cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic study of the role of context on image classification

We present the results of a systematic study of the contextual gain hypothesis for image classification. This hypothesis relates the traditional strategy of direct visual classification (DVC), and an alternative strategy based on indirect contextual classification (ICC). DVC is composed of classifiers that operate directly on pixel or feature based image representations. ICC relies on DVC to label images with respect to a pre-defined set of contextual semantic features. Image classification is then performed by a classifier that operates on the semantic space of these classifier outputs. The contextual gain hypothesis states that, in this semantic space, it is possible to design classifiers with better accuracy than those achievable with DVC. A framework for the systematic comparison of the DVC and ICC strategies is introduced, and an extensive comparison of the performance of the two strategies is carried out. Its results strongly suggest that the contextual gain hypothesis holds.
Genetically encoded reporters of protein kinase A activity reveal impact of substrate tethering

The complexity and specificity of many forms of signal transduction are widely suspected to require spatial microcompartmentation of protein kinase and phosphatase activities, yet current relevant imaging methods such as phosphorylation-specific antibodies or fluorescent peptide substrates require fixation or microinjection and lack temporal or spatial resolution. We present a genetically encoded fluorescent reporter for protein kinase A (PKA) consisting of fusions of cyan fluorescent protein, a phosphoamino acid binding domain (14–3-3τ), a consensus substrate for PKA, and yellow fluorescent protein. cAMP elevations cause 25–50% changes in the ratios of yellow to cyan emissions in live cells caused by phosphorylation-induced changes in fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The reporter response was accelerated by tethering to PKA holoenzyme and slowed by localization to the nucleus. We demonstrate that deliberate redistribution of a substrate or colocalizing a substrate and PKA can modulate its susceptibility to phosphorylation by the kinase. The successful design of a fluorescent reporter of PKA activity and its application for studying compartmentalized and dynamic modulation of kinases lays a foundation for studying targeting and compartmentation of PKA and other kinases and phosphatases.
Visual hyperacuity: representation and computation of high precision position information

Abstract Visual hyperacuity, acuity an order of magnitude finer than the optical resolution of a diffraction-limited visual system, is described and analyzed in the terms of information theory. It is shown that in principle, the computation and representation of both luminance and edge features can be performed with a precision commensurate with hyperacuity thresholds and human abilities. Luminance features are represented as the centroid of the intensity distribution. Edge features are represented as zero-crossings in the difference of two filtered intensity distributions; this method is shown to be very economical. Algorithms are formulated in accord with the different representations, and tested with vernier acuity tasks. The results indicate that both methods can extract relative position with an accuracy better than 1 s arc.
Precursor missions to interstellar exploration

This paper summarizes material developed over a three-month period by a JPL team of mission architects/analysts and advanced technology developers for presentation to NASA Headquarters in the summer of 1998. A preliminary mission roadmap is suggested that leads to the exploration of star systems within 40 Light years of our Solar System. The precursor missions include technology demonstrations as well as missions that return significant new knowledge about the space environment reached. Three propulsion technology candidates are selected on the basis of allowing eventual travel to the nearest star taking 10 years. One of the three propulsion technologies has a near term version applicable to early missions (prior to 2010)-the solar sail. Using early sail missions other critical supporting technologies can be developed that will later enable Interstellar travel. Example precursor missions are sail demonstration missions, including a solar storm warning mission demonstrating a simple sail, a solar polar imaging mission using an intermediate sail, and a 200-AU Heliosphere Explorer mission using an advanced solar sail. Missions later than these on the roadmap will require types of fusion propulsion, antimatter-matter annihilation propulsion, or enhancements to the sail technology to propel spacecraft to the stars in the relatively short trip times desired. The sail enhancement envisioned at this time uses an Earth-based laser in what is termed as a beamed-energy approach. Mission and technology strategy, science return, and potential mission spin-offs are described.
Sedimentary Patterns in and around Craters from the Pinacate Volcanic Field, Sonora, Mexico: Some Comparisons with Mars

We present results of a reconnaissance study of sedimentary patterns around the Pinacate volcanic field and adjacent Sonora dunes. A cinder cone located in the dunes west of the Pinacates has acted as a sand-migration barrier and has formed a sand-free shadow downwind. This may be analogous to the manner in which dark streaks form downwind of Martian craters. Orbital and aerial photography of the Pinacates suggest that maars adjacent to the Sonora dunes are being infilled by dune sand. However, petrographic data suggest that erosion of friable tuffs and tuff breccias from crater walls is the dominant process filling in all of the craters. The Martian situation is presently less complex than terrestrial examples, such as the Pinacates, since wind seems to be the dominant agent. Water erosion, however, may have been active in past history, and Martian craters may have been modified in a manner analogous to the Pinacate maars.
Math methods in transistor modeling: Condition numbers for parameter extraction

Condition numbers expressing the sensitivity of computed circuit element values to inaccuracies in S-parameter measurements are derived and evaluated for a standard small-signal MESFET model. The condition numbers shed light on the common difficulty experienced by transistor modelers in extracting accurate values for the input resistance. Other elements are also classified according to their sensitivity.
A Framework for Assessing Direct Economic Impacts of Tourist Events: Distinguishing Origins, Destinations, and Causes of Expenditures

This article outlines a standardized method for assessing direct economic expenditures and impacts associated with tourist events. The method addresses critical and often overlooked methodological issues that distinguish analysis of impacts from tourism in general and analysis of impacts from tourist events. These issues involve a common failure to account for sources, origins, destinations, and causes of expenditures. The corresponding errors in impact estimation will carry through into subsequent input-output or multiplier models and are of particular significance when one considers impacts of tourism events in regions dominated by other tourist sites or attractions, such as heavily visited coastal communities. Implications of the framework for impact estimation are illustrated using examples drawn from recent Rhode Island tourist events, including the 1997 Newport Folk Festival.
Travel-light: A Model for the Dynamic Assembly of Mega Machines

This paper proposes a new ubiquitous computing architecture named Travel-light, in which service computers form a computing infrastructure that allows a small mobile device such as a PDA or a smart phone to organize as many service computers as needed to form a mega machine. The mega machine will be powerful and able to provide a user with a familiar computing environment regardless of the users location. The paper presents the architecture, protocols, and implementation approaches of the mega machine based on the Travel-light architecture. The initial evaluation on the implementation is satisfactory. The proposed architecture enables users to perform presentations away from home with a PDA, to work in a familiar computing environment even on a visiting site, and to collaborate through a communal computer.
The anatomy and fine structure of the eye in teleost. IV. The choriocapillaris and the dual vascularization of the area centralis in Fundulus grandis.

Abstract The eye of Fundulus grandis possesses both external (choriocapillaris) and internal (hyaloid) circulations which with the rete mirabile of the choroidal body and lentiform body provide an elevation of oxygen tension in the retina. Both the choriocapillaris and the hyaloid vessels are arranged in three distinet regional patterns. Spatially the external and internal regions closely match each other, particularly in regard to the area centralis. The rete mirabile of the choroidal body has a dual set of efferent vessels that receive blood from different areas of the choriocapillaris. Although the lentiform body is independent of the choroidal body for incoming systemic blood, it is dependent on the choriocapillaris-choroidal body complex for blood to run counter-current in its rete mirabile. Conditioned blood from the lentiform body supplies the hyaloid system inside the eye. Part of the blood in the hyaloid system returns to one set of the efferent vessels in the choroidal body. The total circulation is complex but makes functional sense when studied in detail.
Discovering the Higgs bosons of minimal supersymmetry with muons and a bottom quark.

We investigate the prospects for the discovery at the CERN Large Hadron Collider or at the Fermilab Tevatron of neutral Higgs bosons through the channel where the Higgs are produced together with a single bottom quark and the Higgs decays into a pair of tau leptons, bg {yields} b{phi}{sup 0} {yields} b{tau}{sup +}{tau}{sup -}, {phi}{sup 0} = h{sup 0},H{sup 0},A{sup 0}. We work within the framework of the minimal supersymmetric model. The dominant physics background from the production of b{tau}{sup +}{tau}{sup -}, j{tau}{sup +}{tau}{sup -} (j = g, u, d, s, c), b{bar b}W{sup +}W{sup -}, W +2j and Wbj is calculated with realistic acceptance cuts and efficiencies. Promising results are found for the CP-odd pseudoscalar (A{sup 0}) and the heavier CP-even scalar (H{sup 0}) Higgs bosons with masses up to one TeV.
Theory-driven science and naive empiricism in counseling psychology

Counseling psychologists' aversion to theory-driven science and their enthusiasm for naive empiricism impede scientific progress. For the scientist who endorses theory-driven science, causes are emergent entities that arise from the relations among the elements in events, all events are lawful, and the purpose of research is to test and evolve theories. For the scientist who endorses naive empiricism, the causes of events are the essences of the elements in events, only frequent events are lawful, and the purpose of research is to identify regularities from unbiased observations. The consequences of these differences are described in terms of the impossibility of unbiased observation, the importance of theory to give facts meaning, the role of research methods, and the way in which scientific products are applied. In theory-driven science, an unending cycle of discovery and testing creates and evolves theories of ever increasing scope that can guide counseling practice.
Resonant Raman Effect in Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes

A resonant Raman study of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) using several laser lines between 0.94 and 3.05 eV is presented. A detailed lineshape analysis shows that the bands associated with the nanotube radial breathing mode are composed of a sum of individual peaks whose relative intensities depend strongly on the laser energy, in agreement with prior work. On the other hand, the shape of the Raman bands associated with the tangential C–C stretching motions in the 1500–1600 cm−1 range does not depend significantly on the laser energy for laser excitation energies in the ranges 0.94–1.59 eV and 2.41–3.05 eV. However, new C–C stretching modes are observed in the spectra collected using laser excitations with energies close to 1.9 eV. The new results are discussed in terms of the difference between the 1D electronic density of states for the semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes.
LOCALIZATION OF MYOSIN IC AND MYOSIN II IN ACANTHAMOEBA CASTELLANII BY INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE AND IMMUNOGOLD ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Polyclonal antisera have been raised against purified Acanthamoeba myosin II and to a synthetic 26 amino acid peptide that corresponds in sequence to the phosphorylation site of Acanthamoeba myosin IC. These antisera are specific for their respective antigens as determined by immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE of total cell lysates. By using the antisera, localization studies were performed by indirect immunofluorescence and by immunogold electron microscopy. Myosin II occurred in the cell cytoplasm and appeared to be concentrated in the cortex. Immunogold cytochemistry revealed at high resolution that myosin II is organized into rodlike filaments approximately 200 nm long. The antibody raised against the myosin IC synthetic peptide recognized both the plasma membrane and the membrane of the contractile vacuole. The plasma membrane staining was labile to treatment with saponin suggesting an intimate association of the myosin IC with membrane phospholipids. Immunogold cytochemistry with the antimyosin IC synthetic peptide showed that the myosin IC is closely associated with the membrane bilayer.
CHIPPER: A low-complexity bufferless deflection router

As Chip Multiprocessors (CMPs) scale to tens or hundreds of nodes, the interconnect becomes a significant factor in cost, energy consumption and performance. Recent work has explored many design tradeoffs for networks-on-chip (NoCs) with novel router architectures to reduce hardware cost. In particular, recent work proposes bufferless deflection routing to eliminate router buffers. The high cost of buffers makes this choice potentially appealing, especially for low-to-medium network loads. However, current bufferless designs usually add complexity to control logic. Deflection routing introduces a sequential dependence in port allocation, yielding a slow critical path. Explicit mechanisms are required for livelock freedom due to the non-minimal nature of deflection. Finally, deflection routing can fragment packets, and the reassembly buffers require large worst-case sizing to avoid deadlock, due to the lack of network backpressure. The complexity that arises out of these three problems has discouraged practical adoption of bufferless routing. To counter this, we propose CHIPPER (Cheap-Interconnect Partially Permuting Router), a simplified router microarchitecture that eliminates in-router buffers and the crossbar. We introduce three key insights: first, that deflection routing port allocation maps naturally to a permutation network within the router; second, that livelock freedom requires only an implicit token-passing scheme, eliminating expensive age-based priorities; and finally, that flow control can provide correctness in the absence of network backpressure, avoiding deadlock and allowing cache miss buffers (MSHRs) to be used as reassembly buffers. Using multiprogrammed SPEC CPU2006, server, and desktop application workloads and SPLASH-2 multithreaded workloads, we achieve an average 54.9% network power reduction for 13.6% average performance degradation (multipro-grammed) and 73.4% power reduction for 1.9% slowdown (multithreaded), with minimal degradation and large power savings at low-to-medium load. Finally, we show 36.2% router area reduction relative to buffered routing, with comparable timing.
Supporting inheritance in relational database systems

The IS-A relationship (the class-subclass relationship) is one of the most fundamental and important properties in an object-oriented (OO) language and OO database management system (OODBMS). Due to the popularity and domination of relational database management systems (RDBMSs) and the fundamental importance of inheritance, supporting IS-A relationships in a RDBMS becomes very desired, and is essential to adapt a RDBMS to more advanced applications. The authors present an extended SQL system called ESQL which facilitates IS-A relation hierarchies in a RDBMS. The proposed ESQL uses constraints to resolve data redundancy and updating abnormality problems that exist in current OO languages such as C++ and Smalltalk, and OODBMS such as GemStone, PostGres, O/sub 2/, Iris, and Orion. Features such as inheritance constraints, subrelation assertions, mappings, and automatic tuple placement into its most specific subrelation are distinct in ESQL. These features are missing in current RDBMSs, OODBMSs and OO languages. >
Suppression of cell cycle progression by flavonoids: dependence on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Some flavonoids are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and cause cell cycle arrest. The dependency of the cytostatic effects of five flavonoids (flavone, alpha-naphthoflavone, apigenin, 3'-methoxy-4'-nitroflavone and 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone) on a functional AHR was examined in AHR-containing rat hepatoma 5L cells and an AHR-deficient cell line (BP8) derived from the 5L line. The potent AHR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was cytostatic to the 5L line due to the induction of a G(1) arrest and dramatically elevated steady-state levels of CYP1A1 mRNA. TCDD affected neither the proliferation nor CYP1A1 mRNA contents of BP8 cells. With the exception of apigenin, the flavonoids under study induced G(1) arrest in both 5L and BP8 cells when used at concentrations at which they functioned as AHR agonists, but not antagonists. Apigenin-treated 5L and BP8 cultures primarily arrested in G(2)/M. The AHR-containing murine hepatoma cell line 1c1c7 arrested following exposure to AHR agonist concentrations of flavone and alpha-naphthoflavone, but not TCDD. Unlike the G(1) arrest observed in 5L cultures, the latter two flavonoids caused principally G(2)/M arrest in 1c1c7 cells. These studies demonstrate that the cytostatic activities of flavonoids do not require the AHR and the site of checkpoint arrest with a specific flavonoid can vary with cell type.
A novel mosquito-borne Orbivirus species found in South-east Asia

The genus Orbivirus of the family Reoviridae includes a genetically diverse group of dsRNA arthropod-borne viruses that infect a wide variety of animal species. Here, we report the complete genome and phylogenetic analysis of a novel orbivirus (IAn-66411 or Sathuvachari virus, SVIV) isolated in 1963 from starlings (Brahminy myna) collected in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Comparative genetic analysis of the SVIV polymerase (VP1 protein), core protein (VP3) and outer core protein (VP7) confirmed that SVIV is most closely related to the mosquito-borne orbiviruses, but that it is equally divergent from all known species. Therefore, SVIV should be tentatively considered as the prototype of a novel mosquito-associated Orbivirus species. These findings will aid in the development of molecular reagents that can identify genetically similar orbiviruses and help elucidate their geographical distribution, epidemiology, species tropism and possible disease association.
Reply to Lane and Martin: Mitochondria do not boost the bioenergetic capacity of eukaryotic cells

Understanding the evolution of cellular features requires a catalog of costs of building, maintaining, and operating cell parts. Lane and Martin (1) define the cost of a gene as the ratio of a cell’s metabolic rate and total gene number. This is an ecologically and evolutionarily meaningless definition, revealing nothing about the incorporation of biomass into offspring and failing to account for differences in generation lengths among organisms. We directly derive the DNA-, mRNA-, and protein-level costs of a gene, dividing these by a cell’s lifetime energy expenditure and accounting for cell division time (2). Despite Lane and Martin’s (3) claim that their paper was not about the bioenergetic costs of a gene, they stated, “By ‘energy per gene’, we mean the cost of expressing the gene” (1).
Rigorous Estimation of Floating-Point Round-off Errors with Symbolic Taylor Expansions

Rigorous estimation of maximum floating-point round-off errors is an important capability central to many formal verification tools. Unfortunately, available techniques for this task often provide overestimates. Also, there are no available rigorous approaches that handle transcendental functions. We have developed a new approach called Symbolic Taylor Expansions that avoids this difficulty, and implemented a new tool called FPTaylor embodying this approach. Key to our approach is the use of rigorous global optimization, instead of the more familiar interval arithmetic, affine arithmetic, and/or SMT solvers. In addition to providing far tighter upper bounds of round-off error in a vast majority of cases, FPTaylor also emits analysis certificates in the form of HOL Light proofs. We release FPTaylor along with our benchmarks for evaluation.
The Sherman Act and “The Bottlenecks of Business”

a significant influence on industrial price policies. The emergence of concentrated market structures seemed to be in a large part a technological necessity which the Act would, under any enforcement policy, have been unable to check; whatever its causes, concentration was now a fait accompli almost impossible to eradicate. That the Act should be unable to influence price policies within this concentrated market structure seemed
Therapy of Experimental Staphylococcus Infections with Sulfonamide Compounds

ConclusionsGenerally speaking, our experience with these drugs in staphylococcic infections is in marked contrast to the decisively favorable results of sulfanilamide in hemolytic streptococcal infections. Disulfanilamide, by virtue of its apparent therapeutic effect over a limited time period has a certain promise, which, however, failed of clinical confirmation in the small number of cases observed. A more diversified experimental trial is merited. Both experimentally and clinically the results with “Di-Septal” in this preliminary study were essentially negative.
Amelogenin-Ameloblastin Spatial Interaction around Maturing Enamel Rods

Amelogenin and ameloblastin are 2 extracellular matrix proteins that are essential for the proper development of enamel. We recently reported that amelogenin and ameloblastin colocalized during the secretory stage of enamel formation when nucleation of enamel crystallites occurs. Direct interactions between the 2 proteins have been also demonstrated in our in vitro studies. Here, we explore interactions between their fragments during enamel maturation. We applied in vivo immunofluorescence imaging, quantitative co-localization analysis, and a new FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) technique to demonstrate ameloblastin and amelogenin interaction in the maturing mouse enamel. Using immunochemical analysis of protein samples extracted from 8-d-old (P8) first molars from mice as a model for maturation-stage enamel, we identified the ~17-kDa ameloblastin (Ambn-N) and the TRAP (tyrosine-rich amelogenin peptide) fragments. We used Ambn-N18 and Ambn-M300 antibodies raised against the N-terminal and C-terminal segments of ameloblastin, as well as Amel-FL and Amel-C19 antibodies against full-length recombinant mouse amelogenin (rM179) and C-terminal amelogenin, respectively. In transverse sections, co-localization images of N-terminal fragments of amelogenin and ameloblastin around the prism boundary revealed the "fish net" pattern of the enamel matrix. Using in vivo FRET microscopy, we further demonstrated spatial interactions between amelogenin and ameloblastin N-terminal fragments. In the maturing mouse enamel, the association of these residual protein fragments created a discontinuity between enamel rods, which we suggest is important for support and maintenance of enamel rods and eventual contribution to unique enamel mechanical properties. We present data that support cooperative functions of enamel matrix proteins in mediating the structural hierarchy of enamel and that contribute to our efforts to design and develop enamel biomimetic material.
Curative effect of phloroglucinolon in the treatment of gestational nephric colic

Objective To find the most effective and non-hidden symptomic medication to relieve the gestational nephric colic.Method Total 64 women with gestational nephric colic were randomized to two groups:the treatment group(n=38) treated by phloroglucinolon and the control group(n=26) treated by anisodamine.The effect to relieve pain and adverse reaction were observed.Results The effective rate in the treatment group was 73.68% and in the control group was 57.69%.The effects of lessening gestational acute kidney pain within 10 min and adverse reaction between the two groups showed significant differences(P0.05).Conclusion Phloroglucinolon is the best selection in the treatment of gestational nephric colic among the non-anticholinergic medicine,and worthy of extending.
Stimuli-Responsive Matrix-Assisted Colorimetric Water Indicator of Polydiacetylene Nanofibers.

An alternative signal transduction mechanism of polydiacetylene (PDA) sensors is devised by combining stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogel as a matrix and PDA sensory materials as a signal-generating component. We hypothesized that volumetric expansion of the polymer hydrogel matrix by means of external stimuli can impose stress on the imbedded PDA materials, generating a sensory signal. PDA assembly as a sensory component was ionically linked with the alginate hydrogel in order to transfer the volumetric expansion force of alginate hydrogel efficiently to the sensory PDA molecules. Under the same swelling ratio of alginate hydrogel, alginate gel having embedded 1-dimensional thin PDA nanofibers (∼20 nm diameter) presented a sharp color change while 0-dimensional PDA liposome did not give any sensory signal when it was integrated in alginate gel. The results implied that dimensionality is an important design factor to realize stimuli-responsive matrix-driven colorimetric PDA sensory systems; more effective...
A second chance for telomerase reverse transcriptase in anticancer immunotherapy

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a self-antigen that is expressed constitutively in many tumours, and is, therefore, an important target for anticancer immunotherapy. In the past 10 years, trials of immunotherapy with TERT-based vaccines have demonstrated only modest benefits. In this Perspectives, I discuss the possible immunological reasons for this limited antitumour efficacy, and propose that advances in our understanding of the genetics and biology of the involvement of TERT in cancer provides the basis for renewed interest in TERT- based immunotherapy. Telomerase and TERT are expressed in cancer cells at every stage of tumour evolution, from the cancer stem cell to circulating tumour cells and tumour metastases. Many cancer types also harbour cells with mutations in the TERT promoter region, which increase transcriptional activation of this gene. These new findings should spur new interest in the development of TERT-based immunotherapies that are redesigned in line with established immunological considerations and working principles, and are tailored to patients stratified on the basis of TERT-promoter mutations and other underlying tumour characteristics. Thus, despite the disappointment of previous clinical trials, TERT offers the potential for personalized immunotherapy, perhaps in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibition.
Management of Maxillofacial and Neck Soft-Tissue Injuries

Maxillofacial injuries sustained during sporting events may involve any variety of soft-tissue or bony injuries. As in any traumatized patient, more extensive injuries must be excluded and the basic principles of maintaining an airway and restoration of circulation maintained. The face and neck take on a particular significance when one considers the complexity of function and significant aesthetic value of the structures of the face and neck. Careful inspection, palpation, and examination of function assure the accurate ^ diagnosis pf injuries. Specific injuries to the specialized areas of the face and neck are discussed with particular attention to the potential underlying injuries to the facial nerves, parotid duct, and lacrimal systems. The importance of recognizing septal nasal hematomas and external ear hematomas are discussed.
Commentary on: “Postoperative Shingles Mimicking Recurrent Radiculopathy after Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion”

Neuropathic pain involving an upper extremity may be due to a variety of peripheral or central neuropathies such as cervical radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic polyneuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, human immunodeficiency virus–related neuropathies, central post-stroke pain, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. Montgomery et al present an interesting case of a patient with cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy that resolved after a two-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion. However, the patient's radicular symptoms recurred 6 months later. A thorough workup and the eventual development of a herpetic rash demonstrated that this new pain was due to herpes zoster (shingles). Although not specifically mentioned, it is also important to note that patients with herpes zoster may present with signs of weakness in addition to radicular pain, as postherpetic neuralgia may develop into zoster-associated limb paresis that lasts several months.1 Although the most common causes of neuropathic pain involving an arm are from cervical radiculopathy (estimated incidence: 83/100,000) and carpal tunnel syndrome (estimated incidence: 105 to 276/1000), the next most common causes are diabetic peripheral neuropathy (estimated incidence: 15/100,000) and postherpetic neuralgia (estimated incidence: 11 to 40/100,000).2 As the authors present here, the presence of two different causes of radiculopathy in such a narrow time period is exceedingly rare. This report emphasizes the need to broaden the differential for recurrent arm pain, especially when patients have risk factors for herpes zoster, such as an advanced age, a weakened immune system, or increased physical stress. In addition to clinical risk factors for herpes zoster, the clinical exam may also help differentiate between cervical radiculopathy from herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia. Unfortunately, the specific type of pain was not described in this report. Patients with painful polyneuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia typically suffer from a burning pain and mechanical allodynia, whereas painful radiculopathy is usually described as lancinating or “electric-like” in nature. One theory is that the two types of pain are from different pain generators: radiculopathy is often due to a lesion proximal to the dorsal root ganglion, and postherpetic neuralgia affects the ganglion.3 Recurrent radiculopathy after cervical decompression is not uncommon, and Montgomery et al highlight the fact that a herpes zoster infection as well as other causes of cervical neuropathic pain should remain on the differential diagnosis. Appropriate additional imaging and studies should be performed to rule out cervical spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and polyneuropathies. In addition, a detailed and accurate physical examination may assist in determining the etiology.
Assay for Three-Way Interaction of Protein Phosphatase-1 (Glc7) With Regulatory Subunits Plus Phosphatase Inhibitor-2

A method is described using yeast conjugation to assay the interactions of a protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) inhibitor protein with holoenzymes formed in situ by expression of regulatory subunit fusion proteins that recruit endogenous Glc7, the yeast ortholog of PP1. Mutations in the canonical recognition motif VxF used to bind PP1 (Glc7) allow for analysis of direct from indirect (three-way) interactions.
Patient Portal Use and Blood Pressure Control in Newly Diagnosed Hypertension

Background Current evidence that patient portal use improves disease management is inconclusive. Randomized controlled trials have found no benefit of Web-based patient-provider communication for blood pressure (BP) control, but patients from these studies were not selected for uncontrolled hypertension, nor did measures of portal use occur in a real-world setting, as captured in the electronic medical record. This study determined whether patient portal use by patients with treated, incident hypertension was associated with achieving BP control. Methods Between 2008 to 2010, 1571 patients with an incident hypertension diagnosis, ages 21 to >89 years, were identified from an academic medical center primary care patient data registry. Cox proportional hazard models were computed to estimate the association between portal use and incident BP control during follow-up (2011-2015), before and after adjusting for covariates. Covariates included sociodemographics, smoking, obesity and other physical and mental health comorbidities, and volume of health care utilization. Results After adjusting for age, portal users were more likely than nonusers to achieve BP control (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.45). After adjustment for sociodemographics, portal use was no longer associated with BP control (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.16). Conclusions Patient sociodemographic factors, including race, sex, and socioeconomic status, account for the observation that portal use leads to BP control among persons with newly diagnosed hypertension. Further research is warranted to determine whether there are benefits of portal use for other chronic conditions.
Turbine Engine Performance and Component Integration

Detailed discussions of several practical engines are presented, including a turbojet with and without afterburning, and both low and high bypass ratio turbofan configurations and their operational performance are discussed with the intent of illustrating the efficiency the various integrated components normally attain. Methods for the matching of turbines and compressors under different operating conditions are presented in depth. Similarly, matching of inlet and engine is covered in detail. Thrust monitoring in flight, fuel delivery systems, and thrust reversers are discussed. Estimation of thrust and specific fuel consumption in cruise, as well as engine cost, is discussed. The nature and relative magnitude of loads on engine components are described.
Population Movements and Problems in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper is made up of three parts: (1) a review of some findings relating to fertility, mortality, and present and prospective natural increase in Sub-Saharan Africa; (2) a review of some findings relating to migratory movements in this region; (3) a brief indica tion of the economic implications of current population movements.
Success Rate of Obtaining Baseline Somatosensory & Motor Evoked Potentials in Consecutive Cranial and Spinal Surgeries (P3.178)

Objective: To evaluate the current rates of obtaining SEP and MEP baselines. Background: Intraoperative monitoring (IOM) has been documented as an adjunctive technique used to minimize neurologic deficit during brain and spinal surgeries. IOM is predicated on the patient acting as an internal control, and that obtaining reliable baseline potentials is essential for effective monitoring. Previous studies reported success rates in MEP as low as 66.6[percnt] in the lower extremities and these rates are associated with preexisting neurologic deficits. Design/Methods: Chart review of consecutive cranial and spinal cases from January 2010-2011. SEP and MEP baselines were after initiation of general anesthesia and before skin incision. Anesthesia consisted of TIVA or TIVA with halogenated agents with less than 0.5 MAC. Outcome measures: Primary: Success rate in obtaining SEP and MEP in all subjects. Secondary: Rates by preoperative surgical diagnosis. Results: 695 cranial and spinal cases that required IOM were reviewed. Greater than 90.1[percnt] success rate in both SEP and MEP. For cranial surgeries the success was more than 93[percnt]. In spinal surgeries, a similar success rate was seen in deformity and degenerative cases. However, a decrease in success rate was noted in patients with either trauma or infection. Discussion: Our success rates were higher than previously reported. Success rates in spinal infection and spinal trauma cases were lower than previously reported; perhaps reflecting the disease process. Though preexisting deficits are associated with reduced success rate, preoperative diagnosis seems to serve as an indicator as well. Disclosure: Dr. Droker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shilian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gonzalez has nothing to disclose.
CozE is a member of the MreCD complex that directs cell elongation in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Most bacterial cells are surrounded by a peptidoglycan cell wall that is essential for their integrity. The major synthases of this exoskeleton are called penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)1,2. Surprisingly little is known about how cells control these enzymes, given their importance as drug targets. In the model Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, outer membrane lipoproteins are critical activators of the class A PBPs (aPBPs)3,4, bifunctional synthases capable of polymerizing and crosslinking peptidoglycan to build the exoskeletal matrix1. Regulators of PBP activity in Gram-positive bacteria have yet to be discovered but are likely to be distinct due to the absence of an outer membrane. To uncover Gram-positive PBP regulatory factors, we used transposon-sequencing (Tn-Seq)5 to screen for mutations affecting the growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae cells when the aPBP synthase PBP1a was inactivated. Our analysis revealed a set of genes that were essential for growth in wild-type cells yet dispensable when pbp1a was deleted. The proteins encoded by these genes include the conserved cell wall elongation factors MreC and MreD2,6,7, as well as a membrane protein of unknown function (SPD_0768) that we have named CozE (coordinator of zonal elongation). Our results indicate that CozE is a member of the MreCD complex of S. pneumoniae that directs the activity of PBP1a to the midcell plane where it promotes zonal cell elongation and normal morphology. CozE homologues are broadly distributed among bacteria, suggesting that they represent a widespread family of morphogenic proteins controlling cell wall biogenesis by the PBPs.
Starting a Small Spacecraft Program: Types of Programs and Their Benefits and Drawbacks

The previous two chapters have considered important foundational questions regarding the formation of a small spacecraft program. Chapter 2 considered why institutions might seek to start a small spacecraft program. Chapter 3 assessed several different approaches to the question of what type and scale of a program to form, in terms of a key question: whether to design and build a spacecraft from scratch, buy a vendor kit, or take a hybrid approach. This brief chapter deals with yet another foundational question for small spacecraft program formation: what the focus of the program will be. For an academic institution, this could be one of four principle types: a research program designed to (a) reach internal goals or (b) goals of a partner entity. The program could, alternately (c) focus on only educational pursuits. This, of course, was the original goal of the CubeSat form factor [1]. Alternately, it could (d) seek to combine both research and educational goals.
Antisense Oligonucleotides: Translation from Mouse Models to Human Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Multiple neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by single-protein dysfunction and aggregation. Treatment strategies for these diseases have often targeted downstream pathways to ameliorate consequences of protein dysfunction; however, targeting the source of that dysfunction, the affected protein itself, seems most judicious to achieve a highly effective therapeutic outcome. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are small sequences of DNA able to target RNA transcripts, resulting in reduced or modified protein expression. ASOs are ideal candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, given numerous advancements made to their chemical modifications and delivery methods. Successes achieved in both animal models and human clinical trials have proven ASOs both safe and effective. With proper considerations in mind regarding the human applicability of ASOs, we anticipate ongoing in vivo research and clinical trial development of ASOs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Variable Practice to Enhance Speech Learning in Ultrasound Biofeedback Treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Single Case Experimental Study.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of practice variability, through prosodic variation during speech sound training, in biofeedback treatment for children with childhood apr...
Automatic diagnosis of melanoma using linear and nonlinear features from digital image

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and causes more deaths than other forms of skin cancer. It is a tiny small malignant mole that is usually black or brown but also appears in other color patterns. Early detection of melanoma is key as this is the time period when it is most likely to be cured. Due to the advancement of smartphone technology, automatic and efficient detection of melanoma mole using a smartphone is an active area of research. In this study, we developed an automatic melanoma diagnosis system using images captured from the digital camera. Our work differs from other studies in the area of segmentation of melanoma region and consideration of non-linear features for classification of malignant and benign melanoma. In this paper, a combination of Otsu and k-means clustering segmentation methods are applied to automatically segment and extract the borders of affected region with satisfactory accuracy. Also, we explored and extracted different non-linear features along with color and texture features existed in literature from the lesion mole. The effectiveness of these features was predicted with a machine learning model consisting of five different classifiers. Our model predicted the diagnosis of mole with an accuracy of 89.7%, i.e., around 10% more than reported results by others (to the best of our knowledge) with the same database.
Nonstandardized Evaluation of Emergent Communication in Individuals with Severe Intellectual Disabilities: Exploring Existing Options and Proposing Innovations

Procedures to evaluate the communication of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities have grown to include myriad nonstandardized tests and procedures. This article examines the utility of existing nonstandardized assessment methods for generating representative and reliable findings for individuals with severe disabilities limited to nonsymbolic or emergent symbolic communicative abilities. Specifically, the use of informants, observations, and structured sampling are explored as to their strengths and limitations as assessment tools. Strategies for improving these methods are provided including preassessment planning, efforts to minimize observer subjectivity, and informant/observer training. Potential new directions for nonstandardized communication evaluation with this special population including applications of eye gaze and digital recording technology are also proposed.
Combined somatic mutation and copy number analysis in the survival of familial CLL.

Recurrent large-scale somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs), and somatic point mutations can be analysed to stratify patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) into distinct prognostic groups. To investigate the relationship between SCNAs and somatic mutations, we performed whole-exome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism microarray analyses on 98 CLL patients from 40 families with a high burden of CLL. Overall, 69 somatic mutations in 29 CLL driver genes were detected among 45 subjects (46%), with the most frequently mutated genes being TP53 (8·2%), NOTCH1 (8·2%) and ATM (5·1%). Additionally, 142 SCNAs from 54 subjects (57%) were detected, including losses of chromosome 13q14 (28·9%), 11q (5·6%), 17p (2·1%), and gain of chromosome 12 (4·2%). We found that patients having both an adverse point mutation in a CLL driver gene and an unfavourable SCNA tended to have poorer survival (Hazard ratio [HR] = 3·17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0·97-10·35; P = 0·056) than patients having either a point mutation (HR = 1·34, 95%CI = 0·66-2·71; P = 0·42) or SCNAs (HR = 2·65, 95%CI = 0·77-9·13; P = 0·12). TP53 mutation carriers were associated with the poorest overall survival (HR = 4·39, 95%CI = 1·28-15·04; P = 0·018). Our study suggests that combining SCNA and mutational data could contribute to predicting outcome in familial CLL.
Two and One Dimensional Dielectric Waveguides

Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio 44106 As opposed to free space propagation, light travels in a constrained manner in waveguides. A simple example of a one-dimensional optical waveguide is a straw with reflecting walls where light is guided along the length of the straw as shown in Figure.1
Congenital HIV: Prevention of Maternal to Child Transmission

Background:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is caused by a cytopathic lentivirus. HIV without adequate treatment during pregnancy can result in maternal to child transmission (MCT) of the virus. Sequelae can include severe lifelong morbidities, shorter life expectancies, and high mortality rates w
Case Report: Sequelae of Bilateral Iris Pigment Epithelial Cysts Masquerading as Primary Pigmentary Glaucoma.

SIGNIFICANCE Patients with pigment dispersion syndrome are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Iris abnormalities and the absence of key features of pigment dispersion syndrome can guide the discovery of secondary causes of pigmentary glaucoma, such as peripheral iris pigment epithelial cysts. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to describe a patient initially diagnosed as having primary pigmentary glaucoma found to have multiple bilateral peripheral iris pigment epithelial cysts causing pigment liberation, focal angle closure, and advanced secondary glaucoma. CASE REPORT A 64-year-old man presented for follow-up after a recent diagnosis of primary pigmentary glaucoma in the left eye. Clinical examination revealed transillumination defects of both irides and a heavily pigmented trabecular meshwork. A midperipheral bulge of the iris was appreciated in the superior temporal quadrant of the left eye. Gonioscopic evaluation showed that the bulge focally obstructed the angle. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated a normal iris insertion of both eyes, with the exception of a steepened approach superotemporally in the left eye. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed bilateral small- to medium-sized peripheral iris pigment epithelial cysts and confirmed a large cyst superotemporally in the left iris. CONCLUSIONS This case describes a patient with advanced secondary pigmentary glaucoma from iris pigment epithelial cysts. The mechanisms of glaucoma are likely twofold: (1) pigment liberation from the cysts contacting the lens zonules and, to a lesser extent, (2) focal angle closure at the site of the large peripheral cyst. The key features of pigmentary glaucoma, namely, posterior bowing of the iris, may not be present in secondary pigment dispersion. This case highlights the importance of careful evaluation of the iris and angle in making a correct diagnosis. The choice of topical agent to control intraocular pressure while not increasing the size of these cysts is also an important consideration.