cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of radiotracer for sentinel lymph node mapping in breast cancer optimizes staging independent of site of administration.

Purpose In an effort to optimize sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for breast cancer, sites of mapping agent administration and types of mapping agents used continue to be evaluated. This study compares SLN mapping using peritumoral (PT) or subareolar (SA) injection of radiolabeled colloid and examines the relative contributions of radiotracer and blue dye to SLN identification. Materials and methods A retrospective review was performed of 456 patients with breast cancer and clinically negative axillae who underwent SLN mapping. Sequential groups of patients were injected with filtered Tc-99m SC, 326 peritumorally (group 1) and 130 subareolarly (group 2). All patients had intraoperative SA injection of 1% isosulfan blue dye. Results The SLN identification and isotope success rates were 97% and 96% in group 1 and 98% and 98% in group 2, respectively. Eighty-one patients (25%) in group 1 and 44 patients (34%) in group 2 had positive SLNs. Of these patients, 15% from group 1 and 14% from group 2 had only positive nodes detected by radiotracer, and 9 of these patients (6 from group 1 and 3 from group 2) had other nodes identified by both radiotracer and blue dye that were negative for metastases. Six percent of patients with positive SLNs were upstaged because of use of radiotracer. Conclusions PT and SA injection of radiotracer have comparable success rates for axillary SLN identification. Given that 15% of patients in group 1 and 14% in group 2 had only positive SLNs detected by radiotracer, independent of site of administration, radiotracer remains essential for optimizing breast SLN mapping.
Recent constrained-search advances for approximating density functionals

Abstract For approximating the exact exchange-correlation energy functional E xc[n], it is desirable to find conditions satisfied by E xc[n]. Accordingly, it is the purpose of this paper to emphasize that the constrained-search orientation provides a working tool to help to reveal such conditions, and examples of derived coordinates-scaling conditions involving E xc[n] and v xc([n]; r) = δE xc[n]/δn(r) are given. For instance, it is shown that
Effect of solidification parameters on the microstructures and properties of CMSX-10

Abstract A single master heat of CMSX-10, a third generation, single crystal Ni-base superalloy was processed with withdrawal rates between 5 and 35 cm/h. The as-cast microstructures and solidification partitioning ratios were characterized as a function of the withdrawal rate and used to verify the thermal gradient during processing. As expected, the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing decreased with increasing withdrawal rate. Significant differences in the phase transformation temperatures were observed in DTA testing due to the withdrawal rates used to process the samples. After heat treatment, transformation temperatures, microstructures and tensile and creep properties were determined. Once heat-treated, the solidus, liquidus and γ′-solvus temperatures did not appear to be a function of withdrawal rate. Similarly, mechanical testing of heat-treated samples also indicated that the tensile and creep properties were not a function of the withdrawal rate.
TH‐D‐330A‐01: Annual Gamma Camera QC: Techniques And Phantoms To Simplify The Implementation Of The NEMA NU‐1 Procedures For Tests Recommended By The ACR

The objective of this work is to present techniques to perform the NEMA tests that are suggested by the ACR for annual gamma camera QC. Since the recommendation contains nine tests, the goal is to devise simple and efficient procedures to reduce the required time without compromising the quality. Also included is a comparison of test equipment conforming to NEMA specifications to equipment made in‐house. The time to complete the annual QC is markedly reduced by the availability of specifically designed phantoms. They provide a reliable means to compare the cameras and to establish a performance baseline. For two tests, Multi Window Spatial Registration and SPECT Resolution with scatter, the NEMA prescribed equipment is compared with readily available devices. The comparison of the commercial MWSP device and the one produced in‐house showed that the average maximum difference of the center of mass for the three Ga‐67 peaks measured at various points across the crystal face is 0.35 mm vs. 0.33 mm for the commercial and the in‐house device, respectively. For the SPECT resolution using three capillary tubes filled with Tc‐99m, a NEMA phantom is compared to a modified Jaszczak phantom. The FWHM is 4.78 pxl vs. 4.79 pxl (radial) and 4.144 pxl vs. 4.167 pxl (azimuthal) for NEMA and Jaszczak phantom, respectively. Further topics include sensitivity, count rate performance, comparison of fit methods, and monitor/printer QC.
A reproducible method for the optimum infection of human mononuclear cells and lymphoid cell lines by herpes simplex virus type I

Abstract Parameters for the infection of human mononuclear cells (MNC) with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were investigated and a procedure was established which resulted in a reproducible optimum number of cells expressing virus-specific cell surface antigens The number of cells infected was independent of the sex of the donor and independent of whether the donor was HSV- seropositive or -seronegative. On the average 18±6% of HSV-infected MNC from any given donor expressed HSV-specific cell surface antigens. When the standard procedure was applied to a variety of lymphoid cell lines, a high percentage of cells of both B and non-T/non-B lines expressed HSV-specific cell surface antigens, whereas T-cell lines appeared resistant to HSV infection.
Three-dimensional finite-element modeling of a thin-skinned fold-thrust belt wedge: Provo salient, Sevier belt, Utah

Three-dimensional finite-element (FE) analysis of a fold-thrust belt wedge model provides graphical and quantitative information for the strain geometry, kinematics, and mechanics of salient formation in three-dimensionalspace. A nonlinear, elastic-plastic FE model, using the initial basin configuration of the restored Provo salient, Utah, develops realistic deformation features (e.g., salient) in the deformed sedimentary prism. The three-dimensional fold-thrust belt wedge model shows different deformation characteristics (based on S 1 , γ m a x , and σ 1 orientations and material-displacement directions) in different parts of the salient, and its behavior is closely related to the preexisting template of the predeformational basin shape. The model results indicate plane-strain deformation with symmetric finite-strain geometry in the middle of the salient and nonplane-strain deformation with nonsymmetric finite-strain geometry at the lateral boundaries. Thus, conventional two-dimensional plane-strain assumptions in fold-thrust belt analysis (e.g., in balancing cross sections) are reasonable only in the middle of the salient; however, at the lateral boundaries, the results indicate fully three dimensional deformation and suggest that restorations need to be more carefully constrained in three dimensions on the basis of detailed geologic data.
Characterization of Gene Organization and Promoter Region of the Rat Dopamine D1 Receptor Gene

: Genomic and cDNA clones encoding the rat Dl receptor were isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the Dl receptor cDNA and genomic sequences revealed that the rat Dl receptor gene is organized into two exons separated by a small intron in the 5’untranslated region of its mRNA. The transcription start site is located 864 bp upstream from the translational initiation site. The 5′-flanking sequences of the Dl receptor gene do not contain TATA and CAAT canonical sequences, but have a high G + C content, potential cyclic AMP and glucocorticoid response element sequences, and binding sites for transcription factors such as Sp1, Ap1, and Ap2. Transfection studies using the Dl 5′-flanking sequence and CAT gene fusion constructs have demonstrated that (1) the D1 promoter is active in Dl-expressing neuroblastoma NS20Y cells, but inactive in D1-deficient glioma C6 and kidney 293 cells, (2) the information contained within 735 bp of 5′-flanking sequence of the Dl gene appears to be sufficient to confer its cell-specific expression, and (3) the Dl gene promoter responds to cyclic AMP induction, suggesting the existence of an autoregulation mechanism by which the stimulation of Dl receptor exerts a positive feedback on its own gene expression.
High-flow carotid cavernous fistula and the use of a microvascular plug system: initial experience.

Purpose: We report our initial experience using a detachable microvascular plug system to occlude the internal carotid artery during endovascular treatment of hig
Abnormal uterine bleeding and underlying hemostatic disorders: report of a consensus process

An ad hoc consensus group determined that the prevalence of von Willebrand's disease in females with heavy menstrual bleeding is approximately 13%, but the severity of the disorder varies and, consequently, the overall clinical impact remains unknown. Consensus recommendations are presented, which include [1] a structured history for screening females with heavy menstrual bleeding; [2] a collaborative, multidisciplinary evaluation, and [3] a strategy for future basic science and clinical investigation.
Risks of mitral valve replacement and mitral valve replacement with coronary artery bypass

One hundred thirty consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) or MVR with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using cold crystalloid cardioplegic solution were analyzed to determine operative mortality and risk factors. Twenty-eight patients had mitral stenosis (MS), 37 had mitral regurgitation (MR), 37 had mixed MS and MR, 23 had MR with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 5 had MS with CAD. Preoperative pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and cardiac index were not different among groups, but patients with MR and CAD had a significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and a significantly lower ejection fraction than other groups. Mortality was 7.1% for patients with MS, 5.4% for MR, 8.1% for mixed MS and MR, 0 for MS with CAD, and 21.7% for MR and CAD. Overall mortality was 9.2%. Eleven patients had emergency operations for cardiogenic shock with a mortality of 45%. Nineteen additional patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class IV had MVR or MVR plus CABG with a mortality of 26%. Sixteen patients required intraaortic balloon pump assistance, and 9 survived. Four patients with MR and CAD required the left ventricular assist device, and 3 survived. Excluding patients who had emergency operations, overall mortality was 5.8%. Excluding patients who had emergency operations and patients in NYHA Functional Class IV, overall mortality was 2%. Factors associated with death were cardiogenic shock, NYHA Class IV, LVEDP greater than 15 mm Hg (16% mortality), and age greater than 60 years (15% mortality).
Vocational and social outcomes of adults with chronic aphasia

Abstract Vocational and social outcomes of rehabilitation, such as employment, Social Integration, and life satisfaction, are critical determinants of the usefulness of rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to describe the employment status, Social Integration, and perceived life satisfaction of adults with chronic aphasia 2 years after discharge from an intensive treatment program. Among the 20 survey respondents, 62% of those who had been working prior to aphasia onset were also working at the time of follow-up. Those who were working before but not after onset had higher Home Integration scores. There was a relatively large perceived change in communication from clinic discharge to the 2-year follow-up. Eighty-five percent of the respondents indicated a positive life satisfaction rating. There was a significant positive relationship between Home Integration and life satisfaction ratings. The results are discussed in relation to other reports of employment and social outcomes for stroke and aphasia. Learning outcomes As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to: (1) identify factors that may contribute to the successful return to work for adults with chronic aphasia; (2) describe the vocational and social outcomes of a select group of adults with chronic aphasia after participation in an intensive treatment program; and (3) discuss future need areas in understanding vocational and social participation for adults with chronic aphasia after intervention.
Capacity Building and Empowerment: A panacea and a challenge for agency-university engagement

Capacity building is an effective strategy for promoting organizational change and/or improving the quality of social services. In this article I present an empowerment approach to capacity building. In doing so I propose a number of principles that can promote capacity building and collaboration between social service agencies and universities from an empowerment perspective: keeping the control of the capacity building process in the agency; developing competencies that matter to the people in the agency; engaging in supportive roles; maintaining a strengths-based approach to capacity building; focusing on sustainability, institutionalization and utilization of acquired skills; and paying attention to cultural and contextual issues. Further, the challenges and benefits of the empowerment approach to university-agency collaboration are discussed in this article.
A case of neurotoxicity following envenomation by the Sidewinder rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes.

Introduction North American rattlesnake envenomations typically result in local tissue injury and hematologic derangements. Neurotoxicity is uncommon but when present often manifests as fasciculations and paresthesias. Neurotoxicity following Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) envenomation has not been previously reported.
On scaling exponents of spatial peak flows from rainfall and river network geometry

Abstract The hypothesis of statistical self-similarity, or scaling invariance, in the spatial variability of rainfall, channel network structures and floods has been supported by recent advances in data analyses. This hypothesis is used here to calculate the statistical scaling exponents of peak river flows using a random cascade model of spatial rainfall intensities and the Peano basin as an idealized model of a river basin. The ‘maximum contributing set’ approximately determines the magnitudes of peak flows in a self-similar manner in different subbasins of the Peano basin. For an instantaneously applied random, spatially uniform rainfall, the Hausdorff dimension of the maximum contributing set appear, as the statistical simple scaling exponent of peak flows. This result is generalized to an instantaneously applied cascade rainfall, and it is shown to give rise to statistical multiscaling in peak flows. The multiscaling exponent of peak flows is computed and interpreted as a Hausdorff dimension of a fractal set supporting rainfall intensity on the maximum contributing set of the Peano basin. Potential implications of this interpretation are illustrated using the regional food frequency analysis of the Appalachian flood data in the United States and a rainfall data set from the tropical Atlantic ocean. It is argued that the hypothesis of self-similarity identifies a powerful theoretical framework which can unify a statistical theory of regional flood frequency with important empirical features of topographic, rainfall and flood data sets and distributed rainfall-landform-runoff relationships.
Enhancement of low-mass dileptons in heavy ion collisions.

Using a relativistic transport model for the expansion stage of S+Au collisions at 200 GeV/nucleon, we show that the recently observed enhancement of low-mass dileptons by the CERES Collaboration can be explained by the decrease of vector meson masses in hot and dense hadronic matter. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital The} {ital American} {ital Physical} {ital Society}.
Measurement-based virtual queue (VQ): to estimate the real-time bandwidth demand under loss constraint

We study a traffic measurement issue for active queue management and dynamic bandwidth allocation at a single network node under the constraint of Cell Loss Probability (CLP) or buffer overflow probability. Using the concept of measurement-based Virtual Queue (VQ) and frequency-domain traffic filtering, we propose an online algorithm to estimate the real-time bandwidth demand under both short- and long-term cell loss constraint. The algorithm is adaptive and robust to the piece-wise stationary traffic dynamics. The VQ runs in parallel to the real queueing system and monitors the latter in a non-intrusive way. It captures a proper traffic sampling interval Tc. Simulation and analysis show its critical role in achieving higher utilization of bandwidth and buffer resource without violating QoS requirement. Given an appropriate Tc, we argue that network controls, such as the Call Admission Control (CAC) and dynamic bandwidth allocation, are facilitated with accurate information about traffic loading and QoS status at the smallest timescale.
Exponential Approximation for Daily Average Solar Heating or Photolysis

Abstract Formulations of instantaneous solar heating or photolytic rates, for various atmospheric absorbers, as functions of altitude and sun angle are available in the literature. Such work can be integrated over the solar day to obtain the net daily effect. When incorporating these processes in long-range atmospheric forecasting models with large time steps or when assuming steady state, it may be desirable to replace the time integrals by daily average rates that are simple functions of latitude and season (sun declination). To accomplish this the integral over the solar day, which is shown to have the form of a modified exponential-integral function, is approximated by a pure exponential. This gives a daily average rate as a multiplication factor times the instantaneous rate evaluated at an appropriate sun angle. The multiplication factor and sun angle are analytically found by matching certain properties of the exponential-integral and exponential functions. The result is several choices for the fitt...
Errata: Observation of dynamic subdomains in red blood cells

This PDF file contains the errata for “JBO Vol. 11 Issue 05 Paper 2362857” for JBO Vol. 11 Issue 05
A New Optimizer for Performance Optimization of Analog Integrated Circuits

In this paper, a new optimizer for multiple criteria constrained performance optimization of analog integrated circuits, based on non-linear programming and heuristic techniques is presented. Biggs' dominant degree method, which effectively handles nonquadratic functions is used for gradient based optimization. A modified Parkinson Hutchinson Simplex algorithm and Guided Random Search technique are used to perform optimization based only on function evaluations. These optimization techniques are combined effectively to overcome numerical difficulties encountered during circuit simulation and gradient based optimization. Experimental results obtained using the new optimizer on real life circuits at Texas Instruments Inc. show consistent improvements in circuit performance.
A precise real-time wavemeter

A wavemeter has been built utilizing a coincidence start/stop fringe counting technique with a standard, simple division-of-amplitude type interferometer. We utilize a microprocessor to control the counting and to calculate and display, in real time, the unknown wavelength and to indicate when the result is outside of a preset tolerance (e.g. mode hop). This system, utilizing the coincidence technique, gives an enhancement in the precision of at least a factor of 15 over standard fringe counting techniques.
Latinos, acculturation, and acculturative stress: a dimensional concept analysis.

Background: Acculturation can be conceived of as a process of adaptation to stressful changes. In the field of public health, research indicates that recently arrived Latino immigrants, presumably most affected by acculturative stress, have better health outcomes than those who have spent greater time in the United States. This “immigrant paradox” is not well understood but supports the distinction between the process of acculturation and acculturative stress. Aim: To understand the nature of acculturative stress for Latinos in the context of political, historical, and societal forces. Results: Acculturative stress significantly affects the physical and mental health of many Latino immigrants. Types of stressors vary by ethnicity. Separation from family and lack of a community was the most often-cited stressor for new immigrants. Most Latino immigrants were adversely affected by discrimination. Conclusion: By developing an understanding of acculturative stress, nurses can better attend to the needs of our...
Stimulator for producing small, heated aerosols

Abstract A stimulus delivery system developed for imitating the defensive sprays of arthropods is described. The stimulator employs a fluidic interface valve and a fluidic logic control system to deliver small (approximately 1 μl) droplets. The droplets may contain a suspension of fine particles when the substance of interest is not soluble in a suitable carrier. The temperature of the droplets can be regulated.
Proteins of the Glycine Decarboxylase Complex in the Hydrogenosome of Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a unicellular eukaryote that lacks mitochondria and contains a specialized organelle, the hydrogenosome, involved in carbohydrate metabolism and iron-sulfur cluster assembly. We report the identification of two glycine cleavage H proteins and a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (L protein) of the glycine decarboxylase complex in T. vaginalis with predicted N-terminal hydrogenosomal presequences. Immunofluorescence analyses reveal that both H and L proteins are localized in hydrogenosomes, providing the first evidence for amino acid metabolism in this organelle. All three proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The experimental Km of L protein for the two H proteins were 2.6 microM and 3.7 microM, consistent with both H proteins serving as substrates of L protein. Analyses using purified hydrogenosomes showed that endogenous H proteins exist as monomers and endogenous L protein as a homodimer in their native states. Phylogenetic analyses of L proteins revealed that the T. vaginalis homologue shares a common ancestry with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenases from the firmicute bacteria, indicating its acquisition via a horizontal gene transfer event independent of the origins of mitochondria and hydrogenosomes.
Iteratively merging information from a pair of flash/no-flash images using nonlinear diffusion

In this paper, we present a mechanism based on the guided filter for merging information from a pair of imperfectly exposed images, to produce a better one. The guided filter [7] utilizes information from a guide image to enhance a corrupted input image as similarly done in the joint bilateral filter [3, 12]. Here we analyze the spectral behavior of the guided filter kernel in a matrix formulation and introduce a novel iterative technique which significantly improves it. Iterations of the proposed method consist of a combination of nonlinear anisotropic diffusion and reaction-diffusion. We demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms state of the art methods in both flash/no-flash restoration where one of the images is significantly noisy or blurry.
What is the aurora

”‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.’” From Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. While writing a review chapter on Jupiter's aurora, I have given some thought recently to a general definition of the aurora. I have studied auroral emissions from Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus for the last 20 years, and I at first blithely assumed that there was general agreement for the better understood terrestrial aurora.
Gender and Journal Authorship in Eight Prestigious Political Science Journals

How well are women authors represented in the most-recognized journals in political science? To what degree does the presence of women authors mirror women's presence in the discipline? Although a few studies have sought to provide data on the presence of women authors in political science journals (Young 1995; Kelly et al. 1994), more recent work on the visibility of women in the discipline has focused on gender and authorship of edited volumes (Mathews and Andersen 2001), on the participation of women in the APSA annual meetings (e.g., Gruberg 2006; 2004), and on the status of women in the discipline (Sarkees and McGlen 1992; 1999; Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession 2001). All are useful endeavors. This paper analyzes the presence of women authors in six volume years (1999–2004) of eight prestigious political science journals—American Political Science Review (APSR), American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), Journal of Politics (JOP), World Politics (WP), International Organization (IO), Comparative Politics (CP), Comparative Political Studies (CPS), and International Studies Quarterly (ISQ).
A Bridge to Healthier Families and Children: The Collaborative Process of a University-Community Partnership

The Center for the Study of Social Issues was created in 1996 as part of the commitment of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to be an engaged institution as defined by the Kellogg Commission. The Center’s mission is to enhance the vitality of the community, as well as the research and instructional activities of the University, through interdisciplinary collaborative work that engages faculty and community partners. This paper briefly describes the elements of effective collaboration and how those elements contributed to the emergence of a successful partnership with the City of High Point, North Carolina. The potential of a university-community collaboration to benefit children and families has been evidenced through community-based initiativessuch as a neighborhood outreach center, a youth violence reduction effort, and a program to enable at-risk youth to obtain a GED while learning a marketable skill.
Characterization of a FGF19 Variant with Altered Receptor Specificity Revealed a Central Role for FGFR1c in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism

Diabetes and associated metabolic conditions have reached pandemic proportions worldwide, and there is a clear unmet medical need for new therapies that are both effective and safe. FGF19 and FGF21 are distinctive members of the FGF family that function as endocrine hormones. Both have potent effects on normalizing glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis, and therefore, represent attractive potential next generation therapies for combating the growing epidemics of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The mechanism responsible for these impressive metabolic effects remains unknown. While both FGF19 and FGF21 can activate FGFRs 1c, 2c, and 3c in the presence of co-receptor βKlotho in vitro, which receptor is responsible for the metabolic activities observed in vivo remains unknown. Here we have generated a variant of FGF19, FGF19-7, that has altered receptor specificity with a strong bias toward FGFR1c. We show that FGF19-7 is equally efficacious as wild type FGF19 in regulating glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism in both diet-induced obesity and leptin-deficient mouse models. These results are the first direct demonstration of the central role of the βKlotho/FGFR1c receptor complex in glucose and lipid regulation, and also strongly suggest that activation of this receptor complex alone might be sufficient to achieve all the metabolic functions of endocrine FGF molecules.
North Carolina Women: Making History

For generations, books on North Carolina history have included the names of only a few women. But in addition to such well-known and legendary figures as Queen Elizabeth I and Virginia Dare, a multitude of other women influenced the making of North Carolina. These women's stories have rarely been told, in part because their contributions tended to occur in the relative privacy of their families and communities. This lively and comprehensive volume finally accords North Carolina women their long-awaited place in history. Margaret Supplee Smith and Emily Herring Wilson bring together a wealth of materials to demonstrate how North Carolina women lived, from the days of early native settlements to the end of World War II. Filled with names, places, colorful anecdotes, and more than two hundred photographs and documents that bring to life important moments in history, "North Carolina Women" establishes the critical influence of women in shaping the character and economy of the state and the values of its citizens. The narratives embedded in women's history, presented chronologically, create an enormous landscape across time--broadly analyzed and meticulously detailed. By considering the particular contours of gender, race, class, religion, and geography, the authors reveal the diversity and complexity of women's lives and experiences. Interspersed throughout the book are biographies of twenty-two North Carolina women, from Cherokee Beloved Woman Nanye'hi and frontierswoman Rebecca Bryan Boone to civil rights scholar and priest Pauli Murray and political activist Gladys Avery Tillett. This lively and comprehensive volume accords North Carolina women their long-awaited place in history. Margaret Supplee Smith and Emily Herring Wilson bring together a wealth of stories and pictures to demonstrate how North Carolina women lived, from the days of early native settlements to the end of World War II. Covering women from all 100 North Carolina counties, the book also includes 22 biographies of notable women, from Cherokee Beloved Woman Nanye'hi and frontierswoman Rebecca Bryan Boone to civil rights scholar and priest Pauli Murray and political activist Gladys Avery Tillett. Filled with names, places, colorful anecdotes, and more than two hundred photographs and documents that bring to life important moments in history, "North Carolina Women" establishes the critical influence of women in shaping the character and economy of the state and the values of its citizens. A pleasure to read, this book is also a wonderful teaching resource.
Isometric elbow extensors strength in supine- and prone-lying positions

The purpose of this study was to compare isometric strength of elbow extensors measured in supine- and prone-lying positions at elbow flexion angles of 45 and 90 degrees. Twenty-two male subjects under single-blind procedures participated in the study. Each subject participated in both supine-lying and prone-lying measuring protocols. Calibrated cable tensiometer was used to measure isometric strength of the right elbow extensors and a biofeedback electromyography was used to assure no substitution movements from shoulder girdle muscles. The mean values of isometric strength of elbow extensors measured from supine-lying position at elbow flexion angles of 45 and 90 degrees were 11.1 ± 4.2 kg and 13.1 ± 4.6 kg, while those measured from prone-lying position were 9.9 ± 3.6 kg and 12 ± 4.2 kg, respectively. There is statistical significant difference between the isometric strength of elbow extensors measured from supine-lying position at elbow flexion angles of 45 and 90 degrees compared to that measured from prone-lying position (p < 0.05). The results suggest that in manual muscle testing starting position can affect the isometric strength of elbow extensors since supine-lying starting position is better than prone-lying starting position.
Language support for feature-oriented product line engineering

Product line engineering is an emerging paradigm of developing a family of products. While product line analysis and design mainly focus on reasoning about commonality and variability of family members, product line implementation gives its attention to mechanisms of managing variability. In many cases, however, product line methods do not impose any specific synthesis mechanisms on product line implementation, so implementation details are left to developers. In our previous work, we adopted feature-oriented product line engineering to build a family of compilers and managed variations using the Standard ML module system. We demonstrated the applicability of this module system to product line implementation. Although we have benefited from the product line engineering paradigm, it mostly served us as a design paradigm to change the way we think about a set of closely related compilers, not to change the way we build them. The problem was that Standard ML did not fully realize this paradigm at the code level, which caused some difficulties when we were developing a set of compilers.In this paper, we address such issues with a language-based solution. MLPolyR is our choice of an implementation language. It supports three different programming styles. First, its first-class cases facilitate composable extensions at the expression levels. Second, its module language provides extensible and parameterized modules, which make large-scale extensible programming possible. Third, its macro system simplifies specification and composition of feature related code. We will show how the combination of these language features work together to facilitate the product line engineering paradigm.
Regulation of Porcine Granulosa Cell Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) by Insulin-Like Growth Factor I: Synergism with Follicle-Stimulating Hormone or Protein Kinase A Agonist

The transfer of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where side-chain cleavage occurs to form pregnenolone, is a crucial event in the regulation of steroidogenesis and recently has been demonstrated to be mediated by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). We generated a partial porcine StAR complementary DNA (280 bp) by RT-PCR and used the corresponding antisense riboprobe to quantify the control of StAR gene expression by FSH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in hormonally responsive swine granulosa cells, which typically manifest synergistic steroidogenic stimulation by these two dominant intrafollicular regulators. RNase protection assays were implemented to investigate the time course of the actions of FSH (100 ng/ml), IGF-I (100 ng/ml), and FSH plus IGF-I on StAR messenger RNA accumulation in serum-free cultures granulosa cells. Treatment with FSH (1.6-fold) or IGF-I (2.7-fold) alone had a small but consistent stimulatory effect on StAR message accumulation (...
The surgical clerkship: a contemporary paradigm

Abstract Background Traditional surgical clerkships have been composed of hospitalized patients, usually in academic centers, daily resident interaction, periodic attending rounds, assigned texts, and a lecture format. However, traditional clerkships do not reflect the current changes in learning theory nor the economic realities of today’s surgical practice. Initiated in 2001, the allopathic Florida State University College of Medicine provided an opportunity to create a contemporary surgical clerkship. Methods At each of 6 regional campuses, clerkship students served as apprentices to a board-certified community surgeon. In addition, during weekly meetings with the student, a campus-specific Clerkship Director administered a centralized curriculum with defined objectives and competencies. Contact with residents was minimal, and lectures were not used. Students were free to choose from suggested texts or to use alternative learning sources. An electronic data system monitored patient contacts. Evaluations of the students’ clinical performance are 360 degrees. Results To date, 450 students have graduated. No significant differences were found between campuses for the following: types of patients encountered, U.S. Medical Liscensure Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills scores, internal Objective Structured Clinical Examination results, or National Board of Medical Examiners scores ( P > 0.05). The national examination metrics have been met or exceeded. On the recent anonymous Association of American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire survey, the students rated the surgery clerkship as the best course in the school. Overall, 23.3% of graduates have chosen some aspect of surgery as a career. Conclusions A quality clerkship in surgery can be provided using a nontraditional community-based system, with as many as 6 distributed campuses. Also, the distributed campus model does not lead to inequality in learning opportunities, surgical experiences, or basic surgical knowledge. Third, documentation of campus comparability is markedly assisted by electronic monitoring. Fourth, the tutorial model offers, at the very least, a comparable learning experience and is strongly supported by both students and the community surgical faculty. Finally, student learning and acquisition of a fund of surgical knowledge in this system has been confirmed by national metrics.
Solder joint strain reduction of leadless IC packages through finite element analysis tailored PCB construction

Reducing the strain experienced by a solder joint is essential in proliferating the use of high-density, large-area leadless ceramic chip carriers for high I/O (>100) and area die. One of the most controllable variables affecting solder joint fatigue over temperature excursions is the in-plane shear strain, which results from the difference in thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) between the ceramic chip carrier and the printed-circuit board (PCB). TCE tailoring of the PCB with embedded layers of copper-clad Invar restraining laminates necessitates a refined analytical method for predicting PCB/soldering interface TCE. Finite-element analysis (FEA) has been carried out, focusing on the distance of the laminate from the z-axis centerline. This FEA uses the shear and bulk modulus (Poisson's ratio) of the PCB (epoxy-glass) and copper clad Invar to study the differential movement of an unpopulated board surface with temperature. The author presents FEA methods and results that are intended to assist future designs of controlled surface TCE circuit boards. He explores the ideal properties for a PCB laminate coupled with restraining laminates to effect higher reliability solder joints on large-area, leadless, ceramic IC packages. >
Insuring against Infertility: Expanding State Infertility Mandates to Include Fertility Preservation Technology for Cancer Patients:

In this paper, we recommend expanding infertility insurance mandates to people who may become infertile because of cancer treatments. Such an expansion would ensure cancer patients can receive fertility preservation technology (FPT) prior to commencing treatment. We base our proposal for extending coverage to cancer patients on the infertility mandate in Massachusetts because it is one of the most inclusive. While we use Massachusetts as a model, our arguments and analysis of possible routes to coverage can be applied to all states' seeking inclusive coverage for infertility treatment. Furthermore, our proposal can also be applied to people with other diseases who may be rendered infertile by treatment.
Molecular population genetics, phylogeography, and conservation biology of the mottled duck (Anas fulvigula)

The mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) is a year-round endemic resident of the Gulf Coast and one of two non-migratory dabbling ducks that inhabit North America. To investigate population genetic structure of allopatric mottled duck populations, we collected 5’ control region sequences (bp 78–774) from the mitochondria of 219 mottled ducks sampled at 11 widely spaced geographic localities in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida and compared them to each other and to homologous sequences from 4 Mexican ducks (A. diazi), 13 American black ducks (A. rubripes), and 10 mallards (A. platyrhynchos). We identified 57 unique haplotypes composed of 665 or 666 nucleotides in the 246 control region sequences. Of the 665 homologous positions, 8.3% (n = 55) vary among haplotypes, and 98.2% (n = 54) of these occur within the first 351 nucleotides from the 5’ end of the outgroup sequence. Neighbor-joining analysis shows a large distal clade (52.5% of mottled ducks sampled in our study) composed of two reciprocally monophyletic clades of mottled duck haplotypes, one of which is endemic to Texas and Louisiana and the other endemic to Florida. No mottled ducks sampled in Florida occur in the clade composed of mottled ducks from Texas and Louisiana or vice versa, suggesting that (1) an enduring geographic split has existed for many years between east and west, and (2) gene flow currently is non-existent (or at least undetectable) across the central Gulf Coast. The remaining 47.5% of mottled ducks sampled in our study branch basally from this derived clade, show substantially less hierarchical structure, and fall into various lineage groups of mixed species composition with no geographic or species-specific pattern. Pairwise FST values corroborate the pattern of strong differentiation observed between Texas/Louisiana and Florida. Our findings are consistent with a pattern of partial lineage sorting from a polymorphic ancestral gene pool reshuffled by hybridizing mallards. Control region data and patterns of divergence in mallard-like species worldwide, furthermore, suggest that mottled ducks are close relatives of Mexican ducks, and in turn nested within black ducks. Genetic similarities to nominate mallards are less likely to be the product of common ancestry, but the result of past hybridization with a dichromatic mallard ancestor that invaded North America from Asia many generations ago. Our findings have several important consequences for the conservation biology of mottled ducks across the Gulf Coast and our understanding of the phylogeography of mallard-like species worldwide.
The Normative Ordering of Police Territoriality: Making and Marking Space with the Los Angeles Police Department

Abstract The power of police officers to shape social action depends fundamentally on their capacity to control space. Without effective territorial strategies, police officers would be unable to create order in the majority of incidents they handle. This paper draws upon fieldwork in one patrol division of the Los Angeles Police Department to illustrate the significance of territoriality to police efforts at social control. The fieldwork illuminates the complex structuring influences on the processes by which officers define and seek to control the spaces they patrol. Legal and bureaucratic stipulations shape police territoriality, but so too do subcultural norms and values. I mobilize the concept of a “normative order”—defined as a set of rules and practices that are structured around a central value—as a means of capturing the mix of influences on police efforts at socio-spatial control. The discussion explains how six of those orders—the law, bureaucratic control, adventure/machismo, safety, competenc...
Camera-based video synchronization for a federation of mobile projectors

Ultra-portable projectors, called pico projectors, are now being embedded in mobile devices like cell-phones. Such mobile devices are projected to be the primary device to be used by younger people for ubiquitous sharing of all possible media initiating novel social interaction paradigms. Yet, the pico-projectors offer a much lower resolution and brightness than a standard projector. However, images displayed from multiple such mobile devices can be tiled to create a dramatically improved display in both brightness and resolution. This will allow multiple users to view and share media at a much higher quality. In this paper, we present a camera-based video synchronization algorithm that allows a federation of projection-enabled mobile devices to collaboratively present a synchronized video stream, though only a smaller part of the video comes from each device. Since, the synchronization does not use any wireless network infrastructure, it is independent of network congestion and connectivity. We combined our method with existing distributed registration techniques to demonstrate a synchronized video stream for a federation of four projectors arranged in a 2 × 2 array. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a camera-based technique has been used to mitigate network uncertainties to achieve accurate video synchronization across multiple devices.
Osler and the Infected Letter

The spread of infectious agents through the mail has concerned public health officials for 5 centuries. The dissemination of anthrax spores in the US mail in 2001 was a recent example. In 1901, two medical journals reported outbreaks of smallpox presumably introduced by letters contaminated with variola viruses. The stability and infectivity of the smallpox virus are reviewed from both a historical (anecdotal) perspective and modern virologic studies. Bubonic plague was the contagious disease that led to quarantines as early as the 14th century in port cities in southern Europe. Later, smallpox, cholera, typhus, and yellow fever were recognized as also warranting quarantine measures. Initially, attempts were made to decontaminate all goods imported from pestilential areas, particularly mail. Disinfection of mail was largely abandoned in the early 20th century with newer knowledge about the spread and stability of these 5 infectious agents.
Nonuniformity Characterization of CdTe Solar Cells Using LBIC

Light-beam-induced current measurements have been used for characterization of nonuniformities in cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. Spectral dependence, voltage-bias dependence, and resolution dependence are used for detailed characterization of nonuniformities in junction quality, window thickness, and absorber band gap. These tools were applied to CdTe cells and used to identify thin regions in the CdS layer, regions of modified band gap, and weak diode regions. In addition, an improved procedure has allowed for shorter measurement times without discernable loss of accuracy.
Detection of Immunoglobulin M Antibodies Specific for Toxoplasma gondii with Increased Selectivity for Recently Acquired Infections

Toxoplasma gondii infections can cause serious complications in pregnant women, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects. Definitive diagnosis of T. gondii acute infection is therefore critical for the clinical management of a mother and her fetus. Positive immunoglobulin M (IgM) results are not sufficient as evidence of recent infection, as these antibodies are often present for many months. Further, IgG avidity and differential agglutination tests, two tests used by reference laboratories to distinguish between recent and past infections, are not always in agreement, and both methods yield a significant number of indeterminate results. We report the development of a new toxoplasma IgM immunoassay that is performed by using a bead-based immunoassay on an automated analyzer (BioPlex 2200). Initial validation included 204 samples from pregnant women and 198 samples from asymptomatic healthy adults. An overall specificity of 99% was observed. Further, 100% sensitivity for acute infections was observed for 10 well-characterized seroconversion panels. We then examined 50 samples from pregnant women, all of which were IgM positive by ELISA, which had been fully evaluated in a reference laboratory. Of the 50 samples, 34 (68%) tested positive in the BioPlex 2200 toxoplasma IgM assay, of which 32 of 34 (94%) exhibited an acute or equivocal pattern by differential agglutination. Of the 16 negative samples, 15 (94%) showed high-IgG-avidity antibodies. Collectively, these results suggest that this new toxoplasma assay shows a preferential response to IgM antibodies produced by recent infections, reducing the number of positive results for pregnant women that will require extensive additional clinical evaluation.