cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catamenial anaphylaxis: a woman under monthly progesterone curse

Catamenial or cyclical anaphylaxis is a complex clinical syndrome with poorly reported incidence and prevalence in the literature review. The underlying mechanism is still a myth although a few proposed hypotheses are stated. Early recognition of these symptoms will bring optimal treatment and prevent unnecessary intubation and complications. Here, we present a 48-year-old woman without significant medical and family history with recurrent angioedema in the setting of catamenial anaphylaxis or cyclical anaphylaxis in the setting of progesterone hypersensitivity.
Optimal Energy-Aware Scheduling in VFI-enabled Multicore Systems

Energy efficiency is considered a challenging problem in modern multicore systems. Partitioning the cores into multiple voltage and frequency islands (VFI) provides a compromise between simple global Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling (DVFS) and fine-grain per-core, per-task DVFS. This paper formulates the optimization problem of scheduling tasks statically on multiple VFIs as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) such that for a given energy budget, the program execution time (makespan) is minimized. Our proposed solution consists of two steps. In the first step, we use an Integer Linear Programming (ILP)-based algorithm, from our previous work, to assign per-core fine-grain dynamic Voltage/Frequency (V/F) levels to each task in a task set (program) to minimize the makespan for a given energy budget. In the second step, which is the focus of this paper, we use the MILP framework to schedule this task set, with the given V/F levels provided in step one, on the islands of a VFI-enabled multicore system to again minimize the makespan subject to (1) the energy budget and (2) the task set's precedence (dependency) constraints. Together with the solutions obtained by MILP, a round-robin algorithm is used to compare these two methodologies to ILP that provides the best solution. Our experimental results show that across all the benchmarks considered, the MILP-based and round-robin makespan solutions are on average 1.2 and 2.28 times slower than the ILP-based makespan solutions, respectively.
Evaluation of biofilm formation on novel copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)-based resins for dental restoratives

Abstract Objective For the past several decades, the resins used in dental restorations have been plagued with numerous problems, including their implication in biofilm formation and secondary caries. The need for alternative resins is critical, and evaluation of biofilm formation on these resins is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro biofilm formation on the surface of novel copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)-based resins and composites. Methods CuAAC-based resins/composites made from varying azide monomers and different copper concentrations were compared with BisGMA-TEGDMA resins/composites that served as the control. Biofilms were formed using a mono-species model containing a luciferase-expressing strain of Streptococcus mutans . Luciferase activity was measured and the number of viable bacteria was enumerated on biofilms associated with each resin and composite. Results A significant reduction (p Significance CuAAC-based resins do still allow for the formation of biofilms; however, the statistically significant reduction of growth that was associated with the CuAAC resin may enhance the longevity of restorations that incorporate CuAAC-based materials.
Improving perceived accuracy for in-car media search.

Speech recognition technology is prone to mistakes, but this is not the only source of errors that cause speech recognition systems to fail; sometimes the user simply does not utter the command correctly. Usually, user mistakes are not considered when a system is designed and evaluated. This creates a gap between the claimed accuracy of the system and the actual accuracy perceived by the users. We address this issue quantitatively in our in-car infotainment media search task and propose expanding the capability of voice command to accommodate user mistakes while retaining a high percentage of the performance for queries with correct syntax. As a result, failures caused by user mistakes were reduced by an absolute 70% at the cost of a drop in accuracy of only 0.28%.
The Ability–Achievement Discrepancy: Does it Contribute to an Understanding of Learning Disabilities?

Federal legislation of the 1960s and 1970s extending educational services to learning disabled children contained a criterion requiring a severe discrepancy between an child's ability and achievement. Following a discussion of the historical context related to this decision, research related to discrepancy is reviewed using reading disabilities or dyslexia as the prototype. Topics examined include the relationship of IQ to various factors, including underlying cognitive weaknesses; varying IQ levels; stability of diagnosis; heterogeneity of the diagnostic category; genetic and neuroimaging findings; and appropriate standards of comparison. Research on the practical application of the discrepancy model is also reviewed. In general, there is little evidence to support its continued use. Three proposed alternatives are considered, and a possible model is offered that incorporates findings from research on diagnosis and intervention.
Community, Expression of

Community membership expresses both personal identity and social identity. Communities are social groups defined by some claimed commonality of their members, such as national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or shared values. Besides emphasizing common characteristics, community membership implies identification with a set of shared judgments, moral standards, and cultural orientations. Communities are not necessarily tied to any specific locality, though places may have great symbolic importance to religious, national, or other imagined communities. Rapid communication and transportation contribute to the strength of dispersed communities. The emphasis communities put on the commonalities of their members simultaneously stresses the difference between members and others. In addition, the stress on commonality frequently conceals internal divisions and oppressions. The demise of community is bemoaned by many observers, though others point to the emergence of new forms of community. Communities are essential in societies. The task of social and behavioral scientists is to locate and describe the transformations and innovations in those communities that carry values and through which people express both who they are and who they are not.
Evaluating Ground Beef Formulated with Different Fat Sources

Objectives were to evaluate effects of fat source and formulated fat percentage on fatty acid composition, lean color stability, lipid oxidation, and aerobic microbial load during simulated retail display of ground beef patties. In Experiment 1 beef carcasses (n = 30) were chilled for 2 d and then fabricated. M. semimembranosus muscles were removed along with 2 fat sources (kidney and pelvic = KP and subcutaneous = S from the same carcass) and ground to achieve 75 and 95% lean. Fatty acid profile and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined over a 7 d simulated retail display period. Saturated fat differed (P = 0.0004) by fat source, with KP having a higher percentage than S. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were higher for (P 0.05) for d, fat source, or fat percentage. Discoloration in ground beef over 7 d of retail display was more a function of muscle pigment oxidation (OMb to MMb) than aerobic microbial spoilage.
Latent Print Proficiency Testing: An Examination of Test Respondents, Test-Taking Procedures, and Test Characteristics.

Proficiency testing is a key component of quality assurance programs within crime laboratories and can help improve laboratory practices. However, current proficiency testing procedures contain significant limitations and can be misinterpreted by examiners and court personnel (Garrett & Mitchell, 2018). To evaluate some of these limitations, we surveyed latent print examiners (n = 198) after they completed a Collaborative Testing Services, Inc. proficiency test. Additionally, we evaluated test performance and used a quality metric algorithm to evaluate the quality of test prints. Results do not suggest that respondents are dissimilar to the broader examiner population, although they may engage in different behaviors when completing tests versus casework. Findings show that proficiency testing contains prints of high quality and is perceived as both relatively easy and representative of casework. The test discriminated between inexperienced and experienced respondents, and verification procedures were largely ineffective in reducing errors. Objective quality metrics may provide a path forward to improving proficiency testing in a measurable manner.
Skeletal muscle inefficiency protects against obesity.

Obesity is the result of an imbalance between caloric intake from the diet and energy expenditure. A new study provides evidence that alterations in calcium transport efficiency in muscle lead to an increased metabolic rate and protect mice against diet-induced obesity.
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention and Japan’s Pursuit of International Cultural Legitimacy

Between 1993 and 2018, Japan successfully applied to have 18 cultural sites and four natural sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of places deemed to be of ‘outstanding universal value...
Companding Circuits and Systems Based on Δ-Σ Modulation

There are several publications and patents dealing with companding of analog signals. Most of these publications deal with analog implementation of companding circuits, which are used in telephone transmission systems. In the past six decades, pulse-code modulation (PCM) was used as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in digital telephone systems. The PCM encoding schemes are recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and are the international PCM companding standards. European countries practice logarithmic A-Law, while logarithmic μ-law companding technique is used in North America and Japan. A brief introduction about the need for companding in PCM-based digital telephone systems can be found in references [1–3]. In addition, there are a number of communication books describing in detail the operation of PCM technique [4]. Existing compander systems are composed of complex analog circuits that provide good sound quality. However, analog circuits are, by their nature, subject to variable performance, and use of advanced techniques is required to keep performance levels constant. There are compander integrated circuit (IC) chips on the market [5, 6]. Their implementation is analog in nature.
Grapevine vein clearing virus Is Prevalent and Genetically Variable in Grape Aphid (Aphis illinoisensis Shimer) Populations

Grapevine vein clearing virus (GVCV) causes severe stunting and death of cultivated grapevines and is prevalent in native Vitis spp. and Ampelopsis cordata in the Midwest region of the United State...
Testosterone Therapy for Age-Related Low Testosterone: Guidelines from the ACP.

The American College of Physicians published guidelines for testosterone therapy in cis gender men with age-related low testosterone based on a systematic review.
Hospital Readmissions After Implementation of a Discharge Care Program for Patients with COVID-19 Illness.

The surge of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations in New York City required rapid discharges to maintain hospital capacity. To determine whether lenient provisional discharge guidelines with remote monitoring after discharge resulted in safe discharges home for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 illness. Retrospective case series Tertiary care medical center Consecutive adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 illness between March 26, 2020, and April 8, 2020, with a subset discharged home COVID-19 Discharge Care Program consisting of lenient provisional inpatient discharge criteria and option for daily telephone monitoring for up to 14 days after discharge Fourteen-day emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions Among 812 patients with COVID-19 illness hospitalized during the study time period, 15.5% died prior to discharge, 24.1% remained hospitalized, 10.0% were discharged to another facility, and 50.4% were discharged home. Characteristics of the 409 patients discharged home were mean (SD) age 57.3 (16.6) years; 245 (59.9%) male; 27 (6.6%) with temperature ≥ 100.4 °F; and 154 (37.7%) with oxygen saturation < 95% on day of discharge. Over 14 days of follow-up, 45 patients (11.0%) returned to the ED, of whom 31 patients (7.6%) were readmitted. Compared to patients not referred, patients referred for remote monitoring had fewer ED visits (8.3% vs 14.1%; OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.31–1.15, p = 0.12) and readmissions (6.9% vs 8.3%; OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.52–2.52, p = 0.73). Single-center study; assignment to remote monitoring was not randomized. During the COVID-19 surge in New York City, lenient discharge criteria in conjunction with remote monitoring after discharge were associated with a rate of early readmissions after COVID-related hospitalizations that was comparable to the rate of readmissions after other reasons for hospitalization before the COVID pandemic.
Ultrafast adaptive optics for imaging the living human retina

Adaptive optics (AO) enables retinal imaging at cellular resolution. Today, most ophthalmic AO systems have closed-loop bandwidths of ≤2 Hz, insufficient for many conditions encountered in the clinic. Here, we develop an ultrafast AO with a bandwidth of 32.6 Hz and evaluate its use with optical coherence tomography. After AO activation, the RMS wavefront aberration from an un-cyclopleged human eye dropped below diffraction limit within 5 ms, 40× faster than the fastest ophthalmic AO system reported in the literature. Because the system converges so quickly, we can use the data immediately after a blink or when imaging locations are changed, even in eyes wearing contact lenses.
On a diversity of perspectives and world views: Learning under Bayesian vis-á-vis DeGroot updating

Abstract In an influential recent paper, Mailath–Samuelson formalize learning and reasoning through “model-based inference” and Bayesian updating. In this announcement, we substitute DeGroot’s heuristic for Bayesian updating by (i) furnishing a plausible interaction matrix that agents use to weigh each other’s beliefs, and by (ii) using this matrix to derive properties of the process for the DeGroot updating of beliefs by agents and oracles. The alternative argumentation that we provide facilitates bridging the literature on networks and that on model-based learning and inference; and it identifies productive and ongoing directions for further investigation.
Prevalence of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Cerebrovascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Closure: A Three-Site 9-Year Review (5082)

Objective: To describe the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) prior to left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. Background: Presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) is associated with intracranial hemorrhage in patients with nonvalvular AF on oral anticoagulant (OAC). LAA closure is known to be an effective alternative to long-term OAC in patients with increased bleeding risk; however, the real-world prevalence of intracranial hemorrhage, CMB and ischemic stroke in patients with AF who underwent LAA closure is not well described. Design/Methods: Consecutive patients with AF who underwent LAA closure at the Mayo Clinic (MN, FL, and AZ) from 2010 to 2018 were included. Demographic and comorbid conditions were abstracted. Presence of intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke were ascertained from clinical notes and radiology reports. CMBs were identified on MRI brain; number and location of CMB were recorded. Prevalence of intracranial hemorrhage, and CMB and ischemic stroke were calculated. Results: Our cohort included 232 patients, 33% were women. Mean age was 76 ±7 yrs., 86% had hypertension, 33% had diabetes, 23% had congestive heart failure, 46% had coronary artery disease, and 29% had carotid stenosis. The prevalence of ischemic stroke was 40%, intracranial hemorrhage was 34% (intraparenchymal hemorrhage 17%, subdural hematoma 12%, and subarachnoid hemorrhage 8%). A total of 50.8% (118/232) patients had brain MRI before LAA closure. Of those who had MRI, 46% had CMBs, 29% were deep CMBs, and 26% had lobar CMBs. Conclusions: More than half of the patients in this real-world cohort of patients who underwent LAA closure across 3 academic centers had cerebrovascular disease. Prospective studies to further stratify risk by cerebrovascular findings for LAA closure in preventing stroke and intracranial hemorrhage are needed. Disclosure: Dr. Salwa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Meschia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Adedinsewo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pollak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sameeullah has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cannistraro has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barrett has nothing to disclose. Dr. Parikh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lin has nothing to disclose.
Dichotomic Potency of IFNγ Licensed Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Animal Models of Acute Radiation Syndrome and Graft Versus Host Disease.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being tested as a cell therapy in clinical trials for dozens of inflammatory disorders, with varying levels of efficacy reported. Suitable and robust preclinical animal models for testing the safety and efficacy of different types of MSC products before use in clinical trials are rare. We here introduce two highly robust animal models of immune pathology: 1) acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and 2) graft versus host disease (GvHD), in conjunction with studying the immunomodulatory effect of well-characterized Interferon gamma (IFNγ) primed bone marrow derived MSCs. The animal model of ARS is based on clinical grade dosimetry precision and bioluminescence imaging. We found that allogeneic MSCs exhibit lower persistence in naive compared to irradiated animals, and that intraperitoneal infusion of IFNγ prelicensed allogeneic MSCs protected animals from radiation induced lethality by day 30. In direct comparison, we also investigated the effect of IFNγ prelicensed allogeneic MSCs in modulating acute GvHD in an animal model of MHC major mismatched bone marrow transplantation. Infusion of IFNγ prelicensed allogeneic MSCs failed to mitigate acute GvHD. Altogether our results demonstrate that infused IFNγ prelicensed allogeneic MSCs protect against lethality from ARS, but not GvHD, thus providing important insights on the dichotomy of IFNγ prelicensed allogenic MSCs in well characterized and robust animal models of acute tissue injury.
An azimuthal Fourier domain formulation of the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation.

The acoustic field of high-speed turbulent jets is dominated by a small number of low-wavenumber azimuthal Fourier modes. Accordingly, it is of interest to directly obtain individual azimuthal modes of the acoustic field from simulation data or models of the jet near-field. To this end, we manipulate the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW–H) equation to obtain a new formulation that lives entirely in the azimuthal Fourier domain—it delivers individual azimuthal modes of the acoustic field as a function of the same azimuthal modes of the near-field FW–H source term or, upon linearization of the source terms, as a function of the same azimuthal modes of the near-field flow variables. As an added benefit, all surface integrals are converted into line integrals in the streamwise–radial plane. After verifying and validating our formulation using a monopole problem with an exact solution and large-eddy simulation data, respectively, we show how our method can be used to efficiently and naturally compute the acoustic field associated with resolvent modes of a Mach 1.5 jet, thus avoiding the need to compute the modes on a large computational domain to capture their acoustic radiation.
Association between transportation barriers and anticoagulation control among an inner-city, low-income population: A prospective observational cohort study

Background Anticoagulation with warfarin represents a transportation-sensitive treatment state. Transportation barrier is a common reason for not using health care services. Objective To assess the association between transportation barriers to anticoagulation clinic and anticoagulation control (AC) among an inner-city, low-income population. Patients/methods Adults expected to be on chronic warfarin therapy were recruited from an ambulatory anticoagulation clinic. Participants completed a validated questionnaire that assessed transportation barriers to clinic, defined as self-reported trouble getting transportation to a clinic and a composite score of the presence of transportation barriers. Suboptimal AC was defined as time in therapeutic range (TTR) Results Of 133 participants, 42.9% had suboptimal AC. Mean age was 60.4 (SD, 13.6) years, and the majority of participants were women (62.2%). Participants with transportation trouble were more likely to report being disabled/unable to work (63.6%) and annual household income Conclusion Inner-city, low-income individuals with transportation barriers were more likely to have suboptimal AC. Further research is warranted to evaluate the impact of alleviating patient-specific transportation barriers on anticoagulation outcomes.
Limbic system and free behavior.

Publisher Summary The purposes of this chapter is to describe (1) methodology and some recent developments for radio stimulation studies, (2) to present experimental material obtained in monkey colonies—and also in monkeys under restraint—during electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus, fimbria of the fornix and amygdala, and (3) to discuss the physiological and psychological implications of these investigations. The knowledge of the limbic system has expanded considerably in the last decade due in part to bridging efforts initiated by physiologists and psychologists to further the correlation of electrical and chemical data with behavioral performance and psychological manifestation. Progress in electron microscopy, microelectrode methodology, and microchemistry has led to important discoveries concerning the submicroscopic properties of membranes, synapses and transmitters which certainly are essential for our understanding of behavioral mechanisms, but it should be remembered that the neuron is only a fraction of the whole organism, and that it is necessary to investigate and to correlate both sides of the scale: the microphysiology and also the physiology of the behaving brain, with its complex electrical, chemical and thermal reactions which are manifested as movements, emotions, worries and pleasures.
Mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials. It describes an attractive processing methodology—spark plasma sintering (SPS); by using this as a processing tool, microstructures of ceramic-based nanocomposites that have either much improved fracture toughness or significantly enhanced superplastic formability, or much improved creep resistance, can be engineered. It has been shown that the ability to design the mechanical properties of new materials in the nanocrystalline range depends upon the design and production of novel microstructures. This requires control of grain size and grain size distribution, reinforcement-particle (or fiber) morphology, and the amount and distribution of dopants and reinforcement elements. In metal-based nanocomposites, designed nanostructure might be obtained by various methods that include crystallization from amorphous state. The results present in the chapter provide new insights to the strengthening mechanisms operative in nanoscale multilayered materials.
Developments in Corporate Governance: The Duty of Good Faith and its Impact on Director Conduct

INTRODUCTION 1038 I. RESPONDING TO CORPORATE SCANDAL 1038 A. Increased Scrutiny of Corporate Fiduciary Conduct 1038 B. Turning to the Duty of Good Faith 1039 II. THE DUTY OF GOOD FAITH 1040 A. Defining Good Faith 1040 B. Recent Developments 1043 1. Recent Cases Illustrating a Mixed Approach to the Duty of Good Faith 1043 2. When and Where to Apply the Duty of Good Faith ....... 1049 C. Summary 1051 III. EXTRAJUDICIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH 1052 A. Regulatory Action Influencing the Definition of the Duty of Good Faith 1052 1. Federal Regulatory Action 1052 2. Self-Regulatory Organizations 1053 3. State Regulatory Action 1054 B. Shareholder Activism Influencing the Definition of Good Faith 1056 1. Executive and Director Compensation 1059 2. The Board of Directors 1063 3. Shareholder Rights 1065 C. Ratings Agencies Influencing the Definition of Good Faith.. 1067 D. Summary 1069 IV. MULTIFACETED DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE FIDUCIARY DUTIES—HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? 1070
Modularity of a Cambrian ptychoparioid trilobite cranidium.

SUMMARY Modularity of the cranidium of Crassifimbra? metalaspis, a Cambrian ptychoparioid trilobite, is investigated using landmark-based geometric morphometric methods to gain insight into the integration among morphogenetic processes responsible for shaping the head of an ancient arthropod. Of particular interest is the extent to which the structure of phenotypic integration was governed by direct interactions among developmental pathways, because these interactions may generate long-term constraints on evolutionary innovation. A modified two-way ANOVA decomposes cranidial shape variation into components representing symmetric variation among individuals and fluctuating asymmetry (FA). The structure of integration of each of these components is inferred from correlated deviations in shape among nine partitions of the cranidium. Significant correlation among partitions in FA indicates direct interactions among their respective developmental pathways. An a priori hypothesis that modularity was determined by functional association among partitions is not well supported by the among-partition correlation structure for either component of variation. Instead, exploratory analyses reveal that phenotypic integration was strongly influenced by spatially localized morphogenetic controls. Comparison of the structures of the Individuals and FA components of variation reveals that the two share relatively few commonalities: the structure of phenotypic integration was only weakly influenced by direct interactions. The large contribution of parallel variation to phenotypic integration suggests that modularity was unlikely to have imposed a long-term constraint on evolutionary innovation in these early trilobites.
Motivating language: a meaningful guide for leader communications

Purpose – The paper aims to share research findings to date, explain the conceptual model, and discuss workplace implementation options.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents concept applications for improved leader communication based on existing research and future potential.Findings – The paper finds that motivating language is significantly linked to improved organizational outcomes in performance, retention, attendance, innovation, and job satisfaction.Originality/value – Training and assessment in leader use of motivating language can have a substantial impact on key organizational outcomes.
Abstract 17746: Telecinobufagin, a Novel Cardiotonic Steroid, Promotes Myocardial and Renal Fibrosis via Na/K-ATPase Profibrotic Signalling Pathways

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are Na/K-ATPase (NKA) ligands that are elevated in volume-expanded states and associated with cardiac and renal dysfunction in both clinical and experimental settings. We recently discovered significantly elevated levels of a novel CTS, telocinobufagin (TCB), in patients with heart failure. We tested the hypothesis that TCB promotes cardiac and renal dysfunction in a process involving signaling through the NKA-α-1 in the following studies. First, we infused TCB (4 weeks at 10 ug/Kg/day) or vehicle into mice expressing wild type NKA-α-1 (WT), as well as mice with a genetic reduction of NKA-α-1 (NKA+/-) or transgenic human NKA-α-1 (NKA-Tg), which renders them more sensitive to CTS. TCB infusion resulted in impairment of cardiac structure (36% increase in heart weight/body weight ratio, 18% increase in diastolic Left Ventricular Internal Dimension vs. vehicle, p<0.05) in WT mice which was significantly attenuated in NKA+/- mice. TCB infusion also resulted increased proteinuria and ...
A content analysis of Twitter hyperlinks and their application in web resource indexing

Twitter has emerged as a popular source of sharing and delivering news information. In tweet messages, URLs to web resources and hashtags are often included. This study investigates the potential of the hyperlinks and hashtags as topical clues and indicators to tweet messages. For this study, we crawled and analyzed about 1.5 million tweets for a 3-month period covering any topic or subject. The findings of this study revealed a power law relationship for the ranking and frequency of a the host names of URLs, and b a pair of hashtags and URLs that appeared in the tweet messages. This study also discovered that the most popular URLs used in tweets come from news and media websites, and a majority of the hyperlinked resources are news web pages. One implication of this study is that Twitter users are becoming more active in sharing already published information than producing new information. Finally, our investigation on hashtags for web resource indexing reveals that hashtags have the potential to be used as indexing terms for co-occurring URLs in the same tweet. We also discuss the implications of this study for web resource recommendation.
Emergency vehicle intervals versus collapse-to-CPR and collapse-to-defibrillation intervals: Monitoring emergency medical services system performance in sudden cardiac arrest

Study objective: To compare emergency vehicle response intervals with collapse-to-intervention intervals to determine which of these system data better correlated with survival after prehospital sudden cardiac arrest. Study design: A 22-month case series, collected prospectively, of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Times of collapse, dispatch, scene arrival, CPR, and initial defibrillation were determined from dispatch records, recordings of arrest events, interviews with bystanders, and hospital records. Setting: Southwestern city (population, 400,000; area, 390 km 2 ) with a two-tiered basic life support-advanced life support emergency medical services system. Emergency medical technician-firefighters without electrical defibrillation capability comprised the first response tier; firefighter-paramedics were the second tier. Patients: One hundred eighteen cases of witnessed, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults with initial ventricular fibrillation. Main outcome measures: Survival was defined as a patient who was discharged alive from the hospital. Results: Eighteen of 118 patients (15%) survived. Survivors did not differ significantly from nonsurvivors in age, sex, or basic life support or advanced life support response intervals. Survivors had significantly ( P Conclusion: Collapse-to-intervention intervals, not emergency vehicle response intervals, should be used to characterize emergency medical services system performance in the treatment of sudden cardiac death.
Recent advances in peptide probe-based biosensors for detection of infectious agents

Recent biological terrorism threats and outbreaks of microbial pathogens clearly emphasize the need for biosensors that can quickly and accurately identify infectious agents. The majority of rapid biosensors generate detectable signals when a molecular probe in the detector interacts with an analyte of interest. Analytes may be whole bacterial or fungal cells, virus particles, or specific molecules, such as chemicals or protein toxins, produced by the infectious agent. Peptides and nucleic acids are most commonly used as probes in biosensors because of their versatility in forming various tertiary structures. The interaction between the probe and the analyte can be detected by various sensor platforms, including quartz crystal microbalances, surface acoustical waves, surface plasmon resonance, amperometrics, and magnetoelastics. The field of biosensors is constantly evolving to develop devices that have higher sensitivity and specificity, and are smaller, portable, and cost-effective. This mini review discusses recent advances in peptide-dependent rapid biosensors and their applications as well as relative advantages and disadvantages of each technology.
Targeting the dimerization interface for irreversible inhibition of HIV-1 protease

A novel strategy was used to irreversibly inhibit HIV-1 protease. The inhibitor was designed to form a disulfide bond with Cys95, present at the dimerization interface of HIV-1 protease. The inhibitor was shown to be active against HIV-1 protease with K(inact) = 3.7 microM and V(inact) = 0.012 min(-1).
Achievable Rate Analysis in Network-Coded Cooperative Communications with Multiple Relay Nodes

Network-coded cooperative communications (NC-CC) refers to the use of network coding (NC) in cooperative communications (CC). Prior studies have shown that NC has the potential to improve the performance of CC when there are multiple sessions in the wireless network. These studies were done for the case when multiple sessions are sharing a single relay node. However, how NC-CC behaves when multiple relay nodes are employed remains an open problem. In this paper, we explore this problem by analyzing the achievable rate of each session in this setting. We develop closed form formulas for the mutual information and the achievable data rate for each session and show that prior results for a single relay is a special case of our result. Our findings in this paper offer an important building block on the theory of NC-CC. To demonstrate the application of our theoretical result, we apply it in a numerical study to understand the impact on a session's achievable rate when different sets of relay nodes are employed in NC-CC.
Four decades of inversion polymorphism in Drosophila pseudoobscura

Abstract We report data that continue the studies of Dobzhansky and others on the frequencies of third-chromosome inversions in natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura in North America. The common gene arrangements continue to be present in frequencies similar to those described four decades ago, and the broad geographic patterns also remain unchanged. There is only one pronounced trend over time: the increase in frequency of the Tree Line inversion in Pacific coast populations.
Factor VII deficiency in pregnancy treated with recombinant factor VIIa

Abstract BACKGROUND: Factor VII deficiency is an autosomal recessive bleeding disorder with an incidence of one in 500,000. Few cases have been reported in pregnancy, and only two patients were treated with recombinant factor VIIa. In the past, fresh frozen plasma or factor VII concentrate has been the conventional treatment for this disorder. CASE: We report a case of factor VII deficiency diagnosed during pregnancy with a factor VII level of 1%. After prophylactic treatment with recombinant factor VIIa, the patient did not manifest any signs or symptoms of excessive bleeding during labor or postpartum. CONCLUSION: Given the inherent risks of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis with blood products, recombinant factor VIIa treatment is an alternative that is safe and effective during labor, delivery, and the puerperium.
The diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in liquid-based Pap tests: correlation with PCR.

The conventional Papanicolaou smear (CPS) is not considered accurate for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), and women noted to carry the organism on CPS are recommended to undergo confirmatory testing. Liquid-based preparations have been shown to facilitate the diagnosis of squamous lesions and may also facilitate the diagnosis of T. vaginalis. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the accuracy of the diagnosis of T. vaginalis by the liquid-based Pap test (LBP). LBP with the diagnosis of T. vaginalis from a 12-mo period were identified. Residual samples from these cases were subjected to PCR for T. vaginalis as were the residual samples of a control group of 195 LBP (including 103 inflammatory LBP and 69 cases of atypical squamous cells) in which T. vaginalis was not diagnosed cytologically. PCR confirmed the presence of T. vaginalis in 50 of 51 (98%) LBP and identified 2 additional cases. Morphologic identification of T. vaginalis on LBP is highly accurate and should not require confirmatory testing. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32: 341–344. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Brazing copper to dispersion-strengthened copper

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a state-of-the-art synchrotron light source that will produce intense x-ray beams, which will allow the study of smaller samples and faster reactions and processes at a greater level of detail that has been possible to date. The beam is produced by using third-generation insertion devices in a 7 GeV electron/positron storage ring that is 1100 meters in circumference. The heat load from these intense high power devices is very high and certain components must sustain total heat loads of 3 to 15 kW and heat fluxes of 30 W/mm{sup 2}. Because the beams will cycle on and off many times, thermal shock and fatigue will be a problem. High heat flux impinging on a small area causes a large thermal gradient that results in high stress. GlidCop{reg_sign}, a dispersion strengthened copper, is the desired material because of its high thermal conductivity and superior mechanical properties as compared to copper and its alloys. GlidCop is not amenable to joining by fusion welding, and brazing requires diligence because of high diffusivity. Brazing procedures were developed using optical and scanning electron microscopy.
MRI-Guided High–Dose-Rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy for Treatment of Cervical Cancer: The University of Pittsburgh Experience

Purpose Image-based brachytherapy is increasingly used for gynecologic malignancies. We report early outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided brachytherapy. Methods and Materials Consecutive patient cases with FIGO stage IB1 to IVA cervical cancer treated at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received concurrent cisplatin with external beam radiation therapy along with interdigitated high–dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy. Computed tomography or MRI was completed after each application, the latter acquired for at least 1 fraction. High-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) and organs at risk were identified by Groupe Europeen de Curietherapie and European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology guidelines. Doses were converted to equivalent 2-Gy doses (EQD 2 ) with planned HRCTV doses of 75 to 85 Gy. Results From 2007 to 2013, 128 patients, median 52 years of age, were treated. Predominant characteristics included stage IIB disease (58.6%) with a median tumor size of 5 cm, squamous histology (82.8%), and no radiographic nodal involvement (53.1%). Most patients (67.2%) received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at a median dose of 45 Gy, followed by a median brachytherapy dose of 27.5 Gy (range, 25-30 Gy) in 5 fractions. At a median follow up of 24.4 months (range, 2.1-77.2 months), estimated 2-year local control, disease-free survival, and cancer-specific survival rates were 91.6%, 81.8%, and 87.6%, respectively. Predictors of local failure included adenocarcinoma histology ( P P 90 EQD 2 ≥84 Gy was associated with improved local control (2-year local control rate 100% vs 54.5%, P =.03). Grade 3 or greater gastrointestinal or genitourinary late toxicity occurred at a 2-year actuarial rate of 0.9%. Conclusions This study constitutes one of the largest reported series of MRI-guided brachytherapy in North America, demonstrating excellent local control with acceptable morbidity. Dose escalation may be warranted when feasible for adenocarcinomas to offset the risk of local failure.
Unordered Merge and its Linearization

In the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995), Merge is a set operation that imposes no intrinsic ordering among its members. However, syntactic structures are linearized into strings of words at PF. This paper proposes that in order for a Merger set to be linearized, its members must be either hierarchically displaced or morphologically fused into a single terminal node. The empirical study focuses on the structure of DP and its linearization in various constructions. It is shown that the Definiteness Effect (DE) can be attributed to the failure to linearize the DP in unaccusatives. The systematic lack of the DE in some languages (Arabic, Hebrew, and Romanian), unexpected in previous analyses, is due to the morphological N-to-D raising (fusion), therefore satisfying the linearization condition. Furthermore, cross-linguistic evidence is given to show that D can be attracted out of DP for feature checking, rendering transitive DP arguments well-formed. Linguistics is the study of Form and Meaning and their relations. Situated in a broad theory of mind, a linguistic theory aims to describe and explain the properties of the perceptual (Form) and conceptual (Meaning) interfaces, and the rules and representations employed to relate them. The Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995) outlines a research framework rooted in this conceptual necessity. It suggests that essential properties of human language are largely determined by the Bare Output Conditionsat the external interfaces: Phonetic Form (PF) and Logical Form (LF). These conditions impose constraints on the possible structures of human language. The computational system of human language, CHL, is a generative procedure that composes linguistic structures to satisfy interface conditions. Lexical items, essentially sets of feature bundles, are assembled by structure-building operations that apply recursively, in the Humboldtian sense of ''infinite use of finite means.'' The computation branches at the point of Spell-out, sending formed syntactic structures to PF and LF for interpretation. It is further conjectured that the CHL exhibits a certain degree of economy, which avoids superfluous operations and extraneous representations in the course of syntactic composition. To explore the consequence of the Minimalist approach, we must be precise about its theoretical assumptions in order for research problems to be
Differential effects of lysosomotropic amines and polyamines on processing and biological activity of EGF

The effects of lysosomotropic amines and polyamines on rat fibroblasts were studied after the administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in order to determine whether the intracellular processing of EGF was important for transmission of its biological signal. Following the addition of EGF, cell cultures exhibited a dose-dependent increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. This increase in ODC activity was drastically reduced by both methylamine, a representative lysosomotropic amine, and putrescine, a polyamine precursor. However, inasmuch as methylamine inhibited EGF-induced DNA synthesis by greater than 50%, putrescine had no inhibitory effect. Lysosomotropic amines, but not polyamines, prevented EGF processing as evidenced by their ability to block the release of intracellular 125EGF and by their ability to inhibit the formation of the final intracellular processed product of EGF, as determined by isoelectric focusing. These data suggest that the processing of EGF is consistent with the induction of DNA synthesis and ODC activity. The cellular mechanisms involved in inhibition of ODC induction by polyamines appear to be distinct from those involved in lysosomotropic amines.
Microstructural evolution in twin roll cast AA3105 during homogenization

Abstract In twin roll cast (TRC) AA3105, high solidification and post-solidification cooling rates lead to high manganese supersaturation throughout the strip and very fine constituent particles near the surface. Rolled and annealed TRC material shows sluggish recrystallization kinetics and a very coarse grain structure, due to concurrent dispersoid precipitation that inhibits formation of recrystallization nuclei. Homogenization from 5 to 120 h at 600 °C reduced solute supersaturation and coarsened constituent particles, reducing but not eliminating the particle size gradient. The resulting grain structure was fine throughout most of the strip, but with larger grains at the surface. More extensive cyclical homogenization up to 620 °C further coarsened the constituent particles and produced a uniform fine grain structure throughout the strip.
Conformational changes of a benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-N2-dG adduct induced by a 5′-flanking 5-methyl-substituted cytosine in a MeCG double-stranded oligonucleotide sequence context

Mutations in p53 genes are one of the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. A disproportionate number of mutations are found in certain codons of the p53 gene, mostly at CpG dinucleotide sequences, which are highly methylated in human tissues. The reactivities of the mutagenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene, the bay region diol epoxide r7,t8-dihydroxy-t9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), to yield adducts with guanine at the exocyclic amino group (e.g., trans-anti-BPDE-N 2 -dG, or G * ), are enhanced when the cytosine in CpG sequences in DNA is methylated at its 5-position ( M e CpG). However, methylation may also affect the characteristics of these adducts, and we have therefore investigated whether adduct conformations are different in double-stranded DNA in methylated MeCpG* and in unmethylated CpG* sequence contexts in the oligonucleotide model system duplex 5'-d(CCAT-[ 5 X C]G*CTACC).d(GGTAGCGATGG) with X = H or -CH 3 . The (-)-trans-adduct exhibits a striking conformational change from a minor groove structure external to the DNA duplex in the unmethylated CpG * sequence, to an intercalative conformation in the MeCG* sequence context. In contrast, the conformation of the stereoisomeric (+)-trans-adduct is predominantly of the minor groove type in both the methylated and unmethylated sequences. These results indicate that methylation of CpG sequences may affect not only chemical reactivities of chemically reactive intermediates with DNA, but also the conformational properties of the DNA adducts formed. Thus, both factors must be considered in evaluating the effects of cytosine methylation in CpG sequences on the biological consequences of the DNA adducts formed.
Changes in Food Habits of South Indian Hindu Brahmin Immigrants in State College, PA

This study was conducted to understand the factors influencing changes in the food habits of south Indian Brahmin immigrants in State College, PA. Data was collected from participants (n = 28) using a semi-structured interview based on the PRECEDE framework, and participant observations. Analysis of the data used grounded theory generated themes highlighting their food acculturation experience. Adjusting in State College was described as a "delicate balance" that meant maintaining their south Indian traditions while at the same time adapting to the cultural milieu of a town that favored north Indian cuisine, and "blending in" with the larger American society.
Petrology of FeO-poor, porphyritic pyroxene chondrules in the Semarkona chondrite

Abstract The mineralogy and petrology of FeO-poor, porphyritic, pyroxene- and olivine-rich chondrules in the Semarkona (LL3.0) chondrite are described in detail. In an extension of the textural classification scheme, these chondrules are designated types IAB and IB. In type IAB chondrules, the proportion of olivine phenocrysts is between 20–80% and in type IB chondrules, olivine constitutes