cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neonatal cholestasis: emerging molecular diagnostics and potential novel therapeutics

Neonatal cholestasis is a group of rare disorders of impaired bile flow characterized by conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in the newborn and young infant. Neonatal cholestasis is never physiological but rather is a sign of hepatobiliary and/or metabolic disorders, some of which might be fatal if not identified and treated rapidly. A step-wise timely evaluation is essential to quickly identify those causes amenable to treatment and to offer accurate prognosis. The aetiology of neonatal cholestasis now includes an expanding group of molecularly defined entities with overlapping clinical presentations. In the past two decades, our understanding of the molecular basis of many of these cholestatic diseases has improved markedly. Simultaneous next-generation sequencing for multiple genes and whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing now enable rapid and affordable molecular diagnosis for many of these disorders that cannot be directly diagnosed from standard blood tests or liver biopsy. Unfortunately, despite these advances, the aetiology and optimal therapeutic approach of the most common of these disorders, biliary atresia, remain unclear. The goals of this Review are to discuss the aetiologies, algorithms for evaluation and current and emerging therapeutic options for neonatal cholestasis.
Prognostic value of inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase expression in recurrent and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background Inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase (INPP5A) has been shown to play a role in the progression of actinic keratosis to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and the progression of localized disease to metastatic disease. Currently, no cSCC biomarkers are able to risk stratify recurrent and metastatic disease. Objective To determine the prognostic value of INPP5A expression in cSCC recurrent and metastatic disease. Methods We conducted a multicenter, single-institutional, retrospective cohort study within the Mayo Clinic Health System on the use of immunohistochemical staining to examine cSCC INPP5A protein expression in primary tumors and recurrent and metastatic disease. Dermatologists and dermatopathologists were blinded to outcome. Results Low staining expression of INPP5A in recurrent and metastatic disease tumors was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (31.0 months for low versus 62.0 months for high expression; P = .0272). A composite risk score (calculated as score of primary tumor + score of recurrent or metastatic disease tumor, with tumors with high expression scoring a zero and low expression a 1, score range 0-2) of 0 was predictive of improved OS compared with a composite risk score of ≥1 (hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.84; P = .0113). Limitations This is a multicenter but single institution study of a white population. Conclusion Loss of INPP5A expression predicts poor OS in recurrent and metastatic disease of cSCC.
Clinical FDG‐PET Findings in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Concordance with EEG and MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We aimed to study the yield of PET in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by analyzing the correlation of PET findings with MRI, and interictal and ictal EEG findings, in a single-center cohort of patients with TLE. Predictors of PET thalamic changes and its role in predicting postsurgical outcome were also studied. METHODS This was a retrospective study of 39 patients with TLE who underwent MRI, PET, and scalp video EEG monitoring at the University at Buffalo, New York from 2001 to 2011 during presurgical evaluation. PET-defined metabolism of the temporal lobes was evaluated using a 4-point ordinal rating scale. RESULTS PET hypometabolism was associated with a variation in ictal (P = .034) and interictal (P < .001) foci in both lesional (by MRI) and nonlesional patients. Nonlesional MRI scans were associated with none to mild temporal PET hypometabolism (71% of patients) while lesional MRI scans were associated with moderate to severe hypometabolism (82% of patients) (P = .006). The odds of thalamic hypometabolism were 5.36 times higher when there was moderate to severe temporal hypometabolism (P = .039). CONCLUSION This study underscores the utility of PET in localizing ictal foci in TLE patients even in those with normal MRI. The degree of PET hypometabolism corresponds to presence of MRI pathology. Coexistent thalamic hypometabolism with temporal hypometabolism suggests a secondary effect of distant temporal network disruption. Extratemporal metabolism is a predictor of poor postsurgical seizure outcome in TLE patients.
Social Comparison and Perceived Envy‐Motivated Communication Involving Travel Nurses: A Qualitative Study

AIM This study investigated travel nurses' perception of their communication and relational experiences with other nurses. BACKGROUND It is common for nurses to offer and to accept help, especially since nurses enter and exit numerous nursing teams throughout their careers and sometimes several times within a single shift. The social norm of reciprocity suggests that nurses supported by other nurses will likely reciprocate in prosocial behaviour. However, when and whom one can or will help highlight differences in individuals' ability to share and compete for personal and professional resources. METHOD Thematic analysis on data collected through semi-structured interviews. RESULTS Four categories of perceived envy-motivated communication conceptualize nurses' communication and relational experiences. CONCLUSION This study underscores the pervasiveness of social comparison and perceived envy-motivated communication among nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse managers should explore how they might leverage social comparison and the effects of envy to improve unit productivity. One strategy that nurse managers might adopt to promote fairness perception and trust is to communicate expressly how they allocate resources to their nurses. A sequential strategy to level the gap in nurses' exposure to different ways of overcoming resource deficiencies is to encourage mutual learning as prosocial behaviour.
In Vivo Knee Kinematics for a Cruciate Sacrificing Total Knee Arthroplasty Having Both a Symmetrical Femoral and Tibial Component.

Abstract Background Early total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs were symmetrical, but lead to complications due to over-constraint leading to loosening and poor flexion. Next-generation TKAs have been designed to include asymmetry, pertaining to the trochlear groove, femoral condylar shapes, and/or the tibial component. More recently, an advanced posterior cruciate sacrificing (PCS) TKA was designed to include both a symmetrical femoral component with a patented V-shaped trochlear groove and a symmetrical tibial component with an ultracongruent insert, in an attempt to reduce inventory costs. Because previous PCS TKA designs produced variable results, the objective of this study is to determine and evaluate the in vivo kinematics for subjects implanted with this symmetrical TKA. Methods Twenty-one subjects, implanted with symmetrical PCS fixed-bearing TKA, were asked to perform a weight-bearing deep knee bend (DKB) while under fluoroscopic surveillance. A 3-dimensional to 2-dimensional registration technique was used to determine each subject’s anteroposterior translation of lateral and medial femoral condyles as well as tibiofemoral axial rotation and their weight-bearing knee flexion. Results During the DKB, the average active maximum weight-bearing flexion was 111.7° ± 13.3°. On average, from full extension to maximum knee flexion, subjects experienced −2.5 ± 2.0 mm of posterior femoral rollback of the lateral condyle and 2.5 ± 2.2 mm of medial condyle motion in the anterior direction. This medial condyle motion was consistent for the majority of the subjects, with the lateral condyle exhibiting rollback from 0° to 60° of flexion and then experienced an average anterior motion of 0.3 mm from 60° to 90° of knee flexion. On average, the subjects in this study experienced 6.6°± 3.3° of axial rotation, with most of the rotation occurring in early flexion, averaging 4.9°. Conclusion Although subjects in this study were implanted with a symmetrical PCS TKA, they did experience femoral rollback of the lateral condyle and a normal-like pattern of axial rotation, although less in magnitude than the normal knee. The normal axial rotation pattern occurred because the lateral condyle rolled in the posterior direction, while the medial condyle moved in the anterior direction. Interestingly, the magnitude of posterior femoral rollback and axial rotation for subjects in this study was similar in magnitude reported in previous studies pertaining to asymmetrical TKA designs. It is proposed that more patients be analyzed having this TKA implanted by other surgeons.
Characterizing patterns of disease progression in patients with genitourinary cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

482Background: Despite the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), patterns of disease progression (POD) are poorly characterized. We aim to define these characteristics in patients ...
Nanocellulose from recycled indigo-dyed denim fabric and its application in composite films

In this study, nanocellulose was extracted from indigo-dyed denim fabric and the resultant nanocellulose properties were evaluated in comparison with those derived from bleached cotton fabric and wood pulp in order to investigate the potential of recycling denim waste for nanocellulose production and application. Sulfuric acid hydrolysis and (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidation were utilized to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibers (TOCN), respectively. A stable CNC suspension with blue color was obtained after acid hydrolysis and the TEMPO process yielded colorless TOCN. The denim-derived nanocellulose possessed similar yield, morphology, size, crystallinity, and thermal stability to those derived from bleached cotton but higher crystallinity and thermal stability compared to the nanocellulose from wood pulp. When used to reinforce polyvinyl alcohol film, the blue indigo-CNC not only enhanced mechanical properties of the film but also provided the film with outstanding UV blocking.
The narrow window of bone age in children with slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a reassessment one decade later.

A narrow window of bone age (BA) in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) was described a decade ago. Children now mature younger. Does the BA narrow window still exist? It is the purpose of this study to investigate this question. A retrospective review of children with idiopathic SCFE (1998-2003) was performed. The initial study data ("past") were used as a comparison. Anteroposterior pelvis radiographs were scored for BA (Oxford method) in 108 children. Only the first radiograph was used for children with sequential bilateral SCFEs. There were 67 boys and 41 girls. There were 73 children with unilateral and 35 with bilateral SCFEs. Chronological age (CA) was 12.4 ± 1.8 years; Oxford score, 39 ± 3 points; and Oxford BA (OXBA), 13.2 ± 1.3 years. The recent children were younger (12.1 and 13.2 years; P = 0.001), with lower OXBA (29.0 and 31.4; P = 0.000003). When converted into years, there was no significant difference between the recent and past children (recent data, 13.1 years; past data, 13.5 years; P = 0.18). Chronological age was higher in boys than in girls (12.7 and 11.6 years, respectively; P = 0.0008), and so was BA (13.9 ± 1.0 and 12.0 years, respectively; P < 10 -6 ). There were no differences in BA score between boys and girls (boys, 29.5; girls, 29.9; P = 0.49). The recent data demonstrated the same narrow window of BA. The CA range for the boys' SCFE was 8.4 years, whereas the OXBA was 4.0 years. The CA range for girls was 5.3 years, whereas the OXBA was 2.3 years. Those with unilateral SCFEs were older than those with bilateral SCFEs in CA (12.7 and 11.7 years, respectively; P = 0.013), but not in BA (29.8 and 29.4; P = 0.51). All SCFEs are present, on average, at an OXBA of 29, regardless of sex, symptom duration, or unilateral/bilateral nature. This study has reaffirmed the narrow window of BA in SCFE, with a BA range approximating 50% of CA range.
Updated cosmogenic chronologies of Pleistocene mountain glaciation in the western United States and associated paleoclimate inferences

Abstract Surface exposure dating with terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCNs) has become the primary method for determining numerical ages of Pleistocene mountain glacial deposits and landforms in the conterminous western United States (U.S.) and in numerous other glaciated settings worldwide. Recent updates to models of TCN production and scaling warrant a reconsideration of published exposure ages of moraines of the last two Pleistocene glaciations and associated paleoclimate inferences. Previously reported TCN exposure ages of moraines are recalculated here using newer production rates and scaling models for nuclides helium-3 (3He), beryllium-10 (10Be), aluminum-26 (26Al), and chlorine-36 (36Cl), in most cases yielding significant differences from originally reported ages. Recalculated TCN exposure ages of moraines of the penultimate glaciation display a high degree of variability for individual landforms, particularly toward the younger end of age distributions, suggesting that exposure history is affected by moraine denudation and that older age modes provide the best estimate of the depositional age of these moraines. Oldest exposure ages of penultimate glaciation moraines are well-aligned among mountain ranges across the western U.S. and yield a mean of 138 ± 13 ka, indicating that mountain glaciation occurred in step with global ice volume maxima during marine oxygen isotope stage 6. On average, terminal moraines of the last glaciation date to 19.5 ± 2.3 ka and correspond to the latter part of the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Down-valley recessional moraines representing prolonged glacial stabilizations or readvances to ≥75% of maximum lengths have a mean exposure age of 17.0 ± 1.8 ka, suggesting that these moraine positions were last occupied during Heinrich Stadial 1. Evidence for multiple glacial culminations during the last glaciation is found in several mountain ranges and likely reflects at least two phases of Late Pleistocene climate: an earlier phase when glaciers attained their maximum length in response to cooling during the LGM, and a later phase when glaciers persisted at or readvanced to near-maximum lengths in response to sustained cold temperatures and/or increased precipitation.
Utility of Repeat Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Testing and Refinement of Diagnostic Stewardship Strategies at a Tertiary Care Academic Center in a Low-Prevalence Area of the United States.

Background Multiple factors have led to an extremely high volume of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Concerns exist about sensitivity and false-negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing results. We describe a retrospective observational study examining the utility of repeat nasopharyngeal (NP) SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing at an academic center in a low-prevalence setting. Methods All patients within our health system with >1 NP SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test result were included. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing was performed according to 1 of 4 validated assays. Key clinical and demographic data were collected, including whether the patient was inpatient or outpatient at time of the test and whether the test was performed as part of a person under investigation (PUI) for possible coronavirus disease 2019 or for asymptomatic screening. Results A total of 660 patients had >1 NP SARS-CoV-2 PCR test performed. The initial test was negative in 638. There were only 6 negative-to-positive conversions (0.9%). All 6 were outpatients undergoing a PUI workup 5-17 days after an initial negative result. In >260 inpatients with repeat testing, we found no instances of negative-to-positive conversion including those undergoing PUI or asymptomatic evaluation. Conclusions In a low-prevalence area, repeat inpatient testing after an initial negative result, using a highly analytically sensitive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, failed to demonstrate negative-to-positive conversion. The clinical sensitivity of NP RT-PCR testing may be higher than previously believed. These results have helped shape diagnostic stewardship guidelines, in particular guidance to decrease repeated testing in the inpatient setting to optimize test utilization and preserve resources.
Anti-rejection Medication Therapy in the Adult Solid Organ Transplant Recipient

Immunosuppressive medications are a vital part of preventing graft rejection in solid organ transplant recipients. The main classes of anti-rejection medications are calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, mTOR inhibitors, and corticosteroids. In this chapter, we review adverse side effects, monitoring, and drug interactions for these common anti-rejection medication classes.
The Happy, Healthy, Safe Relationships Continuum: Conceptualizing a Spectrum of Relationship Quality to Guide Community-Based Healthy Relationship Promotion Programming:

In recent years, the promotion of healthy relationships at the community level has been widely and rapidly increased. However, the lack of a comprehensive definition of healthy relationships has re...
Characterization of a COPD-Associated NPNT Functional Splicing Genetic Variant in Human Lung Tissue via Long-Read Sequencing

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 80 loci that are associated with COPD and emphysema, however for most of these loci the causal variant and gene are unknown. Here, we utilize lung splice quantitative trait loci (sQTL) data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project (GTEx) and short read sequencing data from the Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC) to characterize a locus in nephronectin ( NPNT ) associated with COPD case-control status and lung function. We found that the rs34712979 variant is associated with alternative splice junction use in NPNT , specifically for the junction connecting the 2nd and 4th exons (chr4:105898001-105927336) (p=4.02×10 -38 ). This association colocalized with GWAS data for COPD and lung spirometry measures with a posterior probability of 94%, indicating that the same causal genetic variants in NPNT underlie the associations with COPD risk, spirometric measures of lung function, and splicing. Investigation of NPNT short read sequencing revealed that rs34712979 creates a cryptic splice acceptor site which results in the inclusion of a 3 nucleotide exon extension, coding for a serine residue near the N-terminus of the protein. Using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long read sequencing we identified 13 NPNT isoforms, 6 of which are predicted to be protein coding. Two of these are full length isoforms which differ only in the 3 nucleotide exon extension whose occurrence differs by genotype. Overall, our data indicate that rs34712979 modulates COPD risk and lung function by creating a novel splice acceptor which results in the inclusion of a 3 nucelotide sequence coding for a serine in the nephronectin protein sequence. Our findings implicate NPNT splicing in contributing to COPD risk, and identify a novel serine insertion in the nephronectin protein that warrants further study.
Mechanisms of Contact Formation and Electromigration Reliability in Wirebond Packages

This paper concerns the microstructural mechanism responsible for the variation seen in the contact resistance of ball bonds made on Al pads with wire materials and dimensions and discusses its potential impact on the contact properties related to the physical reliability of wirebond packaging. Specifically, this paper reports the characterization on the contact resistance, a reflection of contact area, with wire dimension and wire materials (Cu and Pd coated Cu), and their susceptibility to the electromigration (EM) induced failures. This study is motivated by a belief that the property of contact interface is the one of leading factors affecting the overall reliability of the bond especially against delamination and EM, yet related studies are critically lacking. To solve this problem, we conducted a comprehensive characterization study on the contact resistance and the ball microstructure and related those to samples which were evaluated under EM loads. This study reveals that one of the critical contributing factors to the contact formation is the work-hardening property of the ball because it limits the level of plastic deformation that occurs during the ball bonding process. This is supported by the fact the contact formation in PCC (Pd coated Cu) has a high contact resistance since Pd alloying in the ball leads to the formation of a smaller contact area because the solid solution hardening causes the ball to attain a high work-hardening rate, and thus resist against deformation. We believe that this reduction in the contact area may cause the bond interface formed by PCC to have a lower adhesion strength and also possibly be more susceptible to EM failure, unless the contact is made with a greater force. We believe that the correlation between the strain hardening and the contact area found in our study can provide guidance for wirebonding with enhanced reliability.
Neratinib kills B-RAF V600E melanoma via ROS-dependent autophagosome formation and death receptor signaling

Melanoma cells expressing mutant B-RAF V600E are susceptible to treatment with the combination of a B-RAF inhibitor and a MEK1/2 inhibitor. We investigated the impact of the ERBB family and MAP4K inhibitor neratinib on the biology of PDX isolates of cutaneous melanoma expressing B-RAF V600E. Neratinib synergized with HDAC inhibitors to kill melanoma cells at their physiologic concentrations. Neratinib activated ATM, AMPK, ULK1, and PERK and inactivated mTORC1/2, ERK1/2, eIF2 alpha, and STAT3. Neratinib increased expression of Beclin1, ATG5, CD95, and FAS-L and decreased levels of multiple toxic BH3 domain proteins, MCL1, BCL-XL, FLIP-s, and ERBB1/2/4. ATG13 S318 phosphorylation and autophagosome formation was dependent upon ATM, and activation of ATM was dependent on reactive oxygen species. Reduced expression of ERBB1/2/4 required autophagosome formation and reduced MCL1/BCL-XL levels required eIF2 alpha phosphorylation. Maximal levels of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation required signaling by ATM-AMPK and autophagosome formation. Knock down of eIF2 alpha, CD95, FAS-L, Beclin1, and ATG5 or over-expression of FLIP-s significantly reduced killing. Combined knock down of Beclin1 and CD95 abolished cell death. Our data demonstrate that PDX melanoma cells expressing B-RAF V600E are susceptible to being killed by neratinib and more so when combined with HDACi.
Social Media Use in Research: Engaging Communities in Cohort Studies to Support Recruitment and Retention

Background: This paper presents the first formal evaluation of social media (SM) use in the National Children’s Study (NCS). The NCS is a prospective, longitudinal study of the effects of environment and genetics on children’s health, growth and development. The Study employed a multifaceted community outreach campaign in combination with a SM campaign to educate participants and their communities about the Study. SM essentially erases geographic differences between people due to its omnipresence, which was an important consideration in this multi-site national study. Using SM in the research setting requires an understanding of potential threats to confidentiality and privacy and the role that posted content plays as an extension of the informed consent process. Objective: This pilot demonstrates the feasibility of creating linkages and databases to measure and compare SM with new content and engagement metrics. Methods: Metrics presented include basic use metrics for Facebook as well as newly created metrics to assist with Facebook content and engagement analyses. Results: Increasing Likes per month demonstrates that online communities can be quickly generated. Content and Engagement analyses describe what content of posts NCS Study Centers were using, what content they were posting about, and what the online NCS communities found most engaging. Conclusions: These metrics highlight opportunities to optimize time and effort while determining the content of future posts. Further research about content analysis, optimal metrics to describe engagement in research, the role of localized content and stakeholders, and social media use in participant recruitment is warranted. [JMIR Res Protoc 2015;4(3):e90]
Biochemistry of Deoxyribonucleic Acid-defective Amber Mutants of Bacteriophage T4 I. RIBONUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM

Abstract The relationship between DNA replication and RNA synthesis in T4 bacteriophage-infected Escherichia coli has been explored by comparing certain aspects of RNA metabolism in E. coli B infected with T4D and with five amber mutants of T4 which are unable to replicate their DNA. The following findings were made. 1. The metabolic stability of uracil-14C-labeled RNA, as determined in pulse-chase experiments, is essentially the same early and late in infection by either wild type phage or one of the mutants. 2. The rate of RNA synthesis early in infection by T4D or the amber mutants is approximately the same, but the rate decreases drastically late in infection by the amber mutants. However, the rate of RNA synthesis does not drop to zero in any case. 3. One of the mutants studied, T4 amE10, synthesizes RNA only about half as rapidly as the other mutants. A similar deficiency in protein synthesis was observed. 4. All of the RNA species formed late in infection by the amber mutants are present early in infection by T4D, as determined by competitive DNA-RNA hybridization tests. Thus, DNA replication is a necessary step for transcription of RNA species found only at late periods in normal phage development.
Resonances in Reaction Dynamics

Resonances--sharp changes in behavior when particles interact--in chemical reactions can reveal the vibration and rotation of reactants and products. This approach has been applied to the dissociation of formaldehyde and the reaction of fluorine with hydrogen.
Very high efficiency techniques and their selective application to the design of a 70 A rectifier

Latest techniques for the design and construction of high efficiency, high performance switched mode power supplies are investigated, compared with older techniques, and implemented in the optimised design of a 70 A, 54 VDC telecommunications rectifier which draws unity power factor from the AC supply while exceeding 93% conversion efficiency. A new 'lossless' snubber is introduced which combines di/dt and dv/dt limiting properties to greatly improve efficiency while using 30% fewer parts than conventional 'lossy' snubbers. Another novel approach used is the parallel combination of IGBT and MOSFET to form a hybrid power switch with a very low on-voltage and a low turn-off loss. Contrary to popular trends the switching frequency is kept low to minimise switching losses. The combination of these techniques and others discussed in the paper, yields a unit with excellent efficiency and some advantages which further benefit both manufacturer and end user. >
Examining School‐Based Social Skills Program Needs and Barriers for Students with High‐Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Participatory Action Research

Participatory action research (PAR) is a method used to develop interventions with the direct input of stakeholders. Social skills are a core deficit of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASD) that can affect academic performance and other areas of well-being, yet empirically supported services are not always available. The current study examined data collected using PAR for the purpose of informing development of a school-based social skills program for children with HFASD. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected during focus groups with school staff (n = 14) and parents (n = 2) of children with HFASD and observations of children with HFASD (n = 2) in a full-inclusion elementary classroom. Results showed that both quantitative and qualitative data yielded helpful and unique forms of information as the first step of PAR, documenting the need for social skills interventions and barriers to implementation.
An efficient packet scheduling algorithm in network processors

Several companies have introduced powerful network processors (NPs) that can be placed in routers to execute various tasks in the network. These tasks can range from IP level table lookup algorithm to application level multimedia transcoding applications. An NP consists of a number of on-chip processors to carry out packet level parallel processing operations. Ensuring good load balancing among the processors increases throughput. However, such multiprocessing also gives rise to increased out-of-order departure of processed packets. In this paper, we first propose a dynamic batch co-scheduling (DBCS) scheme to schedule packets in a heterogeneous network processor assuming that the workload is perfectly divisible. The processed loads from the processors are ordered perfectly. We analyze the throughput and derive expressions for the batch size, scheduling time and maximum number of schedulable processors. To effectively schedule variable length packets in an NP, we propose a packetized dynamic batch-coscheduling (P-DBCS) scheme by applying a combination of deficit round robin (DRR) and surplus round robin (SRR) schemes. We extend the algorithm to handle multiple flows based on a fair scheduling of flows depending on their reservations. Extensive sensitivity results are provided through analysis and simulation to show that the proposed algorithms satisfy both the load balancing and in-order requirements in packet processing.
Homeownership — Dream or Disaster?

This article discusses the impact of the foreclosure crisis on the housing prospects of American families. Foreclosure is governed by state law, which establishes a procedure to enable lenders to recover property from defaulting borrowers through a public sale process. States authorize two different methods, judicial foreclosure, in which the foreclosure process requires a judicial hearing, and power of sale foreclosure, in which a trustee can offer mortgaged property to the highest bidder at a public sale after giving twenty days public notice. Judicial foreclosure is administered by state courts in twenty-three states. The power of sale foreclosure process is administered by loan servicers through trustees in the other twenty-seven states. Part I reviews the role that homeownership has played in American society and summarizes the history of federal support for homeownership. Part II examines the housing bubble of the early years of the new millennium and the foreclosure crisis that occurred when the bubble burst in 2008. Part II also examines the roles played by residential mortgage servicing companies that collect and distribute mortgage payments, as well as the role of the computerized mortgages tracking system operated by Mortgage Electronic Registration Services Inc. (MERS) as it interacts with the public land recording system as a nominee for lenders. Part III discusses governmental responses to the foreclosure crisis, including the HOPE NOW Alliance, the FHA HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) program established by the Bush administration, along with the Obama administration’s Housing Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program. Part IV argues that current foreclosure response techniques such as counseling and mediation can be successful if they become automatic parts of the residential mortgage foreclosure process, are coupled with mandatory loss mitigation requirements for lenders along the lines of the National Mortgage Settlement, and have as a resource a financing cushion for qualified defaulting homeowners, such as a “first priority seed lien” recommended by Professor Christopher Peterson of the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law. Part IV also recommends that greater attention be paid to the value of renting as a means of restoring stability to the overall housing market.
In Vivo Biomechanical Measurements of a Football Player's C6 Spine Fracture

Sports are a common cause of spine injuries. Video footage documented an 18-year-old football player who sustained a cervical spine fracture during a head-down tackling maneuver. A telemetry system in the player's helmet measured the location and magnitude of the impact that caused the injury.
Alpha-blockers and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome: ophthalmic adverse events following cataract surgery.

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) is a triad of progressive intraoperative miosis despite preoperative dilation, billowing of a flaccid iris, and iris prolapse toward the incision sites during phacoemulsification surgery for cataract removal. IFIS has been associated with systemic α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and other classes of medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as other systemic disease. The condition is best managed with several surgical and pharmacologic options if anticipated prior to surgery. Such precautions result in excellent surgical and visual acuity outcomes that appear similar to non-IFIS–affected eyes. There is still much to learn about IFIS and its exact causes, as well as a need for agreed upon guidelines that would enable physicians to properly anticipate and successfully manage or even prevent the condition.
Normative Steps/Day and Peak Cadence Values for United States Children and Adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006

Objective To provide sex-and-age specific normative values for children and adolescents' accelerometer-determined steps/day, and peak 60-minute cadence adjusted to a pedometer-based scale. Study design The analysis sample was 2610 children and adolescents (1329 girls) from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Accelerometer data were adjusted by eliminating steps counted when activity counts/min Results Steps/day was inversely associated with age in both boys and girls. The age-associated reduction was apparent in only small decrements for boys; the girl's reduction was steeper. Boys appeared to maintain or increase their peak 60-minute cadence with increased age between 8 and 15 years of age, with a reduction apparent over the last 2 age groups investigated. The peak 60-minute cadence was more variable for girls; a similar sharp reduction (3-6 steps/min) in tandem with the steps/day was apparent between 10- to 11-year-old girls and 12- to 13-year-old girls. Conclusions We provided detailed information and normative data pertaining to steps/d and peak 60-minute cadence in US children and adolescents. Like well-known body mass index growth curves, these data may be useful for scientists and clinical practitioners.
Recharge Rates of Principal Aquifers in Lake County, Indianaa

The upper 350 to 400 feet of rocks underlying Lake County, Indiana, form a single but complex hydrologic system. The rock units composing this system consist (in ascending order) of dolomite, clay till (unit 4), glaciofluvial sand (unit 3), clay till (unit 2), and lacustrine sand, silt, and clay (unit 1). The dolomite and unit 3 form the principal aquifers and the clay tills, units 4 and 2, the confining layers. The geohydrology of the confining layers controls to a large extent the rate at which the aquifers are recharged from local precipitation and, thereby, their potential yield. Unit 4, the dolomite's confining layer, has an estimated average vertical permeability of about 0.003 gpd (gallon per day) per square foot. Under present conditions of head difference, the rate of recharge to the dolomite through unit 4 is estimated to average 20,000 gpd per square mile. Unit 2, the confining layer for unit 3, has an average estimated vertical permeability of about 0.007 gpd per square foot. Under present conditions of head difference the recharge through unit 3's confining layer is estimated to average about 100,000 gpd per square mile. However, these rates of recharge can be expected to increase as the head difference across each confining layer increases with extensive development of the aquifer.
A Text Creation Routine for Graphics on a Microcomputer

Placing text on the graphics screen in any size any angle is an important function of a graphics program. Some microcomputers, however, will not print characters on the graphics screen, and others have very limited ability, such as printing only in 40-character or 80-character mode. Characters are needed for dimensions and notes on the drawing as well as for prompts and messages. Alternate fonts, rotation of the text, and different sizes of text are needed for many applications, not to mention text that is scaled up and down as the user zooms in or out to magnify or reduce the size of the image. This article examines available techniques and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each. A method is presented for producing stroke generated text by designing each character as a matrix of dots on a standard grid and storing the coordinates of the dots as endpoints of vectors to be used to draw the character. The standard grid is assumed to have its origin in the lower left corner and each coordinate is defined relative to that origin.
Deposition of microcrystalline hydrogenated silicon,germanium alloy (μc-SixGe1 − x:H) films by reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS)

Abstract Hydrogenated silicon,germanium alloys, which span the transition from amorphous to polycrystalline microstructures, have been prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering from pure crystalline Si and Ge targets in a hydrogen ambient using argon as the sputtering gas. X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy have been used for microstructural characterization of films with different Ge concentrations. Microstructural changes produced by rapid thermal annealing in an Ar environment were also studied.
Regulation of aspartokinase activity in the genus Beneckea and marine, luminous bacteria.

The pattern of allosteric regulation of aspartokinase activity was determined in species of Beneckea and in the marine, luminous bacteria. The results indicated that these organisms have at least three isofunctional aspartokinases of which the first is inhibited by l-threonine, the second is inhibited by l-lysine, and the third is unaffected by either l-threonine or l-lysine. The homoserine dehydrogenase activity is clearly separable from the l-lysine-sensitive aspartokinase, that may be associated with one (or both) of the other isofunctional aspartokinases.
EFFECT OF ACIDIFICATION/NEUTRALIZATION ON THE ABILITY OF DIETARY FIBER TO INHIBIT LIPOLYSIS IN VITRO

Three dietary fibers (red wheat bran [RWB], oat bran [OB], chitin [Chi]) were exposed to pH conditions simulating those encountered during passage of food through the human stomach and into the duodenum. Acidified/neutralized (AN) fibers were separated into solid and soluble fractions, the soluble fractions were further separated by dialysis and/or ultrafiltration, and the various samples were tested for their lipolysis-inhibiting (LI) ability using an in vitro procedure. The combined LI ability of the AN solid and soluble fractions sometimes differed greatly from that of the untreated fiber, the LI ability of AN extracts sometimes differed significantly from that of the corresponding nonAN extract, and the size of molecules causing inhibition differed depending on the fiber source. Clearly, the AN treatment causes a significant change in the LI properties of dietary fibers.
Viscoelastic behavior of crumb rubber modified asphalt binders

ABSTRACT The Superpave binder specification characterizes asphalt binders using dynamic mechanical analysis based on the principles of linear viscoelasticity. Dynamic mechanical analysis of crumb rubber modified binders showed that the time-temperature superposition principle is applicable to the crumb rubber modified binders included in this study and the master curves for these binders can be analytically represented using various techniques applicable to unmodified binders. It was observed that the unmodified and crumb rubber modified binders with the same high temperature performance grading show different viscoelastic behavior over a range of frequencies.
Deconstructing N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptor Contributions to Cortical Circuit Functions to Construct Better Hypotheses About the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia

One of the challenges facing translational neuroscience is to achieve a deep understanding of how brain circuits represent behavior and the clinical features of psychiatric disorders. Despite progress in understanding working memory, decision making, fear, and some other behaviors, a new generation of advances is needed before we can claim a deep mechanistic understanding of any symptom of any psychiatric disorder. One reason this task is so daunting is that specific molecular abnormalities are recapitulated at multiple sites within individual neurons, microcircuits, and macrocircuits widely distributed in the brain. Siegel and his group at the University of Pennsylvania provide new insight into the impact of developmental deficits in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor function in a series of elegant articles describing cell-type specific genetic reductions in NMDA receptor expression, including an article in this issue of Biological Psychiatry by Tatard-Leitman et al. (1) describing the impact of targeted reductions in the expression of the NR1 (GluN1) subunit of the NMDA receptor in forebrain pyramidal neurons (Figure 1). In their study, NR1 knockout (KO) animals showed locomotor hyperactivity and behavioral traits commonly associated with patients with schizophrenia, including impairment of working memory, reduced “self-care” (nest building), and reduced social activity. They also exhibited reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) and increased pyramidal cell excitability, associated with a reduction of G protein– regulated inward-rectifier potassium channel 2. The authors also documented a disturbance in high-frequency (gamma) oscillations that has been characterized in schizophrenia by this group as loss of tuning or reduced signal-to-noise (2) (i.e., increased resting gamma power but reduced evoked gamma power). These findings provide some support for the hypothesis that glutamate synaptic dysfunction may be a primary form of pathology for schizophrenia (3) and that network disinhibition arising from reductions in NMDA receptor signaling in schizophrenia need not develop as a consequence of deficits in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. However, loss of pyramidal neuron NMDA receptors did not recapitulate all findings associated with schizophrenia. For example, schizophrenia is associated with impairments in the functional integrity of many GABA neuronal populations, whereas this model selectively affected interneurons that release cholecystokinin. A parallel study from this group described mice with selective KO of NMDA receptors on parvalbumin-containing GABA neurons (Figure 1) (4). Similar to the pyramidal cell NR1 KOs, these mice showed reductions in social behaviors, but
The medical challenge to infrared spectroscopy

Abstract This is a review of the emerging role of infrared spectroscopy in medical research and practice, illustrated with representative examples from the Institute for Biodiagnostics and from the literature.
Estimation of position from multistatic Doppler measurements

We implement and evaluate a method infer position from Doppler measurements in a multistatic sonar scenario and present a likelihood approach for doing so. Doppler measurements are used to create likelihood surfaces for each of the transmitter-receiver pairs. The likelihood surfaces are combined and can then be used as-is or combined with additional position measurements. The final likelihood surface is usable in a Bayesian-style tracker or can be used to estimate position of a contact for use in a contact-based tracker. We show how the estimate improves with the addition of multiple receivers and show how the use of Doppler information can improve tracking results.
THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY IN PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was developed in 1981 by Dr. Archie Brain in the United Kingdom, and has been available for clinical use in the United States since 1992. It represents a novel concept in airway management that allows air exchange through a specially designed mask that fits in the hypopharynx and faces the laryngeal inlet, creating an end-to-end seal. During the last decade there has been ample literature, much of it anecdotal, on the many applications of the LMA over a wide patient age range. It has also been the subject of detailed literature reviews and a book.7,12,39,47 The LMA has achieved popularity at a rapid rate, and in certain regions it has become the principal means of airway management during anesthesia. The shape of the LMA mask was developed based on cadaveric studies of the adult pharynx.8 Structurally, pediatric-sized LMAs are simply scaled-down versions of the adult variety, even though newborns and infants display significant differences in airway anatomy from older children and adults. Although its application in the pediatric population has lagged behind adult use, the LMA now has established roles in routine pediatric anesthesia, management of the difficult pediatric airway, and diagnostic airway procedures. There are a number of publications addressing the use of the LMA in pediatric patients.32,36,46 The LMA is generally used in the spontaneously breathing patient, although it can be employed with controlled, positive pressure ventilation.25 The LMA has been used in premies as small as 1 kg in weight.11,31
Characterization of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates fabricated from colloidal printing inks

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is now a well-established technique to greatly amplify the normally weak Raman scattering signals. The amplification is achieved by using SERS substrates - specially structured metallic substrates with nano-scale morphological features. One of the most widely used methods for SERS amplification employs nanoparticles of silver or gold either in colloidal suspension or in dry-drop form. In such substrates SERS amplification factors (AF) exceeding 10 12 have been reported. The reproducibility of the colloid-based substrates, however, is a problem. The lack of reproducibility can be caused by a variety of factors that can change the interparticle distances. In this paper we show that thermal annealing of SERS substrates fabricated using commercially available nano-particle inks can be used to create thermally stable substrates with high reproducibility. It appears that thermal annealing destroys the unstable hot-spots with very high AF's but still leaves the sample with high AF sites yielding spatially averaged substrate AF's exceeding 10 8 .