cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monolithic 3D-Enabled High Performance and Energy Efficient Network-on-Chip

Emergence of monolithic 3D (M3D) integration has opened up the possibility of designing the ultra-low-power and high-performance circuits and systems. The smaller dimensions of monolithic inter-tier vias (MIVs) offer high density integration, the flexibility of partitioning logic blocks across multiple tiers, and significantly reduced total wire-length. In this work, we explore the design space of M3D-enabled energy-efficient NoC architectures and present a comparative performance evaluation with TSV-based counterparts. We describe the optimization of the link and router placements of the M3D-enabled NoC to ensure maximum achievable performance. The placement of M3D-enabled routers and links are explored using a machine-learning-inspired optimization algorithm. The proposed M3D-enabled NoC architecture achieves 32% lower energy-delay-product (EDP) compared to the conventional mesh-based counterpart. We also demonstrate that for the diverse set of benchmarks considered in this work, the M3D-enabled NoC, on an average, achieves 28% lower EDP than the TSV-based counterpart.
Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in Patients With a Small Left Ventricle

Background Having a preoperative small left ventricle (LV) has been associated with higher complication and mortality rates after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation; however, the outcomes after continuous-flow LVAD implantation have not been well studied. This is the first large-scale analysis of long-term survival after continuous-flow LVAD implantation in patients with a preoperative small LV. Methods Our cohort comprised 511 patients who underwent primary implantation of a HeartMate II (n = 393 [Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA]) or HeartWare HVAD (n = 118 [HeartWare International, Framingham, MA]) at our institution between November 2003 and March 2016. Preoperative small LV was defined as having an LV end-diastolic diameter of 5.5 cm or less. HeartMate II and HVAD recipients with a small LV were compared with patients not having a small LV in terms of perioperative characteristics, complications, and long-term survival. Results The HeartMate II was implanted in 393 patients (non-small LV, n = 352; small LV, n = 41), and the HVAD was implanted in 118 patients (non-small LV, n = 94; small LV, n = 24). For the HeartMate II recipients, the 24-month survival rate was 66.8% for the non-small LV patients and 56.1% for the small LV patients ( p = 0.17); non-small LV patients had significantly better overall survival ( p = 0.02). For the HVAD recipients, the 24-month survival rate was 71.3% for the non-small LV patients and 70.8% for the small LV patients ( p = 0.96); these groups showed no significant difference in overall survival ( p = 0.89). Conclusions Although the indications for implantation are different for these two devices, our study suggests that the survival advantage associated with HVAD implantation should be considered when selecting a device for small LV patients.
Effect of Dynamical Phase on the Resonant Interaction Among Tsunami Edge Wave Modes

Different modes of tsunami edge waves can interact through nonlinear resonance. During this process, edge waves that have very small initial amplitude can grow to be as large or larger than the initially dominant edge wave modes. In this study, the effects of dynamical phase are established for a single triad of edge waves that participate in resonant interactions. In previous studies, Jacobi elliptic functions were used to describe the slow variation in amplitude associated with the interaction. This analytical approach assumes that one of the edge waves in the triad has zero initial amplitude and that the combined phase of the three waves φ = θ1 + θ2 − θ3 is constant at the value for maximum energy exchange (φ = 0). To obtain a more general solution, dynamical phase effects and non-zero initial amplitudes for all three waves are incorporated using numerical methods for the governing differential equations. Results were obtained using initial conditions calculated from a subduction zone, inter-plate thrust fault geometry and a stochastic earthquake slip model. The effect of dynamical phase is most apparent when the initial amplitudes and frequencies of the three waves are within an order of magnitude. In this case, non-zero initial phase results in a marked decrease in energy exchange and a slight decrease in the period of the interaction. When there are large differences in frequency and/or initial amplitude, dynamical phase has less of an effect and typically one wave of the triad has very little energy exchange with the other two waves. Results from this study help elucidate under what conditions edge waves might be implicated in late, large-amplitude arrivals.
Equine Heart Disease: An Overview

The clinician must appreciate unique aspects of equine cardiovascular physiology in order to distinguish normal variation from a pathophysiologic state. Cardiovascular problems in the horse include auscultation of cardiac murmurs, identification of cardiac arrhythmias, and recognition of congestive heart failure. A cardiac data base including history, general and cardiovascular examination, and resting and postexercise electrocardiogram are necessary to evaluate most horses for significant heart disease. Additional studies, such as echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, are useful in selected cases. Because some types of heart disease are amendable by therapy, an accurate diagnosis is needed to direct treatment and offer a realistic prognosis.
An analysis of the mechanics and statistics of brittle crack initiation

Analytical and numerical methods were developed to find how brittle macro-crack formation depends on the distribution of mean strength and critical stress intensity factors of grain boundary segments. The distributions were assumed to increase as some power of the excess of the strength above a lower limit. (For the first micro-crack, these give an asymptotic extreme value distribution of the third kind.) As expected, macro-crack initiation and final instability occur sooner with increasing coefficient of variation and with increasing size of part. The major discovery was that micro-cracking occurs at a lower fraction of the maximum strength in large parts than in small test specimens. Hence acoustic emission will be more practical in the field than observed in laboratory tests. Also, the load for first cracking is over-conservative by large factors where there is a high coefficient of variation in the grain boundary strengths, and the lower limit of strength approaches zero.
The Art and Science of Medicine

Just as a mathematician is most fully himself when he is calculating, so a physician is most fully himself, as physician, when he is engaged in medical activity. Medical activity is the actuality of medicine, and both the art and the science are to be defined and understood in relation to it. The art and the science both are as potential activity. It would be a distortion to regard medicine as, say, essentially a science, essentially an understanding of certain natures and relationships, something to which applications were accidental; or to consider it as an art that could be itself without ever coming out of hiding, without becoming active. Both the science and the art would be out of focus without the activity.
Investigation of the changes in oscillatory power during task switching after mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can cause persistent cognitive changes. These cognitive changes may be due to changes in neural communication. Task-switching is a cognitive control operation that may be susceptible to mTBI and is associated with oscillations in theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (14-30 Hz) ranges. This study aimed to investigate oscillatory power in response to cues indicating a task-switch after mTBI. Electroencephalogram and behavioral data were collected from 21 participants with a history of two or more concussions (mTBI) and 21 age- and gender-matched controls as they performed a task-switching paradigm. Participants differentiated whether visual stimuli were red or green, or circles or squares, depending on a cue. The cue changed every few trials with the first trial after a rule change being termed a switch trial. The mTBI group showed significantly less overall accuracy during the task. Over a posterior parietal region, the mTBI group showed more theta desynchronization than the control group from ~300 to ~600 ms post-cue during switch trials and from ~300 to 400 ms during maintain trials, along with less alpha and beta desynchronization than the control group from ~2,000 to ~2,200 ms post-cue. In a right parietal region, the mTBI group showed less alpha and beta desynchronization from ~525 to ~775 ms post-cue. However, there was no condition × group interaction in the behavior or oscillatory results. These oscillatory differences suggest a change in neural communication is present after mTBI that may relate to global changes in task performance.
Quantum dynamics studies of the dissociative chemisorption of CH4 on the steps and terraces of Ni(211)

The dissociative chemisorption of CH4 on the stepped Ni(211) surface is explored. The H and CH3 fragments preferentially bind to the surface along the step edge, and the barriers to dissociation are lowest over the step edge atoms, with activation energies of 0.57 and 0.69 eV, depending upon the orientation of the dissociating bond. The activation energy for dissociation over a terrace atom is much larger, 0.99 eV. Quantum scattering calculations show that dissociation over the lowest barrier step edge site dominates the reactive scattering, except at very high collision energies, where the second step edge transition state becomes important. Even at incident energies of 1.0 eV, reaction over the terrace atoms contributes only about 3% to the total dissociative sticking. The symmetric stretch excitation has the largest efficacy for promoting reaction, with the other modes having somewhat smaller efficacies. While the vibrational properties of the step edge atoms are different from those on the terrace, reactions at both sites exhibit a similar variation with temperature. We find good agreement with experimental measurements of the thermally averaged sticking probability on a Ni step edge.
Climate benefits of proposed carbon dioxide mitigation strategies for international shipping and aviation

Abstract. While individual countries work to achieve and strengthen their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, the growing emissions from two economic sectors remain largely outside most countries' NDCs: international shipping and international aviation. Reducing emissions from these sectors is particularly challenging because the adoption of any policies and targets requires the agreement of a large number of countries. However, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have recently announced strategies to reduce carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) emissions from their respective sectors. Here we provide information on the climate benefits of these proposed measures, along with related potential measures. Given that the global average temperature has already risen 1 ∘C above preindustrial levels, there is only 1.0 or 0.5 ∘C of additional “allowable warming” left to stabilize below the 2 or 1.5 ∘C thresholds, respectively. We find that if no actions are taken, CO2 emissions from international shipping and aviation may contribute roughly equally to an additional combined 0.12 ∘C to global temperature rise by end of century – which is 12 % and 24 % of the allowable warming we have left to stay below the 2 or 1.5 ∘C thresholds (1.0 and 0.5 ∘C ), respectively. However, stringent mitigation measures may avoid over 85 % of this projected future warming from the CO2 emissions from each sector. Quantifying the climate benefits of proposed mitigation pathways is critical as international organizations work to develop and meet long-term targets.
Zinc(II) complexes of a versatile heptadentate ligand as phosphohydrolase structural and functional mimics

Abstract A mono-nuclear [Zn(H2O)6][1] and a di-nuclear zinc (NMe4)2[2] complexes of a carboxylate-rich ligand, N,N′-Bis[2-carboxybenzomethyl]-N,N′ -Bis[carboxymethyl]-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol (H5ccdp) have shown catalytic activity towards hydrolysis of the phosphoester bonds in bis(4-nitrophenyl) phenylphosphonate, BNPPP. Kinetic measurements for the zinc(II) complexes, using spectrophotometric techniques in DMSO, were performed in order to investigate the metal-metal cooperativity vs metal-hydrogen bonding effect on the phosphoester bond cleavage rate in BNPP. The results showed that, compared to un-catalyzed hydrolysis of BNPPP, (NMe4)2[2] complex showed 103-fold rate enhancement, whereas ([Zn(H2O)6][1]) shows only 450-fold rate enhancement under the same reaction conditions. Based on the structural and activity information obtained in this study, reaction mechanisms for the hydrolysis of BNPPP have been proposed.
Projected warming disrupts the synchrony of riparian seed release and snowmelt streamflow

Globally, spring phenology and abiotic processes are shifting earlier with warming. Differences in the magnitudes of these shifts may decouple the timing of plant resource requirements from resource availability. In riparian forests across the northern hemisphere, warming could decouple seed release from snowmelt peak streamflow, thus reducing moisture and safe sites for dominant tree recruitment. We combined field observations with climate, hydrology, and phenology models to simulate future change in synchrony of seed release and snowmelt peaks in the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, for three Salicaceae species that dominate western USA riparian forests. Chilling requirements for overcoming winter endodormancy were strongest in Salix exigua, moderately supported for Populus deltoides, and indiscernible in Salix amygdaloides. Ensemble mean projected warming of 3.5°C shifted snowmelt peaks 10-19 d earlier relative to S. exigua and P. deltoides seed release, because decreased winter chilling combined with increased spring forcing limited change in their phenology. By contrast, warming shifted both snowmelt peaks and S. amygdaloides seed release 21 d earlier, maintaining their synchrony. Decoupling of snowmelt from seed release for Salicaceae with strong chilling requirements is likely to reduce resources critical for recruitment of these foundational riparian forests, although the magnitude of future decoupling remains uncertain.
Activity and Participation Levels During and After Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in People With Cardiac Conditions: Prospective Observational Study

Date Presented 04/06/19 This prospective observational study investigates the changes people with chronic cardiac conditions may experience after discharged from cardiac rehabilitation. The findings advance OT practitioners’ knowledge on short-term and long-term changes in physical activity and participation level, cognition, motivation, and fatigue and understanding of OT roles for people with chronic cardiac conditions who are postacute and postcardiac rehabilitation. Primary Author and Speaker: Young Joo Kim Additional Authors and Speakers: Jonathan Reeve, Deena Walters, Molly Young Contributing Authors: Patricia Crane, Joseph Houmard, Damon Swift
Strategy to Increase Patient Throughput in a Large Urban Academic General Pediatrics Teaching Practice

Background: Large urban academic pediatric primary care practices often need to expand clinical access with a focus on serving publicly insured families who are at higher risk for health disparities. Barriers exist that decrease efficiency for patient throughput, making it difficult to care effectively for high patient volumes. The purpose of the study was to test a combination of methods to improve patient throughput. Methods: We used Genba™ visits, Patient Flow Analysis, and the 4 Disciplines …
Impact of Obesity on Vaccination

Worldwide, obesity is a serious health problem. It contributes to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (e.g. heart attack, heart-related diseases), diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2, respiratory diseases, reproductive disorders (e.g. polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometritis), kidney-related diseases, osteoarthritis, etc. However, obesity also is associated with an immune response. Obese people have low immune-competence. Numerous studies on human subjects and animal models were carried out to determine the impact of obesity on the immune response. They found that the production of antibodies (eg. IgG) and functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells in obese people is low. In this book chapter, we will discuss the impact of obesity on vaccination. Although the development of effective vaccines to protect against numerous preventable infectious diseases such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, rabies, influenza, tetanus, etc. are successful; but the obese population has been found to respond poorly to vaccines.
Ewing sarcoma: investigational mono- and combination therapies in clinical trials.

Over the last decades, multi-institutional clinical trials have resulted in significant improvements in the outcomes of patients with localized Ewing sarcoma; however, those with metastatic and rec...
Multiple Sclerosis: circRNA Profile Defined Reveals Links to B-Cell Function.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To investigate the total circular RNA (circRNA) profile in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS Hybridization microarray was used to define the circRNA profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 20 untreated patients with RRMS (10 in relapse and 10 in remission) and 10 HCs. We analyzed close to 14,000 individual circRNAs per sample. The discovery set data were validated using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR with an independent cohort of 47 patients with RRMS (19 in relapse and 28 in remission) and 27 HCs. RESULTS Microarray analysis revealed 914 transcripts to be differentially expressed between patients with RRMS in relapse and HCs (p < 0.05). We validated 3 circRNAs from 5 showing highest levels of differential expression in the RRMS relapse vs HC group: hsa_circRNA_101348, hsa_circRNA_102611, and hsa_circRNA_104361. Their expression was significantly increased during relapse in RRMS (p = 0.0002, FC = 2.9; p = 0.01, FC = 1.6; and p = 0.001, FC = 1.5, respectively) and in patients showing gadolinium enhancement on brain MRI (hsa_circRNA_101348, p = 0.0039, FC = 2.4; hsa_circRNA_104361, p = 0.029, FC = 1.7). Bioinformatic analysis revealed 15 microRNAs interacting with these circRNAs in a complementary manner and led to the discovery and validation of 3 protein-coding RNAs upregulated in patients with RRMS during relapse. Two of these, AK2 and IKZF3, have previously been implicated in B-cell function. DISCUSSION circRNAs display a distinct profile in PBMCs from patients with RRMS, and our results may implicate circRNA in the known disturbed B-cell activity in RRMS and thus represent a novel biomarker for monitoring relapse activity.
Resection of a quadrigeminal cistern epidermoid cyst through a sitting paramedian supracerebellar transtentorial approach

Abstract A 32-year old man presented with blurry vision, headache and vertigo. MRI revealed obstructive hydrocephalus from a hypointense lesion spanning the quadrigeminal cistern to the mesial temporal lobe, with restriction on DWI imaging suggesting an epidermoid cyst. The paramedian supracerebellar transtentorial approach was selected, and the procedure was performed in the sitting position. Gross total resection was achieved with punctate residual left on the posterior cerebral artery due to significant adherence. The patient remained neurologically stable postoperatively with a brief course of Parinaud’s syndrome. Two years post-operatively, imaging revealed significant tumor regrowth and he underwent reoperation through the same approach.
Dephasing by an Asymetric Environment

The crossover from coherent quantum mechanical behavior in microscopic systems to classical dynamics in macroscopic ones has long generated interest. With the advent of microfabrication techniques and cryogenic technology, such discussions are no longer simply speculative, but have bearing on practical measurements. For example, experiments have shown that as the temperature is lowered, nonlocal effects can be seen in transport measurements in some systems due to the wave nature of the electron (Webb et al., 1985; Chandrasekhar et al., 1985). It has been shown theoretically that such interference effects can be suppressed when a quantum mechanical system interacts with an environment (Schmid, 1982; Caldeira and Leggett, 1983a, 1983b, 1985; Hakim and Ambegaokar, 1985). However, it must be stressed that not all interactions destroy such interference. It is perfectly possible [and has indeed been experimentally demonstrated (Badurek et al., 1983)] for a quantum system to exchange energy with its environment and still display interference. Thus it is incorrect to simply equate an inelastic scattering time with the characteristic time over which the system loses phase coherence or “dephasing time”, τϕ.
Estimation of Subsurface Parameters in Lossy Media

In recent years a number of inversion techniques which can estimate the velocity of compressional waves in acoustic media by inversion of reflection reponses have been presented. The majority of these methods ignore the presence of attenuation and estimate the sub-surface parameters by inversion of the reflection data. Recently Carrion (1985) showed that ignoring the effects of attenuation can lead to erroneous results especially when the attenuation is relatively large. The presence of attenuation can lead to ambiguities in the recovery of the acoustic impedance. Jaulent (1976) pointed out that in general a solution of the inverse problem is nonunique as long as the attenuation in a medium can not be neglected.
Fatigue Crack Propagation Related to a Dislocation Distribution

A two-dimensional distribution of dislocations is used to model plastic flow around the crack tip. With this distribution, derived from a model compatible with slip line theory, the plastic work associated with crack extension and cyclic loading is calculated. This plastic work is then incorporated into Gibbs free energy of the cracked solid during fatigue. The result of this thermodynamic approach is the fatigue crack propagation rate, $${\delta a}/{\delta N}\;={c{{(\Delta K)}^{4}}}/{\mu }\;{{k}^{2}}U$$ where ΔK is the stress intensity amplitude, µ the shear modulus, k the yield shear stress, U the effective surface energy, and C a determined constant.
Newforms for odd orthogonal groups

I introduce a new notion of newforms for split special odd orthogonal groups which generalizes that of classical newforms by defining a family of compact subgroups of their adelic groups.
Stair Performance in People Aged 75 and Older

Objectives: To examine specific behaviors used by older adults while ascending and descending stairs and to assess the relationships between confidence and stair performance. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Center for Locomotion Studies, The Pennsylvania State University. Participants: Sixteen male (mean age=82.7, range= 77–89) and 16 female (mean age=82.2, range=77–87) community-dwelling adults. Measurements: A stair self-efficacy (SSE) test was created to assess individuals' confidence in their safety on stairs. Observational stair performance measures, measures of walking speed on stairs, and the total SSE score were examined for differences due to sex, and the relationships between SSE and specific stair behaviors were assessed. Results: There was a significant relationship between SSE and the safety precautions taken during stair negotiation. Those with lower SSE were more likely to ascend and descend the stairs at a slower speed, use the handrail to a greater extent, and position themselves closer to the rail. The women had lower domain-specific SSE and tended to use the handrail to a greater extent than men even though there were no sex differences in self-reported functional ability or general falls and mobility confidence. A small group of subjects exhibited characteristics of instability, particularly during stair descent, yet most of this group had high SSE scores and failed to use the handrail. Conclusion: It appears that confidence related to stair negotiation plays a major role in determining risk-taking propensity during stair use in older adults.
End Restraint and Column Stability

In connection with the widespread tendency toward base-column design in the future on the strength not of ideally straight, but of initially crooked columns, it is of considerable importance to clarify the influence of end-restraints on such columns, whose strength, so far, was most investigated from the hinged-hinged end conditions. Numerical studies have shown that initial crookedness and residual stresses can significantly reduce the strength of hinged-end columns. This is reflected most notably in the recent development of multiple column strength curves. The effect of these two factors is not so clearly understood, however, for the more realistic case of columns with partially restrained ends. This paper attempts to identify this important problem which requires fundamental research; it provides the needed background information, defines the basic problem in some detail, and describes the current research effort on this subject by the Structural Stability Research Council.
Predation by vertebrates and invertebrates on the seeds of five canopy tree species of an Amazonian forest.

We studied the pre-germination loss of seeds to invertebrate and vertebrate seed predators of 5 species of Amazonian trees (Astrocaryum macrocalyx — Palmae; Bertholletia excelsa — Lecithydaceae; Calatola venezuelana — Icacinaceae; Dipteryx micrantha — Leguminosae (Papilionoidae); Hymenaea courbaril — Leguminosae (Caesalpinoidae)). These five species were selected from a large tree flora on several criteria. All possess large (3–10 cm) well-protected seeds that might plausibly be attractive to mammalian seed predators. The reproductive biology of three of the species, or close congeners, had been studied elsewhere in the Neotropics (Astrocaryum, Dipteryx, Hymenaea); one is important to the economy of southeastern Peru (Bertholletia); and one, despite large and apparently edible seeds, appeared to suffer no pre-germination loss to predators (Calatola). We conducted the research in mature forests in the Manu National Park of southeastern Peru where mammal densities are unperturbed by human activities. Densities of adult trees of the five species in our area range from very high (> 30 per ha: Astrocaryum) to very low («1 per ha: Hymenaea).
Induction of interleukin‐1β by interleukin‐4 in lipopolysaccharide‐treated mixed glial cultures: microglial‐dependent effects

Glial-secreted proinflammatory mediators are dynamically involved in central nervous system responses to exogenous stimuli such as infection, neurotoxins, and nerve injury. The therapeutic use of anti-inflammatory agents may reduce certain central nervous system pathology induced by inflammatory responses. We investigated the role of interleukin (IL)-4 in modulating the production of proinflammatory mediators from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mixed glia in vitro. Interestingly, IL-4 significantly enhanced IL-1β secretion and did not affect monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 release, even though IL-4 considerably inhibited IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and nitric oxide production from rat neonatal mixed glia. Further, IL-4 exhibited inhibitory effects on IL-1β production in microglial-enriched cultures, while significantly increasing IL-1β production in microglial-depleted glia. The enhancing effect of IL-4 on IL-1β production was found to be inversely correlated with the percentage of microglia present in the mixed glial population. In summary, IL-4 did not act as a global anti-inflammatory cytokine and in fact, under certain situations enhanced IL-1β secretion. We conclude that IL-4 exerts its anti-inflammatory effects in a limited and target-specific manner, which is delicately regulated by the cellular microenvironment. Therefore, precaution should be taken when clinically using IL-4 to treat diseases manifested by overt inflammatory responses.
Phillips Curves, Monetary Policy, and a Labor Market Transmission Mechanism

This paper develops a general equilibrium monetary model with performance incentives to study the inflation-unemployment relationship. A long-run downward-sloping Phillips curve can exist with perfectly anticipated inflation because workers' incentive to exert effort depend on financial market returns. Consequently, higher inflation rates can reduce wages and stimulate employment. An upward-sloping or vertical Phillips Curve can arise instead, depending on agents' risk aversion and the possibility of capital formation. Welfare might be higher away from the Friedman rule and with a central bank putting some weight on employment.
Immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with a broad spectrum of opportunistic infections and neoplasias that differ from those occurring in the general population by their high aggressiveness, unusual location, early tendency to generalization, frequent relapse, and short survival. The severe complications of AIDS, however, represent only the last phase in a prolonged course of progressive dysfunction and destruction of the immune system set in motion by the infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While substantial progress was achieved in the ultrastructural identification and biochemical characterization of HIV, its mode of action in the causation of AIDS is not yet fully understood. This article explores the main processes involved in the HIV infection and in its role in the origin of AIDS. It describes the phases of HIV infection, investigates the effects of HIV on the various components of the immune system, and analyzes the pathogenesis of the HIV-induced lymphadenopathies and encephalopathy, as well as the causes and mechanisms of AIDS-associated opportunistic infections and opportunistic neoplasias. The total failure of immune surveillance against a host of infectious and oncogenic agents, unprecedented in human pathology, is thus traced to the initial event of specific HIV infection of the CD4 T-lymphocytes.
Altering the Course of Small Cell Lung Cancer: Targeting Cancer Stem Cells via LSD1 Inhibition.

In this issue of Cancer Cell, Mohammad et al. describe LSD1, a histone demethylase, as a therapeutic target in SCLC with a unique epigenetic signature to predict drug sensitivity. Inhibition of LSD1 reduces cell proliferation and stem cell maintenance while promoting cell differentiation and reducing tumor growth in preclinical models.
Electron backscatter diffraction of a Ge growth tip from a vertical gradient freeze furnace

Abstract The growth-tip region of a high-purity 4.2-cm-diameter Ge boule grown using low-pressure Bridgman methods in a vertical gradient freeze furnace was sectioned and polished in preparation for scanning electron microscopy and was characterized using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The boule had a characteristic conical tip region with cone angle of 40° of a right circular cylinder from which a section was taken along the boule longitudinal centerline with an approximate surface area of 4 cm 2 . The majority of this surface area was characterized using EBSD and an image collage was assembled for the tip region. The grain structure, grain boundary orientation, twin structure, and overall crystal growth direction were determined. A crystal growth direction of approximately 〈1 1 2〉 was observed, which was also identified as the growth direction of several prominent twins observed in the tip region. The grain structure of the tip region appeared to be controlled by the sidewall nucleation of a stray grain that competed for dominance during growth. Grain boundaries and triple grain junctions were identified as low-energy coincident-site-lattice (CSL) boundaries and junctions of the Σ3 and Σ9 types.
A simulation-based goodness-of-fit test for survival data

Abstract To check the validity of a parametric model for survival data, a number of supremum-type tests have been proposed in the literature using Khmaladze's (1993, Ann. Statist. 18, 582–602) transformation of a test process. However, such a transformation is usually very complicated and lacks a clear interpretation. Information could also be lost through transformation. In this note, we propose a simulation-based supremum-type test directly from the original test process using an idea originally introduced by Lin et al. (1993, Biometrika 80, 557–572). The test is developed under the framework of Aalen's (1978, Ann. Statist. 6, 701–726) multiplicative intensity counting process model, and therefore applies to a number of survival models including those with very general forms of censoring and truncation. By comparing the observed test process with a set of simulated realizations of an approximating process, our method can be used as a graphical tool as well as a formal test for checking the adequacy of the assumed parametric model. We establish consistency of the resulting test under any fixed alternative. Its performance is investigated in a simulation study. Illustrations are given using some real data sets.
Giant cell tumor of bone with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst-like change producing β-human chorionic gonadotropin

Giant cell tumor of bone is a benign, locally aggressive neoplasm that is composed of sheets of neoplastic mononuclear cells interspersed amongst non-neoplastic, uniformly distributed, osteoclast-like giant cells. They represent approximately 4–5 % of primary bone tumors. Rarely, bone tumors have been noted to produce human chorionic gonadotropin, a finding most often reported in osteosarcoma. We present the case of a young woman who presented with a low-level human chorionic gonadotropin level which, after resection of her recurrent giant cell tumor of bone with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst-like change, became undetectable in her blood. Furthermore, cells within the aneurysmal bone cyst component were immunohistochemically positive for β-human chorionic gonadotropin. This is the first report of such a finding in the literature.
The Relationship Between Student Perceptions of Team Dynamics and Simulation Game Outcomes: An Individual-Level Analysis

In many business courses, computer-based simulations are becoming a popular choice of pedagogical technique, yet research is only beginning to consider how these simulation games impact student outcomes. In this study, the author investigated individual perceptions of simulation team dynamics and their relationship to student affect regarding the simulation as well as simulation performance in a sample of 172 responding students. The results showed that a student's affect regarding the simulation game was influenced by student team cohesion and student team independence. Alternatively, student simulation performance was influenced by team heterogeneity, opportunistic practices, and hypothesis-driven thinking. These findings encourage instructors to consider thoughtfully the outcomes they want students to experience when structuring student teams that will participate in simulation learning games.
Permian-Triassic continental configurations and the origin of the Gulf of Mexico

Previously published reconstructions of Pangea during late Paleozoic-early Mesozoic time have suggested that (1) the Gulf of Mexico has existed as an oceanic basin from at least the late Carboniferous onward or (2) the Gulf of Mexico was created since Permian time by a process of microplate reorganization, macroplate drift, or oceanization (sensu stricto). On the basis of paleomagnetic data, we favor macroplate drift. Major geologic and tectonic features of the Pangea segments bordering the Gulf of Mexico are in agreement with a newly proposed alternative fit of North America, Europe, and Gondwanaland for late Paleozoic time. This reconstruction closes the Gulf of Mexico by juxtaposition of North and South America.
Forensic Inference from DNA Fingerprints

Abstract The recent discovery of hypervariable regions of the human genome provides scientists with an important new tool for forensic inference. The DNA data obtained from these hypervariable regions have been dubbed DNA fingerprints. Despite the potential power of DNA fingerprints, their use has been fraught with controversy, deriving in part from a lack of statistical methods to summarize the information contained in a DNA fingerprint. This article provides such a method, useful for forensic inference in criminal (e.g., murder or rape) and civil cases (e.g., paternity). The major difficulty with DNA fingerprint data is that the alleles (distinct DNA fragment sizes) are not observed; rather, one observes measurements of the DNA fragments with substantial error. When measurement error is superimposed on the discrete allele distribution, the fragments follow a mixture distribution. Consequently, our first step for forensic inference was to estimate the mixing distribution. With an estimate of the allele d...
Changes in Expression of Transferrin, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, and Interleukin 4 Receptors after Irradiation of Cells of Primary Malignant Brain Tumor Cell Lines

Abstract Kim, K-U., Xiao, J., Ni, H-T., Cho, K. H., Spellman, S. R., Low, W. C. and Hall, W. A. Changes in Expression of Transferrin, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, and Interleukin 4 Receptors after Irradiation of Cells of Primary Malignant Brain Tumor Cell Lines. Radiat. Res. 160, 224–231 (2003). Various immunotoxins have been developed for the treatment of cancer. The toxin is internalized by target cells through cell-surface receptors, and it is essential for these receptors to be expressed for the immunotoxin to have specific anti-tumor activity. Radiation therapy is one of the main treatment modalities for primary malignant brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether radiation influences the expression of cell-surface receptors. Cells of one human medulloblastoma (Daoy) and two glioblastoma (U373-MG and T98-G) cell lines were tested by exposing the cells to a single dose of 5 Gy γ rays. Expression of transferrin receptors, type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptors (IGF1R), and i...
Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability, vibrational assignment and ab initio calculations of methylvinyl silyl chloride

Abstract The infrared spectra (3200–50 cm −1 ) of gaseous and solid and Raman spectra (3200–10 cm −1 ) of the liquid and solid methylvinyl silyl chloride, CH 2 CHSiH(CH 3 )Cl, and the Si-d isotopomer have been recorded. The three expected stable conformers (the three different groups eclipsing the double bond) have been identified in the fluid phase, but it was not possible to obtain an annealed solid with a single conformer. Variable temperature (−105 to −150 °C) studies of the infrared spectra of the sample dissolved in liquid krypton has been carried out. From these data the enthalpy differences between the most stable conformer with the hydrogen atom (HE) eclipsing the double bond to that with the chlorine atom (ClE) and the methyl group (ME) eclipsing the double bond have been determined to be 17±4 cm −1 (203±48 J mol −1 ) and 80±12 cm −1 (957±144 J mol −1 ), respectively. However in the liquid state the ME conformer is the most stable form with enthalpy differences of 13±4 and 27±7 cm −1 to the HE and ClE rotamers, respectively. It is estimated that there is 39% of the HE conformer, 35% of the ClE conformer, and 26% of the ME conformer present at ambient temperature. A complete vibration assignment is proposed for the HE conformer which is based on infrared band contours and group frequencies, which is supported by normal coordinate calculations utilizing the force constants from ab initio MP2/6-31G(d) calculations. Additionally, several of the fundamentals for the other two conformers have been assigned. The optimal geometries, conformational stabilities, harmonic force fields, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization ratios, and vibrational frequencies are reported for all three conformers from MP2/6-31G(d,p) ab initio calculations with full electron correlation. Optimized geometrical parameters and conformational stabilities have been obtained from MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations. At this highest level of calculations, the HE conformer is predicted to be more stable by 62 and 84 cm −1 than the ME and ClE conformers, respectively. The coefficients from the potential function governing the conformational interchange have been obtained from the MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. By utilizing the frequency of the SiH stretching mode, the r 0 SiH distance has been determined to be 1.481 A for the HE conformer. The ab initio calculated quantities are compared to the experimentally determined values where applicable, as well as to some corresponding results for some similar molecules.
A Hierarchical Approach to the Control of a Prosthetic Arm

A hierarchical method combining analytical techniques from control theory and heuristic techniques from artificial intelligence is presented and applied to the decentralized control of a prosthetic arm. The dynamic model of the arm is derived, and two complementary performance criteria are suggested for the kinematic and the dynamic evaluation for the system response. The "principle of minimum interaction" is used to decompose the prosthetic system into seven subsystems, one per mechanical degree of freedom. A "suboptimal" control structure for nonlinear systems is proposed in conjunction with a performance adaptive self-organizing control algorithm. Syntactic pattern classification is used for the dynamic coordination of the subsystems. The syntax of the man-machine commands is also examined as part of the function of highest level of the hierarchy, the organizer.
Formation of 3,5,5-trimethyl derivatives of dihydrouracil nucleosides by reaction with methylsulfinyl carbanion and methyl iodide.

Abstract 1. 5,6-Dihydrouracil nucleosides undergo selective reaction with methylsulfinyl carbanion and methyl iodide to form derivatives which are O-methylated in the sugar and methylated at positions 3,5,5 in the base. This behavior is unique to the 5,6-dihydropyrimidine system and provides a sensitive mass spectrometric test for the 5,6-dihydro moiety. 2. Structures of reaction products were determined by electron- and chemicalionization mass spectrometry, and by proton magnetic resonance.
Computer Simulation of Float Glass Stretching

Manufacture of thin float glass entails stretching glass from its equilibrium thickness of ≃ 7 mm. The glass ribbon is stretched mainly in the longitudinal dimension. However, when edge rollers are used, significant stretching occurs in the lateral dimension also and an earlier one-dimensional analysis of stretching cannot model this more complex process. This paper presents a two-dimensional computer model of stretching and the results of a typical simulation based on this model. These results demonstrate the model's ability to simulate stretching and flow in two dimensions. The present model can be used to perform computer experiments to study the effects of various operating conditions on the dimensions and quality of float glass.
Surgery for constipation in patients with prior spinal cord injury: The Department of Veterans Affairs experience

AbstractObjectivePatients with spinal cord injury (SCI) typically have difficulty with constipation. Some undergo surgery for bowel management. We predicted that SCI patients would have higher mortality and/or morbidity rates following such surgery than neurally intact patients receiving the same procedures. We sought to evaluate this using a large population-based data set.MethodsPatients receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (DVAMCs) with computer codes for SCI and constipation who later underwent colectomy, colostomy, or ileostomy during fiscal years 1993–2002 were identified. Charts were requested from the VAMCs where the surgery had been performed and a retrospective chart review of these charts was done. We collected data on patient demographics, six specific pre-operative co-morbidities, surgical complications, and post-operative mortality. Comparisons were made to current literature evaluating a population receiving total abdominal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis fo...
Sustained trophism of the mammary gland is sufficient to accelerate and synchronize development of ErbB2/Neu-induced tumors

Epidemiological studies indicate that parity enhances HER2/ErbB2/Neu-induced breast tumorigenesis. Furthermore, recent studies using multiparous, ErbB2/Neu-overexpressing mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV-Neu) mice have shown that parity induces a population of cells that are targeted for ErbB2/Neu-induced transformation. Although parity accelerates mammary tumorigenesis, the pattern of tumor development in multiparous MMTV-Neu mice remains stochastic, suggesting that additional events are required for ErbB2/Neu to cause mammary tumors. Whether such events are genetic in nature or reflective of the dynamic hormonal control of the gland that occurs with pregnancy remains unclear. We postulated that young age at pregnancy initiation or chronic trophic maintenance of mammary epithelial cells might provide a cellular environment that significantly increases susceptibility to ErbB2/Neu-induced tumorigenesis. MMTV-Neu mice that were maintained pregnant or lactating beginning at 3 weeks of age demonstrated accelerated tumorigenesis, but this process was still stochastic, indicating that early pregnancy does not provide the requisite events of tumorigenesis. However, bitransgenic mice that were generated by breeding MMTV-Neu mice with a luteinizing hormone-overexpressing mouse model of ovarian hyperstimulation developed multifocal mammary tumors in an accelerated, synchronous manner compared to virgin MMTV-Neu animals. This synchrony of tumor development in the bitransgenic mice suggests that trophic maintenance of the mammary gland provides the additional events required for tumor formation and maintains the population of cells that are targeted by ErbB2/Neu for transformation. Both the synchrony of tumor appearance and the ability to characterize a window of commitment by ovariectomy/palpation studies permitted microarray analysis to evaluate changes in gene expression over a defined timeline that spans the progression from normal to preneoplastic mammary tissue. These approaches led to identification of several candidate genes whose expression changes in the mammary gland with commitment to ErbB2/Neu-induced tumorigenesis, suggesting that they may either be regulated by ErbB2/Neu and/or contribute to tumor formation.
Optical stretching of giant unilamellar vesicles with an integrated dual-beam optical trap

We have integrated a dual-beam optical trap into a microfluidic platform and used it to study membrane mechanics in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). We demonstrate the trapping and stretching of GUVs and characterize the membrane response to a step stress. We then measure area strain as a function of applied stress to extract the bending modulus of the lipid bilayer in the low-tension regime.
Rotator Cuff Tears After Arthroplasty

Rotator cuff tears are an uncommon complication after total shoulder arthroplasty. The most common rotator cuff failure is failure of healing of the subscapularis. Takedown of the subscapularis is performed via tenotomy or lesser tuberosity osteotomy. Failure of healing leads to weakness and difficulty with internal rotation activities; however, catastrophic failure may lead to anterior instability. Subscapularis tears are treated with primary repair or pectoralis major transfer. Supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears are usually attritional and are often difficult to repair in the setting of a postoperative shoulder. Primary repair can be considered; however, the risk of failure is high because of poor tendon healing. Revision to reverse shoulder arthroplasty is an option in the setting of a symptomatic irreparable tear.