess the frequency of BRAF V600E mutations in AGN and to compare with that in banal naevi of genital skin. Given our recent experience with IGFBP7, an additional goal was to assess IGFBP7 expression in oncogenic BRAF-positive AGN.
Kondo resonance in magnetic double tunnel junctions

The magneto-transport properties of double tunnel junctions are reported as a function of temperature and bias. The double tunnel junctions were formed with MgO tunnel barriers and CoFe magnetic electrodes in which the middle electrode is comprised of ultra-thin CoFe layers. Double magnetic tunnel junctions, comprised of CoFe/MgO/CoFe/MgO/CoFe, were deposited on SiO/sub 2/ through a sequence of metal shadow masks using dc magnetron sputtering at room temperature. Tunneling magnetoresistance and AC conductance measurements show a peak in the conductance at low bias voltages and temperatures (below /spl sim/50 K) and a strong suppression of tunneling magnetoresistance in the same bias voltage and temperature regime. These features are strongly reminiscent of Kondo resonance effects previously observed previously in lithographically defined quantum dots and C/sub 60/ molecules placed between ferromagnetic electrodes.
First Report of Diplodia Cane Dieback of Grapevine in Bolivia

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an important commercial crop in the temperate regions of Bolivia where it has been grown for hundreds of years. In October of 2001, diseased canes of grape (cv. Muscat of Alexandria) were collected in a vineyard in Yotala, Department of Chuquisaca in southern Bolivia. In this planting of more than 1,000 plants, more than 75% were exhibiting cane dieback symptoms and many were dead or dying. No disease was observed on grape berries. Symptoms of the disease were similar to those reported for Diplodia cane dieback (1). Cankers ranging from 2 to 10 cm long and 0.5 to 3 cm wide were observed. When diseased canes were placed in a moist chamber, conidia oozed from pycnidia in black cirri. Immature conidia were hyaline and one-celled, but mature conidia were dark brown (20 to 30 × 10 to 15 μm) with one median septum and longitudinal striations. The pathogen was tentatively identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl. (synonyms Diplodia natalensis Pole-Evans and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat.), teleomorph Botryosphaeria rhodina (Cooke) Arx) (2). Fungi were isolated from cankers on diseased canes by surface disinfestation in 0.25% NaOCl for 5 min and placing small pieces of tissue on 2% water agar or potato dextrose agar (PDA). L. theobromae was isolated from these tissues. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by inoculating grape berries and canes with the pathogen. Five grape berries were surface disinfested and inoculated by wounding with a sterile scalpel and inserting a piece of fungal mycelium on PDA in the wounded sites. The same number of control berries was similarly treated with sterile PDA. Inoculated and control berries were placed in plastic, moist chambers in the laboratory at ambient temperature (15 to 28°C) in the dark. Five canes on two potted plants were inoculated with the same isolate of the pathogen in a similar manner as the berries. The inoculated and control sites on canes were wrapped with masking tape. Plants were placed in a moist chamber for 5 days. After 8 days, inoculated berries were rotting and the inoculated sites were covered with grayish mycelium. Within 12 days, cankers as much as 3 cm long developed on the inoculated canes, and in some lesions, black pycnidia were observed. No lesions developed in the wounded control canes. The pathogen was reisolated from inoculated berries and canes, but not from control berries or canes. The teleomorph was not observed on any naturally infected canes or on those inoculated with the anamorph. The pathogen was identified as L. theobromae based on symptoms (1), cultural and morphological characteristics (2), and pathogenicity tests. The disease poses a potential threat to the cultivation of grapevine in southern Bolivia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Diplodia cane dieback of grapevine in Bolivia. References: R. C. Pearson and A. C. Goheen. Compendium of Grape Diseases. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1988. (2). E. Punithalingam. No. 519 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, England, 1976.
Design and optimization of an aperiodic ultrasound phased array for intracavitary prostate thermal therapies

A 57 element aperiodic linear phased array was designed and constructed to investigate the feasibility of using transrectal ultrasound for the thermal therapeutic treatment of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. A method of reducing grating lobe levels by using optimized random distributions of unequally sized elements is introduced. Using this technique, array periodicity is avoided, making it feasible to use larger elements and hence fewer elements and amplifier channels, while still achieving acceptable power field patterns. Acoustic power field simulations determined that the grating lobe levels associated with selected aperiodic element distributions were approximately 30%–45% less than those associated with periodic element spacing and the same average element width. Or by using aperiodic rather than periodic element distributions, the average element width could be increased by approximately 20%–35% (∼λ/4.4), while maintaining a constant grating lobe level. Prior to construction of the 57 element array, the power capabilities of this type of array were demonstrated with a 16 element aperiodic phased array, which delivered over 28 W of acoustical power per cm of array length while focused. The power field patterns produced by the 57 element array closely matched the field patterns predicted by the theoretical model used in the simulations. The array produced acceptable power field patterns for foci at depths up to 5 cm and up to 2 cm off the center axis, in addition to producing multiple foci simultaneously. Based on the power capabilities and field patterns, this aperiodic array design has the potential to be incorporated into a clinical heating device as a means of delivering thermal therapies to the prostate and other target volumes close to body cavities.
The relationship between personal experience and belief in the reality of global warming

Research in America finds that observable climate impacts increase people’s certainty about global warming and that prior certainty shapes people’s perceptions of the impacts. The first process happens frequently among people less engaged in the issue of climate change whereas the second process is typical of people already convinced about it.
Low-complexity architectures for reliability-based message-passing non-binary LDPC decoding

When the code is not long, non-binary low-density parity-check (NB-LDPC) codes can achieve better error-correcting performance than binary LDPC codes at the cost of higher decoding complexity. The recently developed iterative reliability-based majority-logic NB-LDPC decoding can achieve better performance-complexity tradeoffs than previous algorithms. Many existing NB-LDPC code construction schemes lead to quasi-cyclic or cyclic codes. In this paper, efficient low-complexity NB-LDPC decoder architectures are developed for these two types of codes based on the newly proposed iterative hard reliability-based majority-logic decoding (IHRB-MLGD). Particularly, novel schemes are designed to keep a small proportion of messages in order to reduce the memory requirement without causing noticeable performance loss. Moreover, a shift-message structure is proposed by using memories concatenated with variable node units to enable efficient partial-parallel decoding for cyclic NB-LDPC codes. Compared to previous decoders based on the Min-max algorithm, the proposed IHRB-MLGD decoder architectures can achieve tens of times higher efficiency for codes with similar length and rate with moderate coding gain loss.
Modified Atmosphere and Modified Humidity Packaging of Fresh Mushrooms

Sorbitol and sodium chloride were used to modify the in-package relative humidity (IPRH) of fresh mushrooms (water irrigated and CaCl 2 irrigated) stored in a modified atmosphere package (MAP) at 12°C. No differences were observed for maturity index and microbial population between mushrooms stored in modified atmosphere package (MAP) with or without moisture absorbers. Lower IPRH was observed in packages containing water irrigated (normally grown) mushrooms with sodium chloride, but resulted in over-drying of mushrooms and did not improve color. Normally grown mushrooms with 10 and 15g sorbitol had the best color. IPRH of 87-90%, within 9 days storage was considered optimum. No improvements in quality were found with moisture absorbers with normally grown mushrooms. However, a small amount of sorbitol helped to avoid condensation with CaCl 2 irrigated mushrooms.
Management of Device-detected Atrial High-rate Episodes

Atrial tachyarrhythmias are common in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) with atrial leads. These atrial tachyarrhythmias are detected as atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) by the CIED. AHREs may be brief, infrequent, and asymptomatic, and may be detected before clinical arrhythmia is apparent. These subclinical device-detected AHREs are associated with an increased stroke risk, similar to, but to a lesser degree than, clinically apparent atrial fibrillation detected by routine methods. Whether a specific duration of AHREs is needed before the risk of stroke increases and whether treatment with anticoagulation for subclinical device-detected AHREs reduces stroke risk is unclear.
1943—One Page from Mexican American History: A Psychological Analysis of Oppression and Resistance

Focusing on the events of 1943, particularly the Zoot Suit/Sailor Riots, this article outlines the four intersecting components of an interdisciplinary paradigm employed in teaching an undergraduate multicultural psychology class, which systematically explores how the historical, political, and social context shapes the psychological development of American subordinate groups. Moreover, this article draws parallels between the oppression of persons of Mexican ancestry and analogous experiences of other subordinate group members during the same year.
A population-based study of the association between bullous pemphigoid and neurologic disorders.

Background Bullous pemphigoid (BP) has been associated with neurologic disorders. Objective We sought to analyze the association between BP and neurologic disorders. Methods We retrospectively identified residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a first lifetime diagnosis of BP between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 2009. Three age- and sex-matched Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents without BP were selected as control subjects for each patient. We compared history of or development of neurologic disorders (dementia, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, and seizures) between groups using case-control and cohort designs. Results In all, 87 patients with BP were identified and matched to 261 control subjects. The odds of a previous diagnosis of any neurologic disorder or a history of dementia were significantly increased among cases compared with controls (odds ratio 6.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.00-15.64; P P = .002, respectively). Both Parkinson disease (hazard ratio 8.56; 95% CI 1.55-47.25; P = .01) and any type of neurologic disorder (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% CI 1.17-3.49; P = .01) were significantly more likely to develop during follow-up in patients with than without BP. Limitations Small geographic area and retrospective study design are limitations. Conclusion Findings confirmed an association of BP with neurologic disorders, especially dementia and Parkinson disease.
The effect of clonidine on hemodynamics in hypertensive patients

Abstract Intravenous infusion of 150 μg of clonidine produced a prompt reduction of arterial pressure in a group of 8 patients with arterial hypertension. Systolic pressure fell 19 per cent, diastolic 16 per cent, and mean pressure 17 per cent. A second dose of 150 μg of clonidine given 30 min. later produced further significant change of only systolic pressure which was reduced 28 per cent below control. Changes in the pulmonary circulation were similar in the systemic circulation. Clonidine appears to lower blood pressure through reduction in cardiac output and perhaps by some decrease in tone of resistance vessels. The fall in cardiac output is probably caused chiefly by reduction of left ventricular filling pressure. Central inhibition of sympathetic transmission to the venous capacitance vessels may result in pooling of blood peripherally with lowering of the venous return and cardiac output.
Exploring iterative and parallel human computation processes

Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is an increasingly popular web service for paying people small rewards to do human computation tasks. Current uses of MTurk typically post independent parallel tasks. This research explores an alternative iterative paradigm, in which workers build on each other's work. We run a couple of experiments comparing the efficacy of this paradigm in two different problem domains: image description writing, and brainstorming company names.
Optimized closed-loop supply chain configuration selection for sustainable product designs

Decision support models for coordinating sustainable product and supply chain (SC) design can help a company identify the best product designs that will bring highest sustainability benefits to the entire SC at the product development stage. This paper presents a multi-stage decision support model (developed using a hierarchical approach) that evaluates alternate product designs and their SC configurations to identify the best product design and their closed-loop SC configuration that maximizes profit and also minimize adverse environmental and societal impacts. The model considers a total life-cycle approach and promotes closed-loop flow over multiple product life-cycles. Particularly, this paper provides a detailed description of the mixed integer linear programming model developed to evaluate the impact of alternate product design on their corresponding SC configuration to identify for each design an optimal closed-loop SC configuration that maximizes the profit. The application of the model to an example problem is presented.
Phylogeny and Phylogenetic Nomenclature of the Campanulidae based on an Expanded Sample of Genes and Taxa

Previous attempts to resolve relationships among the primary lineages of Campanulidae (e.g. Apiales, Asterales, Dipsacales) have mostly been unconvincing, and the placement of a number of smaller groups (e.g. Bruniaceae, Columelliaceae, Escalloniaceae) remains uncertain. Here we build on a recent analysis of an incomplete data set that was assembled from the literature for a set of 50 campanulid taxa. To this data set we first added newly generated DNA sequence data for the same set of genes and taxa. Second, we sequenced three additional cpDNA coding regions (ca. 8,000 bp) for the same set of 50 campanulid taxa. Finally, we assembled the most comprehensive sample of campanulid diversity to date, including ca. 17,000 bp of cpDNA for 122 campanulid taxa and five outgroups. Simply filling in missing data in the 50-taxon data set (rendering it 94% complete) resulted in a topology that was similar to earlier studies, but with little additional resolution or confidence. In contrast, the addition of the ca. 8,000 bp of sequence data provided resolution and support for a number of relationships. With the addition of many more campanulid taxa we recovered a well-resolved phylogeny for Campanulidae where, with the exception of the placement of Escalloniaceae, support was high for all major clades. In addition, we were able to confidently place a number of enigmatic taxa, some whose relationships were previously unresolved and some never before included. In light of these results, we briefly expand the discussion of floral symmetry and provide a phylogenetic classification of Campanulidae with phylogenetic definitions for all well-supported major clades.
Phosphoinositide signaling in somatosensory neurons

Somatosensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG) are responsible for detecting thermal and tactile stimuli. They are also the primary neurons mediating pain and itch. A large number of cell surface receptors in these neurons couple to phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes leading to the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and the generation of downstream signaling molecules. These neurons also express many different ion channels, several of which are regulated by phosphoinositides. This review will summarize the knowledge on phosphoinositide signaling in DRG neurons, with special focus on effects on sensory and other ion channels.
Treatment with Tumor-Treating Fields Therapy and Pulse Dose Bevacizumab in Patients with Bevacizumab-Refractory Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Case Series.

Patients with bevacizumab-refractory recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have a poor prognosis. We propose that instead of continuing on bevacizumab, patients should switch to treatment with Optun
Enumeration of antisymmetric monotone triangles and domino tilings of quartered Aztec rectangles

In their unpublished work, Jockusch and Propp showed that a 2-enumeration of antisymmetric monotone triangles is given by a simple product formula. On the other hand, the author proved that the same formula counts the domino tilings of the quartered Aztec rectangle. In this paper, we explain this phenomenon directly by building a correspondence between the antisymmetric monotone triangles and domino tilings of the quartered Aztec rectangle.
Current advances in therapies for osteoarthritis.

Purpose of reviewAlthough osteoarthritis (OA) has received a paucity of attention from researchers in terms of drug development, there have been some significant findings relevant to clinical issues in OA that are summarized in this review.Recent findingsRecent osteoarthritis research has focused on
Consuming Rice, Branding the Nation

Sociologist Janine Chi examines how rice-based dishes and cuisines in Asia are featured in culinary tourism to promote national distinction and identity.
Heavy metal pollution situation in certain rice producing area in 2012

Objective To investigate the heavy metal pollution of rice in certain producing area.Methods Three hundred and eighteen rice samples produced by 65 local farmers from 12 counties in the area were collected to investigate the metals pollution status by methods of 4 national regulations,GB/T5009.11-2003,GB/T5009.12-2003,GB/T5009.15-2003,GB/T5009.17-2003.Results The qualified rate of rice in this area was 87.74%.Cadmium was found exceeding the standard in rice of8 counties,and the over-limit rate was 10.38%.Cd content above 1.00 mg/kg was found in 6 samples and the highest value was 1.18 mg/kg.Excessive Hg was found in rice samples of 4 counties,and the over-limit rate was 1.57%,with 0.3 mg/kg as the maximum value.Conclusion Rice produced in this area has been polluted by heavy metals in a certain degree,especially the excessive Cd in rice,it is suggested to strengthen heavy metal monitoring of rice in this producing area.
Longitudinal Relations Among Parental Monitoring Strategies, Knowledge, and Adolescent Delinquency in a Racially Diverse At-Risk Sample

Parents raising youth in high-risk communities at times rely on active, involved monitoring strategies in order to increase both knowledge about youth activities and the likelihood that adolescents will abstain from problem behavior. Key monitoring literature suggests that some of these active monitoring strategies predict increases in adolescent problem behavior rather than protect against it. However, this literature has studied racially homogenous, low-risk samples, raising questions about generalizability. With a diverse sample of youth (N = 753; 58% male; 46% Black) and families living in high-risk neighborhoods, bidirectional longitudinal relations were examined among three aspects of monitoring (parental discussions of daily activities, parental curfew rules, and adolescent communication with parents), parental knowledge, and youth delinquency. Parental discussion of daily activities was the strongest predictor of parental knowledge, which negatively predicted delinquency. However, these aspects of monitoring did not predict later delinquency. Findings were consistent across gender and race/urbanicity. Results highlight the importance of active and involved parental monitoring strategies in contexts where they are most needed.
Long-term functional outcomes and quality of life in adult survivors of childhood extremity sarcomas: a report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study

This study compared measured physical performance, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and social role attainment between extremity sarcoma survivors and controls, and evaluated associations between disease and treatment exposures, health conditions, and performance measures. Survivors of extremity sarcoma from the St. Jude Lifetime cohort and controls frequency matched by age-, sex-, and race completed physical performance testing and questionnaires. Survivors with Z-scores on outcome measures ≤ −2.0 SD (compared to controls) were categorized with severe impairment/limitation. Among 206 survivors (52.4 % male median age 36 years (range 19–65)), 37 % had low relative lean mass, 9.7 % had an ejection fraction <50 %, 51.5 % had diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide <75 %, 27.7 % had sensory and 25.2 % motor neuropathy, and 78.2 % had musculoskeletal complications. Severe impairments/limitations were present among ≥25 % of survivors on fitness, balance, and physical HRQOL measures, and among ≥15 % on strength and activity of daily living measures. Lower extremity tumor location (OR 8.23, 95 % CI 2.54–26.67, P value 0.0004) and amputation (OR 8.07, 95 % CI 3.06–21.27, P value <0.0001) were associated with poor fitness. Poor fitness was associated with increased odds of scoring <40 on the SF-36 physical component summary (OR 4.83, 95 % CI 1.95–11.99, P value 0.001) and role-physical subscale (OR 3.34, 95 % CI 1.33–8.43, P value 0.01). Survivors and controls had similar rates of marriage, independent living, employment, and college attendance. Extremity sarcoma survivors experience high rates of physical impairment and report lower than expected physical HRQOL. However, they are as likely as peers to be married, live independently, be employed, and attend college. Follow-up for extremity sarcoma survivors should include assessment of need for further orthopedic care and rehabilitation to address cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal health.
Rehabilitation for the post-cleft nasolabial stigma.

The post-cleft central facial stigma is a psychologically crippling deformity that challenges the reconstructive surgeon’s imagination. Rewarding improvements can be achieved through a combination of an “elephant trunk” open approach and restoration of existing structural elements with addition of a central cartilage or bony columellar strut capped by cartilage to provide nasal tip projection. The entire deformity must be considered and, if needed, maxillary or lip revisionai surgery must be done to obtain optimal results.
Ricor K506B Cryocooler Performance during the Clementine Mission and Ground Testing: A Status Report

Two Ricor K506B Stirling cycle cryocoolcrs with H-10 control electronics were used on the Clementine spacecraft, one cooling a 256 × 256 InSb infrared detector for the near-infrared (NIR) camera and the other cooling a 128 × 128 HgCdTe focal plane array on the longwave infrared (LWIR) camera. This is the first use of these Ricor Stirling cryocoolers in a space environment. This mission has demonstrated the use of these Clementine lightweight imaging sensors in the demanding environment of space, and and has space-qualified this Ricor cryocooler. Moreover, nearly the entire 38 million square kilometers of the Moon’s surface was mapped in 11 spectral bands, six in the near-infrared, during the 71 days of lunar mapping. The more than 1.6 million digital images collected are providing mineral typing scientific data to the international civilian scientific community.
ADHD and Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders

The association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUD) was studied by familial risk analysis at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Connectivity in Semi-Algebraic Sets.

A semi-algebraic set is a subset of the real space defined by polynomial equations and inequalities having real coefficients and is a union of finitely many maximally connected components. We consider the problem of deciding whether two given points in a semi-algebraic set are connected; that is, whether the two points lie in the same connected component. In particular, we consider the semi-algebraic set defined by f 0 where f is a given polynomial with integer coefficients. The motivation comes from the observation that many important or non-trivial problems in science and engineering can be often reduced to that of connectivity. Due to its importance, there has been intense research effort on the problem. We will describe a symbolic-numeric method based on gradient ascent. The method will be described in two papers. The first paper (the present one) will describe the symbolic part and the forthcoming second paper will describe the numeric part. In the present paper, we give proofs of correctness and termination for the symbolic part and illustrate the efficacy of the method using several non-trivial examples.