cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Bounds on the Football Pool Problem by Integer Programming and High-Throughput Computing

The football pool problem, which gets its name from a lottery-type game where participants predict the outcome of soccer matches, is to determine the smallest covering code of radius 1 of ternary words of length v. For v = 6, the optimal solution is not known. Using a combination of isomorphism pruning, subcode enumeration, and linear programming-based bounding, running on a high-throughput computational grid consisting of thousands of processors, we are able to improve the lower bound on the size of the optimal code from 65 to 71.
Implementation of Nutrition Screening within 24 Hours of Admission for Early Identification of Malnourished Patients

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify a methodology for a nutritional screen performed by nonnutrition staff within 24 hours of admission. Current Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards require a nutritional screening of patients within 24 hours of admission. Staffing of dietitians and technicians is generally not available to perform this task within 24 hours. The clinical nutrition staff developed five screening criteria which were included on the "Interdisciplinary Admission/Screening for Special Needs" form which is completed by the registered nurse admitting the patient. The criteria, 1) Patient had involuntary weight loss of 10 pounds or greater over past 6 months, 2) Patient admitted with symptoms of nausea/vomiting or diarrhea, 3) Patient does not appear alert enough to eat or appears to have chewing/swallowing/appetite problems that affect food intake, 4) Patient has draining wound or pressure sore, and 5) Patient is emaciated or malnourished by appearance, were chosen because these questions can be answered on admission and do not require the nurse to review other information or wait for lab data. If any one of the questions is answered yes, a consult is sent via computer to the dietitian who does the nutritional evaluation. This process was implemented using plan, do, check, act, Continuous Quality Improvement principles. Initial data indicated a 15 percent referral rate of patients who were actually moderately or severely malnourished by dietitian assessment. Most recent data show this referral rate to have increased to 56 percent of those patients who should be referred for possible malnutrition actually being referred from the initial 24-hour screen. Two major areas of improvement identified were to provide increased education to nursing staff on proper completion of the form and sending a dietitian consult for one question answered yes instead of two yes answers. When an adequate number of patients are referred via this process, dietitians will no longer perform nutritional screening on all patients, but would operate by referral only. This provides for early intervention and allows more time for medical nutrition therapy for malnourished patients.
Breeding Stock-Specific Variation in Peptidylglycineα -Amidating Monooxygenase Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Splicing in Rat Pituitary1

Peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the carboxyl-terminal amidation of glycine-extended peptides in a two-step reaction involving a monooxygenase and a lyase. Several forms of PAM messenger RNA result from alternative splicing of the single copy PAM gene. The presence of alternately spliced exon A between the two enzymatic domains allows endoproteolytic cleavage to occur in selected tissues, generating soluble monooxygenase and membrane lyase from integral membrane PAM. While using an exon A antiserum, we made the unexpected observation that Charles River Sprague Dawley rats expressed forms of PAM containing exon A in their pituitaries, whereas Harlan Sprague Dawley rats did not. Forms of PAM containing exon A were expressed in the atrium and hypothalamus of both types of Sprague Dawley rat, although in different proportions. PAM transmembrane domain splicing also differed between rat breeders, and full-length PAM-1 was not prevalent in the anterior pitu...
Generalized alteration of structure and parameters: A new method for free‐energy perturbations in systems containing flexible degrees of freedom

A modified derivation of the free energy perturbation (FEP) equation leads to a more general interpretation of the procedures for generating the geometry of a perturbed molecule from the reference one in FEP simulations of flexible systems. Using this form of the equation, it is possible to implement a wide variety of procedures which heretofore would have been considered impossible. A new method, generalized alteration of structure and parameters (GASP), has been implemented in the BOSS program and has been found to be more efficient for perturbations of harmonic degrees of freedom than the commonly adopted procedure. Additionally, an extreme example for which the new procedure proves less satisfactory is presented, and a more efficient method which is also derived from the new form of the FEP equation is devised and tested. It is concluded that the key to a convergent FEP method is efficient sampling of low-energy configurations of the perturbed state; the new form of the equation suggests ways of generating such configurations. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Understanding oral reading fluency among adults with low literacy: dominance analysis of contributing component skills

This study extends the literature on the component skills involved in oral reading fluency. Dominance analysis was applied to assess the relative importance of seven reading-related component skills in the prediction of the oral reading fluency of 272 adult literacy learners. The best predictors of oral reading fluency when text difficulty was fixed at a single reading level was word reading efficiency. When text difficulty varied based on readers’ comprehension levels, word reading efficiency was also the best predictor with vocabulary and auditory working memory emerging as important predictors as well. Our findings suggest the merit of investigations into whether adults with low literacy may need vocabulary and auditory working memory strategy interventions to improve their reading fluency.
A prl Mutation in SecY Suppresses Secretion and Virulence Defects of Listeria monocytogenes secA2 Mutants

The bulk of bacterial protein secretion occurs through the conserved SecY translocation channel that is powered by SecA-dependent ATP hydrolysis. Many Gram-positive bacteria, including the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, possess an additional nonessential specialized ATPase, SecA2. SecA2-dependent secretion is required for normal cell morphology and virulence in L. monocytogenes; however, the mechanism of export via this pathway is poorly understood. L. monocytogenes secA2 mutants form rough colonies, have septation defects, are impaired for swarming motility, and form small plaques in tissue culture cells. In this study, 70 spontaneous mutants were isolated that restored swarming motility to L. monocytogenes secA2 mutants. Most of the mutants had smooth colony morphology and septated normally, but all were lysozyme sensitive. Five representative mutants were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Four of the five had mutations in proteins encoded by the lmo2769 operon that conferred lysozyme sensitivity and increased swarming but did not rescue virulence defects. A point mutation in secY was identified that conferred smooth colony morphology to secA2 mutants, restored wild-type plaque formation, and increased virulence in mice. This secY mutation resembled a prl suppressor known to expand the repertoire of proteins secreted through the SecY translocation complex. Accordingly, the ΔsecA2prlA1 mutant showed wild-type secretion levels of P60, an established SecA2-dependent secreted autolysin. Although the prl mutation largely suppressed almost all of the measurable SecA2-dependent traits, the ΔsecA2prlA1 mutant was still less virulent in vivo than the wild-type strain, suggesting that SecA2 function was still required for pathogenesis.
Convergence in stochastic growth models The importance of understanding why income levels differ

Abstract Recent empirical papers study the convergence of per capita income, given an initial cross-sectional variation in per capita income. The question of why per capita income levels differ in the first place arises. This paper argues that the answer to this question has important implications for the estimation and interpretation of convergence models. If income is influenced by more than one factor, then we cannot expect a given cross-section of income levels to converge in the same manner at every point in time and for every set of countries, even if each country's income level is generated by the same economic model.
Hardware protection and authentication through netlist level obfuscation

Hardware intellectual property (IP) cores have emerged as an integral part of modern system-on-chip (SoC) designs. However, IP vendors are facing major challenges to protect hardware IPs and to prevent revenue loss due to IP piracy. In this paper, we propose a novel design methodology for hardware IP protection and authentication using netlist level authentication. The proposed methodology can be integrated in the SoC design and manufacturing flow to provide hardware protection to the IP vendors, the chip designer, and the system designer. Simulation results on ISCAS-89 benchmark circuits show that we can achieve high levels of security through a well-formulated obfuscation scheme at less than 10% area overhead under delay constraint.
Rheology of Sintering, Spreading and Leveling of Fluids

Abstract Hydrodynamic aspects of free surface flows are discussed within the framework of Orchard's theory of leveling in order to assess the validity of theories based on a thermodynamic analysis such as Frenkel's theory of sintering. Principal conclusions are that (i) there is hydrodynamic justification for the viscous dissipation function assumed by Frenkel; (ii) in spreading one needs to take into account a possible hydrodynamic retardation, (iii) terminal spreading rates can be accounted for by the theory of Smith, which considers only gravitational forces; (iv) further useful extensions of the hydrodynamic theory allow for analysis of the influence of viscoelasticity and heterogeneity of the fluid on such free surface flows.
The role of fungal lignin-degrading enzymes in xenobiotic degradation

Abstract Recent studies have reported the first pathways for the degradation of important xenobiotics by lignin-degrading fungi, and have elucidated the role that lignin peroxidases and manganese-dependent peroxidases play both in these pathways and in the decolorization of pulp bleach plant effluents.
Somatostatinergic projections from the amygdala to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic-hypothalamic region

Somatostatinergic projections of the amygdala to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and medial preoptic-hypothalamic region were examined using a technique that combines retrograde axonal transport with peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemistry. With injections of wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into either the BST or medial preoptic-hypothalamic region numerous double-labeled cells exhibiting both retrograde labeling and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity were observed in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and intra-amygdaloid portion of the BST. Additional cells were seen in the central nucleus, basomedial nucleus and anterior amygdaloid area. Although WGA-HRP labeled neurons and somatostatin-positive cells were observed in the lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei, few double-labeled neurons were found.
ATM-dependent phosphorylation of the checkpoint clamp regulates repair pathways and maintains genomic stability.

Upon genotoxic stress and during normal S phase, ATM phosphorylates the checkpoint clamp protein Rad9 in a manner that depends on Ser272. Ser272 is the only known ATM-dependent phosphorylation site in human Rad9. However, Ser272 phosphorylation is not required for survival or checkpoint activation after DNA damage. The physiological function of Ser272 remains elusive. Here, we show that ATM-dependent Rad9Ser272 phosphorylation requires the MRN complex and controls repair pathways. Furthermore, the mutant cells accumulate large numbers of chromosome breaks and induce gross chromosomal rearrangements. Our findings establish a new and unexpected role for ATM: it phosphorylates the checkpoint clamp in order to control repair pathways, thereby maintaining genomic integrity during unperturbed cell cycle and upon DNA damage.
Crystallographic water sites from a theoretical perspective

We thank the Robert A Welch Foundation, the Texas Coordinating Board and the National Institutes of Health for partial support of this research. Gillian C Lynch is thanked for valuable discussions and suggestions. The Metacenter is acknowledged for a generous allocation of computer time at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. Molecular Simulations Inc. is acknowledged for providing graphics software support.
Fluorescence from the second excited π-singlet state of 1,2-benzanthracene and 3,4-benzopyrene in solution

Abstract Fluorescence spectra from the second excited π-singlet state of 1,2-benzanthracene and 3,4-benzopyrene in n -heptane solutions are reported.
In vivo effects of acute EtOH on rat α and β luteinizing hormone gene expression

The suppressive effects of ethanol (EtOH) on the male rodent reproductive axis, especially on serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, are well known. In this study we examined, in coordinate fashion, the effects of EtOH on LH secretion and on steady-state levels of the mRNA for the two genes that direct LH synthesis, namely α- and β-LH. A single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of EtOH given to castrated male rats produced a statistically significant fall in serum LH levels at 1.5 ( p p increased in EtOH-compared to saline-treated animals 1.5 hours after injection ( p decrease in serum LH. Steady- state levels of β-LH mRNA were significantly diminished in EtOH-treated animals at 1.5 ( p p
ICCAD-2014 CAD contest in simultaneous CNF encoder optimization with SAT solver setting selection and benchmark suite: Special session paper: CAD contest

Efficiently solving numerous relevant circuit satisfiability (CircuitSAT) problems becomes a crucial industrial topic as the design scale expands. In this topic, we are especially interested in: how to select the best setting of the Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solver based on sample problems, and what is the most useful conjunctive normal form (CNF) encoding for some particular designs and particular applications. From practical experience, the run time yielded by solving SAT problems using the default setting is far from best run time; same is true for CNF encoding. In this contest, we ask the participants to design the algorithm for exploring the best setting based on some sample cases, and we determine the contest winners by evaluating the run time for solving the remaining problems. The benchmark suites are extracted from the real designs in our applications of interest. We look forward to triggering the academic area in further investigating this problem.
The assessment of refill compliance using pharmacy records: Methods, validity, and applications

The refill records of computerized pharmacy systems are used increasingly as a source of compliance information. We reviewed the English-language literature to develop a typology of methods for assessing refill compliance (RC), to describe the epidemiology of compliance in obtaining medications, to identify studies that attempted to validate RC measures, to describe clinical features that predicted RC, and to describe the uses of RC measures in epidemiologic and health services research. In most of the 41 studies reviewed, patients obtained less medication than prescribed; gaps in treatment were common. Of the studies that assessed the validity of RC measures, most found significant associations between RC and other compliance measures, as well as measures of drug presence (e.g., serum drug levels) or physiologic drug effects. Refill compliance was generally not correlated with demographic characteristics of study populations, was higher among drugs with fewer daily doses, and was inconsistently associated with the total number of drugs prescribed. We conclude that, though some methodologic problems require further study, RC measures can be a useful source of compliance information in population-based studies when direct measurement of medication consumption is not feasible.
Some observations on the oscillatory behavior of carbon monoxide oxidation

The oscillatory behavior of the oxidation of carbon monoxide was experimentally studied in an attempt to further elucidate the reaction at low pressure. The phenomenon is observed as multiple explosions and involves successive flashes of light accompanying the slow reaction in a static system, including over 450 flashes in one case. Electronically excited hydroxyl radicals (water impurity) and carbon dioxide have been identified as components of the emission. The phase difference between the two was seen to be negligible. The nature of the temperature and pressure changes during a cycle indicates that the oscillation is purely kinetic rather than thermokinetic. A procedure is presented whereby sustained oscillations can be obtained for particular regions in the pressure-temperature plane, vessel surface pretreatments, and H2O-containing reactants.
Effects of Suctioning on Mucociliary Transport

We previously have shown that the mucosa of the airways is injured after suctioning, but the effect of this damage on mucus transport has not been systematically investigated. We measured bronchial mucus velocity of conscious sheep after tracheostomy and bronchial mucus velocity after suctioning the bronchi with three different catheters (Bard side end-hole, Aero-Flo, and Tri-Fio catheters). Tracheostomy in sheep produced a significant depression of right and left bronchial mucus velocity three hours after surgery, but at 24 hours, this measurement returned to baseline and remained at this value seven to ten days later. Interrupted suction in a preselected bronchus every ten minutes for three hours in eight sheep caused significant decreases in bronchial mucus velocity at 3, 6, and 24 hours when the Bard catheter was employed but much less of a fall with the Aero-Flo catheter. Interrupted suction for six hours in five sheep produced less of a decrease in bronchial mucus velocity at six hours for the Aero-Flo catheter than for the Tri-Flo catheter. We conclude that suctioning catheters with tips designed to minimize mucosal contact are less injurious to mucus transport than conventional side end-hole suctioning catheters and that the Aero-Flo tip is superior in design to the Tri-Flo tip, which also incorporates features to minimize damage to the mucosa of the airways.
Pattern violations and perceptions of deception

This research hypothesizes that observers associate deceptiveness with inconsistency in nonverbal behaviors (i.e., pattern violations) rather than with the mere presence of certain nonverbal cues. To test the hypothesis, two studies were designed to assess the impact of witness behavior on observer ratings of deceptiveness and nervousness. Participants observed mock witness testimony pertaining to an insurance claim investigation. During the testimony a witness enacted low, inconsistent, or high levels of deceptive nonverbal cues. In each study, inconsistent levels of nonverbal cues produced higher ratings of witness’ deceptiveness than did high or low levels of deceptive nonverbal cues. The relationship between perceptions of deceptiveness and nervousness was also examined.
Design rules for solvent extraction

ABSTRACT To design a new solvent extraction process, one needs to measure distribution ratios for the various components in the feed solution, determine the key components, and then develop a process flowsheet based on the criteria for the separation of the key components. By following a set of design rules based on the extraction factor and starting with the distribution ratios, we show how to develop the process flowsheet. These rules can also be used to determine the optimum organic-to-aqueous flow ratio and assess whether any of the components will be trapped (pinched) in the process.
Violence against women in intimate partner relationships: community responsibility, community justice

This essay proposes a community‐control paradigm as a catalyst for a broad‐based discussion of alternative policies to reduce incidents of intimate partner violence. Violence against women in intimate partner relationships is an international problem that involves community members and should be treated as a community responsibility, not as an individualized crime. Since battering is a systematic form of domination and social control of women by men, an integrated society‐wide response focusing on community control, not the criminal justice system, is necessary if there is to be any hope of ending violence against women in the home. Suggestions for community programs include: general educational and awareness campaigns; community protection for victims and their children; neighbourhood support groups; neighbourhood watch groups; learning circles; community conferencing; community sanctioning of batterers, including community‐run residential facilities for batterers as an alternative to jail and prison; ba...
Photophysical Properties of Novel Ruthenium Metal-Ligand Complexes incorporated in Lipid Membrane Bilayers

We have designed and synthesized novel metal-ligand complexes with amine- or acyl- reactive functional groups. These complexes have potential as luminescent probes to investigate bio-macromolecular dynamics on the submicrosecond-to-microsecond timescale. This time scale is of interest, for example, for analysis of the motions associated with large macromolecular assemblies and interactions involving membrane-bound proteins. Here we report the photophysics and structural properties of (1) the complex [HRu(CO)(dicarboxy-bipyridyl)(PPh3)2]+ [PF6]− conjugated to the lipid dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) and (2) the complex [(CF3CO2)Ru(CO)-(5aminophen)(Ph2PC2H2PPh2)]+ [PF6]− conjugated to cholesterol. The conjugated complexes were incorporated in unilamellar lipid membrane vesicles to investigate the photophysical properties of these probes in the membrane environment and to evaluate the utility of these probes for investigating the physical properties of lipid membranes.
Culturally Sensitive Risk Behavior Prevention Programs for African American Adolescents: A Systematic Analysis

The current review conducted a systematic assessment of culturally sensitive risk prevention programs for African American adolescents. Prevention programs meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were evaluated across several domains: (1) theoretical orientation and foundation; (2) methodological rigor; (3) level of cultural integration; (4) program target or domain (e.g., schools, communities, families); (5) outcome change level assessed (e.g., addressing change in beliefs/values or behaviors); and (6) program effects on risk behaviors. Thirteen studies (N = 13) with adolescent participants ranging from 10 to 18 years were identified and evaluated. Analyses suggested that more effective culturally sensitive risk prevention programs included the following: (1) a clearly articulated theoretical orientation, which utilized both universal (e.g., behavioral theories) and culturally specific (e.g., Africultural theories) frameworks; (2) a rigorous methodological design (e.g., inclusion of control group, utilization of program manuals, valid and reliable study measures); (3) an integration of culture at multiple levels (e.g., accessibility, delivery, and content) of programming; (4) consideration of the influence of multiple contexts and domains (e.g., family, community, school); (5) multiple behavior change outcomes (e.g., behaviors, relationships, values); and (6) sustained program effects over time. Recommendations for increasing the effectiveness and efficacy of culturally sensitive prevention programs are discussed.
Dark matter at colliders: A Model independent approach

Assuming that cosmological dark matter consists of weakly interacting massive particles, we use the recent precise measurement of cosmological parameters to predict the guaranteed rates of production of such particles in association with photons at electron-positron colliders. Our approach is based on general physical principles such as detailed balancing and soft/collinear factorization. It leads to predictions that are valid across a broad range of models containing WIMPs, including supersymmetry, universal extra dimensions, and many others. We also discuss the discovery prospects for the predicted experimental signatures.
Larval Diet, Adult Size, and Susceptibility of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to Infection with Ross River Virus

The relationship of larval nutrition and adult body size to the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti (L.) to Ross River virus infection was examined. Large adult mosquitoes produced by feeding larvae a high-level diet consumed significantly more virus particles than did smaller mosquitoes. However, when a correction for body size was made, smaller mosquitoes were found to consume significantly more virus per unit of body weight. A host viremia of 2.4 log10 PFU/ml failed to infect mosquitoes of any size. Large Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were significantly more susceptible than small mosquitoes when fed on hosts with viremias of 4.8, 5.7, 6.4, and 7.5 log10 PFU/ml, but differences in susceptibility were less apparent at higher viremias.
Microhabitat Use of an Introduced Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) in Long Lake, Wisconsin

ABSTRACT We examined microhabitat use patterns of different sizes and sexes of rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) in Long Lake, Wisconsin. Crayfish were sampled using modified Louisiana “pillow” traps, identified to species, and sexed. All captured specimens were classified into one of four size classes: 85 mm total length. We found that different members of the crayfish populations were associated with different microhabitat types and the three most important environmental variables influencing crayfish distribution were intermediate cobble sized gravel, aquatic plants, and water depth. All size classes and both sexes of rusty crayfish were most abundant within fine grain soft bottom substrate (detritus or sand).
Hierarchical feature learning from sensorial data by spherical clustering

Surveillance sensors are a major source of unstructured Big Data. Discovering and recognizing spatiotemporal objects (e.g., events) in such data is of paramount importance to the security and safety of facilities and individuals. What kind of computational model is necessary for discovering spatiotemporal objects at the level of abstraction they occur? Hierarchical invariant feature learning is the crux to the problems of discovery and recognition in Big Data. We present a multilayered convergent neural architecture for storing repeating spatially and temporally coincident patterns in data at multiple levels of abstraction. A node is the canonical computational unit consisting of neurons. Neurons are connected in and across nodes via bottom-up, top-down and lateral connections. The bottom-up weights are learned to encode a hierarchy of overcomplete and sparse feature dictionaries from space- and time-varying sensorial data by recursive layer-by-layer spherical clustering. The model scales to full-sized high-dimensional input data and also to an arbitrary number of layers thereby having the capability to capture features at any level of abstraction. The model is fully-learnable with only two manually tunable parameters. The model is generalpurpose (i.e., there is no modality-specific assumption for any spatiotemporal data), unsupervised and online. We use the learning algorithm, without any alteration, to learn meaningful feature hierarchies from images and videos which can then be used for recognition. Besides being online, operations in each layer of the model can be implemented in parallelized hardware, making it very efficient for real world Big Data applications.
Rhomboid Proteolysis: Why inside the Membrane?

Rhomboid proteins are membrane-immersed enzymes with the remarkable ability to hydrolyze protein segments within the membrane. This form of intramembrane proteolysis plays key roles in cell communication including EGF signalling during animal development, and quorum sensing during bacterial growth. We have been investigating rhomboid protease mechanism using a pure enzyme reconstitution system that we developed, coupled with high-resolution crystal structures of a model bacterial rhomboid protease (1, 2). Intramembrane proteolysis is catalyzed within a hydrated cavity that opens to the outside of the cell and allows water to enter, but is protected laterally from membrane lipids by a ring of protein segments. Using a structure-function approach, we subsequently identified one transmembrane helix and overlying loop that provide a rate-limiting movement to gate substrate entry laterally from the membrane (3). By integrating reconstitution into defined bilayer environments with spectroscopic interrogation, we recently discovered that rhomboid proteases rely on the natural biophysical constraints of the membrane to achieve site-specific proteolysis. Since rhomboid proteins play critical roles in the infective cycles of several protozoan parasites (4,5,6), understanding the protease mechanism may provide therapeutic opportunities (7).1. Urban, S. and M.S. Wolfe. (2005). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 102(6):1883-1888.2. Wu Z., Yan N., Feng L., Oberstein A., Yan H., Baker R. P., Gu L., Jeffrey P.D., Urban S., and Y. Shi. (2006). Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 13: 1084-1091.3. Baker, R.P., Young K., Feng L., Shi Y. and S. Urban. (2007). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 104: 8257-62.4. Baker, R.P., Wijetilaka R, and S. Urban. (2006). PLoS Pathogens 10(2): e113; 922-32.5. Baxt, L., Baker, R.P., Singh, U. and S. Urban. (2008). Genes & Development 22(12): 1636-46.6. Urban S. (2009). Nature Reviews Microbiology 7: 411-23.7. Urban S. (2010). The Biochemical Journal 425(3): 501-512.
Sonographic Suspicion of Torsion in the Setting of Unknown Unilateral Ovary

Background: The decision process to proceed with surgical exploration for suspicion of ovarian torsion is complex and imperfect. Ultrasonography is increasingly relied upon by clinicians to augment history and physical exam in their decision making, yet imaging can be nonspecific and misleading, particularly in the context of abnormal anatomy. A size discrepancy of the two ovaries, without a causal mass, has been reported as helpful in determining concern for torsion. We present two cases of adolescent patients with abdominal pain and relatively benign exam, but in whom ovarian size discrepancy was sufficiently striking to warrant diagnostic laparoscopy. These cases illustrate the importance of but limitations of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion. Cases: A 13-year-old girl with a history of recurrent abdominal pain presented to her gastroenterologist complaining of mild right lower quadrant cramping. An ultrasound was obtained which demonstrated asymmetric enlargement of the right ovary (24.8 cm3 vs. 4.7 cm3) without a focal mass or cyst and with normal arterial flow demonstrated bilaterally on Doppler interrogation (Fig. 1). Based on these findings, Gynecology was consulted, and diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Operative findings were notable for absent left tube and ovary and normal right tube and ovary (Fig. 2). A 16-year-old girl with a history of left ureteral reflux presented to her urologist for scheduled follow-up, and complained of an ongoing episode of sudden onset lower abdominal pain. An ultrasound was obtained which noted an enlarged right ovary (30cm3) without Doppler flow; the left ovary was not visualized. She was transferred to our institution, where abdominal exam was benign. The ultrasound was repeated secondary to poor image quality. On repeat ultrasound, the radiologist identified both ovaries, with marked size discrepancy. Doppler flow was noted bilaterally, and both ovaries were felt to be located right of midline; the radiology report noted concern for torsion and diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Operative finding were notable for an absent left tube and ovary. The right ovary appeared normal, though it was felt to be at the upper limit of normal size, and the right tube was adhesed to the round ligament. In both cases, once the absence of one ovary was noted, the parents were approached regarding potential oopheropexy of the remaining normal ovary to reduce the risk of bilateral asynchronous ovarian torsion; in both cases, the parents consented, and uncomplicated oopheropexy was performed. Comments: Ovarian torsion requires a high index of clinical suspicion but when clinical context and sonographic findings are discordant the
A New Nano-sized Iron Oxide Particle with High Sensitivity for Cellular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose In this study, we investigated the labeling efficiency and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal sensitivity of a newly synthesized, nano-sized iron oxide particle (IOP) coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), designed by Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).
Superconducting Phase Coherence in Striped Cuprates

We study the problem of phase coherence in doped striped cuprates. We assume the stripes to form a network of one-dimensional Luttinger liquids which are dominated by superconducting fluctuations and pinned by impurities. We study the dynamics of the superconducting phase using a model of resistively shunted junctions which leads to a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. We show that our results are consistent with recent experiments in Zn-doped cuprates. We also explain the scaling of the superconducting critical temperature ${T}_{c}$ with the incommensurability as seen in recent neutron scattering experiments and predict the behavior of ${H}_{c2}$.
Depth-Sensing Video Cameras for 3D Tangible Tabletop Interaction

Recently developed depth-sensing video camera technologies provide precise per-pixel range data in addition to color video. Such cameras will find application in robotics and vision-based human computer interaction scenarios such as games and gesture input systems. We present an interactive tabletop system which uses a depth-sensing camera to build a height map of the objects on the table surface. This height map is used in a driving simulation game that allows players to drive a virtual car over real objects placed on the table. Players can use folded bits of paper, for example, to lay out a course of ramps and other obstacles. A projector displays the position of the car on the surface, such that when the car is driven over a ramp, for example, it jumps appropriately. A second display shows a synthetic graphical view of the entire surface, or a traditional arcade view from behind the car. Micromotorcross is a fun initial investigation into the applicability of depth-sensing cameras to tabletop interfaces. We present details on its implementation, and speculate on how this technology will enable new tabletop interactions.
'Situating' Simulation to Model Human Spatio-Temporal Interactions: An Example Using Crime Events

Many social phenomena have a spatio-temporal dimension and involve dynamic decisions made by individuals. In the past, researchers have often turned to geographic information systems (GIS) to model these interactions. Although GIS provide a powerful tool for examining the spatial aspects of these interactions, they are unable to model the dynamic, individual-level interactions across time and space. In an attempt to address these issues, some researchers have begun to use simulation models. But these models rely on artificial landscapes that do not take into account the environment in which humans move and interact. This research presents the methodology for ‘situating’ simulation through the use of a new modeling tool, Agent Analyst, which integrates agent-based modeling (ABM) and GIS. Three versions of a model of street robbery are presented to illustrate the importance of using ‘real’ data to inform agent activity spaces and movement. The successful implementation of this model demonstrates that: (1) agents can move along existing street networks; (2) land use patterns can be used to realistically distribute agent’s homes and activities across a city; and (3) the incidence and pattern of street robberies is significantly different when ‘real’ data are used.
Research Activity in Family Medicine: The “Best of Times” or “Can I Have More, Please”?

The article by Pathman et al[1][1] in this issue of the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine continues a decades-long analysis of research in family medicine. It almost seems that doing research about doing research is nearly as old as the discipline itself. The article in this issue of the
COMPETITIVE RESPONSE HIERARCHIES FOR GERMINATION, GROWTH, AND SURVIVAL AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON ABUNDANCE

Among plants, differences in competition intensity and in the ranking of competitive ability for traits such as germination, growth, and survival may suggest that the importance of competition for population success varies with the trait measured. If a species is a good competitor when measured by one component of fitness (e.g., seedling growth), but a poor competitor when measured by a different component of fitness (e.g., seedling survival), understanding the relative importance of each component of fitness for persistence in the community is critical to understanding how communities are structured. Using a field and a garden experiment in southeastern Michigan, we generated competitive response hierarchies among 4-8 old-field perennials for five components of fitness (ger- mination, seedling growth, seedling survival, adult growth, and adult survival). We ex- amined how the overall response to neighbors changes among components of fitness, the concordance of hierarchies within and among components of fitness, and the correlations between competitive hierarchies and natural abundance. We found little to no overall effect of neighbors on germination and seedling survival, indicating a high tolerance (= strong response competitive ability) of species for neighbors as measured by these components of fitness. We found a strong effect of neighbors on seedling growth, and on adult survival and growth, indicating poorer response competitive ability overall for these components. Although rankings of competitive ability were concordant among species across all com- ponents of fitness, certain demographic parameters were more consistent in their rankings than others. Specifically, competitive response hierarchies based on size were strongly concordant, while those based on survival were not. This suggests that future studies may effectively estimate response competitive ability for growth with a single estimate, but that estimates of response competitive ability for survival at both the seedling and adult stages may be required. Finally, competitive response rankings based on germination and seedling growth were most strongly correlated with abundance, suggesting that these components of fitness more strongly influence success in the community than do seedling survival and adult growth and survival.
Phylogenomic Interrogation of Arachnida Reveals Systemic Conflicts in Phylogenetic Signal

Chelicerata represents one of the oldest groups of arthropods, with a fossil record extending to the Cambrian, and is sister group to the remaining extant arthropods, the mandibulates. Attempts to resolve the internal phylogeny of chelicerates have achieved little consensus, due to marked discord in both morphological and molecular hypotheses of chelicerate phylogeny. The monophyly of Arachnida, the terrestrial chelicerates, is generally accepted, but has garnered little support from molecular data, which have been limited either in breadth of taxonomic sampling or in depth of sequencing. To address the internal phylogeny of this group, we employed a phylogenomic approach, generating transcriptomic data for 17 species in combination with existing data, including two complete genomes. We analyzed multiple data sets containing up to 1,235,912 sites across 3,644 loci, using alternative approaches to optimization of matrix composition. Here, we show that phylogenetic signal for the monophyly of Arachnida is restricted to the 500 slowest-evolving genes in the data set. Accelerated evolutionary rates in Acariformes, Pseudoscorpiones, and Parasitiformes potentially engender longbranch attraction artifacts, yielding nonmonophyly of Arachnida with increasing support upon incrementing the number of concatenated genes. Mutually exclusive hypotheses are supported by locus groups of variable evolutionary rate, revealing significant conflicts in phylogenetic signal. Analyses of gene-tree discordance indicate marked incongruence in relationships among chelicerate orders, whereas derived relationships are demonstrably robust. Consistently recovered and supported relationships include the monophyly of Chelicerata, Euchelicerata, Tetrapulmonata, and all orders represented by multiple terminals. Relationships supported by subsets of slow-evolving genes include Ricinulei+Solifugae; a clade comprised of Ricinulei, Opiliones, and Solifugae; and a clade comprised of Tetrapulmonata, Scorpiones, and Pseudoscorpiones. We demonstrate that outgroup selection without regard for branch length distribution exacerbates long-branch attraction artifacts and does not mitigate gene-tree discordance, regardless of high gene representation for outgroups that are model organisms. Arachnopulmonata (new name) is proposed for the clade comprising Scorpiones+Tetrapulmonata (previously named Pulmonata).
Pinpointing the sources of the Asian mortality advantage in the USA

Background Asian–Americans outlive whites by an average of nearly 8 years. By determining the sources of the Asian mortality advantage, we can pinpoint where there is the greatest potential for raising the life expectancy of whites and other groups in the USA. Methods Our analyses include all Asian and white deaths in the USA between 2006 and 2010, from the Center for Disease Control. Using the International Classification of Diseases (V.10), we code causes of deaths into 19 categories, based on the most common causes as well as causes particularly relevant to racial differences. We then create life tables and apply a newly-developed demographic method to determine whether Asians have longer life expectancy because they are less likely than whites to die of causes of death that strike at younger ages, or because they tend to outlive whites regardless of cause of death. Results Nearly 90% of the Asian–white life expectancy gap is attributable to the fact that Asians tend to outlive whites regardless of the cause of death. The causes that contribute the most to the gap are heart disease (24%) and cancers (18%). Men contribute somewhat more to the gap than women do (55% vs 45%), primarily because Asian–white differences in mortality are greater among men than among women with respect to suicide, traffic accidents and accidental poisoning. Conclusions For almost all causes of death, Asian victims tend to be older than white victims. The greatest potential for raising the life expectancy of whites to that of Asians, then, resides in efforts that effectively increase whites’ average age at death for the most common causes of death.
c-raf-1 depletion and tumor responses in patients treated with the c-raf-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide ISIS 5132 (CGP 69846A)

Abnormally regulated signaling through proliferative signal transduction pathways characterizes many of the common solid tumors. The best described of these involves potentially oncogenic proteins of the Ras family, which activate Raf proteins in the early steps of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. ISIS 5132, a phosphorothioate antisense oligodexoynucleotide directed to the 3′ untranslated region of the c- raf -1 mRNA, inhibits the growth of human tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo in association with specific down-regulation of target message expression. Using a semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay, we analyzed changes in c- raf -1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from patients with advanced cancers treated with ISIS 5132 as part of a clinical trial. Specimens were collected for analysis pretreatment and on days 3, 5, 8, and 15 of the first cycle and on day 1 of each subsequent cycle. We observed significant reductions of c- raf -1 expression from baseline by day 3 in 13 of 14 patients ( P = 0.002). The time course and depletion of c- raf -1 message in peripheral blood mononuclear cells paralleled the clinical benefit in two patients. These findings demonstrate that ISIS 5132 specifically reduces target gene expression in treated patients and that peripheral blood mononuclear cells are suitable tissues for biomarker studies in future trials.
Choosing wisely for syncope: low-value carotid ultrasound use.

Background The United States spends more than $750 billion annually on tests and procedures that do not benefit patients. Although there is no physiological indication for carotid ultrasound in “simple” syncope in the absence of focal neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of stroke, there is concern that this practice remains common for routine syncope workups. Methods and Results We used a 5% random-sample Medicare claims database to evaluate large-scale national trends in utilization of low-value carotid ultrasound imaging for simple syncope. We found that 16.5% of all Medicare beneficiaries with simple syncope underwent carotid imaging and 6.5% of all carotid ultrasounds ordered in 2009 were for this low-value indication. These findings were complemented by a manual chart review of 313 patients at a large academic medical center who underwent carotid ultrasound for simple syncope over a 5-year period. For the 48 (15.4%) of 313 patients with stenosis ≥50%, carotid ultrasound did not yield a causal diagnosis. Only 2% of the 313 patients imaged experienced a change in medications after a positive study, and <1% of patients underwent a carotid revascularization procedure. Conclusions These data suggest that carotid ultrasound for patients with uncomplicated syncope are still commonly ordered and may be an easy target for institutions striving to curtail low-value care.
Organic weed control in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

Legumes such as white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) provide a valuable nitrogen source in organic agriculture. With organic farming hectarage increasing and white lupin interest increasing in the southeastern USA due to newly released winter hardy cultivars, non-chemical weed control practices in lupin are needed. A two-year experiment was established at two locations in Alabama. Five weed control practices were evaluated: one pre-emergence (PRE)-applied herbicide (S-metolachlor), two mechanical (hand hoed) and two cultural (living mulch utilizing two black oat cultivars) weed control treatments. Fourteen weed species were encountered. S-metolachlor provided above 80% control of most weed species present in this experiment. The cultivation treatments and black oat companion crops also provided good weed control of many of the weeds encountered. Crop injury of all treatments was low on a 0 to 10 scale with 0 representing no injury: < 2.0, < 1.3 and < 1.2 by S-metolachlor, the cultivation treatments and the black oat companion crops, respectively. Grain yield of cultivars ABL 1082, AU Alpha and AU Homer were 1540, 1130, 850 kg ha - 1 , respectively, when treated with the conventional treatment, S-metolachlor. Grain yield in the organic treatments was equivalent. The cultivation treatments and black oat companions were successful alternative weed control practices in white lupin production.