cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Periodic Boundary Conditions To Calculate Accurate β-Sheet Frequencies Using Density Functional Theory

Calculations of vibrational spectra of peptides that represent the major structural motifs, α-helix, β-sheet, and extended conformations, carried out using density functional theory (DFT) agree only qualitatively with experiment because of the lack of inclusion of intermolecular interactions in the calculated model. One solution to this problem for the parallel β-sheet structure is demonstrated in this study using periodic boundary conditions (PBC). A model consisting of four glycines with a pleated parallel β-sheet structure in a box of appropriate dimensions was calculated using DFT methods to obtain accurate frequencies of the amide bands. This model is compared to gas-phase calculation of β-sheet and extended conformations, and it is shown that intramolecular hydrogen bonding can be included to quantitatively account for the amide I and amide II spectrum of the β-sheet.
Solvent effects on chemical processes. 4. Complex formation between naphthalene and theophylline in binary aqueous-organic solvents

The standard free energy change for complex formation is written as a sum of effects arising from solvent-solvent interactions (the general medium effect), solvent-solute interactions (the solvation effect), and solute-solute interactions (the intersolute effect). The general medium effect is given by gΔA(γ−γo), where g is a curvature correction factor to the solvent surface tension γ, ΔA is the change in surface area as the two solvent cavities containing the substrate (naphthalene) and ligand (theophylline) collapse into a single cavity containing the complex, and γo is the value of surface tcnsion at which there is no net solvophobic interaction; γ is defined to be the value appropriate to the equilibrium mean solvation shell composition. The solvation effect is modeled by equilibrium stoichiometric formation of solvated species. All data are related to the fully aqueous system to give δMΔGo, the solvent effect on the free energy change, as an explicit function of solvent composition. Solvent effects on bimolecular association are related to solvent effects on the solubilities of the substrate, ligand, and complex. Approximation methods for interpreting such systems are described and are applied to the naphthalene-theophylline complex. It is shown that complex destabilization in mixed aqueous-organic solvents (relative to the fully aqueous system) may receive contributions from both the general medium and the solvation effects, and that these contributions can be quantitatively estimated.
Application of the School Based Management Process Development Model

ABSTRACT This study describes and applies a process model to catalog and assess the implementation of an innovation in education. The School'Based Management Process Development Model was designed to sequentially outline the factors present in a school system's establishment of school based management, and provide a basis for data analysis.
Hemidemethylation is sufficient for chromatin relaxation and transcriptional activation of methylated aprt gene in mouse P19 embryonal carcinoma cell line.

A series of clones displaying a high-frequency “switching” phenotype for expression of the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) gene was previously isolated from the P19 mouse embryonal carcinoma stem cell line. In a subset of these clones, loss ofaprt expression was correlated with increased DNA methylation, a nuclease-resistant chromatin conformation, and loss of RNA transcription; reactivation was associated with a reversal of these parameters. In this report, the role of DNA methylation in transcriptional inactivation was studied in the H22D3 clone. The cells of this clone contain a single inactiveaprt allele that is methylated. Mass cultures of H22D3 were treated with 2-deoxy-5′-azacytidine (5aCdr) and found to reactivateaprt at frequencies ranging from 60 to 90%. Treated cultures were then assayed over time foraprt mRNA, chromatin conformation, and DNA methylation of theaprt gene. These studies demonstrated that 5aCdr treatment resulted in promoter region-specific hemidemethylation and chromatin relaxation starting at 12 h. This was followed by the appearance of RNA transcripts at 18 h and increasing levels of APRT enzymatic activity at 36 h after treatment. Complete demethylation occurred significantly later. Experiments in which cells were treated with 5aCdr for varying periods of time demonstrated that a single round of analog incorporation was sufficient for transcriptional reactivation ofaprt in H22D3.
A non-isothermal activated kinetics of K-SmA transition of the aligned octylcyanobiphenyl

This study explores a non-isothermal activated kinetics of the Crystalline to Smectic A (K-SmA) transition of the aligned octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB) liquid crystal. High resolution calorimetric technique was used to study the molecular motion and rearrangement of the 8CB molecules near the K-SmA transition as a function of temperature, rate, and time. In the presence of magnetic field, the transition peak was found to be shifted towards lower temperature by 0.5 K when compared with results of un-magnetized 8CB. The K-SmA transition showed a rate dependent kinetics following Arrhenius behavior where the increased shifting rate showing an increased thermal kinetics for the transition. The 8CB molecules get more aligned and more ordered that pushes the temperature of the transition towards lower temperature in the presence of magnetic field. Hence they show a temperature decrease in the peak of the transition temperature with a decrease in the enthalpy and hence needs more activation energy. This study may be useful to understand the liquid crystal behavior to upgrade liquid crystal devices (LCDs).
Making the Intangible Tangible: Using Expressive Art During Termination to Co-Construct Meaning

In this article, a creative termination activity grounded in relational-cultural theory is presented. In addition to providing a means for summarizing the counseling experience, this activity promotes relational development in the midst of client termination. Following implementation of the activity, the client and counselor are provided tangible, co-constructed gifts that are symbolic of the therapeutic relationship and relational growth. The authors provide a rationale for how this intervention promotes self-awareness, outline directions for implementation, and provide a case illustration to demonstrate how counselors can help promote relational closure and solidify clients’ therapeutic gains.
Facet orientation and tropism: associations with spondylolysis.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between lumbar spine facet joint orientation, facet joint tropism, and spondylolysis identified by multidetector computed tomography (CT) in the community-based Framingham Heart Study. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The association between lumbar spondylolysis and facet orientation and tropism remains unclear. METHODS This study was an ancillary project to the Framingham Heart Study. Three thousand five hundred twenty-nine participants of the Framingham Heart Study aged 40 to 80 years underwent multidetector CT imaging to assess aortic calcification. One hundred ninety-one subjects were included in this ancillary study. Facet joint features and spondylolysis were evaluated on CT scans. The final analyzed sample included 104 men with mean age 51.90+/-11.25 years and 84 women with mean age 53.61+/-10.20 years. The association between spondylolysis and facet orientation and tropism was examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Spondylolysis was prevalent in 11.5% of the total population. chi2 test demonstrated a significant sex difference in prevalence of spondylolysis (P=0.0154), with almost 3 times higher prevalence among men. There was no statistically significant difference in facet orientation and continuous facet tropism between individuals with and without spondylolysis at the L5 level (P=0.49 to 0.91). After adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, no significant association between the occurrence of spondylolysis and facet orientation and tropism was found. In the studied sample the prevalence of facet joint osteoarthritis was significantly higher in individuals with spondylolysis than in those without spondylolysis at both sides of L4-L5 spinal level (P=0.044 at the right side and P=0.003 at the left side) and at left side of L5-S1 level (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS We did not find an association between facet orientation, facet tropism, and spondylolysis. One of the possible explanations for this is that the high prevalence of facet joint osteoarthritis in individuals with spondylolysis in the studied sample might have led to diminished differences in facet orientation.
Two-dimensional (r,z) plasma wave absorption and Poynting flux simulations for helicon sources

A two-dimensional (r,z) computer code is utilized to examine wave propagation, collisionless Landau, and collisional heating mechanisms in a helicon source operation.
Laccase Expression in Murine Pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans Infection

Cryptococcus neoformans laccase expression during murine infection was investigated in lung tissue by immunohistochemistry and immunogold electron microscopy. Laccase was detected in the fungal cell cytoplasm, cell wall, and capsule in vivo. The amount of laccase found in different sites varied as a function of the time of infection.
Sexual Pleasure and Sexual Risk among Women who Use Methamphetamine: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract Background The intersection of drug use, sexual pleasure and sexual risk behaviour is rarely explored when it comes to poor women who use drugs. This paper explores the relationship between sexual behaviour and methamphetamine use in a community-based sample of women, exploring not only risk, but also desire, pleasure and the challenges of overcoming trauma. Methods Quantitative data were collected using standard epidemiological methods ( N =322) for community-based studies. In addition, using purposive sampling, qualitative data were collected among a subset of participants ( n =34). Data were integrated for mixed methods analysis. Results While many participants reported sexual risk behaviour (unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse) in the quantitative survey, sexual risk was not the central narrative pertaining to sexual behaviour and methamphetamine use in qualitative findings. Rather, desire, pleasure and disinhibition arose as central themes. Women described feelings of power and agency related to sexual behaviour while high on methamphetamine. Findings were mixed on whether methamphetamine use increased sexual risk behaviour. Conclusion The use of mixed methods afforded important insights into the sexual behaviour and priorities of methamphetamine-using women. Efforts to reduce sexual risk should recognize and valorize the positive aspects of methamphetamine use for some women, building on positive feelings of power and agency as an approach to harm minimization.
Human umbilical cord matrix-derived stem cells expressing interferon-β gene significantly attenuate bronchioloalveolar carcinoma xenografts in SCID mice

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the human umbilical cord matrix (hUCMSCs) have great potential for therapeutic use for multiple diseases. The strategy that uses therapeutic gene-transfected hUCMSCs as cellular vehicles for targeted biologic agent delivery has solved the problem of short half-life or excessive toxicity of biological agent(s) in vivo. Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) has demonstrated a potent antitumor effect on many types of cancer cell lines in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-cancer effect of IFN-beta gene-transfected hUCMSCs (IFN-beta-hUCMSCs) on cells derived from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, a subset of lung adenocarcinoma that is difficult to treat. The co-culture of a small number of IFN-beta-hUCMSCs with the human bronchioloalveolar carcinoma cell lines H358 or SW1573 significantly inhibited growth of both types of carcinoma cell lines. The culture medium conditioned by these cells also significantly attenuated the growth of both carcinoma cells, but this attenuation was abolished by adding anti-IFN-beta antibody. Finally, systemic administration of IFN-beta-hUCMSCs through the tail vein markedly attenuated growth of orthotopic H358 bronchioloalveolar carcinoma xenografts in SCID mice by increasing apoptosis. These results clearly indicate that IFN-beta-hUCMSCs caused cell death of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma cells through IFN-beta production, thereby attenuating tumor growth in vivo. These results indicate that IFN-beta-hUCMSCs are a powerful anti-cancer cytotherapeutic tool for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.
Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in fractures of the tibia

Metaphyseal fractures of the tibia have traditionally been challenging for the treating orthopaedist. The short periarticular fracture segment and tenuous soft-tissue envelope has made internal fixation using traditional open approaches difficult and often fraught with complications. Emphasis on the principle of preservation of the blood supply and atraumatic surgical technique is evolving. The concept of biological fixation can best be illustrated in the use of the intramedullary (IM) nail. Unfortunately, periarticular and intra-articular fractures are difficult to treat with IM nailing. By combining the advantages of the percutaneous techniques of IM nailing with indirect reduction techniques and plating, the concept of percutaneous plating or minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis was developed. The operative technique of percutaneous plating of the tibia, its indications, and a review of the current literature are presented.
Discrimination of Homogeneous Double Pulses of Light

When two pulses1 of light are delivered successively to the same part of the retina, they may or may not be seen. If seen, they may appear as two flashes separated by a definite dark interval, or they may be perceived instead as a single flash that seems to vary from bright to dim and back again to bright. Sometimes a single flash will be seen as having a subtle flickering appearance that barely suggests the temporal inhomogeneity of the double-pulse that produced it. At still other times the double-pulse may be indistinguishable from a single pulse, either because it appears as a distinctly unitary event, or because, under the given set of experimental conditions, a single pulse may itself sometimes be seen as a double flash.
The efficacy of topical betamethasone for treating phimosis: a comparison of two treatment regimens.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of two different topical betamethasone treatment regimens with respect to outcome and untoward effects in boys with phimosis. METHODS Boys with phimosis whose parents opted for medical management were treated with topical betamethasone (0.05%) and manual retraction. One author (J.S.P.) prescribed betamethasone twice daily (BID) for 30 days (60 doses), and the other author (L.S.P.) prescribed betamethasone thrice daily (TID) for 21 days (63 doses). All boys had severe phimosis (prepuce unretractable to evaluate meatus) before treatment. The degree of phimosis was graded 1 month after treatment as severe, moderate (prepuce retractable to less than 50% glanular exposure), or mild (penile adhesions). Chi-square analysis (P <0.05) was used to compare the two groups. Treatment failure was defined as persistent severe phimosis. RESULTS A total of 200 consecutive patients from each treatment group were included. The median patient ages were similar between the groups (3.8 years BID, 4.4 years TID). One child had an untoward effect (candidal dermatitis, TID regimen). There was an 84.5% response rate (moderate to no phimosis) with the BID regimen and an 87% response rate with the TID regimen (P = nonsignificant). Two patients with severe phimosis before treatment were diagnosed with congenital urethral malformations (hypospadias and epispadias) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS The topical application of betamethasone is a highly efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated treatment of phimosis in this large series of boys. The 21-day TID and 30-day BID regimens in conjunction with manual retraction are equally efficacious and can be offered to parents requesting nonsurgical management of phimosis. Untoward effects are rare with either regimen. Important urethral anomalies can occasionally be revealed.
Consumption After a Diet Violation Disinhibition or Compensation

Previous research, restricted to the laboratory, has found that restrained eaters overeat after they violate their diet. However, there has been no evidence showing that this same process occurs outside the lab. We hypothesized that outside of this artificial setting, restrained eaters would be able to control their eating. In Study 1, 127 participants reported hourly on their diet violations and eating over 2 days. In Study 2, 89 participants tracked their intake for 8 days, and 50 of these participants consumed a milk shake (a diet violation) on Day 7, as part of an ostensibly unrelated study. As hypothesized, dieters did not overeat following violations of their diet in either study. These findings are in contrast with those of previous lab studies and dispel the widely held belief that diet violations lead to overeating in everyday life.
How Individuals Conceptualize Conflict: Identification of Steps in the Process and the Role of Personal/Developmental Factors

Organizational conflict management has tended to emphasize the effects of another party's behavior and of background conditions upon an individual's conflict behavior, implicitly treating conflict parties mechanistically as interchangeable responders to conflict stimuli. In contrast, this paper highlights individual differences as significant factors in conflict management. Drawing upon the more humanistic and clinical psychological literatures, the present paper develops a conceptual framework of the process through which an individual conceptualizes conflict and the impact of personal/developmental variables upon conceptualization. The model was developed using methods of grounded theory generation. Stages in the conceptualization process were found to be: experience symbolization, causal attribution, intentional attribution, context analysis, content analysis, and choice assessment. Individual differences act as perceptual screens and can trigger distortional defenses at each stage in the processing of...
Classical and quantal nonrelativistic Chern-Simons theory

We construct a nonrelativistic field theory for the second-quantized N-body system of point particles with Chern-Simons interactions. Various properties of this model are discussed: its obvious and hidden symmetries, its relation to a relativistic field theory, and its supersymmetric formulation. We present classical, static solutions--solitons--that satisfy a self-dual equation, which is equivalent to the Liouville equation; hence, it is completely solvable. The dynamical role of the Chern-Simons interaction is demonstrated: the interaction does not merely change statistics but also provides the forces that bind the classical solitons.
Unusual Presentation of Lyme Disease: Horner Syndrome with Negative Serology

Early disseminated Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose because of atypical symptoms and physical findings. A clinical diagnosis must be made in the absence of confirmatory serologic testing to allow timely therapy. We report a case of a 69-year-old woman who presents with fever, Horner syndrome, and a 12-cm oval-shaped erythematous macular rash with multiple vesiculopustular eruptions. The patient recovered after appropriate intravenous antibiotics, but serologic testing only confirmed the diagnosis 4 weeks later. This case also describes an unusual complication involving the neurologic system. We illustrate the clinical presentation and review the medical literature. Lyme disease should always be considered in patients from endemic regions with viral-like symptoms or a new rash.
PULMONARY HYPOPLASIA IN INFANTS WITH GIANT ABDOMINAL WALL DEFECTS

The medical records of 114 infants with abdominal wall defects, including 35 infants examined at autopsy, were reviewed to determine if giant (liver-containing) defects are associated with a narrow thoracic cage deformity and pulmonary hypoplasia. The study included 48 infants with gastroschisis, 60 with omphalocele, two with a lower midline syndrome (cloacal exstrophy) and four with an upper midline syndrome (Cantrell's pentalogy). A giant abdominal wall defect was present in 33 infants, including one with gastroschisis, 27 with omphalocele, two with a lower midline syndrome, and three with an upper midline syndrome. A thoracic cage deformity, characterized by a narrow chest and down-slanting ribs, was identified radiographically in 42% (14 of 33) of infants with giant abdominal wall defects. Among the 35 infants examined at autopsy, 14 infants with giant omphaloceles had mean chest circumference to occipital frontal circumference ratio and lung weight to body weight ratios that were significantly below ...
Preoperative angiography in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Summary Percutaneous mesenteric angiography demonstrated gastrin-producing tumors in only two of seven patients studied preoperatively.
Analysis of Spatial and Incremental LMS Processing for Distributed Estimation

Consider a set of nodes distributed spatially over some region forming a network, where every node takes measurements of an underlying process. The objective is for every node in the network to estimate some parameter of interest from these measurements by cooperating with other nodes. In this work we compare the performance of four adaptive implementations. Two of the implementations are distributed and network-based; they are spatial LMS and incremental LMS. In both algorithms, the nodes share information in a cyclic manner and both algorithms differ by the amount of information shared (less information is shared in the incremental case). The two other adaptive algorithms that we study deal with centralized implementations of spatial and incremental LMS. In these latter cases, all nodes exchange data with a fusion center where the computations are performed. In the centralized approach, all nodes receive the same estimates back from the fusion center, while these estimates differ among the nodes in the distributed implementation. We analyze and compare the performance of fusion-based and network-based versions of spatial LMS and incremental LMS processing and reveal some interesting conclusions. The results indicate that incremental LMS can outperform spatial LMS, and that network-based implementations can outperform the aforementioned fusion-based solutions in some revealing ways.
Reliability and prediction of long-term performance of polymer-based materials

The prediction of long-term performance from short-term tests is the bottom line of polymer science and engineering for users of polymer-based materials (PBMs)—which means for scientists, engineers, and laymen, or, literally, for everybody. Methods of predic- tion of mechanical properties (creep, stress relaxation, dynamic mechanical behavior, ten- sion, etc.) based on the chain relaxation capability (CRC), the stress-time and tempera- ture-time correspondence principles are presented. The methods can be applied even to small amounts of experimental data (2 or 3 isotherms or 2 or 3 stress levels) and can produce much better results than the still used 1955 Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation. Successful applications of the CRC approach include multiphase systems, including polymer liquid crystal (PLC) copolymers. An extension to the tribological properties of PBMs (in particu- lar, scratch healing) is outlined. A quantitative definition of materials brittleness was formu- lated in 2006; it is connected to results in both the mechanics and tribology of PBMs.
Vestibular Rehabilitation for Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract . highlights the findings and application of Cochrane reviews and other evidence pertinent to the practice of physical therapy. The Cochrane Library is a respected source of reliable evidence related to health care. Cochrane systematic reviews explore the evidence for and against the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions—medications, surgery, education, nutrition, exercise—and the evidence for and against the use of diagnostic tests for specific conditions. Cochrane reviews are designed to facilitate the decisions of clinicians, patients, and others in health care by providing a careful review and interpretation of research studies published in the scientific literature.1 Each article in this PTJ series summarizes a Cochrane review or other scientific evidence on a single topic and presents clinical scenarios based on real patients or programs to illustrate how the results of the review can be used to directly inform clinical decisions. This article focuses on an adult patient with unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction. Could a physical therapist-guided vestibular rehabilitation program decrease his symptoms and improve his function?
Genetic Factors and Orofacial Clefting

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is the most common facial birth defect and it is caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the spectrum of the genetic causes for cleft lip and cleft palate using both syndromic and nonsyndromic forms of clefting as examples. Although the gene identification process for orofacial clefting in humans is in the early stages, the pace is rapidly accelerating. Recently, several genes have been identified that have a combined role in up to 20% of all clefts. Although this is a significant step forward, it is apparent that additional cleft-causing genes have yet to be identified. Ongoing human genome-wide linkage studies have identified regions in the genome that likely contain genes that when mutated cause orofacial clefting, including a major gene on chromosome 9 that is positive in multiple racial groups. Currently, efforts are focused to identify which genes are mutated in these regions. In addition, parallel studies are also evaluating genes involved in environmental pathways. Furthermore, statistical geneticists are developing new methods to characterize both gene-gene and gene-environment interactions to build better models for pathogenesis of this common birth defect. The ultimate goal of these studies is to provide knowledge for more accurate risk counseling and the development of preventive therapies.
Using an Agent-Based Model to Examine the Role of Dynamic Bacterial Virulence Potential in the Pathogenesis of Surgical Site Infection

Objective: Despite clinical advances, surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a problem. The development of SSIs involves a complex interplay between the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing and contaminating bacteria, and here, we utilize an agent-based model (ABM) to investigate the role of bacterial virulence potential in the pathogenesis of SSI. Approach: The Muscle Wound ABM (MWABM) incorporates muscle cells, neutrophils, macrophages, myoblasts, abstracted blood vessels, and avirulent/virulent bacteria to simulate the pathogenesis of SSIs. Simulated bacteria with virulence potential can mutate to possess resistance to reactive oxygen species and increased invasiveness. Simulated experiments (t=7 days) involved parameter sweeps of initial wound size to identify transition zones between healed and nonhealed wounds/SSIs, and to evaluate the effect of avirulent/virulent bacteria. Results: The MWABM reproduced the dynamics of normal successful healing, including a transition zone in initial w...
Advection on networks with an application to decentralized load balancing

This paper examines an advection-based protocol for the coordination of a networked, multi-agent system. Diffusion forms the basis of the popular consensus dynamics and is closely related to advection. It is with this motivation that we examine a discretized version of advection over a network with the flow field realized through directed graph edges. We endeavor to demonstrate that the subsequent advection protocol forms an attractive set of system dynamics for coordinated control. This paper includes a formulation of the advection dynamics on directed graphs and a presentation of some of its characteristics. We also demonstrate the versatility of the advection dynamics with a decentralized load balancing application.
WISC-R Types of Learning Disabilities A Profile Analysis with Cross-Validation

WISC-R profiles of 119 children in five separate learning disabilities (LD) programs were placed in six homogeneous groups using cluster analysis. A cross-validation procedure supported the reliability of the typology. Achievement test scores also significantly differentiated all six types. LD children in two of the six types were characterized as having WISC-R profiles already identified in the literature and displayed possible reading, attention, and sequencing deficits. A third LDtype is similar to the superior IQ LD child, with motor coordination deficits in addition to severe emotional problems. Three other profiles represent children who have low IQ levels that are consistent with their below average school performance and may not represent true LD children. Based upon this typology, suggestions are made for remedial interventions.
Plasmodium evasion of mosquito immunity and global malaria transmission: The lock-and-key theory

Plasmodium falciparum malaria originated in Africa and became global as humans migrated to other continents. During this journey, parasites encountered new mosquito species, some of them evolutionarily distant from African vectors. We have previously shown that the Pfs47 protein allows the parasite to evade the mosquito immune system of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Here, we investigated the role of Pfs47-mediated immune evasion in the adaptation of P. falciparum to evolutionarily distant mosquito species. We found that P. falciparum isolates from Africa, Asia, or the Americas have low compatibility to malaria vectors from a different continent, an effect that is mediated by the mosquito immune system. We identified 42 different haplotypes of Pfs47 that have a strong geographic population structure and much lower haplotype diversity outside Africa. Replacement of the Pfs47 haplotypes in a P. falciparum isolate is sufficient to make it compatible to a different mosquito species. Those parasites that express a Pfs47 haplotype compatible with a given vector evade antiplasmodial immunity and survive. We propose that Pfs47-mediated immune evasion has been critical for the globalization of P. falciparum malaria as parasites adapted to new vector species. Our findings predict that this ongoing selective force by the mosquito immune system could influence the dispersal of Plasmodium genetic traits and point to Pfs47 as a potential target to block malaria transmission. A new model, the "lock-and-key theory" of P. falciparum globalization, is proposed, and its implications are discussed.
General Performance Fields

Let us now look at the general procedure for defining performance. We write P: for a sequence P1P2 … P n.
Effect of Indomethacin on Cholera-Induced Fluid Movement, Unidirectional Sodium Fluxes, and Intestinal Camp

Cholera enterotoxin (CT) produces intestinal secretion associated with an elevation of intestinal cyclic AMP (cAMP). Indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, decreases CT-induced secretion, although a role for PG in this process has not been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to measure' the effects of indomethacin on net fluid movement and unidirectional Na fluxes in rabbit jejunal loops exposed to CT and to correlate these findings with intestinal cAMP levels. In untreated animals (no indomethacin), CT loops secreted 0.37 ml per cm per 4 hr compared to absorption in control loops of 0.23 ml per cm per 4 hr (P
Prostate Cancer: Confessions of a Wishful Waiter

The paper presents paradigmatic observations about the medical domain of prostate cancer from a decision sciences perspective, informed also by the author's personal experiences.
“Actually, It Is More of a Guideline Than a Rule”⁎

In a classic scene from the iconic movie Ghostbusters (1984, directed by Ivan Reitman), Dr. Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray) confesses to Dana Barrett (played by Sigourney Weaver), “I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people.” However, after Dana starts to seduce him, Dr.
Catheter use and infection reduction in plastic surgery

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are the most common hospital-associated infection (HAI) in the United States (US), comprising 36% of all HAIs (1). Consequences of HAIs are overuse of antibiotics and the development of resistant organisms, increased hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased costs. There are 13,000 deaths in the US annually attributed to CAUTI (2); the estimated cost to treat these infections is approximately $500 million per year. As of 2008, this is a nonreimbursable diagnosis by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines 2008 (1). CAUTI and its prevention is also part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP, infection measure 9). Within these guidelines, urinary catheters must be removed by postoperative day 2 without a documented reason to continue catheterization to reduce the incidence of CAUTI in the perioperative setting. Studies have shown that up to 25% of all hospitalized patients undergo urinary catheter insertion at some time during their admission (3) and this trend appears to be increasing (4). In 2000, a literature review (5) demonstrated that 26% of patients with indwelling catheters for between two and 10 days ultimately develop bacteriuria, of whom 24% will subsequently develop CAUTI. Three per cent of these patients will progress to develop bacteremia. Despite the strong link between catheterization and subsequent urinary tract infection (UTI), many hospitals have not widely implemented strategies to reduce hospital-acquired UTI (6). In 2009, our hospital system’s CAUTI rate placed it in the upper quartile (ie, highest rate) for the country, necessitating a system-wide change (Figure 1). The purpose of our study was to design and implement a guideline to reduce CAUTI. While the present article is not an exhaustive discussion of CAUTI, it does describe a process that may be used to address similar systems-based practice issues. Figure 1) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) graph showing peer rank in 2009. Each bar represents one facility reporting catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rates to the NSQIP database. Yellow dots represent the facility average ...
Separation of Ovotransferrin and Ovomucoid from Chicken Egg White

Ovotransferrin and ovomucoid were separated using two methods after extracting ovotransferrin- and ovomucoid-containing fraction from egg white. Diluted egg white (2x) was added with Fe3+ and treated with 43% ethanol (final conc.). After centrifugation, the supernatant was collected and treated with either a high-level ethanol (61%, final conc.) or an acidic salt combination (2.5% ammonium sulfate and 2.5% citric acid) to separate ovotransferrin and ovomucoid. For the high-level ethanol method, ovotransferrin was precipitated using 61% ethanol. After centrifugation, the precipitant was dissolved in 9 vol. distilled water and the residual ethanol in the solution was removed using ultrafiltration. The supernatant, mainly containing ovomucoid, was diluted with 4 vol. water, ethanol removed, concentrated, and then used as ovomucoid fraction. For the acidic salt precipitation method, the ethanol in the supernatant was removed, first. The ethanol-free solution was concentrated and treated with 2.5% ammonium sulfate and 2.5% citric acid combination. After centrifugation, the precipitant was used as ovotransferrin and the supernatant as ovomucoid fraction. The ovomucoid fraction from both of the protocols was further purified by heating at 65 oC for 20 min and the impurities were removed by centrifugation. The yields of ovomucoid and ovotransferrin were > 96% and > 92%, respectively. The purity of ovomucoid was > 89% and that of the ovotransferrin was > 88% purity. ELISA results confirmed that the activity of the separated ovotransferrin was > 95%. Both of the protocols separated ovotransferrin and ovomucoid effectively and the methods were simple, fast and easy to scale-up.
Universal Series on a Riemann Surface

Every holomorphic function on a compact subset of a Riemann surface can be uniformly approximated by partial sums of a given series of functions. Those functions behave locally like the classical fundamental solutions of the Cauchy–Riemann operator in the plane.
Microorganisms of Lung Abscess and Bronchiectasis

Chronic and acute infections of the lung, other than pneumonia and tuberculosis, have assumed an important place in the field of medicine in the past few years. The recent literature abounds with many methods of treatment for these conditions, which are both medical and surgical, together with many case reports and statistical studies; but very little work has been devoted to the study of the microorganisms which invade these lesions, and which even may be the causative factor. The direct object of this study is to record and describe the microorganisms found in the sputum, pus and pathologic tissues from patients suffering with lung abscess and bronchiectasis. The patients were selected from the chest service of J. J. Singer and E. A. Graham at the Barnes Hospital. Discussion has arisen as to the sterility of normal lungs during life. Many believe the lungs to be sterile normally, while others have demonstrated the presence of bacteria in the lungs of healthy men and animals. Jones 1 and others demonstrated bacteria in a large number of laboratory animals. These were chiefly saprophytes, probably inhaled with contaminated air or dust. The cilia and other protective factors conceivably may be inhibited by cold and other environmental conditions, and this may be a potent factor in the establishment of infection in the respiratory tract. Stillman 2 demonstrated that organisms may pass through the upper respiratory tract to the lower portion of the lungs by droplet infection. After spraying white mice broth cultures of pneumococcus, hemolytic streptococcus, staphylococcus and other bacteria, these organisms were recovered from the lower lobes of the lungs. Spand 3 believes that in many cases of lung suppuration lowered resistance gives the organisms already present, an opportunity to become pathogenic. Thus, the occurrence of "primary abscess," and the great variety of organisms in many suppurations may be accounted for.
Ab Initio Electronic Structure Calculations of the Σ 5 (210) [001] Tilt Grain Boundary in Ni3Al

The atomic and the electronic structure of the Σ 5 (210) [001] tilt grain boundary in Ni3Al have been calculated using the full potential linearized-augmented plane-wave method. The strain field normal to the boundary plane and the excess grain boundary volume are calculated and compared with the results obtained using the embedded-atom method (EAM). The interlayer strain normal to the grain boundary oscillates with increasing distance from the grain boundary. The bonding charge distributions suggest that bonding in the boundary region is significantly different from that in the bulk. The grain boundary energy and the Griffith cohesive energy are calculated and compared with the EAM results.
A Study of Factors Influencing Students’ Intercultural Competence

This study explored the concepts of intercultural competence and cultural intelligence and clarified corresponding terms. Using the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) as an instrument and conducting multiple regression tests, this quantitative research investigated individual scale factors that would influence the intercultural competence of the students who declared an education major or minor in the College of Education within the chosen university. Analysis of the 184 survey responses from an American state University indicated that the independent variables of perceived competence in non-native language or culture, frequency of interaction with people of diverse backgrounds, and teaching experience were significant predictors of pre-service teachers’ levels of intercultural competence.
A motion algorithm to extract physical and motion parameters of mobile targets from cone-beam computed tomographic images.

PURPOSE: A motion algorithm has been developed to extract length, CT number level and motion amplitude of a mobile target from cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The algorithm uses three measurable parameters: Apparent length and blurred CT number distribution of a mobile target obtained from CBCT images to determine length, CT-number value of the stationary target, and motion amplitude. The predictions of this algorithm are tested with mobile targets having different well-known sizes that are made from tissue-equivalent gel which is inserted into a thorax phantom. The phantom moves sinusoidally in one-direction to simulate respiratory motion using eight amplitudes ranging 0–20 mm. RESULTS: Using this motion algorithm, three unknown parameters are extracted that include: Length of the target, CT number level, speed or motion amplitude for the mobile targets from CBCT images. The motion algorithm solves for the three unknown parameters using measured length, CT number level and gradient for a well-defined mobile target obtained from CBCT images. The motion model agrees with the measured lengths which are dependent on the target length and motion amplitude. The gradient of the CT number distribution of the mobile target is dependent on the stationary CT number level, the target length and motion amplitude. Motion frequency and phase do not affect the elongation and CT number distribution of the mobile target and could not be determined. CONCLUSION: A motion algorithm has been developed to extract three parameters that include length, CT number level and motion amplitude or speed of mobile targets directly from reconstructed CBCT images without prior knowledge of the stationary target parameters. This algorithm provides alternative to 4D-CBCT without requirement of motion tracking and sorting of the images into different breathing phases. The motion model developed here works well for tumors that have simple shapes, high contrast relative to surrounding tissues and move nearly in regular motion pattern that can be approximated with a simple sinusoidal function. This algorithm has potential applications in diagnostic CT imaging and radiotherapy in terms of motion management.
Ants Crawling to Discover the Community Structure in Networks

We cast the problem of discovering the community structure in networks as the composition of community candidates, obtained from several community detection base algorithms, into a coherent structure. In turn, this composition can be cast into a maximum-weight clique problem, and we propose an ant colony optimization algorithm to solve it. Our results show that the proposed method is able to discover better community structures, according to several evaluation criteria, than the ones obtained with the base algorithms. It also outperforms, both in quality and in speed, the recently introduced FG-Tiling algorithm.
Mortality in Pediatric Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Multivariate Analysis

AbstractWe performed a retrospective analysis of 28 children presenting with confirmed paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma to examine factors predictive of fatal outcome. Complete surgery, defined as radical inguinal orchiectomy with clear microscopic margins plus radical, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with extirpation of all gross disease, was performed in 21 patients (75 per cent). All patients received chemotherapy and 20 received radiation therapy according to protocol. Of the patients 16 have survived for more than 5 years with no evidence of disease.Univariate analysis revealed that only the presence of parenchymal metastases at diagnosis (p ≦0.040) and unresectability (p ≦0.003) were significant predictors of fatal outcome. Multivariate analysis showed that unresectability was the most important predictor of mortality with an estimated relative risk of 5.8.)
Applied Type System: An Approach to Practical Programming with Theorem-Proving

The framework Pure Type System (PTS) offers a simple and general approach to designing and formalizing type systems. However, in the presence of dependent types, there often exist certain acute problems that make it difficult for PTS to directly accommodate many common realistic programming features such as general recursion, recursive types, effects (e.g., exceptions, references, input/output), etc. In this paper, Applied Type System (ATS) is presented as a framework for designing and formalizing type systems in support of practical programming with advanced types (including dependent types). In particular, it is demonstrated that ATS can readily accommodate a paradigm referred to as programming with theorem-proving (PwTP) in which programs and proofs are constructed in a syntactically intertwined manner, yielding a practical approach to internalizing constraint-solving needed during type-checking. The key salient feature of ATS lies in a complete separation between statics, where types are formed and reasoned about, and dynamics, where programs are constructed and evaluated. With this separation, it is no longer possible for a program to occur in a type as is otherwise allowed in PTS. The paper contains not only a formal development of ATS but also some examples taken from ATS, a programming language with a type system rooted in ATS, in support of using ATS as a framework to form type systems for practical programming.
Decreased subcortical volumes in alcohol dependent individuals: effect of polysubstance use disorder

Chronic alcohol use has widespread effects on brain morphometry. Alcohol dependent individuals are often diagnosed with comorbid substance use disorders. Alterations in brain morphometry may be different in individuals that are dependent on alcohol alone and individuals dependent on alcohol and other substances. We examined subcortical brain volumes in 37 individuals with alcohol dependence only (ADO), 37 individuals with polysubstance use disorder (PS) and 37 healthy control participants (HC). Participants underwent a structural MR scan and a model-based segmentation tool was used to measure the volume of 14 subcortical regions (bilateral thalamus, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala and nucleus accumbens). Compared to HC, ADO had smaller volume in the bilateral hippocampus, right nucleus accumbens and right thalamus. PS only had volume reductions in the bilateral thalamus compared to HC. PS had a larger right caudate compared to ADO. Subcortical volume was negatively associated with drinking measures only in the ADO group. This study confirms the association between alcohol dependence and reductions in subcortical brain volume. It also suggests that polysubstance use interacts with alcohol use to produce limited subcortical volume reduction and at least one region of subcortical volume increase. These findings indicate that additional substance use may mask damage through inflammation or may function in a protective manner, shielding subcortical regions from alcohol-induced damage.