cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid System of Li-Ion Capacitors and Flow Battery for Dynamic Wind Energy Support

Wind farm output power fluctuations create adverse effects on the voltage, frequency, and transient stability of the utility grid. Short-term wind farm power variations with high ramp rates can cause voltage instabilities, particularly if the farm is located in weak-grid areas. The integration of wind energy with energy storage devices to support the short-term shortcomings of wind energy is discussed in this paper. A turbine level hybrid configuration of an energy storage system is used to limit the power ramp rates and apply power smoothing. The proposed energy storage devices are the zinc bromide flow battery and lithium-ion capacitors. The actual models for the battery and capacitors used in this study are derived from laboratory tests. The wind farm power is also modeled using measured wind speed data. A new concept has been introduced to evaluate the effectiveness of energy storage system for wind energy support. The analysis shows that significant improvements can be made to shape the output power of the farm using energy storage systems.
Additional comments on buckling analyses of embedded layers

Abstract Recently the author showed that for an axially compressed embedded layer the bifurcation force, P cr , is not necessarily the buckling force. This analysis was based on a simple model able to undergo large deformations, and the commonly used assumption that the vertical bedding resistance is linear. However, in an actual situation, the bedding resistance is non-linear; especially for large vertical displacements. Also, the base of the layer undergoes a permanent sag, due to the weight of the layer and the overburden. The purpose of the present note is to analyze these effects. It is shown that they profoundly influence the buckling force of an embedded layer. Of interest is also the finding that for a perfectly straight layer model, P cr may not exist. The effects of geometrical imperfections are shown.
Impact of Broadened Coverage of Smoking Cessation Treatments on Cardiovascular Disease.

One third of all premature tobacco-attributable deaths are due to CVD and tobacco is the cause of approximately 15 % of all CVD attributable deaths. Primary and secondary prevention strategies that combine evidenced based tobacco dependence treatment programs along with cigarette taxes and media campaigns can result in hundreds of thousand of fewer excess deaths from smoking attributable CVD. Expanded insurance from both commercial and public insurers will be greatly expanded by the recently enacted federal health care reform but barriers to reducing the avoidable morbidity and mortality that is due to tobacco use is impacted by the potential for remaining financial barriers to full insurance coverage from Americans in regions of the country with the highest smoking prevalence rates.
Planning, treatment and in vivo thermo-luminescent dosimetry in patients with breast cancer treated with a VMAT technique: Geneva experience

Objective To assess the dose delivered to the skin during a volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) irradiation in patients with breast cancer. Material and method Ten patients with breast cancer were treated using RAPIDARC ® (6 with supraclavicular and/or axillary regions). Decision to perform VMAT treatments was made when the dose received to the contra-lateral breast, lungs or heart exceeds protocol limits with usual 3D conformal techniques. Ten plans were created on Eclipse ® with a daily dose prescription of 2.25 Gy to the mean target volume. Dose planning technique used 1 cm expansion of the target in air (Nicolini et al., Med. Phys. 2011) to take into account patient's breathing movements. Boluses were added in 7 plans for proper target coverage. Patients were treated supine on a 2100C/D Varian linac equipped with on-board imaging. Daily patient positioning was performed by orthogonal images alone or with cone-beam computed tomography scans (CBCT). Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) were located at specific distances on the skin respect to the isocenter, and expected doses were estimated. Measurements reproducibility using bolus was tested on 28 points by repeating several times TLD in vivo dosimetry. Results A total of 116 measurements (100 with bolus, 16 without) were analyzed. Mean standard deviations representing TLD reproducibility was 4.8 cGy. For 52 points measured with bolus the mean measured/expected dose ratio was 1.018 (SD 0.037), while for 16 points without bolus 1.044 (SD 0.065). Conclusion Results indicate that the overall treatment process is adequate and that 1 cm target expansion is sufficient to take into account breast motion during treatment. This technique is well-indicated for patients with convex thoracic wall to avoid important lungs volume irradiated at high dose and also for patients with left breast tumor to reduce heart doses.
Modeling Inertia and Variety Seeking Tendencies in Brand Choice Behavior

Theories of exploratory behavior suggest that inertia and variety-seeking tendencies may coexist within the individual, implying that the same individual may exhibit inertia and variety-seeking at different times depending on his/her choice history. Past research has not allowed for such within-consumer variability in these tendencies. The purpose of this study is to present a choice model that allows us to identify such "hybrid" behavior i.e., a mixture of inertia and variety-seeking, and to distinguish hybrid behavior from simpler types of behavior such as pure inertia, pure variety-seeking and zero-order behavior. The model is estimated at the household level using panel data for three product classes, covering a total of 1069 households. The empirical analysis shows that more than half the households analyzed exhibited hybrid behavior rather than simpler types of behavior.
Electrochemistry of ruthenium(II) complexes of 8-aminoquinoline.

Oxidation of [Ru(NH2Q)3]2+ (NH2Q = 8-aminoquinoline) results in intermolecular coupling of 8-aminoquinoline ligands to yield an electroactive polymer. Oxidative polymerization is not observed for [Ru(bpy)2(NH2Q)]2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), where only one 8-aminoquinoline ligand is present.
Association of Rehabilitation Intensity for Stroke and Risk of Hospital Readmission

Background Little is known about the use of rehabilitation in the acute care setting and its impact on hospital readmissions. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the association between the intensity of rehabilitation services received during the acute care stay for stroke and the risk of 30-day and 90-day hospital readmission. Design A retrospective cohort analysis of all acute care hospitals in Arkansas and Florida was conducted. Methods Patients (N=64,065) who were admitted for an incident stroke in 2009 or 2010 were included. Rehabilitation intensity was categorized as none, low, medium-low, medium-high, or high based on the sum and distribution of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy charges within each hospital. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios, controlling for demographic characteristics, illness severity, comorbidities, hospital variables, and state. Results Relative to participants who received the lowest intensity therapy, those who received higher-intensity therapy had a decreased risk of 30-day readmission. The risk was lowest for the highest-intensity group (hazard ratio=0.86; 95% confidence interval=0.79, 0.93). Individuals who received no therapy were at an increased risk of hospital readmission relative to those who received low-intensity therapy (hazard ratio=1.30; 95% confidence interval=1.22, 1.40). The findings were similar, but with smaller effects, for 90-day readmission. Furthermore, patients who received higher-intensity therapy had more comorbidities and greater illness severity relative to those who received lower-intensity therapy. Limitations The results of the study are limited in scope and generalizability. Also, the study may not have adequately accounted for all potentially important covariates. Conclusions Receipt of and intensity of rehabilitation therapy in the acute care of stroke is associated with a decreased risk of hospital readmission.
Measuring the Quality of Ideation Technology and Techniques

Ideation is an essential component of creativity and problem-solving. Researchers have measured the quality of ideation treatments by assigning quality scores to each unique idea generated in each session and then by calculating one or more of the sum-of-scores, average-quality-score, or count-of-good-ideas measures. We discuss the validity of these three measures and the potential biases associated with the sum-of-scores and average-quality measures. An experimental study comparing multiple levels of social comparison was used to illustrate the differences in the quality measures and the results revealed that research conclusions were dependent on the quality measure used. Implications for future research are discussed including a recommendation that future ideation research adopt the count-of-good-ideas measure for assessing ideation quality.
The questionnaire for urinary incontinence diagnosis (QUID): Validity and responsiveness to change in women undergoing non-surgical therapies for treatment of stress predominant urinary incontinence†‡§

Aims: The Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID), a 6-item urinary incontinence (UI) symptom questionnaire, was developed and validated to distinguish stress and urge UI. This study’s objective was to evaluate QUID validity and responsiveness when used as a clinical trial outcome measure. Methods: Participants enrolled in a multi-center trial of non-surgical therapy (continence pessary, pelvic floor muscle training or combined) for stress-predominant UI and completed baseline and 3-month diaries, the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) and QUID. Data from all treatment groups were pooled. QUID internal consistency (Cronbach’s a) and convergent/ discriminant validity (Pearson correlations) were evaluated. Responsiveness to change was assessed with 3-month score outcomes and distribution-based measurements. Results: Four hundred forty-four women (mean age 50) were enrolled with stress (N ¼ 200) and mixed (N ¼ 244) UI; 344 had 3-month data. Baseline QUID Stress and Urge scores (both scaled 0–15, larger values indicating worse UI) were 8.4 � 3.2 and 4.5 � 3.3, respectively. Internal consistency of QUID Total, Stress, and Urge scores was 0.75, 0.64 and 0.87, respectively. QUID Stress scores correlated moderately with UDI-Stress scores (r ¼ 0.68, P < 0.0001) and diary stress UI episodes (r ¼ 0.41, P < 0.0001). QUID Urge scores correlated moderately with UDI-Irritative scores (r ¼ 0.68, P < 0.0001) and diary urge UI episodes (r ¼ 0.45, P < 0.0001). Three-month QUID Stress and Urge scores improved (4.1 � 3.4 and 2.2 � 2.7, both P < 0.0001). QUID Stress score effect size (1.3) and standardized response mean (1.2) suggested a large change after therapy. Conclusion: The QUID has acceptable psychometric characteristics and may be used as a UI outcome measure in clinical trials. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:726–733, 2010. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Suppression of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms with daily hydroxyzine

The effectiveness of hydroxyzine in the suppression of allergic rhinitis symptoms was evaluated using a double-blind, parallel study design during the 1977 ragweed season. Forty-three subjects with positive ragweed skin tests and a history of an exacerbation of symptoms during August and September of the previous two years were randomly assigned to receive either hydroxyzine or placebo. Subjects scored the severity and duration of symptoms in a daily diary and adverse effects were evaluated from a structured interview at two-week intervals. Although drowsiness and dry mouth were frequent initially among the hydroxyzine-treated patients, these minor side effects rapidly disappeared as the dose was slowly increased, and all but one subject tolerated 150 mg/day. Subsequently, during the period of the highest ragweek pollen counts, the hydroxyzine-treated group spent significantly more days free of symptoms or with only mild sneezing, rhinorrhea, and eye symptoms than subjects who took placebo (p less than 0.05). Thus, hydroxyzine appeared to be well tolerated on a continuous daily basis and was effective in suppressing most of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Comparison of hydroxyzine with antihistamines more traditionally used for allergic rhinitis appears warranted.
Relationship between linear and area measurements of radiographic bone levels utilizing simple computerized techniques

Three methods were used to measure the percent alveolar bone remaining about the premolar teeth in standardized perapical radiographs from eight female beagle dogs. The first method utilized straight-line measurements of bone remaining along the tooth root, the second method used measurements which followed the curved path of the tooth root, and the third method measured the area of tooth root supported by alveolar bone as projected on a radiograph. An inexpensive digitizer-computer system was used to determine linear, curvilinear, and area measurements. The percent remaining alveolar bone determined by each of these three methods were compared in order to determine the simplest technique which most completely describes the bone remaining about each tooth root. There was no significant difference between the percent bone remaining determined by straight line and curvilinear measurements. Similarly, there was no significant difference between straight line and area measurements of percent remaining alveolar bone when there was little loss of alveolar bone ( 15% loss), area measurements were significantly lower than linear measurements. The relationship between area measurement and linear measurement may be described by a quadratic equation. These data indicate that simple linear measurements of percent remaining alveolar bone on a radiograph may be transformed to the more complete area description of percent remaining alveolar bone using a quadratic equation. Thus, in beagles, simple linear measurements of percent remaining alveolar bone may be used to provide as complete a description of radiographic support as the more complex area measurements.
Sliding Mode Pulsewidth Modulation

This paper presents sliding mode pulsewidth modulation (SMPWM) control methodologies for a current-controlled inverter. Discussion begins with circuit analysis and the selection of proper references. Based on this formulation, switching methodologies are developed. Two novel approaches adopting the sliding mode concept are proposed to make the system tracking reference inputs. Phase currents and the neutral point voltage are controlled simultaneously. Optimization of different operational criteria is offered by SMPWM via the control of neutral point voltage. Simulations and experiments are carried out to confirm the effectiveness of proposed control algorithms.
Case-control single-marker and haplotypic association analysis of pedigree data.

Related individuals collected for use in linkage studies may be used in case-control linkage disequilibrium analysis, provided one takes into account correlations between individuals due to identity-by-descent (IBD) sharing. We account for these correlations by calculating a weight for each individual. The weights are used in constructing a composite likelihood, which is maximized iteratively to form likelihood ratio tests for single-marker and haplotypic associations. The method scales well with increasing pedigree size and complexity, and is applicable to both autosomal and X chromosomes. We apply the approach to an analysis of association between type 2 diabetes and single-nucleotide polymorphism markers in the PPAR-g gene. Simulated data are used to check validity of the test and examine power. Analysis of related cases has better power than analysis of population-based cases because of the increased frequencies of disease-susceptibility alleles in pedigrees with multiple cases compared to the frequencies of these alleles in population-based cases. Also, utilizing all cases in a pedigree rather than just one per pedigree improves power by increasing the effective sample size. We demonstrate that our method has power at least as great as that of several competing methods, while offering advantages in the ability to handle missing data and perform haplotypic analysis. Genet. Epidemiol. 28:110–122, 2005. & 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Framing the Problem of Reading Instruction: Using Frame Analysis to Uncover the Microprocesses of Policy Implementation

Policy problems do not exist as social fact awaiting discovery. Rather, they are constructed as policymakers and constituents interpret a particular aspect of the social world as problematic. How a policy problem is framed is important because it assigns responsibility and creates rationales that authorize some policy solutions and not others. This article brings together sense-making theory and frame analysis to understand the dynamics of problem framing during policy implementation. Data were derived from a yearlong ethnographic study of one school’s response to the California Reading Initiative. Results showed that the school’s response depended on how school staff constructed their understanding of the relevant problem to be solved. The problem framing process was iterative and contested, shaped by authority relations and mediated by teachers’ social networks. Ultimately, it proved important for motivating and coordinating action, reshaping authority relations, and influencing teachers’ beliefs and pr...
Multiple blocks in the engagement of oxidative phosphorylation in putative ovarian cancer stem cells: implication for maintenance therapy with glycolysis inhibitors

// Ayesha B. Alvero 1 , Michele K. Montagna 1 , Natalia J. Sumi 1 , Won Duk Joo 1 , Emma Graham 1 and Gil Mor 1 1 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA Correspondence: Gil Mor, email: // Keywords : ovarian cancer, cancer stem cells, oxidative phosphorylation, Warburg effect, maintenance treatment Received : June 29, 2014 Accepted : August 18, 2014 Published : August 19, 2014 Abstract Survival rate in ovarian cancer has not improved since chemotherapy was introduced a few decades ago. The dismal prognosis is mostly due to disease recurrence where majority of the patients succumb to the disease. The demonstration that tumors are comprised of subfractions of cancer cells displaying heterogeneity in stemness potential, chemoresistance, and tumor repair capacity suggests that recurrence may be driven by the chemoresistant cancer stem cells. Thus to improve patient survival, novel therapies should eradicate this cancer cell population. We show that in contrast to the more differentiated ovarian cancer cells, the putative CD44+/MyD88+ ovarian cancer stem cells express lower levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase, Cox–I, Cox-II, and Cox–IV, and higher levels of UCP2. Together, this molecular phenotype establishes a bioenergetic profile that prefers the use of glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP. This bioenergetic profile is conserved in vivo and therefore a maintenance regimen of 2-deoxyglucose administered after Paclitaxel treatment is able to delay the progression of recurrent tumors and decrease tumor burden in mice. Our findings strongly suggest the value of maintenance with glycolysis inhibitors with the goal of improving survival in ovarian cancer patients.
Abnormal expression of genes governing adipogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation in subcutaneous (SC) abdominal adipose stem cells (ASCs) of lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women

from four lean (body mass index: 19-25 kg/m 2 )P COS women, ages 21-32 years, and four BMI- and age-matched NL women. ASCs were isolated after digestion of SC abdominal adipose with collagenase and differential centrifugation. RNA from ASCs was extracted using Qiagen miRNeasy Mini Kit. Microarray and small non-coding RNA (miRNA) analysis were performed using Affymetrix Human Genome U1.33 2.0 and Human miRNA arrays, respectively. Data were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. RESULTS: Differential expression of >1.5 fold change between SC abdominal ASCs of PCOS and NL women indicated 64 up-regulated and 103 down-regulated genes (P<0.05). Nine genes involving adipogenesis were up-regulated (WARS2, CXCL5, CYP26B1, CYP4V2, TBX3, GPX3, CXCL2, SCD and APOC1) and 6 genes were down-regulated (HHIP, WNT5A, WISP1, SEMA3A, ITGA6 and GREM1). Differential canonical pathways between the two female groups included (i) Liver X Receptor/Retinoid X Receptor (LXR/RXR) activation (P¼0.001), (ii) Notch signaling (P¼0.002), (iii) epithelial-mesenchymal regulation (P¼0.006), (iv) Vitamin D Receptor/ Retinoid X Receptor (VDR/RXR) activation (P¼0.013) and (v) human embryonic stem cell pluripotency (P¼0.05), all of which involve adipogenesis and ECM formation. TGFb1 was identified as the master upstream regulatory gene (P¼0.004), governing genes affecting adipogenesis (SCD, TBX3, WNT5A, ITGA6, SEMA3A and WISP1) and ECM formation (CH13L1, TNC, MYO10, JAG1, SOX4 and ANKRD1). Interestingly, miRNA array identified miRNAs controlling gene regulation of adipogenesis and ECM formation, including hsa-miR-4709-3p (GREM1 and SEMA3A), hsa-miR-532-3p (CYP26B1), hsa-miR-532-5p (CXCL2), hsa-miR-23c (WARS2), hsa-miR-299-5p (SOX4) and hsa-miR-298 (GPX3 )( P<0.05). The last 3 of these miRNAs also have been shown to be differentially expressed in PCOS 1 . CONCLUSIONS: A network of interrelated genetic pathways in SC abdominal ASCs offers a developmental programming model for PCOS through regulation of adipogenesis and ECM. Reference: 1. Sorensen AE, Wissing ML, Salo S, et al. MicroRNAs Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Genes 2014;5:684-708.
Long-term endocrine function in hypercholesterolemic patients treated with pravastatin, a new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitor

Steroid hormone production within the gonads and adrenals requires a continuous supply of cholesterol derived from de novo synthesis within the gland and from uptake of circulating plasma lipoproteins. Steroid hormone secretion was prospectively studied over 24 months in 64 hypercholesterolemic subjects (group I, aged 52 + 1 years [mean f SEMI, 61% male) participating in a randomized double-blind clinical trial of pravastatin (20 to 60 mg daily), a new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenryme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, compared with patients taking cholestyramine or other lipid-lowering drugs (group II). Attempts were made in both groups to maintain serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels between the 25th and 50th percentile for age and gender. At 24 months, serum LDL-C level decreased by 42% + 3% in group I and 44% + 1% in group II (P c .OOl Y baseline, NS between groups). Basal secretion of cortisol, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEA-S) was maintained throughout the study. However, the serum DHEA-S secretory response to Cortrosyn (Organon, West Orange, NJ) diminished in both treatment groups at 6 and 12 months (P < .05). In men, basal serum testosterone levels and the testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) did not change. There was some diminution of sperm motility noted in both treatment groups at 6 and 12 months in the subset of men undergoing semen analysis (n = 14, P < .05). In conclusion, pravastatin had no significant effect on steroid metabolism. Changes noted in DHEA-S were not specific for pravastatin, suggesting that this impairment is related to lipid-lowering effects. c OMPLIANCE WITH the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Guidelines’ will permit large segments of the population to be treated for hypercholesterolemia over extended periods of time. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl wenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are a new class of lipid-lowering agents that offer an effective and relatively safe intervention for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. An example of this class of drugs is lovastatin, which is found to produce 30% to 40% reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.2-4 Pravastatin, another drug of this type with comparable lipid-lowering efficacy,5 is structurally similar, but its tissue specificity may vary.6,7 Few side effects have been reported with either lovastatin or pravastatin. phosphate, a lipid-carrier molecule required for glycosylation of gonadotropins8
Impact of technology on the content and nature of teaching and learning.

Abstract Excelsior College has a web-based graduate nursing program with a focus on clinical systems management and health care informatics that incorporates a variety of technology-based educational strategies: synchronous and asynchronous collaborative communication, project/activity-based learning, and web-based interaction and feedback. This pilot study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the use of technology and outcomes in two computer-mediated courses in the program. Questionnaires, interviews, standardized scales, and course assessments were selected or developed as needed, and existing demographic information and evaluations were accessed for comparison purposes. The analysis strategy was specific to the data, the sample size, and the types of questions posed. The tools developed for and used in the study can be applied across the curriculum to enhance evaluation of learning and program effectiveness.
Effects of Supplemental Enzymes in Diets Containing Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles on Finishing Pig Growth Performance1

ABSTRACT Four experiments involving 4,506 pigs were conducted to determine the effects of different commercial enzymes on the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs fed distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). All experiments were conducted in the same commercial swine research facility. Experiments 1 and 2 used corn- and soybean meal-based diets with 15% DDGS. A β-mannanase enzyme was used in Exp. 1, and a blend of enzymes that contained β-glucanase, cellulase, and protease activities was used in Exp. 2. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in ADG, ADFI, and G:F between pigs fed diets with added enzyme and pigs fed diets without enzyme in either experiment (ADG 1.00 vs. 1.01 kg/d, and G:F 0.408 vs. 0.408; ADG 0.94 vs. 0.94 kg/d, and G:F 0.424 vs. 0.421, in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively) In Exp. 3, diets containing 45 and 60% DDGS were fed with or without 2 commercial proprietary enzyme products designed for use in diets containing DDGS. Average daily gain (0.85 vs. 0.86 kg/d) and G:F (0.370 vs. 0.373) were not different (P > 0.10) among treatments. In Exp. 4, an enzyme product with bacterial endo-1,4-β-xylanase was evaluated in diets containing 30% DDGS. Average daily gain (0.82 vs. 0.82 kg/d) and G:F (0.391 vs. 0.387) were not different (P > 0.10) among treatments. Based on the results, the different enzymes evaluated in these experiments did not enhance finishing pig growth performance when diets contained varying levels of DDGS.
Coherent control of intersubband wavepackets in semiconductor nanostructures

We investigate the use of wavepacket interferometry with intersubband electronic wavepackets in suitably designed modulation-doped quantum-well structures. We study four quantum-well configurations, where the intersubband wavepackets are created by two sub-picosecond far-infrared laser pulses. By varying the delay and phase relation between the two pulses the interference between the packets and thus also the final excited state population can be controlled. The effects we discuss are purely coherent and can be used to study decoherence in intersubband transitions. Also, due to its sensitivity to the shape of the potential energy, wavepacket interferometry could be used to probe details of the potential energy, such as those caused by the presence of defects in artificially grown samples.
Visual Diagnosis: 15-Year-Old Girl With Fever, Extremity Pain, and Unusual Rash

1. David Toturgul, MD* 2. Megan Yunghans, MD† 3. Jessica Kosut, MD† 1. *Atlantic Health Sports Medicine, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ. 2. †Division of Hospital Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI. A 15-year-old girl presents to the clinic with fever, rash, and extremity pain associated with difficulty walking. The patient had been in her usual state of health until 6 days before admission, when she developed diffuse abdominal pain, nonbilious and nonbloody emesis, and subjective fever. The patient initially had been seen in the emergency department (ED) 2 days before presentation and underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT), blood work, and urine studies. The abdominal CT revealed a normal-appearing appendix and no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction. The blood work was notable for the following: white blood cell (WBC) count, 18,700/μL (18.7 × 109/L) with 39% band cells; hemoglobin, 15 g/dL (150 g/L); hematocrit, 43.1; platelet count, 94.0 × 103/μL (94.0 × 109/L); erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 30 mm/h; and C-reactive protein, 111 mg/L (1057 nmol/L). The urinalysis revealed 0 to 5 WBCs, 2 to 5 red blood cells, a protein level of greater than 300 mg/dL (3.0 g/L), and moderate bacteria (10-30 casts) but normal pH and negative leukocyte esterase and nitrite test results. A rapid streptococcal test result was negative. The patient was given a single dose of ceftriaxone and sent home with a prescription for a 10-day course of cephalexin for presumed urinary tract infection. The next day she followed up with her pediatrician and by that time had developed chills, extremity pain that began in her lower extremities with progression to her upper extremities, and a new rash on her palms and soles. She had not filled the cephalexin prescription and was given a new prescription for amoxicillin by her pediatrician. Later, a …
An Isolated Chronic Osteochondral Fracture of the Third Metatarsal Head Treated With Bioabsorbable Pins: A Case Report

An osteochondral fracture of the metatarsal head is generally the result of direct trauma and is associated with additional proximal fractures of the medially adjacent metatarsals. An isolated osteochondral fracture of the metatarsal head is extremely rare, with only 10 published case reports. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 6 of 10 cases and in 2 of 4 chronic cases, each with different implants previously. The mechanism of injury was considered to be shear force in 5 of the reported cases. It is difficult to achieve and maintain reduction in these cases, and the best method for treatment of this type of fracture is unclear. We report a case of an isolated chronic osteochondral fracture of the third metatarsal head in a 14-year-old boy. The boy reported pain in his third metatarsophalangeal joint on dismounting from a bicycle 2 months prior to presentation. He could play soccer at first; however, the pain worsened after running long distances. Therefore, he was referred to our department. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an osteochondral fracture of the metatarsal head without Freiberg's disease. We achieved a good result 12 months postoperatively by using open reduction and internal fixation with 2 bioabsorbable thread pins. Levels of evidence Therapeutic, Level IV: Case study.
Brain abscess following delayed endoscopic removal of an initially asymptomatic esophageal coin

Brain abscesses are rare occurrences in pediatric patients, and making their diagnosis can be difficult. The two most commonly cited risk factors are otorhinologic infections and cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). We present a 13-month-old child with a brain abscess who, 2 weeks prior, underwent rigid endoscopy for the extraction of a coin from the esophagus. We believe this to be the first such report of a brain abscess after rigid endoscopy for removal of an esophageal foreign body. In this case the esophageal coin was initially asymptomatic and had been present for weeks prior to removal. The potential association between delayed coin extraction and development of an intracranial infection, suggested by this report, may warrant investigation.
Modern foraminiferal distribution and recent environmental change in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA.

Core Sound, a shallow, narrow estuarine lagoon located behind North Carolina’s southern Outer Banks, was studied to document modern foraminiferal distributions and identify environmental changes during the past ca. 90 years. Seventy-six samples collected in 2004 were analyzed to establish the modern distribution and abundance of foraminifera. Cluster analysis defined four modern biofacies: Marsh (dominated by Trochammina inflata and Haplophragmoides wilberti ), Estuarine High Salinity A (dominated by Ammonia parkinsoniana and Elphidium mexicanum ), Estuarine High Salinity B (dominated by Ammonia parkinsoniana and Elphidium excavatum ), and Estuarine Low Salinity (dominated by Ammotium salsum , Ammonia parkinsoniana and Elphidium gunteri ). The four biofacies were also recognized by discriminant analysis. Comparison of the 2004 distributional data with those derived from samples collected in 1959 from central and eastern Core Sound revealed that Elphidium decreased while Ammonia increased in relative abundance. Other researchers have suggested that such a trend reflects increased eutrophication, although there is no independent evidence for this in Core Sound. The temporal comparison also showed that Quinqueloculina has become more widespread immediately adjacent to barrier islands, which might relate to an increase in subaquatic vegetation. Five short cores were taken in mainland bays on the western margin of Core Sound. Analysis of radionuclides ( 210 Pb and 137 Cs) provided a chronostratigraphic framework for two of the cores. To aid paleoenvironmental interpretations, foraminiferal data from core sediments dated as ca. 90 yr were entered as unknowns into the modern distribution discriminant analysis. Samples from mainland bay cores were classified with modern biofacies and indicated no significant foraminiferal change in the mainland bays over the last ca. 90 years.
COMPARATIVE ONTOGENY OF A WILD CUCURBIT AND ITS DERIVED CULTIVAR

Most previous studies of evolutionary modification of form in plants have focused primarily on individual organs or flowers. Few have investigated the role of evolutionary changes in timing or position at the level of whole plant ontogeny. This study compares ontogenies of the primary shoots of two subspecies of Cucurbita argyrosperma, one a cultivar and the other its wild progenitor. Differences in flowering times between these subspecies suggested that the cultivar may have evolved from the wild subspecies via heterochronic processes leading to paedomorphosis. Analyses showed that both subspecies are similar in vegetative architecture and rates of leaf production. Earlier flowering in the cultivar, both in terms of position and absolute time, appears to have arisen through progenesis. Initial observations of leaf blade morphology led to the hy- pothesis that paedomorphosis and gigantism also may have been involved in the evolution of leaf blade shape in the cultivar: all leaves of the cultivar are larger and visually similar in shape to early leaves of the wild subspecies. However, quantitative analysis revealed that leaves of the cultivar are neither geometrically, nor solely allometrically larger versions of early leaves of the progenitor. Leaf shape in the cultivar exhibits novel features as well as effects of allometry shared with the progenitor, hence a simple hypothesis of paedomorphic evolution of leaf shape is not supported.
Uncertain multi-attribute effectiveness evaluation of C~3I system based on ideal points

Two uncertain multi-attribute effectiveness evaluation models based on ideal points are presented in which the information on the attribute to be weighed is completely unknown or partly known in the effective evaluation of the air defense brigade(regiment) C~3I system.By solving these two models,the attribute to be weighed can be obtained and these are provided for effectiveness evaluation of the uncertain system.In response to complexity of C~3I system and fuzziness in human thin-(king,)a new way is presented for the solution.The real example proves that the model is effective and the calculation is simple.
Detection of Intermediates in Chemical N2 Fixation

It has been suggested that the biological reduction of N2 involves, after N2 binding, a series of six electron-proton transfer steps (Thorneiey, Lowe, 1984). No nitrogen-hydride intermediates have been identified in any biological system. However, indirect evidence has led to the following proposed intermediates: (1) diazene-level(N2H2) intermediate (HD formation; Burgess, Newton 1981), (ii) mo2tygdenum-hydride-N2 [Mo(H) (N2)] complex (HD formation and pre-steady state kingtic data; 2Thorneley, Lowe, 1984), and (iii) hydraz ido (2-) (NNH2) species (quenching to form hydrazine; Thorneley, Lowe, 1984).
Discrimination between Spontaneous and Induced Mutations in Human Cell Populations by use of Mutational Spectra

The central premise of genetic toxicology is that environmental agents are responsible for genetic changes in man. This premise has not been tested and we thus have not confirmed if mutations in the population are predominantly spontaneous or environmentally induced. We propose in this paper a method that would permit us to discriminate between spontaneous and induced mutations in cells isolated from a population and thus diagnose the major mutagenic stimuli in humans.
Short-Term Performance and Mutual Fund Size

We examine the relation between short-term mutual fund performance and fund size around the world. Using a large sample of worldwide equity funds we show that small funds outperform large funds, suggesting diseconomies of scale for the mutual fund industry across countries. We find that fund size shows a significantly negative coefficient using both net returns and Carhart alphas as dependent variables, confirming the evidence that funds show diminishing returns to scale. We also find evidence of a negative fund effect on stock picking ability, which indicates that the smallest funds have superior stock picking skills compared to bigger funds. In contrast, market timing ability exhibits positive size effect, suggesting that the largest the size of the fund, the greater the fund manager´s skills to accurately anticipate the market fluctuations.
Activating Individual Subunits of TMEM16A Calcium-Activated Chloride Channels

Ca2+-activated Cl− channels in the TMEM16 family are transmembrane proteins formed by two identical subunits. They participate in various physiological functions such as transepithelial Cl- transport and olfactory signal transduction. Site-directed mutagenesis studies of TMEM16A have identified several acidic amino acids, the mutations of which alter the apparent affinity of the channel for Ca2+, suggesting a Ca2+-binding site formed by these acidic residues. A recent crystallization study has further revealed that these acidic residues indeed coordinate bound Ca2+ in the TMEM16 molecules. Here, we created constructs with two linked TMEM16A subunits: a high Ca2+ affinity wild-type subunit and a low Ca2+ affinity subunit with mutation of one of the aforementioned acidic residues. The dose-response curve of the heterodimer appears to be a summation of two Hill equations, one similar to the dose-response curve of WT TMEM16A and the other similar to that of the mutant with a low Ca2+ affinity. The independent activation of the two subunits was also clearly observed when Ca2+ was washed out from the channels. These results indicate that Ca2+ binding to one subunit of TMEM16A can significantly activate the channel current. However, activations of heterodimers with a Ca2+ concentration that saturates the WT channel but rarely opens the mutant channel generate currents below or above 50 % of the current in different heterodimers, suggesting that inter-subunit interaction may play a minor role in the cooperativity of channel activation by multiple Ca2+ bindings. That activation of a single subunit can generate significant current diverges from the scenario in voltage-gated cation channels where all subunits must be activated before channel opens. Rather, separate activation of individual subunits may suggest that the principle of TMEM16A gating is more similar to that of CLC chloride channels.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy and Thyrotropin Suppression

Levothyroxine (L-T4) is arguably the most prescribed medication in the United States, with its most common therapeutic indication being for hypothyroidism due to chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease. Such patients are candidates for so-called replacement dosage, with the administered dosage of L-T4 titrated to a target thyrotropin (TSH) level within the normal reference range of 0.4–3.0 mU/L. Patients with thyroid cancer who have had near-total to total thyroidectomy and have suspected residual disease are usually candidates for suppressive levothyroxine dosage, which is so-called because the aim of therapy is to give a slightly supraphysiologic dosage of thyroxine to suppress TSH. The rationale for suppressive therapy is based on studies indicating that TSH stimulation enhances tumor growth, TSH serving as a growth factor or mitogen for thyroid malignancies with observations of more rapid tumor growth seen clinically after thyroxine withdrawal. The growth-promoting property of TSH is presumed to be from the presence of TSH receptors on thyroid cancer cells; however, non-TSH receptor-mediated growth is certainly a property of undifferentiated thyroid cancers. In patients presenting with a thyroid nodule, the likelihood that the nodule may be malignant correlates directly to the level of serum TSH, and thyroid cancer patients with elevated TSH levels may be more likely to have more advanced disease or evidence of extrathyroidal extension at time of presentation.
Temperature dependence of acoustic vibrations of CdSe and CdSe-CdS core-shell nanocrystals measured by low-frequency Raman spectroscopy.

We measure the temperature dependence of breathing-mode acoustic vibrations of semiconductor nanocrystals using low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. In CdSe core-only nanocrystals, the lowest-energy = 0 mode red-shifts with increasing temperature by ∼5% between 77–300 K. Changes to the interatomic bond distances in the inorganic crystal lattice, with corresponding changes to the bulk modulus and density of the material, contribute to the observed energy shift but do not fully explain its magnitude across all nanocrystal sizes. Invariance of the Raman linewidth over the same temperature range suggests that the acoustic breathing mode is inhomogeneously broadened. The acoustic phonons of CdSe/CdS core–shell composite nanocrystals display similar qualitative behavior. However, for large core–shell nanocrystals, we observe a higher-order Raman peak at approximately twice the energy of the = 0 mode, which we identify as a higher spherical harmonic—the n = 2, = 0 eigenmode—rather than a two-phonon scattering event.
v-Raf/v-Myc synergism in abrogation of IL-3 dependence: v-Raf suppresses apoptosis.

Raf-1 serine/threonine protein kinase is a mitogen-regulated cytosolic enzyme that is essential for growth of NIH/3T3 cells induced by serum, PDGF, PkC or ras (Kolch et al., 1991) as well as myeloid FDC-P1 cells induced by IL-3 or erythropoietin (Carroll et al., 1991). The requirement for growth induction correlates with its requirement for AP-1/Ets dependent transcriptional trans-activation (Bruder et al., 1992) and is consistent with the function of Raf kinase as a shuttle enzyme that connects activation of growth factor receptors at the cell membrane with cell cycle progression-related transcriptional events in the nucleus (Rapp, 1991). Several lines of evidence have demonstrated a role of Raf family protein kinases in growth and differentiation of T -/B-lymphoid and myeloid lineage cells (Table 1)
Engaging females in cybersecurity: K through Gray

Cybersecurity concerns are in the news on a daily basis, from large data breaches to attacks on power stations. Equally widely acknowledged in the press is the shortage of cybersecurity professionals to protect our digital world, particularly the lack of females in the profession (current estimates are around eleven percent). This paper looks at the concept of “cybersecurity for all” emphasizing personal responsibility for security and privacy as well as the development of a more inclusive cybersecurity workforce. The paper examines strategies for teaching cybersecurity at all ages (from K through Gray, including incorporating the scientific method. It also discusses techniques for making the cybersecurity career more attractive and accessible to females, with a view to recruiting and retaining more talented females into this growing profession.
Front Porch, Small House: A Longitudinal Study of Team and University Identification Among Incoming Students at a Division III University

In this longitudinal study, the authors examined the relationship between team identification and university identification for 37 incoming college first year students at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institution. After collecting four waves of data from the same participants over the course of two years, the authors utilized growth curve analysis to examine the development and trajectories of the students’ levels of identification with both the university and the intercollegiate sport teams. Furthermore, the authors empirically measured if identifying with the athletic teams on campus explained any variance in one’s identification with the larger university. Finally, this study was explicitly conducted within the context of a Division III institution to increase understanding of the social value of Division III athletics for students not directly participating as student-athletes. The presented findings provide a longitudinal account of the psychological and social value ...
Towards Visualizing Big Data with Large-Scale Edge Constraint Graph Drawing

Abstract Visualization plays an important role in enabling understanding of big data. Graphs are crucial tools for visual analytics of big data networks such as social, biological, traffic and security networks. Graph drawing has been intensively researched to enhance aesthetic features (i.e., layouts, symmetry, cross-free edges). Early physic-inspired techniques have focused on synthetic abstract graphs whose weights/distances of the edges are often ignored or assumed equal. Although recent approaches have been extended to sophisticated realistic networks, most are not designed to address very large-scale weighted graphs, which are important for visual analyses. The difficulty lies in the fact that the drawing process, governed by these physical properties, oscillates in large graphs and conflicts with specified distances leading to poor visual results. Our research attempts to alleviate these obstacles. This paper presents a simple graph visualization technique that aims to efficiently draw aesthetically pleasing large-scale straight-line weighted edge graphs. Our approach uses relevant physic-inspired techniques to promote aesthetic graphs and proposes a weak constraint-based approach to handle large-scale computing and competing goals to satisfy both weight requirements and aesthetic properties. The paper describes the approach along with experiments on both synthetic and real large-scale weighted graphs including that of over 10,000 nodes and comparisons with state-of-the-art approaches. The results obtained show enhanced and promising outcomes toward a general-purpose graph drawing technique for both big synthetic and real network data analytics.