cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hurricane track forecasting with OMEGA

In the early days of computing, geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD), predominantly numerical weather prediction (NWP), was a dominant factor in the design of computer architecture and algorithms. This early work focused initially on finite difference algorithms on rectangular computational grids and later on spectral methods. After the initial work of von Neumann, Charney, and Arakawa however, the focus shifted from the basic algorithms to improvements in the physical models. Further work on fundamental numerical algorithms shifted to other disciplines—predominately the then emerging aerospace community. As a result, for 40 years, the GFD community has been using numerical techniques that are virtually unchanged. The two primary numerical methodologies that have been used for modeling the atmosphere and the ocean have been spectral methods for global modeling and structured rectilinear grids for regional modeling. In 1992, work began on the Operational Multiscale Environment model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA), a new atmospheric simulation tool based upon an adaptive unstructured grid. Over the past 14 years, this model has found application to atmospheric dispersion, point weather forecasting, and, the topic of this paper, hurricane track forecasting. The unstructured grid paradigm employed in OMEGA has the advantage of flexibility in providing high resolution where required by either static physical properties (terrain elevation, coastlines, land use) or the changing dynamical situation. This paper provides a description of this new paradigm and presents its use in atmospheric simulation.
Stress pattern in the double seismic zone beneath Cook Inlet, south-central Alaska

Abstract Relocation of south-central Alaskan earthquakes recorded by the regional seismograph network, using the joint hypocenter determination method, revealed a double seismic zone in the underthrusting Pacific plate beneath the Cook Inlet area. The lower zone is separated from the upper one by a decrease in seismic activity within a 5–10 km wide band, and extends from a depth of 50 km to about 90 km. Stress tensor inversion for earthquakes in the upper and lower zones shows different stress regimes. In the upper zone minimum principal stress is oriented in the down-dip direction and maximum principal stress is normal to the Wadati-Benioff zone (WBZ). In the lower zone both maximum and minimum principal stresses are horizontal and rotated by 40–60° from the down-dip direction of the WBZ. Below 80–90 km depth, stress tensor inversion results show down-dip orientation of the minimum principal stress and the maximum stress aligned in the direction of convergence of Pacific plate.
Pilot trial of adjuvant paclitaxel plus estramustine in resected high-risk prostate cancer.

Objectives To determine the feasibility and toxicity of adjuvant paclitaxel plus estramustine in prostate cancer patients at high risk of a 2-year PSA failure after prostatectomy. Methods Patients with prostate adenocarcinoma who underwent radical prostatectomy with at least a 50% probability of PSA failure at 2 years postprostatectomy received 4 cycles of paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 by 1-hour infusion, weekly for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-week treatment rest. Patients received estramustine phosphate 140 mg orally 3 times daily on the day before, the day of, and the day after paclitaxel administration. Patients received warfarin 1 mg daily to prevent thromboembolism. Serum PSA was measured monthly during adjuvant therapy, then every 3 months for a minimum of 2 years. Results Between December 2001 and September 2004, 17 patients underwent radical prostatectomy and received protocol treatment at the University of Pennsylvania. The median risk of a 2-year PSA failure was 70%. Five (30%) patients had PSA failure develop after radical prostatectomy. The median time to PSA failure was 19 months. A statistically significant difference (P = 0.001) was noted between the expected rate of PSA failure (0.70) and the actual rate of PSA failure (0.30). Grade 3 to 4 toxicities were uncommon and included thromboembolism (6%) and neutropenia (6%). All patients completed 4 cycles of therapy and there were no treatment related deaths. Conclusions The adjuvant use of paclitaxel and estramustine in resected high-risk prostate cancer patients is feasible and well tolerated. Adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy deserves further investigation with randomized studies.
Taurine content in tissues from aged Fischer 344 rats

Previous work in our laboratory had shown that serum TAU was lower in aged rats when compared to adult controls. The present study sought to determine if the age-related changes in serum TAU were reflected in tissues where TAU was known to have significant physiological relevance. TAU content was found to be significantly decreased in the atria, kidney and caudal artery of 30-month-old male Fischer 344 rats. Furthermore, glutamine content was also found to be altered by aging in both the heart and kidney. Exogenously administered glutamate was shown to increase renal glutamate content and decrease renal TAU content; however, this response was significantly attenuated in aged rats. Subcellular content and distribution of amino acids were not altered in the cerebral cortex of aged rats. Serum TAU was, however, significantly decreased in aged rats. It was concluded that renal conservation and regulation of TAU appears perturbed in the aged rat. Furthermore, the brain and heart can maintain tissue stores of TAU despite a significant age-related decrease in circulating TAU. Our data also suggests that there is an interrelationship between glutamate and TAU stores in the kidney.
Variation in body temperature, perceived duration and perceived personal space"

Abstract This investigation sought to examine the relationship between variation in body temperature, perceived duration and perceived personal space. Three hypotheses were tested based on the theory that changes in biological activity, in this case normal body temperature variation, would be associated with changes in individuals' perceptions of duration and personal space. Fifty males and fifty females between the ages of eighteen and thirty years comprised the sample. Each subject was tested twice. One testing session occurred in the early morning while the other occurred in the late afternoon. A measurement of oral body temperature, the production of two forty second intervals and a judgment of perceived personal space were taken on each subject during both testing sessions. The findings in regard to the three hypotheses suggest the following. Body temperature variation as measured in this study does not appear to affect significantly individuals' perceptions of duration and perceived personal space. Body temperature may have an effect different from that hypothesized on perceived personal space. Correlation coefficients for the total sample and in males were significant ( p p p
An Efficient Implementation of Edmonds' Algorithm for Maximum Matching on Graphs

A matching on a graph is a set of edges, no two of which share a vertex. A maximum matching contains the greatest number of edges possible. This paper presents an efficient implementation of Edmonds' algorithm for finding a maximum matching. The computation time is proportional to V3, where V is the number of vertices; previous implementations of Edmonds' algorithm have computation time proportional to V4. The implementation is based on a system of labels that encodes the structure of alternating paths.
Hypoxia-inducible nuclear factors bind to an enhancer element located 3' to the human erythropoietin gene.

Abstract Human erythropoietin gene expression in liver and kidney is inducible by anemia or hypoxia. DNase I-hypersensitive sites were identified 3' to the human erythropoietin gene in liver nuclei. A 256-base-pair region of 3' flanking sequence was shown by DNase I protection and electrophoretic mobility-shift assays to bind four or more different nuclear factors, at least two of which are induced by anemia in both liver and kidney, and the region functioned as a hypoxia-inducible enhancer in transient expression assays. These results provide insight into the molecular basis for the regulation of gene expression by a fundamental physiologic stimulus, hypoxia.
Sidelobe level distribution computation for antenna arrays with arbitrary element distributions

This paper discusses the conditions in which the sidelobe level distribution can be calculated in closed form for arrays with randomly located antenna elements with arbitrary element probability distributions. By using the number of times a beampattern crosses a certain level in an upward direction, sidelobe level distributions are found for beampatterns with angle-dependent and angle-independent statistics. The evaluation of the probability of exceeding a given peak sidelobe is investigated as a function of the antenna array spatial position variance in the asymptotic limit of a large number of antennas. Examples are presented including a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar illustration.
Retrograde trans-anterior communicating artery rescue of unopened Pipeline Embolization Device with balloon dilation: complication management

As the use of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms rises, knowledge about complications continues to accumulate amidt a paucity of reports on techniques and rescue strategies. We describe the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with worsening reto-orbital left-sided pain and a large cavernous aneurysm. The patient underwent endovascular treatment with PED, and there was difficulty delivering the device due to significant vascular tortuosity. This resulted in poor PED deployment as the proximal end failed to open. Increasingly aggressive strategies were attempted to open the device, which resulted in an iatrogenic carotid cavernous fistula. We were finally able to rescue the device and open its proximal end with balloon inflation after using a contralateral trans-anterior communicating artery approach and crossing the PED in a retrograde fashion. Excessive vascular tortuosity poses a genuine risk of PED malfunction and poor deployment. Although we were able to rescue the device and our patient had no permanent morbidity, difficult vascular anatomy rendered the procedure extremely complicated with dreaded complications.
Observation of Kinetic Plasma Jets in a Coronal-Loop Simulation Experiment

Under certain conditions an intense kinetic plasma jet is observed to emerge from the apex of laboratory simulations of coronal plasma loops. Analytic and numerical models show that these jets result from a particle orbit instability in a helical magnetic field whereby magnetic forces radially eject rather than confine ions with sufficiently large countercurrent axial velocity.
Late Pleistocene landslide-dammed lakes along the Rio Grande, White Rock Canyon, New Mexico

Massive slump complexes composed of Pliocene basaltic rocks and underlying Miocene and Pliocene sediments flank the Rio Grande along 16 km of northern White Rock Canyon, New Mexico. The toe area of at least one slump complex was active in the late Pleistocene, damming the Rio Grande at least four times during the period from 18 to 12 {sup 14}C ka and impounding lakes that extended 10-20 km upriver. Stratigraphic relationships and radiocarbon age constraints indicate that three separate lakes formed between 13.7 and 12.4 {sup 14}C ka. The age and dimensions of the ca. 12.4 ka lake are best constrained; it had an estimated maximum depth of {approx}30 m, a length of {approx}13 km, a surface area of {approx}2.7 km{sup 2}, and an initial volume of {approx}2.5 x 10{sup 7} m{sup 3}. The youngest landslide-dammed lakes formed during a period of significantly wetter regional climate, strongly suggesting that climate changes were responsible for reactivation of the slump complexes. We are not certain about the exact triggering mechanisms for these landslides, but they probably involved removal of lateral support due to erosion of the slope base by the Rio Grande during periods of exceptionally high flood discharge or rapid incision;more » increased pore pressures associated with higher water tables; higher seepage forces at sites of ground-water discharge; or some combination of these processes. Seismic shaking could also have contributed to triggering of some of the landslides, particularly if aided by wet antecedent conditions. 54 refs., 19 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Application of structured singular value theory for robust stability and control analysis in multimachine power systems. II. Numerical simulations and results

For pt.I see ibid., vol.13, no.4, p1311-16 (1998). This paper presents numerical simulations and testing results of the new method which is proposed for stability robustness of multimachine power systems. The approach is based on structured singular value (SSV) tools. The variations of operating conditions are treated as structured uncertainty. Simulation results for a test system have shown excellent accuracy of robust stability assessment for a wide range of operating conditions.
Perceived Causes, Effects, and Remedies for Plateauiing among Marketing Professors

The issue of career plateauing among marketing professors is examined in this survey of deans, marketing department heads, and faculty members. Analysis demonstrates that a plateauing problem is perceived to exist in our marketing departments. Specifically, individuals felt that major contributors to this phenomena were institutional factors such as the tenure system and a lack of incentives beyond tenure and promotion. However, those who are most able to do something about this problem are least likely to believe that institutional conditions are the root of this issue. This may be an unfortunate situation, as findings also demonstrate that plateaued marketing faculty not only desire to be productive, but feel they have the capability of doing so.
Robust Design of Advanced Thermoelectric Conversion Systems: Probabilistic Design Impacts on Specific Power and Power Flux Optimization

Advanced, direct thermal energy conversion technologies are receiving increased research attention in order to recover waste thermal energy in advanced vehicles and industrial processes. Advanced thermoelectric (TE) systems necessarily require integrated system-level analyses to establish accurate optimum system designs. Past system-level design and analysis has relied on well-defined deterministic input parameters even though many critically important environmental and system design parameters in the above mentioned applications are often randomly variable, sometimes according to complex relationships, rather than discrete, well-known deterministic variables. This work describes new research and development creating techniques and capabilities for probabilistic design and analysis of advanced TE power generation systems to quantify the effects of randomly uncertain design inputs in determining more robust optimum TE system designs and expected outputs. Selected case studies involving stochastic TE .material properties demonstrate key stochastic material impacts on power, optimum TE area, specific power, and power flux in the TE design optimization process. Magnitudes and directions of these design modifications are quantified for selected TE system design analysis cases
Diets of the Arkansas River Shiner and Peppered Chub in the Canadian River, New Mexico and Texas

ABSTRACT We examined the digestive tract contents of 1,437 Arkansas River shiners (Notropis girardi) and 1,943 peppered chubs (Macrhybopsis tetranema) collected from the Canadian River in New Mexico and Texas from September 1996 to August 1998. Both the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub are generalist feeders, with terrestrial and aquatic insects representing 28 and 31%, respectively, by weight, of their diets. Detritus, plant materials, and sand-silt represented 26, 6, and 40%, respectively, of the Arkansas River shiner diet and 25, 28, and 17% of the peppered chub diet. The presence of sand-silt in the diets of both species suggests they forage among sediments on the river bottom. The common occurrence of terrestrial insects (i.e., Coleoptera, Hymenoptera) in the diet of the Arkansas River shiner indicates this species also feeds in the water column on drifting invertebrates.
Suppression of sea-floor-scattered energy using a dip-moveout approach; application to the mid-ocean ridge environment

Multichannel seismic (MCS) images are often contaminated with in- and out-of-plane scattering from the sea floor. This problem is especially acute in the mid-ocean ridge environment where sea-floor roughness is pronounced. Energy shed from the unsedimented basaltic sea floor can obscure primary reflections such as Moho, and scattering off of elongated sea-floor features like abyssal hills and fault scarps can produce linear events in the seismic data that could be misinterpreted as subsurface reflections. Moreover, stacking at normal subsurface velocities may enhance these water-borne events, whose stacking velocity depends on azimuth and generally increases with time, making them indistinguishable from subsurface arrivals. To suppress scattered energy in deep water settings, we propose a processing scheme that invokes the application of dip moveout (DMO) to deliberately increase the differential moveout between sea-floor-scattered and subsurface events, thereby facilitating the removal of unwanted energy in the stacked section. After application of DMO, all sea-floor scatterers stack at the water velocity, while subsurface reflections like Moho still stack at their original velocity. The application of DMO in this manner is contrary to the intended use that reduces the differential moveout between dipping events and allows a single stacking velocity to be used. Unlike previous approaches to suppress scattered energy, dip filtering is applied in the common-midpoint (CMP) domain after DMO. Moveover, our DMO-based approach suppresses out-of-plane scattering, and therefore is not limited to removal of in-plane scattering as is the case with shot and receiver dip filtering techniques. The success of our DMO-based suppression scheme is limited to deep water (a few kilometers of water depth for conventional offsets), where the traveltime moveout of energy scattered from the sea floor has a hyperbolic moveout with a stacking velocity that depends on the cosine of the scatterer steering angle in a manner analogous to how the moveout of a dipping reflector depends on the dip angle. The application of DMO-based suppression to synthetics and MCS data collected along the southern East Pacific Rise demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach. Cleaner images of primary reflectors such as Moho are produced, even though present shot coverage along the East Pacific Rise is unduly sparse, resulting in a limited effective spatial bandwidth.
Neuroimaging and Neurologic Complications after Organ Transplantation

Neurologic complications are common after transplantation and affect 30-60% of transplant recipients. The etiology of most of the posttransplant neurologic disorders is related to the opportunistic infections, both systemic and involving central nervous system (CNS), toxicity of immunosuppressive medications, and the metabolic insult created by the underlying primary disease and the transplant procedure. Neuroimaging studies are one of the key tools in the evaluation and enable early diagnosis of neurologic complications in transplant patients, especially posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome, central pontine myelinolysis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and fungal and bacterial abscesses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred technique, but each of the available neuroimaging techniques offers a unique insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying neurologic complications of transplantation. The role of neuroimaging in this population includes early detection of calcineurin inhibitor neurotoxicity, opportunistic infections, neoplasia, metabolic disorders, or cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, we can monitor longitudinal progression of disease and treatment response.
Increased greenhouse gases enhance regional climate response to a Maunder Minimum

[1] The climate responses to the Maunder Minimum-type total solar irradiance (TSI) decrease in the pre-industrial (PI) era and IPCC B1 global warming scenario are examined using the NCAR CAM3 coupled with a mixed-layer slab ocean model. The TSI reduction shifts the AO/NAO state to a more negative index, resulting in regional surface air temperature (SAT) change in the model. In addition, the positive sea ice-solar radiation feedback amplifies the surface cooling due to the TSI decrease. The global annual average cooling effect induced by the TSI decrease is reduced to 0.254°C in the B1 scenario from 0.347°C in the PI epoch, this difference being due to both the suppressed sea ice-solar radiation feedback and the stronger greenhouse effect associated with the increase of greenhouse gases. However, regional SAT changes in the B1 scenario are strengthened markedly due to the enhanced negative AO/NAO. The warming in the western Greenland, Central Asia and East Asia will be enhanced in the B1 global warming scenario when the TSI decreases. These differences in response between the B1 and PI scenarios illustrate that the impact of multi-decadal solar variation on climate depends on the atmospheric background trace gas composition. A future solar grand minimum does not offset the CO2-induced warming in the B1 scenario, but through the enhanced negative AO/NAO may indeed amplify the warming in certain regions.
Loneliness and Peer Relations in Childhood

Although loneliness is a normative experience, there is reason to be concerned about children who are chronically lonely in school. Research indicates that children have a fundamental understanding of what it means to be lonely, and that loneliness can be reliably measured in children. Most of the research on loneliness in children has focused on the contributions of children's peer relations to their feelings of well-being at school. Loneliness in children is influenced by how well accepted they are by peers, whether they are overtly victimized, whether they have friends, and the durability and quality of their best friendships. Findings from this emerging area of research provide a differentiated picture of how children's peer experiences come to influence their emotional well-being.
On stress field near a stationary crack tip

It is well known that the stress and elastic-plastic deformation fields near a crack tip have important roles in the corresponding fracture process. For elastic-perfectly-plastic solids, different solutions are given in the literature. In this work several of these solutions are examined and compared for Mode I (tension), Mode II (shear), and mixed Modes I and II loading conditions in plane strain. By consideration of the dynamic solution, it is shown that the assumption that the material is yielding all around a crack tip may not be reasonable in all cases. By admitting the existence of some elastic sectors, continuous stress fields are obtained even for mixed Modes I and II.
Progress on fabrication and testing of the omniguide traveling-wave tube structures

We have designed, fabricated and tested with low power a novel W-band traveling-wave tube (TWT) structure based on a slow-wave cylindrically-symmetric photonic band gap (PBG) structure, or an "omniguide". PBG TWT structures have great potential for very large bandwidth and linear dispersion. The omniguide structure was designed and fabricated with silica dielectric with a copper harness. Cold-test results were found to be in excellent agreement with the design. A band-width of more than 10 per cent was demonstrated. This structure is designed to generate millimeter-wave rf when driven by a 2-A, 120-kV electron beam.
Pregabalin for the treatment of painful neuropathy.

Pregabalin is an α2-δ ligand that binds to and modulates voltage-gated calcium channels, exerting its intended effect to reduce neuropathic pain. Pregabalin is the second of only two medications that are US FDA approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy; it is also the third medication for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Currently, there are three pivotal clinical studies documenting the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy, and three clinical studies regarding the use of pregabalin for pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia. This article will review each of these studies, as well as provide a clinical review for the use of pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Arginase 1+ microglia reduce Aβ plaque deposition during IL-1β-dependent neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation has long been considered a driver of Alzheimer’s disease progression. However, experiments developed to explore the interaction between neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology showed a surprising reduction in amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque deposition. We sought to understand this unexpected outcome by examining microglia phenotypes during chronic neuroinflammation. Using an adeno-associated virus vector carrying hIL-1β cDNA, inflammation was induced in one hippocampus of 8-month-old amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 mice for 4 weeks, while the other hemisphere received control injections. Bone marrow chimeras and staining analysis were used to identify the origins and types of immune cells present during sustained inflammation. Arginase 1 (Arg1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immunoreactivity were used as markers of alternatively activated and classically activated cells, respectively, and changes in cellular uptake of Aβ by Arg1+ or iNOS+ microglia was demonstrated by confocal microscopy. To determine if an anti-inflammatory phenotype was present during neuroinflammation, RNA was extracted on flow-sorted microglia and rt-PCR was performed. Interleukin-4 injection was used to induce alternatively activated cells, whereas a minipump and intrahippocampal cannula was used to deliver an interleukin (IL)-4Rα antibody to block the induction of Arg1+ cells in the setting of sustained IL-1β expression. We observed a robust upregulation of centrally derived Arg1+ microglia present only in the inflamed hemisphere. Furthermore, in the inflamed hemisphere, greater numbers of Arg1+ microglia contained Aβ when compared to iNOS+ microglia. RNA isolated from flow-sorted microglia from the inflamed hemisphere demonstrated elevation of mRNA species consistent with alternative activation as well as neuroprotective genes such as BDNF and IGF1. To explore if Arg1+ microglia mediated plaque reduction, we induced Arg1+ microglia with IL-4 and observed significant plaque clearance. Moreover, when we reduced Arg1+ microglia induction in the context of neuroinflammation using an anti-IL-4Rα antibody delivered via intrahippocampal cannula, we observed a clear correlation between numbers of Arg1+ microglia and plaque reduction. Together, these findings suggest that Arg1+ microglia are involved in Aβ plaque reduction during sustained, IL-1β-dependent neuroinflammation, opening up possible new avenues for immunomodulatory therapy of AD.
Surfactant-free exfoliation of graphite in aqueous solutions

We report an ultrasound exfoliation of graphite in a weakly basic solution to produce multi-layer graphene dispersion. A unique feature of this process is that no surfactant was added to stabilize the exfoliated graphene in water. The concentration of the graphene dispersion prepared by this approach can be up to 0.02 mg mL−1 and it was stable at room temperature for several months.
Principal Factor Waveforms of the Thoracic QRS Complex

High-speed, high-fidelity recordings from 150 to 180 systematically spaced points over the thoracic surface of both a dog and a man have yielded detailed maps of QRS waveforms. With the aid of digital computer analysis, these waveforms have been resolved into the minimum number of mathematically uncorrelated waveforms necessary for adequate resynthesis of all the original QRS complexes. Under the conditions imposed by the experimental design, seven (in the dog) and eight (in the man) such waveforms, or principal factors, were found. Maps were constructed for both the contribution of each principal factor to the various regions of the chest and also for the degree of reproducibility of the original waveforms by successive addition of the principal factors. The first three factors accounted for an average of 92.8% of the available information on the chest in the dog and 85.4% in the man. A resynthesis of over 99% of the information was achieved for both subjects when all remaining principal factors were als...
CYP2D6 Genotyping and Tamoxifen: An Unfinished Story in the Quest for Personalized Medicine

The philosophy behind personalized medicine is that each patient has a unique biologic profile that should guide the choice of therapy, resulting in an improved treatment outcome, ideally with reduced toxicity. Thus, there has been increasing interest in identifying genetic variations that are predictive of a drug's efficacy or toxicity. Although it is one of the most effective drugs for treating breast cancer, tamoxifen is not effective in all estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients, and it is frequently associated with side effects, such as hot flashes. Relative resistance to tamoxifen treatment may be a result, in part, from impaired drug activation by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Indeed, recent studies have identified allelic variations in CYP2D6 to be an important determinant of tamoxifen's activity (and toxicity). This article will summarize the current information regarding the influence of the major genotypes and CYP2D6 inhibitors on tamoxifen metabolism, with a focus on its clinical utility and the current level of evidence for CYP2D6 genotyping of patients who are candidates for tamoxifen treatment.
Fibroblast growth factor-23 and cardiovascular disease in the general population: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background —Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphate regulatory hormone that directly stimulates left ventricular hypertrophy in experimental models. The role of FGF-23 in cardiovascular disease development in the general population is unclear. We tested associations of FGF-23 with major subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease outcomes in a large prospective cohort. Methods and Results —We evaluated 6,547 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who were initially free of cardiovascular disease. We measured serum FGF-23 using the Kainos immunoassay. The MESA measured left ventricular (LV) mass by magnetic resonance imaging, coronary calcium (CAC) by computed tomography, and carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) by ultrasound. The MESA adjudicated incident heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stoke by medical record review. After adjustment, the highest FGF-23 quartile was associated with an estimated 2.4 gram greater LV mass (95% CI 0.4, 4.5 greater) and a 26% greater odds of higher CAC scores (95% CI 9% to 46% greater) compared to the lowest quartile. Over 7.5 years follow-up, each 20-pg/mL higher FGF-23 concentration was associated with a 19% greater risk of heart failure (95% CI 3% to 37% greater) and a 14% greater risk of coronary heart disease (95% CI 1% to 28% greater). FGF-23 was not associated with carotid IMT or stroke. Conclusions —Higher serum FGF-23 concentrations are associated with subclinical cardiac disease and with new heart failure and coronary disease events, but not with carotid IMT or stroke. FGF-23 may be a novel cardiovascular risk factor in the general population.
Frequency stabilization of a traveling-wave semiconductor ring laser using a fiber resonator as a frequency reference

A fiber resonator with a temperature drift rate of better than 5/spl times/10/sup /spl minus/4/spl deg// C/hour is used for controlling the frequency stability of a 1.3 /spl mu/m wavelength external cavity semiconductor ring laser. A frequency stability of about 600 KHz/hour is achieved. >
Transition-Related Assessment: The Foundation of Preparation for Postsecondary Success

This introductory article establishes the need to assess transition-related variables from sociological, educational, and legislative perspectives. Current trends in transition-related assessment are described briefly, along with an overview of the contents of this special edition of this special edition of Diagnostique.
Advances in Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Hardware and Software

Nuclear imaging techniques remain today's most reliable modality for the assessment and quantification of myocardial perfusion. In recent years, the field has experienced tremendous progress both in terms of dedicated cameras for cardiac applications and software techniques for image reconstruction. The most recent advances in single-photon emission computed tomography hardware and software are reviewed, focusing on how these improvements have resulted in an even more powerful diagnostic tool with reduced injected radiation dose and acquisition time.
Predicting distributional restrictions on prenasalized stops

Previous studies on prenasalized stops (NCs) focus mainly on issues of derivation and classification, but little is known about their distributional properties. The current study fills this gap. I present results of a survey documenting positional restrictions on NCs, and show that there are predictable and systematic constraints on their distribution. The major finding is that NCs are optimally licensed in contexts where they are perceptually distinct from plain oral and nasal stops. I provide an analysis referencing auditory factors, and show that a perceptual account explains all attested patterns.
Econophys-Kolkata II Workshop Summary

Rather than a summary, these remarks should be viewed as an extension of ideas presented in my paper in this Workshop. In my paper I discussed the emergence of econophysics out of the past evolution of the relationship between economics and physics. In discussing the current status of econophysics in its relationship with economics, I introduced the distinctions between orthodoxy, mainstream, and heterodoxy in economics, with the first being a largely intellectually defined category, the second a largely sociologically defined category, and the third involving both intellectual and sociological elements in its opposition to the first two simultaneously. I then suggested that in its current state econophysics is more of the third category, heterodox, than of the first two in its status within economics. I also suggested that a fully successful move into the mainstream could lead to its ideas becoming part of a new orthodoxy, which could ironically lead to its disappearance as a distinct entity.
Upper Extremity Complications and Concerns in Patients With Cardiac Disease.

PPER EXTREMITY PROBLEMS IN patients with cardiac disease often manifestwhile the patient is hospitalized, but can be overlooked because of the seriousness of cardiac issues during the hospitalization. Cardiac patients are a unique subset of the population, who are subject to invasive procedures and intensive care unit admissions during which upper extremity problems may develop. BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIES Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a cause of perioperative morbidity in the cardiac population that is often underreported secondary to the magnitude of cardiac problems. There is a wide variation in the reported incidence of BPI after cardiac surgery (0.5% to 38%), which may be due in part to the multifactorial causes. 1 Positioning, retractor use and placement, and duration of surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass all play a role. Although BPI may cause substantial morbidity in the perioperative period, most lesions last on average 2e3 months and are usually resolved within a year with no surgical intervention necessary. 1,2 Asthebrachialplexustrunkspasssuperficiallyover the firstrib anddeep totheclavicle,thebrachialplexus is vulnerable to direct local trauma from surgical manipulation of the chest wall necessary during openheart surgery. In addition, as its roots are tethered proximally at their site of exit from the intervertebral foramen and distally at its terminal branch insertions, the brachial plexus is susceptible to stretch injury from positioning and retraction often encountered in openheart surgery. Clinically, the injury typically presents
Cytokine expression profiles of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) detected by multiplex assay

18530 Background: To determine the cytokine expression profiles of patients with AML and NHL using a sensitive bead-based Luminex multiplex assay in a routine clinical diagnostic setting. Methods: ...
Usefulness of translocation-associated immunohistochemical stains in the fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is challenging due to cytologic overlap with one another and with other salivary gland tumors having prominent epithelial and myoepithelial components. Recognition of characteristic chromosomal aberrations in several salivary gland tumors, including PA and ACC, has the potential to resolve diagnostic uncertainty, but molecular diagnostics are not routinely available. To leverage these molecular alterations, the authors examined a panel of commercially available immunostains directed at commonly overexpressed proteins in translocation-associated PA (PLAG1 and HMGA2) and ACC (MYB) to assess their diagnostic usefulness. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed on cell block samples from 74 patients, including 11 ACC specimens and 31 PA specimens with antibodies to MYB, PLAG1, and HMGA2 as well as KIT (previously considered useful in the diagnosis of ACC). RESULTS ACCs demonstrated significantly greater staining for KIT compared with non-ACCs, while PAs had significantly greater staining for PLAG1 than non-PAs. MYB trended toward significance for ACC (P=.097) and HMGA2 trended toward significance for PA (P=.094). No ACC exhibited positive staining for PLAG1 or HMGA2. Only 12% of PAs were found to be positive for MYB or KIT. Combined positivity for MYB and KIT with negative PLAG1 and HMGA2 demonstrated a specificity and positive predictive value of 1.0 for ACC, whereas a positive PLAG1 or HMGA2 stain with negative MYB and KIT stains showed a sensitivity of 0.75, a specificity of 0.96, and a positive predictive value of 0.95 for PAs. CONCLUSIONS An immunohistochemical panel of MYB, KIT, PLAG1, and HMGA2 on fine-needle aspiration cell blocks is useful in distinguishing ACCs and PAs from each other and other salivary gland neoplasms. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Block Copolymerization of Lactide and an Epoxide Facilitated by a Redox Switchable Iron‐Based Catalyst

A cationic iron(III) complex was active for the polymerization of various epoxides, whereas the analogous neutral iron(II) complex was inactive. Cyclohexene oxide polymerization could be "switched off" upon in situ reduction of the iron(III) catalyst and "switched on" upon in situ oxidation, which is orthogonal to what was observed previously for lactide polymerization. Conducting copolymerization reactions in the presence of both monomers resulted in block copolymers whose identity can be controlled by the oxidation state of the catalyst: selective lactide polymerization was observed in the iron(II) oxidation state and selective epoxide polymerization was observed in the iron(III) oxidation state. Evidence for the formation of block copolymers was obtained from solubility differences, GPC, and DOSY-NMR studies.
Spectral Mutation in Soundhack

Soundhack is a widely used program available for the Apple Macintosh computer that performs a variety of sound file manipulations. The functions of the program, authored by one of us (Tom Erbe), include sound-file type conversion, spectral dynamic processing, a varispeed/sample rate converter, sound file convolution, ring modulation, a phase vocoder, a binaural filter, and an amplitude analysisand-gain-change module. In Soundhack versions 0.8 and above, the authors have implemented a system of spectral mutation functions that allow for a number of different trans-
Fifty Years of Putnam Trivia

(1989). Fifty Years of Putnam Trivia. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 96, No. 8, pp. 711-713.
Intradural vertebral endarterectomy with nonautologous patch angioplasty for refractory vertebrobasilar ischemia: Case report and literature review.

Background The natural history of patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar ischemic symptoms due to chronic bilateral vertebral artery occlusive disease is progressive, and poses significant challenges when refractory to medical therapy. Surgical treatment options depend largely on location and characteristics of the atheroma (s), and generally include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stent placement, posterior circulation revascularization (bypass), extracranial vertebral artery reconstruction, or vertebral artery endarterectomy. Case description We present the case of a 56-year-old male with progressive vertebrobasilar ischemia due to tandem lesions in the right vertebral artery at the origin and intracranially in the V4 segment. The contralateral vertebral artery was occluded to the level of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and posterior communicating arteries were absent. Following PTA and stent placement at the right vertebral artery origin, the patient was successfully treated with intradural vertebral artery endarterectomy (V4EA) and patch angioplasty via the far lateral approach. Distal endovascular intervention at the V4 segment proved not technically feasible after multiple attempts. Conclusions V4EA is an uncommonly performed procedure, but may be considered for carefully selected patients. The authors' techniques and indications are discussed. Historical outcomes, relevant anatomic considerations, and lessons learned are reviewed from the literature.
MR Imaging in the Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome

MR examinations of the spine were reviewed in 25 patients with a clinical diagnosis of tethered spinal cord. In 21 patients (84%), the level of the tip of the conus was below the mid L2 vertebral body. The causes of the tethering were spinal lipomas (72%), tight filum terminale syndrome (12%), diastematomyelia (8%), and myelomeningocele (8%). These entities were readily identified in all instances. Bony dysraphisms were well demonstrated by MR. Interestingly, cavitary lesions/myelomalacia of the conus or the cord adjacent to the tethering lesion were seen with appropriate images in nine of 20 patients. This unexpected finding may have diagnostic and/or prognostic significance. Spinal MR was found to be extremely useful in the evaluation of the suspected tethered spinal cord. It was able to visualize the conus medullaris, assess the thickness of the filum terminale, identify traction lesions, and evaluate associated bony dysraphisms.
The Partisan Dimensions of Intergovernmental Cooperation

Cooperation among local governments has garnered extensive attention in the literature. Not obvious, however, is how partisanship of communities and their elected representatives influence decisions to engage in interlocal cooperation over collective goods and services. In this paper, we develop a number of arguments for how partisanship may impact these decisions. We test these arguments with a database of 117 municipalities that were surveyed to determine the incidence of interlocal arrangements across a wide array of functions. Information on partisanship is based upon the two-party vote in the 2000 presidential election, aggregated to the level of municipalities. We find no support for arguments that jurisdictions with Republican majorities enter into interlocal agreements across the range of local functions or specifically to provide developmental goods and services. We find strong support for arguments that jurisdictions with Democratic majorities enter into interlocal agreements to provide redistributive goods and services, as well as labor-intensive activities.
Drug resistance to Cephalosporins of major intestinal pathogens causing infectious diarrhea in Beijing

Objective To understand the drug resistance to Cephalosporins of major intestinal pathogens causing infectious diarrhea in Xicheng district of Beijing. Methods A total of 187 strains of intestinal pathogens causing infectious diarrhea were collected in Xicheng district from 2008 to 2011. Extended spectrum β-lactamaseas( ESBLs)was detected by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR),then the sequencing for PCR positive products was performed,the sequencing results were aligned with those in GenBank to determine pathogens' genetypes. The drug susceptibility of the pathogens to 8 kinds of Cephalosporins were performed by Kirby-Bauer method. Results Among the 187 strains,34 strains carrying ESBLs resistant gene were detected,33 were Shigella strains and 1 was Salmonella strain. Among 34strains carrying ESBLs resistant gene,18 were strains carrying OXA-1 subtype resistant gene,11 were strains carrying CTX-M-14 subtype and 5 were strains carrying 2 kinds of ESBLs resistant gene; The drug susceptibility test results showed that 40% of intestinal pathogens were resistant to Cephalothin,which was highest in 8 kinds of Cephalosporins.Among intestinal pathogens which resistant to more then one kind of Cephalosporins,the resistant rate of Shigella was81%,the resistant rate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was 46% and the resistant rate of Salmonella was 33%. The analysis on epidemiological data indicated that the highest resistant rate was detected in age group 20- 29 years(27%),followed by the age groups 40 years(23%) and age group 10 years(21%). Conclusion Shigella had high resistant rate to Cephalosporins and had high carrying rate of ESBLs resistant gene. OXA-1 and CTX-M-14 subtype were the major ESBLs resistant gene types. The detection rate of resistant strain was highest in age group 20- 29 years.
Research on Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Automotive Body in White-Welding Technology

The welding technology is one of the key technology and widely used for production of automobile body in white. The paper is based on the application present situation of the body in white welding technology,analyzed medium frequency servo welding,laser welding and cold metal transfer welding and other advanced welding technology,and discussed about the urgent problems in current.
Cross–Functional, Integrative Team Decision Making: Essential for Effective QI in Health Care

Quality improvement methods first developed in industry can be applied in health care, but major adjustments in the traditional health care organization are needed for continuous improvement processes to work. One change is establishing cross-functional or multidisciplinary teams to carry out integrative decision making in the place of departmental hierarchical decision making within the functional areas and disciplines. This article cites examples from experience with one service process--delivery of care to newborns--and examines techniques from the group behavior and conflict resolution literature which could enhance the success of cross-functional teams in health care organizations.
A Simple Proof of the Alternation Theorem

A simple proof of the alternation theorem for minimax FIR filter design is presented in this paper. It requires no background on mathematical optimization theory, and is based on easily understood properties of filters with equiripple behavior. The method is similar to the classical counting argument used in early mathematics literature. The contribution here is a simplified presentation which directly uses filter design language.
Optical rectification and AM-to-PM conversion in a lithium niobate-loaded microwave cavity

A lithium niobate-loaded microwave cavity pumped with femtosecond optical pulses was used as a platform to study AM-to-PM conversion in optical rectification. The conversion gain β i /m was measured to be –42.1 dB, independent of optical power.