cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lung parenchymal characterization via thoracic dynamic MRI in normal children and pediatric patients with TIS

Quantitative thoracic dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (QdMRI), a recently developed technique, provides a potential solution for evaluating treatment effects in thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS). In this paper, we demonstrate how lung parenchymal characteristics can be assessed via intensity properties in lung dynamic MRI, a modality suitable for use in pediatric patients. The QdMRI-based approach includes dynamic MR image acquisition, 4D image construction, image pre-processing with non-uniformity correction and intensity standardization, and lung segmentation from the 4D constructed image via a deep learning approach, as well as extraction of image parenchymal intensity properties from the segmented lungs and statistical comparisons among different clinical scenarios. We include 22 dMRI scans from 11 TIS patients (each with both pre-operative and post-operative scans) and 23 dMRI scans from healthy children. Two-sided paired t-testing is performed to compare lung intensity properties between end of expiration (EE) and end of inspiration (EI) within TIS patients (pre-operative and post-operative, separately) and normal children. We also compare the lung intensity properties at EE and EI among pre-operative TIS patients, post-operative TIS patients, and normal children. Experimental results show that lung (T2) intensity at EI is significantly lower than that at EE and lung intensity of postoperative TIS patients is significantly lower than that in pre-operative TIS patients and closer to that of normal children than to that of pre-operative TIS patients, indicating improvement in lung aeration. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide a quantitative dynamic functional method to analyze lung parenchyma during tidal breathing on dynamic MRI in both healthy children and pediatric patients with TIS.
A Scoping Review of Physical Activity in People With Lower-Limb Loss: 10,000 Steps Per Day?

OBJECTIVE After amputation, people with lower-limb loss (PLL) face challenges to regain their previous physical activity level. Assessing the scope of evidence regarding physical activity in PLL can identify sources of evidence and gaps within the literature that can influence amputation-related research, outcome assessment choices, and wellness activities. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the evidence regarding steps per day as a physical activity measure for PLL. Specific aims were to (1) identify research designs, (2) catalog population subgroups, (3) document steps per day measurement methods, and (4) provide descriptive data for steps per day in PLL. METHODS The MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and AMED databases; and the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics archive were searched without language or time limits. Exclusion criteria included no PLL subjects, not peer-reviewed, and no direct step count measure. Inclusion criteria allowed any sample size, nonprosthetic use, and self-reported step count. As a scoping review, only descriptive statistics were compiled, and no methodologic quality assessment was performed. RESULTS Twenty-one articles using crossover (8), cohort (4), cross-section (8), and case-study (1) designs were included that reported accelerometer (19) or pedometer (2) data. Studies often mixed amputation etiologies (15/21) and most (13/21) excluded transfemoral amputations. Studies primarily examined people with transtibial amputations (81.2%) and people at independent community walking levels (Medicare functional classifications: K3 = 49.2%, K4 = 36.3%). All 21 studies had fewer than 100 participants, and overall included 515 subjects (343, 66.6% male), mean (SD) age 53.2 (22.1) years. Mean (SD) number of pooled steps per day for PLL was 5087 (2998): 5929 (3047) for transtibial amputations and 3553 (2030) for transfemoral amputations. CONCLUSIONS Most PLL have low activity levels compared with the 10,000 steps per day generally recommended or 6000 common in people with diabetes. Research with larger samples, defined subgroups, and data along the recovery continuum would enhance knowledge of physical activity level in PLL. IMPACT This scoping review has identified gaps in the research related to steps per day as a measure of physical activity in people with lower-limb loss to guide future research. LAY SUMMARY People with lower-limb loss take fewer steps per day than suggested for general health. Increasing steps per day may be a useful goal for this population, and this study is a first step in improving knowledge of physical activity levels in people with lower-limb loss.
Cardiovascular Complications of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review.

While acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used to treat a wide range of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor use has also been associated with a variety of cardiovascular complications, including bradycardia and syncope. Herein, we review the pathophysiology and clinical evidence for cardiovascular complications caused by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients being treated for dementia and discuss options for their management.
The Safety and Efficacy of Radiation Therapy with Concurrent Dexamethasone, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, and Cisplatin-Based Systemic Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Introduction The concurrent delivery of radiation therapy (RT) with salvage chemotherapies in the management of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM) is an area of ongoing investigation. This study examined the safety and efficacy of palliative RT given in the setting of concurrent dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin (DCEP). Patients and methods Fifty-five patients with MM received RT to 64 different sites within three weeks of receiving DCEP from 2010 to 2020. A median dose of 20 Gray (range 8-32.5 Gy) was delivered in a median of 5 fractions (range 1-15). Patients received a median of 1 cycle (range 1-5) of DCEP. Rates of hematologic and RT toxicity were recorded along with pain, radiographic, and laboratory responses to treatment. Results RT was completed in 98% of patients. 21% of patients experienced RTOG grade 3+ hematologic toxicity before RT, which increased to 35% one-month post-RT (P = .13) before decreasing to 12% at 3 to 6 months (P = .02). The most common toxicity experienced was thrombocytopenia. Grade 1 to 2 non-hematologic RT-related toxicity was reported in 15% of patients while on treatment and fell to 6% one-month after completing RT. Pain resolved in 94% of patients with symptomatic lesions at baseline. Stable disease or better was observed in 34/39 (87%) of the targeted lesions on surveillance imaging. Conclusion RT administered concurrently with DCEP was well-tolerated by most of the patients in this series, with low rates of hematologic and RT-related toxicity. RT was also very effective, with the vast majority of patients demonstrating resolution of their pain and a significant response on follow-up imaging.
Constant change and the strategic role of communication: A selective annotated bibliography

Purpose – Libraries have been experiencing relentless change and uncertainty in their environment. The literature on corporate communications, strategic management and planning, marketing and public relations more recently, has been recommending using communications as a strategy to coherently and proactively handle and foresee change. Planning and using an overall communications strategy will bring integrity and adherence to the library's goals and direction while reducing the discomfort of change. This selected bibliography is a quick starting point for understanding the significance of an overall communication strategy and its use for managing conflicts and changes in the library's environment strategically. Design/methodology/approach – This article covers books and articles from mid‐1980s to 2004, published around the world. The sources are listed alphabetically by author and then chronologically for different sources by the same author, providing brief but useful information about the content covered for each source. Findings – This bibliography illustrates a variety of research from corporate communications, strategic planning, communications management, marketing and public relations literature that emphasize the role of communication in strategic management. Research limitations/implications – It records a comprehensive list of publications covering international perspectives as well as publications about communication strategy. Practical implications – This selected bibliography is primarily intended for librarians, library planners, managers or administrators, but is also relevant to corporate and business professionals, planners and administrators. Further, it would also be a useful resource for students, faculty and researchers of communication. Originality/value – This bibliography presents a much needed resource list for gathering insights into the strategic role of communication for organizations such as the library that are in a state of constant change.
HOW OFFLINE GATHERINGS AFFECT ONLINE COMMUNITIES

This paper builds on past studies of virtual community by illuminating the effect of offline gatherings (‘meetups’) on physically dispersed virtual communities. Although research to date has examined the way in which online interaction affects offline community, the question of how offline interaction affects online community has largely been ignored. On the one hand, these offline gatherings may provide individual benefits for members as the development of relationships strengthens social ties, leading to the creation of bonding social capital. However, these gatherings do not necessarily benefit the community at large as the resources found in weak ties may be sacrificed as attendees favour interaction with one another to the detriment of those that do not attend meetups. Non-obtrusive analysis of over eight years of user activity from a large, active online community suggests that the development of multiplex relationships – relationships maintained both online and offline – enhances attendees’ engagem...
Human Subjects Research, Ethics, Compensation of Subjects for Injury

Introduction Some Initial Distinctions History of the Compensation Debate Moral Basis of Compensation Extent of Research Injuries Elements of a Compensation Program Keywords: human subjects research; ethics
PNEUMATOCELES ASSOCIATED WITH ESCHERICHIA COLI PNEUMONIAS IN THE NEWBORN

The radiological and clinical findings in three cases of neonatal Escherichia coli pneumonia complicated by pneumatocele formation are discussed. In all three of the cases the pneumatoceles occurred as the pneumonia was resolving. Radiologically, the pneumatoceles were indistinguishable from the pneumatocele formation associated with staphylococcal pneumonia. Resolution of the pneumatoceles was slow but uncomplicated.
International commodity agreements: The role of consuming nations

Abstract Consuming nations and industry segments within them play a crucial role in the success of commodity agreements. For individual firms the desirability of the agreements is seen to depend on the form of the agency agreement and the competitive position of the firm in both the domestic and world market. Both the benefits and costs to producing and consuming nations are analysed. The mechanism of the agreements is analysed as well as the problems that lead to their limitation or termination.
Serum electrolyte abnormalities secondary to Fleet's Phospho-Soda colonoscopy prep. A review of three cases.

The authors report three cases of adverse reactions to commonly used lavage solutions generally believed harmless.
Empirical Copyright: A Case Study of File Sharing and Music Output

In copyright, we are guided by a simple intuition: More revenue leads to more original works. But the relationship between revenue and creative output is not so simple. Broadening copyright in order to increase the revenue associated with any given work may ensure the expected profitability, and hence the creation, of additional works at the margins. At the same time, however, because copyright protection is uniform, broadening copyright also increases the revenue associated with works that are not at the margins, works that would have been profitable and so brought forth with less or even no copyright protection. As copyright broadens, it increases the “excess” incentives associated with these preexisting works. As these excess incentives grow, they may, at some point, lead popular authors to substitute leisure for work, and so perversely lead to fewer works from our most popular authors. Broader copyright may thus entail a trade-off between two marginal effects: More original works from new authors along one margin, but fewer original works from the most popular existing authors along a second. If the second effect outweighs the first, then more revenue may lead to fewer original works. Conversely, less revenue may lead to more original works. While this may seem radically counterintuitive, it also happens to be true. To explore the relationship between copyright protection, revenue, and creative output, I treat the rise of file sharing and the parallel fall in music industry revenue as a natural experiment in radically reduced copyright protection. Using a hand-coded data set, covering songs in the top fifty of the Billboard Hot 100 from 1985 through 2013, and regression analysis, I show that the sharp decline in music industry revenue that paralleled the rise of file sharing was associated, ceteris paribus: (i) with fewer new artists entering the market; but (ii) also with more hit songs, on average, by those new artists who did enter. Moreover, because the second marginal effect was larger than the first, the decline in revenue since file sharing began was associated with a net increase in the number of new hit songs, ceteris paribus. Thus, for the music industry, the rise of file sharing and the parallel decline in revenue has meant the creation of more new music.
Young Children Do Not Hold the Classic Earth's Shadow Misconception to Explain Lunar Phases.

This research explored young children's early thoughts about natural phenomena and investigated sources of influence toward their knowledge construction. Two Piagetian interviews were conducted with four children. Each child was questioned about two phenomena in particular: (a) the moon and its changing appearance (moon phases) and (b) the formation of shadows. The first Piagetian interview involved a lunar protocol, and the second (given a week later) was a shadow protocol. The external interest of this research study concerns when and why do children develop the commonly held Earth's shadow misconception as the cause of the moon's phases. Findings showed that none of the young children believed that various lunar phases were due to an Earthly shadow cast upon the moon. The shadow interview results revealed that young children had primitive understandings of the shadow concept. In fact, two of the four children indicated that no light source was needed to produce a shadow.
An evaluation of the performance characteristics of different types of collimators used with the EMI brain scanner (MKI) and their significance in specific clinical applications

The characteristics of various types of collimators have been studied systematically for the EMI Mark I brainscanner. The degree of collimation ranged from the 13‐mm adjacent A and B slices to 3‐mm separated slices. Multiple phantom studies (including variable density immiscible liquid interfaces) have been performed to evaluate the effect of collimation on (a) the line‐spread function, (b) the change in effective absorption number, and (c) volume averaging. Effects associated with the technique settings involving the kVp, the mA, and the scan time were also investigated. The results of TLD dose measurements as a function of collimation are presented. The significance of collimation in specific clinical studies involving small, fairly well‐circumscribed lesions is discussed.
Cosmological perturbation theory as a tool for estimating box-scale effects in N -body simulations

In performing cosmological $N$-body simulations, it is widely appreciated that the growth of structure on the largest scales within a simulation box will be inhibited by the finite size of the simulation volume. Following ideas set forth by Seto Astrophys. J. 523, 24 (1999), this paper shows that standard (also known as one-loop) cosmological perturbation theory (SPT) [E. T. Vishniac, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 203, 345 (1983)] can be used to predict, in an approximate way, the deleterious effect of the box scale on the power spectrum of density fluctuations in simulation volumes. Alternatively, this approach can be used to quickly estimate post facto the effect of the box scale on power spectrum results from existing simulations. In this way SPT can help determine whether larger box sizes or other more-sophisticated methods are needed to achieve a particular level of precision for a given application (e.g. simulations to measure the nonlinear evolution of baryon acoustic oscillations). I focus on SPT in this paper and show that its predictions differ only by about a factor of 2 or less from the measured suppression inferred from both power law and $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ $N$-body simulations. It should be possible to improve the accuracy of these predictions through using more-sophisticated perturbation theory models. An Appendix compares power spectrum measurements from the power law simulations at outputs where box-scale effects are minimal to perturbation theory models and previously published fitting functions. These power spectrum measurements are included with this paper to aid efforts to develop new perturbation theory models.
Re-examination of F plasmid replication in a dnaC mutant of Escherichia coli.

The replication of an F′ plasmid in a dnaC mutant, thermolabile for initiation of chromosomal replication, has been re-examined using a novel DNA-DNA annealing assay. Plasmid replication ceases rapidly at non-permissive conditions, consistent with a direct role for the dnaC product in the replication of F.
Some Aspects of the Wool Trade of the United States

Wool dealing as an intermediary between wool growing and wool manufacturing, 338. — Private sales the basis of the American system, 339. — The American wool trade at the present time. Extent of the traffic, 341. — Organization of the business in the East, the South, the West, on the Pacific Coast, 342. — Attempts to change the existing methods by complete reorganization. New York Wool Exchange, 349. — Partial reorganization, by local warehouses, 352. — And terminal warehouses, e. g. Chicago Wool Warehouse and Storage Company, 353. — Betterment of facilities without change in the existing system, 355. — The Boston Warehouse, 355. — Plan for a conditioning house, 356.
Airway Epithelial NF-κB Activation Promotes Mycoplasma pneumoniae Clearance in Mice

Background/Objective Respiratory infections including atypical bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) contribute to the pathobiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mp infection mainly targets airway epithelium and activates various signaling pathways such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). We have shown that short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1) serves as a novel host defense protein and is up-regulated upon Mp infection through NF-κB activation in cultured human and mouse primary airway epithelial cells. However, the in vivo role of airway epithelial NF-κB activation in host defense against Mp infection has not been investigated. In the current study, we investigated the effects of in vivo airway epithelial NF-κB activation on lung Mp clearance and its association with airway epithelial SPLUNC1 expression.
PRECOMPACTNESS OF THE CALABI ENERGY

For any complex manifold of Kahler type, the L2-norm of the scalar curvature of an extremal Kahler metric is a continuous function of the Kahler class. In particular, if a convergent sequence of Kahler classes are represented by extremal Kahler metrics, the corresponding sequence of L2-norms of the scalar curvatures is convergent. Similarly, the sequence of holomorphic vector fields associated with a sequence of extremal Kahler metrics with converging Kahler classes is convergent.
Measurement of circulating vitamin D in man

An assay for vitamin D consisting of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection has been developed and used to measure circulating vitamin D concentrations in human subjects during summer and winter and after deliberate exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Extracts of 2–4 ml of serum were initially fractionated on silica Sep-Pak cartridges followed by reverse-phase HPLC and finally quantitated by UV-absorbance during straight-phase HPLC. Using these methods, we determined the normal range for circulating vitamin D in Boston subjects to be < 0.5 ng/ml to 25 ng/ml (n = 30); subjects sampled during summer months had higher concentrations of vitamin D than those sampled during winter months. In subjects exposed to a single quantitative dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), large transient increases in circulating vitamin D3 were observed. Concentrations rose 30–50 fold over the first days after exposure before returning to basal levels by one week.
Critical assessment of epidemiologic studies on the human carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene.

1,3-Butadiene, a major ingredient of synthetic rubber, has been shown to be carcinogenic in two animal species. To assess the possible human carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene, a critical review was ...
Soft tissue facial considerations andorthodontic treatment

Abstract The purpose of this article is to review soft tissue considerations for orthodontic treatment planning so that specific treatment objectives can be defined before making any treatment decisions. Soft tissue objectives that must be considered in the treatment planning process include the following: retract, maintain, or protract upper and/or lower lip; increase, maintain, or decrease vermilion display (lip thickness); reduce lip strain, mentalis muscle strain, and interlabial gap or maintain lip competence; increase, maintain, or decrease nasolabial angle; increase, maintain, or decrease mentolabial angle; increase or maintain cervicomental angle; reduce, maintain, or increase the gingival display on smiling; improve facial asymmetry; increase, maintain, or decrease width of the alar base; and increase, maintain, or decrease the vertical and/or antero-posterior projection of the soft tissue chin. To formulate these treatment objectives, a review of the literature in terms of soft tissue changes with growth, soft tissue changes with treatment (effects of extraction and nonextraction therapy, headgear and functional appliances, protraction facemask, orthognathic surgery), and the smile is provided.
Dual Role for Argonautes in MicroRNA Processing and Posttranscriptional Regulation of MicroRNA Expression

MicroRNAs are small endogenous noncoding RNAs involved in posttranscriptional gene regulation. During microRNA biogenesis, Drosha and Dicer process the primary transcript (pri-miRNA) through a precursor hairpin (pre-miRNA) to the mature miRNA. The miRNA is incorporated into the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) with Argonaute proteins, the effector molecules in RNA interference (RNAi). Here, we show that all Argonautes elevate mature miRNA expression posttranscriptionally, independent of RNase activity. Also, we identify a role for the RISC slicer Argonaute2 (Ago2) in cleaving the pre-miRNA to an additional processing intermediate, termed Ago2-cleaved precursor miRNA or ac-pre-miRNA. This endogenous, on-pathway intermediate results from cleavage of the pre-miRNA hairpin 12 nucleotides from its 3'-end. By analogy to siRNA processing, Ago2 cleavage may facilitate removal of the nicked passenger strand from RISC after maturation. The multiple roles of Argonautes in the RNAi effector phase and miRNA biogenesis and maturation suggest coordinate regulation of microRNA expression and function.
Dominant role of symplectic symmetry in ab initio no-core shell model results for light nuclei

The symplectic Sp$(3,\mathbb{R})$ symmetry of eigenstates for the $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ ground state and the ${0}_{\mathrm{gs}}^{+}$ and lowest ${2}^{+}$ and ${4}^{+}$ configurations of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ that are determined within the framework of the no-core shell model with the JISP16 realistic interaction is examined. These states are found to project at the 80--85% level onto a few 0-particle-0-hole symplectic representations, including the most deformed configuration. The corresponding symplectic space spans 0-particle-0-hole nuclear configurations together with single- and multiparticle excitations. The results are nearly independent of the harmonic oscillator strength and whether the bare or renormalized effective interactions are used in the analysis. The outcome points to the relevance of a symplectic no-core shell model and reaffirms the Elliott SU(3) model on which the symplectic scheme is built.
Inelastic collision rates of trapped metastable hydrogen

We report the first detailed decay studies of trapped metastable $(2S)$ hydrogen. By two-photon excitation of ultracold H samples, we have produced clouds of at least $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ magnetically trapped $2S$ atoms at densities greater than $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{10}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and temperatures below $100\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}.$ At these densities and temperatures, two-body inelastic collisions of metastable atoms are evident. Experimental values for the total two-body loss rate constant are ${K}_{2}{=1.8}_{\ensuremath{-}0.7}^{+1.8}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at $87\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ and ${K}_{2}{=1.0}_{\ensuremath{-}0.5}^{+0.9}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at $230\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}.$ These results are in the range of recent theoretical calculations for the total $2S\ensuremath{-}2S$ inelastic rate constant. The metastable clouds were excited in a gas of ground-state $(1S)$ hydrogen with peak densities reaching $7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}.$ From the one-body component of the metastable decay, we derive experimental upper limits for ${K}_{12},$ the rate constant for loss due to inelastic $1S\ensuremath{-}2S$ collisions.
Early warning systems and disaster preparedness and response in local government

Purpose – The aim of this research is to better inform public policy makers and the disaster management community about the use of early warning systems. The central research question of this article is how local governments should provide early warning to the citizenry of impending tornado danger.Design/methodology/approach – The main objectives of the paper were achieved by reviewing the literature on early warning systems for tornadoes and by conducting a content analysis of news reports, from the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, which identified the most cost‐effective early warning system for tornadoes. The theoretical approach of the paper covered the responses, results, and recommendations themes from the disaster management early warning system literature.Findings – The study concludes with a disaster management policy recommendation for an early warning system for tornadoes for local government. The paper's recommendation is to utilize the cost‐effective NOAA weather radios to alert the citizenry of i...
Widening and Wandering the Short Road to Success: The Louisiana Transfer Degree Guarantee†

This chapter analyzes the complex and often surprising process by which Louisiana, a small state with four higher education systems, deployed a transfer degree program in a scant two years. The author reviews the full range of challenges, from social to curricular to promotional, that were overcome and makes recommendations concerning the development of transfer degree programs under both normal and extreme or unusual circumstances.
Juvenile salmon in estuaries: comparisons between North American Atlantic and Pacific salmon populations

All anadromous fishes, including juvenile salmon, encounter estuarine habitats as they transition from riverine to marine environments. We compare the estuarine use between juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Penobscot River estuary and Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) in the Columbia River estuary. Both estuaries have been degraded by anthropogenic activities. Atlantic and Pacific salmon populations in both basins rely heavily on hatchery inputs for persistence. Pacific salmon, as a group, represent a continuum of estuarine use, from species that move through rapidly to those that make extensive use of estuarine habitats. While Atlantic salmon estuarine use is predominantly similar to rapidly moving Pacific salmon, they can exhibit nearly the entire range of Pacific salmon estuarine use. Both slow and rapidly migrating Atlantic and Pacific salmon actively feed in estuarine environments, consuming insect and invertebrate prey. Interactions between juvenile salmon and estuarine fish communities are poorly understood in both estuaries, although they experience similar avian and marine mammal predators. Estuaries are clearly important for Atlantic and Pacific salmon, yet our understanding of this use is currently insufficient to make informed judgments about habitat quality or overall estuary health. This review of salmonid migration through and residency within estuaries identifies actions that could hasten restoration of both Atlantic and Pacific salmon populations.
Lemierre's Syndrome: A Rare Case of Pulmonic Valve Vegetation

Lemierre's syndrome is an uncommon complication of pharyngitis commonly associated with an anaerobic gram negative bacterium, Fusobacterium necrophorum. The syndrome usually affects young healthy adults with the mean age of 20 and is characterized by recent pharyngitis followed by ipsilateral internal jugular vein thrombosis and septic thromboembolism. The treatment is at least 6 weeks of antibiotics; the role of anticoagulation is unclear. The following presentation is a case of Lemierre's syndrome in a 23-year-old healthy individual who is infected by a rare species: Fusobacterium nucleatum. The case is complicated by septic emboli to the lungs and impressive seeding vegetation to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) at the pulmonic valve of the heart.
Introduction of a data schema: The inner workings of a design repository

This paper describes the fundamental pieces of design information that compose the University of Missouri Rolla’s (UMR) design repository schema. Knowledge-based systems along with similar design information-capture schemas are reviewed. Repository schema conventions and specific implementation details are outlined to provide an understanding of the system connections and information relationships. Next, the repository schema is divided into seven main categories of design information including: artifact-, function-, failure-, physical-, performance-, sensory- and media-related information types. Each of the seven types of design information are described in detail to illustrate what elements of design information are recorded and how their relationships are established. An overview of the entire repository database is also presented. The result is a complete description and specification of the repository framework and allowable design information types such that the schema and repository could be recreated. Finally, a brief comparison is made between the UMR repository and its antecedent NIST repository framework.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The ever-changing face of integrated microprocessors-an evolutionary story

Since the invention of the microprocessor, computer-based systems that control and help us in our daily lives have proliferated. This trend is set to continue in an ever increasing way. This article looks at the architectural development of these control systems and introduces some of the latest integrated microprocessor products.
Scratch hardness–strength solutions for cohesive‐frictional materials

SUMMARY In this paper we develop analytical solutions for scratch hardness–strength relations for cohesive-frictional materials of the Mohr–Coulomb and Drucker–Prager type. Based on the lower bound yield design approach, closed-form solutions are derived for frictionless scratch devices, and validated against computational upper bound and elastoplastic finite element solutions. The influence of friction at the blade–material interface is also investigated, for which a simple computational optimization is proposed. Illustrated for scratch tests on cement paste, we show that the proposed solutions provide a convenient way to determine estimates of cohesion and friction parameters from scratch data, and may serve as a benchmark to identify the relevance of strength models for scratch test analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erratum to “Densification of nano-CeO2 ceramics as nuclear oxide surrogate by spark plasma sintering” [Journal of Nuclear Materials 404 (2010) 210–216]

Erratum to ‘‘Densification of nano-CeO2 ceramics as nuclear oxide surrogate by spark plasma sintering” [Journal of Nuclear Materials 404 (2010) 210–216] Kwanghoon Choi , Wen Tong , Robert D. Mariani , Douglas E. Burkes , Zuhair A. Munir a,⇑ Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States Materials and Fuels, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, United States National Nuclear Security Administration, Washington, DC 20585, United States
A probabilistic model of a set of driving decisions

This study proposes a probabilistic decision-making model for driving decisions. The decision-making process that is modeled stochastically is part of the Human Driver Model developed in an earlier study, in which perception, world-model and reflexive behavior are represented as separate modules. Finite-state machine design guidelines for decision-making models are provided to maximize state observability and resolution while maintaining a manageable size for state-machine. Two decision-making models useful for estimation and prediction of driver behavior are presented and one scenario-safety estimation application that uses the proposed decision-making model is given to illustrate the proposed methodology.
Mesoscale metallic pyramids with nanoscale tips.

We report a simple procedure that can generate free-standing mesoscale metallic pyramids composed of one or more materials and having nanoscale tips (radii of curvature of less than 2 nm). Mesoscale holes (100−300 nm) in a chromium film are used as an etch mask to fabricate pyramidal pits and then as a deposition mask to form the metallic pyramids. We have fabricated two- and three-layered pyramids with control over their materials and chemical functionality.
FT-Raman Spectra of Unsoaked and NaOH-Soaked Wheat Kernels, Bran, and Ferulic Acid

ABSTRACT The sodium hydroxide (NaOH) test for determining wheat color class depends on the observation that on soaking in NaOH, red wheat turns a darker red and white wheat turns straw yellow. To understand the mechanism of this test, Raman spectra of wheat bran, wheat starch, ferulic acid, and whole kernels of wheat, before and after NaOH soak, were studied. The major observable components in the whole kernel were that of starch, protein, and ferulic acid, perhaps esterified to arabinoxylan and sterols. When kernels are soaked in NaOH, spectral bands due to ferulic acid shift to lower energy and show a slightly reduced intensity that is consistent with deprotonation of the phenolic group and extraction of a portion of the ferulic acid into solution. Other phenolic acids, alkyl resorcinols, and flavonoids observed in the NaOH extracts of wheat by HPLC were not observed in the Raman spectra. Wheat bran accounts for most of the ferulic acid in the whole kernel, as indicated by the increased intensity of the...
Excess enthalpies of {xN2 + (1 −x)CO}(I) at 83.82 K: experiment and theory

The excess molar enthalpies H m E {xN 2 +(1−x)CO}(1) have been determined at 83.82 K using a low-temperature batch calorimeter. The value of H m E (x=0.5) at mixture saturation pressure is (41.2 ± 1.1) J·mol −1 . The results for H m E are in good agreement with the values derived from published phase equilibria. The ability of two theoretical methods to predict the excess enthalpy was tested. The simple van der Waals one-fluid theory gives good results; however. a spherical reference-based perturbation theory is found to give an even better prediction of H m E (within 5.1 per cent at x = 0.5).
Characterization of the Kingella kingae polysaccharide capsule and exopolysaccharide.

Recent evidence indicates that Kingella kingae produces a polysaccharide capsule. In an effort to determine the composition and structure of this polysaccharide capsule, in the current study we purified capsular material from the surface of K. kingae strain 269–492 variant KK01 using acidic conditions to release the capsule and a series of steps to remove DNA, RNA, and protein. Analysis of the resulting material by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc), 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo), and galactose (Gal). Further analysis by NMR demonstrated two distinct polysaccharides, one consisting of GalNAc and Kdo with the structure →3)-β-GalpNAc-(1→5)-β-Kdop-(2→ and the other containing galactose alone with the structure →5)-β-Galf-(1→. Disruption of the ctrA gene required for surface localization of the K. kingae polysaccharide capsule resulted in elimination of GalNAc and Kdo but had no effect on the presence of Gal in bacterial surface extracts. In contrast, deletion of the pamABCDE locus involved in production of a reported galactan exopolysaccharide eliminated Gal but had no effect on the presence of GalNAc and Kdo in surface extracts. Disruption of ctrA and deletion of pamABCDE resulted in a loss of all carbohydrates in surface extracts. These results establish that K. kingae strain KK01 produces a polysaccharide capsule with the structure →3)-β-GalpNAc-(1→5)-β-Kdop-(2→ and a separate exopolysaccharide with the structure →5)-β-Galf-(1→. The polysaccharide capsule and the exopolysaccharide require distinct genetic loci for surface localization.
Superspace geometry of the F1,2 pictures

Abstract Tree-level amplitudes of the type I superstring can be evaluated either by fixing or integrating over the odd part of the superconformal Killing symmetry group (e.g., the graded extension of SL(2, C ) for the sphere). We note that the two methods are identical to the F 2 and F 1 pictures, respectively. Their equivalence breaks down for closed string amplitudes beyond tree level due to quadratic divergences. These are shown to be due to the spurious tachyon state of the F 1 picture.
Spontaneous sleep in mice with targeted disruptions of neuronal or inducible nitric oxide synthase genes

Nitric oxide (NO) affects almost every physiological process, including the regulation of sleep. There is strong evidence that NO plays an important role in rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) regulation. To further investigate the role of NO in sleep, we characterized spontaneous sleep in mice with targeted disruptions (knockout; KO) in the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) or inducible (i)NOS genes. REMS in nNOS KO mice was substantially lower than that of their control mice. In contrast, the iNOS KO mice had significantly more REMS than their controls. Inducible NOS KO mice also had less non-REMS (NREMS) during the dark period. Results suggest that nNOS and iNOS play opposite roles in REMS regulation.
On the number of cycles possible in digraphs with large girth

We consider directed graphs which have no short cycles. In particular, if n is the number of vertices in a graph which has no cycles of length less than n - k, for some constant k = n - rlog(n) for some r.
Carboxylic acid anions in formation waters, San Joaquin Basin and Louisiana Gulf Coast, U.S.A.—Implications for clastic diagenesis. critical comment

THE ANALYSES of carboxylic acid anions (CAAs) in San Joaquin Basin and Louisiana Gulf Coast formation waters published by MAcGOWAN and SCRDAM (1990) do little to resolve the important question of whether CAAs are of great significance to clastic diagenesis over the temperature range in which they dominate fluid alkalinity, as advocated by these two authors. Comparison of their analyses with analyses of formation waters from the same wells previously published by three independent research groups (HANOR and WORKMAN, 1986; LAND et al., 1988 and LAND and MACPHERSON, 1989; and FISHER and BOLES, 1990), a body of data not discussed in their article, reveals that most of the MAcGOWAN and SURDAM values are grossly inflated relative to the previous analyses (Table 1, Fig. 1). cedures of Llco et al. (1982). While field procedures for CAAs now normally include the addition of a bactericide to the sample, an independent check on the upper limit of total CAAs which could have been present in this water is provided by the results of an alkalinity titration to pH 2.5, also published by HANOR and WORKMAN (1986), which show that the total concentration of weak acid anions (bicarbonate plus CAAs) could not have exceeded approximately 428 mg/1. The alkalinity determinations were done shortly after collection on separate, untreated aliquots stored in gas-tight glass containers. Further details are given in WORKMAN (1985).
Quotients of hopf algebras

(1978). Quotients of hopf algebras. Communications in Algebra: Vol. 6, No. 17, pp. 1789-1800.
Safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of WAY-195725

Background WAY-195725 can selectively and reversibly inhibit cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) to block the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PG), thromboxanes (TX), leukotrienes (LT), and platelet-activating factor by inhibiting the release of arachidonic acid. It has been proposed treatment for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and dysmenorrhea. Objective To evaluate the safety, PK, and PD of WAY-195725 following oral single dose administration in healthy subjects. Methods Healthy subjects (N=90) were studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, positive (ibuprofen)-controlled, ascending single dose study. The safety, tolerability, PK, and PD of WAY-195725 (10–600 mg) were assessed. A23187 (Ca++ ionophore) was used to stimulate whole blood ex vivo to produce PGE2, LTB4, and TXB2. Results The oral absorption of WAY-19725 was slow (tmax: 2~3 h). WAY-195725 inhibited PGE2, TXB2 and LTB4 with mean IC50 (ng/mL) of 40.2, 40.8 and 199, respectively. Ibuprofen, a positive control, inhibited both PGE2 and TXB2, but not LTB4, which coincides to ibuprofen's pharmacological profile as a COX-1,2 inhibitor. WAY-195725 was well tolerated in all the dose cohorts. Conclusion Significant WAY-195725 concentration-dependent inhibition is apparent for all three biomarkers (PGE2, TXB2 and LTB4), which conforms to WAY-195725's pharmacological profile as a potent cPLA2α inhibitor. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P51–P51; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.086
The positively cooperative binding of concanavalin a to corn starch: The isotherm of binding and a measure of the cooperativity

Abstract The binding of concanavalin A to corn starch was investigated by fluorimetric assay. The extent of binding varied linearly with the mass of ligand, and followed a hyperbolic law with respect to the mass of starch. This led to an isotherm of binding: r = 0.33A o ME o −0.88 , where r is the extent of binding, A o is the mass of concanavalin A present (both bound and unbound), and M o is the mass of starch. These results, and Scatchard plots of the data, showed the binding to be positively cooperative. The exponent of the M o term was shown to be a measure of cooperativity. The binding was dependent on the ionic strength of the dispersion medium, and this indicated that the binding may have an electrostatic component.
BEHAVIOR PREDICTION FOR DECISION AND CONTROL IN COGNITIVE AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

This paper presents an innovative concept of behavior prediction for decision and control in cognitive autonomous systems. The objective is to coordinate human–machine collaboration such that human operators can assess and enable autonomous systems to utilize their experiential and unmodeled domain knowledge and perception for mission execution. The concept of quantum probability is proposed to construct a unified mathematical framework for interfacing between models of human cognition and machine intelligence.
Highly Nonlinear and Photorefractive Glasses

The realization of all-optical devices, whether for high speed or for micro-opto-electronic applications, requires materials which possess large nonlinear optical coefficients. The compositional versatility of glass combined with the relative ease of manufacture and fabrication, make the study of its nonlinear properties for these applications important. A brief review of three areas of research activity will be discussed.
Baseline osteocalcin levels and incident diabetes in a 3-year prospective study of high-risk individuals.

Abstract Aim Experimental evidence suggests that osteocalcin is a key messenger that affects both adipocytes and insulin-producing β cells. Epidemiological cross-sectional studies have shown a negative association between plasma levels of osteocalcin and glucose. For this reason, the hypothesis that lower baseline osteocalcin plasma levels are associated with diabetes was prospectively tested. Methods The study population consisted of individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes who were screened for participation in the Greek arm of a European type 2 diabetes prevention study (the DE-PLAN study). All participants were free of diabetes at baseline and underwent a second evaluation 3 years later. Diabetes status was defined according to an oral glucose tolerance test. Results A total of 307 subjects were included in the present analysis. The population, including 154 men (50.3%), was middle-aged (54.4±10.2 years) and overweight (BMI: 29.5±4.9kg/m 2 ). At baseline, mean total plasma osteocalcin was lower in those with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance compared with those with normal glucose tolerance (6.0±3.1ng/mL vs. 7.3±4.0ng/mL, respectively; P =0.01). After 3 years, 36 subjects had developed diabetes. In the prospective evaluation, there was no association between baseline osteocalcin levels and diabetes (OR: 1.04 per 1ng/mL, 95% CI: 0.93–1.15; P =0.49) on multivariable logistic regression analysis, nor was there any correlation with changes in plasma glucose after 3 years (r=0.09, P =0.38). Conclusion Our prospective results show that lower levels of circulating osteocalcin do not predict future diabetes development and, in contrast to most cross-sectional published data so far, suggest that this molecule may not be playing a major role in glucose homoeostasis in humans.
Hot Electron Energy Relaxation Rates in a HgCdTe Superlattice

We have measured the electron energy relaxation rate in the conduction layers of a HgCdTe superlattice at temperatures between 20 - 200 mK. The purpose of this measurement is to compare the energy relaxation rates of hot electrons with those of other 2d electron systems such as GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells which we have previously reported. The sample consists of 24 periods of 240 A layers of HgxCd1-x Te with x = 0.55 alternating with x = 0.15. The resistance of this material exhibits a log (T) dependence from 10 K to below 40 mK. The energy relaxation rate is consistent with electron-phonon coupling as seen previously in both GaAs and thin films of copper.