cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Confidence Intervals Based on the Mean Absolute Deviation of a Normal Sample

Abstract Confidence intervals for the population mean of a normal distribution can be determined from the distribution of the variate , analogue to Student's t-distribution but based on the mean absolute deviation d instead of the standard deviation. The H-distribution is derived: the frequency function is symmetric about zero, with central ordinate (1/φ) √ (1-n -1); asymptotically it is normal, N(0, √(φ/2)). An approximate formula for the calculation of the percent values is developed and numerical factors tabulated by which the mean absolute deviation of a normal sample of size n is to be multiplied in order to obtain 95 percent and 50 percent confidence limits of the mean, for n =2(1)15(5)30, 40, 60,120. It is shown that the increase in length against confidence intervals from the standard deviation and Student's t is negligible. The usefulness of confidence intervals from the mean absolute deviation for estimating the precision of measurements in Physics is discussed.
MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAVELERS TO AND FROM GERMANY

ABSTRACT This study investigates relationships between motivations and demographic characteristics of pleasure travelers to and from Germany. Travelers responded to statements representing McIntosh's four motivational categories. Factor analysis of the statements produced three motivational categories and canonical correlation indicated no correlation between demographic characteristics and motivational factors. Results indicated that demographic characteristics and motivational factors have little relationship with each other for travelers to or from Germany.
Low temperature tolerance of the gemmules of Eunapius fragilis

This present study has shown that hydrated gemmules of Eunapius fragilis (Leidy) are able to survive brief exposure to temperatures as low as −100°C. However, the rates at which the gemmules are cooled and warmed have a marked effect on their survival. Hydrated gemmules exhibited good survival when cooled to −30°C at 0.1°C/min or 0.5°C/min. On the other hand, gemmules cooled at 1.0°C/min or 10.0°C/min did not survive. The effect of warming rate on the survival of gemmules exposed to −30°C was less pronounced than that of the cooling rate. However, gemmules which were warmed very slowly (0.1°C/min) showed a low level of germination. Hydrated gemmules also survived exposure to −72°C for at least 30 days. It appears that the time of exposure to low temperature is far less important in determining survival than the rates at which the gemmules are cooled to such low temperatures and then subsequently warmed.
Neural mechanisms underlying hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Objective: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder associated with developmental delay, obesity, and obsessive behavior related to food consumption. The most striking symptom of PWS is hyperphagia; as such, PWS may provide important insights into factors leading to overeating and obesity in the general population. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the neural mechanisms underlying responses to visual food stimuli, before and after eating, in individuals with PWS and a healthy weight control (HWC) group. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were scanned once before (pre-meal) and once after (post-meal) eating a standardized meal. Pictures of food, animals, and blurred control images were presented in a block design format during acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Results: Statistical contrasts in the HWC group showed greater activation to food pictures in the pre-meal condition compared with the post-meal condition in the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex (medial PFC), and frontal operculum. In comparison, the PWS group exhibited greater activation to food pictures in the post-meal condition compared with the pre-meal condition in the orbitofrontal cortex, medial PFC, insula, hippocampus, and parahippocampal gyrus. Between-group contrasts in the pre- and post-meal conditions confirmed group differences, with the PWS group showing greater activation than the HWC group after the meal in food motivation networks. Discussion: Results point to distinct neural mechanisms associated with hyperphagia in PWS. After eating a meal, the PWS group showed hyperfunction in limbic and paralimbic regions that drive eating behavior (e.g., the amygdala) and in regions that suppress food intake (e.g., the medial PFC).
The MMPI-2: A Contemporary Normative Study of Midwestern Family Medicine Outpatients

For more than 60 years it has been known that profiles from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), obtained from medical patients, are elevated when scores are plotted using general population norms. These elevations have been most apparent on the neurotic triad (NTd), the first 3 clinical scales on the MMPI profile. More than 45 years have passed since a nonreferred, normative sample of MMPIs was established from 50,000 consecutive medical outpatients. We present comparable but contemporary normative data for the revised MMPI (MMPI-2) based on a nonreferred sample of 1,243 family medicine outpatients (590 women; 653 men). As true for the original MMPI, contemporary medical outpatients have profiles that are significantly different, clinically and statistically, from the general population norms for the MMPI-2. This is particularly evident in elevations on the NTd. New normative tables of uniform medical T (UMT) scores were developed following the procedures used to create the uniform T scores for the MMPI-2. Measures of internal consistency are reported; test-retest reliability was established over a mean of 3.7 weeks, and results characterizing the stability of the validity and clinical scales are presented.
Africana studies and the research collective

The Black radical tradition, identified in Cedric Robinson’s work, provides a rich resource for the future challenges of Africana studies. Its model of emancipatory research, conducted by small gro...
A locally invasive giant cell tumor of the skull base: case report

Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, usually affecting the epiphyses in long bones of the extremities. They seldom occur in the skull, where they preferentially affect the sphenoid and temporal bones. Considered to be benign, locally aggressive lesions, they may cause cranial nerve deficits by compression but infrequently invade the dura and parenchyma of the brain. Several case reports with follow-up describe gross total resection of skull base GCT to be curative. Anything short of total resection usually results in recurrence within 4 years. Radiation therapy, although controversial, is reserved for lesions that cannot be completely resected. Some argue, however, against the use of radiation because there are reported cases of malignant transformation. Here we describe the case of a large GCT that was invasive to the dura, temporal lobe, as well as the third division of the trigeminal nerve, and to date gross total resection has been curative of this lesion. The patient has not undergone radiation therapy.
A whole-brain voxel based measure of intrinsic connectivity contrast reveals local changes in tissue connectivity with anesthetic without a priori assumptions on thresholds or regions of interest

The analysis of spontaneous fluctuations of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals has recently gained attention as a powerful tool for investigating brain circuits in a non-invasive manner. Correlation-based connectivity analysis investigates the correlations of spontaneous fluctuations of the fMRI signal either between a single seed region of interest (ROI) and the rest of the brain or between multiple ROIs. To do this, a priori knowledge is required for defining the ROI(s) and without such knowledge functional connectivity fMRI cannot be used as an exploratory tool for investigating the functional organization of the brain and its modulation under different conditions. In this work we examine two indices that provide voxel based maps reflecting the intrinsic connectivity contrast (ICC) of individual tissue elements without the need for defining ROIs and hence require no a priori information or assumptions. These voxel based ICC measures can also be used to delineate regions of interest for further functional or network analyses. The indices were applied to the study of sevoflurane anesthesia-induced alterations in intrinsic connectivity. In concordance with previous studies, the results show that sevoflurane affects different brain circuits in a heterogeneous manner. In addition ICC analyses revealed changes in regions not previously identified using conventional ROI connectivity analyses, probably because of an inappropriate choice of the ROI in the earlier studies. This work highlights the importance of such voxel based connectivity methodology.
Measuring the Connection Between Workforce Development and Economic Development Examining the Role of Sectors for Local Outcomes

Scholars, practitioners, and policy makers have all called for greater connectivity between workforce development and economic development to more efficiently connect people to jobs and improve regional competitiveness. Economic and policy changes of the last decade have created a fertile environment for collaborative models of achieving workforce and economic development goals simultaneously. Employing survey results from 170 workforce administrators across the United States, the author uses regression analysis to examine the factors that influence connection and to understand the relationship between this connection, the use of sector-based strategies, and development outcomes. The results suggest that connectivity is increasing and has a positive influence on the use of sector-based strategies. In addition, both the level of connection and the use of sectors have significant influence on achieving desired outcomes. Understanding and enhancing the strategic linkage across the two functions are critical ...
Oropharyngeal flora in patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit: clinical factors and acid suppressive therapy.

Acid suppression therapy in critically ill patients significantly reduces the incidence of stress ulceration and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding; however, recent studies suggest that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the risk of pneumonia. We wanted to test the hypothesis that acid suppressive therapy promotes alteration in the bacterial flora in the GI tract and leads to colonization of the upper airway tract with pathogenic species, potentially forming the biological basis for the observed increased incidence of pneumonia in these patients. This was a prospective observational study on patients (adults 18 years or older) admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at a tertiary care centre. Exclusion criteria included all patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia at admission, with infection in the upper airway, or with a history of significant dysphagia. Oropharyngeal cultures were obtained on day 1 and days 3 or 4 of admission. We collected data on demographics, clinical information, and severity of the underlying disease using APACHE II scores. There were 110 patients enrolled in the study. The mean age was 49±16 years, 50 were women, and the mean APACHE II score was 9.8±6.5. Twenty per cent of the patients had used a PPI in the month preceding admission. The first oropharyngeal specimen was available in 110 cases; a second specimen at 72–96 h was available in 68 cases. Seventy-five per cent of the patients admitted to the MICU had abnormal flora. In multivariate logistic regression, diabetes mellitus and PPI use were associated with abnormal oral flora on admission. Chronic renal failure and a higher body mass index reduced the frequency of abnormal oral flora on admission. Most critically ill patients admitted to our MICU have abnormal oral flora. Patients with diabetes and a history of recent PPI use are more likely to have abnormal oral flora on admission.
Symbolic failure analysis of custom circuits due to excessive leakage current

As process geometries shrink, leakage current is becoming an increasingly critical problem, especially in full-custom circuit designs. Excessive leakage may cause functional failure at some or all operating conditions. Traditional circuit analysis techniques may be used to verify if leakage currents are within allowable limits so as not to cause functional failures; however, unless the analysis takes into account specific input constraints for the circuit, the results may be overly pessimistic. We approach this noise analysis problem symbolically using algebraic decision diagrams (ADDs). Using ADDs allows us to efficiently analyze leakage within a channel-connected region (CCR) as a function of its inputs. Exclusivity constraints are easily included in the analysis, thus allowing for more accurate (and less pessimistic) results. Our approach is general and can be applied to any arbitrary circuit structure, including a mesh. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated on circuits from industry used in Alpha 21264 and 21364 instead of the usual ISCAS benchmarks. We show that such an analysis can lead to up to a 90% difference in worst case voltage drop. This difference can translate into significant savings in manpower by avoiding the need to verify many unrealizable worst-case conditions with other, more costly, simulation techniques.
Towards a computational model of sketching

Sketching is a powerful means of interpersonal communication. While many useful multimodal systems have been created, current systems are far from achieving human-like participation in sketching. A computational model of sketching would help characterize these differences and help us better understand how to overcome them. This paper is a first step towards such a model. We start with an example of a sketching system(nuSketch COA Creator)designed to aid military planners, to provide context and a source of examples. We then describe four dimensions of sketching,visual understanding, conceptual understanding, language understanding,anddrawing,that can be used to characterize the competence of existing systems and identify open problems. The issues involved will be illustrated by examples from our experience with nuSketch. Three research challenges are posed, to serve as milestones towards a computational model of sketching that can explain and replicate human abilities in this area.
Can single electron logic microprocessors work at room temperature

The error rate of single electron logic based on single electron transistors (SETs) at nonzero temperature has been estimated. Similarly to recent microelectronic studies [Phys. Lett. A 305 (2002) 144], the maximal error rate of one bit-fliperror chip −1 year −1 is used as the condition of the error-free performance. The aspects of power dissipation and error-free performance are studied versus the radius of quantum dot (QD). The conclusion is that microprocessors with silicon QDs of less than 1 nm radius can be used at room temperature.  2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Neurobiology of Autism

Autism is a behaviorally defined, life-long static developmental disorder of the brain that is poised for neurobiological investigation. It affects at least 1 or 2 in 1000 persons and has a broad range of severity. It has multiple causes, with genetics playing a major role. According to the DSM-IV, defining features are impaired sociability, language and communication, and range of interests and activities. Mental deficiency is frequent but by no means universal. The cognitive profile is characteristic, occasionally with a superior but narrow talent. Perseveration, concreteness, affective blunting, and lack of insight into other persons' thinking may be conspicuous. The neurological basis of autism's many sensorimotor features, including stereotypies, is unknown. Attention and sleep are affected, and one third of individuals experience epilepsy by adulthood. Whether subclinical epilepsy plays a role in the developmental regression of the one third of the toddlers who lose their language skills and become autistic remains to be determined. Clinical neuroimaging and biochemical investigations are generally unremarkable. Fewer than 35 brains have been examined pathologically, none with modern techniques. The findings thus far suggest subtle prenatal neuronal maldevelopment in the cerebellum and certain limbic structures. Abnormalities in distributed networks involving serotonin and perhaps other neurotransmitters require further documentation.
Recent Advances in the Study of Structural Materials Compatibility with Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a ubiquitous element that enters materials from many different sources. It almost always has a deleterious effect on mechanical properties. In non-hydride-forming systems, research to date has identified hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity and hydrogen-induced decohesion as two viable mechanisms for embrittlement. However, a fracture prediction methodology that associates macroscopic parameters with the degradation mechanisms at the microscale has not been established, as of yet. In this article, we report recent work on modeling and simulation of hydrogen-induced crack initiation and growth. Our goal is to develop methodologies to relate characteristics of the degradation mechanisms from microscopic observations and first-principles calculations with macroscopic indices of embrittlement. The approach we use involves finite element analysis of the coupled hydrogen transport problem with hydrogen-assisted elastoplastic deformation, thermodynamic theories of decohesion, and ab initio density functional theory calculations of the hydrogen effect on grain boundaries.
Internet Shopping: Findings from an Exploratory Study and Research Propositions

Internet shopping has received considerable attention in both the popular-press and academic journals (Ainscough 1996; Alba et al. 1997). For 1996, sales over the Internet were estimated at $560 million. However, this amount was only a small fraction of total retail sales of $2.2 trillion for the same period (Burke 1997), and it was viewed as a modest start to the predicted figures of $260 billion in worldwide retail sales by the year 2000. Peterson, Balasubramanian, and Bronnenberg (1997) argued that the grandiose predictions for Internet commerce do not account for the inherent complexity of the Internet where participants (manufacturers, channel intermediaries, and consumers) often have different interests. The perceived advantages of the Internet over more traditional in-home, direct marketing modes (e.g., printcatalogs) might vary depending on different factors. Hoffman, Novak, and Chatterjee (1996) and Peterson, Balasubramanian, and Bronnenberg (1997) suggested that there is a need for empirical studies to address some of the unanswered questions; however, they argued that the marketing implications of the Internet should not be considered in isolation, apart from other direct modes of shopping.
Intuitive control of a planar bipedal walking robot

Bipedal robots are difficult to analyze mathematically. However, successful control strategies can be discovered using simple physical intuition and can be described in simple terms. Five things have to happen for a planar bipedal robot to walk. Height has to be stabilized. Pitch has to be stabilized. Speed has to be stabilized. The swing leg has to move so that the feet are in locations which allow for the stability of height, pitch, and speed. Finally, transitions from support leg to support leg must occur at appropriate times. If these five objectives are achieved, the robot will walk. A number of different intuitive control strategies can be used to achieve each of these five objectives. Further, each strategy can be implemented in a variety of ways. We present several strategies for each objective which we have implemented on a bipedal walking robot. Using these simple intuitive strategies, we have compelled a seven link planar bipedal robot, called Spring Flamingo, to walk. The robot walks both slowly and quickly, walks over moderate obstacles, starts, and stops.
LIVER FAILURE OCCURRING AS A COMPONENT OF EXERTIONAL HEATSTROKE

An unusual case of an exertional heatstroke in a healthy 25-year-old man is presented. Initially, the patient was deeply comatose and developed severe rhabdomyolysis and massive hepatic necrosis. Subsequently, he received a liver transplant with remarkable improvement in his mental status, although the rhabdomyolysis continued. The patient died 41 days after the transplant due to a complicating infection. Providing that infections can be effectively controlled, liver transplants might be a promising therapeutic alternative for the few patients who survive the initial neurological consequences of this unusual event.
Uncertainty in the energy dynamics of commercial office buildings

Whole-building energy models take information about the structure of a building, its equipment (electrical loads, lights, conditioning equipment, etc.), and disturbances (people, weather) and predict its year long comfort and energy performance. Both commercial and freely available tools are available for performing these time-domain simulations, which are used for design trade studies and more frequently to check for energy consumption and comfort compliance. These models require hundreds of assumptions as input when it comes to parameterizing the building model. Previous studies have investigated how predictions are influenced by these assumptions and which of the parameters are critical to year-long calculations. In this paper we extend this approach to investigate how parametric uncertainty influences uncertainty in the energy dynamics within a building. We provide a case study that investigates an office building by extracting dynamic information out of an EnergyPlus model, and supplies this information to an automatically generated analytical thermal network model. We conclude with a control-oriented frequency-based robustness assessment as well as a study of how uncertainty influences the network structure of the building by investigating the spectral gap of its graph Laplacian.
An OTA-based Large-Scale Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA) for faster On-Chip Communication and Computation

We focus on investigating large-scale FPAA topologies capable of high-frequency routing by building structures to avoid speed limitations of the routing fabric, while carefully considering the consumed power constraints. We approach this problem by building a special FPAA IC based on transconductance amplifiers to investigate the potential speed improvements over existing large-scale FPAA techniques with similar amplifier designs. This approach uses multiple levels of OTA based routing and computation to demonstrate the potential of these approaches combined with more traditional switch matrices. We present experimental results from an IC of 200 OTA devices fabricated in a 0.35 mum CMOS process available through MOSIS. Initial experimental results show a range of working filter topologies which can operate with corner frequencies up to 15 MHz.
Another exact inflationary solution

A new closed-form inflationary solution is given for a hyperbolic interaction potential. The method used to arrive at this solution is outlined as it appears possible to generate additional sets of equations which satisfy the model. In addition a new form of decaying cosmological constant is presented.
Assessing and Promoting Student Learning: Blurring the Line between Teaching and Testing

In recent years, many faculty have modified their teaching methods to encourage higher level thinking. However, approaches to testing often remain unchanged, reinforcing memorizing rather than critical thinking. In this article, I describe the use of daily essay quizzes to encourage thorough preparation for class and higher level thinking. Student evaluations support the perceived value of this testing method in enhancing student learning. Additionally, student self-reported behaviors suggest that in contrast to daily essay quizzes, 4 tests scheduled at predictable intervals during the semester result in last-minute preparation and lower perceived student learning.
Aerial Refueling Implications for Commercial Aviation

Numerical refueling missions were simulated with a 747-400 tanker for three different sized aircraft—a 747-400, a 777-300, and an A318—to examine the impact on payload capability. Simplified performance and economic models were used to optimize the payload improvement with respect to the refuel point. Optimum refuel points for maximum payload improvement resulted in 88, 110, and 111% payload carrying increases for the A318, 777, and 747 respectively. The mission distance location for the optimum refuel point was observed to increase with increasing aircraft weight. A return on investment of less than one year was predicted for the large aircraft, although the optimum economic refuel point did not coincide with the point for maximum payload increase. Additional benefits were identified to include increased revenue to both the manufacturers and the airline operators, in the form of more product options, more revenue flight hours, increased airframe life, and the possibility for improved takeoff performance and noise reduction. The implementation of in-flight refueling is also proposed to lead to second cycle benefits of a revolution in future commercial aircraft conception and design.
Managing consumer debt: Culture, compliance, and completion

Abstract We examine the cultural dimensions of participation in a debt management program (DMP). Archival data from Consumer Credit Counseling Service provide insights into the behavior of consumers in a DMP. Latino clients differ from Anglo clients, and are ultimately less successful in resolving debt problems. A key difference appears to be the expected monthly payment established for clients. While only debt level determines Latinos' expected payment, Anglos appear to better negotiate an expected payment from creditors, increasing their success. Importantly, homophily increases compliance for Latino debtor–counselor dyads. Overall, this study contributes to the transformative service research (TSR) literature by suggesting ways culture influences adherence to and completion of a DMP, leading to financial freedom for consumers in distress.
Studies on Sequence Requirements for Basolateral Targeting of the Polymeric Immunoglobulin Receptor in MDCK Cells

Accurate sorting and targeting mechanisms are essential for the development and maintenance of the spatial asymmetry characterizing most of eukaryotic cells. Proteins are assumed to harbour sorting signals that play critical roles in their sorting and targeting to the final location in the cell. The properties of these signals and the cellular machinery that recognizes them are still largely unknown. A significant progress has been achieved in identifying and characterizing the signals that mediate soiling of plasma membrane proteins into the endocytic pathway (Trowbridge, 1991). These signals, which consist of a Tyr in the context of s-turn conformation (Barisal & Gierasch, 1991; Eberie et al., 1991) were localized to the cytoplasmic domain of many membrane proteins that enter the cell via coated-pit mediated endocytosis. Cytosolic proteins belonging to the adaptor family were shown to interact with the Tyr signal. These proteins are therefore likely to comprise the cellular machinery that specifically sorts membrane proteins into coated-pits and the endocytic pathway.
Land Narratives and the Logic of Electoral Violence in Kenya

This paper examines the relationship between land and the escalation of electoral violence in Kenya since multiparty elections. It asks two related questions: Why is there such variation in the occurrence of electoral violence across Kenya? Why does violence become a logical strategy for elites and ordinary citizens in one context, but not another? Theories of electoral violence emphasize political liberalization, elite incentives, election fraud, ethnic cleavages, weak institutions and land patronage. Yet few theories can specify the local conditions that enable and constrain the escalation of election-time violence. This paper argues that land narratives provide one of the main mechanisms for elites to organize violent collective action. Land narratives are effective tools of mobilization because they invoke the threat of losing land as well as the opportunity for gaining land or property tied to electoral outcomes. Yet elites will only use land narratives when they resonate with group members. The paper draws on in-depth interviews and survey evidence gathered in the Rift Valley and Coast regions from May 2012-2013. Rather than assuming that elites have the incentive and capacity to use land as a mobilizing tool, the paper uncovers why land provides a compelling reason for ordinary citizens to fight.
Cooperativity in biological systems

Living organisms can sense and respond to external and internal stimuli. Response isdemonstrated in many forms including modulation of gene expression profiles, motility,secretion, cell death, etc. Nevertheless, all forms share a basic property: they depend on sensingsmall changes in the concentration of an effector molecule or subtle conformational changes ina protein and invoking the appropriate molecular response by the relevant signaling pathways.Sensing, transduction, and response to signals may be directly carried out by controlled changesin the conformation or the assembly of pre-existing components(1,2)or may involve changes ingene expression patterns (as in cell differentiation and development), which in turn is carriedout by protein-nucleic acid interactions and complex formation. Hence, understandingconformational changes in proteins and nucleic acids, ligand binding, and complex formationplay acentral role in advancing our knowledge of cellular dynamics. Large-scale interactionmapping projects continue to provide detailed (though approximate) interaction networksbetween pairs of proteins (3–6), but fall short of capturing the stability or dynamics of theinteractions. Integration of these maps with thermodynamic and kinetic information aboutconformational changes and binding events in proteins and nucleic acids holds the promise ofdiscovering simple universal mechanisms that explain and relate seemingly disparate biologicalphenomena at many levels of complexity. In this article, I will explore ‘cooperativity’, one ofthe most ubiquitous features in molecular biology and discuss how it impacts macromolecularfolding, complex assembly, formation of biological networks, and eventually cellular functionand pathology.
Kinetics of Regeneration and Recombination Reactions in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Employing Cobalt Redox Shuttles

The key to achieving high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the realization of a redox shuttle which exhibits quantitative dye regeneration with a minimal driving force. Since the electron diffusion length, Ln, is controlled by recombination to the redox shuttle, an optimal redox shuttle must balance the kinetics of these two key electron-transfer reactions. In this work the dye regeneration efficiency, ηreg, and the electron diffusion length were determined for DSSCs employing cobalt tris(bipyridine), [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+, and cobalt bis(trithiacyclononane), [Co(ttcn)2]3+/2+, redox shuttles from optical and incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) measurements of the cells under front side and back side illumination directions. The regeneration of the D35cpdt dye was found to be quantitative with [Co(ttcn)2]3+/2+; however, dye regeneration with the current champion redox shuttle [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+ is suboptimal despite a larger driving force of the reaction. The electron diffusion length was f...
The influence of needle gauge and infection source on vitreous aspirate cultures.

Background/aims While the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) included only post-cataract surgery patients, the methods and data from that study are widely applied in the management of endophthalmitis of all types. We sought to examine how our experience with in-office vitreous aspiration differed from the EVS in two ways: first, by reviewing microbiological culture yields from vitreous aspirates obtained using 30-gauge needles versus 25–27-gauge needles and second, by reviewing culture yields in cases of endogenous versus non-endogenous endophthalmitis. Methods Cases of endophthalmitis over a 14-year period were reviewed when vitreous tap was the initial diagnostic procedure. The data included infection source, needle size used to obtain a vitreous aspirate, organism cultured and rates of unsuccessful attempts at vitreous aspiration or dry taps. Results 10 cases were endogenous endophthalmitis, while 36 cases were a mix of postoperative, post-traumatic, post-intravitreal injection and miscellaneous patients. A positive microbiological culture was obtained in 11/36 (31%) of vitreous taps using a 25–27-gauge needle and in 8/10 (80%) taps using a 30-gauge needle (p Conclusions The use of a smaller needle in obtaining vitreous samples in endophthalmitis did not lower the microbiological yield. A positive microbiological yield was significantly less likely in cases of endogenous endophthalmitis compared with non-endogenous cases. Vitreous tap as a method for identifying the causative organism in endogenous endophthalmitis was of limited utility.
Immune Response of Owl Monkeys to Topical Vaccination with Irradiated Chlamydia trachomatis

The conjunctivae of owl monkeys were topically vaccinated with purified Chlamydia trachomatis organisms that had been inactivated by 60Co irradiation and lyophilized onto an inert carrier. Vaccinated monkeys developed antibody in serum and tears, while control animals given a placebo had no detectable titers. When challenged 35 days after the start of administration of the vaccine, all monkeys showed evidence of infection. The vaccinated group had a longer course of disease and more ocular discharge than did controls. Antibody levels in both serum and tears were nearly 10-fold higher after infection in vaccinated animals than in controls.
Managed care, medical technology, and the well-being of society.

Summary: The growth of managed care could have widespread effects on the structure and functioning of the health care delivery system, potentially influencing all patients, even those not enrolled in managed care plans. One important mechanism by which managed care could have such broad effects is by influencing technology development and adoption. This article examines available literature on the effects of managed care activity on technology adoption and the implications of any effects on patient care, outcomes, and health care costs. Existing literature supports the view that managed care has contributed to slowing the adoption of new technologies, particularly the high-cost, high-profile technologies that have been the focus of the most attention. The literature outlining the effects of managed-care–induced changes in technology adoption on patient care and outcomes is not large, but what literature there is tends not to find negative effects on patient care and outcomes. Specific evidence about costs also is somewhat sparse, but it suggests that managed care has contributed to some reduction in health care spending, although the extent to which savings will persist over time is unclear. Although evidence thus far does not suggest important detrimental effects of managed care on care or outcomes and even indicates some benefit through savings, it should be noted that existing literature has only explored a small number of the many technologies and services that might have been influenced, and there remain issues for the future that deserve vigilance.
Caspase cleavage of the nuclear autoantigen LEDGF/p75 abrogates its pro-survival function: implications for autoimmunity in atopic disorders.

Lens epithelium-derived growth factor p75 (LEDGF/p75) is a nuclear autoantigen in atopic disorders implicated in cellular protection against stress-induced apoptosis. We observed that LEDGF/p75 was cleaved during apoptosis into fragments of 65 and 58 kD generated by caspases-3 and -7 cleaving at three sites: DEVPD30↓G, DAQD486↓G and WEID85↓N. Sequence analysis revealed that the DEVPD30↓G and WEID85↓N sites lie within the highly conserved HATH (homologous to amino terminus of hepatoma-derived growth factor) region, also known as PWWP domain. Alignment of proteins containing this domain failed to reveal conservation of the DEVPD30↓G and WEID85↓N sites, suggesting that the HATH/PWWP domain of LEDGF/p75 may be specifically targeted by caspases. Overexpression of LEDGF/p75 protected HepG2 cells from serum starvation-induced cell death, whereas expression of the 65 kD fragment failed to protect. The apoptotic cleavage of LEDGF/p75 may contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic disorders by abrogating its pro-survival function and enhancing its immunogenicity.
Boosting RDF adoption in ruby with Goo

For the last year, the BioPortal team has been working on a new iteration that will incorporate major modifications to the existing services and architecture. As part of this work, we transitioned BioPortal to an architecture where RDF is the main data model and where triple stores are the main database systems. We have a component (called "Goo") that interacts with RDF data using SPARQL, and provides a clean API to perform CRUD operations on RDF stores. Using RDF and SPARQL for a real-world large-scale application creates challenges in terms of both scalability and technology adoption. In BioPortal, Goo helped us overcome that barrier using the technology that developers were familiar with, an ORM-alike API.
Imaging the pericardium.

Noninvasive imaging has revolutionized the assessment of pericardial disease. This article reviews the evaluation of effusions, pericardial compressive disorders, cysts, masses, and congenital defects with radiography, Doppler echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The relative merits and diagnostic pitfalls of these imaging modalities are discussed.
New protocol for quantum public key cryptography

We present a quantum public key cryptographic protocol that allow Bob to send any arbitrary qubit state to Alice, securely. The proposed protocol (quantum pad-lock protocol) uses quantum entanglement and does not discard any qubits during the transfer process. The protocol allow for more number of bits to be transferred securely compared to BB84 and other protocols based on random measurements.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for chylous ascites in a patient with recurrent cirrhosis following liver transplantation

Chylous ascites (CA) is the extravasation of lipid-rich lymphatic fluid into the peritoneal space following trauma or obstruction of the lymphatic system. Refractory cases of cirrhosis-related CA may be amendable to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS). We present a case of TIPS in the setting of refractory CA secondary to cirrhosis of a transplanted liver graft. Following TIPS, the patient reported immediate improvement in abdominal pain and no longer requires paracentesis. Our case suggests TIPS to be a safe and effective treatment option for CA in liver transplant patients with cirrhosis.
Novel mechanism in autoimmune regulation by S-nitrosoglutathione

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in pathogenesis and control of autoimmune disease which is caused by abnormal activation of T helper (Th) cells. Under disease conditions of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we observed that different subsets of Th cells expressed different levels of NO synthesizing enzymes (nNOS, iNOS, and eNOS). Notably, Th17 cells exclusively expressed high levels of iNOS and its genetic ablation resulted in increased Th17 activation and IL-17 expression but decreased activation of specific subset of regulatory T (CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg) cells and IL-10 expression in EAE. S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is a physiological NO carrier molecules that mediates variety of NO signaling via trans-S-nitrosylation mechanisms. In EAE, GSNO treatment decreased the disease severity and activation/effector function of Th17 while it increased CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg activation/effector function. Moreover, the reduced activation/effector function of Th17 by adaptive transfer of GSNO-induced CD4+CD25+FOXP− Tregs suggest that CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg may be the effector cells antagonizing Th17 in response to iNOS/NO/GSNO. The cellular levels of GSNO is regulated by its catabolic enzyme GSNO reductase (GSNOR). In EAE, both Th17 and of CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg expressed high levels of GSNOR and pharmacological inhibition of GSNOR or genetic ablation of GSNOR resulted in abrogation of Th17 activation/effector function while activating CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg. In summary, this study suggest the iNOS/NO/GSNO-inducible CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg cells as the potential feedback regulator of Th17 and GSNOR as the potential therapeutic target for Th17 and CD4+CD25+FOXP− Treg mediated autoimmune disease.
The G2385R risk factor for Parkinson's disease enhances CHIP-dependent intracellular degradation of LRRK2.

Autosomal dominant mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 ( LRRK2 ) are associated with Parkinson9s disease (PD). Most pathogenic LRRK2 mutations result in amino acid substitutions in the central ROC (Ras of complex proteins)–C-terminus of ROC–kinase triple domain and affect enzymatic functions of the protein. However, there are several variants in LRRK2 , including the risk factor G2385R, that affect PD pathogenesis by unknown mechanisms. Previously, we have shown that G2385R LRRK2 has decreased kinase activity in vitro and altered affinity to LRRK2 interactors. Specifically, we found an increased binding to the chaperone Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90 kDa) that is known to stabilize LRRK2, suggesting that G2385R may have structural effects on LRRK2. In the present study, we further explored the effects of G2385R on LRRK2 in cells. We found that G2385R LRRK2 has lower steady-state intracellular protein levels compared with wild-type LRRK2 due to increased protein turnover of the mutant protein. Mechanistically, this is a consequence of a higher affinity of G2385R compared with the wild-type protein for two proteins involved in proteasomal degradation, Hsc70 and carboxyl-terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP). Overexpression of CHIP decreased intracellular protein levels of both G2385R mutant and wild-type LRRK2, while short interfering RNA CHIP knockdown had the opposite effect. We suggest that the G2385R substitution tilts the equilibrium between refolding and proteasomal degradation toward intracellular degradation. The observation of lower steady-state protein levels may explain why G2385R is a risk factor rather than a penetrant variant for inherited PD.
To what extent do food purchases reflect shoppers' diet quality and nutrient intake?

Food purchasing is considered a key mediator between the food environment and eating behavior, and food purchasing patterns are increasingly measured in epidemiologic and intervention studies. However, the extent to which food purchases actually reflect individuals’ dietary intake has not been rigorously tested. This study examined cross-sectional agreement between estimates of diet quality and nutrient densities derived from objectively documented household food purchases and those derived from interviewer-administered 24-h diet recalls. A secondary aim was to identify moderator variables associated with attenuated agreement between purchases and dietary intake. Primary household food shoppers (N = 196) collected and annotated receipts for all household food and beverage purchases (16,356 total) over 14 days. Research staff visited participants’ homes four times to photograph the packaging and nutrition labels of each purchased item. Three or four multiple-pass 24-h diet recalls were performed within the same 14-d period. Nutrient densities and Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores were calculated from both food purchase and diet recall data. HEI-2010 scores derived from food purchases (median = 60.9, interquartile range 49.1–71.7) showed moderate agreement (ρc = .57, p < .0001) and minimal bias (-2.0) with HEI-2010 scores from 24-h recalls (median = 60.1, interquartile range 50.8–73.9). The degree of observed bias was unrelated to the number of food/beverage purchases reported or participant characteristics such as social desirability, household income, household size, and body mass. Concordance for individual nutrient densities from food purchases and 24-h diet recalls varied widely from ρc = .10 to .61, with the strongest associations observed for fiber (ρc = .61), whole fruit (ρc = .48), and vegetables (ρc = .39). Objectively documented household food purchases yield an unbiased and reasonably accurate estimate of overall diet quality as measured through 24-h diet recalls, but are generally less useful for characterizing dietary intake of specific nutrients. Thus, some degree of caution is warranted when interpreting food purchase data as a reflection of diet in epidemiological and clinical research. Future work should examine agreement between food purchases and nutritional biomarkers. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02073643 . Retrospectively registered.
A Tale of Two Architectures: A Dual-Citizenship Integration of Natural Language and the Cognitive Map

Vulcan and DIARC are two robot architectures with very different capabilities: Vulcan uses rich spatial representations to facilitate navigation capabilities in real-world, campus-like environments, while DIARC uses high-level cognitive representations to facilitate human-like tasking through natural language. In this work, we show how the integration of Vulcan and DIARC enables not only the capabilities of the two individual architectures, but new synergistic capabilities as well, as each architecture leverages the strengths of the other. This integration presents interesting challenges, as DIARC and Vulcan are implemented in distinct multi-agent system middlewares.Accordingly, a second major contribution of this paper is the Vulcan-ADE Development Environment (VADE): a novel multi-agent system framework comprised of both (1) software agents belonging to a single robot architecture and implemented in a single multi-agent system middleware, and (2) "Dual-Citizen" agents that belong to both robot architectures and that use elements of both multi-agent system middlewares. As one example application, we demonstrate the implementation of the new joint architecture and novel multi-agent system framework on a robotic wheelchair, and show how this integration advances the state-of-the-art for NL-enabled wheelchairs.
Interpolation of nuclear reaction energy distributions

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses several methods of interpolation of data for tables of energy distributions for particles emitted by nuclear reactions. The methods are also applicable to angular distributions. Our primary interest is in interpolation with respect to the energy of the incident particle. We first examine four interpolation methods currently used in the nuclear data community: direct interpolation, unit-base interpolation, interpolation by averages on equiprobable bins, and interpolation by corresponding energies. Because each of these methods has shortcomings, a modified version of interpolation by corresponding energies is proposed here. We call this new method interpolation by cumulative points.