cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adult hepatoblastoma: Learning from children

Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumour in infants and young children. Its occurrence in the adult population is debated and has been questioned. The aim of this paper is to review the histological and clinical features of adult hepatoblastoma as described in the adult literature, and to compare the findings with those of paediatric hepatoblastoma. The developmental and molecular aspects of hepatoblastoma are reviewed and their potential contribution to diagnosis of adult hepatoblastoma discussed. Case reports of adult hepatoblastoma identified by a PubMed search of the English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish literature through March 2011 were reviewed. Forty-five cases of hepatoblastoma were collected. Age at presentation was variable. Survival was uniformly poor, except for the rare patients who presented with the relatively differentiated, foetal type. The common denominator between adult and paediatric cases is the occurrence of embryonal or immature aspect of the tumours. Whether the adult cases of hepatoblastoma represent blastemal tumours, stem cell tumours, or unusual differentiation patterns in otherwise more frequent adult liver tumours remains to be established. Adult tumours labelled as hepatoblastoma are characterised by malignant appearing mesenchymal components. Surgical management is the cornerstone of therapy in children and also appears to confer an improved prognosis in adults. Whether adult hepatoblastoma exists, remains controversial. Indeed, several features described in adult cases are markedly different from hepatoblastoma as it is understood in children, and other differential diagnoses should also be entertained. Nonetheless, hepatoblastoma should be considered in adults presenting with primary liver tumours in the absence of pre-existing liver disease. Adult and paediatric patients with immature hepatoblastoma appear to have worse outcomes, and adults presenting with presumed hepatoblastoma have an overall poorer prognosis than children with hepatoblastoma. In all patients, surgery should be the treatment of choice, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is advisable.
Optimizing Sorting with Genetic Algorithms

The growing complexity of modern processors has made the generation of highly efficient code increasingly difficult. Manual code generation is very time consuming, but it is often the only choice since the code generated by today's compiler technology often has much lower performance than the best hand-tuned codes. A promising code generation strategy, implemented by systems like ATLAS, FFTW, and SPIRAL, uses empirical search to find the parameter values of the implementation, such as the tile size and instruction schedules, that deliver near-optimal performance for a particular machine. However, this approach has only proven successful on scientific codes whose performance does not depend on the input data. In this paper we study machine learning techniques to extend empirical search to the generation of sorting routines, whose performance depends on the input characteristics and the architecture of the target machine. We build on a previous study that selects a "pure" sorting algorithm at the outset of the computation as a function of the standard deviation. The approach discussed in this paper uses genetic algorithms and a classifier system to build hierarchically-organized hybrid sorting algorithms capable of adapting to the input data. Our results show that such algorithms generated using the approach presented in this paper are quite effective at taking into account the complex interactions between architectural and input data characteristics and that the resulting code performs significantly better than conventional sorting implementations and the code generated by our earlier study. In particular, the routines generated using our approach perform better than all the commercial libraries that we tried including IBM ESSL, INTEL MKL and the C++ STL The best algorithm we have been able to generate is on the average 26% and 62% faster than the IBM ESSL in an IBM Power 3 and IBM Power 4, respectively.
Formation of Y2O3 nanoclusters in nano-structured ferritic alloys: Modeling of precipitation kinetics and yield strength

Abstract The solubility product of Y2O3 in ferrite and the diffusion coefficient of yttrium in ferrite have been obtained by fitting a model based on the classical nucleation–growth–coarsening theory of precipitation, as adapted to an anisothermal heat treatment, to experimental small angle neutron scattering results of Y2O3 precipitate size distributions in a mechanically alloyed and consolidated Fe–15 at.%Cr–0.13 at.%Y–0.18 at.%O ferritic alloy. This precipitation model is coupled to a dispersed barrier model of structural hardening to predict the yield strength of the alloys as a function of heat treatment. The resulting model and thermodynamic/kinetic properties are then applied to better understand how the precipitation kinetics impact the yield stress in various anisothermal heat treatments, as compared to an isothermal heat treatment. The modeling results clearly indicate that the anisothermal heat treatments can be tailored to establish a higher density and a smaller size distribution of Y2O3 precipitates, which also increase the yield stress.
Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal Ulcer Disease in the US Population

Purpose Gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers are frequently seen in patients with multiple chronic medical conditions. Few studies have described the overall prevalence, comorbidities, or risk factors associated with this diagnosis. We sought to determine among a national dataset if individuals with certain medical comorbidities are at increased risk for gastrointestinal ulcer disease, while controlling for relevant confounders. Results The overall prevalence of GI ulcer is 8.4%. A significant increased risk of ulcer history is associated with older age (OR 1.67), African-Americans (OR 1.20) current (OR 1.99) and former (OR 1.55) tobacco use, former alcohol use (OR 1.29), obesity (OR 1.18), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.34), chronic renal insufficiency (OR 2.29), coronary heart disease (OR 1.46), and three or more doctor visits in a year (OR 1.49). Conclusions This large US population-based study reports on a number of demographic, behavioral, and chronic medical conditions associated with higher risk of gastrointestinal ulcer disease.
Clinical Significance of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Patients With Low Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Objectives We sought to evaluate the significance of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the context of low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Background Earlier studies support an inverse correlation between circulating HDL-C and coronary risk in patients with normal or elevated LDL-C. Methods This study involved 4,188 patients attending the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center or affiliated clinics with LDL-C levels below 60 mg/dl. Outcomes were examined 1 year after the index LDL-C date. The combined primary end point was myocardial injury or hospitalization from ischemic heart disease. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. Results Mean HDL-C levels (mg/dl) by quartile (Q) were: Q1 28 mg/dl, Q2 36 mg/dl, Q3 43 mg/dl, and Q4 63 mg/dl. The rate of myocardial injury or hospitalization for ischemic heart disease showed an inverse relationship to HDL-C (adjusted odds ratios: Q1 1.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16 to 2.19], Q2 1.39 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.92], Q3 1.33 [95% CI 0.96 to 1.84], and Q4 reference) that persisted regardless of statin use or recent myocardial injury. Analyzing HDL-C as a continuous variable revealed a 10% [95% CI 3% to 17%] increase in the combined end point of myocardial injury or hospitalization for ischemic heart disease for every 10-mg/dl decrease in HDL-C. The unadjusted and adjusted incidence of all-cause mortality demonstrated a U-shaped relationship to HDL-C (adjusted odds ratios: Q1 1.13 [95% CI 0.79 to 1.62], Q2 0.97 [95% CI 0.67 to 1.40], Q3 0.74 [95% CI 0.50 to 1.09], and Q4 reference). Conclusions The inverse relationship between HDL-C and coronary risk persists even among patients with LDL-C below 60 mg/dl, although a U-shaped relationship is observed between HDL-C and all-cause mortality.
Two Algorithms for Multiple-View Binary Pattern Reconstruction

The problem of reconstructing binary patterns from their shadows or projections is treated. Two algorithms are formulated. For the two-view case, both algorithms give a perfect reconstruction if and only if the pattern is two-view unambiguous. It is also shown that n views are sufficient, but not necessary, to reconstruct any n × n binary pattern. Experimental results for the four-view reconstruction of 25 × 25 binary patterns indicate that one of the algorithms has good convergency behavior.
Measuring the amount of statistical information in the EPT index

Biological monitoring is the process of measuring the effect of environmental stress on the environment. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are widely used in the monitoring of freshwater lotic systems. The macroinvertebrate fauna of a reference stream is commonly compared to the fauna of an impacted stream that is affected by an environmental stressor. The smaller the similarity between these two streams, the greater the effect of pollution or stress on the impacted stream. Many richness measures, or statistics, exist for measuring similarity. These statistics can be computed using different levels of taxonomic resolution (species, genus and family). Many aquatic biologists believe that species-level identifications, which require exorbitant time and expertise, are needed for correct data interpretations. The actual amount of information provided by these statistics at different taxonomic levels has never been measured. This article evaluates the amount of statistical information provided by the EPT index as compared to a sufficient statistic at the various levels of taxonomic resolution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A high order homogenization model for transient dynamics of heterogeneous media including micro-inertia effects

Abstract This manuscript presents a multi-dimensional, high order homogenization model for elastic composite materials subjected to dynamic loading conditions. The proposed model is derived based on the asymptotic homogenization method with multiple spatial scales. The high order homogenization model permits implementation using the standard finite elements and shape functions since it does not involve higher order terms typically present in dispersion models. The high order homogenization model can accurately capture wave dispersion in the presence of non-uniform density and non-uniform moduli within the material microstructure. Employing the Hybrid Laplace Transform/Finite Element Method, both displacement and traction boundary conditions for the macroscopic problem have been implemented. Finite element formulations for the first and second order influence functions, and the macroscale initial boundary value problem are presented. The performance of the model is verified by comparing model predictions to the local homogenization and the direct numerical simulations. The high order homogenization model is shown to predict the wave dispersion with very reasonable accuracy and cost. The proposed model can also capture the phononic bands – frequency bands within which the micro-inertia effects completely block wave propagation.
Giant yield enhancements for keV ion scattering: the edge-effect rainbow

The three-dimensional (3D) differential cross-section for a double-scattering sequence in which the first target particle is lighter than the projectile is derived. The resulting cross-section exhibits a rainbow singularity that dramatically enhances the yield of backscattered projectiles by more than a factor of 10 over that of a simple binary scattering process. This classical resonance can be used for the detection of light atomic mass adsorbates on heavy atomic mass substrates with very high sensitivity.
Structural Evolution of Multilayered, Crystalline-Amorphous Diblock Copolymer Thin Films

The evolution of the morphology of a crystalline/amorphous diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide-b-1,4 butadiene) (P(EO-b-BD)) upon crystallization in thin films was studied via interference optical microscopy. Two-dimensional crystallization confined within the PEO lamellar layers was observed with retention of the microphase-separated lamellar morphology formed in the melt state. The morphology was further characterized by TEM and electron diffraction which showed it to consist of alternating layers of PEO and PBD with PEO crystalline chains oriented perpendicular to the lamellar layers of the microphase-separated structure. Multiple parallel layers of crystalline PEO were found by electron diffraction to be in orientational registry even though they were separated by approximately 10 nm thick layers of amorphous PBD.
Effect of Vicarious Punishment on Stuttering Frequency

This investigation explored the effect of vicarious response-contingent stimulation on the frequency of stuttering. Twenty adult stutterers spoke for 20 minutes, then observed a speaker on a videotape for 10 minutes, and then spoke for an additional 20 minutes. In one condition the speaker on the videotape was a severe stutterer who experienced a dramatic reduction in stuttering under a contingent time-out procedure. In a second condition, the videotape speaker was a severe stutterer who received no experimental manipulations. In the third condition, the videotape speaker was a normal talker who received no experimental manipulations. All subjects participated in all three conditions. Twenty of the stutterers experienced a significant decrease in stuttering as a result of watching the videotape model who received contingent time-out. The subjects did not exhibit significant changes in stuttering after watching the severe stutterer who received no treatment or the normal talker.
Aberration correction for improving the performance of a DMHL system

Dynamic maskless holographic lithography (DMHL) is a new micro-manufacturing technique that has no moving parts. The laser light used for patterning is directed in all three dimensions with a hologram displayed on a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (SLM). Optical aberrations, like spherical aberration due to refractive index mismatch between the photoresist and the immersion oil of the high-NA objective or astigmatism due to the deformations in the surface of the SLM, can degrade the performance of the system. Degraded performance includes a decrease in potential patterning volume and pattern fidelity and an increase in patterning time. This paper presents a way to correct for these aberrations using Zernike polynomials. The optimal Zernike coefficients are found by maximizing a sharpness metric. The effect of aberration correction on the DMHL process is quantified by measuring the patterning volume. DMHL manufactured features made with this aberration correction method show a marked improvement over features made without correction. It is even possible to correct for misaligned optics with this method.
Lesbian and Gay Families with Children: Implications of Social Science Research for Policy

In this paper, we provide an overview of variability across jurisdictions in family law relevant to lesbian and gay parents and their children, showing that some courts have been negatively disposed to these families. We summarize recent research findings suggesting that lesbian and gay parents are as likely as are heterosexual parents to provide home environments that support positive outcomes among children. Research findings suggest that unless and until the weight of evidence can be shown to have shifted, parental sexual orientation should be considered irrelevant to disputes involving child custody, visitation, foster care, and adoption.
Seasonal excretion rates of macrozooplankton from the Swedish west coast

Weight-specific excretion rates of ammonium, urea, inorganic phosphate, and total dissolved phosphorus by 19 species of zooplankton were measured during March-October 198 1. Excretion rates of two copepods Calanus finmarchicus and Metridia longa showed similar trends during spring and summer, but diverged in autumn when C. finmarchicus had much lower rates. Excretion rates of most species were highest in spring and relatively low during summer.The high rates of excretion in spring corresponded with the spring phytoplankton bloom, but later blooms did not affect the excretion rates of the zooplankton. The average excretion rates varied considerably between species; ammonium from 3.2 to 68.1, urea from 0.9 to 6.3, inorganic phosphate from 0.3 to 8.2, and organic phosphorus from 0 to 3.5 nmol excreted per mg of body protein per hour. The average atomic N:P ratio ranged between 2.4 and 46.3, but was ~20 for all species except Sagitta elegans. Estimation of the regenerative importance of nitrogen and phosphorus from macrozooplankton excretion indicated that between 4 and 50% of the phytoplankton nitrogen demands could be fulfilled, with the highest percentage demand being met during autumn. For phosphorus the range was 14-102% of the phytoplankton requirements.
Servo Level Algorithms For The NASREM Telerobot Control System Architecture

The NASA/NBS Standard Reference Model (NASREM) Telerobot Control System Architecture defines a logical computing architecture for robotics. The architecture provides a framework for integrating a variety of control techniques, and for combining teleoperation and autonomy in one system. This paper demonstrates these aspects of NASREM for the lowest level of the architecture, the Servo Level. The Servo Level supports algorithms for robot manipulator control found in the literature.
Myocardial creatine kinase kinetics in hearts with postinfarction left ventricular remodeling

This study examined whether alterations in myocardial creatine kinase (CK) kinetics and high-energy phosphate (HEP) levels occur in postinfarction left ventricular remodeling (LVR). Myocardial HEP and CK kinetics were examined in 19 pigs 6 wk after myocardial infarction was produced by left circumflex coronary artery ligation, and the results were compared with those from 9 normal pigs. Blood flow (microspheres), oxygen consumption (MVO2), HEP levels [31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)], and CK kinetics (31P MRS) were measured in myocardium remote from the infarct under basal conditions and during dobutamine infusion (20 micrograms. kg-1. min-1 iv). Six of the pigs with LVR had overt congestive heart failure (CHF) at the time of study. Under basal conditions, creatine phosphate (CrP)-to-ATP ratios were lower in all transmural layers of hearts with CHF and in the subendocardium of LVR hearts than in normal hearts (P < 0.05). Myocardial ATP (biopsy) was significantly decreased in hearts with CHF. The CK forward rate constant was lower (P < 0.05) in the CHF group (0.21 +/- 0.03 s-1) than in LVR (0.38 +/- 0.04 s-1) or normal groups (0.41 +/- 0.03 s-1); CK forward flux rates in CHF, LVR, and normal groups were 6.4 +/- 2.3, 14.3 +/- 2.1, and 20.3 +/- 2.4 micromol. g-1. s-1, respectively (P < 0.05, CHF vs. LVR and LVR vs. normal). Dobutamine caused doubling of the rate-pressure product in the LVR and normal groups, whereas CHF hearts failed to respond to dobutamine. CK flux rates did not change during dobutamine in any group. The ratios of CK flux to ATP synthesis (from MVO2) under baseline conditions were 10.9 +/- 1.2, 8. 03 +/- 0.9, and 3.86 +/- 0.5 for normal, LVR, and CHF hearts, respectively (each P < 0.05); during dobutamine, this ratio decreased to 3.73 +/- 0.5, 2.58 +/- 0.4, and 2.78 +/- 0.5, respectively (P = not significant among groups). These data demonstrate that CK flux rates are decreased in hearts with postinfarction LVR, but this change does not limit the response to dobutamine. In hearts with end-stage CHF, the changes in HEP and CK flux are more marked. These changes could contribute to the decreased responsiveness of these hearts to dobutamine.
Hormone Levels and Anogenital Swelling of Female Chimpanzees as a Function of Estrogen Dosage in a Combined Oral Contraceptive

A combined oral contraceptive consisting of ethinyl estradiol (EE2) in three dosages (50, 100, and 400 micrograms) and norethindrone (0.5 mg) was given to female chimpanzees to determine the effect on endogenous sex hormone levels and anogenital swelling. Serum levels of EE2 increased with increasing dosages of EE2, estradiol decreased, and luteinizing hormone, progesterone and testosterone were maintained at approximately midfollicular phase levels. Urinary levels of EE2 glucuronide increased with the increasing dosages of EE2, whereas estrone and pregnanediol glucuronide were essentially undetectable. The cyclic increase in female anogenital swelling was abolished when the norethindrone was combined with 50 micrograms of EE2 and relatively constant and low levels of swelling were recorded. Relatively constant but successively higher levels of swelling were recorded when the norethindrone was combined with the higher dosages of EE2. These effects of oral contraceptives on female genital tissues are relevant to our laboratory studies of sexual behavior in chimpanzees given oral contraceptives and could also have implications for women taking oral contraceptives.
Analysis of velocity profiles with nonsteady flow in tube models using MRI

A time-of-flight magnetic resonance imaging method was used to measure velocity profiles for pure oscillatory flow, steady plus oscillatory flow and pulsatile flow in axisymmetrical tube models within normal physiological flow conditions. The results obtained from the images are compared with the theoretical predictions, and good agreement is observed. The instantaneous flow rates calculated from the images also agree well with those measured using an ultrasonic flowmeter. >
Medical ethics and the interrogation of Guantanamo 063.

The controversy over abusive interrogations of prisoners during the war against terrorism spotlights the need for clear ethics norms requiring physicians and other clinicians to prevent the mistreatment of prisoners. Although policies and general descriptions pertaining to clinical oversight of interrogations in United States' war on terror prisons have come to light, there are few public records detailing the clinical oversight of an interrogation. A complaint by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led to an Army investigation of an interrogation at the United States prison at Guantanamo Bay. The declassified Army investigation and the corresponding interrogation log show clinical supervision, monitoring and treatment during an interrogation that employed dogs, prolonged sleep deprivation, humiliation, restraint, hypothermia and compulsory intravenous infusions. The interrogation and the involvement of a psychologist, physician and medics violate international and medical norms for the treatment of...
Structural and Functional Studies of FKHR-PAX3, a Reciprocal Fusion Gene of the t(2;13) Chromosomal Translocation in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive pediatric cancer of skeletal muscle. More than 70% of ARMS tumors carry balanced t(2;13) chromosomal translocation that leads to the production of two novel fusion genes, PAX3-FKHR and FKHR-PAX3. While the PAX3-FKHR gene has been intensely studied, the reciprocal FKHR-PAX3 gene has rarely been described. We report here the cloning and functional characterization of the FKHR-PAX3 gene as the first step towards a better understanding of its potential impact on ARMS biology. From RH30 ARMS cells, we detected and isolated three versions of FKHR-PAX3 cDNAs whose C-terminal sequences corresponded to PAX3c, PAX3d, and PAX3e isoforms. Unlike the nuclear-specific localization of PAX3-FKHR, the reciprocal FKHR-PAX3 proteins stayed predominantly in the cytoplasm. FKHR-PAX3 potently inhibited myogenesis in both non-transformed myoblast cells and ARMS cells. We showed that FKHR-PAX3 was not a classic oncogene but could act as a facilitator in oncogenic pathways by stabilizing PAX3-FKHR expression, enhancing cell proliferation, clonogenicity, anchorage-independent growth, and matrix adhesion in vitro, and accelerating the onset of tumor formation in xenograft mouse model in vivo. In addition to these pro-oncogenic behaviors, FKHR-PAX3 also negatively affected cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. Taken together, these functional characteristics suggested that FKHR-PAX3 might have a critical role in the early stage of ARMS development.
Some remarks on Nakagami-m parameter estimation using method of moments

This letter develops new estimators for the Nakagami-m parameter based on real (integer and fractional) sample moments. These moment-based estimators are asymptotically unbiased, efficient, and have lower computational budget compared to the best known integer and real moment estimators [Cheng, J et al., (2002), Eqs. (4) and (9)] but comparable to [Gaeddert, J et al., (2005), Eq. (5)]. Specifically, the asymptotic expansion of sample moments derived in this article provides a generalized closed-form expression for the Nakagami-m parameter without the need for coefficient optimization for different ratios of real moments as needed in [Gaeddert, J et al., (2005)].
Comment on ‘generalized potential flow theory and direct calculation of velocities applied to the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes and the Boussinesq equations’

In a recent paper a generalized potential flow theory and its application to the solution of the Navier–Stokes equation are developed.1 The purpose of this comment is to show that the analysis presented in that paper is in general not correct. We note that the theoretical development of Reference 1 is in fact an extension—although not cited—of some work first done by Hawthorne for steady inviscid flow.2 Hawthorne's solution is correct, and his analysis, which we briefly describe, provides a useful introduction to this note.
The impact of diabetes and obesity on liver histology in patients with hepatitis C.

Aim: An association between diabetes mellitus and HCV has been recognized previously. No study has examined whether there is an independent association between the degree of hepatic fibrosis and the incidence of diabetes in HCV patients when controlling for other risk factors. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 264 consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection at a referral liver centre from January 1991 to December 1999. Demographic background, medical history, laboratory and liver biopsy results were retrieved. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 16.3%. Gender, intravenous drug use, steatosis scores, aminotransferase levels and iron studies were similarly distributed in patients with and without diabetes (all p > 0.05). In contrast, mean age was greater in the diabetic group (49.8 vs. 44.3, p = 0.003). The prevalence of diabetes was substantially higher in African-Americans (p = 0.001) and those with BMI > 30 (p = 0.015). Although the fibrosis score was higher in diabetics (ρ = 0.14, p = 0.03), that association did not remain significant when controlling for diabetes risk factors (p > 0.3). The degree of steatosis and fibrosis both tended to increase with increasing BMI (ρ = 0.47, p < 0.001 and ρ = 0.13, p = 0.03, respectively). Even after controlling for diabetes, age, gender, race, and current alcohol use, those associations remained (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes in our group of HCV patients was high, consistent with other studies. Diabetes is not an independent predictor of degree of fibrosis. Body mass index is an independent predictor of both fibrosis and steatosis in HCV patients.
Immunological Concepts and the Combination of Cyclophosphamide with 5-Aza-2′-Deoxycytidine on L1210 in Vivo

Experiments were designed to demonstrate the synergism of low dose cyclophosphamide (CY), (15 mg/kg or 45 mg/M2) in combination with 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine (DAC). This dose of CY increased the cytotoxic response to DAC on L1210 tumor in mice by an additional 4 logs of L1210 cell kill or an approximate doubling of the response to DAC alone. These data support the hypothesis that CY at this low dose selectively inhibits suppressor t-cells which normally function to prevent the full cytotoxic potential of DAC from being realized.
Distracted driving impairs police patrol officer driving performance

Purpose – Most US states exempt police officers from restrictive distracted laws, and most agencies require officers to use mobile data computers while driving. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a text-based distraction task on officer driving performance. Design/methodology/approach – Experienced police patrol officers (n=80) participated in controlled laboratory experiments during which they drove a high-fidelity driving simulator on four separate occasions; twice immediately following five consecutive 10:40 hour patrol shifts (fatigued condition) and again 72 hours after completing the last shift in a cycle (rested condition). In each condition, officers drove identical, counterbalanced 15-minute courses with and without distraction tasks. The research used a within- and between-subjects design. Findings – A generalized linear mixed-model analysis of driving performance showed that officers’ distracted driving performance had significantly greater lane deviation (F=88.58, df=1,308, ...
Counter-Insurgents of the Blue Revolution? Parasites and Diseases Affecting Aquaculture and Science

Abstract: Aquaculture is the fastest-growing segment of food production and is expected to supply a growing portion of animal protein for consumption by humans. Because industrial aquaculture developed only recently compared to industrial agriculture, its development occurred within the context of a growing environmental awareness and acknowledgment of environmental issues associated with industrial farming. As such, parasites and diseases have become central criticisms of commercial aquaculture. This focus on parasites and diseases, however, has created a nexus of opportunities for research that has facilitated considerable scientific advances in the fields of parasitology and aquaculture. This paper reviews Myxobolus cerebralis, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, white spot syndrome virus, and assorted flatworms as select marquee aquaculture pathogens, summarizes the status of the diseases caused by each and their impacts on aquaculture, and highlights some of the significant contributions these pathogens have m...
Electrothermally activated paraffin microactuators

A new family of electrothermally activated microactuators that can provide both large displacements and forces, are simple to fabricate, and are easily integrated with a large variety of microelectronic and microfluidic components are presented. The actuators use the high volumetric expansion of a sealed, surface micromachined patch of paraffin heated near its melting point to deform a sealing diaphragm. Two types of actuators have been fabricated using a simple three mask fabrication process. The first device structure consists of a 9 /spl mu/m thick circularly patterned paraffin layer ranging in diameter from 400 to 800 /spl mu/m all covered with a 4-/spl mu/m-thick metallized p-xylylene sealing diaphragm. All fabricated devices produced a 2.7-/spl mu/m-peak center deflection, consistent with a simple first order theory. The second actuator structure uses a constrained volume reservoir that magnifies the diaphragm deflection producing consistently 3.2 /spl mu/m center diaphragm deflection with a 3-/spl mu/m-thick paraffin actuation layer. Microactuators were constructed on both glass and silicon substrates. The actuators fabricated on glass substrates used between 50-200 mW of electrical power with response times ranging between 30-50 ms. The response time for silicon devices was much faster (3-5 ms) at the expense of a larger electrical power (500-2000 mW).
THE ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN INTERPRETING HISTORICAL VARIABILITY

Significant climate anomalies have characterized the last 1000 yr in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Two warm, dry periods of 150- and 200-yr duration occurred during AD 900-1350, which were followed by anomalously cold climates, known as the Little Ice Age, that lasted from AD 1400 to 1900. Climate in the last century has been significantly warmer. Regional biotic and physical response to these climatic periods occurred. Climate variability presents challenges when interpreting historical variability, including the need to accommodate climate effects when comparing current ecosystems to historical con- ditions, especially if comparisons are done to evaluate causes (e.g., human impacts) of dif- ferences, or to develop models for restoration of current ecosystems. Many historical studies focus on "presettlement" periods, which usually fall within the Little Ice Age. Thus, it should be assumed that ecosystems inferred for these historical periods responded to different climates than those at present, and management implications should be adjusted accordingly. The warmer centuries before the Little Ice Age may be a more appropriate analogue to the present, although no historic period is likely to be better as a model than an understanding of what conditions would be at present without intervention. Understanding the climate context of historical reconstruction studies, and adjusting implications to the present, should strengthen the value of historical variability research to management.
Use of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Identify Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack With Low Yield of Cardiovascular Sources of Embolus on Transesophageal Echocardiography

Background and Purpose— Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is associated with systemic atherosclerosis and cardioembolic conditions and predicts the risk of recurrent strokes. We sought to establish the relationship between CIMT and cardiovascular sources of embolus (CSE) on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and hypothesized that a noninvasive strategy of CIMT assessment and transthoracic echocardiography bubble study would identify patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in whom TEE would provide little incremental diagnostic yield. Methods— In 180 patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack of undetermined origin referred for TEE, we prospectively performed CIMT measurement/plaque screen (Phase 1, n=96) or CIMT measurement/plaque screen and transthoracic echocardiography bubble study (Phase 2, n=84) before TEE. Phase 1 results were used to construct receiver operating characteristic curves to demonstrate the ability of CIMT to detect CSE on TEE and to identify t...
Female mate choice and the potential for ornament evolution in túngara frogs Physalaemus pustulosus

The potential for ornament evolution in response to sexual selection rests on the interaction between the permissive- ness or selectivity of female preferences and the constraints on male development of signaling related traits. We investigate the former by determining how latent female preferences either exaggerate the magnitude of current traits (i.e. elaborations) or favor novel traits (i.e. innovations). In tungara frogs, females prefer complex mating calls (whine-chucks) to simple calls (whine only). The whine is critical for mate recognition while the chuck further enhances the attractiveness of the call. Here we use a combina- tion of synthetic and natural stimuli to examine latent female preferences. Our results show that a diversity of stimuli, including conspecific and heterospecific calls as well as predator-produced and human-made sounds, increase the attractiveness of a call when added to a whine. These stimuli do not make simple calls more attractive than a whine-chuck, however. In rare cases we found stimuli that added to the whine decrease the attractiveness of the call. Overall, females show strong preferences for both elaborations and innovations of the chuck. We argue that the emancipation of these acoustic adornments from mate recognition allows such female permissiveness, and that male constraints on signal evolution are probably more important in explaining why males evolved their specific adornment. Experimentally probing latent female preferences for stimuli out of the species' range is a useful means to gain insights about the potential of female choice to influence signal evolution and thus the astounding diversity in male sexually-selected traits (Current Zoology 56 (3): 343-357, 2010).
Methemoglobinemia after a mediastinal stab wound.

Abstract Background Methemoglobinemia is a relatively common, potentially fatal syndrome resulting from oxidative stress. Of the numerous causes identified, toxins are the most common precipitating event. Objectives Describe methemoglobinemia after a stab wound in a man with previously undiagnosed cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency. Case Report In this case report, we describe a 27-year-old man with no past medical history who developed clinically significant methemoglobinemia after a mediastinal stab wound. After an extensive toxicologic work-up failed to reveal the etiology of the symptoms, genetic testing was performed, which revealed the individual to have a previously undiagnosed cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency. It is hypothesized that the physiologic stress from the expanding mediastinal stab wound resulted in enough oxidative stress to cause methemoglobinemia in this predisposed individual. A discussion of methemoglobinemia ensues. Conclusion This case describes an uncommon presentation of a common toxicologic condition and presents a discussion regarding the evaluation, management, and pathophysiology of methemoglobinemia.
Polarographic and electrochemical studies of some aromatic and heterocyclic nitro compounds, part I: General mechanistic aspects

Comparing reduction potentials of aromatic nitro compounds with those of corresponding nitroso compounds, by studying shifts of half-wave and peak potentials with pH and by following the decrease of limiting current in buffered 35% DMF-water mixtures, the sequence of protons and electrons in the four-electron reduction step was proved to be: H+, e, H+, e, 2e, 2H+. Arylhydroxylamines formed in the four-electron reduction of nitro compounds can be protonated and further reduced, they can undergo dehydration (provided that the dehydration product is stable), they can undergo chemical reactions with intermediates of the reduction of the nitro group, like ArNO, they can be electrooxidized to nitrosobenzenes (which can undergo chemical reactions) or they can react with carbonyl groups when present. Stabilization of the dehydrated form can occur in quinonemethide (nifedipine) or in some quinone-like heterocyclic derivatives. Side reactions of ArNHOH and ArNO are demonstrated by smaller peaks in CV and by controlled potential electrolysis. Reactions of ArNHOH with carbonyl groups were observed by formation of new waves of nitrones in the reduction of nitrobenzenaldehydes.
MsrB1 and MICALs Regulate Actin Assembly and Macrophage Function via Reversible Stereoselective Methionine Oxidation

Redox control of protein function involves oxidation and reduction of amino acid residues, but the mechanisms and regulators involved are insufficiently understood. Here, we report that in conjunction with Mical proteins, methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase B1 (MsrB1) regulates mammalian actin assembly via stereoselective methionine oxidation and reduction in a reversible, site-specific manner. Two methionine residues in actin are specifically converted to methionine-R-sulfoxide by Mical1 and Mical2 and reduced back to methionine by selenoprotein MsrB1, supporting actin disassembly and assembly, respectively. Macrophages utilize this redox control during cellular activation by stimulating MsrB1 expression and activity as a part of innate immunity. We identified the regulatory role of MsrB1 as a Mical antagonist in orchestrating actin dynamics and macrophage function. More generally, our study shows that proteins can be regulated by reversible site-specific methionine-R-sulfoxidation.
Reconfigurable, data-driven resource allocation in complex systems: practice and theoretical foundations

We focus on the development of a data-driven performance engineering framework to automate the process of robust, workload-aware resource allocation and management in today's complex Internet servers. Our focus is on the development of better understanding of the workload resource demands and on the development and implementation of efficient methodologies for bottleneck identification and resource allocation at the system level. Here, we give an overview of a testbed for conducting a detailed workload characterization in multi-tiered web servers that serve dynamic pages. We present some preliminary workload characterization results that can help in identifying different resource bottlenecks and the workload conditions under which these bottlenecks are triggered. We also present preliminary results on new analytic models that one can use to model multi-tiered systems.
Therapeutic hypothermia for acute ischemic stroke

Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator remains the only US FDA-approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. However, the very limited time window for its administration restricts its usefulness. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that, given the numerous pathways via which cerebral ischemia causes cell death, the capacity to inhibit multiple mechanisms simultaneously may provide additive or synergistic beneficial clinical effects for stroke patients. Although no clinical trials have yet investigated the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia in focal cerebral ischemia, its pleiotropic neuroprotective actions, positive results in preclinical studies, as well as proven enhancement of neurologic outcomes in survivors of cardiac arrest and newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, make this neuroprotective strategy highly promising. This review presents an overview of the potential role of hypothermia in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and discusses ischemic cell death path...
Annexin 2: A novel human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag binding protein involved in replication in monocyte-derived macrophages

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in the major natural target cells, CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages, is parallel in many aspects of the virus life cycle. However, it differs as to viral assembly and budding, which take place on plasma membranes in T cells and on endosomal membranes in macrophages. It has been postulated that cell type-specific host factors may aid in directing viral assembly to distinct destinations. In this study we defined annexin 2 (Anx2) as a novel HIV Gag binding partner in macrophages. Anx2-Gag binding was confined to productively infected macrophages and was not detected in quiescently infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in which an HIV replication block was mapped to the late stages of the viral life cycle (A. V. Albright, R. M. Vos, and F. Gonzalez-Scarano, Virology 325:328-339, 2004). We demonstrate that the Anx2-Gag interaction likely occurs at the limiting membranes of late endosomes/multivesicular bodies and that Anx2 depletion is associated with a significant decline in the infectivity of released virions; this coincided with incomplete Gag processing and inefficient incorporation of CD63. Cumulatively, our data suggest that Anx2 is essential for the proper assembly of HIV in MDM.
Advances in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is less than 10%. Median survival with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) therapy is approximately 12 months. Recent additions to the chemotherapy armamentarium for this disease have begun to prolong median survival times. In trials in which patients are exposed to all three approved chemotherapy agents, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and 5-FU/LV, or capecitabine during the course of their disease, median survival has reached 20 months. The addition of oxaliplatin and irinotecan to 5-FU/LV regimens has also led to the maintenance of quality of life for longer intervals than were traditionally observed with 5-FU/LV alone. Current standard first-line regimens for metastatic CRC are FOLFOX (infusional 5-FU/LV with oxaliplatin) and FOLFIRI (infusional 5-FU/LV with irinotecan). The addition of bevacizumab to a two-drug regimen (irinotecan with 5-FU/LV) prolongs median survival to 20 months, with a modest amount of additional toxicity. Improvements in this median survival have not yet been realized with modifications to the current standard regimens; however, the oral agent capecitabine appears to be a reasonable substitute for infusional 5-FU/LV in combination regimens or as a single agent, with the advantage of reducing the inconvenience of the long infusion time. Ongoing investigations will identify a place for capecitabine, epidermal growth factor inhibitors, and new cytotoxics in the treatment of metastatic CRC.
Processes and Stages of Change: Counseling With the Transtheoretical Model of Change

Technical eclecticism and theoretical integration literature has typically examined how multiple approaches to counseling practice may lead to more comprehensive and functional outcomes. Few have proposed an integration of approaches from a scientist-practitioner perspective; many others have neglected the richness found in the body of existing theory. The purpose of this synthesis is to highlight the contributions that the Transtheoretical Model of Change (J. O. Prochaska & C. C. DiClemente, 1984; J. O. Prochaska & J. C. Norcross, 1994) has for technical eclecticism and theoretical integration. The intervention implications of processes and stages of change are discussed.
Individual and ecological correlation in a general context

This is a methodological study, applicable to all levels of living systems, which contrasts system wide measures with measures of individual units or components. If one samples K units and, in Unit i, samples ni observations of two characteristics, the correlation between these characteristics within a unit, the individual correlation, may be a different parameter from the correlation between summary measures of each unit, the ecological or systemwide correlation. If such a distinction is not taken into consideration in designing studies to evaluate relationships of characteristics of variable systems and in analyzing data from such studies, confusing and inaccurate inferences may be drawn. This general methodological point is illustrated by a study of testosterone level and orgasmic frequency in the human male.
Is Prolonged DAPT Apt or a Study in Zero-Sum Games?

Interventional cardiology has focused on issues of adjunctive therapy since the initial case of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed by Andreas Gruntzig in September 1977. Several issues bear emphasis: 1) the need to mitigate or eliminate the initial adverse effects of
Low regularity a priori bounds for the modified Korteweg-de Vries equation

We study the local well-posedness in the Sobolev space H^{s}(R) for the modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation ∂_{t}u+∂_{x}³u±∂_{x}u³=0 on R. Kenig-Ponce-Vega KPV2 and Christ-Colliander-Tao CCT1 established that the data-to-solution map fails to be uniformly continuous on a fixed ball in H^{s}(R) when s CCT2 and Koch-Tataru KT employing a version of Bourgain's Fourier restriction spaces adapted to time intervals whose length depends on the spatial frequency.
Nanocomposites for bone repair and osteointegration with soft tissues

This chapter introduces the nanocomposite materials for orthopedic applications and bone-tissue regeneration. Bone composition, physiology and healing mechanism are introduced as necessary basics to understand this complicated organ. Current strategies and future trends of bone-tissue repair and regeneration are discussed to demonstrate the importance and challenges of bone-tissue engineering and the related materials issues. The materials discussion includes polymers, ceramics, glass, metals and the nanocomposites. The osteointegration of nanocomposites is outlined as a separate section for its importance in bone soft-tissue regeneration.