cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implant Design Affects Markers of Bone Resorption and Formation in Total Hip Replacement

Concentrations of the bone resorption markers pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline and the bone formation marker osteocalcin were measured in 24-h urine collections from 30 subjects who underwent unilateral total hip replacements for monoarticular symptomatic osteoarthrosis and 10 controls. The patient groups were divided based on the femoral implant type (cemented cobalt alloy stem, cementless porous coated cobalt alloy stem, and cementless porous coated titanium alloy stem). Urine collections were performed before surgery and then at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. There were significant changes over time in the three patient groups for pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, and the ratio of osteocalcin to deoxypyridinoline (p < or = 0.01), but the control group values did not change over time. The resorption markers tended to peak at 3 months and the osteocalcin to deoxypyridinoline ratio was more variable, having depressed values in the cementless cobalt alloy group and elevated values in the other two groups compared with baseline. The cementless cobalt alloy group had higher resorption marker levels than the cemented cobalt alloy group at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months and higher levels than the cementless titanium alloy group at all postoperative times (p < 0.05). The osteocalcin to deoxypyridinoline ratio was lower in the cementless cobalt alloy group than in the cemented cobalt alloy group at 3, 6, and 24 months and the cementless titanium alloy group at 6, 12, and 24 months (p < 0.05). For the cemented cobalt chrome group, the baseline-normalized resorption marker values at 3 months and 6 months were correlated with the severity of radiographically assessed bone loss at 36 months (0.749 < r < 0.840; p < 0.05). For the cementless titanium alloy group, baseline-normalized osteocalcin/ deoxypyridinoline ratios at 3 months and 6 months were related inversely to radiographic bone loss at 36 months (0.687 < r < 0.749; p < 0.05). Thus, body fluid markers of bone metabolism change after total hip replacement. In addition, the changes in the marker concentrations were sensitive to implant design and were correlated with subsequent stress-shielding-induced bone loss.
Integration of Carbon Nanotubes into MEMS Devices via Deterministic Transplanting Assembly

This paper presents a new method to assemble individual nanostructures such as a single strand carbon nanotube (CNT) at a deterministic location of MEMS devices. An array of vertically aligned CNTs grown on nickel nano-dots was encapsulated into MEMS scale polymer blocks that were then transplanted to MEMS cantilevers to make CNT-tipped atomic force microscope (AFM) probes. Even manual transfer of a CNT-bearing polymer block to the target location leads to reliable and reproducible fabrication of a CNT-based device such as the CNT-tipped AFM probe. The scanning experimental results on AFM standard gratings and biological samples confirm the superior characteristic of CNTs (high aspect ratio and toughness) and justify this assembly method can be useful to mass produce nanostructured MEMS devices.
Realizability of Graphs

A graph is d-realizable if, for every configuration of its vertices in EN, there exists a another corresponding configuration in Ed with the same edge lengths. A graph is 2-realizable if and only if it is a partial 2-tree, i.e., a subgraph of the 2-sum of triangles in the sense of graph theory. We show that a graph is 3-realizable if and only if it does not have K5 or the 1-skeleton of the octahedron as a minor.
An algebraic model for dissipation in supersonic boundary layers

With increasing mainstream Mach number, viscous dissipation becomes a progressively important influence in high-speed compressible turbulent boundary layers. An asymptotic analysis is carried out for high Reynolds numbers and Mach numbers of order 1, and it is shown that viscous dissipation gives rise to important terms in the solution of the total enthalpy equation. For simplicity, the case of supersonic flow over an adiabatic wall is considered. An expression for the adiabatic wall temperature is derived. It is shown that the asymptotic analysis constrains the types of turbulence models that can be used to represent the effects of viscous dissipation. A simple algebraic turbulence model is proposed and comparisons with measured total enthalpy profile data show good agreement.
AMINO ACID ANALYSIS OF PEPTIDES USING HPLC WITH EVAPORATIVE LIGHT SCATTERING DETECTION

A new procedure for the amino acid analysis of peptides has been devised utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). This procedure eliminates the need for complex derivatization schemes inherent of previous amino acid analysis procedures since the ELSD detects the amino acids directly. This quantitative method detects and separates 18 of the common amino acids in a one hour run time using cation exchange chromatography coupled with ELSD. The procedure was tested by analyzing the hydrolysate of human parathyroid hormone 1–34 (PTH), a synthetic polypeptide. A standard digestion consisting of 24 hour hydrolysis at 110°C in 6 N hydrochloric acid with 3% phenol was used. Validation data reveal this is an accurate and precise procedure for the amino acid analysis of peptides. The sensitivity of this technique is low compared to other state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Detection limits varied depending on the amino acid being analyzed and were...
A new planktic foraminifer transfer function for estimating pliocene—Holocene paleoceanographic conditions in the North Atlantic

Abstract A new planktic foraminifer transfer function (GSF18) related 5 North Atlantic assemblages to winter and summer sea surface temperature. GSF18, based on recombined and simplified core top census data, preserves most environmental information and reproduces modern North Atlantic conditions with approximately the same accuracy as previous transfer functions, but can be more readily applied to faunal samples ranging in age from Pliocene to Holocene. Transfer function GSF18 has been applied to faunal data from Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole 552A to produce a 2.5 m.y. sea-surface temperature (SST) time series. Estimates show several periods between 2.3 and 4.6 Ma during which mean SST's were both several degrees warmer and several degrees cooler than modern conditions. Between 2.9 and 4.0 Ma SST was generally warmer than modern except for a 250 k.y. interval centered at 3.3 Ma. Maximum SST, with respect to modern conditions, occurred after the cool interval near 3.1 Ma when SST was approximately 3.6°C warmer than present conditions. Comparison of SST estimates with stable isotope data suggest that after peak warming at 3.1 Ma, there was an overall surface water cooling with concomitant build up of global ice volume, culminating in Northern Hemisphere glaciation. This event is also indicated by the presence of ice rafted detritus in 552A sediments at about 2.45 Ma.
Pattern and Control of Sclereid Formation in the Leaf of Camellia japonica

EXCELLENT material for the study of factors controlling cell differentiation may be found in the sclerenchymatous idioblasts present in the leaves of certain higher plants. Outstanding examples of this cell type are the lignified sclereids that occur in leaves of Camellia japonica L. During the course of an investigation on sclereid formation in this species I observed the striking distributional pattern of these cells in cleared leaf preparations. In C. japonica the sclereids occur predominantly near the lateral margins of the leaf from apex to base and, to a lesser extent, along the length of the mid-vein and scattered throughout the lamina. The distribution of sclereids along a line parallel and close to the leaf margins constitutes a unique pattern, one not hitherto described for any other species.
WARD IDENTITIES FOR THE ENERGY--MOMENTUM TENSOR.

Using model-independent arguments, we derive several Ward identities for the correlation function of the energy-momentum tensor with an arbitrary current.
584 STARCH INTOLERANCE AND TRANSIENT AMYLASE DEFICIENCY AS A CAUSE OF CHRONIC DIARRHEA IN INFANCY

Pancreatic amylase (PA) normally appears in duodenal fluids after 4 mos. of age and reaches near adult levels at 8 to 12 mos. Six infants, 8 to 16 mos. old were found to have very low or absent PA. All had chronic diarrhea, bloating and protuberant abdomens. Four patients exhibit growth failure. All had normal peptidases and lipase in their duodenal fluid, negative sweat tests and normal intestinal disaccharidases and glucoamylase. Starch tolerance tests (2gm/kg) were flat in 5 patients tested at the time of diagnosis and 4 developed diarrhea following the test. Feeding of amylose and amylopectin to 3 patients for 1 mo. failed to induce a change in duodenal PA activity and all 3 developed loose stools. To find out if the lack of PA activity is related to an inactive or absent enzyme, PA from human duodenal fluid was purified and antisera against the enzymes were raised in rabbits. The antisera were specific against amylase. It did not cross react with trypsinogen or lipase and showed single precipitant band when tested against control duodenal fluids. Duodenal fluid from amylase deficient patients did not compete with control duodenal fluids in immuno-precipitation assay using these antisera. This suggests the absence of immuno-cross-reacting material to anti-amylase in the duodenal fluid from amylase deficient patients. All patients had their amylase level returned to near normal at the age of 16 to 30 months and showed cross reacting material to antiamylase in their duodenal fluids.
The Role of Youth Problem Behaviors in the Path From Child Abuse and Neglect to Prostitution: A Prospective Examination

Behaviors beginning in childhood or adolescence may mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and involvement in prostitution. This paper examines five potential mediators: early sexual initiation, running away, juvenile crime, school problems, and early drug use. Using a prospective cohort design, abused and neglected children (ages 0-11) with cases processed during 1967-1971 were matched with non-abused, non-neglected children and followed into young adulthood. Data are from in-person interviews at approximate age 29 and arrest records through 1994. Structural Equation Modeling tested path models. Results indicated that victims of child abuse and neglect were at increased risk for all problem behaviors, except drug use. In the full model, only early sexual initiation remained significant as a mediator in the pathway from child abuse and neglect to prostitution. Findings were generally consistent for physical and sexual abuse and neglect. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce problem behaviors among maltreated children may also reduce their risk for prostitution later in life.
Two-Directional Synthesis of Polycyclopropanes. An Approach to the Quinquecyclopropane Fragment of U-106305

The stereoselective preparation of three stereoisomeric tercyclopropanes and a quinquecyclopropane was investigated. Two of the tercyclopropanes were C2-symmetric and were prepared efficiently through the two-directional application of Charette's reagent-stereocontrolled cyclopropanation methodology. The nonsymmetric tercyclopropane was prepared by an iterative one-directional application of the same reagent-mediated cyclopropanation method. It was shown that the reagent-controlled transformations are far more effective for the stereoselective preparation of the tercyclopropanes than are the reactions which rely upon the influence of the substrate stereocenters. A C2-symmetric quinquecyclopropane, which possesses the repeating trans-syn stereochemistry, was prepared by iterative application of the two-directional strategy.
Dynamic granularity of imaging systems

Imaging systems that include a specific source, imaging concept, geometry, and detector have unique properties such as signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range, spatial resolution, distortions, and contrast. Some of these properties are inherently connected, particularly dynamic range and spatial resolution. It must be emphasized that spatial resolution is not a single number but must be seen in the context of dynamic range and consequently is better described by a function or distribution. We introduce the "dynamic granularity" G(dyn) as a standardized, objective relation between a detector's spatial resolution (granularity) and dynamic range for complex imaging systems in a given environment rather than the widely found characterization of detectors such as cameras or films by themselves. This relation can partly be explained through consideration of the signal's photon statistics, background noise, and detector sensitivity, but a comprehensive description including some unpredictable data such as dust, damages, or an unknown spectral distribution will ultimately have to be based on measurements. Measured dynamic granularities can be objectively used to assess the limits of an imaging system's performance including all contributing noise sources and to qualify the influence of alternative components within an imaging system. This article explains the construction criteria to formulate a dynamic granularity and compares measured dynamic granularities for different detectors used in the X-ray backlighting scheme employed at Sandia's Z-Backlighter facility.
RESOURCE USE IN ARBOREAL HABITATS: STRUCTURE AFFECTS LOCOMOTION OF FOUR ECOMORPHS OF ANOLIS LIZARDS

Previous laboratory studies have frequently determined the maximal running speeds of lizards. However, neither the extent to which animals use maximal speeds in nature nor the effects of arboreal habitat structure on undisturbed speeds of locomotion have been well documented. Furthermore, quantitative data describing the physical structure of arboreal habitats are lacking. Thus, we quantified available habitat, perch use, and the undisturbed locomotor behavior of four syntopic ecomorphs of Anolis lizards (A. sagrei, A. distichus, A. carolinensis, and A. angusticeps) in the field. Fifty percent of the cumulative perch length available in the habitat had values of diameter, length, and incline <0.8 cm, 54 cm, and 67°, respectively, indicating that narrow, short, and steep perches dominated the study site. The selection of all perch attributes by A. distichus was biased, whereas each of the remaining species randomly used at least one of the three attributes describing perch structure. Narrow breadth of resource use most often reflected the narrow breadth of available resources rather than selective use of resources. Interestingly, the behavioral and morphological specializations of A. angusticeps facilitate the use of the most common type of perch (twig) rather than a rare resource. Based on median values, the undisturbed speeds and distances of locomotion of A. sagrei (8.9 cm/s and 5.3 cm), A. distichus (31.5 cm/s and 2.8 cm), A. carolinensis (1.6 cm/s and 5.0 cm), and A. angusticeps (2.7 cm/s and 3.9 cm) were exceedingly slow and short, suggesting that neither maximal sprinting speeds nor endurance capacities were used frequently by any species in the field. The effects of habitat structure on undisturbed locomotor speeds and movement distances were highly species specific.
A Comparison of the Reproductive Performance of the Wild Pink Shrimp Species Farfantepenaeus paulensis and Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis in Captivity

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the reproductive performance of the wild shrimp species Farfantepenaeus paulensis and Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis in captivity. The broodstocks were collected in offshore waters in Santa Catarina and transferred to the Marine Station of Aquaculture of the Federal University of Rio Grande. Broodstocks with a similar body weight between the two species were selected to measure reproductive performance. Females with mature ovaries were identified each day to obtain measures of reproductive performance. After spawning, fertilization rates were determined by microscopic examination. In addition, three samples of 100 eggs were collected to determine hatching rates, and three samples of 100 nauplii were collected to evaluate the rate of metamorphosis to protozoa. For males, spermatophores were manually extruded, weighed, and homogenized in 2 mL calcium-free saline solution, and 0.1 mL trypan blue was added. Sperm counts, abnormal cells (malformations of the main bod...
Disparities in perceptions of distress and burden in ALS patients and family caregivers

Objectives: To examine agreement between end-stage ALS patients and their family caregivers on indicators of physical and psychological status at the end of life. Methods: Patient–caregiver pairs completed monthly interviews in patient homes. Patients were asked to rate their current pain, energy, suffering, depression, control over ALS, optimism, interest in hastened death, weariness from ALS, will to live, and how burdened they thought caregivers were on Visual Analogue Scales. Caregivers completed identical ratings of patients as well as a measure of their own burden. Both independently completed the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Rev. (ALSFRS-R), a measure of patient disability and physical function. Results: A total of 69 patient–caregiver pairs participated. For measures of physical function, κ ranged from 0.49 to 0.83, indicating moderate to excellent agreement. Patient and caregiver composite ALSFRS-R scores were highly correlated ( r = 0.92, p Conclusions: Caregivers can accurately report information about a patient’s physical function at the end of life. However, patients and caregivers each overestimated the psychosocial impact of the disease on the other.
Parent Emotion Socialization Practices and Child Self-regulation as Predictors of Child Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Cardiac Variability

The importance of the parent–child relationship in emotional development is well supported. The parental role of facilitating a child’s self-regulation may provide a more focused approach for examining the role of parenting in child anxiety. The current study hypothesized that parent emotion socialization practices would predict a child’s abilities in self-regulation. Given that physiological arousal has been implicated in emotional development, this was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between parental emotion socialization and child emotion regulation to predict child anxiety. Eighty-five parent and child dyads participated in the study. Parents reporting higher degrees of unsupportive emotion socialization were more likely to have children with fewer abilities in emotion regulation. Cardiac responsiveness mediated the relationship between unsupportive emotion socialization and child emotion regulation. The model of cardiac responsiveness mediating the relationship between unsupportive emotion socialization and child emotion regulation failed to reach statistical significance in predicting child anxiety symptoms.
Toward a framework for classifying and guiding mixed method research in information systems

The field of information systems (IS) has explored research questions in a near-unilateral focus in that most IS research, particularly research published in North American journals, uses a quantitative, positivist approach. To achieve a better understanding of the effect of IS in organizations, researchers should invoke mixed method research in which both quantitative and qualitative methods are used. Rather than simply calling for more mixed method research, we adapt a framework from the education evaluation literature for use within IS. This framework not only classifies existing literature and provides insight into possible mixed method designs, but also contains recommendations for implementing different types of mixed method research. We also analyze this framework in the context of three IS mixed method studies. Challenges to mixed method research and future plans for research are also discussed.
Depth‐integrated free‐surface flow with parameterized non‐hydrostatic pressure

SUMMARY Non-hydrostatic free-surface models can provide better descriptions of dispersive waves by increasing the number of layers at the expense of computational efficiency. This paper proposes a parameterized non-hydrostatic pressure distribution in a depth-integrated two-layer formulation to reduce computational costs and to maintain essential dispersion properties for modeling of coastal processes. The non-hydrostatic pressure at mid flow depth is expressed in terms of the bottom pressure with a free parameter, which is determined to match the exact linear dispersion relation for the water depth parameter up to kd = 3. This reduces the depth-integrated two-layer formulation to a hybrid system with a tridiagonal matrix in the pressure Poisson equation. Linear dispersion relations and shoaling gradients derived from the present model as well as conventional one-layer and two-layer models provide a baseline for performance evaluation. Results from these three models are compared with previous laboratory experiments for wave transformation over a submerged bar, a plane beach, and a fringing reef. The present model provides comparable results as the two-layer model but at the computational requirements of a one-layer model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Host defense proteins in vernix caseosa and amniotic fluid

Objective This study was undertaken to define the spectrum, activity, and spatial distribution of antimicrobial peptides in vernix caseosa and amniotic fluid in the absence of clinical chorioamnionitis. Study design Characterization of innate immune proteins in vernix and amniotic fluid obtained from pregnancies with gestational ages greater than 37 weeks by Western analysis, immunohistochemistry, and antimicrobial growth inhibition assay. Results Lysozyme, lactoferrin, human neutrophil peptides 1-3, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor were identified by Western analysis in vernix suspensions (n=25) and amniotic fluid samples (n=10). Three other important antimicrobial proteins, human beta defensin-2, lactoperoxidase, and LL-37 were not detected. Amniotic fluid and soluble extracts of vernix exhibited muramidase (lysozyme) activity, and there was selective efficacy in inhibiting growth of common perinatal pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides were concentrated in discrete, organized, acellular "granules" embedded in the vernix lipid matrix. Conclusion In the absence of chorioamnionitis, vernix and amniotic fluid contain an organized pool of antimicrobial peptides with a defined spectrum of bioactivity against common bacterial and fungal pathogens.
Radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation – a clinical and histological examination

: Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an optional treatment for patients awaiting liver transplantation (LTX). The study evaluates the efficacy of RFA in the explanted liver and its effect on patient outcome. Material and method: Forty-seven patients underwent RFA and were listed for transplant between January 1998 and May 2003. The patients were divided into two groups: transplanted and non-transplanted. Both groups were evaluated in terms of tumor characteristics, recurrence, mortality rate, and time on the waiting list. The ablation sites in the explanted livers were examined for percentage of necrosis by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) stain and by TUNEL stain. Results: Transplantation was carried out in 35 patients (74.5%). Ten patients (21.3%) died before transplant or were removed from the wait list, while two patients (4.2%) are still listed. Mortality and tumor-related mortality were significantly higher in the non-transplanted group. The time spent on the waiting list was longer in the non-transplanted patients (350 vs. 186 d average, p = 0.0345). Thirty-eight ablation sites were examined in the explanted livers. The percentage of tumor necrosis by TUNEL staining was 19.6% higher than that reported by H&E staining. After TUNEL staining, 28 sites (73.7%) had more than 90% necrosis, eight sites (21.0%) had 50–90%, and two sites (5.3%) had less than 50% necrosis. Conclusions: RFA and LTX can be used successfully in HCC patients, and in most cases, tumor necrosis can be achieved with ultrasound-guided RFA. H&E stain tends to under-represent the amount of tumor necrosis on the ablation sites. Survival of RFA patients after LTX is excellent.
A power optimized 13-b 5 Msamples/s pipelined analog-to-digital converter in 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS

A 13-b 5-MHz pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) was designed with the goal of minimizing power dissipation. Power was reduced by using a high swing residue amplifier and by optimizing the per stage resolution. The prototype device fabricated in a 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS process displayed 80.1 dB peak signal-to-noise plus distortion ratio (SNDR) and 82.9 dB dynamic range. Integral nonlinearity (INL) is 0.8 least significant bits (LSB), and differential nonlinearity (DNL) is 0.3 LSB for a 100 kHz input. The circuit dissipates 166 mW on a 5 V supply.
Foveated endoscopic lens.

Abstract. We present a foveated miniature endoscopic lens implemented by amplifying the optical distortion ofthe lens. Theresulting system provides ahigh-resolution region in thecentral field of view andlow resolution in theouter fields, such that a standard imaging fiber bundle can provide both the high resolution needed to determinetissue health and the wide field of view needed to determine the location within the inspected organ. Our proof ofconcept device achieves 7 ∼8 μm resolution in the fovea and an overall field of view of 4.6 mm. Example imagesand videos show the foveated lens’ capabilities. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.2.021104] Keywords: lens design; endoscopy; foveated imaging; distortion; distortion correction.Paper 11430SS received Aug. 12, 2011; revised manuscript received Sep. 30, 2011; accepted for publication Oct. 3, 2011; publishedonline Mar. 12, 2012. 1 Introduction The human eye’s separation of the field of view into tworegions—one of high and one of low resolution, the fovea cen-tralisandperiphery—hasinspiredanumberofattemptsatdoingthesamethingwithdigitalimagingsystems.
Subspace domain forwards-backwards averaging

In this paper a procedure which filters out roughly half of the array manifold errors for approximately centro-symmetric arrays is described. The procedure-subspace domain forwards-backwards (f/b) averaging-improves the performance of subspace based direction finding (DF) algorithms such as MUSIC and ESPRIT. Experimental data from the Mountaintop radar system are used to confirm the theoretical results.
A Cognitive Approach to the Old Saxon Processual Passive

Hopper and Thompson's (1980) seminal article on transitivity has brought forth renewed interest in the passive and other correlates of transitivity. Langacker (1982) and others working within the Cognitive Grammar framework argue that the passive voice is an independent construction and that it is not a reorganization of the active voice. This paper builds on this view of the passive and presents an analysis of the processual passive in Old Saxon, using the theory of Cognitive Grammar. This semantic analysis focuses on the retention of the dative case in the passive and the similarity in event structure in events encoded by the active or passive voice.
57-Year-Old Woman With Acute Lower Extremity Pain and Swelling

A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman presented to our emergency department with a 1-day history of left leg pain, redness, and swelling. She reported no chest pain or shortness of breath. During the previous week, she made several car trips, each lasting 3 hours. Her medical history was remarkable for a left femoral and popliteal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after breast reduction surgery during the previous year, which was treated with 1 week of subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin therapy and 6 months of oral warfarin therapy. She also had a history of hyperlipidemia, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux, and depression. She denied using tobacco or illicit drugs. Breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening were current and unremarkable. Daily oral medications were atorvastatin, sertraline, montelukast, and pantoprazole. She reported no family history of DVT.
Correcting Measures of Relationship between Aggregate-Level Variables for Both Unreliability and Correlated Errors: An Empirical Example

Abstract Many social scientists conducting macro-level analyses use aggregate-level variables (weighted sums of the characteristics of the individuals within the macro-level units: e.g., means, percents, or rates) to describe macro-level units (e.g., schools, cities, or states). Researchers have long known that aggregate-level variables are likely to be more reliable than individual-level variables. More recently, they have recognized the possibility of estimating the reliability of aggregate-level variables using information on the variability of these variables and variability of the individual-level characteristics (on which they are based). These reliability estimates can be used to correct measures of association at the aggregate-level for unreliability. When correcting measures of relationship, however, researchers will often need to consider the correlated errors generated when the same set of individuals responds to the same questions used to create the aggregate-level variables (the problem of joint sampling). This paper shows how to estimate these correlated measurement errors and use them, and aggregate-level reliability coefficients, to correct measures of relationship at the aggregate-level. These techniques are applied to data from the Senate National Election Studies to illustrate the impact of these corrections.
Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes), and other Entomopathogenic Fungi Against Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Abstract The pathogenicity of 32 fungal isolates from the genera of Beauveria, Verticillium, Paecilomyces, Metarhizium, Mariannaea, and Hirsutella to second-instar tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), was tested under laboratory conditions. These isolates originated from various insect hosts and substrates from France, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Syria, and the United States. A single exposure concentration (1 × 107 conidia/ml) assay for each isolate was first conducted by immersing the insects in 10 ml of a fungal suspension for 5 s. These were followed by concentration-mortality assays on five of the most pathogenic isolates using four test concentrations ranging from 2 × 104 to 2 × 107 conidia/ml. B. bassiana 726 (Bemisia-passaged GHA strain) was used as a standard for comparison in all of the assays. Among the test isolates, three produced mortality not significantly different from the water control. Mortality ranged from 35 to 98% among the other 29 isolates. The LC50 val...
Laparoscopy assisted transjejunal ERCP for treatment of pancreaticopleural fistula.

Context Pancreaticopleural fistula is a rare complication estimated to occur in 0.5% of the patients with pancreatitis and even extremely rare in surgically altered anatomy (e.g. Roux-en-Y anastomosis) patients. The conventional ERCP is difficult to treat pancreaticopleural fistula in a patient with complex upper GI anatomy because of long anatomical route. Case report We represent a case of a 47-year-old female with remote subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy admitted with recurrent left pleural effusion due to pancreaticopleural fistula. After failed ERCP through the anatomical route, pancreaticopleural fistula was treated successfully with laparoscopy-assisted transjejunal ERCP. Conclusion Laparoscopy-assisted ERCP is a useful modality in patients with surgically altered anatomy. Image: Radiographic image showing endoscope in position passed retrograde.
Measuring the Biological Status of the U.S. Breeding Population of Wood Storks

Abstract In 1984, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the U.S. breeding population of Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) in their known range of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act, due to a population decline of 75 percent from the 1930s to the 1980s. In 1997, an updated Recovery Plan for the Wood Stork established two metrics to for determining the biological status: numbers of nesting pairs and regional productivity measured over time. Five-year averages of nesting pairs from annual aerial surveys show an increasing trend (1981-85, 1991-95, 2001-2005). Since listing in 1984, the average number of active colonies has almost doubled, however colony size has decreased. Current productivity estimates are similar to those recorded in the 1970s and 1980s. Monitoring continues to indicate that nesting numbers and productivity rates are variable within and among years and within and among colonies. Variability is likely related to environmental fac...
Reliability Engineering for Appropriate Environmental Technology

Reliability is important in any engineering system, but particularly in those in which failure can have a profound effect on people’s well-being and health. Reliability engineering is designing to balance the risk and cost of system failure against the cost of building a stronger, more fail-proof system. In the context of appropriate technology for environmental protection we are interested in designing to use locally available materials and locally manufactured equipment, and to consider maintenance programs as vital components of the design. The most appropriate system may be one that uses materials that are locally available even though these materials are of such quality that they frequently fail. The probable frequency of failure, the distribution of time between failures, the expected time to make a repair, and the cost of repairs must be evaluated.
The Mismanagement of Limulus polyphemus in Long Island Sound, U.S.A.: What Are the Characteristics of a Population in Decline?

Over the past 15 years, horseshoe crabs in Connecticut have gone from being considered a nuisance species to a species of Greatest Conservation Need in 2015. This has happened through first, its discovery as an economically important species, second through research of its ecological role in coastal estuaries, and third, through education of the public concerning its role in the environment and their own health. To manage horseshoe crab populations successfully requires long term monitoring, research and education. The use of annual or biannual trawl data trends to assess the success of management decisions is limited due to the high variance of counts by location, season, and year, and is prone to misinterpretation. Trawling also damages the very habitat that the target species needs to survive. What is required to reach the goal of a sustainably managed population is the determination of local population dynamics and then modifying management practices to maximize reproductive success of the species. In Long Island Sound (LIS), these basic requirements for sustainable management have not been available until recently. The two states that manage horseshoe crabs in Long Island Sound (Connecticut and New York) have drastically different harvest regulations and management plans that are clearly not working. The LIS horseshoe crab population has declined and remains low as shown by both the long term trawl data and our long term mark-recapture data. After 13 years of a classic ecological study we found the Long Island Sound horseshoe crab population to be one discrete management unit where at least 3 % of the recaptures were found to cross the Sound. The LIS population is aging with low recruitment of newly molted adults and is reproducing well below its maximum rate. We observed very low spawning densities, increasing numbers of single females on the beach, and less than 6 % of polyandrous mating behavior. These basic population trends over the length of this study indicate the current harvest quotas and management techniques are not sustainable. We recommend at the very least the implementation of a unified management plan for Long Island Sound with one shared harvest quota for the entire LIS population. Second, we suggest that the number of no-harvest zones should be increased on both sides of the Sound and a ban of the harvest of spawning females should be added to existing harvest regulations. Ultimately, we would recommend the establishment of multiple Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within LIS where the entire MPA is off limits to commercial or recreational fishing of any type.
Her Life Style: A Mnemonic for Addressing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents

PCOS affects up to 10 percent of women of childbearing age, including adolescents. The emotional and physical consequences of PCOS can be significant. Early diagnosis and initiation of lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on risk for long-term sequelae.
Electroceutical technology: anti-inflammatory effects of 40-160 T/s inductively coupled electrical stimulation (ICES) in the acute inflammation model

Electromagnetic therapies (sic: electroceuticals) have been studied and used for many years as a treatment for many ailments including chronic and acute pain, inflammation, muscle atrophy, non-union bone fractures, as well as peripheral and central neuropathies [1]. Presently we seek to explore the realm of inductively coupled electrical stimulation (ICES) which is a subclass of pulsed electromagnetic field therapies (PEMFs) that uses rapidly changing electromagnetic fields to induce current flows in tissues. Such fields are hypothesized to act via various mechanisms. However, in the present we seek to clarify the often ambiguous and confusing literature regarding ICES mechanisms by conducting a scholarly review by which we then provide a dose reporting scheme for accurately describing the relevant parameters required to fully define ICES treatments. Based on our review and experience, we hypothesize that ICES requires very specific parameters to function appropriately. We seek to ascertain the efficacy of 40-160 Tesla/second (T/s) ICES stimulation as an anti-inflammatory therapy. A specific mechanism explored is the calcium/calmodulin (Ca/CaM) pathway implicated in the literature [2-9] . Our results bring into question the scientific methods of previously reported results by suggesting that nitric oxide levels in vitro fall below detection limits of commonly used methods for gauging Ca/CaM modulation by ICES. In an effort to elucidate the efficacy of ICES as an anti-inflammatory, we make use of the well-established carrageenan footpad edema (CFE) model in rats. The CFE model provides a spontaneously-resolving, acute inflammation model with a very well understood progression and biochemical mechanism. Our results indicate that 40-160 T/s ICES provides statistically significant, repeatable CFE reduction (P < 0.05) as measured by plethysmometry with no observed detrimental side-effects. Further work should focus on elucidating mechanism, evaluating safety, and exploring other potential applications—such as treating chronic conditions. The present studies support ICES as having the potential to provide life-changing therapy to individuals suffering from acute inflammation and pain. Given carefully conducted research in the future, we feel that ICES may revolutionize modern medicine not only from a treatment standpoint, but from the standpoint of understanding basic human electrophysiology and biochemistry.
Validation of sterilizing grade filters(IV):compatibility

Compatibility is one of the projects in filtration process validation,which provides a proof that the filter performance is not affected by the fluid and conditions in the process.This article introduced compatibility conception,the purpose of compatibility validation and the compatibility method of sterilizing filter,and also discussed compatibility validation for re-use of filters and grouping principle for products in compatibility validation.
s-RT-MELT: A Novel Technology for Mutation Screening

The fast growing understanding of genetic pathways that mediate cancer etiology, biology, and personalized medicine leads to an increasing need for extensive and reliable mutation screening on a population or on a single patient basis. Here we describe s-RT-MELT, a novel technology that enables expanded-throughput enzymatic mutation scanning in clinical cancer samples for germline or low-level somatic mutations, or for SNP genotyping. GC-clamp-containing PCR products from tumor and normal cells are hybridized to generate mismatches at the positions of mutations over one or multiple sequences in parallel. Mismatches are converted to double strand breaks using a DNA endonuclease (Surveyor), and poly A oligonucleotide tails are enzymatically attached at the position of the mutations. A novel application of PCR that operates at low denaturation temperatures enables the selective amplification of mutation-containing DNA fragments and high-throughput, closed-tube mutation scanning via melting curve analysis on conventional or nanotechnology real-time PCR platforms. We have applied s-RT-MELT in the screening of TP53 and EGFR mutations in cell lines and clinical samples and demonstrate its advantages for rapid, multiplexed mutation scanning in cancer.
Outcome of paravalvular leak repair after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a balloon-expandable prosthesis.

Background Significant paravalvular leak (PVL) occurs in up to 13% of patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a balloon-expandable bioprosthesis. Transcatheter PVL repair has emerged as a less invasive alternative for this problem. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical outcomes of transcatheter PVL repair after TAVR with balloon-expandable valve. Methods We retrospectively identified 15 patients who underwent 16 PVL repair procedures after the TAVR at our center. Procedural characteristics, results, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. The association of PVL repairs with subsequent hospitalizations and mortality was assessed and compared to 57 patients who did not undergo repair for at least moderate PVL after TAVR. Results The PVL repair was successful in 13 (87%) patients, without significant procedure or device related complications. In patients with successful PVL repair, there was an improvement in symptom status, subsequent hospitalizations, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels. There was 1 (out of 13, 8%) death in the group of patients who successfully underwent PVL repair whereas 24 (out of 57, 42%) patients died during follow up in the group that did not undergo repair of their PVL. Similarly, there was significant reduction in the subsequent heart failure related hospitalization after the PVL repair, compared with the patients who did not undergo PVL repair (P = 0.03). Conclusion Transcatheter repair of PVL after TAVR can be safely and effectively accomplished in carefully selected patients, and may lead to reduction in hospitalizations, improvement in symptoms, and long-term survival. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a heterogeneous and chronic condition, today affects about 5% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is strongly associated with states of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Risk factors include genetics, metabolic profiles, and the in utero environment. Long-term consequences of PCOS include metabolic complications such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of insulin action is closely linked to the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, whether insulin resistance is the causative factor in the development of PCOS remains to be ascertained. Moreover, the mechanism by which insulin resistance may lead to reproductive dysfunction requires further elucidation.
Path-based Guidance of an Evolutionary Algorithm in Mapping a Fitness Landscape and its Connectivity

Understanding function regulation in proteins that switch between different structural states at equilibrium requires both finding the basins that correspond to such states and computing the sequence of intermediate structures employed (i.e., the path taken) in basin-to-basin switching. Recent worksuggests that evolutionary strategies can be used to map protein energy landscapes effectively. Further work has shown that the constructed maps can be additionally equipped with connectivity information to help identify basin-switching paths. Here we highlight a potential issue when the problems of mapping and path finding are considered separately. We conduct a simple, proof-of principle study that demonstrates the ability of an EA to allow extracting better paths from an EA-built map when the EA is supplied with the right information. The study is conducted on two key, multi-state proteins of importance to human biology and disease. The results presented here suggest that further research efforts to guide an EA with path-based information are warranted and feasible.
Clinical Considerations in Tomography

This discussion will present some of the more common uses of tomography in clinical situations, what one should look for, and on what tomographic projections the structures involved might be found.
Mosquitoes host communities of bacteria that are essential for development but vary greatly between local habitats.

Mosquitoes are insects of interest because several species vector disease-causing pathogens to humans and other vertebrates. We previously reported that mosquitoes from long-term laboratory cultures require living bacteria in their gut to develop, but development does not depend on particular species of bacteria. Here, we focused on three distinct but interrelated areas of study to better understand the role of bacteria in mosquito development by studying field and laboratory populations of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus from the southeastern United States. Sequence analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that bacterial community composition differed substantially in larvae from different collection sites, whereas larvae from the same site shared similarities. Although previously unknown to be infected by Wolbachia, results also indicated that Ae. aegypti from one field site hosted a dual infection. Regardless of collection site or factors like Wolbachia infection, however, each mosquito species required living bacteria in their digestive tract to develop. Results also identified several concerns in using antibiotics to eliminate the bacterial community in larvae in order to study its developmental consequences. Altogether, our results indicate that several mosquito species require living bacteria for development. We also hypothesize these species do not rely on particular bacteria because larvae do not reliably encounter the same bacteria in the aquatic habitats they develop in.
Enhanced Affinity Inference Based Recommender Systems

In this paper, we focus on improving the prediction accuracy and scalability of affinity inference based recommender systems, which predict unknown ratings based on the inferred affinities between abstract objects of users and item-rating pairs. Instead of treating each item evenly when inferring affinities, we propose to take into account the variance in ratings of each item. We also propose to reduce the number of item-rating pairs defined for each item, which can significantly reduce the computing time of affinity inference. Experimental results on the standard MovieLens dataset demonstrate the improvements.