cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rethinking urinary antibiotic breakpoints: analysis of urinary antibiotic concentrations to treat multidrug resistant organisms.

The present study analyzed whether renally eliminated antibiotics achieve sufficient urinary concentrations based on their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principles to effectively eradicate organisms deemed resistant by automated susceptibility testing. Lower median minimum inhibitory concentrations against enterobacteriaceae were noted for ceftriaxone, cefepime, and doripenem when comparing Etest® to Vitek®. All Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to cefepime, ciprofloxacin, and doripenem with both susceptibility methods, but higher median minimum inhibitory concentrations were observed with Etest®. Urine concentrations/time profiles were calculated for standard doses of ceftriaxone, cefepime, doripenem, and ciprofloxacin. The data presented in the current study suggests high urine concentrations of antibiotics may effectively eradicate bacteria which were determined to be resistant per in vitro susceptibility testing.
Industrial Conceptualization of Health Care Versus the Naturalistic Decision-Making Paradigm: Work as Imagined Versus Work as Done:

Quality and safety concerns in health care over the past 20 years precipitated the need to move beyond the traditional view of health care as an artisanal process toward a sociotechnical systems vi...
Maleficence Toward the Minority Patient

The idea of race-based medicine creates maleficence (harm) in minority patient care. Eugenic influence created false assumptions and stereotypes (the homogeneity of characteristics, experience, and behavior of a group and individuals from that group) about the black patient’s body. Physicians’ infatuation of the black body created a disturbing language, which caused unconscionable harm in the clinical practice. Inaccurate semantics and perceptions provided the justification for inhumane experimentation on black bodies.
Integrative inference of brain cell similarities and differences from single-cell genomics

Summary Defining cell types requires integrating diverse measurements from multiple experiments and biological contexts. Recent technological developments in single-cell analysis have enabled high-throughput profiling of gene expression, epigenetic regulation, and spatial relationships amongst cells in complex tissues, but computational approaches that deliver a sensitive and specific joint analysis of these datasets are lacking. We developed LIGER, an algorithm that delineates shared and dataset-specific features of cell identity, allowing flexible modeling of highly heterogeneous single-cell datasets. We demonstrated its broad utility by applying it to four diverse and challenging analyses of human and mouse brain cells. First, we defined both cell-type-specific and sexually dimorphic gene expression in the mouse bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, an anatomically complex brain region that plays important roles in sex-specific behaviors. Second, we analyzed gene expression in the substantia nigra of seven postmortem human subjects, comparing cell states in specific donors, and relating cell types to those in the mouse. Third, we jointly leveraged in situ gene expression and scRNA-seq data to spatially locate fine subtypes of cells present in the mouse frontal cortex. Finally, we integrated mouse cortical scRNA-seq profiles with single-cell DNA methylation signatures, revealing mechanisms of cell-type-specific gene regulation. Integrative analyses using the LIGER algorithm promise to accelerate single-cell investigations of cell-type definition, gene regulation, and disease states.
Responsabilidad social en restaurantes de Miraflores, Lima

To stablish the main strengths and weaknesses of the company with the aim of building a clear vision of its current situation, from the perspective of the Chief Executive officers and managers of restaurants located in the district of Miraflores, Lima- Peru a survey was performed during july and august 2015.80 persons were interviewed and the results showed mainly that almost always they had actions to improve the quality of life, and of commitment with society, the environment and the stakeholders. In addition, significant relationship between quality of life and the commitment with environment and stakeholders but not with stakeholders.On the other hand, there is independence between commitment with society and environment and commitment with stakeholders
The Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography Instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source.

The Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography (MFX) instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is the seventh and newest instrument at the world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser. It was designed with a primary focus on structural biology, employing the ultrafast pulses of X-rays from LCLS at atmospheric conditions to overcome radiation damage limitations in biological measurements. It is also capable of performing various time-resolved measurements. The MFX design consists of a versatile base system capable of supporting multiple methods, techniques and experimental endstations. The primary techniques supported are forward scattering and crystallography, with capabilities for various spectroscopic methods and time-resolved measurements. The location of the MFX instrument allows for utilization of multiplexing methods, increasing user access to LCLS by running multiple experiments simultaneously.
Hot-wire GTAW cladding: inconel 625 on 347 stainless steel

Gas tungsten arc (GTA) cladding has been widely applied in surface modification and repairing. In this study, low current gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) cladding in the range of 60 to 100 A was performed with resistively heating hot-wire filler Inconel alloy (IN625) on the 347 stainless steel substrate. A 70 A or more primary current can be used to clad a continuous and uniform layer on the substrate by resistively heating the wire and varying the torch angle. Lower dilution and higher contact angle were observed for lower current clad. An analytical model has been used to understand the resistively heating hot-wire effect. The microstructure of the clad bead and the substrate was analyzed. A heat-affected zone (HAZ) cracking was observed in the higher range of primary current. An EDX analysis was performed to reveal iron (Fe) elemental dilution and elemental segregation.
Pulsating hydrodynamic instability and thermal coupling in an extended Landau/Levich model of liquid-propellant combustion: I. Inviscid analysis

Hydrodynamic (Landau) instability in combustion is typically associated with the onset of wrinkling of a flame surface, corresponding to the formation of steady cellular structures as the stability threshold is crossed. In the context of liquid-propellant combustion, such instability has recently been shown to occur for critical values of the pressure sensitivity of the burning rate and the disturbance wavenumber, significantly generalizing previous classical results for this problem that assumed a constant normal burning rate. Additionally, however, a pulsating form of hydrodynamic instability has been shown to occur as well, corresponding to the onset of temporal oscillations in the location of the liquid/gas interface. In the present work, we consider the realistic influence of a non-zero temperature sensitivity in the local burning rate on both types of stability thresholds. It is found that for sufficiently small values of this parameter, there exists a stable range of pressure sensitivities for stea...
Controlled Cortical Impact Leads to Cognitive and Motor Function Deficits that Correspond to Cellular Pathology in a Piglet Traumatic Brain Injury Model.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, with children who sustain a TBI having a greater risk of developing long-lasting cognitive, be...
Item Response Rates for Composite Variables

Item response rates frequently serve as indicators of data quality and potential nonresponse bias. However, key variables from surveys, such as total household income or net worth, are often composite variables constructed from several underlying components. Because such composite variables do not have clearly identifiable response rates, inference on the data quality of these key measures is more difficult. This article proposes three new methods for aggregating data on response rates across questions to create a measure of item response for composite variables. To compare the three methods and illustrate how they can be used (both individually and collectively) to investigate data quality, I analyze item response for net worth in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). These new measures provide detailed information about net worth estimates that would be difficult to assess without an item response aggregation method. Overall, these new item response rate methods provide a new way of describing data quality for key measures in surveys and for analyzing changes in data quality over time.
Characteristics of transfusion‐transmitted Babesia microti, American Red Cross 2010‐2017

Background Babesia microti, a red blood cell (RBC) parasite transmitted naturally to vertebrate hosts by ixodid ticks, is endemic to the northeastern and upper midwestern United States, with the geographic range of infected ticks expanding. B. microti is a blood safety issue with >200 transfusion-transmissions reported. Methods The American Red Cross's Hemovigilance program investigated hospital-reported transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB) cases. Follow-up samples from involved donors were tested for B. microti antibodies and parasite DNA, the latter by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Test-positive donors were permanently deferred from future donations. Results B. microti-positive donors were implicated in 77 of 143 suspect TTB cases investigated from 2010 through 2017. In four cases, two positive donors were identified for a total of 81 positive donors. In three cases, a RBC unit was split and components transfused multiple times to the same pediatric recipient. RBCs were the transmitting product in all cases. At follow-up, all involved donors were antibody positive; 25 donors were also PCR positive. Positive donations were collected throughout the year, peaking in the summer. Most donors (78) were resident of, or traveled to (2), an endemic state. One donor resided in a non-endemic state without relevant travel history. One fatality listed babesia as a contributing factor. No implicated donation was screened by an investigational protocol. Conclusions Babesiosis remains a blood safety issue. Prior to FDA-licensed screening test availability and final FDA Guidance, blood collectors in endemic states investigationally tested none, a portion, or all collections. Future expanded testing will reduce the frequency of TTB cases.
Biorthogonal Rosenbrock-Krylov time discretization methods

Abstract Many scientific applications require the solution of large initial-value problems, such as those produced by the method of lines after semi-discretization in space of partial differential equations. The computational cost of implicit time discretizations is dominated by the solution of nonlinear systems of equations at each time step. In order to decrease this cost, the recently developed Rosenbrock-Krylov (ROK) time integration methods extend the classical linearly-implicit Rosenbrock(-W) methods, and make use of a Krylov subspace approximation to the Jacobian computed via an Arnoldi process. Since the ROK order conditions rely on the construction of a single Krylov space, no restarting of the Arnoldi process is allowed, and the iterations quickly become expensive with increasing subspace dimensions. This work extends the ROK framework to make use of the Lanczos biorthogonalization procedure for constructing Jacobian approximations. The resulting new family of methods is named biorthogonal ROK (BOROK). The Lanczos procedure's short two-term recurrence allows BOROK methods to utilize larger subspaces for the Jacobian approximation, resulting in increased numerical stability of the time integration at a reduced computational cost. Adaptive subspace size selection and basis extension procedures are also developed for the new schemes. Numerical experiments show that for stiff problems, where a large subspace used to approximate the Jacobian is required for stability, the BOROK methods outperform the original ROK methods.
Deep learning-enabled computational microscopy and sensing (Conference Presentation)

Deep learning is a class of machine learning techniques that uses multi-layered artificial neural networks for automated analysis of signals or data. The name comes from the general structure of deep neural networks, which consist of several layers of artificial neurons, each performing a nonlinear operation, stacked over each other. Beyond its main stream applications such as the recognition and labeling of specific features in images, deep learning holds numerous opportunities for revolutionizing image formation, reconstruction and sensing fields. In this presentation, I will provide an overview of some of our recent work on the use of deep neural networks in advancing computational microscopy and sensing systems, also covering their biomedical applications.
Challenges to informed consent for exome sequencing: A best-worst scaling experiment.

As exome sequencing expands as a diagnostic tool, patients and providers have voiced concerns about communicating the breadth and scope of potential results when obtaining informed consent. This study aimed to understand how genetic counselors prioritize essential components of the informed consent process and whether counselor factors influence these decisions. Development of a best-worst scaling experiment was informed by a systematic literature review and two focus groups. In all, 11 choice sets were created using a balanced incomplete block design, where participants selected the most and least important object in each set. Mean best-worst (BW) scores were calculated to summarize the relative importance of each object, and mediation analyses assessed whether responses were associated with genetic counselor factors and attitudes. In all, 342 members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors completed the online survey. Ranking of BW scores suggests that participants prioritize collaborative decision-making, assessing understanding and managing expectations, with the least emphasis placed on discussing technological complexities. Stratified analyses found that counselors more experienced with obtaining informed consent for exome sequencing and those reporting higher perceptions of patients' ability to manage information rated discussing variants of uncertain significance as significantly more important (p < .05). Our results suggest that genetic counselors report intentions to prioritize individual patient needs when obtaining informed consent for exome sequencing. Professional characteristics and attitudes may influence preemptive discussion of uncertain results.
Why Do Experts Solve Complex Problems Using Open Innovation? Evidence from the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry:

This article investigates how project expertise and complexity jointly impact the decision to adopt open or closed innovation. It identifies four different types of open innovation models—crowdsour...
CHAPTER 2 – VIRAL REPLICATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanisms of viral replication. Three essential processes are common to all viruses; replication of their genomes, production of messenger RNA, and translation of these messages into polypeptides. The cellular site of genome replication and transcription plays a central role in determining the mechanism that a virus will use to transfer information encoded in the viral genome. Viral messages that are synthesized in the cell cytoplasm, whether monocistronic or polycistronic, act directly as templates for polypeptide synthesis, as no mechanism exists in the host cell cytoplasm for processing of mRNA. On the other hand, viral polycistronic messages produced in the nucleus generally are not suitable templates for protein synthesis. Consequently, the large mRNAs are cleaved for translation before being transported to the cytoplasm. The end products of viral replication are new genomes, and structural and nonstructural polypeptides. The specific mechanisms that viruses use to synthesize these products depend to a large extent on the cellular site of replication and the chemical structure of their genomes. Viral messages that are synthesized in the nucleus are processed before being transported to the cytoplasm.
Thermal extremes in regulated river systems under climate change: an application to the southeastern U.S. rivers

High river temperatures, or "thermal extremes", can cause fish mortality and thermoelectric powerplant derating. Under climate change, projected higher air temperature and stronger surface energy fluxes will lead to increased water temperatures, exacerbating thermal extremes. However, cold hypolimnetic releases from thermally stratified reservoirs can depress tailwater temperatures and therefore alleviate thermal extremes. Thermal extremes are more harmful when they coincide with low flows, which we refer to as "hydrologic hot-dry events". To assess multi-sectoral impacts of climate change over large regions, we evaluate thermal events according to three impact attributes: duration (D), intensity (I), and severity (S). We apply an established model framework to simulate streamflow and stream temperature over the southeastern US regulated river system. We quantify climate change impacts (by the 2080s under RCP8.5) by comparing historical and future periods and quantify regulation impacts by comparing unregulated and regulated model setups. We find that climate change will exacerbate thermal extremes (all three metrics) in both unregulated and regulated model setups, albeit less in the regulated setup. Thermal mitigation from reservoir regulation will be stronger under climate change, decreasing the three metrics compared to the unregulated case. Even so, thermal extremes in the regulated setup will still be more severe under climate change, and only 12.2%, 19.7%, and 26.0% of D, I, and S can be mitigated by reservoirs. Despite stronger reservoir stratification, the number of regulated river segments that experience simultaneous high temperature and low flow events (hydrologic hot-dry events) will increase by 21.4% by the 2080s under RCP8.5. These events will have a median annual duration of 10.3 days/year, over 10 times the historical value.
Dietary Patterns, Ceramide Ratios, and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: The Framingham Offspring Study.

Background Prior evidence suggests that diet modifies the association of blood ceramides with the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). It remains unknown if diet quality modifies the association of very long-chain-to-long-chain ceramide ratios with mortality in the community. Objectives Our objectives were to determine how healthy dietary patterns associate with blood ceramide concentrations and to examine if healthy dietary patterns modify associations of ceramide ratios (C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Methods We examined 2157 participants of the Framingham Offspring Study (mean age = 66 y, 55% women). Blood ceramides were quantified using a validated assay. We evaluated prospective associations of the Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index (DGAI) and Mediterranean-style Diet Score (MDS) with incidence of all-cause and cause-specific mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. Cross-sectional associations of the DGAI and MDS with ceramides were evaluated using multivariable linear regression models. Results The C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0 ceramide ratios were inversely associated with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality; multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 0.73 (0.67, 0.80) and 0.70 (0.63, 0.77) for all-cause mortality, 0.74 (0.60, 0.90) and 0.69 (0.55, 0.86) for CVD mortality, and 0.75 (0.65, 0.87) and 0.75 (0.64, 0.88) for cancer mortality, respectively. Inverse associations of the C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0 ceramide ratios with cancer mortality were attenuated among individuals with a higher diet quality (DGAI or MDS above the median, all P-interaction ≤0.1). The DGAI and MDS had distinct associations with ceramide ratios (DGAI: lower C22:0/C16:0 across quartiles; MDS: higher C24:0/C16:0 across quartiles; all P-trend ≤0.01). Conclusion In our community-based sample, ceramide ratios (C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0) were associated with a lower risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Further, we observed that a higher overall diet quality attenuates the association between blood ceramide ratios and cancer mortality and that dietary patterns have distinct relations with ceramide ratios.
Antiphase Boundary Free InP Microridges on (001) Silicon by Selective Area Heteroepitaxy

Heteroepitaxy of III–V compound semiconductors on silicon (Si) or silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates is of great interest for photonics and electronics applications. In this work, antiphase-boun...
Staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty during a single hospitalization: is it still an option? a systematic review

Bilateral knee osteoarthritis requiring total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be addressed simultaneously in one surgical setting, staggered a few days apart during a single hospitalization, or staged several weeks to months apart. Several studies have reported on the complications and clinical outcomes of staggered bilateral TKA (BTKA) in a single hospitalization. However, there is no consensus regarding the safety and efficacy of this practice. We performed a systematic review of the literature, utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and identifying articles that reported the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications following staggered BTKA. Overall, six articles were included for analysis, including 43,892 patients in total. Females (n = 25,931; 59% of all patients) outnumbered males (n = 17,961; 40.1% of all patients), and most patients were middle-aged or elderly (mean age: 68.0 years). The majority of studies (83%) used a 1-week interval as the maximum time for single-hospitalization staggered BTKA. Five studies (83%) reported no difference in mortality rates between staggered, simultaneous, or staged BTKA. Compared to staged BTKA, staggered BTKA conferred an increased rate of blood transfusions. There was no consensus that staggered BTKA led to reduced complications rates, compared to simultaneous or staged BTKA. Single-hospitalization staggered BTKA does not appear to be safer than the well-established simultaneous or staged procedures. Overall, the data suggest that staggered BTKA will continue to decline in utilization, as staggered BTKA does not appear to yield clinical advantage over simultaneous BTKA in a medically appropriate patient. systematic review (lowest level of studies included)
Erratum for Tolbert et al., "Recognition Patterns of the C1/C2 Epitopes Involved in Fc-Mediated Response in HIV-1 Natural Infection and the RV114 Vaccine Trial".

Volume 11, no. 3, e00208-20, 2020, [https://doi:10.1128/mBio.00208-20][1]. There is a typo in the title: RV114 instead of RV144. The correct title should be “Recognition Patterns of the C1/C2 Epitopes Involved in Fc-Mediated Response in HIV-1 Natural Infection and the RV144 Vaccine Trial.” [1
The role of tocilizumab therapy in critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

CONTEXT: Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist, has been approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis and cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) associated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells treatment. Although TCZ is currently utilized in the treatment of critically ill coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients, data on survival impact is minimal. OBJECTIVES: To assess the mortality rate of patients presenting with COVID-19 who received TCZ for suspected CSS. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Henry Ford Health System between March 10, 2020 and May 18, 2020. Data collection began in May 2020 and was completed in June 2020. Patients included in the study required hospital admission and had positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab. Eligibility criteria to receive TCZ, per hospital protocol, included any of the following: persistent fever, defined as 38.0 °C for at least 6 hours; a diagnosis of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); serum ferritin ≥1,000 (ng/mL) or doubling within 24 hours; D-Dimer ≥ 5 (mg/L); serum lactate dehydrogenase ≥500 (IU/L); or interlukin-6 level ≥5 times the upper limit of normal. Dosing was initially determined by weight, then changed to a fixed 400 mg per hospital protocol. A comparator cohort was created from patients with COVID-19 and ARDS who did not receive TCZ. Patient survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log rank test. A multivariable cox regression was applied to evaluate the association between TCZ and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients were evaluated in the study, 54 (41.5%) of whom received TCZ. Patients who received TCZ were younger (mean age, 63.8 vs. 69.4 years; p=0.0083) and had higher body mass indices (mean, 33.9 vs. 30.4; p=0.005). Of the comorbid conditions evaluated, heart disease was more common in the comparator group than the TCZ group (27 patients [35.5%] vs. 10 patients [18.5%]; p=0.034). A Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated no difference in survival between TCZ and comparator patients (log rank p=0.495). In the multivariable Cox regression model for mortality at 30 days, treatment with TCZ was not associated with decreased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-2.3; p=0.77). Lower mean C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were demonstrated within 48 hours of disposition in the TCZ group (mean TCZ, 4.9 vs. mean comparator, 13.0; p=<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study, no difference in survival was observed in critically ill patients treated with TCZ.
No place to hide: Motivation and emotion

This chapter explores the derivatives, dynamics, and consequences of the often intangible experience prompted by emotion, which, at any given moment, may be a dominant and immutable force that radically alters behavioral readiness, determination, and effort intensity. Globally, emotional responses to external events may trigger conflict, risk lives, destroy cultures, or build dynasties. Individually, subjective reactions to encounters can radically alter moods and dispositions, limiting or enabling our capabilities and accomplishments. Invariably, emotional episodes are linked to key performance drivers including perceptions of stress, anxiety, boredom, and well-being. This chapter also explores how regulation of emotion ultimately may be the only difference between peak performance and uncontrolled calamity.
Cross sections for the photoionization of with the formation of , and vibrational overlaps and Rn-centroids for the associated vibrational transitions

Abstract Cross sections for the photoionization of H 2 (X 1 Σ g + ) , initially in vibrational levels vi = 0–14, with the production of H 2 + (X 2 Σ g + ) in vibrational levels vf = 0–18 are tabulated for the full vibrational array at 24 photon wavelengths ranging from 912 A to 450 A. The associated vibrational overlap integrals 〈vifvf〉 and R-centroids, 〈v i |R n |v f 〉 〈v i |v f 〉 , n = 1 and 2 are also presented together with accurate curve fits of the bound-free ( H 2 -H 2 + + e ) electronic matrix elements.
Critical Mechanisms For Critical Masses: Exploring Variation In Opposition To Low-level Radioactive Waste Site Proposals

Between 1986 and 1993, local activists in the U.S. organized more than 900 collective acts of public opposition to low-level radioactive waste site proposals across twenty-one counties. Yet, the number of such acts varied significantly across the counties. Both waste-siting professionals and social movement scholars have sought to identify factors of mobilization to explain such variation. An analysis of these cases reveals that a focus limited to pre-existing factors of mobilization—whether the demographic and economic factors favored by siting professionals, or the mobilization and political opportunity structures of the "classic social movement agenda"—badly misjudges mobilization. A paired comparison of two counties that differed dramatically in the number of acts of collective opposition mustered over the course of the siting process demonstrates the importance of social mechanisms that shape just how a community interacts with its political resources. The key differences between the two counties lie...
An international remote sensing system: A possibility

Abstract There have been growing national capabilities in the observation of Earth from space and a corresponding increase in the global awareness of environmental problems. In response, within the past decade consensus has been reached with respect to the recommendations of Unispace-82, the Principles of Remote Sensing and Agenda 21 of the June 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED); the latter was convened ‘to lay the foundation for a global partnership between developing and more industrialized countries, based on mutual needs and common interests, to ensure the future of the planet’. Similarly, the framework for international cooperation in such programmes as the US-led Earth Observing system (EOS) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) have been established. An international remote sensing system that is user-driven may be the next logical step.
IMPLEMENTATION AND APPLICATIONS OF OPEN SOUND CONTROL TIMESTAMPS

The background, purpose, and function of Open Sound Control (OSC) timestamps is reviewed. An analysis shows that jitter-induced noise with dispersion over the millisecond range significantly degrades real-time highresolution sensor signal streams. The design of a distributed clock synchronization and event scheduling domain over an asynchronous network is described. A realization of this model is presented, created using the new micro-OSC (μOSC) hardware platform and host software components in MaxMSP. An OSC address schema for client-server clock synchronization is documented. Two new objects for MaxMSP are introduced: OSC-timetag and OSC-schedule.
Facilitating Timely Completion of a College Degree With Optimization Technology

Students who pursue a bachelor’s degree in four-year colleges and universities often take longer than four years to complete their degrees. the reasons for prolonging the time-to-degree seem to fall into three broad categories: part-time enrollment, deficiencies in academic readiness, and inadequate course planning. this article focuses on the latter cause which is due, in part, to the complexity of graduation requirements and institutional regulations that makes effective course planning a difficult task. the article presents an integer linear programming model for finding academic plans that would satisfy a given set of graduation requirements and other constraints in the shortest possible time. the article shows how such a model can enhance and improve existing academic advising tools that are aimed at helping students in decision making and planning for more timely completion of their degree programs.
Shorthand Phrases—Shorthand Textbooks and Shorthand Letters

(1969). Shorthand Phrases—Shorthand Textbooks and Shorthand Letters. The Journal of Business Education: Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 194-196.
Expanding the Availability of Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Armor Plate Procured from Detailed Military Specifications

For many years, the range of aluminum alloys for armor plate applications obtainable in accordance with detailed military specifications was very limited. However, the development of improved aluminum alloys for aerospace and other applications has provided an opportunity to modernize the Army portfolio for ground vehicle armor applications. While the benefits of offering additional alloy choices to vehicle designers is obvious, the process of creating detailed military specifications for armor plate applications is not trivial. A significant amount of material and testing is required to develop the details required by an armor plate specification. Due to the vast number of material programs that require standardization and with a limited amount of manpower and funds as a result of Standardization Reform in 1995, one typically requires a need statement from a vehicle program office to justify and sponsor the work. This presentation will focus on recent aluminum alloy armor plate specifications that have added capability to vehicle designers’ selection of armor materials that offer possible benefits such as lower cost, higher strength, better ballistic and corrosion resistance, improved weldability, etc.
Inverse Scattering in Acoustic Media Using Interior Transmission Eigenvalues

A well known inverse problem for acoustic media consists in the determination of the sound speed of the medium using far field data. A precise formulation is as follows. Consider the Helmholtz equation where the sound speed c(z) satisfies for some constant CO > 0. For fixed 355-1 and α ∈ ℝ2 (the unit sphere of ℝ3) there is a unique solution of (1.1) in the form in which the scattered wave u s is required to satisfy the radiation condition If we denote 357-2 then it can be shown that the scattered wave has the asymptotic form For proofs of the above assertions, many related results and further references, see [CK; Chapter 8].
Comparison of quiescent inflow single-shot and native space for nonenhanced peripheral MR angiography.

Purpose To evaluate two nonenhanced MRA methods: quiescent-interval single-shot (QISS) and Native SPACE (NATIVE = Non-contrast Angiography of the Arteries and Veins; SPACE = Sampling Perfection with Application Optimized Contrast by using different flip angle Evolution), using contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CEMRA) as a reference standard. Materials and Methods Twenty patients (14 male; mean, 69.3 years old) referred for lower extremity MRA were recruited in a HIPAA-compliant prospective study. QISS and Native SPACE of the lower extremities were performed at 1.5 Tesla with a hybrid dual-injection contrast-enhanced MRA as reference. Image quality and stenosis severity were assessed in segments by two blinded radiologists. Methods were compared with logistic regression for correlated data for diagnostic accuracy. Results Of 496 arterial segments, 24 were considered nondiagnostic on the Native SPACE images. There were no QISS or CEMRA imaging segments considered to be nondiagnostic. Image quality was significantly higher for QISS than for Native SPACE. QISS stenosis sensitivity (84.9%) was not significantly different from Native SPACE (87.3%). QISS had better specificity (95.6%) than Native SPACE (87.0%), P = 0.0041. In comparison with QISS, Native SPACE proved less robust for imaging of the abdominal and pelvic segments. Conclusion Native SPACE and QISS were sensitive for hemodynamically significant stenosis in this pilot study. QISS NEMRA demonstrated superior specificity and image quality, and was more robust in the abdominal and pelvic regions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1531–1538. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A continuum damage model for asphalt cement and asphalt mastic fatigue

Abstract An analytical model is developed for the mechanical degradation of asphalt cement and mastic under repeated loading. The model is derived by applying the strain decomposition principle to consider linear viscoelastic, nonlinear viscoelastic, and damage mechanisms. The experimental processes to isolate the behaviors and the analytical functions used to model each are described. It is found that the Schapery type damage approach is capable of modeling the fatigue process of these materials once appropriate consideration is taken for their nonlinear viscoelastic responses. Fatigue in asphalt mastics is also found to occur due to physical damage occurring in the asphalt cement.
Vaginal and oral microbes, host genotype and preterm birth

Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity in the US and across the globe. Infection and associated inflammation are important initiators for PTB pathways; an estimated 40% of PTBs are attributed to amniochorionic-decidual or systemic inflammation. Historically, intrauterine infections have been implicated in PTB; recent evidence suggests that infections remote from the fetal site may also be causative. There is strong epidemiological evidence that bacterial vaginosis and periodontitis--two syndromes characterized by perturbations in the normal vaginal and oral bacterial microflora, respectively--are linked to infection-associated PTB. Oral and vaginal environments are similar in their bacterial microbiology; identical bacterial species have been independently isolated in periodontitis and bacterial vaginosis. Periodontitis and bacterial vaginosis also share many behavioral and sociodemographic risk factors suggesting a possible common pathophysiology. Genetic polymorphisms in host inflammatory responses to infection are shared between bacterial vaginosis, periodontitis and PTB, suggesting common mechanisms through which host genotype modify the effect of abnormal bacterial colonization on preterm birth. We review the state of knowledge regarding the risk of PTB attributable to perturbations in bacterial flora in oral and vaginal sites and the role of host genetics in modifying the risk of infection-related PTB. We posit that bacterial species that are common in perturbed vaginal and oral sites are associated with PTB through their interaction with the host immune system.
Large vibrometer arrays for seismic landmine detection

Inexpensive ground-contacting accelerometers have been demonstrated in field experiments as appropriate vibrometers for a seismic landmine detection system. A thirty-two-element line array of these has been used to detect a variety of anti-tank (AT) landmines under realistic field conditions. Images of data measured by scanning this line array to synthesize a larger plane array have shown that the two-dimensional array offers potential advantages in terms of both measurement speed and landmine image contrast. The simultaneity of measurements with a physical array, as compared to synthetic array measurements that have been performed in the past, presents opportunities for improved landmine detection algorithms. Issues pertaining to the implementation of large arrays of vibrometers include sensor fidelity, array fidelity, scalability, and safety. Experimental measurements with prototype sensors in the laboratory and at a field test site have demonstrated the robust and repeatable ground coupling of the sensor in sand, dirt, gravel, and grass. Ground loading has been investigated with multiple array configurations with the dominant effect being an increase in the wave speeds of the surface waves. While the field experiments with the line array were conducted using commercially available data acquisition hardware and software, a custom data acquisition and processing system has been developed to meet the requirements of a large array of sensors. A lightweight sensor ensures the safety of touching the ground over buried landmines as the contact force is significantly less than the force required to detonate typical antipersonnel (AP) landmines and AT landmines.
Further results concerning the forces on a flat plate in a couette flow

Re-examination of a bounded shear flow proposed by Glauert is here completed by setting the plate off the centerline. The two remaining phenomena for general bounding, namely local circulation and asymmetry in the global circulation, are thereby exhibited. The former gives a leading-edge lift comparable to that of global circulation, while the latter produces as important a drag as the walls. A discussion of the second-order boundary layer is given, concentrating on the circulation component since its recent treatment is erroneous.
Root Rot of Chamaecyparis Caused by a Species of Phytophthora

A serious root rot disease of Chamaecyparis attributed to a species of Phytophthora has been reported from the Pacific Northwest (2) (3). The fungus attacks all sizes of trees, and is especially destructive to established landscape plantings of specimen plants or hedge rows. The disease is known to occur in Oregon and Washington, and since it apparently has been present for sometime before its nature was recognized, the fungus has probably been widely distributed. The disease can readily be mistaken for transplanting injury, and hence it could be present but not recognized. A description of the disease, the establishment of a new species of Phytophthora as the causal organism, and proof of the pathogenicity of this fungus are given in this report.
Music Publishing by Subscription in 1820s France: A Preliminary Study

Subscription lists in six scores published in France in the 1820s open a window onto publishing and distribution practices of that era. The publishers are J. Frey of Paris, with examples of subscription lists from full scores in his complete sets of operas by Mozart and Gretry; Maurice Schlesinger, also of Paris, with a vocal score of Mozart’s Requiem; and Bohem of Lille, with a vocal score of Zemire et Azor by Louis Spohr. The subscription lists contain information about the types of subscribers: male/female, musicians/nonmusicians, and Parisians/provincials/foreigners. These examples from nineteenth-century France suggest that funding the publishing of scores through subscription had become a less viable business model than had been the case in the eighteenth century.
Ouabain potentiates the activation of ERK1/2 by carbachol in parotid gland epithelial cells; inhibition of ERK1/2 reduces Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.

The Na+-K+-ATPase and the ERK1/2 pathway appear to be linked in some fashion in a variety of cells. The Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitor ouabain can promote ERK1/2 activation. This activation involves Src, ...
Regulation of the calpain and ubiquitin‐proteasome systems in a canine model of muscular dystrophy

Introduction: Previous studies have tested the hypothesis that calpain and/or proteasome inhibition is beneficial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, based largely on evidence that calpain and proteasome activities are enhanced in the mdx mouse. Methods: mRNA expression of ubiquitin-proteasome and calpain system components were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction in skeletal muscle and heart in the golden retriever muscular dystrophy model. Similarly, calpain 1 and 2 and proteasome activities were determined using fluorometric activity assays. Results: We found that less than half of the muscles tested had increases in proteasome activity, and only half had increased calpain activity. In addition, transcriptional regulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system was most pronounced in the heart, where numerous components were significantly decreased. Conclusion: This study illustrates the diversity of expression and activities of the ubiquitin-proteasome and calpain systems, which may lead to unexpected consequences in response to pharmacological inhibition. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Roles and regulation of phospholipid scramblases

Phospholipid scramblase activity is involved in the collapse of phospholipid (PL) asymmetry at the plasma membrane leading to externalization of phosphatidylserine. This activity is crucial for initiation of the blood coagulation cascade and for recognition/elimination of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Efforts to identify gene products associated with this activity led to the characterization of PL scramblase (PLSCR) and XKR family members which contribute to phosphatidylserine exposure in response to apoptotic stimuli. Meanwhile, TMEM16 family members were identified to externalize phosphatidylserine in response to elevated calcium in Scott syndrome platelets, which is critical for activation of the coagulation cascade. Herein, we report their mechanisms of gene regulation, molecular functions independent of their scrambling activity, and their potential roles in pathogenic conditions.
Intronic alternative splicing regulators identified by comparative genomics in nematodes.

Many alternative splicing events are regulated by pentameric and hexameric intronic sequences that serve as binding sites for splicing regulatory factors. We hypothesized that intronic elements that regulate alternative splicing are under selective pressure for evolutionary conservation. Using a Wobble Aware Bulk Aligner genomic alignment of Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae, we identified 147 alternatively spliced cassette exons that exhibit short regions of high nucleotide conservation in the introns flanking the alternative exon. In vivo experiments on the alternatively spliced let-2 gene confirm that these conserved regions can be important for alternative splicing regulation. Conserved intronic element sequences were collected into a dataset and the occurrence of each pentamer and hexamer motif was counted. We compared the frequency of pentamers and hexamers in the conserved intronic elements to a dataset of all C. elegans intron sequences in order to identify short intronic motifs that are more likely to be associated with alternative splicing. High-scoring motifs were examined for upstream or downstream preferences in introns surrounding alternative exons. Many of the high- scoring nematode pentamer and hexamer motifs correspond to known mammalian splicing regulatory sequences, such as (T)GCATG, indicating that the mechanism of alternative splicing regulation is well conserved in metazoans. A comparison of the analysis of the conserved intronic elements, and analysis of the entire introns flanking these same exons, reveals that focusing on intronic conservation can increase the sensitivity of detecting putative splicing regulatory motifs. This approach also identified novel sequences whose role in splicing is under investigation and has allowed us to take a step forward in defining a catalog of splicing regulatory elements for an organism. In vivo experiments confirm that one novel high-scoring sequence from our analysis, (T)CTATC, is important for alternative splicing regulation of the unc-52 gene.
Simultaneous fluorescence, photoacoustic and two-photon photoionization detection for liquids in a cuvette

A simple, sensitive liquid-phase photoionization detection scheme employing pulsed laser excitation has been developed. The system is an elaboration of an earlier simultaneous fluorescence and photoacoustic detection scheme employing a standard fluorescence cuvette. Factors affecting the analytical performance of the two-photon photoionization mode of operation are discussed, sensitive three-mode detection is demonstrated for a model compound (anthracene), and the effect of temperature on the photoionization mode provides an estimate of the ionic-charge carrier activation-energy in the conductance transport process.
VWF sequence variants: innocent until proven guilty.

William James, the 19th century American philosopher, famously asserted, “To study the abnormal is the best way of understanding the normal.” In this issue of Blood , using a distinctly non-Jamesian approach, Bellissimo and colleagues shed new light on our understanding of normal genetic