cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Compensatory falsetto”: Effects on vocal quality

The term "compensatory falsetto", for the purpose of this investigation, refers to the development of an abnormally high-pitched voice in the presence of laryngeal pathology where more socially acceptable lower pitched voice production is possible. The purpose of this investigation was to compare laryngeal compensations and their effects on objective measures of vocal function during production of compensatory falsetto voice. Eighteen patients with abnormally high-pitched voice in the presence of underlying laryngeal pathology were evaluated in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami School of Medicine from January, 1988 through December, 1992 and were diagnosed with "compensatory falsetto". Vocal fold paralysis (n = 11) was the most common laryngeal pathology. Vibratory characteristics were evaluated through videostrobolaryngoscopic examination. Acoustic and aerodynamic parameters assessed included fundamental frequency, jitter rate, harmonic-to-noise ratio, glottal air flow, and maximum phonation time. Production of a higher-pitched voice appeared to improve glottic closure and decrease the amount of air loss during phonation. A corresponding increase in maximum phonation time and improvement in acoustic characteristics of jitter and harmonic-to-noise ratio was also observed.
Viscoelastic Properties of Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese: Effect of Calcium, Storage, and Test Temperature

Abstract Part skim Mozzarella cheeses with four levels of calcium (0.65% in control, 0.48% in T 1, 0.42% in T 2, and 0.35% in T 3) were manufactured on four separate occasions. Effect of varying calcium levels on viscoelastic properties of these cheeses was studied. Elastic (G′) and viscous (G′′) modulus were determined on day 1, 7, 15, and 30. Effect of increasing cheese temperature from 25 to 45°C during the test was also determined. Low calcium cheeses (0.35% in T 3 vs. 0.65% in control) had lower value of elastic (0.83 MPa vs. 1.89 MPa) and viscous modulus (0.57 MPa vs. 1.43 MPa). During storage, a decline in viscoelastic properties of the cheese was also noticed. After 30 days of storage, the elastic modulus of control and lowest calcium cheese (T 3) declined from 1.89 MPa to 1.69 MPa and from 0.83 to 0.55 MPa, respectively. Similar reduction in viscous modulus of control and lowest calcium cheeses (T 3) was also noticed after 30 days, i.e., values of G′′ declined from 1.43 to 1.25 MPa in control and...
SCHOLARSHIP AND PERIODIZATION

Davis argues that the familiar periodization dividing European history into medieval and modern phases disguises a claim to power as a historical fact. It justifies slavery and subjugation by projecting them onto the “feudal” Middle Ages and non-European present, while hiding forms of slavery and subjugation practiced by “secular” modernity. Periodization thus furnishes one of the most durable conceptual foundations for the usurpation of liberty and the abuse of power. In part I, devoted to “feudalism,” Davis traces the legal, political, and colonial struggles behind the development of the concept of “feudal law” in early modern France and England and unravels just how that concept hides colonial oppression while justifying European sovereignty. In part II, devoted to “secularization,” she demonstrates the failure of twentieth-century critics of “secularization” like Carl Schmitt, Walter Benjamin, Karl Lowith, Hans Blumenberg, and Reinhart Koselleck to break out of the limits imposed by the medieval/modern periodization. Part II concludes with a look at conceptual alternatives in the writings of Amitav Ghosh and the Venerable Bede. Three limitations of this book are worth mentioning. It traces the political history hidden by the concept of “feudalism,” but does not trace the political history hidden by the concept of “religion.” It offers no answer to the question of how to break the link between scholarship and politics without ending up in a logical impasse or reinforcing the link. It does not address the possibility that answering this question may require breaking with the terms of professional historical inquiry. Perhaps the question could be answered in terms like those that led Wittgenstein to characterize his Philosophical Investigations as remarks on the natural history of human beings.
Optimal usage of transmission capacity with FACTS devices in the presence of wind generation: A two-stage approach

FACTS devices provide the opportunity for fast and flexible power flow control and consequently to improve the usage of the existing transmission system. Given the desire to increase the amount of wind generation, these devices play an important role in efficiently bringing the power from these resources to the loads. In this paper, a control scheme is proposed to determine the optimal steady-state settings of the FACTS devices in order to fully utilize the existing transmission infrastructures in the presence of intermittent and variable energy resources. The proposed control approach is a two-stage algorithm based on regression analysis, which calculates the optimal settings of the FACTS devices by only using a limited amount of local information. The control approach is implemented for the thyristor-controlled series compensator (TCSC) and tested in the IEEE 14-bus system. Simulation results are presented demonstrating the performance of the proposed two-stage control scheme.
Lipid signaling changes in smooth muscle remodeling associated with partial urinary bladder outlet obstruction.

Aims Hypertrophy of the urinary bladder smooth muscle (detrusor) is associated with partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO). Hypertrophied detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) reveals altered contractile characteristics. In this study, we analyzed the lipid-dependent signaling system that includes phospholipase A2 in PBOO-induced DSM remodeling and hypertrophy to determine whether the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from phospholipid is altered in the detrusor. Methods Partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) was produced by partial ligation of the urethra in New Zealand white rabbits. Two weeks after the surgery, the bladder function was studied by keeping the rabbits in metabolic cages for 24 hr. Bladders were removed from rabbits that had bladder dysfunction (increased urinary frequency and decreased void volume) and the DSM separated from mucosa and serosa. The isolated smooth muscle was incubated with [3H] AA to equilibrate the cytoplasmic AA. The level of AA release was compared with the level obtained with 2-week sham-operated rabbits. Results The rate of AA release was high in DSM from bladders with PBOO-induced hypertrophy. Carbachol stimulated AA release in control DSM but DSM from obstructed rabbits revealed no further increase from the elevated basal AA release. The half-maximal concentration of carbachol that was required to stimulate AA release from control samples of detrusor was 35 µM. Conclusions The increased levels of AA release that are observed in this tissue after PBOO indicate the activation of phospholipase A2. The finding that carbachol could induce contraction, but not an increase in AA, indicates that the carbachol-induced contraction in the obstructed bladders is independent of lipid signaling pathways that involve AA. It is possible that the increased rate of arachidonic acid release from obstructed bladders correlates with the enhanced rates of prostaglandin production reported by other investigators from the same tissue. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Carnivalesque Approach to the Politics of Consumption (or) Grotesque Realism and the Analytics of the Excretory Economy

Politics of consumption analyses often evince a moralistic subtext that traces to the nineteenth-century fusion of Calvinism and patriarchal sexual politics. This spermatic legacy has channeled these critical discourses in a therapeutic direction that attenuates their realpolitik relevance. Drawing from Bakhtin's account of the carnivalesque, the author argues for an analytics of the excretory economy that eschews therapeutic goals in favor of muckraking scholarship that critically analyzes specific market systems and their constitutive networks of power relationships and material consequences. The author concludes by discussing some ways in which muckraking scholarship can mobilize citizen-consumers to the activist cause of transforming structural conditions that render specific facets of commercial culture problematic.
Chronic suppurative otitis media and the pathologic labyrinthine fistula

Chronic suppurative otitis media is a dangerous illness. By location, it jeopardizes the middle ear ossicles, the facial nerve, the inner ear, and endocranially, the dural vessels, meninges and brain parenchyma. It is a regard for this infection and the prevention of these complications that dictates an eradication of the illness by surgical intervention; yet, on occasion, one or more of these complications occur and while the proper way to handle most of them has been stressed periodically in the recent literature, one complication, the labyrinthine fistula, has received little attention since the pre–antibiotic days;1,2 thus, surgery has a two–fold function, being therapeutic for the infection and prophylactic for the complications.
Effect of increasing disorder on the critical behavior of a Coulomb system

We have performed a Monte Carlo study of a classical three-dimensional Coulomb system in which we systematically increase the positional disorder. We start from a completely ordered system and gradually transition to a Coulomb glass. The phase transition as a function of temperature is second order for all values of disorder. We use finite size scaling to determine the transition temperature ${T}_{C}$ and the critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}$. We find that ${T}_{C}$ decreases and that $\ensuremath{\nu}$ increases with increasing disorder. We also observe changes in the specific heat, the single-particle density of states, and the staggered occupation as a function of disorder and temperature.
Dopamine transport into a single cell in a picoliter vial.

The analysis of chemical events in small volumes requires careful manipulation of samples and sensitive detection methods. Here, we describe the measurement of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a picoliter vial with electrochemical techniques. The vials were fabricated from fused-silica capillaries that provided a transparent container suitable for the observation and manipulation of a biological cell, sample solutions, and electrodes. Evaporation of the sample was prevented with a mineral oil layer, allowing for experiments lasting for several minutes. The small volume of these vials (100−200 pL) allows rapid mixing of all of the solution reagents. Similarly, the small volume allows exhaustive electrolysis of the vial contents with a 3-μm radius, disk-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode within 60 s. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes was used to monitor the concentration of analyte in the vial without depleting its contents. The concentration of dopamine introduced by pneumatic in...
Coordinate Transcriptional Repression of Liver Fatty Acid-binding Protein and Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Blocks Hepatic Very Low Density Lipoprotein Secretion without Hepatosteatosis

Unlike the livers of humans and mice, and most hepatoma cells, which accumulate triglycerides when treated with microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitors, L35 rat hepatoma cells do not express MTP and cannot secrete very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), yet they do not accumulate triglyceride. In these studies we show that transcriptional co-repression of the two lipid transfer proteins, liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and MTP, which cooperatively shunt fatty acids into de novo synthesized glycerolipids and the transfer of lipids into VLDL, respectively, act together to maintain hepatic lipid homeostasis. FAO rat hepatoma cells express L-FABP and MTP and demonstrate the ability to assemble and secrete VLDL. In contrast, L35 cells, derived as a single cell clone from FAO cells, do not express L-FABP or MTP nor do they assemble and secrete VLDL. We used these hepatoma cells to elucidate how a conserved DR1 promoter element present in the promoters of L-FABP and MTP affects transcription, expression, and VLDL production. In FAO cells, the DR1 elements of both L-FABP and MTP promoters are occupied by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α-retinoid X receptor α (RXRα), with which PGC-1β activates transcription. In contrast, in L35 cells the DR1 elements of both L-FABP and MTP promoters are occupied by chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II, and transcription is diminished. The combined findings indicate that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α-RXRα and PGC-1β coordinately up-regulate L-FABP and MTP expression, by competing with chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II for the DR1 sites in the proximal promoters of each gene. Additional studies show that ablation of L-FABP prevents hepatic steatosis caused by treating mice with an MTP inhibitor. Our findings show that reducing both L-FABP and MTP is an effective means to reduce VLDL secretion without causing hepatic steatosis.
An improved rigidity penalty for deformable registration of head and neck images in intensity-modulated radiation therapy

A new rigidity penalty was developed to improve the accuracy of an intensity-based B-spline deformable image registration, and its impact on the displacement vector field (DVF) within cervical vertebrae was investigated. The developed rigidity penalty was tested on ten (10) pairs of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The results were compared to those with a conventional rigidity penalty based on the orthonormality of the deformation gradient tensor. The registration error calculated on the DVFs with both penalties was defined as the distance from the ground-truth DVFs obtained by aligning surface models of the pairs of the image data sets. The ability of the image registration methods to cover multiple rigid body motions was evaluated by using orthogonal Procrustes analysis. The results show that the new rigidity penalty better discouraged local deformation within the skeletal components than the conventional orthonormality penalty.
Type I congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs in a Hereford calf

A 3-day-old Hereford calf was presented for general weakness and severe dyspnoea. Lateral radiographs projections showed several compartmentalized gas filled structures in the caudodorsal thorax. At necropsy each diaphragmatic lung lobe contained a large cyst. Gross and histopathologic findings were consistent with a congenital type I cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs.
Eye-position study of the effects of a verbal prompt and pictorial backgrounds on the search for lung nodules in chest radiographs

Peripherally inconspicuous nodules on chest radiographs are frequently missed by competent readers. In order to find a peripherally inconspicuous nodule the reader must inspect the nodule site with the central vision and decide if the features at the site are sufficiently characteristic to report a nodule. The experiment reported here was carried out to examine the effect of a nodule prompt and distraction by unrelated native abnormalities on the location and recognition of inconspicuous lung nodules on chest x-ray images. On two occasions separated by 3 years, 4 radiologists had their eye- position recorded while viewing 24 chest radiographs, 12 with prominent native abnormalities and 12 with no abnormalities. An inconspicuous nodule was simulated in the lungs of half of the radiographs on the first viewing and in the other half on the second viewing. For the first viewing, the readers were instructed to report any abnormalities. For the second viewing the readers were told to report any abnormalities including nodules. A nodule prompt triggers a scanning strategy that sends the central vision to high probability nodule sites early in search and at the same time relaxes the criteria used to evaluate nodule features resulting in more true positives and false positives without a change in absolute detectability. Prominent native abnormalities, unrelated to nodules, do not affect the search strategy but competitively inhibit the nodule feature recognition mechanism.
Structural dependence of electric field gradients in Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 from first principles

First-principles all-electron density functional theory calculations of electric field gradients (EFGs) are presented for $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and structural models of $\mathrm{Pb}({\mathrm{Zr}}_{1∕2}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{1∕2}){\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Calculations were carried out as a function of $B$-site chemical ordering, applied strain, and imposed symmetry. Large changes in the EFGs are seen as the electric polarization rotates between the tetragonal and monoclinic structures. The onset of polarization rotation in $Cm$ symmetry strongly correlates with the shearing of the $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ octahedra, and there is a sharp change in slope in plots of Ti EFGs vs octahedral distortion index. Trends in the calculated oxygen EFGs are consistent with recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, which indicate significant sensitivity of oxygen NMR peaks to changes in the local structure as a function of Ti concentration. Calculated Ti EFGs are considerably larger than those inferred from the NMR measurements. Based on comparisons with experiment, the calculated results are interpreted in terms of static and dynamic structural models of $\mathrm{Pb}({\mathrm{Zr}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{x}){\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.
Image enhancement based on transform coefficient histogram shifting and shaping

This paper proposes two image enhancement algorithms that are based on utilizing histogram data gathered from wavelet transform domain coefficients. Computer simulations demonstrate that combining the spatial method of histogram equalization with the wavelet transform domain coefficient histograms achieves a much more balanced enhancement, which outperforms classical histogram equalization algorithms.
Pathology of the hereditary macular dystrophies

THE HEREDITARY macular dystrophies are a small group of disorders, most of which are rarely encountered, that share certain features. The most common presentation is a history of slowly progressive visual loss that occurs early in life and is associated with a bilateral, often symmetric maculopathy. The ophthalmoscopic abnormalities are confined to the macula or posterior pole and visual function outside the central retina is normal. A positive family history should be sought by careful questioning and examination of appropriate family members.
Changing views of Carolingian women's literary culture: the evidence from Essen

This article endeavours to show that much of what has been considered ‘exceptional’ in Carolingian women's literary culture had in fact a much wider purview. An examination of key elements of a ninth-century codex illuminates the continuity between the manuscript's creators and intended audience, providing plausible evidence for female involvement in the production and utilization of intricate literary compilations and, thus, also for a more inclusive role for women in the Carolingian Renaissance.
Structural constraints on autoprocessing of the human nucleoporin Nup98.

Nucleoporin Nup98, a 98-kDa protein component of the nuclear pore complex, plays an important role in both protein and RNA transport. During its maturation process, Nup98 undergoes post-translational autoproteolysis, which is critical for targeting to the NPC. Here we present high-resolution crystal structures of the C-terminal autoproteolytic domains of Nup98 (2.3 A for the wild type and 1.9 A for the S864A precursor), and propose a detailed autoproteolysis mechanism through an N–O acyl shift. Structural constraints are found at the autocleavage site, and could thus provide a driving force for autocleavage at the scissile peptide bond. Such structural constraints appear to be generated, at least in part, by anchoring a conserved phenylalanine side chain into a highly conserved hydrophobic pocket at the catalytic site. Our high-resolution crystal structures also reveal that three highly conserved residues, Tyr866, Gly867, and Leu868, provide most of the interactions between the autoproteolytic domain and the C-terminal tail. These results suggest that Nup98 may represent a new subtype of protein that utilizes autoprocessing to control biogenesis pathways and intracellular translocation.
Interactions between hydrophobic side chains within α‐helices

The thermodynamic basis of helix stability in peptides and proteins is a topic of considerable interest. Accordingly, we have computed the interactions between side chains of all hydrophobic residue pairs and selected triples in a model helix, using Boltzmann-weighted exhaustive modeling. Specifically, all possible pairs from the set Ala, Cys, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Trp, Tyr, and Val were modeled at spacings of (i, i + 2), (i, i + 3), and (i, i + 4) in the central turn of a model poly-alanyl alpha-helix. Significant interactions--both stabilizing and destabilizing-- were found to occur at spacings of (i, i + 3) and (i, i + 4), particularly in side chains with rings (i.e., Phe, Tyr, Trp, and His). In addition, modeling of leucine triples in a helix showed that the free energy can exceed the sum of pairwise interactions in certain cases. Our calculated interaction values both rationalize recent experimental data and provide previously unavailable estimates of the constituent energies and entropies of interaction.
The many varieties of E′ centers: a review

Abstract Three varieties of E′ centers with a spin state, S = 1 2 , and with a G - tensor , G x ∼ G y ∼ 2.0003, G z ∼ 2.0018 , were identified in the early reports on paramagnetic states in irradiated α-quartz. The atomic structure of two of these had an hydrogen ion (proton) in nearby sites and hence there are hyperfine interactions of the E′ electrons with the nuclear moments of the hydrogens, I = 1 2 . These three types have not yet been resolved in the spectra of silicas. In addition, two other variants on the oxygen vacancy configuration of the E′ center have been observed in silica. In α-quartz, four varieties of E″ centers have been observed for which S = 1. One of the these has been resolved in the spectra of some silicas. The progressive reduction of SiO2 to SiO(2 − x) for which 0 G - value increases from ∼ 2.0010 to ∼ 2.0055 and with a width of ∼ 0.05 mT. The 2.005 G - value is that observed for paramagnetic electrons in amorphous Si. The spectra of these states are resolved from the E′ spectrum when x > 1.38. This E′ type is observed in ion-implanted silica.
BookExpo America 2011

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on e‐book readers and e‐book technology at the BookExpo America conference held in New York City, May 2011.Design/methodology/approach – The author attended the conference and compiled a report.Findings – Interest in e‐books is growing and the many companies offering e‐book readers, enhanced e‐books and technology to produce e‐books is increasing.Originality/value – This is an up‐to‐date report on what is happening in the e‐book industry.
Abstract 185: MicroRNA-375 suppresses extracellular matrix degradation and invadopodial activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Context.— Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly invasive cancer with an association with locoregional recurrence and lymph node metastasis. We have previously reported that low microRNA-375 (miR-375) expression levels correlate with poor patient survival, increased locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis. Increasing miR-375 expression in HNSCC cell lines to levels found in normal cells results in suppressed invasive properties. HNSCC invasion is mediated in part by invadopodia-associated degradation of the extracellular matrix. Objective.— To determine whether elevated miR-375 expression in HNSCC cell lines also affects invadopodia formation and activity. Design.— For evaluation of the matrix degradation properties of the HNSCC lines, an invadopodial matrix degradation assay was used. The total protein levels of invadopodia-associated proteins were measured by Western blot analyses. Immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted to evaluate the tyrosine phosphorylation state of...
Emergent literacy is emerging knowledge of written, not oral, language.

Although some may consider children's developing oral language as key to literacy development, the author argues that it is children's development of knowledge of written language that is important. This has significant implications for home and school environments and activities.
Processing continual range queries over moving objects using VCR-based query indexes

This paper describes VCR-based query indexes for efficient processing of continual range queries over moving objects. A set of virtual construct rectangles (VCR) is predefined, each with a unique ID. One or more VCRs is used to strictly cover the entire region defined by a range query. The query index maintains a mapping from each VCR to the range queries that contain that VCR. The use of VCRs provides an indirect and cost-effective way of precomputing the search result for any object position, making possible efficient search operations. More importantly, it allows the processing of continual range queries to capitalize on incremental changes in object locations. Computation can be saved for objects that have not moved out of VCR boundaries. We study different strategies to cover a query region with VCRs and conduct simulations to compare them.
Development of Liquid-Filled Type Cross-Linked Polyethylene Cable

Cross-linked polyethylene is now being used for cables of higher and higher voltage. However, cross-linked polyethylene cables must have a considerable thickness of insulation, and efforts have been made to reduce it as far as possible. Research to attain further improvement in this respect has led to success in the development of a new type of power cable. This new type of cable is made by extruding cross-linked polyethylene over a stranded or hollow conductor and has a specially selected liquid between the conductor and the insulation at all times. It is a cable having an excellent voltage stability. In this report are mentioned various fundamental data obtained in the course of the development of such a liquid-filled type cross-linked polyethylene cable and the characteristics of this cable.
Efficient inversion of Toeplitz-block Toeplitz matrix

An iterative algorithm for the inversion of a Toeplitz-block Toeplitz matrix consisting of m × m blocks of size p × p is described. The algorithm presented exploits the structure of the Toeplitz-block Toeplitz matrix and outperforms Akaike's algorithm by a factor of \max {2(p/m), 2} . The use of this algorithm for an iterative solution of a Toeplitz-block Toeplitz set of linear equations is also presented.
Preliminary validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale

Previous research has found similarities between addiction to psychoactive substances and excessive food consumption. Further exploration is needed to evaluate the concept of "food addiction," as there is currently a lack of psychometrically validated measurement tools in this area. The current study represents a preliminary exploration of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), designed to identify those exhibiting signs of addiction towards certain types of foods (e.g., high fat and high sugar). Survey data were collected from 353 respondents from a stratified random sample of young adults. In addition to the YFAS, the survey assessed eating pathology, alcohol consumption and other health behaviors. The YFAS exhibited adequate internal reliability, and showed good convergent validity with measures of similar constructs and good discriminant validity relative to related but dissimilar constructs. Additionally, the YFAS predicted binge-eating behavior above and beyond existing measures of eating pathology, demonstrating incremental validity. The YFAS is a sound tool for identifying eating patterns that are similar to behaviors seen in classic areas of addiction. Further evaluation of the scale is needed, especially due to a low response rate of 24.5% and a non-clinical sample, but confirmation of the reliability and validity of the scale has the potential to facilitate empirical research on the concept of "food addiction".
Microvascular repair: post-angiogenesis vascular dynamics.

Vascular compromise and the accompanying perfusion deficits cause or complicate a large array of disease conditions and treatment failures. This has prompted the exploration of therapeutic strategies to repair or regenerate vasculatures thereby establishing more competent microcirculatory beds. Growing evidence indicates that an increase in vessel numbers within a tissue does not necessarily promote an increase in tissue perfusion. Effective regeneration of a microcirculation entails the integration of new stable microvessel segments into the network via neovascularization. Beginning with angiogenesis, neovascularization entails an integrated series of vascular activities leading to the formation of a new mature microcirculation and includes vascular guidance and inosculation, vessel maturation, pruning, arterio-venous specification, network patterning, structural adaptation, intussusception, and microvascular stabilization. While the generation of new vessel segments is necessary to expand a network, without the concomitant neovessel remodeling and adaptation processes intrinsic to microvascular network formation, these additional vessel segments give rise to a dysfunctional microcirculation. While many of the mechanisms regulating angiogenesis have been detailed, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms driving post-angiogenesis activities specific to neovascularization has yet to be fully realized, but is necessary in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies for repairing compromised microcirculations as a means to treat disease.
On the Cost of Network Inference Mechanisms

A number of network path delay, loss, or bandwidth inference mechanisms have been proposed over the past decade. Concurrently, several network measurement services have been deployed over the Internet and intranets. We consider inference mechanisms that use O(n) end-to-end measurements to predict the O(n2) end-to-end pairwise measurements among n nodes, and investigate when it is beneficial to use them in measurement services. In particular, we address the following questions : 1) For which measurement request patterns would using an inference mechanism be advantageous? 2) How does a measurement service determine the set of hosts that should utilize inference mechanisms, as opposed to those that are better served using direct end-to-end measurements? We explore three solutions that identify groups of hosts which are likely to benefit from inference. We compare these solutions in terms of effectiveness and algorithmic complexity. Results with synthetic data sets and data sets from a popular peer-to-peer system demonstrate that our techniques accurately identify host subsets that benefit from inference, in significantly less time than an algorithm that identifies optimal subsets. The measurement savings are large when measurement request patterns exhibit small-world characteristics, which is often the case. (Part of this work (focusing on one of three solutions presented in this paper) appeared in).
The revised American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (7th edition) improves prognostic stratification after minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Staging for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma lacked sufficient prognostic accuracy and was revised. We compared survival prognostication between American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th and 7th editions. Methods We abstracted data for 836 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (n = 256 neoadjuvant). Monotonicity and strength of survival trends, by stage, were assessed (log-rank test of trend chi-square statistic) and compared using permutation testing. Overall survival (Cox regression) and model fit (Akaike Information Criterion) were determined. Results A greater log-rank test of trend statistic indicated stronger survival trends by stage in AJCC 7th (152.872 vs 167.623; permutation test P Conclusion AJCC 7th edition staging for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma provides superior prognostic stratification after minimally invasive esophagectomy, overall and after neoadjuvant therapy compared with AJCC 6th edition.
Integrated materials enabling TSV/3D-TSV

There is a consistence flux of miniaturization, value added functionality to IC packaging/modules driven by significant increase of mobile/networking products in the consumer market. The advanced packaging technologies, particularly TSV/3D-TSV approach is driving innovative design and novel applications. This paper examines the challenges for TSV/3D packaging and in particular some material solutions for via creation, via cleaning, via fill, thinning and bonding for stack and assembly.
Cystic islet cell tumor of the pancreas.

Presented is the fifth case of a cystic islet cell tumor of the pancreas. The diagnosis is usually made postoperatively but should be considered in a patient with “recurrent pseudocyst” or a history incompatible with pseudocyst in combination with a cystic area in the pancreas. Computed tomography is preferred for diagnosis, and resection is the preferred therapy.
Naked Deltahedral Silicon Clusters in Solution: Synthesis and Characterization of Si93- and Si52-

Elusive for over 100 years, deltahedral Zintl ions of silicon are finally synthesized and structurally characterized. The two clusters reported here, Si93- and Si52-, are analogous to known clusters of the heavier members of this group: Ge, Sn, and Pb.
Institutional Congruence, Ideas, and Anticorruption Policy: The Case of China and the United States

While international comparisons of anticorruption policies abound, whether these policies are transferable and how they change inside national boundaries remain debatable. Kaifeng Yang of Florida State University proposes an institutional framework that emphasizes the role of congruence and ideas in institutional change. In comparing China to the United States, the author concludes that anticorruption institutional change is path dependent, as it is nested in fundamental political structures and meta-narratives. Professor Yang proposes the possibility that new ideas may cause gradual changes with radical results.
Concepts and a model for the comparison of medical systems as cultural systems

Abstract A model and related concepts are present for ethnographic and comparative research on medical systems as cultural systems. The major structural and functional aspects of the health care system model are briefly sketched. Clinical realities, explanatory model (EM) transactions in health care relationships, a distinction between disease/illness, cultural healing and cultural iatrogenesis, and the core adaptive taks of health care systems are concepts based on this model which have practical clinical and public health, as well as research, implications. A number of hypotheses are outlined which can be used to focus medical ethnographies and to construct comparative cross-cultural studies of health care systems. The model, concepts, and hypotheses attempt to exploit medical anthropology's fundamental tension between medical and anthropological interests; and thereby to contribute to the development of theory that is original to this discipline.
A Domain in the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Triplex Protein VP23 Is Essential for Closure of Capsid Shells into Icosahedral Structures

VP23 is a key component of the triplex structure. The triplex, which is unique to herpesviruses, is a complex of three proteins, two molecules of VP23 which interact with a single molecule of VP19C. This structure is important for shell accretion and stability of the protein coat. Previous studies utilized a random transposition mutagenesis approach to identify functional domains of the triplex proteins. In this study, we expand on those findings to determine the key amino acids of VP23 that are required for triplex formation. Using alanine-scanning mutagenesis, we have made mutations in 79 of 318 residues of the VP23 polypeptide. These mutations were screened for function both in the yeast two-hybrid assay for interaction with VP19C and in a genetic complementation assay for the ability to support the replication of a VP23 null mutant virus. These assays identified a number of amino acids that, when altered, abolish VP23 function. Abrogation of virus assembly by a single-amino-acid change bodes well for future development of small-molecule inhibitors of this process. In addition, a number of mutations which localized to a C-terminal region of VP23 (amino acids 205 to 241) were still able to interact with VP19C but were lethal for virus replication when introduced into the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) KOS genome. The phenotype of many of these mutant viruses was the accumulation of large open capsid shells. This is the first demonstration of capsid shell accumulation in the presence of a lethal VP23 mutation. These data thus identify a new domain of VP23 that is required for or regulates capsid shell closure during virus assembly.
Large benign submucosal lipoma presented with descending colonic intussusception in an adult.

PATIENT Female, 34 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Lipoma of the large intestine Symptoms: Abdominal pain • bloating • blood in stool • constipation • lose of appetite • nausea MEDICATION - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Surgery. OBJECTIVE Rare disease. BACKGROUND Lipoma of the large intestine is rare, account for only 5% of all gastrointestinal tumors. Lipomas are usually asymptomatic but rarely may cause bleeding, obstruction and intussusception. We present a case of a giant colonic lipoma causing descending-colonic intussusception. CASE REPORT 34 yo F presented with the intermittent left lower quadrant abdominal pain for 3 weeks. The pain initially was associated with bloating and constipation and for the last several days frank blood in stool, nausea and decreased appetite. CT scan of the abdomen revealed descending colonic obstruction by a 5.3 cm colonic lipomatous mass with resultant intussusception. PATIENT initially underwent colonoscopy that revealed polypoid lesion at 3-40 similar to lipoma with intussusception that was reduced. PATIENT subsequently underwent laparoscopic segmental left colectomy for the descending colonic intussusception due to large colonic lipomatous mass. Pathology confirmed the histology of lipoma. CONCLUSIONS Adult bowel intussusception is a rare but challenging condition to diagnose in a timely manner. Preoperative diagnosis is usually missed or delayed because of nonspecific and often subacute symptoms. Lipoma is a rare cause of the intussusception. A high index of suspicion and appropriate investigations (abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and colonoscopy) can result in prompt diagnosis. Lipoma of the large intestine is very rare. Submucosal lipomas are usually asymptomatic but may cause bleeding, obstruction, intussusception, or abdominal pain. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is difficult and lipoma is often mistaken for adenomatous polyp or carcinoma. Treatment usually requires formal resection of the involved bowel segment due to high suspicion for malignancy and subsequent complications due to obstruction.
Policy Brief: The Case for Using Robust Measures to Evaluate Nonprofit Organizations

Although nonprofit organizations are expected to engage in continuous evaluation, its effectiveness is hampered by limited resources and competing and untested instruments. This paper makes the case for the creation and use of more robust measures in nonprofit evaluation. Specifically, we argue for the involvement of nonprofits in the development of reliable and valid instruments that can be used to benchmark nonprofit organizations against one another and for funders and government to support these efforts through their investment in nonprofit measurement. We cite a particular measure, The Nonprofit Capacities Instrument, as an exemplar.
Estimating Length of Stay by Patient Type in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objective Develop length of stay prediction models for neonatal intensive care unit patients. Study Design We used data from 2008 to 2010 to construct length of stay models for neonates admitted within 1 day of age to neonatal intensive care units and surviving to discharge home. Results Our sample included 23,551 patients. Median length of stay was 79 days when birth weight was < 1,000 g, 46 days for 1,000 to 1,500 g, 21 days for 1,500 to 2,500 g, and 8 days for ≥2,500 g. Risk factors for longer length of stay varied by weight. Units with shorter length of stay for one weight group had shorter lengths of stay for other groups. Conclusion Risk models for comparative assessments of length of stay need to appropriately account for weight, particularly considering the cutoff of 1,500 g. Refining prediction may benefit counseling of families and health care systems to efficiently allocate resources.
Utilization of ß-Diketones for Etching and Cleaning of Metal Oxide and Sulfide Thin Films

We are examining dry processes for wafer cleaning and producing patterned thin films of metal oxides. This research focuses on determining the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between s-diketones and selected metal oxides. Preliminary experiments indicated that CuO, MgO, PbO and ZnO all react readily with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone (hfacH). Thin films of CuO and MgO were fabricated via pulsed laser deposition, characterized by various analytical techniques such as Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry and Scanning Electron Microscopy, etched using hfacH, and then further characterized. Etching rates for CuO and MgO were measured in order to develop a mechanistic understanding of the reaction.
Hematogenous Hexamitiasis in a Macaque Monkey with an Immunodeficiency Syndrome

COLLEAGUES - Protozoans of the Hexamita species are common gastrointestinal parasites of poultry, mice, rats, and hamsters [1] and have been reported as occasional gastrointestinal parasites in nonhuman primates [2]. We have observed the first case of hematogenous hexamitiasis in a primate. It occurred as an opportunistic infection in a rhesus monkey with the macaque immunodeficiency syndrome. An 11-month-old M mulatta was observed to have diffuse lymphadenopathy. At that time serum-chemistry showed elevated liver-function tests; hematologic studies showed a leukocyte count of 1.4 x 103/ mm3 with a differential of 26% neutrophils, 32% lymphocytes, 22010 monocytes, and 20% large, atypical mononuclear cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. Flagellated parasites with the morphological appearance of Hexamita organisms were seen at a frequency of 6-8 per high-power field on the peripheral blood smear. Although a course of treatment with metronidazole substantially decreased this hematogenous protozoal burden, the animal died two weeks later of an overwhelming bacterial pneumonia. At necropsy all examined lymph nodes had an absence of follicles, marked lymphocytic depletion, and extensive histiocytosis. The stroma of the nodes had a hyalinized appearance, and blood vessels were prominent. This macaque showed evidence of a process (similar to acquired immune deficiency syndrome) that we have recently observed in macaque monkeys housed at the New England Regional Primate Research Center [3]. Monkeys with this immunodeficiency syndrome have died of unusual opportunistic infections and tumors. Dramatically diminished responses of peripheral-blood lymphocytes to lectins and antigens have been noted in these animals. The hematologic abnormalities seen in Figure 1. Two Hexamita species organisms in a routine peripheral blood smear (Wright-Giemsa stain) of a Macaca mulatta x 2,000.
Volatile Produdts of Edible Oils by Open Air Heating. IV

The components of the volatile decomposition products of soybean oil by thermal oxidation were studied at different stages of deterioration.Soybean oil was previously heated at 240°C for 2, 4, 6 and 10 hr, respectively, and was differentiated according to changes in their chemical properties or degree in deterioration. The Soybean oils thus differentiated were then heated at 240°C under stream of air for 1 hr, and the volatile decomposition products coming therefrom were collected in two traps cooled by ice-water and dryiceacetone for identification by gas chromatography.The gas-chromatograms showed that these decomposition products consist of many sorts of aldehydes and hydrocarbons, and that there were slight differences in the quantitative proportions of these compounds given off from soybean oils according with the varying degrees in deterioration. The contents of olefinic hydrocarbons and C4, C5, C6 aldehydes increased and pentane decreased in the volatile products from soybean oil at an advanced stage of thermal oxidation.It seemed that the differences in the quantitative proportions of the volatile products from soybean oils at different stages of thermal oxidation were related differences in the contents of linoleic and linolenic acids in these oils.
Building of video website for agricultural technology

The present situation of agricultural website is introduced,the feasibility and necessity of building agricultural technology video website is put forward,and the function of main modules and the character of the website system are also introduced according to the built agricultural website.
Evaluation on surveillance of routine immunization coverage rate in Guangdong province by four methods

Objective To understand the quality of surveillance of routine immunization coverage rate in Guangdong province, and provide scientific basis for establishing effective surveillance strategies. Methods The Guangdong routine immunization coverage data were collected from 2010-2012, using 4 methods including difference(D), ratio(R), dropout rate and compared with the vaccine usage to evaluate reported routine immunization coverage. The investigated vaccines included bacilli calmette-guerin(BCG), hepatitis B vaccine(HepB), poliomyelitis vaccine(PV), diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus combined vaccine(DPT), measles containing vaccine(MCV), japanese encephalitis vaccine(JE), group A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine(MenA) and hepatitis A vaccine(HepA). Results The reported coverage rates of routine immunization of 8 vaccines varied from 91.31% to 99.71%, while the estimated rates varied from 39.38% to 106.18%during 2010-2012. The D value showed the reported immunization coverage rate of HepB, PV, DPT and MCV were credible,and JE(2010-2012), BCG(2011-2012), MenA(2011-2012) and HepA(2010-2012) were incredible or doubtful. The R value showed the target population of HepB, PV and JE of routine immunization were credible, and BCG(2011-2012) and MenA(2011-2012) were incredible or doubtful. The dropout rates of immune population were both above 10% in HepB and MenA of migrant children during 2010-2012. The estimated loss coefficient of DPT and JE were close to the reference value,and that of HepA was out of range. Conclusion Underreporting and over-reporting of routine immunization coverage data existed in Guangdong province.
Dissecting the Role of P/Q-Type Calcium Channels in Corticothalamic Circuit Dysfunction and Absence Epilepsy

The corticothalamic network is responsible for producing many forms of neural oscillations, such as sleep spindles and the slow-wave (<1 Hz) rhythm ([Crunelli et al., 2006][1]). The rhythm-generating properties of this circuit depend on reciprocal excitatory connectivity between the cortex and