cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel SHOC2 variant in Rasopathy

Rasopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by germline mutations in multiple genes of the Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway. The only previously identified missense mutation in SHOC2, a scaffold protein of the ERK1/2 pathway, led to Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair. Here, we report a novel mutation in SHOC2(c.519G>A; p.M173I) that leads to a Rasopathy with clinical features partially overlapping those occurring in Noonan and cardiofaciocutaneous syndromes. Studies to clarify the significance of this SHOC2 variant revealed that the mutant protein has impaired capacity to interact with protein phosphatase 1c (PP1c), leading to insufficient activation of RAF-1 kinase. This SHOC2 variant thus is unable to fully rescue ERK1/2 activity in cells depleted of endogenous SHOC2. We conclude that SHOC2 mutations can cause a spectrum of Rasopathy phenotypes in heterozygous individuals. Importantly, our work suggests that individuals with mild Rasopathy symptoms may be underdiagnosed.
Should asymptomatic anterior pelvic organ prolapse be corrected to treat irritative urinary symptoms

In clinical practice, women seen with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) often present with a variety of pelvic floor symptoms: urinary incontinence, irritative or overactive bladder symptoms, fecal urgency or incontinence, obstructive voiding, sexual disorders, pelvic and perineal pain, and vaginal bulging. Among these, the only symptom reliably associated with clinically relevant POP that will resolve following vaginal reconstructive surgery is the visualization and/or sensation of a vaginal bulge. Most other symptoms often attributed to POP at best have only weak correlations with worsening pelvic anatomical support. Specifically, with respect to the anterior and/or apical vaginal compartment, there does not appear to be a correlation between irritative overactive bladder symptoms and the presence or degree of anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Furthermore, no other symptoms, urinary or otherwise, are reliably influenced by correction of anatomical defects of pelvic support, especially in the otherwise asymptomatic patient with POP without vaginal bulge. A review of the recent literature underscores the realization that the relationship between pelvic floor symptoms and anatomy is incompletely and poorly understood. With this in mind, there does not seem to be any absolute justification for the surgical correction of otherwise asymptomatic pelvic support defects.
Similar risks for hypothyroidism after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using TBI-based myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning regimens.

Similar risks for hypothyroidism after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using TBI-based myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning regimens
Mammary gland morphology and responsiveness to regulatory molecules following prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol

Female ACI rats were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero to evaluate the effects on the peri-pubertal mammary gland with respect to 1) mammary gland morphology, 2) sensitivity to natural and synthetic estrogens, and 3) sensitivity to endogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF). Pregnant rats were injected with vehicle (sesame oil) or DES (total dose, 8.0 micrograms) on days 15 and 18 of gestation. DES-exposed and control offspring were ovariectomized at 34 days of age and sacrificed at day 53 to ascertain the morphology of the mammary glands in peri-pubertal rats. Elvax pellets containing 5 or 11 ng 17 beta-estradiol (E2) or DES were implanted subcutaneously adjacent to the third mammary gland pair. Furthermore, additional groups of rats were subjected to bilateral sialoadenectomy at the day of ovariectomy to remove the major source of endogenous EGF. A significant proportion of mammary glands of DES-exposed animals exhibited atypical mammary gland morphology, with approximately 25% displaying hypo-differentiation, and about 5% with aberrant hyper-proliferation. From the pellet implantation experiments, the DES-exposed glands were found to be refractory to stimulation by 5 and 11 ng DES; however, there was no significant difference in the degree of local stimulation elicited by either dose of E2. Sialoadenectomy at d34 had no apparent effect on mammary gland morphology in either the DES-exposed or vehicle-exposed groups. These data support the premise that the mammary gland of the peri-pubertal ACI rat is morphologically and physiologically aberrant as a function of transplacental exposure to DES, with a significant percentage hypo-differentiated and refractory to subsequent hormonal stimulation.
Organizations, Resources, and Class Analysis: The Distributional Model and the US Class Structure:

This article presents selected features of a theoretical schema we term the distributional model of class analysis which views large organizations, organizationally-based resources, and distributional processes as central to the US class structure. We first review what we term production models of class analysis and illustrate how some features of these models may be linked to insights from studies of class involving large organizations and distributional processes. Building on this foundation, we introduce the main ideas of our model and focus on two central features: generative capital and the distributive order . We identify four forms of generative capital as the basis of class membership: consumption, investment, credentialed skill, and social. Classes are viewed as consisting of individuals and families who possess, over time, similar levels of these resources. The class structure is illustrated with a figure divided into the privileged (top 20 percent) and new working classes (bottom 80 percent) wh...
The Symbolic Role of Animals in the Plains Indian Sun Dance

For many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, the sun dance was the major communal religious ceremony. Generally held in late spring or early summer, the rite celebrates renewal-the spiritual rebirth of participants and their relatives as well as the regeneration of the living earth with all its components. The sun dance reflects relationships with nature that are characteristic of the Plains ethos, and includes symbolic representations of various animal species, particularly the eagle and the buffalo, that once played vital roles in the lives of the people and are still endowed with sacredness and special powers. The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication to insure harmony between all living beings, continues to be practiced by many contemporary native Americans.
Transrectal ultrasonographically guided drainage of gynecologic pelvic abscesses.

Abstract Objective: This study assessed the feasibility of ultrasonographically guided transrectal aspiration of gynecologic pelvic abscesses to treat patients for whom intravenous antibiotic therapies failed and whose abscesses were not optimally amenable to colpotomy drainage or transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasonographically guided aspiration. Study Design: This was a retrospective review of the first 15 women with pelvic abscesses that resulted from salpingitis or complications of gynecologic surgery who underwent transrectal pelvic abscess drainage after failure of antibiotic therapy. Results: Purulent material was aspirated from the abscesses in 14 of the 15 women. All 14 women with aspirated material were successfully treated with real-time ultrasonographically guided transrectal drainage; only 4 of the 14 had indwelling catheter placement. Conclusion: Ultrasonographically guided transrectal drainage of gynecologic pelvic abscesses is a safe and effective treatment of pelvic abscesses for women who do not have an adequate response to antibiotic therapy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1382-8.)
Electron Tunneling in Proteins: Coupling Through a β Strand

Electron coupling through a beta strand has been investigated by measurement of the intramolecular electron-transfer (ET) rates in ruthenium-modified derivatives of the beta barrel blue copper protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin. Surface histidines, introduced on the methionine-121 beta strand by mutagenesis, were modified with a Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)2(imidazole)^2+ complex. The Cu+ to Ru^3+ rate constants yielded a distance-decay constant of 1.1 per angstrom, a value close to the distance-decay constant of 1.0 per angstrom predicted for electron tunneling through an idealized beta strand. Activationless ET rate constants in combination with a tunneling-pathway analysis of the structures of azurin and cytochrome c confirm that there is a generally efficient network for coupling the internal (native) redox center to the surface of both proteins.
Vanadium-48: A renewable source for transmission scanning with PET

Abstract A 68Ge ( t 1 2 =271 d ) source is normally used to produce transmission images for PET studies. New PET scanners utilize two or three 10–15 mCi 68Ge sources for this purpose. 48V ( t 1 2 =15.98 d ) has been investigated as an alternative to 68Ge for routine transmission scanning in PET. A target system has been developed to produce nearly homogeneous (+/− 10%) sources of 1 mCi/cm (10 mCi over 10 cm) using the 48Ti(p,n)48V reaction (Ep=17 MeV). The target consists of a small diameter (3.17 mm) Ti tube (>99.99% Ti, 73.7% 48Ti) oriented at 6° to the incident proton beam and held rigidly within a water cooled aluminum target body. The Ti tube wall presents an effective target thickness of 8.5 mm to the grazing proton beam. The Ti tube is water cooled. Typical irradiations of 20 μA for 120 min on the tube yield 10 mCi sources. Short-lived 47V ( t 1 2 =32.6 min ) and 46V ( t 1 2 =422 ms ) impurities are allowed to decay prior to utilizing the source for routine PET transmission scanning. Ti tubes are reused to produce new sources each week.
Overview of Radiopharmaceuticals for Diagnosis of Central Nervous Disorders

AbstractThere are two types of imaging instruments, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) that use radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis of brain disorders. Brain perfusion imaging agents, labeled either with 123I or 99mTc, are useful in detecting various cerebral vascular abnormalities, such as stroke and transient ischemia with SPECT. The management of other neurological disorders (i.e., in Alzheimer's, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and head trauma patients) may also be benefitted by these agents. The exact trapping mechanisms and their relationships with potential clinical applications still remain to be elucidated. Imaging studies using 18F fluorodeoxyglucose with PET is currently the most promising diagnostic tool for the evaluation of local glucose metabolism related to various disease states, such as Alzheimer's disease, brain tumor, and epilepsy. In the past few years significant progress has been made in the design and characterization of new CNS ne...
Treatment of Extensive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer to the Liver with Systemic and Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy and Two-Stage Hepatic Resection: The Role of Salvage Therapy for Recurrent Disease

Two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) has been adopted as a treatment modality for resection of advanced colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study analyzed the recurrence pattern, salvage rate, and survival after TSH combined with systemic and regional chemotherapy. A retrospective review of a prospective database identified patients who underwent a TSH for CRLM was performed and outcome data analyzed. From September 2000 to May 2009, a total of 40 patients were eligible for TSH, and 88 % completed both resections. Of the 35 resected patients, the median number of tumors was 8, with 38 % having a tumor >5 cm and 35 % having a carcinoembryonic antigen value >200 ng/ml. All patients received systemic chemotherapy, and 86 % received regional therapy with hepatic artery infusion. Median follow-up for survivors was 40 months; median disease-specific survival was 52 months, and 5-year disease-specific survival was 49 %. The combined rate of major complication for all procedures was 45 % with no operative deaths. Median recurrence-free survival was 11 months with a 3-year probability of recurrence of 81 %. Disease recurrence occurred in 27 patients (77 %), with the liver (42 %) and lung (37 %) being the most common sites. Sixteen of these patients (60 %) underwent salvage therapy via either surgery and/or ablation, 7 (44 %) of whom were free of disease at a median follow-up of 54 months. TSH combined with systemic and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy is an effective treatment strategy for selected patients with advanced CRLM. These patients are at considerable risk of local and distant recurrence; however, the majority can be salvaged, and long-term survival can be achieved.
Intellectual Safety, Moral Atmosphere, and Epistemology in College Classrooms

Students report feeling safe to express and challenge their beliefs and assumptions in some classrooms and interactions but not in others. This paper proposes a definition of intellectual safety derived from student responses to their experience of safety or threat in college classrooms, and explores students' experience of intellectual safety in relation to epistemological development. Intellectual safety defined here has two components: epistemic “fit” or lack of fit between student and professor's epistemology, and moral climate. Students can be challenged in their world-views and feel either threatened, unsafe, and uncomfortable, or supported and safe despite possible discomfort. Experiencing an intellectually safe moral climate may create conditions and opportunities for epistemological reflection and change. Using concepts from moral theory, including moral type and moral perspectives of justice and care, I describe features of an intellectually safe moral climate during the cognitively and emotionally difficult time of epistemological development.
Ten-dollar thermal infrared imager

A thermal infrared imager of competitive sensitivity and very simple construction is presented. It is a pyroelectric device of 96 pixels, based on ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). It uses a novel charge-dispensing multiplexer based on ordinary light emitting diodes to achieve a noise-equivalent temperature change (NETD) of 0.13 K at a 5 Hz frame rate (2.1 Hz BW). Design information, theory, and measured performance are presented. Achieving such a low total system cost requires the use of the very least expensive optical system, a moulded polyethylene Fresnel lens, whose advantages and limitations are discussed. Several possible improvements, aggregating approximately 30 dB in sensitivity are also discussed, leading to the interesting possibility of few-millikelvin NETD values with an uncooled pyroelectric device of extremely low cost.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of age, aneurysm size, and patient fitness on suitability for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Prior to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of larger endografts (main body diameters up to 36 mm), small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs,
Colored Petri Net Modeling of Metal Distribution in a Job Shop Iron Foundry: Improving Flow in a Pull System with Perishable In-Process Inventory

Abstract Colored Petri nets with time are used to model the dynamic behavior of a foundry job shop to address the basic issue of matching molten iron production capability with casting demands. The objective is to achieve the maximum iron throughput per day for the chosen configuration. The fundamental pulling forces in the system are analyzed and then combined to provide a picture of the overall pulling behavior on the demand side of the system. A necessary condition to avoid deadlock is developed and used to develop the best demand pattern. This pattern of demand is then compared to the supply capability of the furnaces. The fundamental parameters of the system are identified and analyzed and a sufficient condition for deadlock avoidance is developed. The conditions leading to finding the best compromise values for the decision variables are investigated.
IL-6-type cytokines enhance epidermal growth factor-stimulated astrocyte proliferation.

Proliferating astrocytes are frequently observed in diseased and injured brains. These newly generated astrocytes are necessary to reestablish the barriers that isolate the CNS from the rest of the body; however, they also create a matrix that inhibits regeneration and remyelination. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms that enable a terminally differentiated astrocyte to reenter the cell cycle. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and fibroblastic growth factor-2 (FGF-2) are four cytokines that are rapidly elevated in damaged neural tissue. These cytokines also have been implicated in glial scar formation. We sought to determine whether IL-6 and CNTF stimulate astroglial proliferation alone or in combination with other mitogens. Intraparenchymal CNTF modestly increased the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) double positive astrocytes when introduced by stereotactic injection into the adult rat brain. When applied directly to highly enriched rat forebrain astrocyte cultures, neither CNTF nor IL-6-stimulated DNA synthesis. Therefore, they are not astroglial mitogens. However, both cytokines synergized with epidermal growth factor (EGF), increasing its mitogenicity by approximately twofold. Astrocytes that had been "aged" for at least 3 weeks in vitro became refractory to EGF; however, when these "aged" astrocytes were pretreated with either IL-6 or CNTF for as little as 2 h, they became competent to reenter the cell cycle upon exposure to EGF. These data suggest that IL-6 type cytokines, likely by activating STAT family transcription factors, induce the expression of signaling molecules that endow resting astrocytes with the competence to respond to mitogens and to reenter the cell cycle.
A subgraph isomorphism algorithm using resolution

Abstract An efficient algorithm for subgraph isomorphism is presented. It combines tree search with relaxation by using resolution. Bitwise parallelism, which is an important factor in speed, is achieved during the resolution process even though a sequential computer is used. The algorithm can be easily modified to apply to multi-relation labeled graphs, attributed graphs and some higher order structures such as arrangements.
Tracking stress and hydrothermal activity along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center using seismic anisotropy

Abstract Using P-wave refraction data from the L-SCAN controlled-source seismic experiment, the three-dimensional anisotropy structure of the upper crust is determined along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center (ELSC). The tomographic image of anisotropy magnitude and orientation is constructed from ∼197 000 travel time measurements of P-wave arrivals recorded on 83 ocean bottom seismometers, providing the most detailed and extensive view of upper-crustal spreading center anisotropy to date. P-wave speeds vary with the azimuth of the seismic ray path, a type of anisotropy produced by stress-aligned lithospheric cracks and microcracks. Across the study area, the fast axes of anisotropy are generally oriented parallel to the trend of the spreading center, as expected for ridge-parallel cracks that form in association with seafloor spreading. The seismic study encompassed four individual spreading segments of the ELSC separated by three overlapping spreading centers (OSC). The two larger OSCs exhibit high anisotropy that penetrates deep into the upper crust. Surrounding these OSCs, and in the wake of the largest, are regions where the fast axes of anisotropy are misaligned relative to the general trend. In these areas, the observations agree with numerical models and seafloor morphology that suggest tensile stress concentrations and a high degree of brittle crack formation. The tomographic images indicate that the location and dynamics of persistent ridge offsets can be tracked back through time via their anomalous anisotropy. Along the spreading centers, and away from ridge tips, the anisotropy is greater where the melt supply is inferred to be greater, and smaller where the melt supply is inferred to be smaller. This is opposite to the trend expected if simple tectonic stress models govern anisotropy. Alternatively, hydrothermal activity is expected to increase with magma supply and can explain higher anisotropy via hydrofracturing. This study provides the first evidence that seismic anisotropy tracks variations in hydrologic activity along the crests of oceanic spreading centers.
ADVERTISING TO THE OLDER CONSUMER BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT

In many parts of both the more developed nations and the less developed nations the average age of the populations is increasing. Some researchers argue that research on mature consumer's buying behavior and attitude is scarce. Other researchers discuss the development, importance and impact of marketing to senior citizens with particular emphasis on demographic change. The purpose of this paper is to examine exactly what types of advertising elements are most impactful with older consumers. The objective of this study is twofold. First, we will attempt to identify which executional alternatives are most effective (as measured by recall and persuasion) for older consumers. Second, we will quantify the effectiveness of these executional alternatives such that future advertising executives will have a guideline that they can use to more accurately predict how consumers in these age cohorts may react to an advertisement that does or does not contain the given element.
EFFECT OF 6-N-PROPYLTHIOURACIL UPON DEIODINATION OF DIIODOTYROSINE BY NORMAL AND HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RAT THYROIDS AND LIVER.

The effect of 6-n-propylthiouracil administration on the L-DIT deiodination of thyroid and liver has been studied in normal and hypophysectomized rats. White male rats were divided into 2 groups. The first group was fed for 6 weeks Purina chow containing 0.3 % 6-n-propylthiouracil. The control group was fed Purina chow. At 10 days after starting the treatment and rising linearly during the subsequent 30-day period, the 6-n-propylthiouracil- blocked thyroids of the normal rats showed a highly significant increase of the deiodinating activity when comparable amounts of tissue were homogenized and incubated in the presence of L-DIT-131I. No difference in deiodination was observed when studying the glands of the hypophysectomized rats given 6-n-propylthiouracil or on a regular diet. Both these groups showed a considerably lower deiodinating activity than the normal controls. TPNH enrichment of such homogenates enhanced deiodination in a significant lesser degree than in the normal rats. In contrast with the t...
Field Survey of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus in Georgia Peanut

Abstract A field survey to determine the incidence of Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) in Georgia peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was conducted during the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons. Confirmation of INSV infection was made by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). During August 1999, a total of 504 symptomatic peanut plants were sampled from 42 fields representing 15 counties. Peanut plants showing symptoms of spotted wilt from 14, 15, and 15 counties were sampled during the early (June), mid (July), and late (August/September) periods of the 2000 growing season, respectively. During 2000, a total of 1433 peanut plants were sampled over the course of the survey. The 1999 survey yielded no INSV-positive peanut plants, while 87% of the plants sampled tested positive for TSWV. During the 2000 survey, INSV was detected from 2.0% of all peanut plants sampled, while TSWV was detected in 97.8% of all plants. All plants that tested positive for INSV also tested positive for TSWV. TSWV was detected from pl...
Persistent Infection and Transformation of Mouse Glial Cultures by K Virus, a Murine Papovavirus

Summary Foetal mouse glial cultures were inoculated with murine K papovavirus and subjected to serial subcultivation. Two cell lines were developed. The first of these, KVBCG2A, remained positive for viral infectivity and K virus capsid (V) antigen for over 30 subcultivations. Productive infection was not abolished by serial subcultivation in the presence of antiviral antibody. The second cell line, KVBCG1B, became negative for infectious virus and K virus V antigen, could be cloned from single cells and produced tumours in mice. Sera from tumour-bearing animals produced nuclear fluorescence of KVBCG1B cells and K virus-infected mouse embryo cells but did not react with uninfected mouse embryo cells or with cells infected by polyoma virus. DNA hybridization studies confirmed the presence of K virus DNA in KVBCG1B cells and suggested integration of the viral genome into host chromosomal DNA. K virus produces both persistent infection and cell transformation in glial cultures derived from its natural host.
Structure of the basal unit of the North Polar Plateau of Mars, from MARSIS

We use 36 MARSIS orbits to extract reflector depths for laterally extensive internal surfaces in the North Polar Plateau and compare the interpolated surface at the bottom of the ice to a prediction of that surface using MOLA data. We find that the prediction and data are in good agreement in terms of regional slope, and may even agree on the finer-scale saddle feature expected based on MOLA. We conclude that the underlying plains are not deflected anywhere beneath the ice deposits, and infer a possibly atypical composition or texture at the top of the Basal Unit in the 270° longitude direction, perhaps indicative of a paleo-dunefield.
Consensus of multiple nonholonomic systems

This paper considers the consensus of multiple nonholonomic systems such that a group of systems converges to a desired trajectory. Cooperative control laws are proposed and analyzed with the aid of results from graph theory and Lyapunov analysis. The proposed control laws are decentralized. Robustness of the proposed control laws to communication delays is also considered. As an application of the proposed results, formation control of wheeled mobile robots is discussed. Simulation results show effectiveness of the proposed results.
Full phononic bandgap in 2D-optomechanical crystals

We demonstrate simultaneous strong confinement and interaction of photons and phonons in a quasi two-dimensional (2D) slab.
Heavy carbon in individual oxide grains from the Murchison meteorite

The carbon isotopic composition of individual oxide grains from Murchison HF—HCl acid residue CFOc has been measured in the ion microprobe. Many grains (Mg-spinel, Cr-spinel, and Fe-oxide) contain carbon with large ^(13)C excesses ranging to 7000‰ (corresponding to ^(12)C/^(13)C= 11). In most cases the carbon is present as micron-sized subgrains. The association of silicon with the anomalous carbon points towards SiC as carrier. If this tentative identification is correct then the SiC grains most likely originated in the circumstellar atmospheres of red giants. Oxide grains in which the ^(18)O/^(16)O ratio has also been measured show variable ^(16)O excesses which are not correlated with the ^(13)C excesses. This indicates that the sources of the anomalous carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of the oxide grains are unrelated.
Measurement of turbulent water vapor fluxes using a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle system

Abstract. We present here the first application of a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system designed to measure turbulent properties and vertical latent heat fluxes (λE). Such measurements are crucial to improve our understanding of linkages between surface moisture supply and boundary layer clouds and phenomena such as atmospheric rivers. The application of UAVs allows for measurements on spatial scales complimentary to satellite, aircraft, and tower derived fluxes. Key system components are: a turbulent gust probe; a fast response water vapor sensor; an inertial navigation system (INS) coupled to global positioning system (GPS); and a 100 Hz data logging system. We present measurements made in the continental boundary layer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden Research Flight Facility located in the Mojave Desert. Two flights consisting of several horizontal straight flux run legs up to ten kilometers in length and between 330 and 930 m above ground level (m a.g.l.) are compared to measurement from a surface tower. Surface measured λE ranged from −53 W m−2 to 41 W m−2, and the application of a Butterworth High Pass Filter (HPF) to the datasets improved agreement to within +/−12 W m−2 for 86% of flux runs, by removing improperly sampled low frequency flux contributions. This result, along with power and co-spectral comparisons and consideration of the differing spatial scales indicates the system is able to resolve vertical fluxes for the measurement conditions encountered. Challenges remain, and the outcome of these measurements will be used to inform future sampling strategies and further system development.
Delusions of parasitosis: Ethical and clinical considerations

A 55-year-old female patient with delusions of parasitosis presents to the dermatology office for follow-up. Despite numerous biopsies and blood work, there is no evidence of parasitic infestation or other primary disease. Her symptoms have waxed and waned, but she is now experiencing a severe flare. Desperate, she asks about using ‘‘industrial-strength insecticides’’ hoping to be cured. On examination, multiple superficial erosions suggest excoriation as the primary process, with some overlying crusts, erythema, and tenderness suggestive of secondary infection. Although you have recommended psychiatric consultation, the patient has refused, asking, ‘‘Why would I go to a psychiatrist for a skin infection when you can do another biopsy or give me a medication?’’
Toward Open Access: it takes a village

ABSTRACT Academics and librarians have worked in tandem for many years to broaden access to the scholarship they create, scrutinize, collect, and consume. Recent developments have focused on campus faculty advocating for change by developing self-imposed open access policies. Such policy developments have occurred in an evolutionary process, the beginnings of which might be identified as the “serials crisis” peaking in the 1990s, followed by the focus on efforts to examine and reform broken aspects of the system of scholarly communication, and most recently the feasibility of faculty-initiated open access policies on university campuses. This article provides an analysis of one university's 10- year evolution to an open access policy focusing primarily on its advocates’ lessons learned and the library's role in order to add the perspective of a public institution's experience.
Pathfinding by Identified Zebrafish Motoneurons in the Absence of Muscle Pioneers

To identify the cellular cues that guide zebrafish neuronal growth cones to their targets, we examined interactions between identified motor growth cones and identified muscle fibers and tested whether these fibers were required for growth cone navigation. Caudal primary motoneurons (CaPs) and middle primary motoneurons (MiPs) are identified motoneurons that innervate cell-specific regions of the myotome. Growth cones of both cells initially extend along a common pathway and then pause at a set of identified muscle fibers, called muscle pioneers, before diverging along cell-specific pathways. Muscle pioneers are intermediate targets of both CaP and MiP (Westerfield et al., 1986; Liu and Westerfield, 1990); both motoneurons extend their growth cones directly to the muscle pioneers on which the first functional neuromuscular contacts form, suggesting that muscle pioneers may provide guidance information to these growth cones. We tested this idea by ablating muscle pioneers and observing the resulting motor axonal trajectories. Both CaP and MiP ultimately formed normal axonal arbors after muscle pioneer ablation, showing that muscle pioneers are unnecessary for formation of correct axonal trajectories; however, although final cellular morphology was correct in the absence of muscle pioneers, MiP growth cones branched abnormally or extended ventrally beyond the common pathway. Ablation of CaP and the muscle pioneers together increased the aberrant behavior of the MiP growth cone. Our results provide evidence that an intermediate target, the muscle pioneers, affects motor axonal extension without altering target choice, suggesting that other cues also contribute to proper pathway navigation.
Kinetic limits for a class of interacting particle systems

We study one dimensional particle systems in which particles travel as independent random walks and collide stochastically. The collision rates are chosen so that each particle experiences finitely many collisions per unit time. We establish the kinetic limit and derive the discrete Boltzmann equation for the macroscopic particle density.
Fault-Tolerant Optimal Neurocontrol for a Static Synchronous Series Compensator Connected to a Power Network

This paper proposes a fault-tolerant optimal neurocontrol scheme (FTONC) for a Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) connected to a multi-machine benchmark power system. The dual heuristic programming technique and the radial basis function neural networks are used to design a nonlinear optimal neurocontroller (NONC) for the external control of the SSSC. Compared to the conventional external linear controller, The NONC improves the damping performance of the SSSC. The internal control of the SSSC is achieved by a conventional liner controller. A sensor evaluation and (missing sensor) restoration scheme (SERS) is designed by using the auto-associative neural networks and the particle swarm optimization technique. This SERS provides a set of fault-tolerant measurements to the SSSC controllers and therefore guarantees a fault-tolerant control for the SSSC. The proposed FTONC is verified by simulation studies in PSCAD/EMTDC environment.
Viral modulation of antigen presentation: manipulation of cellular targets in the ER and beyond

Viruses that establish long-term infections in their hosts have evolved a number of methods to interfere with the activities of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Control of viral infections is achieved in part through the action of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that recognize cytosolically derived antigenic peptides in the context of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Viral replication within host cells produces abundant proteinaceous fodder for proteasomal digestion and display by class I MHC products. Tactics that disrupt antigen-presentation pathways and prevent the display of peptides to CD8(+) CTLs have been favored during the course of host-virus co-evolution. Viral immunoevasins exploit diverse cellular processes to interfere with host antiviral functions. The study of such viral factors has uncovered novel host proteins that assist these viral factors in their task and that themselves perform important cellular functions. Here, we focus on viral immunoevasins that, together with their cellular targets, interfere with antigen-presentation pathways. In particular, we emphasize the intersection of the cellular quality-control machinery in the endoplasmic reticulum with the herpesvirus proteins that have co-opted it.
Overcoming the barriers of isolation: Strategies for small and isolated developing states

This paper examines access to ICTs, particularly mobile voice and broadband in isolated countries with small populations. The primary focus is on developing island states, with some additional analysis of conditions in developing landlocked states. Because of their isolation, people in these countries are highly dependent on telecommunications for contact with citizens overseas, finding markets for their products and competitive suppliers for necessary imports, and developing new employment opportunities to increase local GDP and reduce emigration and dependency on external aid. Yet this very isolation, coupled with their small size, makes them unattractive markets for ICT providers. In general, they lag in access to ICTs including broadband, and pay higher rates for access to mobile and broadband services where available. The paper analyzes access to voice (primarily mobile) and broadband services in these countries in terms of availability and price. It also analyzes the structure of the sector including privatization and degree of competition in mobile and broadband. It then identifies strategies that could be adopted to increase access.
Differential Requirement for IFN-γ in CTL Maturation in Acute Murine Graft-versus-Host Disease

Although IFN-gamma is the archetypal Th1 cytokine, its role in CTL maturation is uncertain. We used an in vivo mouse model of CTL development, parent-into-F(1) acute graft-vs-host disease (AGVHD), to evaluate this issue. In AGVHD, transfer of naive parental T cells into F(1) hosts stimulates the development of allospecific CTL effectors that eliminate host lymphocytes, particularly B cells. Complete elimination of IFN-gamma, using IFN-gamma-deficient donors and administering anti-IFN-gamma mAb, suppressed B cell elimination, down-regulated TNF-alpha production, and enhanced Th2 cytokine production, but did not allow the B cell expansion characteristic of chronic GVHD (CGVHD). Because complete CTL inhibition results in full-blown CGVHD that is IFN-gamma independent, these observations indicate that IFN-gamma elimination only partially blocks CTL development. IFN-gamma elimination did not inhibit donor T cell engraftment or activation in the AGVHD model, but almost completely blocked Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) gene expression, protein up-regulation, and Fas/FasL-mediated CTL killing. In contrast, IFN-gamma elimination only partially inhibited perforin gene expression and perforin-mediated CTL activity. The contributions of IFN-gamma to CTL development were indirect, because IFN-gamma receptor-deficient donor cells differentiated normally into allospecific CTLs. Consistent with the view that the Fas/FasL and perforin pathways each mediate CTL killing in AGVHD, the absence of both perforin and IFN-gamma (perforin knockout donor cells and anti-IFN-gamma mAb) converted AGVHD to CGVHD. Thus, both IFN-gamma-dependent induction of Fas/FasL and IFN-gamma-independent induction of perforin contribute to CTL-mediated elimination of host B cells in AGVHD. Suppression of both pathways is required for typical CGVHD development.
Perceived barriers to bariatric surgery among morbidly obese patients.

Abstract Background Obesity has become a worldwide problem. Surgery has been shown to be a safe and effective therapy. We sought to identify those factors that patients regard as barriers to undergoing a bariatric surgical procedure. Methods Morbidly obese patients were asked to complete a 2-page questionnaire during routine outpatient appointments or hospitalization for other reasons. Patients were enrolled from February 2007 to April 2008. The differences between groups were assessed using univariate analysis. Results A total of 77 patients (41 women and 36 men) were enrolled. Their median age was 51 years, and 49% of the patients were white, followed by Hispanic (23%), and other ethnicities. Of the 77 patients, 9% were supermorbidly obese (body mass index >50 kg/m 2 ), and 62% reported having used dieting to lose weight, with greater reports among the women ( P = .01). White patients and those >55 years old were more likely to be using some type of weight loss program. Only 40% were physically active. African Americans reported greater rates of regular exercise ( P Conclusion The results from the present survey have demonstrated that a lack of insurance coverage is not the main reason for patients not consulting a center to be evaluated for bariatric surgery. Perceived barriers and lack of knowledge exist in both the minds of the general public and physicians.
LazyBase: freshness vs. performance in information management

Information management applications exhibit a wide range of query performance and result freshness goals. Some applications, such as web search, require interactive performance, but may safely operate on stale data. Others, such as policy violation detection, require up-to-date results, but can tolerate relaxed performance goals. Furthermore, information processing applications must be able to ingest updates at the scale of an entire organization. In this paper, we present LazyBase, a system that allows users to trade off query performance and result freshness in order to satisfy the full range of users' goals. LazyBase breaks up data ingestion into a pipeline of operations to minimize ingest time and uses models of processing and query performance to execute user queries. Initial results with LazyBase illustrate the feasibility of the pipelined model, highlight a rich space of trade-offs between result freshness and query performance, and often outperform existing solutions in the space.
Nonlinear Autoregression with Positive Innovations

Use of nonlinear models in analyzing time series data is becoming increasingly popular. This paper considers a broad class of nonlinear autoregressive models where the autoregressive part is additive and the terms are nonlinear functions of the past data. Also, the innovation distribution is supported on the non-negative reals and satisfies a tail regularity condition. The linear parameters of the autoregression are estimated using a linear programming recipe which yields much more accurate estimates than traditional methods such as conditional least squares. Limiting distribution of the linear programming estimators is obtained. Simulation studies validate the asymptotic results and reveal excellent small sample properties of the LPE estimator.
Mechanism of calcium disilicide-induced calcification of crystalline silicon surfaces in simulated body fluid under zero bias.

A dry-etch spark ablation method was used to produce calcium disilicide (CaSi2/Si) layers on silicon surfaces, and their biomineralization under zero bias was followed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. CaSi2/Si wafers are bioinert at 25°C and bioactive at 37°C. Mechanistic insights regarding biomineralization were derived from an analysis of film growth morphology and chemical composition after various soaking periods in standard simulated body fluid (SBF). Changes in CaSi2 calcification behavior as a function of reaction temperature and pH, SBF concentration, and various surface modification processes were also employed for this purpose. During CaSi2/Si calcification under zero bias, calcium phosphate (CaP) growth is strongly dependent on the structural degradation of CaSi2 grains. Surface silanol groups, initially present on the as-prepared material, cannot induce CaP nucleation, which begins only upon delamination of CaSi2 layers. The calcium phosphate phases, which are present during various growth stages, possibly include a combination of Mg-substituted whitlockite, monetite, and tricalcium phosphate. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
Proposal of ZnSe/GaAs digital alloys for high band gap solar cells and true green LEDs

Solar cells tuned for high energy photon absorption and light emitting diodes tuned for true green wavelength emission are proposed using the ZnSe/GaAs (001) superlattice. The effective band gap of this superlattice as a function of monolayers of ZnSe and GaAs within the range of 1.5 to 2.3 eV is shown. A discussion is given on the application of this particular superlattice in multijunction solar cells and solid-state lighting.
Encoding TLA+ set theory into many-sorted first-order logic

We present an encoding of Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory into many-sorted first-order logic, the input language of state-of-the-art SMT solvers. This translation is the main component of a back-end prover based on SMT solvers in the TLA+ Proof System.
Experimental Study of Down Hole Gas Liquid Separators

The technology of Down-hole Gas Liquid Separation and Water Re-injection (DGLSWR) is an economical and effective method to solve gas well fluid accumulation. The separation performance of designed Down-hole Gas Liquid Separator (DGLS) is very important for DGLSWR systems applications. The principle of work and Characteristics of DGLSWR systems are introduced in this paper. Separation performance of DGLS was studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation combining laboratory experiment. Relations of main operating parameters, such as flow rate and gas liquid ratio with pressure drop were studied. The effect of flow rate, gas liquid ratio and main structural parameters such as cone angle and exhaust on DGLS separation performance was also studied. Appropriate structure and operating parameters were determined. Field tests indicated satisfactory results as well.© 2009 ASME
Stalking the Wild Ellipse

The following examples reveal two different sides to this formula: 1. X2 + Xy + y2 = 1 iS an elliZse tilted from the horizontal; from A = B = C = 1 we easily find its area, 2X/ 23 . 2. X2 + 4xy + y2 = 1 iS a hyperbola. Its area is unbounded, yet A = C = 1, B = 4 produces a definite result, X i/ 4. What's going on? Is this last answer nonsense, or is the formula sending us signals, perhaps trying to tell us something informative? It turns out that if B2 _ 4AC + O, then Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 = 1 always defines an ellipse somewhere and the formula tells us its area. The key here is "somewhere": far from being a simple beast, the ellipse has a decided preference for privacy. In fact if, in a specific sense, we "choose A, B, C at random", the probability is over 81So that the ellipse is hidden from normal view. When he's away, then with probability 77% we'll get a hyperbola to look at. But our formula follows the ellipse wherever he goes. In this article, we hitch a ride, penetrating this private side of the ellipse, and report to you some unexpected findings.
The Anal Organ of Larvae of Musca autumnalis, M. domestica, and Orthellia caesarion (Diptera: Muscidae)

The anal organ of 3 terrestrial dipterous larvae is described. This organ is difficult to see in unstained larvae, but when placed in acetocarmine or a dilute solution of silver nitrate it stands out. The organ is situated ventrally on the last larval segment and surrounds the anus. The cuticle of this organ is much thinner and appears more permeable than elsewhere. Underlying this cuticle are large epidermal cells containing polytene chromosomes. An infolding of the epicuticle surrounds the organ separating it from the surrounding cuticle and epidermis. The differences in the size of the anal organ for several members of the genus Musca are discussed with particular reference to its significance to the type of larval habitat and its importance as a taxonomic character.
Oxygen and Nitrogen Incorporation during CW Laser Recrystallization of Polysilicon

The incorporation of nitrogen and oxygen in polysilicon has been examined by SIMS. The analysis, combined with C-V measurements and ion implantation, has been used to correlate the incorporation of the two species with the fixed-charge density at the back polysilicon/SiO2 interface. Laser recrystallization with a silicon-nitride encapsulation layer results in the inclusion of 2–4 × 1017 cm−3 nitrogen atoms in the polysilicon; if an oxide capping layer is used, the nitrogen level observed is at the background of the SIMS system (~1015 cm−3). Either type of capping layer results in 3–4 × 1018 cm−3 oxygen atoms being incorporated into the polysilicon. Implantation of nitrogen into the polysilicon before recrystallization increases the fixed-charge density Nf,b) at the back interface, while implanted oxygen decreases Nf,b. The high Nf,b found with a nitride capping layer is attributed to deposition of nitrogen or SiNX at the back interface.