cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of a Combined Photovoltaic/Thermal Unit Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The goal of this project was to develop a model for a Combined Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) unit to ease in the assessment of potential changes to the unit before fabrication of actual parts. This process reduces the time to assess changes in the system; once the initial model is created changes are relatively simple. It also reduces cost incurred for actual testing by certified labs and can simulate output variations in different climate conditions, site locations and times of year. A commercially available PV/T unit was chosen for analysis, which utilizes two water channels under the photovoltaic assembly instead of the conventional sheet-and-tube design to actively cool the solar cells while also collecting thermal energy that can be used for heating water or air via a heat transfer system. The project described in this paper modeled the PV/T unit in two ways: (1) as a one-dimensional theoretical model and (2) modeling the system in ANSYS FLUENT and simulating the fluid flow, energy and radiation models using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The baseline CFD model was correlated to published Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) test data for pressure drop and thermal performance to gage accuracy of the model. Through a literature search of past work on similar modules and systems, several potential improvements to the unit were identified and a detailed analysis was conducted by individually adding each to the theoretical model, then comparing them to the output of the baseline model. Combinations of improvements were evaluated as well and assessed based on output improvement, technical feasibility and expected cost. The accuracy of the 1-D model was compared to the CFD model to assess the benefits gained from the added complexity of using computational fluid dynamics.© 2014 ASME
Growth patterns by age and sex in children with sickle cell disease

We examined growth patterns by age and sex in 133 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. These patients are estimated to be representative of the total population aged 1 to 18 years with sickle cell disease in a large metropolitan area. Median height and weight curves constructed from serial growth data available for all 133 children demonstrated impairment in height and weight at all ages and in both sexes. Analysis of growth trends by age reveals a pattern of increasing deficit with increasing age; boys are more severely affected than girls. Growth velocity curves constructed for a series of 13 adolescents with sickle cell disease illustrate the marked delay in the onset of the normal pubertal growth spurt in these patients.
70-Year-Old Woman With Buttock Pain and Hypercalcemia

Resident in Internal Medicine (H.A.J.) and Fellow in Endocrinology (M.L.G.), Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Adviser to resident and fellow and Consultant in Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (P.J.T.) A generally healthy 70-year-old woman presented to her primary care physician for her yearly medical examination. Her medical/surgical history was notable for osteoarthritis and a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at age 47 for endometriosis. Her medications included a daily multivitamin, 500 mg of elemental calcium twice daily, 400 IU each of vitamins D and E daily, and naproxen and loratadine, both as needed. She was a nonsmoker and rarely drank alcohol. She weighed 65.3 kg and had a body mass index of 21.4. Physical examination findings were unremarkable. Laboratory evaluation (reference ranges provided parenthetically) revealed a mildly elevated total serum calcium level of 10.3 mg/dL (8.9-10.1 mg/dL), phosphorus value of 3.2 mg/dL (2.5-4.5 mg/dL), creatinine level of 1 mg/dL (0.6-1.1 mg/dL), and normal albumin value. Screening dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the left hip yielded a total T score of þ3.2. During her general medical examination 3 years later, she complained of left buttock pain that had progressively worsened during the previous year. The pain was deep, aching, and worse after prolonged sitting or walking. Physical examination revealed no asymmetry or mass in the hips or buttocks, but tenderness was noted on palpation over her sacroiliac joints and left lower buttock. Findings on neurologic examination were normal. Plain radiography of the lumbar spine revealed degenerative arthritis in the spine and sacroiliac joints, as well as focal lytic lesions in the proximal left femur surrounded by a coarse trabecular network and thickened cortex (Supplemental Figure, available online at http://www.mayoclinic proceedings.org). Her creatinine value was stable at 1 mg/dL, and her hemoglobin level was 14.2 g/dL (12.0-15.5 g/dL).
Developing a Standardized List of Questions for the Usability Testing of an Academic Library Web Site

ABSTRACT Modern academic libraries have a great number of information resources available online in the form of electronic catalogs, books, journals, and subject subscription databases. To determine whether users can easily retrieve the information they are seeking, academic librarians conduct usability testing of their libraries' Web sites. There has been an emergence of publications focusing on the usability testing of academic library Web sites. However, researchers frequently report problems and limitations related to this testing, assuming that the wrong wording of questions or tasks during the testing disorients test participants, especially those not familiar with the basics of library research. This study investigates the possibility of increasing the accuracy level of the usability testing of an academic library Web site by developing a standardized list of questions for usability testing that would be based on main functions of an academic library Web site and be designed to meet the general inf...
Center-of-mass variation under projective transformation

Accurate feature detection and localization is fundamentally important to computer vision, and feature locations act as input to many algorithms including camera calibration, structure recovery, and motion estimation. Unfortunately, feature localizers in common use are typically not projectively invariant even in the idealized case of a continuous image. This results in feature location estimates that contain bias which can influence the higher level algorithms that make use of them. While this behavior has been studied in the case of ellipse centroids and then used in a practical calibration algorithm, those results do not trivially generalize to the center-of-mass of a radially symmetric intensity distribution. This paper introduces the generalized result of feature location bias with respect to perspective distortion and applies it to several specific radially symmetric intensity distributions. The impact on calibration is then evaluated. Finally, an initial study is conducted comparing calibration results obtained using center-of-mass to those obtained with an ellipse detector. Results demonstrate that feature localization error, over a range of increasingly large projective distortions, can be stabilized at less than a tenth of a pixel versus errors that can grow to larger than a pixel in the uncorrected case.
Dynamic analysis of constraint-variable dependencies to guide SAT diagnosis

An important aspect of the Boolean satisfiability problem is to derive an ordering of variables such that branching on that order results in a faster, more efficient search. Contemporary techniques employ either variable-activity or clause-connectivity based heuristics, but not both, to guide the search. This paper advocates for simultaneous analysis of variable-activity and clause-connectivity to derive an order for SAT search. Preliminary results demonstrate that the variable order derived by our approach can significantly expedite the search. As the search proceeds, clause database is updated due to added conflict clauses. Therefore, the variable activity and connectivity information changes dynamically. Our technique analyzes this information and recomputes the variable order whenever the search is restarted. Preliminary experiments show that such a dynamic analysis of constraint-variable relationships significantly improves the performance of the SAT solvers. Our technique is very fast and this analysis time is a negligible (in milliseconds) even for instances that contain a large number of variables and constraints. This paper presents preliminary experiments, analyzes the results and comments upon future research directions.
Measuring retinal contributions to the optical Stiles-Crawford effect with optical coherence tomography

The directional component of the retinal reflection, i.e., the optical Stiles-Crawford effect (SCE), is well established to result from the waveguiding property of photoreceptors. Considerable uncertainty, however, remains as to which retinal reflections are waveguided and thus contribute. To this end we have developed a retina camera based on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) that axially resolves (~5 µm) these reflections and permits a direct investigation of the SCE origin at near infrared wavelengths. Reflections from the photoreceptor inner/outer segments junction (IS/OS) and near the posterior tip of the outer segments (PTOS) were found highly sensitive to beam entry position in the pupil with a considerable decrease in brightness occurring with an increase in aperture eccentricity. Reflections from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were largely insensitive. The average directionality (ρoct value) at 2 degree eccentricity across the four subjects for the IS/OS, PTOS, and RPE were 0.120, 0.270, and 0.016 mm-2, respectively. The directionality for the IS/OS approached typical psychophysical SCE measurements, while that for the PTOS approached conventional optical SCE measurements. Precise measurement of the optical SCE was found to require significant A-scan averaging.
Solar‐irradiance variations and regional precipitation fluctuations in the Western USA

Changes in total solar irradiance can be linked to changes in regional precipitation. A possible mechanism responsible for this linkage begins with the absorption of varying amounts of solar energy by the tropical oceans, which creates ocean temperature anomalies. These anomalies are then transported by major ocean currents to locations where the stored energy is released into the atmosphere, thereby altering atmospheric pressure and moisture patterns, which can ultimately affect regional precipitation. Correlation coefficients between annual differences in empirically modelled solar-irradiance variations and annual State-divisional precipitation in the USA for the period 1950–1988 were computed with lag times of 0 to 7 years. The most significant correlations occur in the Pacific North-west, with a lag time of 4 years, which is approximately equal to the travel time of water within the Pacific gyre from the western tropical Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Alaska. Precipitation in the Desert South-west correlates significantly with solar irradiance lagged 3 and 5 years, which suggests a link with ocean-water temperature anomalies transported by the Equatorial Counter Current as well as the North Pacific gyre. With the correlations obtained, droughts coincide with periods of negative irradiance differences (dry high-pressure development), and wet periods coincide with periods of positive differences (moist low-pressure development).
Quantitation of synaptic density in the septal nuclei of young and aged Fischer 344 rats

Abstract Synaptic density in the medial and lateral septal nuclei was examined in 3 and 24–28 months of age Fischer 344 rats. The lateral nucleus had a higher synaptic density than the medial region in both age groups. There were no statistically significant differences in synapse density in either region as a function of age, but the data suggested a subpopulation of aged animals which did show an age-related decline in synaptic density in the lateral, but not medial area of the septum. These data indicate that sample size may be an important variable in assessing possible age-related differences in synaptic density, since a broad range of values, some significantly below the range of young animals, exists in the aged brain.
Inescapable shock increases finickiness about drinking quinine-adulterated water in rats

Abstract This study concerned the effect of inescapable shock on finickiness, operationally defined as suppressed consumption of quinine-adulterated water. Exposure to a single session of inescapable shock increased finickiness relative to simple restraint or no treatment (Experiment 1). The effect of shock on finickiness was replicable, was specific to adulterated water, and persisted for at least 24 h (Experiment 2). The weak quinine solution rejected by shocked rats supported a conditioned taste aversion, suggesting that the difference between shocked rats and controls was not due to the inability of the latter to taste the quinine (Experiment 3). This phenomenon may be pertinent to the interpretation of appetitive “helplessness” effects and to the nature of eating disorders associated with stress and depression.
The measurement of pulmonic valve area by angiocardiographic and hemodynamic methods.

The validity of angiocardiographic measurements in assessing the severity of pulmonic valve stenosis was determined. The pulmonic valve orifice area was measured in the lateral projection on cineangio-cardiographic films in 24 patients with valvar pulmonic stenosis. The valve orifice area was also obtained in the same patients by the Gorlin and Bache formulae. The right ventricular output value required for insertion in these formulae was obtained by angiocardiographic right ventricular volume measurement and by the Fick method. The correlation between the directly measured valve orifice area and the area calculated using the Fick principle and the Bache formula was 0.80. The substitution of angiocardiographically measured right ventricular stroke volume for the Fick value gave a correlation of 0.82. The results support validity of employing direct angiocardiographic measurements of pulmonic valve orifice area and angiocardiographic right ventricular volume measurements for quantitative assessment of the severity of pulmonic valve stenosis. The angiocardiographic methods thus represent an alternative to the Fick technique which can be used in conditions where the Fick method cannot be expected to give valid results.
Unification of coal-char gasification reaction mechanisms

Shapes of burn-off versus time (t) plots for various chars reacted in different gases are quite similar. These plots can be normalized into a single characteristic curve using a dimensionless time scale such that tτ0.5 equals one at a fractional burn-off (BO) of 0.5. The shape of the characteristic curve has been explained qualitatively on the basis of changes in porosity and surface area occurring during gasification of microporous chars. For each gasification medium, BO versus tτ0.5 data for different chars, up to a maximum BO of 0.7, can be correlated by a cubic equation of the form: BO = a(tτ0.5) + b(tτ0.5)2 + c(tτ0.5)3. Up to a BO of 0.7, different char gasification reactions can also be described reasonably well by a first-order equation. However, the correlation is not as good as that provided by the cubic model.
The antagonism of calcineurin inhibitors and costimulatory blockers: fact or fiction?

Blockade of T-cell costimulatory pathways has proven to be a useful approach in inhibiting allograft rejection and/or inducing tolerance in some experimental models of transplantation, and clinical development of B7 blockade by CTLA4Ig in kidney transplant recipients is under way. Although calcineurin inhibitors are clinically effective immunosuppressive agents in their own right, conflicting findings have been reported as to whether concomitant use of these drugs with costimulatory blockade has a beneficial or adverse effect on preventing rejection and promoting long-term allograft survival or transplant tolerance. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the interaction between calcineurin inhibitors and T-cell costimulatory blockade strategies in transplantation.
Ultra-Thin Resists for Advanced Lithography

The continuous reduction of feature sizes in integrated circuits (IC) is driving the development of advanced lithographic techniques that enable patterning of sub-100-nm features with good fidelity and process margins. Requirements for printing these sub-100-nm features includes tight control of critical dimensions (CD), line edge roughness, and resist profiles. Reduction in exposure wavelengths to 157 nm and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) is pushing the development of new families of resist systems and the use of thin imaging layers that overcome the high absorption by materials of 157-nm and EUV radiation. In addition, thin imaging techniques may provide benefits for low-k1 and high-NA lithography using 193-nm radiation. The use of ultra-thin resists (UTR) introduces new concerns for resist properties including the possibility for increased defectivity and the reduction in etch resistance. In this paper, we describe results of studies using ultra-thin resist integrations to build working devices. These investigations have shown that UTR are not inherently limited by defectivity, and working devices with high yield have been fabricated using UTR integrations on multiple levels.
Multi-generational pharmacophore modeling for ligands to the cholane steroid-recognition site in the β1 modulatory subunit of the BKCa channel

Large conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-gated K+ (BKCa) channels play a critical role in smooth muscle contractility and thus represent an emerging therapeutic target for drug development to treat vascular disease, gastrointestinal, bladder and uterine disorders. Several compounds are known to target the ubiquitously expressed BKCa channel-forming α subunit. In contrast, just a few are known to target the BKCa modulatory β1 subunit, which is highly expressed in smooth muscle and scarce in most other tissues. Lack of available high-resolution structural data makes structure-based pharmacophore modeling of β1 subunit-dependent BKCa channel activators a major challenge. Following recent discoveries of novel BKCa channel activators that act via β1 subunit recognition, we performed ligand-based pharmacophore modeling that led to the successful creation and fine-tuning of a pharmacophore over several generations. Initial models were developed using physiologically active cholane steroids (bile acids) as template. However, as more compounds that act on BKCa β1 have been discovered, our model has been refined to improve accuracy. Database searching with our best-performing model has uncovered several novel compounds as candidate BKCa β1 subunit ligands. Eight of the identified compounds were experimentally screened and two proved to be activators of recombinant BKCa β1 complexes. One of these activators, sobetirome, differs substantially in structure from any previously reported activator.
State Employment Protection Statutes for Victims of Domestic Violence Public Policy’s Response to Domestic Violence as an Employment Matter

Evidence indicates that domestic violence has negative consequences on victims' employment; yet employers lag in recognizing this as a workplace issue. To address the problem, some states have established several policy solutions. To understand the scope of the public sector's response to domestic violence as a workplace issue, a content analysis of state-level employment protection policies for domestic violence victims (N = 369) was conducted. Results indicate three broad policy categories: (a) policies that offer work leave for victims; (b) policies that aim to reduce employment discrimination of domestic violence victims; and (c) policies that aim to increase awareness and safety in the workplace. Subcategories emerged within each of these three categories. Implementation of employment protection policies varies significantly across states. Implications for workplaces, practitioners, and policy leaders are discussed.
Improved sensitivity for measuring surface resistance of superconducting thin-films

Abstract We have measured the surface resistance RS of Nb and NbN thin-films with better than ±20% reproducibility for RS down to 1 μΩ at 6 GHz. The technique is based on Q-factor measurements of a coplanar waveguide resonator improved by modern microwave design and packaging practices. The design minimizes extraneous losses, such as radiation and dielectric losses, and no correction for them is necessary. Unloaded Q-factor data are determined from the transmission and reflection frequency response of the resonator which is weakly coupled to a two-port network analyzer. The measured surface resistance of a NbN film deposited on silicon is 1.3 μΩ at 4.2 K and 6 GHz, and its temperature dependence is consistent with BCS theory.
Leptospirosis in “Eco-Challenge” Athletes, Malaysian Borneo, 2000

Adventure travel is becoming more popular, increasing the likelihood of contact with unusual pathogens. We investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis in "Eco-Challenge" multisport race athletes to determine illness etiology and implement public health measures. Of 304 athletes, we contacted 189 (62%) from the United States and 26 other countries. Eighty (42%) athletes met our case definition. Twenty-nine (36%) case-patients were hospitalized; none died. Logistic regression showed swimming in the Segama River (relative risk [RR]=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.3 to 3.1) to be an independent risk factor. Twenty-six (68%) of 38 case-patients tested positive for leptospiral antibodies. Taking doxycycline before or during the race was protective (RR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2 to 1.2) for the 20 athletes who reported using it. Increased adventure travel may lead to more frequent exposure to leptospires, and preexposure chemoprophylaxis for leptospirosis (200 mg oral doxycycline/week) may decrease illness risk. Efforts are needed to inform adventure travel participants of unique infections such as leptospirosis.
Hydride structures in Ti-aluminides subjected to high temperature and hydrogen pressure charging conditions

The distribution and chemistry of hydrides produced in single and dual phase alloys with a composition near TiAl have been investigated by using a combination of TEM and X-ray diffraction techniques. The alloys were exposed at 650 C to 13.8 MPa of gaseous H2 for 100 h. In the single-phase gamma alloy, large hydrides preferentially nucleated on the grain boundaries and matrix dislocations and a population of small hydrides was distributed throughout the matrix. X-ray and electron diffraction patterns from these hydrides indicated that they have an fcc structure with a lattice parameter of 0.45 nm. EDAX analysis of the hydrides showed that they were enriched in Ti. The hydrides were mostly removed by vacuum annealing at 800 C for 24 h. On dissolution of the hydrides, the chemistry of hydride-free regions of the grain boundary returned to the matrix composition, suggesting that Ti segregation accompanied the hydride formation rather than Ti enrichment causing the formation of the hydride.
Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase genes in two Drosophila species : dosage compensation, a nuclear matrix attachment site, and a novel intron position

The Aprt locus of Drosophila encodes the structural gene for the purine salvage enzyme adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. Aprt is autosomal and enzyme activity is gene-dose-dependent in Drosophila melanogaster. However, Aprt is X-linked and dosage compensated in Drosophila pseudoobscura, as shown here. The Aprt genes of both Drosophila species contain a DNA sequence associated with nuclear matrix attachment sites and these Aprt sequences specifically bind to nuclear matrix in vitro. Putative promoter sequences positioned upstream of the predicted transcriptional start site in the two Aprt genes have a similar structure of direct repeats with an overlapping dyad symmetry, but the DNA sequence of these motifs is not conserved between the two species. Biological features in mutants of Aprt as well as natural variants suggest that dosage compensation of this gene in Drosophila pseudoobscura is due to a general control Mechanism on X-linked genes rather than a gene-specific mechanism.
BXD recombinant inbred mice represent a novel T cell-mediated immune response tumor model.

To develop a better animal model for studying the effects of the host environment in neoplasia, we injected various genetically well-characterized H-2(d) RI strains of BXD mice with syngeneic breast cancer cells (TS/A) and monitored the growth of tumors over time. There was a marked difference in the growth of the implanted breast cancer cells among the 14 BXD RI strains, with 4 patterns of tumor development being observed: in type I, the implanted tumor cells grew rapidly in the first 2 weeks, necrosis of the tumors was observed and metastases to the intestinal lymph nodes and pancreas was observed, causing death; in type II, the implanted tumor cells grew slowly and attained a size after day 50 that required killing the animal, with tumor necrosis being rare and metastases absent; in type III, the implanted tumor cells grew initially but underwent a slow decline after 4 weeks; and in type IV, the implanted tumor cells failed to develop. Apoptosis of the implanted tumor cells was responsible for the regression of tumor nodules. The T-cell immune response minimized tumor development in types III and IV since T-cell depletion of the BXD RI mice resulted in aggressively growing tumors in these strains.
Nuclear proteomics and directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

During the past decade, regenerative medicine has been the subject of intense interest due, in large part, to our growing knowledge of embryonic stem (ES) cell biology. ES cells give rise to cell lineages from the three primordial germ layers—endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. This process needs to be channeled if these cells are to be differentiated efficiently and used subsequently for therapeutic purposes. Indeed, an important area of investigation involves directed differentiation to influence the lineage commitment of these pluripotent cells in vitro. Various strategies involving timely growth factor supplementation, cell co-cultures, and gene transfection are used to drive lineage specific emergence. The underlying goal is to control directly the center of gene expression and cellular programming—the nucleus. Gene expression is enabled, managed, and sustained by the collective actions and interactions of proteins found in the nucleus—the nuclear proteome—in response to extracellular signaling. Nuclea...
Prediction of standard interfacial electron-transfer rate constants for the Ru(NH3)63+/2+ couple through ω-hydroxyalkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes

Two relatively simple approaches are developed and used to calculate (predict) the standard interfacial electron-transfer (ET) rate constants (k°) of the Ru(NH3)63+/2+ couple dissolved in aqueous e...
Application information mapping test: An efficient content-level semantic equivalence test procedure for B2B integration

This paper describes the Application Information Mapping Test (AIMT) – a type of content-level test procedure for Business-to-Business (B2B) integration across enterprises. The goal of AIMT is to assure that the semantics of a B2B message element are interpreted by the system under test (SUT) according to the element's intended meaning. AIMT provides this assurance by verifying that the element values are correctly processed, stored, and utilised by the SUT to reflect that intended meaning. This paper discusses the AIMT methodology for test development and test execution, which is based on our experience to provide a self-testing capability in a B2B-interoperability project for automotive industry. In particular, we propose an efficient and robust test procedure for AIMT which reduces the time-consuming manual steps and prevents mapping errors. This procedure also proposes a minimum set of test trials by considering practical message constraints of industrial environments. A simulation experiment is prese...
Coupling matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization to liquid separations

This review discusses the off-line and on-line coupling of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Off-line methods involve collecting fractions or depositing a sample on a prepared target prior to MALDI analysis. Because LC fraction collection is straightforward, off-line MALDI LC-MS is relatively easy to implement and widely used. Collecting CE fractions poses a greater challenge due to the small sample volume and the high voltage electrical connection that must be maintained during separation. Methods for off-line MALDI CE-MS employing a porous glass joint, liquid sheath flow, low-volume buffer, or direct deposition are discussed. On-line coupling of MALDI to liquid separations involves introducing the sample directly into the mass spectrometer, using either a continuous-flow (CF) probe or an aerosol spray. With CF MALDI, liquid samples are delivered to the probe through a silica capillary. Aerosol MALDI relies on a pneumatic nebulizer to deliver samples to the mass spectrometer, where ions are formed through irradiation of the particles. CF MALDI and aerosol MALDI have both been coupled to LC separations, although further refinements in both techniques are needed. Future prospects for liquid separations and both off-line and on-line MALDI are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Mass Spectrom Rev 16, 283–299, 1997
Family history of cancer and risk of sporadic differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer incidence in the United States, particularly in women, has increased dramatically since the 1980s. Although the causes of thyroid cancer in most patients remain largely unknown, evidence suggests the existence of an inherited predisposition to development of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Therefore, the authors explored the association between sporadic DTC and family history of cancer. METHODS: In a retrospective hospital-based case-control study of prospectively recruited subjects who completed the study questionnaire upon enrollment, unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as estimates of the DTC risk associated with first-degree family history of cancer. RESULTS: The study included 288 patients with sporadic DTC and 591 cancer-free controls. Family history of thyroid cancer in first-degree relatives was associated with increased DTC risk (adjusted OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.7-9.9). All DTC cases in patients with a first-degree family history of thyroid cancer were cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (adjusted OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.9-11.1). Notably, the risk of PTC was highest in subjects with a family history of thyroid cancer in siblings (OR, 7.4; 95% CI, 1.8-30.4). In addition, multifocal primary tumor was more common among PTC patients with first-degree family history of thyroid cancer than among PTC patients with no first-degree family history of thyroid cancer (68.8% vs 35.5%, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that family history of thyroid cancer in first-degree relatives, particularly in siblings, is associated with an increased risk of sporadic PTC. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
The Storage Quality of Eggs Produced by Hens Fed Screw Pressed Cottonseed Meal

Abstract ALTHOUGH cottonseed meal is an important protein supplement it is usually not recommended for use in diets of laying hens due to development of egg yolk and albumin discoloration on storage. An olive yolk color was reported by Schaible, Moore and Moore (1933) and attributed to the gossypol content of the cottonseed meal. The stored eggs were also shown to develop a pink color in the albumin. This pink color was shown by Lorenz and Almquist (1935) to be caused by an unidentified substance in the cottonseed meal and not by gossypol. Kuiken, Lyman and Hale (1948) prepared an isopropanol extracted cottonseed meal which when fed at a level of 20 percent of the total ration did not affect the quality of eggs stored for six months. They demonstrated that free gossypol would affect egg storage quality. Bound gossypol apparently caused no discoloration. To date, economic difficulties have prevented a . . .
Histopathologic Evaluation of the Canine Prostate Following Electrovaporization

ABSTRACTPurpose: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP) for symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) has proven to be efficacious with minimal patient morbidity. When compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), TVP demonstrates comparable postoperative flow rates, American Urologic Association (AUA) symptom score indices, and a potential cost savings. However, in the human studies it has not been possible to correlate these clinical parameters with procedure-related histopathologic changes in the prostate immediately postoperative or during wound healing. The following study was done using a canine model in an effort to evaluate these histopathologic changes.Methods and Materials: Fifteen hounds (25-35 kg.) underwent antegrade electrovaporization of the prostate, via an open cystotomy, using a Circon ACMI USA series resectoscope and video equipment. The dogs were sacrificed and the prostates harvested at various intervals postoperatively (0-11 weeks). The prostates w...
Understanding barriers to cervical cancer screening among Hispanic women.

Objective We investigated issues affecting Papanicolaou smear screening access, health services utilization, acculturation, social networking, and media venues most conducive to acquiring health information among Hispanics. Study Design Self-identified Hispanics were surveyed. Participants were stratified based on age, time living in the United States, and Papanicolaou screening frequency. Results Of 318 participants, Hispanics aged 30 years or older and living in the United States less than 5 years prefer speaking Spanish. Women with 5 or more lifetime Papanicolaou smears were 1.610 times more likely to have lived in the United States 5 or more years, 1.706 times more likely to speak a second language, and 1.712 times less likely to need a translator during their health care encounter. Conclusion Age and years living in the United States may be independent risk factors for participation in Papanicolaou screening programs. Social difficulties inherent to acculturation inform health behavior and translate to health disparity among Hispanics. Our results may help design federally funded and community-level programs.
A study of material removal rates for shallow drilling with an ultrashort pulse laser

Using a commercial laser system operating at a 532 nm wavelength with 10 ps pulses, experiments were conducted on polished metal samples to study material removal characteristics from a low number of laser pulse exposures. The samples were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope and white light interferometer to gather data on surface deformation and material removal. The effects of energy and various double pulse machining methods were examined. The results from changing the pulse separation for double pulse drilling are compared to prior work with picosecond and nanosecond pulse lasers.
On n-ary Hom-Nambu and Hom-Nambu-Lie algebras

Abstract It is observed that the category of n -ary Hom–Nambu(–Lie) algebras is closed under twisting by self-weak morphisms. Constructions of ternary Hom–Nambu algebras from Hom-associative algebras, Hom–Lie algebras, ternary totally Hom-associative algebras, and Hom–Jordan triple systems are given. Every multiplicative n -ary Hom–Nambu algebra gives rise to a sequence of Hom–Nambu algebras of exponentially higher arities. Under some conditions, an n -ary Hom–Nambu(–Lie) algebra gives rise to an ( n − 1 ) -ary Hom–Nambu(–Lie) algebra.
Dynamic interaction between disulfiram and separated enantiomorphs of racemic warfarin.

To evaluate the interaction of disulfiram with the separated enantiomorphs of racemic warfarin, seven normal subjects received single doses of R-warfarin (1.5 mg/kg body weight) and S-warfarin (0.75 mg/kg body weight) with and without a daily dose of disulfiram 250 mg, beginning 3 days before the warfarin dose and continuing for the duration of the hypoprothrombinemia. Disulfiram augmented the S-warfarin hypoprothrombinemia (p 0.10). Disulfiram did not alter plasma concentrations of either R-warfarin (p > 0.10) or S-warfarin (p > 0.40). Disulfiram augments the hypoprothrombinemia of racemic warfarin stereoselectively by interacting primarily with S-warfarin. As disulfiram did not change the plasma concentrations of either enantiomorph, it may augment the anticoagulant effect of racemic warfarin by directly affecting the hepatic mechanism responsible for the hypoprothrombinemia. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 29, 332–336; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.45
Mutagenesis Using Robertson’s Mutator Lines and Consequent Insertions at the Adh1 Gene in Maize

The Mu transposons in maize and their unique behaviors have been reviewed recently (14), as have results on the structure, function, and regulation of the alcohol dehydrogenase-1 gene (Adh1) in maize (11). My purpose is to review concisely our published and unpublished work on Mu1 and Mu3 insertional mutants at Adh1 and to discuss what I now take to be interesting or useful observations concerning mutagenesis using Mu.
Energy Method for Predicting Installation Torque of Helical Foundations and Anchors

A theoretical model is developed to support the well known empirical relationship between capacity and torque for helical foundations and anchors. The model is based on energy exerted during installation and that required to displace the helical foundation or anchor once in place. Through the equivalence of energy, the model relates bearing and pullout capacity directly to installation torque. Downward force during installation, helical blade geometry, multiple helices, blade pitch per revolution, and hub radius are taken into account. The model is applied to determine the capacity and installation torque for several helical foundations and anchors of different geometric configurations. Theoretical predictions are shown to correlate with previously published field and laboratory measurements.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: a comparative review of efficacy and adverse events

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have become common surgical techniques for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Vertebroplasty involves the percutaneous injection of bone cement into the cancellous bone of a vertebral body with the goals of pain alleviation and preventing further loss of vertebral body height. Kyphoplasty utilizes an inflatable balloon to create a cavity for the cement with the additional potential goals of restoring height and reducing kyphosis. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are effective treatment options for the reduction of pain associated with vertebral body compression fractures. Biomechanical studies demonstrate that kyphoplasty is initially superior for increasing vertebral body height and reducing kyphosis, but these gains are lost with repetitive loading. Complications secondary to extravasation of cement include compression of neural elements and venous embolism. These complications are rare but more common with vertebroplasty. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are both safe and effective procedures for the treatment of vertebral body compression fractures.
Lattice Method of Real Option Analysis - Solving the Curse of Dimensionality and Strategic Planning

The deregulation policy introduces uncertainties into the power market. The power market uncertainties have increased the significance of two factors in decision analysis: financial risks and managerial flexibility. Real option analysis enables such flexibility to management. There are several major methods under real option analysis: traditional black-Scholes option-pricing method, lattice (binomial and trinomial) methods, Monte Carlo simulation method, and finite element (explicit, implicit, and Crank-Nicolson) method. This paper concentrates on the lattice method. Lattice model is easy to implement, appreciate and understand. However, when the investment duration is large (or the length of model period - step size is small), the lattice model becomes a massive bush of lattice, which is known as the curse of dimensionality. This paper proposes a new efficient methodology of solving the curse of dimensionality for the lattice model. The massive bush of lattice model can be reduced by analyzing the boundary of the lattice where the decision changes. This can be achieved via the implementation of value at risk into the lattice model. Besides reducing the degree of dimensionality, this new methodology also specifies "when" a decision changes. This is a very critical part in strategic budgeting planning. Timing and simplification yet maintaining high accuracy in analysis are essential in the new deregulated power economic uncertainties.
Risk score for predicting long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background—No simplified bedside risk scores have been created to predict long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods and Results—The New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System was used to identify 8597 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery in July through December 2000. The National Death Index was used to ascertain patients' vital statuses through December 31, 2007. A Cox proportional hazards model was fit to predict death after CABG surgery using preprocedural risk factors. Then, points were assigned to significant predictors of death on the basis of the values of their regression coefficients. For each possible point total, the predicted risks of death at years 1, 3, 5, and 7 were calculated. It was found that the 7-year mortality rate was 24.2 in the study population. Significant predictors of death included age, body mass index, ejection fraction, unstable hemodynamic state or shock, left main coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular di...
Demonstration of a peroxide shunt in the tetrahydropterin-dependent aromatic amino acid monooxygenases

The nonheme iron enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, and tryptophan hydroxylase catalyze the hydroxylation of their aromatic amino acid substrates using a tetrahydropterin as the source of electrons. The hydroxylating intermediate is proposed to be an Fe(IV)O species. We report here that all three enzymes will catalyze hydroxylation reactions using H(2)O(2) in place of tetrahydropterin and oxygen, forming tyrosine and 3-hydroxyphenylalanine from phenylalanine, 4-HOCH(2)-phenylalanine from 4-CH(3)-phenylalanine, and hydroxycyclohexylalanine from 3-cyclohexylalanine. No peroxide-dependent reaction is seen with active site mutants of TyrH and PheH in which the stability or reactivity of the iron center is compromised. These results provide further support for an Fe(IV)O hydroxylating intermediate.
Rapid Metabolism of Glucose Detected with FRET Glucose Nanosensors in Epidermal Cells and Intact Roots of Arabidopsis RNA-Silencing Mutants

Genetically encoded glucose nanosensors have been used to measure steady state glucose levels in mammalian cytosol, nuclei, and endoplasmic reticulum. Unfortunately, the same nanosensors in Arabidopsis thaliana transformants manifested transgene silencing and undetectable fluorescence resonance energy transfer changes. Expressing nanosensors in sgs3 and rdr6 transgene silencing mutants eliminated silencing and resulted in high fluorescence levels. To measure glucose changes over a wide range (nanomolar to millimolar), nanosensors with higher signal-to-noise ratios were expressed in these mutants. Perfusion of leaf epidermis with glucose led to concentration-dependent ratio changes for nanosensors with in vitro K d values of 600 μM (FLIPglu-600μΔ13) and 3.2 mM (FLIPglu-3.2mΔ13), but one with 170 nM K d (FLIPglu-170nΔ13) showed no response. In intact roots, FLIPglu-3.2mΔ13 gave no response, whereas FLIPglu-600μΔ13, FLIPglu-2μΔ13, and FLIPglu-170nΔ13 all responded to glucose. These results demonstrate that cytosolic steady state glucose levels depend on external supply in both leaves and roots, but under the conditions tested they are lower in root versus epidermal and guard cells. Without photosynthesis and external supply, cytosolic glucose can decrease to
Eliminating voltage emergencies via microarchitectural voltage control feedback and dynamic optimization

Microprocessor designers use techniques such as clock gating to reduce power dissipation. An unfortunate side-effect of these techniques is the processor current fluctuations that stress the power-delivery network. Recent research has focused on hardware-only mechanisms to detect and eliminate these fluctuations. While the solutions have been effective at avoiding operating-range violations, they have done so at a performance penalty to the executing program. Compilers are well equipped to rearrange instructions such that current fluctuations are less dramatic, with minimal performance implications. Furthermore, a dynamic optimizer can eliminate the problem at run time, avoiding the difficult task of statically predicting voltage emergencies. This paper proposes complementing existing hardware solutions with additional run-time software to address problematic code sequences that cause recurring voltage swings. Our proposal extends existing hardware techniques to additionally provide feedback to a dynamic optimizer, which can provide a long-term solution, often without impacting the performance of the executing application. We found that recurring voltage fluctuations do exist in the SPEC2000 benchmarks, and that given very little information from the hardware, a dynamic optimizer can locate and correct many of the recurring voltage emergencies.
A W-band transition from coplanar waveguide to rectangular waveguide

This paper presents conversion from coplanar waveguide (CPW) to fundamental rectangular waveguide mode for millimeter-wave applications. The transition is designed using cosine shaped fin to give broadband operation. It provides an efficient solution to in-line integration with optoelectronic devices on lithium niobate for the applications of millimeter-wave to optical signal processing. Optimization of the model is carried out using 3-D finite element method solver HFSS by Ansoft Corporation. Measurements of a fabricated device have yielded return loss below -15 dB and insertion loss about -3.5 dB over full W-band (75-110 GHz).
Expanded newborn screening in Texas: a survey and educational module addressing the knowledge of pediatric residents.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of an educational module as a tool for improving the knowledge of pediatric residents about newborn screening and its expansion in Texas. Methods: The study population consisted of 63 pediatric residents from the University of Texas at Houston, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Residents were invited to participate in the study during daily scheduled didactic lectures in their respective residency programs. Questionnaires were distributed to the residents both before and after the presentation of an educational module about newborn screening in Texas to assess whether knowledge was gained from the presentation. Results: Analysis of questionnaires from the full group of participants showed a substantial increase in knowledge about newborn screening in Texas after the presentation of the educational module. This included a 45.4% increase in knowledge about pre-expansion newborn screening conditions and a 308.4% increase in knowledge about expanded newborn screening conditions (P 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that an educational module about newborn screening like the one we created for this study would be an effective tool for improving the knowledge of pediatric residents on a larger scale. Genet Med 2009:11(3):163–168.