cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Nakagami-m fading channel parameters with application to optimized transmitter diversity systems

An optimum power loading algorithm for transmitter diversity systems over correlated and unbalanced Nakagami (1960) paths and its performance evaluation under perfect channel estimate conditions are derived. In addition, various online estimators of the required Nakagami channel parameters for optimized power loading and the comparison of their mean square error via Monte Carlo simulations are presented. Some of these estimators are used to obtain the performance of optimized transmitter diversity systems under imperfect channel estimation (ICE). These numerical results show that the diversity gain of these optimized systems compared with equipower systems increases as the severity of fading decreases and as the degree of branch imbalance increases even under ICE. On the other hand, in weakly correlated and (or) unbalanced branches, optimized transmitter diversity systems offer negligible gain or even losses compared with unoptimized systems because of the ICE.
Predicting Alveolar Bone Loss in Beagles Using Bone-seeking Radiopharmaceutical Uptake

Measurements of bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical uptake obtained at the beginning of this two-year study of beagles with periodontal disease were correlated with the amount of bone loss which occurred during the study. Uptake correlated with bone loss (r=.85), which suggests that uptake may be an indicator of future bone loss.
Application of integral‐equation theory to aqueous two‐phase partitioning systems

A molecular-thermodynamic model is developed for representing thermodynamic properties of aqueous two-phase systems containing polymers, electrolytes, and proteins. The model is based on McMillan-Mayer solution theory and the generalized mean-spherical approximation to account for electrostatic forces between unlike ions. The Boublik-Mansoori equation of state for hard-sphere mixtures is coupled with the osmotic virial expansion truncated after the second-virial terms to account for short-range forces between molecules. Osmotic second virial coefficients are reported from low-angle laser-light scattering (LALLS) data for binary and ternary aqueous solutions containing polymers and proteins. Ion-polymer specific-interaction coefficients are determined from osmotic-pressure data for aqueous solutions containing a water-soluble polymer and an alkali chloride, phosphate or sulfate salt. When coupled with LALLS and osmotic-pressure data reported here, the model is used to predict liquid-liquid equilibria, protein partition coefficients, and electrostatic potentials between phases for both polymer-polymer and polymer-salt aqueous two-phase systems. For bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and [alpha]-chymotrypsin, predicted partition coefficients are in excellent agreement with experiment.
Generalized shifts: unpredictability and undecidability in dynamical systems

A class of shift-like dynamical systems is presented that displays a wide variety of behaviours. Three examples are presented along with some general definitions and results. A correspondence with Turing machines allows one to discuss issues of predictability and complexity. These systems possess a type of unpredictability qualitatively stronger than that which has been previously discussed in the study of low-dimensional chaos, and many simple questions about their dynamics are undecidable. The author discusses the complexity of various sets they generate, including periodic points, basins of attraction, and time series. Finally, he shows that they can be embedded in smooth maps in R2, or smooth flows in R3.
ON THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS ALLOWING MIXED BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Abstract Linear and quadratic formulas are developed for approximating normal derivatives. These are applied in the development of two purely “internal” numerical methods for approximating solutions of elliptic problems with mixed boundary conditions. Theoretical results favor the use of the linear approximation for ∂u ∂n , but meager numerical results favor the use of the quadratic one. As by-products, there result a very accurate numerical method for Dirichlet problems and a method for problems with prescribed oblique derivatives.
Pancoast's Tumor: Irradiation or Surgery?

Abstract Seventy-three patients with Pancoast's tumor treated at the University of Maryland Hospital between 1955 and 1978 were reviewed. There were 34 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 undifferentiated, 10 adenocarcinomas, 4 mixed adeno-squamous, 1 alveolar cell, and 11 undetermined. Twenty-nine patients received irradiation, with 7% survival at 3 years; 19 patients underwent preoperative irradiation followed by en bloc resection of chest wall, with 23% survival at 3 years; 5 patients underwent extended resection, with 60% survival at 3 years; and 18 patients underwent operation followed by irradiation, with 7% survival at 3 years. Retrospective staging of 42 patients undergoing operation indicated that 22 (52%) were inoperable. Prognosis was related to staging of the disease, the extent of local invasion, nodal involvement, cell type, and adequacy of operation.
Effects of Perceived Emotional Intensity on Mock Jurors Murder/Manslaughter Distinctions

Anglo-American law instructs jurors that defendants' emotions might constitute mitigating circumstances in murder/manslaughter cases. The present study examined which aspects of defendants' emotions mock jurors take into consideration when determining their murder/manslaughter verdicts. Four factors found to be predictive of perceptions of emotional intensity in previous research were shown to be predictive of murder/manslaughter convictions. These factors included whether the defendant had a history of violence with the victim, the particular emotion experienced, whether the defendant dwelt upon the feelings associated with his or her emotion, and whether the defendant intended the actions associated with his or her emotion. These findings are compared with two approaches that the law has taken to evaluate defendants' emotions: objective standards and subjective standards. Ramifications of these findings for jury instructions as well as for the law's conception of emotion are discussed.
Second-order elongation of metal tubes in cyclic torsion

Abstract Aluminum tubes of different wall-thickness are subjected to reversed cyclic torsion of the same amplitude superimposed on the same axial tensile stress. The observed strong dependence on wall thickness of the axial extension accumulating with the number of torsion cycles (“cyclic creep”) implies that this phenomenon is due to the amplification, by superimposed tension, of accumulating second-order strain increments.
The distribution of enzymes which synthesize nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in monkey, rabbit, and ground squirrel retinas.

: The activity of adenosinetriphosphate:nicotinamide adenylyl-transferase (EC 2.7.7.1) was measured in all the layers of monkey, rabbit, and ground squirrel retinas. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) kinase (EC 2.7.1.23) distribution was measured in monkey and rabbit retinas. An attempt was made to measure NAD synthetase (EC 6.3.5.1), but the activities in the retinal layers were too low to produce a reliable increment in the levels of endogenous NAD+. In monkey retina the adenylyl transferase was highest by far in the outer and inner nuclear layers, lower and variable in ganglion cell and fiber layers, and almost absent elsewhere. Rabbit retina differed in that activity was nearly absent in the outer nuclear layer, whereas in the ground squirrel outer nuclear layer activity was double that of the inner nuclear layer. The species differences suggest that adenylyl transferase is almost absent from cone cell nuclei and high in rod cell nuclei. NAD kinase distribution in monkey retina was almost the mirror image of that of adenylyl transferase.
OBSERVATION OF EIT IN RUBIDIUM VAPOR USING THE HANLE EFFECT

We have observed Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) in Rubidium vapor using a single linearly polarized incident laser beam and an external magnetic field. Progress toward a detailed understanding of the observed sharp resonances is reported.
Hodgkin lymphoma: 2011 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management

Disease overview: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoid malignancy affecting 8,500 new patients annually and representing ∼11% of all lymphomas in the United States. Diagnosis: HL is composed of two distinct disease entities; the more commonly diagnosed classical HL and the rare nodular lymphocyte predominant HL. Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and lymphocyte-rich HL are subgroups under the designation of classical HL. Risk stratification: An accurate assessment of the stage of disease in patients with HL is critical for the selection of the appropriate therapy. Prognostic models that identify patients at low or high risk for recurrence are used to optimize therapy for patients with limited or advanced stage disease. Risk-adapted therapy: Initial therapy for HL patients is based on the histology of the disease, the anatomical stage, and the presence of poor prognostic features. Patients with early stage disease are treated with combined modality strategies using abbreviated courses of combination chemotherapy followed by involved-field radiation therapy, while those with advanced stage disease receive a longer course of chemotherapy often without radiation therapy. Management of relapsed/refractory disease: High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by an autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard of care for most patients who relapse following initial therapy. For patients who fail HDCT with ASCT, palliative chemotherapy, nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplant, or participation in a clinical trial should be considered. Am. J. Hematol. 86:852–858, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Global and Domain-Specific Self-Concepts in Academically Talented Asian American and White Adolescents

Previous research has suggested that ethnic groups may not only differ on self-concept, but that self-concept variables may be of different importance to different ethnic groups. This study examine...
Systems ambiguity and guideline compliance: a qualitative study of how intensive care units follow evidence-based guidelines to reduce healthcare-associated infections

Background: Consistent compliance with evidence-based guidelines is challenging yet critical to patient safety. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the underlying causes for non-compliance with evidence-based guidelines aimed at preventing four types of healthcare-associated infections in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) setting. Methods: Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted with attending physicians (3), residents (2), nurses (6), quality improvement coordinators (3), infection control practitioners (2), respiratory therapists (2) and pharmacists (2) in two SICUs. Using a grounded theory approach, we performed thematic analyses of the interviews. Results: The concept of systems ambiguity to explain non-compliance with evidence-based guidelines emerged from the data. Ambiguities hindering consistent compliance were related to tasks, responsibilities, methods, expectations and exceptions. Strategies reported to reduce ambiguity included clarification of expectations from care providers with respect to guideline compliance through education, use of visual cues to indicate the status of patients with respect to a particular guideline, development of tools that provide an overview of information critical for guideline compliance, use of standardised orders, clarification of roles of care providers and use of decision-support tools. Conclusions: The concept of systems ambiguity is useful to understand causes of non-compliance with evidence-based guidelines aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections. Multi-faceted interventions are needed to reduce different ambiguity types, hence to improve guideline compliance.
$\alpha$ -Plane Representation for Type-2 Fuzzy Sets: Theory and Applications

This paper 1) reviews the alpha-plane representation of a type-2 fuzzy set (T2 FS), which is a representation that is comparable to the alpha-cut representation of a type-1 FS (T1 FS) and is useful for both theoretical and computational studies of and for T2 FSs; 2) proves that set theoretic operations for T2 FSs can be computed using very simple alpha-plane computations that are the set theoretic operations for interval T2 (IT2) FSs; 3) reviews how the centroid of a T2 FS can be computed using alpha-plane computations that are also very simple because they can be performed using existing Karnik Mendel algorithms that are applied to each alpha-plane; 4) shows how many theoretically based geometrical properties can be obtained about the centroid, even before the centroid is computed; 5) provides examples that show that the mean value (defuzzified value) of the centroid can often be approximated by using the centroids of only 0 and 1 alpha -planes of a T2 FS; 6) examines a triangle quasi-T2 fuzzy logic system (Q-T2 FLS) whose secondary membership functions are triangles and for which all calculations use existing T1 or IT2 FS mathematics, and hence, they may be a good next step in the hierarchy of FLSs, from T1 to IT2 to T2; and 7) compares T1, IT2, and triangle Q-T2 FLSs to forecast noise-corrupted measurements of a chaotic Mackey-Glass time series.
Instructional tools for promoting self-directed learning skills in freshmen

Over the past three years, faculty at Binghamton University and Broome Community College had studied the literature on self-directed learning and developed instructional activities to promote this vital skill in entering engineering students. This paper is a final report on this effort. It describes the concept of self-directed learning and the learning tools we have developed for use in our entry level engineering programs. Our interest in self-directed learning arose, in part, from our conviction that distance learning will become more pervasive in the near future. To date, the primary use of distance learning has been with mature learners. As this approach to instruction moves into undergraduate programs, students will need to be more autonomous in order to survive the rigors of introductory courses in math and science without the support of classmates and instructor. The modules developed in this NSF-sponsored project are designed to promote these capabilities in our students. Some are online activities; others are designed for use in the classroom. All are designed to provide feedback to the students, which helps them assess their own skill development as they progress through the activity. This paper describes how to design educational activities that not only teach the material, but also develop SDL capabilities in students.
Survival, Economic Mobility and Community among Los Angeles Fruit Vendors

How do undocumented immigrants survive in a punitive regulatory environment? Drawing upon four years of ethnographic research, this article examines how local repressive policies affect the economic mobility of immigrant fruit vendors in Los Angeles County. In the face of government enforcement, fruit vendors have implemented strategies that allow for short-term survival but fail to bolster long-term upward mobility. The four strategies include a reliance on kinship and paisano networks, street patrols and alerts, geographical positioning and alliance-building, and the performance and maintenance of personal, professional and symbolic hygiene. I argue that the limited gains and continuous losses experienced by fruit vendors following health and police department enforcement create a cycle of low income, high debt and minimal to no mobility. Consequently, fruit vendors have fared much worse than their immigrant informal sector peers (i.e. gardeners, day labourers and domestic workers). In the end, however,...
Protein Phosphorylations As a Mode of Insulin Action

Within minutes after the interaction of insulin with its receptor, marked changes occur in the metabolic pattern of the cell. In classic target tissues, insulin inhibits catabolic pathways (e.g., glycogenolysis and lipolysis), concurrently activating anabolic pathways (such as glycogen synthesis and de novo fatty acid synthesis). These effects are due to alterations in the activity of a variety of intracellular enzymes and transcellular transport processes. Over a longer period of time, insulin also participates in regulating the expression of specific genes and, in certain cell types, insulin modulates cell division and growth.
Maximizing Energy and Water Credits Under LEED V. 4

ABSTRACTWith the release of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v. 4, the threshold for certifying projects has increased, which means that reaching even the lowest level of certification requires projects to have impacts that go beyond building codes. This encourages project teams to develop creative strategies that identify how to maximize synergies between cross-functional credits under the new rating system.Two credit categories that have notable crossover are the energy and atmosphere and water efficiency categories. Because water consumption and energy are linked, this article will provide an overview of the water/ energy nexus in buildings and detailed suggestions for maximizing synergies in those LEED v. 4 categories; i.e., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that a faucet running for 5 minutes uses the same amount of energy as a 60-watt light bulb that burns for 14 hours (12). Therefore, making material improvements in water efficiency creates ancillary benef...
Memristor-Based Chaotic Circuits

AbstractEver since its physical fabrication in 2008, the memristor has been promising in the fields of nanoelectronics, computer logic and neuromorphic computers. Taking advantage of the circuit properties of the memristor, this paper proposes memristor-based chaotic circuits. For the first time, memristor-based chaotic circuits have been derived from the canonical Chua’s circuit. These circuits present opportunities for developing applications under the constraints of scalability and low power. They also provide a memristor-based framework for secure communications with chaos.
Impacts of ecology and behavior on Antarctic fur seal remating and relatedness

Abstract Antarctic fur seals ( Arctocephalus gazella ) are polygynous and both sexes are typically faithful to a breeding site. These characteristics could promote remating among individuals over time, leading to increased relatedness levels and negatively affecting genetic diversity. To examine this issue, the reproductive output of 55 females was monitored annually for 12 years and their pups were sampled (n = 280) and genotyped using 17 microsatellite markers. A full likelihood pedigree inference method was used to confirm maternities inferred in the field and estimate the number of full sibling pups born across years. Relatedness coefficients were estimated for pairs of individuals in the pedigree and compared to simulated values for each relationship category. There were nine cases where a female mated with the same male twice and one case where a female mated with the same male three times over the study period. The observed relatedness coefficients estimated among the sampled pups matched the simulated distribution for half-siblings. In addition, no first order relatives were found among the fur seal mothers studied, nor did observed relatedness coefficient distributions differ significantly from simulated values. Together, these results suggest a low remating rate and a negligible effect of remating on pair-wise relatedness. Territorial male replacement over time as well as female small-scale movements, driven by suitable pupping habitat, likely contribute to the low remating frequency observed in Antarctic fur seals.
Descending perineum syndrome: a review of the presentation, diagnosis, and management

Defecatory dysfunction is a relatively common and challenging problem among women and one that practicing pelvic reconstructive surgeons and gynecologists deal with frequently. A subset of defecatory dysfunction includes obstructed defecation, which can have multiple causes, one of which is descending perineum syndrome (DPS). A literature search was performed to identify the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of DPS. Although DPS has been described in the literature for many decades, it is still uncommonly diagnosed and difficult to manage. A high index of suspicion combined with physical examination consistent with excess perineal descent, patient symptom assessment, and imaging in the form of defecography are required for the diagnosis to be accurately made. Primary management options of DPS include conservative measures consisting of bowel regimens and biofeedback. Although various surgical approaches have been described in limited case series, no compelling evidence can be demonstrated at this point to support surgical intervention. Knowledge of DPS is essential for the practicing pelvic reconstructive surgeon to make a timely diagnosis, avoid harmful treatments, and initiate therapy early on.
Managerial Style, Managerial Expenses and Firm Value

A firm can be viewed as a portfolio of projects arising from capital budgeting decisions. How these projects are bundled, i.e. managerial style, affects administrative costs and firm value. We analyze the effect of style on firm value using a panel data set of 75 publicly-traded REITs over eight years. We partition general and administrative (G&A) expenses into that portion attributable to management "style" and a residual component. The style component is significantly related to the focus, size and debt of the firm. Though both components are significantly negatively related to market value, style-related components have a five-fold greater impact. We conclude that reorganizing into larger, more focused, less levered trusts would result in substantial value-added.
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, Cotton Mather, and a Puritan God

SIMPLY to regard Benjamin Franklin as an extremely important scientist, statesman, inventor, writer, and organizer is to underesti mate the man; in both folklore and historiography he has been a symbolic figure, the archetype of a "new American" whose roots are supposed to lie in the eighteenth century. Most historical judgments second the popular image of Franklin: Esmond Wright lauds him as "the most cosmopolitan, the most prescient for the future" of all the Founding Fathers, the "new man" who "saw no limit to the capacity of freemen."1 Henry Steele Commager discovers in Franklin "the adapt ability, the opportunism, the passion for self-improvement and for doing good, the versatility, the homespun democracy, the simplicity and good humor"2 which characterized an emerging secular civilization. A second group of writers, critical of American society, have not changed the orthodox image of Franklin, but merely denigrate where others praise. For D.H. Lawrence, "Old Daddy Franklin," by virtue of his self complacent optimism and bourgeois hypocrisy, "was the first downright American."3 Perry Miller, in his superlative biography of Jonathan Edwards, presents Edwards and Franklin as the polar extremes of provincial thought and practice. At one point, Miller asks rhetorically, "Why should not Edwards, like Franklin, accept the mechanics of Newton, the sensations of Locke, the free will of Whitby, and so lead the hinterland of New England to that economic expolitation of the Berkshires to which it was obviously dedicated?" Franklin's ideology, according to Miller a "blind acceptance of the blessings of materialism and freedom, reflected the nation's intellectual bankruptcy."4 It is possible, however, to dispute Miller and view Franklin as the
6-Methylmercaptopurine Identification as Metabolite of 6-Mercaptopurine in vivo and Its Activity in vitro

Conclusion1. 6-methylmercaptopurine was identified as a urinary metabolite of 6-mercaptopurine in normal Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. In in vitro experiments, 6-MeMP exerted greater inhibition of both f...
Focus on Diagnosis: Cardiac Arrhythmias in Children

1. Eric A. Biondi, MD* 1. *Resident in Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY. Although most childhood arrhythmias are benign, prompt and correct diagnosis of a serious rhythm disturbance in a child can be lifesaving. Such rhythm disturbances may arise at any age and have a wide variety of presentations. This article discusses various pediatric arrhythmias that may be encountered by the community pediatrician, highlighting their presentation, findings on electrocardiography (ECG), and when to refer for additional evaluation. ### Sinus Rhythm and Sinus Arrhythmia Some rhythm disturbances originate within the sinoatrial (SA) node. This cardiac pacemaker is located in the upper wall of the right atrium and initiates electrical conduction through the cardiac muscle. The term sinus rhythm designates normal heart rhythm controlled by this node. ECG shows a P wave with a leftward and inferior axis before each QRS complex and a normal PR interval (120 to 200 msec). Sinus arrhythmia occurs in healthy children and is described as a decrease in SA node firing subsequent to activation of the vagus nerve by exhalation. The heart rate, thus, varies with respiration, and ECG shows sinus rhythm with a prolongation of the R-R interval during exhalation. Such prolongation may be suppressed with exercise or other causes of sinus tachycardia. This finding is normal and is not a reason for referral. ### Sick Sinus Syndrome Although most significant arrhythmias occur below the SA node, one emanating from the SA node, sick sinus syndrome (SSS), is worth mentioning briefly. This rhythm is a result of SA nodal dysfunction and is seen most often in patients who had prior cardiac (especially extensive atrial) surgery or cardiomyopathy. Although many forms of SSS are asymptomatic, common clinical manifestations include shortness of breath, chest pain, and syncope. The rhythm is characterized by …
Dietary fiber and lipid metabolism

Among the earliest experiments with dietary fiber were those carried out by Ershoff, whose lipid experiments consisted of comparing, in rats, the effects of a fiber-free diet, the same diet plus 1% cholesterol and the fiber-free cholesterol diet augmented with 5–10% of a dietary fiber.
Beobachtungen über Leichtmetallschädigungen beim Menschen

Es werden die in einer Flugzeugindustrie angestellten Beobachtungen uber Leichtmetallschadigungen beschrieben. Dabei wird eine Einteilung getroffen in 1. Folgen nach Verletzung und 2. Leichtmetallschadigungen ohne direkte Gewebsdurchtrennung. Letztere lassen sich neben Allgemeinsymptomen unterteilen in a) Erkrankungen der Haut, b) der Schleimhaute. Bei ausgepragten Krankheitsbildern scheint im Blutbild eine relative Lymphozytose charakteristisch zu sein, wahrend eine Eosinophilie und Monozytose nur in etwa 20% der untersuchten Falle nachgewiesen werden kann. Eine geringe Beschleunigung der Blutsenkung ist nur bei frisch entzundlichen Prozessen vorhanden. Da, abgesehen von Verletzungen, unter gleichen Arbeitsbedingungen immer nur Einzelne Duralschadigungen erleiden und die entstehenden Krankheitsbilder etwas Charakteristisches haben, wird als Ursache zur Auslosung von Leichtmetallschaden eine allergische Diathese vermutet. Aus dieser Annahme wird eine Testung der mit Dural, Elektron oder Hydronalium Beschaftigten zur Feststellung ihrer Empfindlichkeit gegenuber diesen Metallen vorgeschlagen.
The Politics of Beauty: The Effects of Partisan Bias on Physical Attractiveness

Does politics cause people to be perceived as more or less attractive? As a type of social identity, party identifiers often exhibit in-group bias, positively evaluating members of their own party and, especially under conditions of competition, negatively evaluating out-party members. The current experiment tests whether political in-party and out-party status affects perceptions of the physical attractiveness of target persons. In a nationally representative internet sample of U.S. adults during the 2012 presidential election, we presented participants with photos of individuals and varied information about their presidential candidate preference. Results indicate that partisans, regardless of gender, rate target individuals as less attractive if they hold a dissimilar candidate preference. Female partisans, however, were more likely to rate target persons as more physically attractive when they held a similar candidate preference whereas no such effect was found for male partisans.
Degradation of Malathion as a Function of Grain Drying Systems

The effect of grain drying and grain storage temperatures on degradation of dust and emulsifiable concentrate formulations of malathion was examined. Malathion was applied before drying on wet corn (19-20% moisture content) or after drying on either hot (71 or 48°C) or cool (21°C) corn (12% moisture content). All treatments were dried to a final moisture content of 12% under three drying temperatures-21, 48, and noe. Storage temperature effects were evaluated for all treatments with corn stored at 3°C for 4 mo, followed by storage at 16°C for 7 mo. Malathion applied before drying was significantly degraded by the drying process, and degradation was dependent on drying temperature and formulation. Degradation during 3°C storage was negligible, but during 16°C storage, malathion applied before drying on corn that was then dried at 48 or 71°C had a significantly lower rate of degradation than grain dried at 21°C. Despite these differences, bioassay results with adults of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), showed that biologically active residues were present throughout the entire storage period, indicating that either malathion formulation is effective when applied immediately before or after drying at a wide range of temperatures.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A case is presented of a 38-year-old woman who had been diagnosed ten years earlier as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She presented with classical signs and symptoms of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Plasmapheresis and prednisone treatment resulted in a complete remission. Possible associations with connective tissue diseases are reviewed.
Tracking Developers' Eyes in the IDE

With recorded eye gaze sessions, researchers will be able to determine all the locations that developers examine in software development artifacts. This will pave the way to further improve IDEs to support developers in various software engineering tasks. Toward that goal, researchers developed iTrace, software that interfaces with an eye tracker and IDE to capture eye gaze on software artifacts and map them to their semantic meaning.
GABA Levels in the Brain: A Target for New Antiepileptic Drugs

A basic strategy for the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy is to develop drugs that reduce the excitability of CNS neurons at times preceding or during the onset of seizure discharge with minimal effects on normal electrical activity. Several antiepileptic drugs currently in use exert their action by modulating sodium channels or receptors of the abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. These approaches, which are often successful in reducing the number or severity of seizures, have some effects that limit their clinical use. More recently, a new class of antiepileptic drugs such as vigabatrin, which blocks GABA degradation enzymes, have been developed as effective antiepileptics and are associated with minimal side effects. Although these drugs do not display agonist or antagonist properties at GABA receptor sites, they do appear to interact with brain GABA systems because NMR spectroscopy studies indicate that subjects given these drugs have elevated brain GABA levels, and in vitro electrophysiol...
Use of recycled FRP reinforcing bar in concrete as coarse aggregate and its impact on the mechanical properties of concrete

Abstract The production of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials is a major source of non-degradable waste. The use of FRP bars for reinforcing concrete is increasing in construction. This study investigates the impact of replacing coarse natural aggregate (NA) in concrete with cut FRP bar waste (FRP-RA) on the compressive and tensile strength of both high strength and normal strength concretes. Concrete cylinders without any FRP-RA, with 40% of NA (the large-grade particles) replaced with FRP-RA, and with 100% of NA replaced with equivalently graded FRP-RA were tested. The results show that the effect of the FRP-RA on the mentioned mechanical properties depends on the concrete strength, replacement ratio and the gradation-size of the NAs replaced. High-strength concrete performed better than low strength concrete and replacement of larger sized NA with FRP-RA resulted in better performance compared to full replacement. The test results show that existing empirical models can sometimes overestimate the tensile strength of lower-strength FRP-RA concretes. The findings show that although the use of FRP waste in concrete reduces the strength, concrete with structural grade mechanical properties can be produced with FRP-RA. The potential durability issues of FRP-RA concrete are discussed and future studies on this topic is proposed.
Bromopyridone Nucleotide Analogues, Anoxic Selective Radiosensitizing Agents That Are Incorporated in DNA by Polymerases

Ionizing radiation is frequently used to kill tumor cells. However, hypoxic solid tumor cells are more resistant to this treatment, providing the impetus to develop molecules that sensitize cells to ionizing radiation. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) has been investigated as a radiosensitizing agent in the lab and clinic for almost 5 decades. Recent reports that BrdU yields DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) in non-base-paired regions motivated us to develop radiosensitizing agents that generate cross-links in duplex DNA selectively under anoxic conditions. 4-Bromo- and 5-bromopyridone analogues of BrdU were synthesized and incorporated into oligonucleotides via solid-phase synthesis. Upon irradiation, these molecules yield DNA interstrand cross-links under anaerobic conditions. The respective nucleotide triphosphates are substrates for some DNA polymerases. ICLs are produced upon irradiation under anoxic conditions when the 4-bromopyridone is present in a PCR product. Because the nucleoside analogue is a poor phosphorylation substrate for human deoxycytidine kinase, a pro-nucleotide form of the 4-bromopyridone was used to incorporate this analogue into cellular DNA. Despite these efforts, the 4-bromopyridone nucleotide was not detected in cellular DNA. Although these molecules are improvements over previously reported nucleotide analogues designed to be hypoxic radiosensitizing agents, additional advances are needed to create molecules that function in cells.
Allosteric Ribozymes as Molecular Switches and Sensors

Since the discovery of RNA catalysts, biotechnology has focused heavily on utilizing ribozymes as reagents to control RNA processing and gene expression. However, ribozymes can also be manipulated to report events that affect their folding and catalysis. As with protein enzymes, ribozyme activity is dependent upon the ability of the biopolymer to form secondary and tertiary structures that establish the active conformation. Molecular engineering efforts have exploited the structure-function relationship of RNA catalysts to create novel allosteric ribozymes whose activities are modulated by the binding of specific effector molecules. Such efforts are facilitated by the diversity of RNA-ligand interactions, the general predictability of nucleic acid folding, and the relative ease of in vitro RNA synthesis and manipulation. Engineered allosteric ribozymes are inherently molecular sensors for their cognate ligands, and they function as molecular switches regulated by ligand interaction. Consequently, allosteric ribozymes are finding utility in various molecular sensor applications and as genetic regulatory switches.
Repeat two-stage exchange arthroplasty for periprosthetic knee infection is dependent on host grade

Background: Two-stage exchange arthroplasty after a previous, failed 2-stage exchange procedure is fraught with difficulties, and there are no clear guidelines for treatment or prognosis given the heterogeneous group of patients in whom this procedure has been performed. The Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) staging system was developed in an attempt to stratify patients according to infection type, host status, and local soft-tissue status. The purpose of this study was to report the results of 2-stage exchange arthroplasty following a previous, failed 2-stage exchange protocol for periprosthetic knee infection as well as to identify risk factors for failure. Methods: We retrospectively identified 45 patients who had undergone 2 or more 2-stage exchange arthroplasties for periprosthetic knee infection from 2000 to 2013. Patients were stratified according to the MSIS system, and risk factors for failure were analyzed. The minimum follow-up was 2 years (mean, 6 years; range, 24 to 132 months). Results: At the time of follow-up, twenty-two (49%) of the patients had undergone another revision due to infection and 28 (62%) had undergone another revision for any reason. The infection recurred in 6 (75%) of 8 substantially immunocompromised hosts (MSIS type C) and in 3 (30%) of 10 uncompromised hosts (type A) following the second 2-stage exchange arthroplasty (p = 0.06). The infection recurred in 4 (80%) of 5 patients with compromise of the extremity (MSIS type 3) and 3 (33%) of 9 patients with an uncompromised extremity (type 1) (p = 0.27). Both extremely compromised hosts with an extremely compromised extremity (type C3) had recurrence of the infection whereas 3 (30%) of the 10 uncompromised patients with no or less compromise of the extremity (type A1 or A2) did. Five patients in the failure group underwent a third 2-stage exchange arthroplasty following reinfection, and 3 of them were infection-free at the time of the latest follow-up. Conclusions: Uncompromised hosts (MSIS type A) with an acceptable wound (MSIS type 1 or 2) had a 70% rate of success (7 of 10) after a repeat 2-stage exchange arthroplasty, whereas type-B2 hosts had a 50% success rate (10 of 20). The repeat 2-stage exchange procedure failed in both type-C3 hosts; thus, alternative salvage procedures should be considered for such patients. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Direct in Vivo Comparison of the Melanocortin Monovalent Agonist Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2 versus the Bivalent Agonist Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-PEDG20-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2: A Bivalent Advantage.

Bivalent ligands targeting putative melanocortin receptor dimers have been developed and characterized in vitro; however, studies of their functional in vivo effects have been limited. The current report compares the effects of homobivalent ligand CJL-1-87, Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-PEDG20-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2, to monovalent ligand CJL-1-14, Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2, on energy homeostasis in mice after central intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration into the lateral ventricle of the brain. Bivalent ligand CJL-1-87 had noteworthy advantages as an antiobesity probe over CJL-1-14 in a fasting-refeeding in vivo paradigm. Treatment with CJL-1-87 significantly decreased food intake compared to CJL-1-14 or saline (50% less intake 2–8 h after treatment). Furthermore, CJL-1-87 treatment decreased the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) without changing the energy expenditure indicating that fats were being burned as the primary fuel source. Additionally, CJL-1-87 treatment significantly lowered body fat mass percentage...
In(ter)dependence in Chinese/American Life-Writing: Liang Qichao 梁启超, Hu Shi 胡适, Shen Congwen 沈从文, Maxine Hong Kingston, William Poy Lee, and Ruthanne Lum McCunn

IN(TER)DEPENDENCE shows how Chinese American writers introduce plural voices into life-writing, transforming a navel-gazing genre into a literary rendezvous. It takes issue with Frank Chin’s assertions that Chinese American autobiography reeks of Christian confession and attributes what Chin regards as self-subordination to an interdependent self-construal. My comparative study examines a Chinese (auto)biographical tradition, probes intercultural similarities and differences, and offers a transnational perspective on the controversial leverage of Chinese material in Chinese American writing. I trace the commonalities to the emphasis on an interdependent self and the disparities to changing attitudes toward authorities. Unlike the Chinese writers, the Chinese American authors do not scruple to disclose family secrets and to cross genre boundaries. Bicultural literacy can obviate cultural misreading and do justice to textual polyphony.
When and How Should Clinicians Share Details from a Health Record with Patients with Mental Illness

Stigma associated with mental illness-a public health crisis-is perpetuated by the language used to describe and document it. Psychiatric pathology and how it can be perceived among clinicians contribute to the marginalization of patients, which exacerbates their vulnerability. Clinical documentation of mental illness has long been mired in pejorative language that perpetuates negative assumptions about those with mental illness. Although patients have the legal right to view their health record, sharing mental health notes with patients remains a sensitive issue, largely due to clinicians' fears that review of this content might cause harm, specifically psychiatric destabilization. However, the ethical principles of justice, beneficence, and autonomy as well as nonmaleficence must be considered by clinicians in determining when and how to share psychiatric details from a health record with their patients.
Financial Capabilities Among Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience significant difficulties assuming adult responsibilities and achieving independence. Little is known about their desire or ability to manage their own finances. This study explored the financial circumstances, money management skills, and desires for financial independence among 27 youth with ASD. Youth took part in 30–60 min semi-structured interviews about independence. Strategies of theme analysis identified three critical themes about finances and emerging adulthood for youth with ASD. Youth (1) defined independence by being able to manage their finances, (2) worried about their lack of money management skills, and (3) cited poor financial skills as barrier to independence. Results suggest youth with ASD understand the importance of financial capability and strive for financial independence, but lack the skills and support needed to achieve their financial goals. This study provides preliminary information for clinicians, educators, and researchers to develop financial capability modules for youth with ASD.
Emergency Department Ultrasound in Pregnancy

Point-of-care ultrasound is a safe and efficient tool for the assessment of the pregnant patient. Bedside imaging can rapidly diagnose unstable conditions like ectopic pregnancy without the patient ever leaving the emergency department. While obstetricians employ comprehensive ultrasound imaging for a variety of purposes, such as dating or detection of fetal anomalies, the goals of point-of-care ultrasound are limited by design. These studies seek to quickly, but accurately, answer very focused questions and, by necessity, must be narrow in scope. Point-of-care ultrasound can be used for identifying early pregnancy location (intrauterine vs. ectopic vs. indeterminate), gestational dating, and limited fetal biometry. This chapter will describe the technical acquisition of these ultrasound images, both transabdominally and transvaginally, and will discuss image interpretation, including a particular focus on the current controversy surrounding the use of a β-HCG “discriminatory zone.”
Crowdsourced study of children with autism and their typically developing siblings identifies differences in taxonomic and predicted function for stool-associated microbes using exact sequence variant analysis

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 59 children in the United States and is impacted by both genetic and environmental factors, including the gut microbiome. To investigate the link between microbiome functionality and ASD, this study analyzes behavioral data (with home video and questionnaires) and 16S-amplicons crowd-sourced from age-matched sibling pairs (2-7 yo) where one sibling has an ASD diagnosis and the other does not. We identified 21 exact sequence variants (ESVs) that are significantly differentially abundant between the two cohorts. ESVs from the families Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroidaceae were found preferentially in the ASD cohort, while ESVs from the genera Bifidobacterium, Porphyromonas, Slackia, Desulfovibrio, species Acinetobacter johnsonii, and the Lachnospiraceae family, were specific to the neurotypical cohort. Predicting KEGG Orthologs from these ESVs, we found both cohorts harbor butyragenic pathways, but the ESVs enriched in the ASD cohort can use 4-aminobutanoate as precursor, potentially impacting the availability of neurotransmitters.
Nonmetastatic Bladder Cancer Associated with Hypercalcemia, Thrombocytosis and Leukemoid Reaction

We reviewed 4 patients with urothelial bladder cancer and hypercalcemia but without evidence of bony metastasis. Of the patients 2 presented with a leukemoid reaction (1 also had thrombocytosis). None of the patients had evidence of bone metastases or other causes of hypercalcemia, such as hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis or vitamin D intoxication. All 4 patients received aggressive therapy for the tumors. In each instance the serum calcium returned to normal following radiation therapy or tumor removal, lending support to the theory of humoral hypercalcemia of cancer. A diagnostic and therapeutic approach to such patients is outlined.
Towards interesting patterns of hard CSPs with functional constraints

The hardness of finite domain Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) is an important research topic in Constraint Programming (CP) community. In this paper, we study the association rule mining techniques together with rule deduction and propose a cascaded approach to extract interesting patterns of hard CSPs with functional constraints. Specifically, we generate random CSPs, collect controlling parameters and hardness characteristics by solving all the CSP instances. Afterwards, we apply association rule mining with rule deduction on the collected data set and further extract interesting patterns of the hardness of the randomly generated CSPs. As far as we know, this problem is investigated with data mining techniques for the first time.