cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Raman-based silicon photonics

This paper reviews recent progress in a new branch of silicon photonics that exploits Raman scattering as a practical and elegant approach for realizing active photonic devices in pure silicon. The large Raman gain in the material, enhanced by the tight optical confinement in Si/SiO2 heterostructures, has enabled the demonstration of the first optical amplifiers and lasers in silicon. Wavelength conversion, between the technologically important wavelength bands of 1300 and 1500 nm, has also been demonstrated through Raman four wave mixing. Since carrier generation through two photon absorption is omnipresent in semiconductors, carrier lifetime is the single most important parameter affecting the performance of silicon Raman devices. A desired reduction in lifetime is attained by reducing the lateral dimensions of the optical waveguide, and by actively removing the carriers with a reverse biased diode. An integrated diode also offers the ability to electrically modulate the optical gain, a unique property not available in fiber Raman devices. Germanium-silicon alloys and superlattices offer the possibility of engineering the otherwise rigid spectrum of Raman in silicon.
Effect of Orientation on the Metallic Reflexion of Polarized Light

E. C. W. Perryman and Miss J. M. Lack1 have attributed the optical anisotropy of etched monel, which is face-centred cubic and should be optically isotropic, to the presence of a surface structure. They find, however, that optically anisotropic cadmium does not possess a similar structure.
Acute cardiac allograft rejection in nitric oxide synthase-2(-/-) and nitric oxide synthase-2(+/+) mice: effects of cellular chimeras on myocardial inflammation and cardiomyocyte damage and apoptosis.

Background—The contribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 to myocardial inflammation and cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis during allograft rejection was investigated through heterotopic cardiac transplantation in mice. Methods and Results—In the first experiments, hearts from C3H donor mice were transplanted into NOS-2−/− and NOS-2+/+ C57BL/6J.129J recipients. A second series of experiments included NOS-2−/− donor hearts transplanted into NOS-2−/− recipients and wild-type NOS-2+/+ donor hearts transplanted into wild-type NOS-2+/+ recipients. (All donors were C57BL/6J and recipients were C57BL/6J.129J.) In the first series of experiments, no significant differences were observed in allograft survival, rejection score, total number of apoptotic nuclei (TUNEL), total number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, or graft NOS-2 mRNA and protein. Positive NOS-2 immunostaining occurred in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes in the allografts; the inflammatory infiltrate was NOS-2 positive only when recipients wer...
Microcyst formation and germination in Spirillum lunatum.

SUMMARY: Spirillum lunatum has been shown to possess a life cycle in which there is an alternation between a vegetative and a microcyst stage. Microcyst formation may occur from the spiral vegetative cell by:(1) fusion of two entwined organisms to form one or more microcysts; (2) the production of a protuberance at some point along the organism into which the entire organism is gradually absorbed; (3) the gradual shortening and rounding of the organism to form an oval to spherical body. Microcyst formation begins, in a typical broth culture, at c. 24 hr. after inoculation and the majority of the organisms are in the microcyst stage after a 4-day incubation period. When microcysts from an old culture are inoculated into fresh media, they germinate to form the spiral vegetative organism. Germination occurs by either unipolar or bipolar emergence of the germ tube.
Therapy Insight: the changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in HIV infection

The impact of the global HIV pandemic continues to grow and rheumatologists need to be aware of the spectrum of rheumatic diseases that occur in HIV-positive individuals, as outlined in this Review. Changes in the patterns of rheumatic diseases that have developed since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and the management of treatment of rheumatic diseases in HIV-positive patients are also discussed.
Range estimation for MIMO step-frequency radar with compressive sensing

The authors recently proposed a parameter estimation technique for multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) radar systems that employ compressive sensing (CS), and which applies to the case of slowly moving targets. This technique is based on the use of a step-frequency technique, and it allows angle, Doppler and range information to be estimated in a decoupled fashion. This decoupling significantly reduces the complexity of parameter estimation without a concurrent performance loss. The current paper considers the range-estimation performance of this method for the particular cases of linear and random step-frequency techniques. It is shown that the linear step-frequency technique requires less bandwidth than the random step-frequency technique in order to achieve the same performance.
The oxidation of galactose in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol as a measure of galactose adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae☆☆☆

Abstract The degree of oxidation of galactose in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol was used as a measure of galactose adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The results indicated that the rate of synthesis of the limiting adaptive enzyme in the galactozymase system assumes a linear or hyperbolic form. An important implication of this finding is that it permits an explanation to be made of the kinetics of galactokinase synthesis in yeast without assuming the existence of extrachromosomal hereditary factors. A comparison of the Q O 2 and Q CO 2 N 2 at the same stages of galactose adaptation demonstrated further that the oxidative phase is not a pre-adaptive oxidation of galactose, but is also dependent upon the formation of the adaptive enzyme.
Evaluation of a School-based Multicomponent Nutrition Education Program to Improve Young Children's Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Objective To assess the impact of a multicomponent nutrition education program on student knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs). Design Quasi-experimental pretest/posttest research design; 3 study conditions (Intervention+, Intervention, Comparison). Setting Six schools from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Participants Three hundred ninety-nine low-income third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. Intervention The Intervention+ condition included 4 components: traditional Network–LAUSD program, new standardized nutrition curriculum, teacher training workshops, and parent nutrition education workshops. The Intervention condition included 2 components: traditional Network–LAUSD program and teacher training workshops. Main Outcome Measures Fruit and vegetable consumption, knowledge of food groups, attitudes and beliefs toward FVs, and parent/teacher influence on students’ attitudes toward FVs. Analysis Linear mixed models. Results The Intervention+ resulted in a positive change in knowledge (P < .05), attitudes and beliefs toward vegetables (P < .01), and teacher influence on students’ FV attitudes (P < .05). Conclusions and Implications Although this study influenced knowledge and attitudes regarding FVs, a significant increase in students’ FV consumption was not observed. Given the ultimate aim of the LAUSD nutrition efforts is to increase FV consumption, future studies should consider adopting new intervention strategies, such as focusing on changing the school food environment.
Iterative decoding of linear codes by a modulo-2 linear program

We present a new form of linear programming that minimizes the real sum of zero-one variables under constraints that are linear in the field of binary numbers and thus nonlinear in the field of real numbers. This problem is motivated by coding theory where binary sequences are transmitted over noisy communication links. The decoding process which corrects some of the errors caused by noise requires the solution of the stated problem. Simulation results are also presented and they show that the algorithms converge to the correct solution.
Ultrasound guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block: Safe and simple anesthesia for harvesting skin grafts

Abstract Many burn patients experience more intense pain from the split thickness skin donor site than in the grafted burn wound in their postoperative period. Often, split thickness autografts are harvested from the lateral thigh area, which is innervated by the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). Sonographic nerve localization has been an increasingly popular technique to provide regional nerve blocks and we explore its role in improving pain control during skin harvesting. The LFCN was identified and blocked using ultrasound in 16 patients with a variety of wounds. The donor site was tested and marked after the injection. General anesthesia or sedation was administered after markings were completed. A postoperative survey was performed to assess the return of sensation at the donor site. All blocks were successful with adequate visualization of LFCN using ultrasound. Full anesthesia at the donor site, defined as absence of pain in response to a sharp object prick, was tested at 15 min and confirmed at 20 min after the block. The size of the anesthetized field ranged from 119 to 630 cm2, with a mean surface area of 268.5 cm2. Donor site sensation returned within 5–16 h with a mean time of 9.1 h. Ultrasound guided LFCN block provides a simple and safe choice of anesthesia for harvesting skin from the lateral thigh.
Agents that Reverse Multidrug Resistance, Tamoxifen, Verapamil, and Cyclosporin A, Block Glycosphingolipid Metabolism by Inhibiting Ceramide Glycosylation in Human Cancer Cells

We have previously shown that multidrug-resistant cancer cells display elevated levels of glucosylceramide (Lavie, Y., Cao, H., Bursten, S. L., Giuliano, A. E., and Cabot, M. C. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19530-19536). In this study we used the multidrug-resistant human breast cancer cell line MCF-7-Adriamycin-resistant (AdrR), which exhibits marked accumulation of glucosylceramide compared with the parental MCF-7 wild type (drug-sensitive) cell line, to define the relationship between glycolipids and multidrug resistance (MDR). Herein it is shown that clinically relevant concentrations of tamoxifen, verapamil, and cyclosporin A, all circumventors of MDR, markedly decrease glucosylceramide levels in MCF-7-AdrR cells (IC50 values, 1. 0, 0.8, and 2.3 microM, respectively). In intact cells, tamoxifen inhibited glycosphingolipid synthesis at the step of ceramide glycosylation. In cell-free assays for glucosylceramide synthase, tamoxifen (1:10 molar ratio with ceramide) inhibited glucosylceramide formation by nearly 50%. In cell cultures, inhibition of glucosylceramide synthesis by tamoxifen is correlated with its ability to sensitize MCF-7-AdrR cells to Adriamycin toxicity. Moreover, treatment of cells with 1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis, likewise sensitized MCF-7-AdrR cells to Adriamycin. It is concluded that high cellular levels of glucosylceramide are correlated with MDR, and that glycolipids are a target for the action of MDR-reversing agents such as tamoxifen. The data entertain the notion that drug resistance phenomena are aligned with cell capacity to metabolize ceramide.
Dynamical corrections to transition state theory adsorption rates: Effect of a precursor state

Abstract We present an application to surface adsorption of dynamically corrected transition state theory which permits a straightforward calculation of adatom sticking probabilities. Most notably, one may avoid via this formalism having to follow the adatom dynamics over time intervals which are so long that the stability of the calculations cannot be maintained. As an example of the utility of the method, a one-dimensional study of the nature of precursor states has been undertaken which reveals the particular importance of these states at relatively low temperatures.
Analysis of solute segregation effects on the peritectic transformation

Abstract In this work expressions were derived for the peritectic transformation based on a diffusional analysis. Furthermore, the effects of solute segregation were incorporated in the derivation and the resultant expressions were applied to the Cu- 78.6 wt% Zn, Pb-30 wt% Bi, and Mo-27 wt% Co peritectic alloys. The predictions of this analysis indicate that solute segregation can slow down the rate of the transformation and can increase the transformation times by almost one order of magnitude (CuZn system). In particular, solute segregation effects become important in lowering the transformation rates for alloys with a high volume fraction of primary phase f α 0 . Furthermore, The transformation rates are relatively high when the liquid phase is present but they tend to decrease as f α 0 increases. The type of phase diagram also exerts an appreciable influence on the relative rates of transformation—alloys with high γ factors and large f α 0 's will only exhibit high transformation rates when relatively high interdiffusion coefficients are present. Finally, deviations of the time exponent from the expected value of 0.5 corresponding to a diffusional process were found to be related to segregation effects and the type of peritectic phase diagram.
TYPE I INTERFERONS (α/β) IN IMMUNITY AND AUTOIMMUNITY

▪ Abstract The significance of type I interferons (IFN-α/β) in biology and medicine renders research on their activities continuously relevant to our understanding of normal and abnormal (auto) immune responses. This relevance is bolstered by discoveries that unambiguously establish IFN-α/β, among the multitude of cytokines, as dominant in defining qualitative and quantitative characteristics of innate and adaptive immune processes. Recent advances elucidating the biology of these key cytokines include better definition of their complex signaling pathways, determination of their importance in modifying the effects of other cytokines, the role of Toll-like receptors in their induction, their major cellular producers, and their broad and diverse impact on both cellular and humoral immune responses. Consequently, the role of IFN-α/β in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity remains at the forefront of scientific inquiry and has begun to illuminate the mechanisms by which these molecules promote or inhibit systemic...
Replication of GWAS "Hits" by Race for Breast and Prostate Cancers in European Americans and African Americans.

In this study, we assessed association of GWAS “hits” by race with adjustment for potential population stratification (PS) in two large, diverse study populations; the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) (N total = 3693 individuals) and the University of Pennsylvania Study of Clinical Outcomes, Risk and Ethnicity (SCORE) (N total = 1135 individuals). In both study populations, 136 ancestry information markers and GWAS “hits” (CBCS: FGFR2, 8q24; SCORE: JAZF1, MSMB, 8q24) were genotyped. Principal component analysis was used to assess ancestral differences by race. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression was used to assess differences in cancer risk with and without adjustment for the first ancestral principal component (PC1) and for an interaction effect between PC1 and the GWAS “hit” (SNP) of interest. PC1 explained 53.7% of the variance for CBCS and 49.5% of the variance for SCORE. European Americans and African Americans were similar in their ancestral structure between CBCS and SCORE and cases and controls were well matched by ancestry. In the CBCS European Americans, 9/11 SNPs were significant after PC1 adjustment, but after adjustment for the PC1 by SNP interaction effect, only one SNP remained significant (rs1219648 in FGFR2); for CBCS African Americans , 6/11 SNPs were significant after PC1 adjustment and after adjustment for the PC1 by SNP interaction effect, all 6 SNPs remained significant and an additional SNP now became significant. In the SCORE European Americans, 0/9 SNPs were significant after PC1 adjustment and no changes were seen after additional adjustment for the PC1 by SNP interaction effect; for SCORE African Americans , 2/9 SNPs were significant after PC1 adjustment and after adjustment for the PC1 by SNP interaction effect, only one SNP remained significant (rs16901979 at 8q24). We show that genetic associations by race are modified by interaction between individual SNPs and population stratification.
Adiabatic couplers: design rules and optimization

Explicit analytic design rules are derived for both 3 dB and full adiabatic couplers. The design rules are in excellent agreement with numerical calculations using the beam propagation method (BPM). It is shown that the length scaling for 3 dB couplers compared to full couplers makes the former more difficult to design. The design for each case is optimized to obtain the upper limit of performance and a comparison is carried out between two different design geometries for both 3 dB and full adiabatic couplers.
A Temporal Study of Urban Development for the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska

A land use/land cover database was produced for a portion of the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska to document the temporal and spatial extent of urbanization to assist in the analysis of changes in impervious cover and water quality. Data were derived from black and white and color infrared aerial photography, and satellite imagery from the early 1970’s to 2000 in roughly ten-year increments. Aerial photographs and satellite data were manually interpreted to identify and map land use/land cover classes which were then entered into a geographic information system, attributed, and georeferenced to a U.S. Geological Survey topographic map base. The spatial extent of the study was 31,117 hectares. In the early 1970’s, approximately 7,356 hectares (24 %) of the study area were mapped as urban developed. During the 30-year analysis period, the largest increase in urban development occurred between the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when urban area increased to 12,263 hectares (39 %). Between 1980 and 1990, and 1990 and 2000, urban area increased to 12,762 hectares (41 %), and 13,980 hectares (45 %) respectively. Most development occurred in forested or tall shrub areas, although some also occurred in wetlands. Between 1970 and 2000, close to 1,300 hectares of wetlands were lost due to development. Contrary to this, the amount of lake and pond area increased slightly from 261 hectares in 1973 to 334 hectares in 1980, and reduced to 310 hectares by 2000. The increase was primarily due to the filling in of gravel pits with spring melt water.
Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of extragonadal choriocarcinoma with lmmunoperoxidase studies

A case of extragonadal choriocarcinoma in a 30-yr-old man was diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy with immunoperoxidase studies. FNA diagnosis in this case resulted in prompt treatment of rapidly growing metastases without the need for an invasive diagnostic procedure.
UAV vision: Feature based accurate ground target localization through propagated initializations and interframe homographies

Our work presents solutions to two related vexing problems in feature-based localization of ground targets in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images: (i) A good initial guess at the pose estimate that would speed up the convergence to the final pose estimate for each image frame in a video sequence; and (ii)Time-bounded estimation of the position of the ground target. We address both these problems within the framework of the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm that now has a rich tradition of usage in computer vision and robotics applications. We solve the first of the two problems by frame-to-frame propagation of the computed pose estimates for the purpose of the initializations needed by ICP. The second problem is solved by terminating the iterative estimation process at the expiration of the available time for each image frame. We show that when frame-to-frame homography is factored into the iterative calculations, the accuracy of the position calculated at the time of bailing out of the iterations is nearly always sufficient for the goals of UAV vision.
Debt Valuation, Renegotiation, and Optimal Dividend Policy

The valuation of debt and equity, reorganization boundaries, and firm’s optimal dividend policies are studied in a framework where we model strategic interactions between debt holders and equity holders in a game-theoretic setting which can accommodate varying bargaining powers to the two claimants. Two formulations of reorganization are presented: debt-equity swaps and strategic debt service resulting from negotiated debt service reductions. We study the effects of bond covenants on payout policies and distinguish liquidity-induced defaults from strategic defaults. We derive optimal equity issuance and payout policies. The debt capacity of the firm and the optimal capital structure are characterized.
The Modified Gait Efficacy Scale: Establishing the Psychometric Properties in Older Adults

Background Perceived ability or confidence plays an important role in determining function and behavior. The modified Gait Efficacy Scale (mGES) is a 10-item self-report measure used to assess walking confidence under challenging everyday circumstances. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability, internal consistency, and validity of the mGES as a measure of gait in older adults. Design This was a cross-sectional study. Methods Participants were 102 community-dwelling older adults (mean [±SD] age=78.6±6.1 years) who were independent in ambulation with or without an assistive device. Participants were assessed using the mGES and measures of confidence and fear, measures of function and disability, and performance-based measures of mobility. In a subsample (n=26), the mGES was administered twice within a 1-month period to establish test-retest reliability through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC [2,1]). The standard error of measure (SEM) was determined from the ICC and standard deviation. The Cronbach α value was calculated to determine internal consistency. To establish the validity of the mGES, the Spearman rank order correlation coefficient was used to examine the association with measures of confidence, fear, gait, and physical function and disability. Results The mGES demonstrated test-retest reliability within the 1-month period (ICC=.93, 95% confidence interval=.85, .97). The SEM of the mGES was 5.23. The mGES was internally consistent across the 10 items (Cronbach α=.94). The mGES was related to measures of confidence and fear ( r =.54–.88), function and disability (Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument, r =.32–.88), and performance-based mobility ( r =.38–.64). Limitations This study examined only community-dwelling older adults. The results, therefore, should not be generalized to other patient populations. Conclusion The mGES is a reliable and valid measure of confidence in walking among community-dwelling older adults.
Microbiological, Chemical, and Sensory Changes in Irradiated Pica De Gallo

The effects of gamma processing (1 kGy) and refrigerated storage (2°C) on microbiological, sensory, and chemical quality of pico de gallo was studied. Color, flavor, texture, odor, and heat sensory attributes were not affected by radiation treatment. The treatment decreased populations of aerobic mesophilic, heterofermentative, and total lactic microflora during storage. L-ascorbic acid content declined 50% in response to gamma processing, but levels were similar in irradiated and nonirradiated samples after 6 wk. Pectin solubility was affected by radiation treatment. Gamma processing caused a reduction in pectin degree of esterification, and conversion of chelator soluble to dilute alkali soluble and nonextractable pectins.
Engineering cocrystal and polymorph architecture via pseudoseeding

We use a cocrystal with components arranged in a 1D hydrogen-bonded chain as a pseudoseed to template the components of a cocrystal that otherwise forms a photoactive 0D assembly to form a photostable 1D chain structure.
Accelerating system-on-chip power analysis using hybrid power estimation

Fast and accurate power analysis is a critical requirement for designing power-efficient system-on-chips (SoCs). Current system-level power analysis tools are incapable of generating power estimates under real-life workloads within an acceptable amount of time, even for moderately complex SoCs. Our work addresses this problem by borrowing on emulation, which is a widely used technique to accelerate functional verification. Unfortunately, hardware emulation of all the necessary functions for full SoC power analysis is likely to be infeasible for most systems, due to constraints on emulation capacity, and the lack of emulation-ready, synthesizable models for some SoC components early in the design process. This paper describes hybrid power estimation, an approach to accelerating SoC power analysis by emulating the functional and power models of a subset of SoC components on an FPGA platform (even a low-cost, off-the-shelf FGPA board). We describe the hardware and software components of the framework, and propose techniques to overcome the challenges posed by limited host-board communication bandwidth. We have implemented a hybrid power estimation framework using a Xilinx Virtex-II Pro emulation platform and software extensions to an HDL simulator, to conduct power analysis of a video decoder SoC. The results indicate 65-332X gains in analysis efficiency over simulation-based power estimation, with no loss in accuracy. Further, we show that the increase in FPGA resource requirements for hybrid power estimation over pure functional emulation are modest.
Numerical Modeling of the Tissue Freezing-Thaw Cycle During Cutaneous Cryosurgery Using Liquid Nitrogen Spray

It is common in some cryosurgical procedures to rely on freeze-thaw cycle(s) to destroy undesirable tissues. Most research in cryosurgery focuses on the freezing process and much less attention has been paid to thawing or re-warming. However, as ice melts during thawing, the extracellular solution can become locally hypotonic, driving water into cells, resulting in cell expansion and ultimately, membrane rupture. Therefore, the thermal history of the target tissue during both the freezing and thawing processes is critical for cell viability. To better understand and predict the thermal history during cryosurgery, we developed a two-dimensional numerical model to describe the complete freeze-thaw cycle during liquid nitrogen cutaneous cryosurgery. A stratified anatomical structure of human skin is considered in the model. The numerical simulation applies temperature-dependent thermal and physical properties for human skin tissue and considers the typical thermal boundary conditions for clinical practice. Parametric studies are performed to explore the influence of spray cooling, spray duration and surface heating. Results are discussed concentrating on iceball front propagation, lethal temperature isotherm evolution, tissue temperature variation and cooling rates. These results are expected to provide both quantitative and graphical support to cutaneous cryosurgery and suggest approaches to optimize current cryosurgical protocols.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The effect of external fixation stiffness on early healing of transverse osteotomies

The effect of bending stiffness of external fixators on the early healing of transverse tibial osteotomies was studied in a canine model to determine whether there is a particular range of fixation stiffness where healing is poor. Five unilateral fixators with different stiffnesses were developed and employed along with a dynamic compression plate to fix experimental osteotomies of dog tibias and the contraiateral intact tibias served as controls. The six experimental fixation devices were: plate (P), stainless steel sidebar fixator (SS), stiff aluminum sidebar fixator (SA), intermediate aluminum sidebar fixator (IA), flexible aluminum sidebar fixator (FA), and Delrin sidebar fixator (D). Compared with human tibial fixation methods, the fixators ranged from a rigidity greater than a plate on a human tibia to a flexibility similar to a plaster cast on a human lower leg. Sixty-four adult male mongrel dogs (29 ± 3 kg) underwent surgery and 52 completed the 9-week study, leaving 7 to 10 dogs in each experimental group (P = 8, SS = 7, SA = 9, IA = 9, FA = 10, D = 9). After the 9-week survival period the experimental tibias were radiographed and callus area was digitized. Both the experimental and control tibias were then tested to failure in four-point bending, and failure moment, stiffness, and energy to failure were determined. Of the 52 osteotomies, only four developed nonunions: 3 of 10 in the FA group and 1 of 7 in the SS group. Using analysis of variance, no statistical differences were detected in failure force, stiffness, or energy to failure as a function of fixator groups. The mean callus area in the most flexible fixation group (D) was significantly greater than that in the P, SS, and IA groups.
Hospital readmissions after primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Although shoulder arthroplasty procedures are more frequently performed in the United States, there is insufficient information on outcome measures such as hospital readmission rates or factors for readmission after surgery. Methods: The State Inpatient Database from 7 different states was used to identify patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) from 2005 through 2010. The database was used to determine the 90-day readmission rate, causes of readmission, and risk factors for readmission. Multivariate modeling and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to measure factors and risk for readmission. Results: Included were 26,218 patients receiving shoulder arthroplasty, with an overall 90-day readmission rate of 7.3%. RTSA had the highest rate (11.2%), followed by hemiarthroplasty (8.2%) and TSA (6.0%; P < .001). Medical complications contributed to 82% of readmissions, and surgical complications contributed to 18%. Osteoarthritis was the most common medical diagnosis (11%), followed by deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (4.4%) and pneumonia (3.9%). Infection was the most common surgical cause of readmission (4.8%), followed by dislocation (4.6%). There was a stepwise increase in risk of readmission with increasing age. Patients with Medicaid insurance had more than a 50% greater risk of readmission than patients with Medicare. Procedures performed at medium-volume and highvolume hospitals showed lower risk of readmission than low-volume centers. Conclusions: Patients undergoing RTSA had higher hospital readmission rates than those undergoing hemiarthroplasty or TSA, but most readmissions after shoulder arthroplasty were due to medical causes. Level of evidence: Level III, Retrospective Cohort Design, Treatment Study. 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.
Dream Consciousness in Problem Solving

The conventional paradigm for understanding dreams is to divide human experience into two realms: the sleep state in which dream thought appears and the waking state in which conscious thought appears. The study of lucid dreaming during the sleep state has challenged this dichotomy from the sleep component. Lucid dreaming can have conscious thought and control. The present report describes an experiment which suggests that the essence of dream thought may consciously be applied in the waking state. Forty-six college students were asked to apply an operational definition of dream consciousness to four problem solving tasks. A wide variety of responses were produced, and a normal distribution of dream thought was observed. The implications for considering dreams and conscious thought were discussed.
Salmonella Serotype Determination Utilizing High-throughput Genome Sequencing Data

ABSTRACT Serotyping forms the basis of national and international surveillance networks for Salmonella, one of the most prevalent foodborne pathogens worldwide (1–3). Public health microbiology is currently being transformed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS), which opens the door to serotype determination using WGS data. SeqSero (www.denglab.info/SeqSero) is a novel Web-based tool for determining Salmonella serotypes using high-throughput genome sequencing data. SeqSero is based on curated databases of Salmonella serotype determinants ( rfb gene cluster, fliC and fljB alleles) and is predicted to determine serotype rapidly and accurately for nearly the full spectrum of Salmonella serotypes (more than 2,300 serotypes), from both raw sequencing reads and genome assemblies. The performance of SeqSero was evaluated by testing (i) raw reads from genomes of 308 Salmonella isolates of known serotype; (ii) raw reads from genomes of 3,306 Salmonella isolates sequenced and made publicly available by GenomeTrakr, a U.S. national monitoring network operated by the Food and Drug Administration; and (iii) 354 other publicly available draft or complete Salmonella genomes. We also demonstrated Salmonella serotype determination from raw sequencing reads of fecal metagenomes from mice orally infected with this pathogen. SeqSero can help to maintain the well-established utility of Salmonella serotyping when integrated into a platform of WGS-based pathogen subtyping and characterization.
The Economics of CO2 Transport by Pipeline and Storage in Saline Aquifers and Oil Reservoirs

Large reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change. One method of achieving such reductions is CO2 capture and storage (CCS). CCS requires the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) at a large industrial facility, such as a power plant, and its transport to a geological storage site where CO2 is sequestered. If implemented, CCS could allow fossil fuels to be used with little or no CO2emissions until alternative energy sources are more widely deployed. Large volumes of CO2 are most efficiently transported by pipeline and stored either in deep saline aquifers or in oil reservoirs, where CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This thesis describes a suite of models developed to estimate the project-specific cost of CO2 transport and storage. Engineering-economic models of pipeline CO2 transport, CO2-flood EOR, and aquifer storage were developed for this purpose. The models incorporate a probabilistic analysis capability that is used to quantify the sensitivity of transport and storage cost to variability and uncertainty in the model input parameters. The cost of CO2 pipeline transport is shown to be sensitive to the region of construction, in addition to factors such as the length and design capacity of the pipeline. The cost of CO2 storage in saline aquifers is shown to be most sensitive to factors affecting site characterization cost. For EOR projects, CO2 storage has traditionally been a secondary effect of oil recovery; thus, a levelized cost of CO2 storage cannot be defined. Instead EOR projects were evaluated based on the breakeven price of CO2 (i.e., the price of CO2 at which the project net present value is zero). The breakeven CO2 price is shown to be most sensitive to oil prices, losses of CO2 outside the productive zone of the reservoir, and reservoir pressure. Future research should include collection and aggregation of more specific data characterizing possible sites for aquifer storage and applications of these models to this data. The implications of alternative regulations and requirements for site characterization should also be studied to more fully assess cost impacts.
Dietary Stearic Acid Reduces Plasma and Hepatic Cholesterol Concentrations without Increasing Bile Acid Excretion in Cholesterol-Fed Hamsters

Although there is general agreement that saturated fatty acids elevate plasma cholesterol concentrations, the relative effects of individual fatty acids on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism are less clear. In this study, cholesterol and bile acid responses to diets enriched in different saturated fatty acids were investigated in hamsters. The six diets examined were as follows: 5% fat (g/100 g) enriched in palmitic acid (16:0) with no cholesterol, 5% fat 16:0-enriched, 0.05% cholesterol (wt/wt), and four diets containing 0.05% cholesterol and 15% fat with each diet enriched in lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), or stearic acid (18:0). Total plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly greater in hamsters fed the 14:0-enriched diet relative to those fed the 18:0-enriched diet (P < 0.05). Both plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations of hamsters fed 18:0 did not differ from those of the group fed no dietary cholesterol. In all instances, differences in total plasma cholesterol were accounted for within the HDL fraction; no significant treatment differences in VLDL or LDL cholesterol were found. Total daily fecal bile acid excretion was higher in hamsters fed the 15% fat 16:0 diet compared with those fed no dietary cholesterol (P < 0.05), but not significantly different from other treatment groups. There was greater deoxycholic acid excretion (P < 0.05) from hamsters fed the 14:0 and 16:0 diets compared with those fed the 18:0-enriched diet. Small intestinal + gallbladder bile acids, an index of pool size, did not differ significantly among the groups. The observed relative hypocholesterolemic effect of stearic acid was not mediated by increased bile acid excretion.
The ball SITE sign: Ball sports-induced targetoid erythema in a racquetball player.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous injury following impact of a high velocity ball to the skin may result in either erythema or purpura or both. The lesion typically appears as an annular ring of erythema with or without accompanying ecchymosis when the skin is contacted by a paintball, a ping pong ball, a racquetball or a squash ball. PURPOSE: To describe a girl with targetoid erythema following impact of a racquetball on her flank and back and to review other sports associated with this response to skin injury. METHODS: PubMed was used to search the following terms, separately and in combination: ball, erythema, paint, ping pong, purpura, racquetball, sign, site, sports, squash, targetoid. All papers were reviewed and relevant manuscripts, along with their reference citations, were evaluated. RESULTS: A 13-year-old girl developed an annular red ring surrounding a central area of normal appearing skin on her right flank and upper back where a racquetball traveling at a high velocity contacted her skin. Similar appearing lesions of targetoid erythema have been described at the cutaneous impact sites of either paintballs, ping pong balls, squash balls; in addition to erythema, purpura may also concurrently appear or subsequently develop at the contact location of the ball with the skin. CONCLUSIONS: Targetoid erythema is a pathognomonic cutaneous presentation resulting from the impact of either a paintball, ping pong ball, racquetball or squash ball-that is traveling at a high velocity-with a sport participant's skin. The ball SITE (sports-induced targetoid erythema) sign is suggested as a unifying nomenclature to designate this unique, ball sport-associated, cutaneous dermatosis in athletes participating in sports in which high velocity impact of the ball with the skin may occur.
Aging Women of Color: Engagement and Place

Conceptions of positive aging include the importance of continued involvement in relationships, optimal mental and physical functioning, and active participation in meaningful activities. This article explores scholarship on social, productive, and contemplative engagement in aging women of color in various places in communities. Five groups of women of color are considered: (1) African American, (2) American Indian/Alaska Native, (3) Asian American, (4) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and (5) Hispanic or Latino. Diversity exists within these five groups; it is impossible to specify personal representations that characterize women within each broad social location. However, general patterns can be identified. Old women of color are actively engaged in home life as caretakers and as keepers of family history. These women maintain positive outlooks through participation in spiritual activities, community involvement, and memories of place and experience. Considering together the roles of engagem...
The Effects of Negotiated Contracts and Dietary Self Study on Nutrition Related Practices

The purpose of this research was to test the effects of a negotiated contract on the dietary practices of a selected group of college students. Sixty upper division students enrolled in an introduc...
FUNCTIONAL HETEROGENEITY IN THE RNAS OF TYMV VIRIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the functional heterogeneity in the RNAs of turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) virions. TYMV RNA occurs as a complex mixture of different size RNAs in native virions, and only under fully denaturing conditions can these RNAs be resolved. On pH 3.5, agarose urea gel electrophoresis six major RNAs are discernable among a 1.9 × 106 D to 0.22 × 106 range of RNA fragments. A variety of isolation procedures do not change this pattern. Virions of very young infections—compared to the usual 24 day infections—contain a simpler array of RNA including 1.9 × 106 D, 0.39 × 106 D, and 0.22 × 106 D species and no degraded RNA. In virions of eight-day and progressively older infections, 1 × 106 D, 0.46 × 106 D, and 0.41 × 106 D RNAs also are prominent but accompanied by increasing levels of heterogeneous RNA. The mechanism producing this complex array of RNA species is not known. The smallest of the six RNAs is the coat protein mRNA which, like the full genome RNA, is capped but, unlike the large RNA, contains its coat protein mRNA sequence in an active form.
Grinding-Tool Design as Conditioned by Land-Use Pattern

The form in which archaeologists recover artifacts is the product of intentional design, use modification, and postdepositional alteration. Analysis of grinding tools, from small prehistoric sites in southwestern New Mexico, indicates the effects of intentional design and use modification on artifact form. These variables of technological behavior are considered in relation to anticipated, regular occupation of sites. Distinguishing the extent to which site visits are anticipated and regular can enhance our understanding of how places and resources were used and how land use was organized. Because grinding tools commonly remain on sites, their anticipated reuse signals anticipated reuse of the places where they occur. While characteristics of intentional design positively correlate with regularity of site occupation, the effects of use modification do not.
Rapid range expansion of an invasive predatory snail, Oxychilus alliarius (Miller 1822), and its impact on endemic Hawaiian land snails

The invasive predatory snail Oxychilus alliarius is established in many locations around the world including the Hawaiian Islands. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it negatively impacts indigenous snail species where it has been introduced, although such impacts have not been quantified. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, we tested the hypothesis that indigenous snails, especially small ones (<3 mm in maximum dimension), would be less abundant where O. alliarius had established populations. Fifty-six sites at four locations were repeatedly surveyed for snails between July 2010 and April 2011. The composition of the snail fauna differed in relation to O. alliarius abundance, as well as location. Notably, the abundance of the native Succineidae was negatively related with that of O. alliarius. The abundance of the native Tornatellidinae was significantly related to O. alliarius abundance but this relationship differed among locations, negative at one site and positive at the other three; these snails do not appear to be negatively impacted by O. alliarius. We also monitored the rate of expansion of a newly introduced O. alliarius population along a transect through a bog on the summit of Oahu’s highest mountain, Mt. Kaala. The population’s range expanded linearly between 2008 and 2011 by approximately 300 m (mean c. 113 m/year). This is the first attempt to quantify the impacts of O. alliarius on threatened native island snail faunas. While the results are complex, its high abundance, rapid rate of population expansion and probable negative impacts on certain species caution vigilance in preventing its introduction and spread to as yet uninvaded islands and locations.
Secondary tumors of the kidney: a new diagnostic procedure.

AbstractThe transjugular approach to the liver for cholangiography and liver biopsy is described. The transjugular approach to biopsy renal lesions is a new technique. In the case presented a specific histological diagnosis was made, enabling further therapeutic decisions without an operation.
Nutritional Essentiality of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone

A chemically defined diet, based on synthetic amino acids, was fed to rats and mice. The control diet (+PQQ) was fortified with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) at 875 ug/kg. The deficient diet (-PQQ) contained no detectable PQQ. The -PQQ diet was fed to pregnant rats and, in later experiments, to mice throughout gestation. Newborn pups remained with the dams and at weaning were assigned to either the +PQQ or -PQQ diet. In each case, weight reduction occurred in the -PQQ groups (30% for mice, 10–15% for rats). However, to observe this response, an antibiotic, succinyl sulfathiazole, was added to diets at 2%. Diets were autoclaved to reduce the potential for subsequent bacterial contamination, and animals were housed within a laminar flow hood in sterile stainless steel cages. Moreover, cage bottoms were designed to prevent coprophagy. Addition of PQQ to the diets of animals in the -PQQ group consistently stimulated growth. Important physiological responses to PQQ deprivation were a 40% reduction in tendon benzylamine oxidase and an increase in the solubility of dermal collagen.
Biologics to treat substance use disorders: Current status and new directions

Biologics (vaccines, monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and genetically modified enzymes) offer a promising class of therapeutics to treat substance use disorders (SUD) involving abuse of opioids and stimulants such as nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine. In contrast to small molecule medications targeting brain receptors, biologics for SUD are larger molecules that do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), but target the drug itself, preventing its distribution to the brain and blunting its effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Active and passive immunization approaches rely on antibodies (Ab) that bind drugs of abuse in serum and block their distribution to the brain, preventing the rewarding effects of drugs and addiction-related behaviors. Alternatives to vaccines and anti-drug mAb are genetically engineered human or bacterial enzymes that metabolize drugs of abuse, lowering the concentration of free active drug. Pre-clinical and clinical data support development of effective biologics for SUD.
Ethical perspectives in Latin America’s journalism community: A comparative analysis of acceptance of controversial practice for investigative reporting:

Latin Americans are living in an unprecedented era of democracy while experiencing a spike in investigative journalism production. Investigative journalism holds its own conundrums of ethical decis...