cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aorta-to-right pulmonary artery anastomosis causing obstruction of the right pulmonary artery. Management during correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Abstract Sixteen of 18 patients undergoing intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot following ascending aorta-to-right pulmonary artery shunt procedures required patch reconstruction of the right pulmonary artery because of significant obstruction at the site of the shunt. Patch reconstruction was required in all patients having had shunts done at less than 1 year of age. The operative mortality in this group of patients was higher than that in patients undergoing repair of tetralogy alone or repair plus ligation of a prior Blalock-Taussig shunt, but it was lower than that associated with repair plus obliteration of a previous Potts anastomosis. The ascending aorta-to-right pulmonary artery shunt appears to be the best procedure for palliation of severely symptomatic infants with tetralogy in whom the anatomy is not suitable for either primary repair or a subclavian-to-pulmonary artery shunt. Cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography should be performed prior to subsequent total correction to demonstrate the direction of flow and the anatomical configuration of the right pulmonary artery.
Glucocorticoids in autoimmune connective tissue diseases

: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are occasionally required for the cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases. In general, good therapeutic alternatives with fewer side effects than GCs are available, including anti-inflammatory agents such as antimalarials or dapsone, or immunosuppressives such as azathioprine or methotrexate, and these can serve as GC-sparing agents or can substitute for the use of GCs. When GC use cannot be avoided, it is important to implement a number of recommendations and improvements in dosing and prevention of side effects in order to optimize care. These include using appropriate and adequate doses of GCs initially, appropriate tapering regimens, and proper monitoring, prophylaxis, and treatment for infections, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and glaucoma.
Multiple Light Scattering in Nematic Liquid Crystals.

We present a rigorous treatment of the diffusion approximation for multiple light scattering in anisotropic random media, and apply it to director fluctuations in a nematic liquid crystal. For a typical nematic material, 5CB, we give numerical values of the diffusion constants ${D}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}$ and ${D}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. We also calculate the temporal autocorrelation function measured in diffusing wave spectroscopy.
RNA-binding proteins and gene regulation in myogenesis

Skeletal muscle development, repair and function are dependent on highly coordinated expression of many genes. RNA-binding proteins are crucial determinants of gene expression in the health and disease of various tissues, including skeletal muscle. A variety of RNA-binding proteins are associated with a transcript during its life cycle and define the lifetime, cellular localization, processing and rate at which that transcript is translated and ultimately degraded. The focus of this review is to highlight the roles of the best-characterized RNA-binding proteins in muscle, including HuR, KSRP, CUGBP1, PABPN1, Lin-28 and TTP. Recent studies indicate key functions for these RNA-binding proteins in different aspects of muscle physiology. Understanding the role of specific RNA-binding proteins in skeletal muscle will provide insights not only into basic mechanisms regulating gene expression in muscle, but also into the etiology and pathology of muscle disease.
The influence of forest cover on snow-melt

There is presented a survey of important literature on the effect of forest cover on snow-melt, with recent results of investigations in the Fraser Experimental Forest, near Fraser, Colorado. It is shown that forest management by selective cutting influences greatly the accumulation and retention of snow on the ground. The evidence supports J. E. Church's fir forest possessing a maximum number of glades as the most desirable type for snow conservation.
Case ascertainment for state‐based birth defects registries: characteristics of unreported infants ascertained through birth certificates and their impact on registry statistics in New York State

Summary. .Cases in the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry are reported by hospitals and physicians. This study was undertaken to determine whether case finding should be expanded to include routine matching of Vital Records files to the registry in order to identify unreported children. Matching of children who were born in 1983-86 and who had a congenital malformation noted on their birth certificate yielded 2837 children who were not in the registry. The hospital of record was asked to submit a registry report if the child's medical record contained a congenital malformation. Medical records for 1267 (45%) of these children indicated that the child was normal, with no mention of a malformation. Medical records could not be located for 137. Registry reports were submitted for 1433,67 of whom were subsequently found in the registry, leaving 1366 bona fide new cases. These new cases differ significantly from registry cases for a number of birth certificate variables and type of congenital malformation. The birth certificate cases were more likely than registry cases to have only one malformation and to have only a minor malformation. The 1366 new cases comprised 2.1 % of all registry cases for 1983-86. Their addition increased the statewide prevalence of major malformations by 1.7% from 416.5 to 423.4 per 10000 livebirths. Except for anencephaly, the prevalence of specific malformations was not altered measurably by the addition of these cases. Lengthy and continuous follow-up was required to obtain registry reports. The small number of cases found does not seem to justify the amount of resources that would be required to use birth certificates routinely to augment case finding in New York State.
Geological and mathematical framework for failure modes in granular rock

Abstract We synthesize all the available data on failure processes in granular rock and provide a geological framework for the corresponding structures. We describe two categories: (1) sharp discontinuities made up of two surfaces similar to elastic crack models, and (2) tabular structures resulting from strain localization into narrow bands. Each of these categories includes types predominated by shear and/or volumetric deformation. While shear failure can be in two different modes as sliding and tearing, the volumetric failure has two diametrically opposite types: compaction (contraction) and dilation (extension). Thus, we distinguish among bands predominantly by shearing, shortening, and extension. Slip surfaces, pressure solution surfaces, and joints represent corresponding sharp discontinuities. A survey of observations and measurements from naturally occurring structures indicates that although isochoric shear and pure volumetric deformation types represent end members, a complete spectrum of combined shear and volumetric deformation occurs in nature. Field observations also show that sharp structures overlap older narrow tabular structures in the same rock. This switch in failure modes is attributed to changing rock rheology and/or loading conditions. In the mathematical modeling, we focus on the strain localization into narrow tabular bands using classical bifurcation theory combined with nonlinear continuum mechanics and plasticity. We formulate a family of three invariant plasticity models with a compression cap and capture the entire spectrum of failure of geomaterials. In addition, we draw an analogy between the concepts of ‘strong’ and ‘sharp’ discontinuity and classic elastic crack representations to complement the mathematical treatment of the failure modes.
Super-resolution enhancement technique for low resolution video

Super-resolution enhancement is the technique of increasing spatial resolution of an image from the image itself or from several noisy images of the same scene but with additional information such as motion. This paper presents a kernel regression approach to reconstruct a high resolution image from several low resolution video frames. In many applications including cell phone and webcam the imaging sensors capture low resolution images due to low cost sensors or physical limitation of the hardware. So, the proposed resolution enhancement technique could be used as an inexpensive software alternative. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated with several grayscale and color video streams and found successful when compared to other state of the art techniques.
Stone algebras, conditional events, and three valued logic

There are several equivalent ways to represent the set of conditional events, and in some the operations proposed by Goodman and Nguyen (1991) become much simpler, making the development of the theory much easier and much more concise. Such a development is carried out here using a representation whose relation to three-valued logic is analogous to that of Boolean algebras to two-valued logic, and in which the operations are simple and intuitive. There are many ways to extend the operations on events to operations on conditional events, but it is shown that there are only nine ways to extend intersection and nine ways to extend union so that the operations are Boolean polynomials of their arguments and are idempotent and commutative. Further, there is only one way to make such extensions so that the resulting structure is a bounded lattice extension of the space of events. These particular extensions turn out to be the operations proposed by Goodman and Nguyen. >
Dynamic Modeling and Control of a Micro-needle Integrated Piezoelectric Micro-pump for Diabetes Care

This paper proposes a micro-needle integrated piezoelectric micro-pump for subcutaneous injection of insulin for diabetes care. The micro-needle integrated micro-pump is part of an insulin monitoring and delivery system, which consists of a piezoelectric micro-pump, multiple silicon micro-needles, insulin reservoir, wireless telemetry and remote control components. The piezoelectric micro-pump is remotely controlled through wireless telemetry. A nonlinear dynamic model is presented to interpret/predict dynamics of the integrated micro-device, and used to design feedback control system for the insulin delivery. We propose a novel nonlinear dynamic model for the micro-needle integrated piezoelectric micro-pump and feedback control system design.
Public Service, Public Corruption and the First Amendment The Implications of Lane v. Franks for Public Employee Public Corruption Watchdogs

The 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos imposed significant new restrictions on the First Amendment freedom of speech rights of public employees. Specifically, the Garcetti maj...
Bedbugs in the 21st Century: The Reemergence of an Old Foe

Bedbugs are small parasites that feed exclusively on blood from vertebrates, including humans. Attention to these parasites largely disappeared until the past decade, when their incidence grew sharply due to increased international travel, use of less-effective insecticides, and growing insecticide resistance among bedbugs. Bedbugs can be found virtually anywhere, including homes, offices, hotels, and hospitals. They are a severe nuisance and have a real psychological and financial impact on those infested; however, their medical importance is limited. Although more than 40 infectious diseases may be transmitted by bedbugs, actual transmission of any of those diseases has not been proven to date. This review presents the biological characteristics of Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus, the public health risks of those parasites, and countermeasures to identify and treat infestations. The goal is to put news-media accounts of bedbugs into the proper context of our current scientific understanding of their characteristics.
Advances in determination of a high-resolution three-dimensional structure of rhodopsin, a model of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Membrane proteins, encoded by ~20% of genes in almost all organisms, including humans, are critical for cellular communication, electrical and ion balances, structural integrity of the cells and their adhesions, and other functions. Atomic-resolution structures of these proteins furnish important information for understanding their molecular organization and constitute major breakthroughs in our understanding of how they participate in physiological processes. However, obtaining structural information about these proteins has progressed slowly (1, 2), mostly because of technical difficulties in the purification and handling of integral membrane proteins. Instability of the proteins in environments lacking phospholipids, the tendency for them to aggregate and precipitate, and/or difficulties with highly heterogeneous preparations of these proteins isolated from heterologous expression systems have hindered application of standard structure determination techniques to these molecules. Among membrane proteins, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)1 are of special importance because they form one of the largest and most diverse groups of receptor proteins. More than 400 nonsensory receptors identified in the human genome are involved in the regulation of virtually all physiological processes. Drug addiction, mood control, and memory (via 5-HT6 or neuropeptide receptors) are just a short list of processes in which GPCRs are critically implicated. Another even larger group of GPCRs consist of sensory receptors involved in the fundamental process of translation of light energy (rhodopsin and cone pigments), the detection of chemoattractant molecules, or the detection of compounds stimulating the taste buds (3, 4). The activity of GPCRs comes about when binding of diffusable extracellular ligands causes them to switch from quiescent forms to an active conformation capable of interaction with hundreds of G-proteins. Their roles as extracellular ligand-binding proteins make them attractive targets for drug design. GPCRs account for ~40% of all therapeutic intervention, and major GPCR research projects are found throughout the pharmaceutical industry (5, 6). A paucity of structural data is available for GPCRs. The crystal structure of a member of the largest subgroup (I) of GPCRs, rhodopsin (7), and a ligand-binding domain of the metabotropic glutamate receptor with and without the ligand (8) have been determined recently. The data allow models, firmly based on the atomic-resolution structural information, to be further tested as to the conformational changes that these receptors undergo in going from the quiescent to the signaling state. In this article, we describe the further refinement of rhodopsin (7) and provide some clues about how the receptor could be activated by light.
Text Mining for Bioinformatics: State of the Art Review

Biomedical literatures have been increased at the exponential rate. To find the useful and needed information from such a huge data set is a daunting task for users. Text mining is a powerful tool to solve this problem. In this paper, we surveyed on text mining in Bioinformatics with emphasis on applications of text mining for bioinformatics. In this paper, the main research directions of text mining in bioinformatics are accompanied with detailed examples. This paper suited the need for the state-of-the-art of the field of text mining in Bioinformatics because of the rapid development in both text mining and bioinformatics. Finally, the problems and future way are identified at last.
Ovine and bovine abortion associated with Fusobacterium nucleatum

1commented on the dearth of knowledge concerning of anaerobic bacteria other than clostridia in diseases of veterinary importance. Although anaerobic culture methods and media have been improved, reports of research on animal diseases caused by anaerobic bacteria are still scarce. Investigation into the involvement of anaerobes in animal abortions appears to be particularly neglected. The few surveys of anaerobes in veterinary clinical specimens usually have not included aborted fetuses, 2-4,11-13 and routine diagnostic procedures to determine the causes of abortion in food animals usually do not include anaerobic culture. 5,6 A search of the literature revealed a single report of an anaerobic bacterium associated with a bovine abortion (Sit ME, Reddy CA: 1985, Abstr Conf Res Workers Anim Dis #181). Recently a nonclassified flagellated anaerobic or microaerophilic bacterium has been implicated in ovine abortion. 7,8 During the last 2 years, we have isolated, in pure or nearly pure culture, an anaerobic bacterium from the abomasal contents of 5 aborted lambs and 2 aborted calves. The organism was identified by API system 28 a as Fusobacterium nucleatum or Fusobacterium necrophorum. Gas chromatography revealed that it did not convert lactate to proprionate. It did not produce gas in peptone-yeast-extract agar deep stab and, on initial isolation, it grew in the presence of 6% oxygen. It was thus identified as F. nucleatum. 10 In each case, there were lesions indicating an infectious condition. The lesions included suppurative bronchopneumonia, peribronchiolar or perivascular lymphoid hyperplasia or both, focal gliosis, and necropurulent placentitis. The lesions were not pathognomonic for the specific infection, and all the lesions were not present in every case. Other diagnostic procedures including aerobic and microaerophilic bacterial culture; virus isolation attempts; fluorescent antibody tests for leptospira, pestivirus, and bovine herpesvirus- 1; examination of Gimenez-stained placental smears for Chlamydia1 elementary bodies; and serologic examination of ovine fetal serum for toxoplasma1 antibodies failed to reveal another cause for the lesions or the abortions. The herd histories submitted with the cases were not com
Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers

Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is a benign reaction pattern whereby follicles of varying size, many of which contain prominent germinal centers, are infiltrated by small mantle zone B-cells. The frequency of PTGC has been estimated to be around 3.5 %. It is seen more commonly in adult males (male–female ratio, ~3:1). In one study, patients ranged from 10 to 78 years in age, with a median age of 53 years, whereas in another study patients were younger, with a median age of 28 years.
A decision support system for the classification of software coding faults: a research abstract

A decision support system for fault classification is presented. The fault classification scheme is developed to provide guidance in process improvement and fault-based testing. The research integrates results in fault classification, source code analysis, and fault-based testing research. Initial results indicate that existing change type and fault classification schemes are insufficient for this purpose. Development of sufficient schemes and their evaluation are discussed.
The tuberous sclerosis 2 gene is expressed at high levels in the cerebellum and developing spinal cord

Abstrad Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder charaderized by the widespread development of hamartomas in many tissues and organs. TSC2 is predicted to encode a 1784-amino acid tumor suppressor protein that may fundion, in part, as a GTPase-activating protein for Rapi . Given the high incidence of central nervous system abnormalities in individuals affeded with tuberous sclerosis, the expression of TSC2 in developing and adult nervous system tissues was examined. Reverse transcription-PCR, Northern blot, and in situ hybridization analyses demonstrated high levels of expression of TSC2 in the adult brain and developing central nervous system. Abundant TSC2 expression was deteded in the adult cerebellum, hippocampus, and olfadory bulb, with lower levels of expression observed in other tissues, including heart and kidney. This enrichment of TSC2 expression in neurons in the central nervous system suggests unique roles for this tumor suppressor gene produd in the development and differentiation of nervous system tissues.
Operant matching is not a logical consequence of maximizing reinforcement rate

The distribution of behavior between concurrently available schedules of reinforcement approximates the distribution of reinforcements between the schedules. This equality, called matching, has been explained as an instance of the principle that organisms maximize reinforcement rate. However, a precise account of the relationship between the distribution of behavior and reinforcement rate on the standard concurrent schedule shows that matching and maximizing are different.
The role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in B-cell development and function: a genetic perspective.

Summary: Mutations in Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) result in the B-cell immunodeficiencies X-linked agammaglobulinemia in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency in mice. These diseases are characterized by blocks in B-cell development at multiple stages and impaired function of residual mature B cells. This review focuses on a series of in vivo genetic studies that have begun to define the mechanism by which Btk regulates B-cell development and function. The functional interactions between Btk and other signaling molecules defined by this approach are more complex than initially appreciated from in vitro biochemical and cell culture studies.
DNA Synthesis Generally Initiates outside the Simian Virus 40 Core Origin In Vitro

The nucleotide positions at which DNA synthesis initiates in vitro, in the vicinity of the simian virus 40 origin, have been determined. Start sites for DNA synthesis are greatly suppressed over the simian virus 40 core origin. Relatively weak start sites are detected over the 21-bp repeats and T-antigen-binding site I; distal to these regions, stronger start sites are detected. Thus, studies using a model system for eukaryotic DNA replication indicate that DNA synthesis events initiate, in general, outside the core origin.
Review of Physical Therapy Alternatives for Reducing Muscle Contracture

Passive stretching is a technique frequently used to treat muscle contractures; however, because it can activate the stretch reflex and has little carry-over, it may not be as effective as other modes. Four approaches to treating muscle contracture are described: 1) activation or strengthening of the weak opponent, 2) local inhibition of the contracted muscle, 3) general inhibition of hypertonus, and 4) passive lengthening. Specific examples of techniques, their rationales, and suggestions for use of each are discussed.
Salmonella Suppresses the TRIF-Dependent Type I Interferon Response in Macrophages

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica is an intracellular pathogen that causes diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to typhoid fever. Salmonella bacteria trigger an autophagic response in host cells upon infection but have evolved mechanisms for suppressing this response, thereby enhancing intracellular survival. We recently reported that S. enterica serovar Typhimurium actively recruits the host tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to the surface of the Salmonella -containing vacuole (SCV) (K. A. Owen et al., PLoS Pathog 10:e1004159, 2014). FAK then suppresses autophagy through activation of the Akt/mTORC1 signaling pathway. In FAK −/− macrophages, bacteria are captured in autophagosomes and intracellular survival is attenuated. Here we show that the cell-autonomous bacterial suppression of autophagy also suppresses the broader innate immune response by inhibiting production of beta interferon (IFN-β). Induction of bacterial autophagy (xenophagy), but not autophagy alone, triggers IFN-β production through a pathway involving the adapter TRIF and endosomal Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TLR4. Selective FAK knockout in macrophages resulted in rapid bacterial clearance from mucosal tissues after oral infection. Clearance correlated with increased IFN-β production by intestinal macrophages and with IFN-β-dependent induction of IFN-γ by intestinal NK cells. Blockade of either IFN-β or IFN-γ increased host susceptibility to infection, whereas experimental induction of IFN-β was protective. Thus, bacterial suppression of autophagy not only enhances cell-autonomous survival but also suppresses more-systemic innate immune responses by limiting type I and type II interferons. IMPORTANCE Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium represents one of the most commonly identified bacterial causes of foodborne illness worldwide. S . Typhimurium has developed numerous strategies to evade detection by the host immune system. Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the recognition and degradation of defective proteins and organelles. More recently, autophagy has been described as an important means by which host cells recognize and eliminate invading intracellular pathogens and plays a key role in the production of cytokines. Previously, we determined that Salmonella bacteria are able to suppress their own autophagic capture and elimination by macrophages. Building on that study, we show here that the inhibition of autophagy by Salmonella also prevents the induction of a protective cytokine response mediated by beta interferon (IFN-β) and IFN-γ. Together, these findings identify a novel virulence strategy whereby Salmonella bacteria prevent cell autonomous elimination via autophagy and suppress the activation of innate immune responses.
Massive Spontaneous Acute-on-Chronic Subdural Hematoma Following Coumadin Administration: A Case Report.

The routine use of oral anticoagulation after total joint arthroplasty procedures to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) has become the current standard of care. However, intracranial hemorrhage remains among the most feared and fatal complications of oral anticoagulation. The majority of intracranial hemorrhages associated with oral anticoagulation are traumatic in nature. Intracranial subdural hematomas typically result from the tearing of bridging veins within the subdural space after varying degrees of trauma1. The hematomas are usually classified temporally as acute, subacute, or chronic. Risk factors for the development of chronic subdural hematomas include increasing age, trauma, and anticoagulant use with coagulopathy2. Subdural hematoma in patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy, first described in 19643 to the best of our knowledge, is a well-known entity. With the increased use of anticoagulants such as warfarin and aspirin, the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage has also increased4. Even in the setting of well-controlled oral anticoagulation administration with routine international normalized ratio (INR) levels, there is a seven to tenfold increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage1, with one study demonstrating that 15% of patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage had been taking Coumadin (warfarin)5. In a cohort of patients with acute subdural hematoma in another study, 11% had been administered Coumadin or heparin for anticoagulation. In the same study, 13% of patients with chronic subdural hematoma had been taking aspirin, and 21% of the patients had been taking Coumadin6. Despite increased awareness of the greater risk of intracranial bleeding with oral anticoagulation therapy, intracranial hemorrhage is clinically devastating, with a thirty-day mortality rate of approximately 50%7. Among the survivors, high morbidity remains with a high incidence of disability8. Common symptoms of chronic subdural hematomas include altered mental …
Power Turbine Blade Aerodynamic Optimization Using Non-Restrictive Evolution Strategies

This paper discusses the use of adaptive optimizers in turbine blade geometry design. Many different adaptive optimizers have been applied to turbine blade design in the past, but often the optimizer does not fit the problem and unnecessary constraints are implemented. This paper will analyze the popular choices for turbine blade optimization, select the most fitting optimizer that will lead to the lowest number of constraints, and apply it to an airfoil optimization problem for validation. After validation, the optimizer will be used in a multi-objective turbine blade design problem. The algorithm will use an inviscid 2D blade-to-blade analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of the solution encoding and optimizer performance.
Non-Foster Loaded Parasitic Array for Broadband Steerable Patterns

Parasitic arrays can generate steerable patterns using tunable reactive loads at the parasitic elements to provide the required phase for the scattered radiation. However, the radiation that is coupled to the parasitic elements and reflected by the attached loads has a frequency dependent phase delay, leading to a beam/null squint effect and a limited instantaneous squint-free bandwidth. In this paper, we introduce a technique for eliminating this frequency dependence using non-Foster parasitic loads, whose reflection phase has a positive phase dispersion slope that can cancel the negative phase dispersion slope associated with propagation delays. Further, by tuning the non-Foster load, we can tune the total scattered phase to achieve steerable patterns. Tunable non-Foster impedances can be designed using transistor-based negative impedance convertor (NIC) circuits. A two element parasitic array was designed for the frequencies of operation of discrete device NICs. Non-Foster impedances required for obtaining broadband or squint-free nulls at different azimuth angles were calculated using array theory and simulations. An NIC that generated the non-Foster impedance for a broadside broadband null was fabricated and attached to the parasitic antenna. Simulation and measurement results showed broadband uniform nulls from 180-350 MHz, providing about twice the null bandwidth of a passive parasitic load. Null steering across some angles of the azimuth was restricted by the stability constraints of the NIC while being tuned. With a judicious design of the parasitic antenna and the NIC, we can achieve broader bandwidths and steerable patterns with non-Foster parasitic arrays.
Atomic Oxygen Measurements in O2(a1g) Injected Nonequilibrium Plasmas by Two Photon Absorption Laser Induced Fluorescence

The paper presents new experimental and modeling results on the temporal evolution of atomic oxygen in nanosecond repetitively pulsed O2/Ar/H2 plasmas, measured using the Two Photon Absorption Laser Induced Fluorescence (TALIF) technique. Experimental data, obtained by application of a burst of 10 – 450 nsec discharge pulses at a 40 kHz repetition rate, is found to be in satisfactory agreement with plasma chemical kinetic modeling predictions. Additional experimental measurements and modeling predictions focus on the effect of injected singlet delta oxygen, O2(aΔg), which is generated in a side RF discharge and transported to the nanosecond pulse discharge cell. No effect that can be unambiguously traced to SDO has been detected so far. One possible explanation is that it is difficult to experimentally isolate the effect of SDO from that of NO and/or NO2, which are also present in the gas mixture due to a requirement to titrate atomic oxygen also formed in the side RF discharge. SDO effect may well be reduced significantly due to rapid non-reactive quenching of O2(ag) quenching by HO2 and by H atoms generated in the nanosecond pulse discharge, although non-reactive quenching rates are known with some uncertainty. Kinetic modeling calculations, incorporating SDO quenching rates recommended in the literature predict no detectable effect of adding O2(aΔg) to the flow on number density of O atoms generated in the nanosecond pulse discharge, due to rapid collisional quenching of SDO. _______________________________________ 1 Graduate Research Assistant, Student Member AIAA 2 Professor, Associate Fellow AIAA 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition 09 12 January 2012, Nashville, Tennessee AIAA 2012-0242 Copyright © 2012 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Greenhouse shoreline migration: Wilcox deltas

ABSTRACT In contrast to the high-frequency and high-amplitude sea level changes of icehouse times, eustatic sea level changes in greenhouse times are now generally accepted as significantly lower frequency and amplitude. As a corollary of this, frequency and extent of cross-shelf shoreline transits in greenhouse times are also likely to have been modest by comparison, and it has been suggested that greenhouse deltas may have been docked at the shelf edge for long periods, thus delivering sediment to deep-water areas more frequently. A revisit of upper Paleocene–lower Eocene Wilcox data across south Texas shows repeated regressive–transgressive shoreline migrations longer than 50 km (31 mi) at a time scale of some 300 k.y. This style of repeated shoreline transits is documented from well logs and is supported by the repeated presence of transgressive estuarine deposits with strong tidal evidence as interpreted from core. We argue, therefore, that Wilcox paleogeography was more varied than commonly portrayed and that the greenhouse shoreline transits were caused by greenhouse sea level change but severely modulated by variable sediment discharge caused by Paleogene hyperthermals. Periodic climate warming during Wilcox deposition and Laramide relief generation in the drainage areas were also responsible for unusually high sediment flux into the Gulf of Mexico. The factor of sediment supply in shoreline growth and retreat has been understated in the literature, partly because of an overemphasis on accommodation as the main driver of stratigraphic sequences.
The Origins of Meaning: Objective Reality, the Unconscious Mind, and Awareness

In this chapter, we seek to deepen our understanding of the felt presence of meaning by exploring its origins. Drawing on Gibson’s ecological approach to perception, we will argue that the experience of meaning has, at its foundation, the encounter between a lawful physical world and unconscious primitive mechanisms that are capable of detecting the invariants of that world. We propose that the world makes sense and that the subjective feeling of this sense, when noticed by awareness, is the experience of meaning. For our purposes, then, meaning is a fundamental aspect of awareness associated with the detection of lawfulness, regularity, and pattern. We posit that, although unconscious processes have the capacity to detect the presence of sense, the experience of meaning is a phenomenological state that necessarily implicates awareness.
Introduction: Exotic Annual Bromus in the Western USA

The spread and impacts of exotic species are unambiguous, global threats to many ecosystems. A prominent example is the suite of annual grasses in the Bromus genus (Bromus hereafter) that originate from Europe and Eurasia but have invaded or are invading large areas of the Western USA. This book brings a diverse, multidisciplinary group of authors together to synthesize current knowledge, research needs, and management implications for Bromus. Exotic plant invasions are multifaceted problems, and understanding and managing them requires the biological, ecological, sociological, and economic perspectives that are integrated in this book. Knowing how well information from one geographic or environmental setting can transfer to another is a key need for broadly distributed Bromus species especially given ongoing climate change. Thus, the chapters in the book compare and contrast invasibility of different ecoregions and invasiveness of different Bromus species. A universal theme is managing for ecosystems that are resilient to disturbance and resistant to invasion which will be essential for adaptation to the human-caused problem of Bromus in the Western USA.
Dakota, a multilevel parallel object-oriented framework for design optimization, parameter estimation, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity analysis version 6.0 theory manual

The Dakota (Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terascale Applications) toolkit provides a flexible and extensible interface between simulation codes and iterative analysis methods. Dakota contains algorithms for optimization with gradient and nongradient-based methods; uncertainty quantification with sampling, reliability, and stochastic expansion methods; parameter estimation with nonlinear least squares methods; and sensitivity/variance analysis with design of experiments and parameter study methods. These capabilities may be used on their own or as components within advanced strategies such as surrogate-based optimization, mixed integer nonlinear programming, or optimization under uncertainty. By employing object-oriented design to implement abstractions of the key components required for iterative systems analyses, the Dakota toolkit provides a flexible and extensible problem-solving environment for design and performance analysis of computational models on high performance computers. This report serves as a theoretical manual for selected algorithms implemented within the Dakota software. It is not intended as a comprehensive theoretical treatment, since a number of existing texts cover general optimization theory, statistical analysis, and other introductory topics. Rather, this manual is intended to summarize a set of Dakota-related research publications in the areas of surrogate-based optimization, uncertainty quantification, and optimization under uncertainty that provide the foundation for many of Dakota’s iterative analysis capabilities. Dakota Version 6.1 Theory Manual generated on November 7, 2014
Site Preparation Drives Long-Term Plant Community Dynamics in Restored Tallgrass Prairie: A Case Study in Southeastern South Dakota

Most tallgrass prairies have been destroyed or altered, making restoration an important component to their conservation. Our goal was to evaluate progress 12-years post-restoration at Spirit Mound Historic Prairie and determine whether the outcomes varied based on different land use and restoration histories across the site. We examined changes in plant diversity, richness, evenness, non-native species relative abundance, and community composition from 2004 to 2013. Areas with different restoration treatments and land-use histories showed divergent results. Seventy percent of the site, previously annual row crop, was reconstructed using herbicide application followed by native seeding (hereafter reconstruction). Areas that were previously grazed, 15 % of the site, were restored with only partial seeding and no herbicide treatment (hereafter rehabilitation). Species richness and diversity increased over 40 % in the reconstruction since 2004 and remained over 1.9 times higher in the reconstructed areas than rehabilitated areas. Diversity did not change in the rehabilitation, but richness increased 47 % since 2004. Evenness decreased 11-26 % over time in both areas. Non-native species relative abundance did not change from 2004 to 2013, and remained five times higher in the rehabilitation than the reconstruction. Native C4 grass and forb abundance increased over time in the reconstruction, whereas non-native C3 grasses remained dominant in the rehabilitation. These results showed that restoration outcomes were radically different 12-years post-restoration among areas with different prior land uses that were subjected to different restoration practices. Long-term assessments are important to accurately determine restoration progress and inform management decisions.
Biopsy and clinical course after cryosurgery for prostatic cancer.

AbstractOpen perineal cryosurgical prostatectomy has been reported previously in 154 consecutive prostatic cancer patients at our center. In 37 of these patients post-cryosurgery biopsies of the prostate were obtained. In the present report we compare this tissue to the preoperative biopsies. The data suggest that well differentiated cancers are associated with advantageous survival in cryosurgery patients. Lymphoid and eosinophilic cell infiltrates may represent post-cryosurgical local immune responses, with improved survival. Estrogen therapy seems to suppress this local immune response. One month or more after cryosurgery cancer in the biopsy correlates with palpable local recurrence but prior to 1 month it does not correlate. Cryosurgery by the open perineal approach has been an effective method to eliminate the primary lesion in localized and extensive prostatic cancer.
Analysing post-apartheid poverty trends by geo-type, 1997–2012: The understated role of urbanisation and social grants

ABSTRACTThis article investigates poverty trends in post-apartheid South Africa with an explicit focus on differences between rural and urban areas. Using nationally representative household survey data from 1997–2012, I first describe changes in population characteristics and household access to different income sources and services, by urban–rural geo-type. Income data are then used to generate poverty statistics, which cast light on divergent trends in rural and urban areas. Next, I employ a poverty decomposition method to further explore some potential reasons why the poverty trends in rural and urban areas have differed. Data from the Afrobarometer are then used to probe how subjective non-monetary welfare has changed over time across geo-types. The evidence from all surveys suggests that the dramatic increase in access to services and social grants in rural areas has played a vital role in poverty reduction.
Issues Surrounding Age-Adjusted d-Dimer Cutoffs That Practicing Physicians Need to Know When Evaluating Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Embolism

Use of age-adjusted d-dimer levels has been recommended for evaluating patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. The authors of this commentary caution that clinicians must understand important d...
Gut Microbiota and Complications of Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and its complications are epidemic worldwide. Most complications are mediated through a dysfunctional gut-liver axis. New techniques have made culture-independent analysis of the gut microbiome widespread. With insight into an unfavorable microbiome (dysbiosis) and how it affects liver disease, investigators have discovered new targets to potentially improve outcomes. Dysbiosis is associated with endotoxemia and propagates liver injury due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and alcohol. The composition and functionality of the microbiome changes with the development of cirrhosis, decompensation, and with treatments for these conditions. Gut microbiota can be used to predict clinically relevant outcomes in cirrhosis.
Examining measurement properties of the consumer-based cancer care value index (CCCVI) survey: A measure to identify quality improvement priorities in cancer care.

222Background: Current approaches to measuring the quality of cancer care may not produce sufficient information to enable providers to structure care that aligns closely with their patients’ preferences. To close this gap, we developed the Consumer-based Cancer Care Value Index (CCCVI) survey, which assesses the aspects of cancer care that patients value the most and how their values align with their experience in receiving cancer care. Methods: The CCCVI field test included 721 adults who received cancer care in the last 12 months from 4 geographically diverse cancer care centers, including patients with varying stages of cancer, types of cancer, types of treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, medical oncology), and demographic characteristics. The survey included items that asked patients to directly rate the “importance” of 24 aspects of cancer care, along with 24 corresponding items that measured the “frequency” with which they received each aspect of care. We evaluated the reliability and validity of ...
RNA Polymerase Tags To Monitor Multidimensional Protein-Protein Interactions Reveal Pharmacological Engagement of Bcl-2 Proteins.

We report the development of a new technology for monitoring multidimensional protein–protein interactions (PPIs) inside live mammalian cells using split RNA polymerase (RNAP) tags. In this new system, a protein-of-interest is tagged with an N-terminal split RNAP (RNAPN), and multiple potential binding partners are each fused to orthogonal C-terminal RNAPs (RNAPC). Assembly of RNAPN with each RNAPC is highly dependent on interactions between the tagged proteins. Each PPI-mediated RNAPN-RNAPC assembly transcribes from a separate promoter on a supplied DNA substrate, thereby generating a unique RNA output signal for each PPI. We develop and validate this new approach in the context of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. These key regulators of apoptosis are important cancer mediators, but are challenging to therapeutically target due to imperfect selectivity that leads to either off-target toxicity or tumor resistance. We demonstrate binary (1 × 1) and ternary (1 × 2) Bcl-2 PPI analyses by imaging fluorescent pro...
Acute Kidney Injury After Computed Tomography: A Meta-analysis

Study objective Computed tomography (CT) is an important imaging modality used in the diagnosis of a variety of disorders. Imaging quality may be improved if intravenous contrast is added, but there is a concern for potential renal injury. Our goal is to perform a meta-analysis to compare the risk of acute kidney injury, need for renal replacement, and total mortality after contrast-enhanced CT versus noncontrast CT. Methods We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Academic Search Premier for relevant articles. Included articles specifically compared rates of renal insufficiency, need for renal replacement therapy, or mortality in patients who received intravenous contrast versus those who received no contrast. Results The database search returned 14,691 articles, inclusive of duplicates. Twenty-six unique articles met our inclusion criteria, with an additional 2 articles found through hand searching. In total, 28 studies involving 107,335 participants were included in the final analysis, all of which were observational. Meta-analysis demonstrated that, compared with noncontrast CT, contrast-enhanced CT was not significantly associated with either acute kidney injury (odds ratio [OR] 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83 to 1.07), need for renal replacement therapy (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.59 to 1.16), or all-cause mortality (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.36). Conclusion We found no significant differences in our principal study outcomes between patients receiving contrast-enhanced CT versus those receiving noncontrast CT. Given similar frequencies of acute kidney injury in patients receiving noncontrast CT, other patient- and illness-level factors, rather than the use of contrast material, likely contribute to the development of acute kidney injury.