cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poly-L-aspartic acid enhances and prolongs gentamicin-mediated suppression of the CFTR-G542X mutation in a cystic fibrosis mouse model.

Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin have the ability to suppress translation termination at premature stop mutations, leading to a partial restoration of protein expression and function. This observation led to studies showing that this approach may provide a viable treatment for patients with genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis that are caused by premature stop mutations. Although aminoglycoside treatment is sometimes associated with harmful side effects, several studies have shown that the co-administration of polyanions such as poly-l-aspartic acid (PAA) can both reduce toxicity and increase the intracellular aminoglycoside concentration. In the current study we examined how the co-administration of gentamicin with PAA influenced the readthrough of premature stop codons in cultured cells and a cystic fibrosis mouse model. Using a dual luciferase readthrough reporter system in cultured cells, we found that the co-administration of gentamicin with PAA increased readthrough 20–40% relative to cells treated with the same concentration of gentamicin alone. Using a Cftr-/- hCFTR-G542X mouse model, we found that PAA also increased the in vivo nonsense suppression induced by gentamicin. Following the withdrawal of gentamicin, PAA significantly prolonged the time interval during which readthrough could be detected, as shown by short circuit current measurements and immunofluorescence. Because the use of gentamicin to suppress disease-causing nonsense mutations will require their long term administration, the ability of PAA to reduce toxicity and increase both the level and duration of readthrough has important implications for this promising therapeutic approach.
Serum peptidomic biomarkers for pulmonary metastatic melanoma identified by means of a nanopore-based assay

The significant mortality rate associated with metastatic melanoma, which exceeds the number of deaths attributed to the primary tumor, is primarily due to poor diagnosis and increased resistance to systemic therapy. Early detection and treatment of invasive melanoma are therefore crucial to increase survival rates. Low molecular weight proteins and peptides have garnered significant interest as biomarker candidates as they potentially represent a snap shot of pathological condition within the body and, by extension, the organism as a whole. We have developed a nanoporous silica-based platform to segregate the low molecular weight from the high molecular weight protein fraction to aid in the detection of peptides from serum samples using mass spectrometry. The combination of sample treatment with our platform, MALDI-TOF MS and following biostatistical analysis led to the discovery and identification of 27 peptides that are potential biomarkers associated with the development of pulmonary metastatic melanoma. We strongly believe our findings can assist to discover stage-specific peptide signatures and lead to more specific and personalized treatments for patients suffering from pulmonary metastatic melanoma.
ES1: Data converter breakthroughs in retrospect

The performance of data converters has been pushed relentlessly over the years, leveraging advancements in scaling and design techniques that exploit the high density and speed of modern process technology. However, most of the underlying architectures in use today were conceived decades ago, and are nowadays regarded as fundamental in their nature. Were these architectures viewed as fundamental, potentially long lasting breakthroughs when they were first demonstrated? In this session, we bring together four pioneers of data converter design to review the invention and progression of the basic data converter architectures. Oversampling analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion has become the dominant approach in high-resolution, moderate-bandwidth interfaces. In the first talk, Bruce Wooley will review the beginnings of oversampling converters and discuss the various architectural refinements that have emerged over time. Our second talk will focus on two equally important developments of the 1970s and 1980s: charge-based A/D conversion and digital self-calibration. Hae-Seung Lee will examine these inventions in retrospect and explain why these techniques remain equally valuable today. In the third talk of this session, Stephen Lewis will lead us back to the early days of high-speed pipelined conversion. While today's pipelines can easily sample at several hundred megahertz, the challenge back then was to cope with the bandwidth of video signals. Pipelining the digitization enabled the designer to extract very high speeds from CMOS transistors that were relatively slow and still getting ready for prime time. The session concludes with a presentation from Doug Mercer on high-speed digital-to-analog converters, which will review design philosophy changes that occurred in the 1990s. With the emergence of broadband data communication, new application requirements came into play, forcing many designers of high-speed DACs back to the drawing board.
Wet SMA Actuator Array With Matrix Vasoconstriction Device

A new mechanism for controlling arrays of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) muscle wires has been developed. Similar to previous work, SMA wires on the order of 0.25 mm in diameter are embedded in a network of compliant fluid filled vessels on the order of 1 mm in diameter. Hot and cold water are delivered through the vascular network to convectively heat and cool the SMA muscles, causing them to contract and extend. By arranging the muscles or actuators in a 2D array, n2 actuators can be controlled using 2n valves, where the valves control the flow to and from rows and columns of actuators. However, unlike the previous Matrix Manifold and Valve system (MMV), the fluid flows to the actuators are now controlled using a Matrix Vasoconstriction Device (MVD). The MVD is capable of constricting combinations of the vessels, which are arranged in rows and columns. The MVD does not introduce any fluidic resistance to the network until constricted, allowing for larger flow rates and faster muscle cycling. The MVD system architecture also removes undesired dynamic effects stemming from fluidic capacitance which were suffered by the MMV. An array of 16 muscle wires has been experimentally implemented using an MVD with 8 control inputs. The MVD has been constructed in a 50 mm × 50 mm × 60 mm volume, and the overall length of the actuators is 500 mm. The system will drive each SMA wire at a rate of 2 Hz with a force of 10 N and a stroke of 10 mm. The system could control a robotic hand with up to 16 DOF and fit within the size of a human forearm.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Is there a need for biomedical CBIR systems in clinical practice? Outcomes from a usability study

Articles in the literature routinely describe advances in Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) and its potential for improving clinical practice, biomedical research and education. Several systems have been developed to address particular needs, however, surprisingly few are found to be in routine practical use. Our collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has identified a need to develop tools to annotate and search a collection of over 100,000 cervigrams and related, anonymized patient data. One such tool developed for a projected need for retrieving similar patient images is the prototype CBIR system, called CervigramFinder, which retrieves images based on the visual similarity of particular regions on the cervix. In this article we report the outcomes from a usability study conducted at a primary meeting of practicing experts. We used the study to not only evaluate the system for software errors and ease of use, but also to explore its "user readiness", and to identify obstacles that hamper practical use of such systems, in general. Overall, the participants in the study found the technology interesting and bearing great potential; however, several challenges need to be addressed before the technology can be adopted.
Electron-impact excitation of the second positive band system (C 3 Pi u-->B 3 Pi g) and the C 3 Pi u electronic state of the nitrogen molecule.

Absolute optical emission cross sections have been measured for the second-positive band system of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, C${\mathrm{}}^{3}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$(v\ensuremath{'})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}B${\mathrm{}}^{3}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{g}}$(v\ensuremath{''}), for v\ensuremath{'}=0,1,2,3,4 and v\ensuremath{''} as large as 9 produced by electron impact with the nitrogen molecule for incident-electron energies from threshold up to 600 eV. The relative cross sections for each v\ensuremath{'} family are in good agreement with the theoretical values. From the measured optical emission cross section, the apparent excitation cross sections for the v\ensuremath{'}=0,1,2,3,4 vibrational levels of the C${\mathrm{}}^{3}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$ electronic states are determined. A comparison of these apparent cross sections with the relative direct excitation cross sections predicted by the Franck-Condon principle suggests that the population of the C${\mathrm{}}^{3}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$ state in an electron-beam experiment for the v\ensuremath{'}=0,1, and 2 levels is primarily due to direct excitation with minor contributions from cascade. For the v\ensuremath{'}=3 and 4 levels, the direct excitation cross sections are much smaller so that a larger percentage population is attributed to cascade. The relative intensities of the various (v\ensuremath{'},v\ensuremath{''}) bands in the electron-beam experiments are also compared with those observed in a dc discharge. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Genetic variation in rooting ability of loblolly pine cuttings: effects of auxin and family on rooting by hypocotyl cuttings

After about 20 days, hypocotyl cuttings from 20-day-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings rooted easily in the presence of the auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), with roots forming directly from xylem parenchyma. In contrast, woody cuttings from 1-2-year-old hedged seedlings formed roots indirectly from callus tissue in 60-90 days, but IBA had little effect on rooting. Variation in rooting among hypocotyls from both half- and full-sib families was highly significant in response to IBA, and rooting did not occur within 20 days unless IBA was applied. Hypocotyls from poor rooting families tended to produce fewer roots per cutting than hypocotyls from good rooting families. Rooting by woody cuttings and hypocotyl cuttings from the same nine full-sib families was weakly correlated, raising the possibility that at least some common genetically controlled processes were affecting rooting by both types of cutting. The phytotropin N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), supplied at 1 micro M with 10 micro M IBA, significantly inhibited rooting by hypocotyl cuttings from both good and poor rooting families, but there was no significant family x treatment interaction. Family variation in rooting ability may be a function of the frequency of occurrence of auxin-responsive cells in the hypocotyls.
Novel proteasome-inhibitory syrbactin analogs inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in hematological tumor cell lines

The proteasome has been recognized as a druggable target in cancer cells, and this has led to searches for pharmacologic agents that target this cellular organelle for cancer therapeutic purposes. Syrbactins are a group of microbial metabolites consisting of two related families, the glidobactins and the syringolins. Some members of this group have revealed cytotoxic efficacy in tumor cells, and more recently it was discovered that they exert proteasome-inhibitory function. Based on this therapeutic promise and to gain further understanding of their molecular modes of action, we chemically synthesized de-novo three novel syrbactin analogs and characterized their proteasome-inhibitory and in vitro anti-neoplastic activity in human cell lines representing multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and lymphocytic leukemia. Our results show that two of these novel compounds are able to inhibit proteasome activity in the nanomolar range, reduce the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins survivin and Mcl-1, and cause severe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in pronounced tumor cell death. These anticancer effects can be synergistically enhanced when the agents are combined with thapsigargin, which further aggravates ER stress by a different mechanism. Taken together, our findings support the notion that syrbactin analogs may provide a structural platform for the development of novel cancer therapeutics, and that their efficacy may be further increased when complemented with other agents that trigger ER stress.
The fermi surface of graphite

Recent magnetoreflection measurements in pyrolytic graphite have been interpreted using the magnetic energy levels obtained from the McClure-lnoue secular equation and the appropriate selection rules for interband transitions. Combining these results with those of the de Haas - van Alphen effect, the band parameters of the Slonczewski-Weiss model have been evaluated and the Fermi surface determined. The magnetoreflection experiment indicates considerable warping of the Fermi surface, particularly for holes. Further experiments to determine this warping more precisely are discussed.
Variation among heritability estimates for strawberries obtained by offspring-parent regression with relatives raised in separate environments

Data on fruit yield, fruit size and a commercial appearance score were collected for strawberry seedlings from biparental progenies planted at two test locations. Similar data for 8 advanced selections from the California Strawberry Improvement Program were collected, with selections each subjected to three preplanting cold storage treatments and planted at a single location. Each progeny tested had at least one of the 8 selections as a parent. Offspring-parent regression heritabilities were computed using data from each combination of offspring location and parental treatment. Heritability estimates for yield and appearance differed significantly when different combinations of data were used; corresponding estimates for fruit size were unaffected. Gains predicted using heritabilities estimated by the convenient procedure of regressing unselected seedling values on those for vegetatively propagated parents will be reliable only for traits that are robust to rank shifts induced by planting/propagation treatments.
The spectral radiative signature of wind-blown mineral dust: Implications for remote sensing in the thermal IR region

[1] This study investigates how the loading and composition of atmospheric dust affect IR radiances observed by satellite narrowband and high-resolution sensors. To compute monochromatic radiances accounting for multiple scattering and absorption by aerosols and atmospheric gases, we employed a new radiative transfer code which combines the line-by-line algorithm and discrete ordinate technique. New dust optical models required for such computations were developed for the representative mineral mixtures. We demonstrate that dust decreases the brightness temperature observed by satellite sensors depending mainly on the dust burden and composition, though the sensitivity to the composition differs between the satellite sensors. We found that mineral dust has a unique radiative signature (termed here a “negative slope”) which separates the effect of dust from that of clouds and gases. We conclude that dust must be accounted for in atmospheric correction algorithms if the retrievals of the sea surface temperature and atmospheric gaseous species from the thermal IR radiances are to be of high accuracy.
The contributions of Dr. Gies: Promoting standards of dental education, research

Dr. Ranney provides a commentary about two 1924 articles published in The Journal of the American Dental Association by Dr. William John Gies that highlight his many contributions to dental education.
Evolutionarily stable strategies and the evolution of life history strategies: I. Density dependent models.

The evolution of life history strategies in density dependent situations is considered in both continuous time and discrete time models. The question of equilibrium and of competitively stable strategies, the “invasion” question, are shown to be completely determined by the number of offspring left at a fixed population size. Evolutionarily stable strategies are shown to maximize population size in a certain sense.
Functional assessment of left ventricular ejection dynamics by cine-magnetic resonance imaging in hypertrophie cardiomyopathy

Abstract In conclusion, cine-MRI can noninvasively assess and depict the morphologic and functional abnormalities of the left ventricular outflow tract in obstructive HC. A characteristic cine-MRI profile was identified in the presence of outflow obstruction, which enabled those patients to be distinguished from patients with nonobstructive HC.
Bohn's Test of Fiscal Sustainability of the American State Governments

The dramatic fall in state revenues during the Great Recession and the resultant large budget deficits accentuated concerns about state fiscal sustainability. I employ a model-based approach proposed by Bohn (1998) to test for sustainability. In this approach, a positive and significant reaction of the ratio of primary surplus ratio (s) to lagged debt constitutes a sufficient condition for sustainability. Based on a panel of 48 contiguous states (1961�2008) and several model specifications, I find robust evidence in favor of sustainability. Further analysis suggests that the adjustment of the components of s to debt is asymmetric with the revenue side bearing a heavier burden than the spending side. The response of s is also found to be asymmetric with respect to the level of debt. Finally, the magnitude of the response is larger in states with a higher degree of fiscal stringency in general and �own-revenue� and �no-deficit-carryover� provisions in particular.
Systemic Treatment of Patients Who Have Colorectal Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Colorectal cancer is the most common malignant complication in patients who have IBD. The disease is difficult to diagnose because there is an overlap in symptoms in patients who have colon cancer and those who have IBD. Much has been learned about the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients who have IBD and its correlation with disease activity, duration, and anatomic location; however, almost no data are available regarding specific therapeutic considerations during adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy for these patients with respect to their underlying disease. Patients who have IBD who develop colorectal cancer are at higher risk for developing severe diarrhea during chemotherapy that may be due to the toxic effects of cytotoxic drugs or a flare of the IBD. Continuous infusional 5-FU alone, in combination with leucovorin, or in combination with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) seems to be tolerated best. Bolus infusions of 5-FU (Roswell Park or Mayo regimens) and combination therapy of irinotecan with 5-FU should be avoided because of severe diarrhea and the possibility of sepsis. When diarrhea develops or worsens, empiric aminosalicylates may be given. Although it is theoretically possible that anti-EGFR therapies could affect IBD activity adversely, clinical experience with cetuximab in patients who have colorectal cancer has not shown any significant gastrointestinal side effects. Therefore, it seems reasonable to use it in patients who have colorectal cancer and IBD. The administration of bevacizumab has been associated with rare episodes of intestinal perforation; it should be used with great care in patients who have IBD. More studies and an integrative, multidisciplinary approach from oncologists and gastroenterologists are needed to provide optimal care for patients who have IBD during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer
Pauling—Wheland resonance theory of benzenoid hydrocarbon☆

Abstract The simple resonance-theoretic wavefunction ansatz consisting of an equally weighted combination of Kekule structures is considered in application to benzenoid hydrocarbons. The resultant resonance-theoretic expectation values are (favorably) compared to the logarithm of the number of Kekule structures. Next a simple pictorial scheme for Kekule structure enumeration on catacondensed benzenoids is developed, and extended also to Pauling π-bond orders. Overall Pauling and Wheland's idea that Kekule-structure counts are of use is given some further support, for benzenoids, and the ease of computation is enhanced.
Bodies in Motion: Steam-Powered Pilgrimages in Late Imperial Russia

This essay examines the phenomenon of group pilgrimage in early twentieth-century Russia. Made possible by modern advances in technology and transportation, parish pilgrimages represented a new form of spiritual travel at the end of the imperial era, allowing greater numbers of Orthodox men and women to visit and venerate sacred sites across the length and breadth of the Russian empire. Undertaken with the blessing of Orthodox bishops and often underwritten by local merchants and entrepreneurs, organized parish pilgrimages also afforded new pedagogical opportunities for the Orthodox clergy to instruct their flock in the articles of faith, to supervise and give structure to lay devotional practices, and to assert the continued meaningfulness of the Orthodox faith against the rival claims of sectarians, secularists, and socialists alike. In adapting an age-old practice for present-day purposes, the clerical organizers of parish pilgrimages sought a spiritual solution to the crises engendered by Russia’s passage into modernity. Just as mass pilgrimages by rail and steam could accommodate greater numbers of participants, so too did they invite a wide range of multiple meanings from the Orthodox men and women who took part in them.
A performance bound for real OTEC heat engines

Maximum power and efficiency at the maximum power of an irreversible OTEC heat engine are treated. When time is explicitly considered in the energy exchanges between the heat engine and its surroundings, it is found that there is a bound on the efficiency of the real OTEC heat engine at the maximum power condition. This bound can guide the evaluation of existing OTEC systems or influence design of future OTEC heat engines.
New tricks for old drugs: the anticarcinogenic potential of DNA repair inhibitors.

Defective or abortive repair of DNA lesions has been associated with carcinogenesis. Therefore it is imperative for a cell to accurately repair its DNA after damage if it is to return to a normal cellular phenotype. In certain circumstances, if DNA damage cannot be repaired completely and with high fidelity, it is more advantageous for an organism to have some of its more severely damaged cells die rather than survive as neoplastic transformants. A number of DNA repair inhibitors have the potential to act as anticarcinogenic compounds. These drugs are capable of modulating DNA repair, thus promoting cell death rather than repair of potentially carcinogenic DNA damage mediated by error-prone DNA repair processes. In theory, exposure to a DNA repair inhibitor during, or immediately after, carcinogenic exposure should decrease or prevent tumorigenesis. However, the ability of DNA repair inhibitors to prevent cancer development is difficult to interpret depending upon the system used and the type of genotoxic stress. Inhibitors may act on multiple aspects of DNA repair as well as the cellular signaling pathways activated in response to the initial damage. In this review, we summarize basic DNA repair mechanisms and explore the effects of a number of DNA repair inhibitors that not only potentiate DNA-damaging agents but also decrease carcinogenicity. In particular, we focus on a novel anti-tumor agent, β-lapachone, and its potential to block transformation by modulating poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1.
Adenocarcinoma of the prostate, metastatic to the mandible: report of case.

A metastatic tumor of the mandible occurred from adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Although correct diagnosis eventually was made and extensive treatment given, the patient died. The instance emphasizes the importance of discovery of distant metastatic lesions, and the need for thorough study of the patient if there is any question of diagnosis.
Gender differences in the pricing of professional services: Implications for income and customer relationships

Abstract This study extends our understanding of the effects of gender on both pricing behavior and owner income by examining both relationships in an experimental simulation involving owners of veterinary practices. Consistent with prior research, women owners are found to employ “compassionate pricing” more than men, even when the same services are offered. The process by which gender influences price, however is found to depend in part on one’s relationship orientation. Specifically, women are found to have a higher relationship orientation than men and relationship orientation is found to directly bias women’s transactional pricing towards more compassionate pricing. The relationship between role orientation, pricing, and income, however, is rather complex. While lower prices have a negative relationship with owner income, relationship orientation is found to have a positive direct influence on income. As a result, the influence of relationship orientation on income is found to be both negative, due to lower prices, and positive, due possibly to the resulting customer loyalty.
Geospatial Interpolation and Mapping of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution Using Geostatistics

Tropospheric ozone (O3) pollution is a major problem worldwide, including in the United States of America (USA), particularly during the summer months. Ozone oxidative capacity and its impact on human health have attracted the attention of the scientific community. In the USA, sparse spatial observations for O3 may not provide a reliable source of data over a geo-environmental region. Geostatistical Analyst in ArcGIS has the capability to interpolate values in unmonitored geo-spaces of interest. In this study of eastern Texas O3 pollution, hourly episodes for spring and summer 2012 were selectively identified. To visualize the O3 distribution, geostatistical techniques were employed in ArcMap. Using ordinary Kriging, geostatistical layers of O3 for all the studied hours were predicted and mapped at a spatial resolution of 1 kilometer. A decent level of prediction accuracy was achieved and was confirmed from cross-validation results. The mean prediction error was close to 0, the root mean-standardized-prediction error was close to 1, and the root mean square and average standard errors were small. O3 pollution map data can be further used in analysis and modeling studies. Kriging results and O3 decadal trends indicate that the populace in Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Beaumont-Port Arthur, San Antonio, and Longview are repeatedly exposed to high levels of O3-related pollution, and are prone to the corresponding respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Optimization of the monitoring network proves to be an added advantage for the accurate prediction of exposure levels.
The position of the victim-activist in crime victim service organizations

The emergence of community-based service organizations for victims of violent crime, rape, domestic violence, child abuse and murder have become a part of the organizational underpinnings of the crime victim movement. Prominent figures in this movement are the victim-activists who speak for victims because they have the experiential expertise that comes from being a victim (survivor). This study examines the organizational positions of two types of victims, the individually harmed victim and the family member of a crime victim. The findings show that although both types of victim-activists can speak as victims, family victims tends to hold unpaid authoritative positions such as board member or president, whereas individual victims hold a variety of positions. Victim status serves as a credential for decision-making positions in the case of family victims, and as a career credential for individual victims.
Optical methods for nondestructive quality evaluation of agricultural and biological materials

Abstract Literature which reports on optical methods of nondestructive quality evaluation of agricultural and biological materials is reviewed. The basic laws and interaction of light with biological materials are presented with particular regard to their applicability in quality evaluation. A wide range of agricultural and biological materials such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, cereal grains, eggs and meat products are considered. Optical evaluation of maturity, viability, external damage, internal defects and other quality attributes are dealt with. The suitability of each method to successgully indicating defective samples is examined. The phenomenon of delayed light emission (DLE) by green plant materials and the factors affecting it are presented. The potential of DLE in nondestructively evaluating the quality of fruits and vegetables is discussed and its advantages over conventional spectrophotometric methods are considered. From the information cited in this review, data on optical properties of each product serving as an index of quality are put together in a single table to serve as a ready reference. Possible future approaches of further research in optical methods of quality evaluation are also discussed.
Midface Lift Using A Minimally Invasive Technique and a Novel Absorbable Suture

BACKGROUND Midface rejuvenation is a minimally invasive procedure designed to correct early ptosis of the cheeks and deepening nasolabial folds. Implementation of this technique requires a detailed understanding of the anatomy of this region in addition to recognizing the vectors of change that occur over time as one matures. Finally, aesthetic competence and requisite surgical skills are required to restore the midface in a minimally invasive fashion. OBJECTIVE To describe a new minimally invasive approach to facial rejuvenation using a novel absorbable suture with segmented stabilizers that allows for a superolateral reversal of the senescent changes of the midface. METHODS In a case series study, 30 patients with aging changes of the midface signed informed consent to have this procedure done. An incision was made in the preauricular area, followed by hydrodissection with tumescent anesthesia and blunt dissection with the aid of a 4-mm spatula cannula. Two angiocatheters (14GA 3.25 IN, 2.1 x 83 mm, 14 gauge) were tunneled through the malar fat pad and pierced the skin just lateral to the nasolabial fold. The angiocatheter was then removed and the suture tethered to facilitate the proper amount of lifting entirely in the subcutaneous supra-SMAS plane and anchored superolaterally to the temporalis fascia. The segmented stabilizers anchored themselves in multiple directions but ultimately lifted the tissues of the midface. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION This technique uses the multidirectional segmented stabilizers of the Monograms to counteract the downward displacement of the malar fat pad while simultaneously softening the nasolabial fold. This is a minimally invasive technique that addresses the multiple factors involved in the senescent changes of the midface. Proper patient selection, good aesthetic judgment, and surgical competence are required to restore the midface in a minimally invasive fashion. The objective of this study was to report a novel approach to midfacial rejuvenation using the Monograms. This cross-hatched suture achieves simultaneous malar fat pad elevation and nasolabial fold effacement. The midface lift adds another vital dimension to panfacial augmentation.
Two Approaches to Treatment of Complicated Candida Glabrata Urinary Tract Infection in Renal Failure

Objective:To report the treatment of 2 cases of Candida glabrata urinary tract infection (UTI) in the setting of renal failure.Case Summaries:A 37-year-old female in acute renal failure developed a...
The contemporary copper cycle of Asia

A regional stock and flow model for an industrial metal was developed based on the substance-flow framework. Using this model, the contemporary copper cycle of the Asian region was constructed by aggregating country-level production and import and export data for different stages of the copper cycle. The reliability and availability of data were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Asia as a region is a net importer of copper. There is a significant build-up of copper in use at a rate of nearly 3 Tg Cu/year. The per capita generation of copper waste (0.4 kg Cu/(capita-year)) and the rate of secondary recovery of copper are low compared with Europe and North America. Japan's rates of use, waste generation, and recycling of copper are all much larger than the continental average. A tremendous potential exists in the region to utilize the copper content of the in-use reservoir, and subsequently to enhance copper recycling rates in the future. A set of metrics for the copper cycle is suggested in order to address sustainability issues related to resource policy and the environmental management of copper.
Reconstruction of an ulnar-sided thumb in central deficiency: A case report

The thumb, which is normally located on the radial border of the hand, requires adequate sensibility to perceive its environment and adequate mobility to oppose to the other digits. We present a case in which the most ulnar digit of the hand was surgically augmented to function as a thumb.
Where did the northern peatland species survive the dry glacials : cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) as an example

Aim During the last ice age large parts of the north boreal and subarctic zones were covered by ice, while the climate in ice-free regions of northern Asia was extremely cold and dry. The extensive peatlands of these zones with their characteristic vegetation developed at the beginning of the Holocene. We combine a phylogeographical approach with maps of pollen records to identify regions where Rubus chamaemorus, a plant of moist, peaty soils, was likely to grow during this period. Location Circumarctic/circumboreal. Methods Samples were collected from 45 locations throughout much of the range of R. chamaemorus and 398 plants were analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Estimates of diversity and differentiation, principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian clustering methods were used for the analysis of genetic data. Dated pollen records were retrieved from the European and the Global Pollen Databases. Results The plants from Sakhalin are highly divergent from the rest of the material and represent the previously described var. pseudochamaemorus. The main genetic division in R. chamaemorus sensu stricto is found in the Taymyr region in central Eurasia. Genetic diversity and the relative number of rare markers are highest in central Siberia and eastern Asia and decrease towards Europe and to a lesser extent eastwards through North America. Pollen dating back to the last ice age is found in central and eastern Siberia and Alaska. The maximum observed clone size is about 250 m, and more than one clone is found in nearly every local population. Main conclusions The genetic data are consistent with the pollen records and indicate that R. chamaemorus was growing in several areas of northern central Siberia and Beringia during the last glaciation. This finding suggests that sufficient humidity for this and other species of peaty soils was present locally in different parts of the generally dry ice-free areas of northern Asia, as had been previously documented for Beringia. The AFLP data show that var. pseudochamaemorus, which is also morphologically quite divergent, clearly represents a distinct genetic entity.
Much Ado About Something: Violent Video Game Effects and a School of Red Herring: Reply to Ferguson and Kilburn (2010)

In this article we reply to C. J. Ferguson and J. Kilburn’s (2010) critique of our meta-analysis on violent video game effects (C. A. Anderson et al., 2010). We rely on well-established methodological and statistical theory and on empirical data to show that claims of bias and misinterpretation on our part are simply wrong. One should not systematically exclude unpublished studies from meta-analytic reviews. There is no evidence of publication or selection bias in our data. We did not purposely exclude certain studies; we included all studies that met our inclusion criteria. Although C. J. Ferguson and J. Kilburn believe that the effects we obtained are trivial in size, they are larger than many effects that are deemed sufficiently large to warrant action in medical and violence domains. The claim that we (and other media violence scholars) are attempting to create a false crisis is a red herring.
Trends in hospital/physician relationships

Abstract: Findings from two surveys of all physicians in Pima County, Arizona, in 1985 and 1990 to determine the trajectory of hospital/physician relationships suggest that conflicts have increased in almost all areas. Physicians report the greatest number of and increase in conflicts in traditional problem areas such as the quality of nursing and response to equipment requests. They report a smaller increase in conflicts relating to the new competitive marketplace, including hospital efforts to influence medical practice. Both types of problems are most prevalent among younger physicians. The new marketplace thus appears to exacerbate traditional hospital/physician conflicts more than it generates new areas of contention.
Effect of coupling between emergency department and inpatient unit on the overcrowding in emergency department

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has become a common problem in the United States as well as other developed nations, threatening the safety of patients who rely on timely emergency treatment. Volume of high-acuity patients and the volume of patients that are later admitted to the inpatient unit (IU) are factors reported as major causes of ED overcrowding. These two factors can be interpreted to represent the strength of the interaction between an ED and its associated IU. In addition to confirming the observations reported in previous studies, we were able to use discrete event simulation to characterize the relationship between IU utilization and ED crowding: it was found that the sensitivity of ED overcrowding with respect to IU utilization depends on the degree of coupling between the two units. Our findings have potential implications in guiding a hospital's effort to optimize their system.
Controlled Flexibility in Workflow Management

Traditional workflow models are centered around the structure of a workflow. Other requirements and goals like time and cost can be represented only indirectly. As a result, when the workflow is executed, the WfMS can only enforce the structural constraints. This becomes a problem when the workflow deviates from its normal execution, e.g., due to errors or delays. In this paper we propose an approach to extend the definition of workflows which allows to make the underlying goals explicit. In addition, we introduce flexible elements into the workflow specification. We make use of these flexible elements in a controlled way to achieve a balanced fulfillment of all goals - structural as well as non-structural - under various runtime conditions.
High-Speed, Automatic Controller Design Considerations for Integrating Array Processor, Multi-Microprocessor, and Host Computer System Architectures

Modern control systems must typically perform real-time identification and control as well as coordinate a host of other activites related to user interation, online graphics, and file management. This paper discusses five global design considerations which are useful to integrate array processor, multi-microprocessor, and host computer system architectures into versatile, high-speed controllers. Such controllers are capable of very high control throughput, and can maintain constant interaction with the nonreal-time or user environment. As an application example, the architecture of a high-speed, closed-loop controller used to actively control helicopter vibration will be briefly discussed. Although this system has been designed for use as the controller for real-time rotorcraft dynamics and control studies in a wind tunnel environment, the controller architecture can generally be applied to a wide range of automatic control applications.
Reduction in feeding by diapausing and postdiapause pear psylla (Homoptera: Psyllidae) caused by extract from buffalo gourd (Cucurbitaceae)

Rates of honeydew production were lower in diapausing winterform pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster), than in psylla brought out of diapause by exposure either to long-day conditions or to an insect growth regulator (fenoxycarb). An extract obtained from a nonhost species, buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima HBK.), caused reduced honeydew production when misted onto pear shoots. Reductions in feeding were as pronounced in diapausing insects as in psylla that were in a postdiapause condition. Ovarian development scores were positively correlated with honeydew production, indicating that feeding deterrents may be useful for delaying the onset of egglaying in the field. Key words: Insecta; Cacopsylla pyricola; diapause; honeydew production; feeding deterrent
Exploring bounds on ambulance deployment policy performance

Ambulance deployment involves controlling a fleet of ambulances, often in real time, in an attempt to keep response times small. Simulation has been used to devise redeployment policies, and bounds have been obtained from a combination of comparison methods for queues (coupling) and simulation. These techniques yield varying results on two realistic examples. In an attempt to understand the varying results, we explore the performance of the policies and bounds on artificial models.
Bias-corrected paralinear and LogDet distances and tests of molecular clocks and phylogenies under nonstationary nucleotide frequencies.

The statistical properties of the paralinear and LogDet distances under nonstationary nucleotide frequencies were studied. First, we developed formulas for correcting the estimation biases of the paralinear and LogDet distances, i.e., the bias-corrected distance is estimated by dc = d - 2var(d), where d and var(d) are the estimated distance and sampling variance, respectively. The performances of these formulas and the formulas for sampling variances were examined by computer simulation. Second, we developed a method for estimating the variance-covariance matrix of paralinear distances, so that statistical tests of DNA phylogenies can be conducted in the nonstationary case. Third, a new LogDet-based method for testing the molecular clock hypothesis was developed under nonstationary nucleotide frequencies.
RNA approaches the B‐form in stacked single strand dinucleotide contexts

Duplex RNA adopts an A-form structure, while duplex DNA interconverts between the A- and B-forms depending on the environment. The C2'-endo sugar pucker seen in B-form DNA can occur infrequently in ribose sugars as well, but RNA is not understood to assume B-form conformations. Through analysis of over 45,000 stacked single strand dinucleotide (SSD) crystal structure conformations, this study demonstrates that RNA is capable of adopting a wide conformational range between the canonical A- and B-forms at the localized SSD level, including many B-form-like conformations. It does so through C2'-endo ribose conformations in one or both nucleotides, and B-form-like neighboring base stacking patterns. As chemical reactions on nucleic acids involve localized changes in chemical bonds, the understanding of how enzymes distinguish between DNA and RNA nucleotides is altered by the energetic accessibility of these rare B-form-like RNA SSD conformations. The existence of these conformations also has direct implications in parametrization of molecular mechanics energy functions used extensively to model nucleic acid behavior., 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 65-82, 2016.
Fluorescence ratio imaging of cytosolic free Na+ in individual fibroblasts and lymphocytes.

New fluorescent Na+ indicators, SBFI (short for sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate) and SBFP (short for sodium-binding benzofuran phthalate) (Minta, A., and Tsien, R. Y. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19449–19457), were tested in Jurkat tumor lymphocytes and in REF52 rat embryo fibroblasts. Both dyes could be introduced by direct microinjection. However, when cells were incubated with the tetra(acetoxymethyl) esters of the dyes, only SBFI gave intracellular loading that was reasonably responsive to [Na+]i. Because some compartmentation of the SBFI was visible and because the indicator properties are somewhat affected by cytoplasm, the relationship between intracellular free Na+ ([Na+]i and the 340/385 nm excitation ratio of the indicator was calibrated in situ using poreforming antibiotics to equilibrate cytosolic [Na+] ([Na+]i) with extracellular [Na+]. The excitation ratio was sufficiently sensitive to resolve small changes, ≤1 mM, in [Na+]i in single cells. Basal [Na+]i values in lymphocytes and serum-starved fibroblasts were 9.4 and 4.2 mM, respectively. As expected, large increases in [Na+]i were elicited by blocking the Na+ pump with ouabain or withdrawal of extracellular K+. Mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin acting on the lymphocytes, or serum or vasopressin in fibroblasts, caused [Na+]i to increase up to 2-fold. In fibroblasts, the rise in [Na+]i was due at least partly to a stimulation of Na+ influx, which was not wholly through the Na+/H+ exchanger. The mitogen-induced increases in [Na+]i and the rate of Na+ influx are consistent with earlier estimates based on measurements of total [Na+] or tracer fluxes. However, the absolute values for free [Na+]i are much lower than previous values for total intracellular Na+, suggesting that much of the latter is bound or sequestered.
Influence of heparin therapy on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty outcome in unstable angina pectoris

Abstract The acute procedural outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 304 patients with unstable angina was retrospectively examined with respect to the influence of prolonged preprocedural intravenous heparin therapy. Clinical and angiographic success in 135 patients receiving heparin therapy for ≥24 hours was 91% while such success was noted in 81% of patients not treated with heparin (p = 0.02). The incidence of immediate postprocedural thrombotic vessel occlusion was higher in the nonheparin group than in the heparin-treated group (8.3 vs 1.5%, respectively, p