cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting clinical outcomes: Endovascular simulation improves diagnostic coronary angiography skills.

Objective The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of simulation-based medical education (SBME) on the skills required to perform coronary angiography in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Background Cardiovascular fellows commonly learn invasive procedures on patients. Because this approach is not standardized, it can result in inconsistent skill acquisition through exclusion of concepts and skills. Also, the learning curve varies between trainees yielding variability in skill acquisition. Therefore, coronary angiography skills are an excellent target for SBME in an environment in which direct patient care is not jeopardized. Methods From January 2013 to June 2013, 14 cardiovascular fellows entering the cardiac catheterization laboratory at a tertiary care teaching hospital were tested on an endovascular simulator to assess baseline skills. All fellows subsequently underwent didactic teaching and preceptor-lead training on the endovascular simulator. Topics included basic catheterization skills and a review of catheterization laboratory systems. Following training, all fellows underwent a post-training assessment on the endovascular simulator. Paired t tests were used to compare items on the skills checklist and simulator defined variables. Results Cardiovascular fellows scored significantly higher on a diagnostic coronary angiography skills checklist following SBME using an endovascular simulator. The mean pretest score was 66.6% (SD = 9.7%) compared to 86.0% (SD = 6.3%) following simulator training (P < 0.001). Additional findings include significant reduction in procedure time and use of cine-fluoroscopy at posttest. Conclusions SBME significantly improved cardiovascular fellows' performance of simulated coronary angiography skills. Standardized simulation-based education is a valuable adjunct to traditional clinical education for cardiovascular fellows. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rhetorics of Hope: Complicating Western Narratives of a 'Social Media Revolution'

Article for LiCS special issue The New Activism: Composition, Literacy Studies, and Politics.
Production and Fate of Methylated Sulfur Compounds from Methionine and Dimethylsulfoniopropionate in Anoxic Salt Marsh Sediments

Anoxic salt marsh sediments were amended with dl-methionine and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Microbial metabolism of methionine yielded methane thiol (MSH) as the major volatile organosulfur product, with the formation of lesser amounts of dimethylsulfide (DMS). Biological transformation of DMSP resulted in the rapid release of DMS and only small amounts of MSH. Experiments with microbial inhibitors indicated that production of MSH from methionine was carried out by procaryotic organisms, probably sulfate-reducing bacteria. Methane-producing bacteria did not metabolize methionine. The involvement of specific groups of organisms in DMSP hydrolysis could not be determined with the inhibitors used, because DMSP was hydrolyzed in all samples except those which were autoclaved. Unamended sediment slurries, prepared from Spartina alterniflora sediments, contained significant (1 to 10 μM) concentrations of DMS. Endogenous methylated sulfur compounds and those produced from added methionine and DMSP were consumed by sediment microbes. Both sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria were involved in DMS and MSH consumption. Methanogenesis was stimulated by the volatile organosulfur compounds released from methionine and DMSP. However, apparent competition for these compounds exists between methanogens and sulfate reducers. At low (1 μM) concentrations of methionine, the terminal S-methyl group was metabolized almost exclusively to CO2 and only small amounts of CH4. At higher (>100 μM) concentrations of methionine, the proportion of the methyl-sulfur group converted to CH4 increased. The results of this study demonstrate that methionine and DMSP are potential precursors of methylated sulfur compounds in anoxic sediments and that the microbial community is capable of metabolizing volatile methylated sulfur compounds.
Conformational Changes in the HIV/SIV Envelope Glycoprotein

The crystallographically determined structures of unliganded, fully glycosylated SIV gp120 core (Chen et al, 2005) and of HIV gp120 core with bound CD4 and Fab 17b (Kwong et al, 1998) together allow us to visualize the conformational changes that occur in gp120 upon binding of receptor and co-receptor. from 2005 International Meeting of The Institute of Human Virology Baltimore, USA, 29 August – 2 September 2005
Disproportionality analysis for signal detection of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related adverse events in the Food and Drug Administration Medical Device Reporting System.

Background The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became aware of lead fracture and inappropriate shock events related to Sprint Fidelis leads in January 2007. The manufacturer announced a voluntary market withdrawal in October 2007. Aim Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate this safety signal using disproportionality analysis to estimate whether disproportionality analysis could have detected this particular safety signal earlier than actually occurred. Materials and Methods The Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database contains reports on device-related adverse events, of which, FDA receives several hundred thousand every year. For each manufacturer, a list of the top lead brand names was ranked by frequency of reports. We used the Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS) method for analysis. We isolated 11 top-reported implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead brand names. Using MGPS methodology, we calculated the one-sided 95% lower confidence bound EB05 on the empirical Bayes geometric mean of the reporting ratio. Results We performed individual MGPS analysis for each of the top reported adverse events in 2006 for ICD leads. Fidelis had the highest EB05 scores for lead fractures and inappropriate shock. Discussion Through disproportionality analysis of the MAUDE database, we were able to identify known safety signals associated with the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead. Conclusion If utilized at the time, this disproportionality analysis would have identified signals earlier for lead fractures, oversensing, high impedance, and inappropriate shock. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heat‐Treated Iron(III) Tetramethoxyphenyl Porphyrin Supported on High‐Area Carbon as an Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction I. Characterization of the Electrocatalyst

Iron(III) tetramethoxyphenyl porphyrin chloride adsorbed on the Black Pearls carbon (FeTMPP‐Cl/BP) was heat‐treated at temperatures from 200 to 1000°C in Ar atmosphere and characterized by using cyclic voltammetry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were carried out in acidic and alkaline solutions. Redox peaks due to the Fe(III)/Fe(II) reaction were present in an unheat‐treated sample and in the sample heat‐treated at 200°C but were significantly reduced in height for the sample heat‐treated at 400°C. At higher temperatures they disappeared, indicating decomposition of FeTMPP‐Cl. After heat‐treatment at 700°C or higher, an anodic peak in the first cathodic sweep was observed and it was attributed to the dissolution of metallic Fe. XPS measurements did not show unambiguously the valence state of the Fe in the electrocatalyst heat‐treated at high temperatures, but comparison of cyclic voltammograms of electrodeposited Fe and a bulk Fe electrode with cyclic voltammograms of FeTMPP‐Cl/BP indicated that it was metallic Fe. Fe particles were observed on TEM images. Ma.ny more iron particles were present in the sample heat‐treated at 1000°C than in the sample heat‐treated at 800°C. Some of the particles remained in both samples after electrochemical dissolution, and they were completely surrounded by carbon particles or wrapped in the graphite shell. A well‐defined graphite shell surrounding iron particles was observed only in the sample heat‐treated at 1000°C.
SAT Based Verification of Network Data Planes

Formal verification has seen relatively less application in verifying computer networking infrastructure. This is in part due to the lack of clean layers of abstraction that enable design modeling and specification of correctness criteria. However, the recent move towards Software Defined Networking (SDN) provides a clean separation between a centralized control plane and a distributed data plane. This provides an opportunity to formally verify critical data plane properties. In this paper, we present a Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) based framework for data plane modeling and checking of key correctness criteria. This provides greater efficiency and/or greater coverage of properties when compared to other existing approaches.
Analysis of lower birth weight in infants with congenital limb deficiency.

A case-control study on different groups of isolated congenital limb deficiency was performed using a population-based and validated Hungarian data set of 537 cases. All groups showed a significantly lower birth weight. The adjusted odds ratio indicated a significantly lower mean birth weight in infants with terminal transverse deficiencies and a significantly higher rate of preterm birth in those with amniogenic defects (part of the early amnion rupture sequence). The different analyses showed that the lower birth weight in the terminal transverse group was caused mainly by intrauterine growth retardation. Lack of limb parts appears to be of secondary importance, especially in the upper limb. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A comparative analysis of measures of social homogeneity

Social homogeneity refers to the degree to which the preferences of individuals in a society tend to be alike. A number of studies have been conducted to determine whether or not a relationship exists between various measures of social homogeneity and the probability that a Condorcet winner exists. In this study, it is shown that a strong general relationship of this type does not exist for measures of social homogeneity which account only for the proportions of individuals with various preference rankings. That is, for measures which account for these proportions but not for the preference rankings to which they are assigned. Profile specific measures of homogeneity do account for the preference rankings to which the proportions of voters are assigned. A much stronger relationship exists between profile specific measures of homogeneity and the probability that a Condorcet winner exists than for non-profile specific measures. In particular, Kendall's Coefficient of Condordance is shown to dominate twenty other measures of social homogeneity in terms of the strength of its relationship to the probability that a Condorcet winner exists.
Regression of Melanoma Nodules in a Patient Treated With Ranitidine

• Human malignant melanoma may regress spontaneously or with immunotherapy, such as Calmette-Guerin bacillus, interferon alfa, interleukin-2, and interleukin-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer cells. Histamine type 2 receptor antagonists can modulate immune function by inhibiting suppressor T-cell induction and activity, and melanoma regressions have been reported after the use of cimetidine with coumarin or interferon alfa. This article describes the complete regression of melanoma nodules in a patient treated with ranitidine hydrochloride, another histamine type 2—receptor antagonist. Ranitidine and cimetidine should be considered to be possibly active immunotherapeutic agents in the design and evaluation of clinical trials. ( Arch Intern Med 1987;147:1815-1816)
Maturation of tympanic membrane layers and collagen in the embryonic and post-hatch chick (Gallus domesticus).

The surface area of the chick (Gallus domesticus) tympanic membrane (TM) increases by as much as 400% from hatching to 70 days of age (Cohen et al. [1992] J. Morphol. 212:187–193). The present study is concerned with the processes that contribute to this remarkable size increase. Middle-ear specimens were harvested in embryos aged between E10 and E18, and in post-hatch animals between days P1 and P57. Specimens were embedded in paraffin, cut in serial sections, stained for collagen fibers, and examined with light microscopy. Four locations were examined in each specimen: the anterior and posterior perimeter of the TM, the TM over the extra-stapedius, and the TM at the tip of the extra-columella. The thickness of the epithelial, respiratory, and lamina propria layers was measured at each location. The radial collagen fibers in the lamina propria were also counted at each location, and fiber density per square micrometer was determined at each age. Thickness of the epithelial and respiratory layers remains relatively constant throughout development in all areas of the TM, whereas the lamina propria at the extra-columella and extra-stapedius continues to thicken with increasing age. Collagen density also increases during development, and this is attributed to an increase in fiber number and a reduction in the space between fibers. The results suggest that collagen may be synthesized first in the central regions of the TM and then later in more peripheral areas of the TM. J. Morphol. 233:257–266, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Functions of Fyn kinase in the completion of meiosis in mouse oocytes

Oocyte maturation invokes complex signaling pathways to achieve cytoplasmic and nuclear competencies for fertilization and development. The Src-family kinases FYN, YES and SRC are expressed in mammalian oocytes but their function during oocyte maturation remains an open question. Using chemical inhibitor, siRNA knockdown, and gene deletion strategies the function of Src-family kinases was evaluated in mouse oocytes during maturation under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Suppression of Src-family as a group with SKI606 greatly reduced meiotic cell cycle progression to metaphase-II. Knockdown of FYN kinase expression after injection of FYN siRNA resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in progression to metaphase-II similar to what was observed in oocytes isolated from FYN (−/−) mice matured in vitro. Meiotic cell cycle impairment due to a Fyn kinase deficiency was also evident during oocyte maturation in vivo since ovulated cumulus oocyte complexes collected from FYN (−/−) mice included immature metaphase-I oocytes (18%). Commonalities in meiotic spindle and chromosome alignment defects under these experimental conditions demonstrate a significant role for Fyn kinase activity in meiotic maturation.
Coronary calcification. Relationship to clinically significant coronary lesions and race, sex, and topographic distribution.

Measurements of the per cent of the surface with calcified lesions have been made for the three main coronary arteries from 1,242 consecutive necropsies of whites and Negroes between the ages of 30 to 69 years. Calcified lesions were most prevalent and most extensive in the left anterior descending branch and occurred with greatest frequency at 2 to 3 cm. from the orifice. Whites had greater involvement than Negroes and males had greater involvement than females. Prevalence and extent of calcification have been compared in four cause-of-death or disease categories; cases dying of coronary heart disease had greater involvement than the other three groups. The prevalence of ischemic myocardial lesions, complicated coronary lesions, or stenotic lesions was greater for cases with calcified lesions, and this prevalence increases with increase in extent of calcified lesions. The significance of the presence of coronary calcified lesions for the diagnosis of advanced coronary atherosclerosis is greatest for younger individuals.
Mapping US Humanitarian Aid: A Pentadic Cartography of Michael Leavitt's Health Diplomacy

Anderson and Prelli argued that pentadic cartography could be used to examine the motivational vocabularies of discourses and to provide alternative vocabularies for negotiating rhetorical terrains. Applications of pentadic cartography have used Kenneth Burke's principles to examine and critique the motivational vocabularies of a variety of texts but have less often mapped proposed alternative vocabularies. This article expands the application of pentadic cartography by demonstrating the value of a full mapping process. This study examines two potential mappings of former Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt's speech outlining US health diplomacy. Two maps are generated: a pragmatic map centered on an agency-purpose ratio and an idealist map centered on an agent-act ratio. Each mapping is assessed for its abilities to open and to close the universe of discourse. The importance of fully mapping humanitarian discourses is outlined.
How do Bax and Bak lead to permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane

Bcl-2 family members, like the structurally similar translocation domain of diphtheria toxin, can form ion-selective channels and larger-diameter pores in artificial lipid bilayers. Recent studies show how Bcl-2 family members change topology in membranes during apoptosis and that these different states may either promote or inhibit apoptosis. Binding of BH3-only proteins alters the subcellular localization and/or membrane topology and probably affects the channel formation of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Bcl-w. However, it remains unclear how the pore-forming activity functions in cells to regulate mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death. Bcl-2 family members in flies and worms regulate apoptosis by mechanisms seemingly unrelated to membrane permeabilization, leaving a unifying model for the biochemical activity of this protein family unknown. Work linking Bcl-2 family members to mitochondrial morphogenesis in worms and mammals suggests some common functions of Bcl-2 family proteins may exist.
The Public Discourse About Land Use and Water Quality: Themes in Newspapers in the Upper Mississippi River Basin

Effective educational and management programs to improve water quality will require an improved understanding of public perceptions of the relationship between land use and water quality. We analyzed a large database of newspaper articles in the Upper Mississippi River Basin to assess the public discourse about water quality and land use, and gauge indirectly public perceptions. Most articles focused on water quality improvement and many expressed readiness to take action to protect water quality. Environmental education and communication efforts aimed at improving water quality should be explicit about relationships between specific land uses and water quality to increase awareness and acceptance of management practices.
SPACINGS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY LEVELS

The ideas about the distribution law governing the spacings of adjacent energy levels. of the same spin and parity, of highly excited nuclei were studied by a numerical analysis. A set of 200 real symmetric matrices of order 20 was considered with matrix elements chosen at random from a symmetric uniform distribution. The results for the uniform distribution is shown in the form of a histogram. The calculations were repeated, with the matrix elements selected at random from a Gaussian distribution 10,01. Both sets of results confirm Wigner's conjectures that the distribution law for x (the value of a particular spacing divided by the mean value) does not depend sensitively on the precise distribution law for the matrix elements and that the correct p(x) is given approximately by p(x) = pi /2 x exp(- 1/4 pi x/sup 2/). (M.H.R.)
Fetal endoscopic surgery: lessons learned and trends reviewed.

Abstract Purpose: Fetal surgery is performed increasingly with minimal access approaches. The authors report their experience with fetal endoscopic procedures (fetendo) with emphasis on changing techniques and outcome trends. Methods: All fetal endoscopic cases performed at a single institution from January 1996 to August 2001 were reviewed (n = 66). Cases were examined with respect to year performed, type of operation, operative data, and outcome. Results: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (26 cases) and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (35 cases) were the most common diseases treated. From 1996 to 2001, there was a decrease in average operating time (256 to 127 minutes [ P =.0006]), number of ports utilized (3.8 to one [ P =.00001]), pump volume (28.7 to 2.7 L [ P =.00001]), and estimated blood loss (408 to 29 mL [ P =.008]). In addition, port size changed from 10 mm to 5 mm. Chorioamniotic separation (31 of 66), premature rupture of membranes (32 of 66), chorioamnionitis (12 of 66), and fetal death (10 of 66) continued to be significant complications. Conclusions: Fetal endoscopic surgery over the last 6 years has evolved toward shorter operating time, the use of smaller and fewer ports, decreased pump fluid exchange, and decreased blood loss, with the types of cases centered on twin-twin transfusion syndrome and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. J Pediatr Surg 37:1700-1702. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Effects of aging on numbers and sizes of neurons in histochemically defined subregions of monkey striate cortex.

BACKGROUND In addition to its horizontal layers, primate striate cortex has a vertical modular organization. Among the vertical modules are histochemically defined areas of high and low cytochrome oxidase labeling in the supragranular layers, referred to, respectively, as blobs and interblobs. Cytochrome c oxidase (CO) blobs and interblobs differ in their inputs from the magnocellular and parvocellular visual pathways, their physiological properties, and many aspects of their neurochemistry. The present study investigated whether aging differentially affects neuron numbers or sizes in the supragranular blobs or interblobs. METHODS The right hemisphere from three young adult (5.2-12.4 years) and four old (24.0-26.7 years) rhesus monkeys was used. Tangential sections through the central visual-field representation were stained for CO and counterstained with cresyl violet. Montages were constructed through cortical layers 2 and 3, and neuron counts and size measurements were made in blob and interblob regions using stereological procedures that yield unbiased estimates. Blob density also was calculated. RESULTS CO blob density was 3.76/mm2 in young adults and 3.95/mm2 in old animals, a difference that was not statistically significant. Neuron soma sizes also did not differ significantly between young adult and old animals or between blob and interblob regions. In addition, neuron density was not significantly different between young adult and old animals. However, independent of age, neuron density was significantly higher in the center of interblobs (394,058 cells/mm3) than in the center of blobs (333,638/mm3). CONCLUSIONS Our results and those of previous studies (Vincent et al. 1989. Anat. Rec. 223:329-341; Peters and Sethares. 1993. Anat. Rec. 236:721-729) suggest that aging has little or no effect on the densities or sizes of the different functional or morphological types of neurons that exist in the different cortical layers or in the different vertical modules marked by CO blobs and interblobs. These findings are consistent with the results of our previous anatomical and physiological studies of the rhesus monkey retina and lateral geniculate nucleus. These results suggest that the retinogenic-ulostriate pathways are relatively unaffected by aging in the rhesus monkey.
Development of a beam hardening filter and characterization of the spatial resolution for a cone beam CT imaging system

Generally, Cone Beam CT imaging systems utilize polychromatic x-ray beams since they are easier to generate and their output power is larger than those from monochromatic beams. However, polychromatic beams have main drawbacks in medical imaging. For example, the relative high content of low energy photons induced two main phenomena that degrade the image quality. First, most of the low energy photons are absorbed within the soft tissue hardening the beam. This beam hardening deteriorates the image quality by decreasing the uniformity. Second, due to the polychromatic nature of the beam and beam hardening, the image is degraded by high contrast objects. In order to solve these problems, a filter was developed and implemented in a Flat Panel Detector-based cone Beam CT. First, the energy spectrum was acquired and computer simulations were done to evaluate and to develop the best suitable filter to harden the x-ray beam. Second, experiments were performed to evaluate the improvements on image quality based on the reduction of artifacts due to high contrast objects on two objects, namely a bone with titanium screws and a hand phantom. Lastly, the spatial resolution was evaluated to investigate the effects of this filter. The results demonstrate that the new developed filter improves the image quality in this area. The high contrast artifacts were also reduced as the images from the bone phantom with the metal implant illustrates. Evidently, the use of this filter to harden to beam has increased the image quality when metal implants are present.
Analysis of Recognized Web-Based Educational Resources.

Abstract In 2000–2001, the authors derived a 13-category classification system for Web-based educational resources, based on analysis of 199 educational resources recognized as “exemplary” by four national entities. In 2004, we re-examined that classification system, analyzing a stratified random sample of 40 exemplary Web-based resources from the same entities. While the classification system still accommodated categorizing current educational resources, we detected some overlap among categories. Through combination and redefinition, we reduced the number of categories to eleven. This article addresses the initial and modified classification systems, the analysis procedures employed, examples of resources in each category, and future applications of the classification system.
The problem of unbelief in the sixteenth century: The religion of Rabelais

(1987). The problem of unbelief in the sixteenth century: The religion of Rabelais. History of European Ideas: Vol. 8, No. 6, pp. 737-737.
Discontinuous games with asymmetric information: An extension of Reny's existence theorem

Abstract We introduce asymmetric information to games with discontinuous payoffs and prove new equilibrium existence theorems. In particular, the seminal work of Reny (1999) is extended to a Bayesian preferences framework.
Interconnect testing in cluster-based FPGA architectures

As IC densities are increasing, cluster-based FPGA architectures are becoming the architecture of choice for major FPGA manufacturers. A cluster-based architecture is one in which several logic blocks are grouped together into a coarse-grained logic block. While the high density local interconnect often found within clusters serves to improve FPGA utilization, it also greatly complicates the FPGA interconnect testing problem. To address this issue, we have developed a hierarchical approach to define a set of FPGA configurations which enable interconnect faults to be detected. This technique enables the detection of bridging faults involving intra-cluster interconnect and extra-cluster interconnect. The hierarchical structure of a cluster-based tile is exploited to define intra-cluster configurations separately from extra-cluster configurations, thereby improving the efficiency of the configuration definition process. By guaranteeing that both intra-cluster and extra-cluster configurations have several test transparency properties, hierarchical fault detectability is ensured.
Classical noise-based cryptography similar to two-state quantum cryptography

Abstract A scheme of cryptographic key agreement via classical noise is introduced. The principle underlying its security is similar to that of the two-state quantum cryptosystem, but it has the advantage that signal amplification can be applied. Radio and optical implementations of the scheme are suggested.
Computer Science Education Week shines in 2011

The third annual Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek, http://www.csedweek.org/) was enormously successful with roughly double the engagement over the previous year. We can all look forward to CSEdWeek 2012 being even bigger and better, especially with the SIGCSE community's full participation.
SEASONAL PATTERNS OF CADAVER PERSISTENCE AND SPORULATION BY THE FUNGAL PATHOGEN ENTOMOPHAGA GRYLLI (FRESENIUS) BATKO (ENTOMOPHTHORALES: ENTOMOPHTHORACEAE) INFECTING CAMNULA PELLUCIDA (SCUDDER) (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)

Entomophaga grylli (Fresenius) Batko (North American pathotype 1) is a fungal pathogen of the clearwinged grasshopper, Camnula pellucida (Scudder). We present results from a field experiment conducted in Arizona in 1984, designed to investigate factors associated with seasonal patterns of cadaver persistence and sporulation by E. grylli. Rangeland plots at two sites were monitored daily for 8 weeks for the appearance of new cadavers of diseased grasshoppers during a natural epizootic. Cadavers were individually marked and revisited on subsequent days, when it was noted whether or not conidial sporulation was underway. Environmental variables were recorded by electronic data loggers. Daily probabilities of cadaver disappearance and fungal sporulation were analysed in relation to site, date, and various measures of cadaver status, sporulation history, and environmental variables by logistic regression analysis. The average daily rate of cadaver disappearance was 0.22, yielding an expected time to 50% disappearance of 2.8 days. The environmental factor most significantly associated with cadaver disappearance was rainfall, and the most important host factor was age of the cadaver. The probability that conidia would be discharged from a cadaver over the next 24 h was most dependent on whether or not conidial sporulation was underway already. This probably reflects a state of readiness for sporulation on the part of the fungus. Although the probability of sporulation declined with increasing age of a cadaver, high rates of sporulation were predicted under conditions of prolonged leaf wetness and high humidity at night, regardless of age of the cadaver. These results, together with the observation that in some cadavers sequences of sporulation were interspersed with periods of no sporulation, suggest that E. grylli may undergo cycles of dehydration and rehydration, in which conidial production is interrupted and then resumes in response to changing environmental conditions.
Coronary calcium, as determined by electron beam computed tomography, and coronary disease on arteriogram. Effect of patient's sex on diagnosis.

Background Coronary artery calcium identified by electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) has potential for noninvasive localization of coronary atherosclerotic disease. However, the effect of a patient’s sex on its diagnostic capability has not been examined in a clinical population. Methods and Results Fifty women and 89 men had EBCT scans done an average of 1 day after coronary arteriography. Maximum arteriographic percent luminal diameter stenosis of any artery was paired with the total EBCT coronary calcium score for each subject. The women (age, 56±11 years [mean±SD]) were older than the men (age, 47±7 years), but the subjects were matched for indications for arteriography and extent of disease as assessed by arteriography. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for coronary calcium were nearly identical for men and women, regardless of the degree of arteriographic disease. EBCT was highly sensitive to the presence of arteriographic disease (range, 94% to 100%), but ha...
Cutaneous Nerve Stimulation by Psoralen-Ultraviolet A Therapy: An Ultrastructural Study

Proliferation of intra-epidermal and dermal free nerve endings was studied in 7 psoriatic white patients before and after psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) treatment. Many free nerve endings were observed in contact with epidermal basal cells. Two distinct types of nerve terminals were found in the epidermis: One was a naked axon terminal surrounded by keratinocytes instead of Schwann cell sheath. The second, a bulbous terminal partly covered by Schwann cell sheath. Melanocyte-nerve contacts were also found in 3 of 7 psoriatic patients. In the dermis, sometimes immediately below the epidermis, there were many free nerve endings which were partly denuded. Polyaxonal Schwann cells containing several unmyelinated nerves were in the vicinity of the epidermis. An increase of amorphous material was observed around these Schwann cells. Although a total of three intra-epidermal axon terminals were found in pretreatment psoriatic lesions in 2 cases out of 7, we found a total of 24 nerves in the same 7 cases after PUVA therapy, including at least one intra-epidermal nerve in each case. PUVA therapy is suggested to stimulate the cutaneous nerves and cause a neural invasion into the epidermis. The majority of melanocytes after treatment showed signs of hyperactivity. Contacts of nerve endings to melanocytes are possibly related to this biological hyperactivation of melanocytes.
Mobile Software Applications for Hand Surgeons

E I c r In B ri ef AS SMARTPHONES AND tablet computers gain increasing popularity among physicians and trainees, recent articles have focused on mobile pplications (apps) for particular specialties. Most ecently, authors Barr and Yao discussed the uses, caabilities, and regulations of smartphones as they apply o hand surgeons. In their article, the authors eluciated many of the useful features of smartphones, inluding the utility of apps, software developed specifially for mobile devices. They noted that no study had pecifically examined apps designed for the hand sureon. This article describes many of the currently availble apps that would be most useful to practicing hand urgeons. Many of the presented apps are available or both iPhone and Android devices, although ost are available exclusively for the iPhone and Pad. Many are free, others require purchase, and ll are available through the iTunes App Store or ndroid Market (Table 1). I encourage readers who re interested in these apps or others to seek addiional reviews from app review websites such as ww.TopOrthoApps.com, which reviews only orhopedic apps.
The Rational Design of an AIDS Vaccine

The extraordinary genetic diversity and immune evasion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose significant challenges for vaccine development. AIDS vaccine design requires a scientifically driven, rational approach that encompasses the latest advances in viral molecular genetics, structural biology, and immunology.
Differences in Lateral Drop Jumps From an Unknown Height Among Individuals With Functional Ankle Instability

Context: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a debilitating condition that has been reported to occur after 20% to 50% of all ankle sprains. Landing from a jump is one common mechanism of ankle i...
Confidentiality, consent, and caring for the adolescent patient.

Purpose of reviewThis study reviews the healthcare-related rationale for providing confidential care to adolescents, as well as the legal framework for the provision of such care.Recent findingsPhysician assurances of confidentiality increase adolescents' willingness to disclose sensitive health inf
Severe turbulence and maneuvering from airline flight records

Digital flight records from reported clear-air turbulence incidents are used to determine winds and turbulence, to determine maneuver g loads, and to analyze control problems. Many cases of severe turbulence are found downwind of mountains and thunderstorms where sharp, sudden jolts are associated with vortices in atmospheric waves. Other cases of severe turbulence are round in strong updrafts above thunderstorm buildups that may be undetected by onboard weather radar. An important finding is that there are large maneuvering loads in over half of the reported clear-air turbulence incidents. Maneuvering loads are determined through an analysis of the short-term variations in elevator deflection and aircraft pitch angle. For altitude control in mountain waves the results indicate that small pitch angle changes with proper timing are sufficient to counter variations in vertical wind. For airspeed control in strong mountain waves, however, there is neither the available thrust nor the quickness in engine response necessary to counter the large variations in winds.
The polarized absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of 1,3-diazaazulene

Abstract From mixed crystal polarization studies, the lowest energy absorption system of 1,3-diazaazulene (cycloheptimidazole) at 4500 A is assigned as 1 B 1 (ππ * ) ← 1 A 1 . The B 1 symmetry and oscillator strength of the 4500 A state, together with polarization data on other azaazulenes, clearly indicate a correspondence with the 7000 A state of azulene. The anomalously large blue shift of the latter state in 1,3-diazaazulene results in a return to radiative normality in that the observed fluorescence originates from the lowest singlet. Phosphorescence is also observed, originating at 5200 A from a state assigned as ππ * .
Survival of rabbit corneal cells after the formation and dissolution of intracellular ice

Abstract Effects of in situ freezing and thawing on the structural integrity of the rabbit cornea, especially by intracellular ice, was investigated with light and electron microscopy. Sites of ice formed during freezing were preserved by freeze-substitution. Functional integrity of frozen and thawed cells, in terms of DNA, RNA, and protein metabolism, was evaluated by tritium labeling in autoradiographic analyses. It was established that the formation and dissolution of intracellular ice in corneal epithelial cells was compatible with their survival in terms of maintenance of structure and function. The same was suggested for stromal and endothelial cells which were shown to survive two cycles of freezing and thawing. Results seriously question the concept in ophthalmology that cryoinjury is the basis for the in situ destruction of cells in the cornea.
A simple generally applicable method for measuring radioactive substances separated by polyacrylamide and agarose-gel electrophoresis

Abstract We are presenting a simple method for the quantitation of the radioactivity contained in individual bands of polyacrylamide or agarose gels following electrophoresis. Our technique essentially consists of localizing the individual bands by staining or another appropriate method, cutting out the individual bands from the dried gel, and dissolving them in H 2 O 2 NH 4 OH for scintillation counting. This method has been used for various isotopes, for double-label experiments, and for various types of gel. Our method permits the quantitative determination of radioactivity by counting only the individual radioactive bands, thus avoiding the need to obtain and count a very large number of small slices or to suffer the inevitable loss of resolving power.
Understanding Management Control Systems in Call Centers

Purpose – The present paper attempts to integrate three streams of alternative approaches to provide a contingency‐based framework to understand the management control systems (MCS) that are operating in call centers. Specifically, the paper's aim is to analyse the work practices of call center employees from three different lenses: the radical approach using Braverman's labor process theory; the Foucauldian approach, which explains the governance of the self; and the naturalistic approach, which explains the governance of the built environment.Design/methodology/approach – The data for the case study were collected by conducting interviews. The data were gathered to identify if the work experience of the call center operators reflects the Tayloristic principles of scientific management, whether their responses reflect evidence of internalizing norms and adjusting their selves to fit to the norm, and lastly whether their work conditions are shaped in the manner described above to facilitate control of the...
A genome-wide screen for regulators of TORC1 in response to amino acid starvation reveals a conserved Npr2/3 complex.

TORC1 is a central regulator of cell growth in response to amino acid availability, yet little is known about how it is regulated. Here, we performed a reverse genetic screen in yeast for genes necessary to inactivate TORC1. The screen consisted of monitoring the expression of a TORC1 sensitive GFP-based transcriptional reporter in all yeast deletion strains using flow cytometry. We find that in response to amino acid starvation, but not to carbon starvation or rapamycin treatment, cells lacking NPR2 and NPR3 fail to fully (1) activate transcription factors Gln3/Gat1, (2) dephosphorylate TORC1 effector Npr1, and (3) repress ribosomal protein gene expression. Both mutants show proliferation defects only in media containing a low quality nitrogen source, such as proline or ammonia, whereas no defects are evident when cells are grown in the presence of glutamine or peptone mixture. Proliferation defects in npr2Δ and npr3Δ cells can be completely rescued by artificially inhibiting TORC1 by rapamycin, demonstrating that overactive TORC1 in both strains prevents their ability to adapt to an environment containing a low quality nitrogen source. A biochemical purification of each demonstrates that Npr2 and Npr3 form a heterodimer, and this interaction is evolutionarily conserved since the human homologs of NPR2 and NPR3 (NPRL2 and NPRL3, respectively) also co-immunoprecipitate. We conclude that, in yeast, the Npr2/3 complex mediates an amino acid starvation signal to TORC1.
Cage motion of a probe atom in a vacancy complex in Pt

The perturbation function of a Cd probe atom bound in a hydrogen-decorated vacancy complex in Pt is found to exhibit dynamical relaxation at 294 K, as measured by the technique of perturbed γ-γ angular correlations. Based on other characteristics of the complex, a model is proposed for the structure of the complex. In the undecorated state, it consists of a probe atom at the center of a tetrahedron of vacancies in the fcc structure. In the decorated state at low temperature, the probe atom returns to one of the four vacant lattice sites. The relaxation at room temperature is attributed to motion of the probe atom in a cage formed by the four vacant sites.
Shear strain estimation and lesion mobility assessment in elastography.

Elastography typically measures and images the normal strain component along the insonification/compression axis, i.e., in the axial direction. We have recently shown that, by using interpolation and cross-correlation methods of transversely displaced RF echo segments, it is possible to measure and image displacement and strain transversely to the beam with good precision. This enables the estimation and imaging of all three principal normal strain components. Generally, motion in a direction other than that in which strain is estimated may result in decorrelation noise, severely corrupting the estimates. Therefore, a correction method is applied to correct the displacement and strain estimates for decorrelating motion. In this paper, we show how corrected displacement estimates can also be used to estimate and image the shear strain components. This may allow us to identify regions of decorrelation noise in the normal strain measurement that are due to shear strain. Shear strain estimates provide supplementary information, which can characterize different tissue elements based on their mobility. In the case of breast lesions, low mobility is related to malignancy. Following an in vivo case, we show with 2D simulations how assessment of tumor mobility can be achieved with shear strain estimation.
A case of viewer-centered object perception.

Abstract Despite the fact that we necessarily view objects from one particular position, we generally achieve representations of them that transcend that special viewpoint. Shape constancy can be regarded as illustrating such object-centered perception. Nonetheless, there are cases where we fail to achieve such representations and an experiment with this outcome is described here. Three-dimensional wire objects were employed that were viewed nearby with all cues to depth available. Displacement of such a three-dimensional object brings about a considerable qualitative change in the shape of its retinal image. After viewing the objects in a particular position, recognition was subsequently tested when the object either (a) remained in the same position, (b) was displaced laterally from upper left to lower right or vice versa, or upper right to lower left or vice versa, or (c) changed its position as in b but was rotated to produce the same retinal projection as in a. The result was an appreciable drop in the recognition of the objects in b, the displacement of which resulted in an altered retinal projection. Some reasons were suggested for this dominance of the viewer-centered (or egocentric) character of perception resulting in failure in the achievement of object-centered representation.
Highly selective in vivo ethylation of rat liver nuclear protein by ethionine.

Abstract Ethionine ethylates rat liver nuclear proteins in a highly selective manner. The proteins most ethylated are those insoluble in 20–40% (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 in the saline soluble fraction. With L-ethionine-ethyl-1- 14 C, only one peak of radioactivity was found. This peak has been tentatively identified as an ethyl analogue of methylguanidino arginine, recently reported to occur in nuclear proteins. No radioactive ethionine was found in the proteins after giving ethyl-labeled or 35 S-labeled ethionine. The pattern of labeling with methionine-methyl- 14 C is more complex and is presented.
On profit-maximizing envy-free pricing

We study the problem of pricing items for sale to consumers so as to maximize the seller's revenue. We assume that for each consumer, we know the maximum amount he would be willing to pay for each bundle of items, and want to find pricings of the items with corresponding allocations that maximize seller profit and at the same time are envy-free, which is a natural fairness criterion requiring that consumers are maximally happy with the outcome they receive given the pricing. We study this problem for two important classes of inputs: unit demand consumers, who want to buy at most one item from among a selection they are interested in, and single-minded consumers, who want to buy one particular subset, but only if they can afford it.We show that computing envy-free prices to maximize the seller's revenue is APX-hard in both of these cases, and give a logarithmic approximation algorithm for them. For several interesting special cases, we derive polynomial-time algorithms. Furthermore, we investigate some connections with the corresponding mechanism design problem, in which the consumer's preferences are private values: for this case, we give a log-competitive truthful mechanism.
Haptic perception of multi-joint hypertonia during simulated patient-therapist physical tele-interaction

A potential solution to provide individualized physical therapy in remote areas is tele-interaction via robotic devices. To maintain stability during tele-interaction, transmission delay-compensation algorithms bound the impedance between the patient and the therapist. This can compromise the haptic perception of the patient being assessed, which can in turn lead to a bad diagnosis or intervention. We investigated how the perception of the severity of hypertonia (a common condition after neurological disorders) varied by modifying the connection impedance on a physical simulator. We found that assessing hypetonia using a low impedance connection may result in an overestimation of mild impairments.
Observation of anomalous penetration of rf fields in a collisionless plasma

The radial penetration of low-frequency ($\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{pe}}$) electromagnetic fields is measured in cylindrical geometry. Classical skin depths ($\frac{c}{{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{pe}}}$) are observed until the wave frequency is low enough for electron thermal effects to result in enhanced wave penetration.