cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-delay-reliability of present and next generation STT-RAM technology

STT-RAMs show the promise to be the universal memory device with applications in embedded devices. There are outstanding challenges that need to be addressed before a wide-scale adoption of this technology happens. The solution to these challenges lie in integration of emerging high performance spintronic materials as well as clever circuit based techniques to operate these devices at their peak performance. In this work we present a material-device-circuit co-design framework that connects the properties of materials and transport physics to circuits and systems performance. To illustrate the use of this framework we study present and next generation STT-RAM technology in terms of energy-delay-reliability performance metrics and suggest possible directions for future generation devices.
Snakebites Treated in North Carolina Emergency Departments, October 2013–September 2015

Introduction North Carolina (NC) is home to more than 30 species of indigenous venomous and nonvenomous snakes. Snakebites can cause debilitating and potentially fatal injuries. However, there is a lack of current information available describing the incidence of snakebites in NC. Therefore, we performed this study of snakebites treated in NC emergency departments (EDs) using the statewide syndromic surveillance system, the North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT). Methods This was a descriptive epidemiologic study characterizing NC ED visits collected by NC DETECT between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2015 with an assigned International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code or keyword indicating a snakebite. Results Over the 2-year period, the absolute count of snakebite-related ED visits was 2080 visits with an incidence rate of 10.4 visits per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval: 10.0–10.9). The frequency of snakebite was highest during the summer months and evening hours. Men had higher incidence rates of snakebite-related ED visits than women, and residents of the Coastal Plain geographic region of NC had higher incidence rates than persons in other regions. Conclusions The current study indicated that snakebites are common injuries treated at NC EDs, with a strong seasonal and geographic component. Additional research is needed to further characterize the circumstances associated with snakebites for the development of preventive measures and public health education.
The roles of work and family in men's lives: Testing the social cognitive model of career self-management

Abstract We tested a social-cognitive model of career self-management (CSM; Lent & Brown, 2013) in the context of the multiple role management among a sample of 693 working men. The findings of the current study indicated that (a) conformity to masculine norms is linked to work-family positive spillover both directly and indirectly through multiple role self-efficacy; (b) the hypothesized relations were all significant for the full sample; (c) CSM predictors accounted for a significant amount of variance in working men's work-family positive spillover and job, family, and life satisfaction; and (d) the direct and indirect effects among the variables did not vary across participants' relationship status and ethnic minority status. Taken together, these findings provide strong support for the validity of CSM in explaining the multiple role management and well-being of working men. Implications for research and practice are discussed in relation to working men's work-family enrichment and masculine norms.
Survey of the near wake of an axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine in quiescent conditions

Abstract Flow field results are presented for the near-wake of an axial flow hydrokinetic turbine in quiescent flow conditions. The turbine is a 1/25 scale, 0.8 m diameter, two bladed turbine modeled after the Sandia National Laboratory Reference Model 1 Tidal Current Turbine. All measurements were obtained in the large towing tank facility at the United States Naval Academy with the turbine towed at a constant carriage speed and a tip speed ratio corresponding to maximum power production. The turbine is scale independent with respect to lift and very slightly dependent with respect to drag for these conditions ( R e c @ 0.7 R ≈ 4 × 10 5 ). The wake velocity field data was obtained using a two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. PIV ensembles were obtained for phase locked conditions. This paper focuses on characterizing the velocity and the mean flow structure in the near wake. Specifically, the downstream evolution of coherent tip vortices shed by the rotor blades were examined. Vortex aperiodicity was shown to increase with downstream distance. The streamwise spacing between adjacent vortex cores was shown to be constant within a diameter downstream of the rotor. Further downstream, significant vortex filament interaction was observed, including leapfrogging. This interaction is thought to be the primary mechanism for wake breakdown and re-energization.
The Meaning of the Baccalaureate

What does it mean to get a baccalaureate degree? The author explores current and not-so-current thinking about the purpose and value of the undergraduate degree.
The Reconstruction Conjecture for Balanced Signed Graphs

The Reconstruction Conjecture for a signed graph S with p ≧ 3 vertices asserts that the deck D(S) = (S 1 , S 2 ,…,S p ) of vertex-deleted subgraphs determines S (up to isomorphism). It is equivalent to the Reconstruction Conjecture for graphs in the sense that each implies the other. For connected signed graphs S with edges of both signs, we prove that if S is balanced, then the positive subgraph of S is reconstructable.
Synthesis and Biological Assessment of Sulfonic Acid-Based Glucagon Antagonists

Introduction The structure-activity relationship of glucagon has been studied with a particular emphasis on the identification and refinement for selective receptor antagonism. Replacement of Asp with Glu, in addition to the deletion of His yields a potent antagonist [desHis, Glu]glucagon amide, which is purported to retain weak partial agonist activity [1]. Sulfonic acid-based amino acids are structurally and electronically homologous to the more native carboxylic acid containing amino acids [2]. The dramatic biological significance exhibited by the subtle replacement of Asp with Glu attracted our attention to explore the suitability of a set of sulfonic acid-based glucagon homologs for Asp and Glu.
Sensory System Specializations

This article discusses brain organization in two species with well-developed somatosensory systems: star-nosed moles and naked mole rats, both of which live underground and depend on touch to navigate their environments. Each has developed unique sensory organs and corresponding specializations in the brain. These include elaboration of mechanoreceptors in the periphery and expansion of touch-processing areas in the neocortex. Modular components of cortical maps are illustrated and compared in these species and in laboratory mice.
Critical Parameters for Evaluating Coin Cells and Pouch Cells of Rechargeable Li-Metal Batteries

Summary Lithium (Li)-metal batteries have regained broad interest in the battery research community. Although many studies on Li anode have been published in recent years, it is difficult to evaluate and compare these advances for practical applications. A key challenge is a gap between materials and component properties and the achievable large-format cell-level performance. In this paper, we investigate the critical experimental parameters that determine the cycle number of coin cells to understand the performance variations reported in the literature. To define the range of cell parameters, we exemplify a representative Li-metal pouch cell with specific energy of 300 Wh/kg to provide an effective validation of electrode materials and accurate cell performance evaluations. Based on the pouch-cell-level requirements, we propose a set of coin-cell parameters and testing conditions to expedite the discovery of new materials and their full integration into realistic battery systems.
Examining the impact of head-mounted display virtual reality on the science self-efficacy of high schoolers

ABSTRACTTraditional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is sometimes criticized for lacking approaches to present real-world practices and phenomena beyond naked eyes...
The impact of voluntary and nonpayment policies in reducing early-term elective deliveries among privately insured and Medicaid enrollees.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of a voluntary pledge policy and a mandatory nonpayment policy on reducing early-term elective deliveries among privately insured and Medicaid-enrolled individuals. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Birth certificate data from 2009 to 2015, from South Carolina and 16 control states. STUDY DESIGN We use a difference-in-differences approach to test the impact of two different policy types. Outcomes include the probability of an early elective delivery, gestation time, and birthweight. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The voluntary pledge and mandatory nonpayment policy reduced overall EED rates from 13.1 to 11.4 (-12.7 percent, [P < .05]), and 10.9 ([-16.6 percent, P < .05]), respectively. Compared to the privately insured, we found greater relative decreases in Medicaid EED rate, the proportion of Medicaid births occurring before 39 weeks, and the proportion of Medicaid babies born with low birthweight. CONCLUSIONS Both voluntary and mandatory nonpayment policies are effective in reducing the rate of EEDs, especially among Medicaid enrollees. Given the high costs and poor outcomes associated with EEDs, policy makers may consider using either tool as a way to improve care value.
Organizational Membership Negotiation of Boundary Spanners: Becoming a Competent Jack of All Trades and Master of . . . Interactional Expertise:

Organizations hire in-house communication professionals to maximize efficiency in managing information and stakeholder relationships across various internal and external boundaries. The boundary-sp...
Association between abdominal ultrasound findings, the specific canine pancreatic lipase assay, clinical severity indices, and clinical diagnosis in dogs with pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND A clinical diagnosis (CDx) of pancreatitis includes evaluation of clinical signs, abdominal ultrasound (AUS), and pancreatic lipase. However, practitioners are using AUS to diagnose pancreatitis and are using AUS severity to guide decisions. The validity of this is unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine whether (1) there is a correlation between AUS, specific canine pancreatic lipase (Spec cPL) assay, and CDx; (2) individual AUS abnormalities correlate more closely with CDx than others; (3) AUS severity mirrors clinical severity indices; (4) changes in AUS can be used as a marker for changes in Spec cPL or CDx; and (5) the sensitivity and specificity of AUS for pancreatitis. ANIMALS One hundred fifty-seven dogs. METHODS In this retrospective case study, inclusion criteria were signs of gastrointestinal, pancreatic disease, or both, in addition to having a Spec cPL and AUS performed within 30 hours. Information extracted from the records included bloodwork, Spec cPL, AUS images/clips, and severity of ultrasonographic findings. RESULTS AUS was weakly correlated with Spec cPL (rs = .0178, P = .03) and moderately correlated with CDx (rs = .379, P = <.001). Pancreatic size (rs = .285, P = <.001), echogenicity (rs = .365, P = <.001), and mesenteric echogenicity (rs = .343, P = <.001) were correlated with CDx. Change in AUS was not correlated with Spec cPL or CDx changes. When pancreatic enlargement, echogenicity, or altered mesenteric echogenicity were required for a diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.8, 97.7) and 43% (95% CI 34.0, 51.6). When all 3 criteria were required, the sensitivity and specificity were 43% (95% CI 24.5, 62.8) and 92% (95% CI 85.3, 95.7). CONCLUSIONS AUS should not be used in isolation to diagnose pancreatitis and is a poor indicator of severity.
Proteotoxic stress promotes entrapment of ribosomes and misfolded proteins in a shared cytosolic compartment

Cells continuously monitor protein synthesis to prevent accumulation of aberrant polypeptides. Insufficient capacity of cellular degradative systems, chaperone shortage or high levels of mistranslation by ribosomes can result in proteotoxic stress and endanger proteostasis. One of the least explored reasons for mistranslation is the incorrect functioning of the ribosome itself. To understand how cells deal with ribosome malfunction, we introduced mutations in the Expansion Segment 7 (ES7L) of 25S rRNA that allowed the formation of mature, translationally active ribosomes but induced proteotoxic stress and compromised cell viability. The ES7L-mutated ribosomes escaped nonfunctional rRNA Decay (NRD) and remained stable. Remarkably, ES7L-mutated ribosomes showed increased segregation into cytoplasmic foci containing soluble misfolded proteins. This ribosome entrapment pathway, termed TRAP (Translational Relocalization with Aberrant Polypeptides), was generalizable beyond the ES7L mutation, as wild-type ribosomes also showed increased relocalization into the same compartments in cells exposed to proteotoxic stressors. We propose that during TRAP, assembled ribosomes associated with misfolded nascent chains move into cytoplasmic compartments enriched in factors that facilitate protein quality control. In addition, TRAP may help to keep translation at its peak efficiency by preventing malfunctioning ribosomes from active duty in translation.
Somatic Generation of Antibody Diversity1

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the somatic generation of antibody diversity. It was shown that a typical antibody molecule is composed of two identical light chains and two identical heavy chains. It had also been found that each of these two types of chain exhibits great sequence variability in the amino terminal region between one antibody molecule and the next and no sequence variability in the carboxyl terminal regions. Use of restriction enzymes and recombinant DNA methods allowed resolution of a long-standing and central issue in immunology, the genetic origins of antibody diversity. It turned out that an organism does not inherit even a single complete gene for antibody polypeptide chains. Rather, the genetic information is transmitted in germline as no more than several hundred gene segments. Through a series of specialized somatic recombination occurring specifically during the differentiation of B lymphocytes, these gene segments are assembled into tens of thousands of complete genes. In the immune system, organisms have exploited two major processes for modification of DNA, recombination and mutation, as a means to diversify somatically the limited amount of inherited genetic information to cope with the vastly diverse antigen universe. Somatic diversification allows the individual organism to generate a virtually limitless number of lymphocyte variants.
A practical guide for crystal growth of van der Waals layered materials

This Tutorial provides an overview of the techniques that are most commonly utilized to grow bulk van der Waals crystals. The materials discussed were selected to highlight various challenges that are often encountered during crystal growth. In relatively equal parts, the text covers melt-based techniques, vapor transport growths, and the characterization of crystal quality with an emphasis on structural and chemical homogeneities. Pertinent details are given regarding the growth and characterization of many specific compounds, with examples mostly drawn from our own research, and an effort is made to highlight cases where the growths offer a particular lesson or the conditions have a significant impact on the crystal’s physical properties. A primary goal is to motivate more researchers to grow crystals by providing general descriptions and considerations for different growth techniques and equipment while sharing some of our own lessons learned and best practices for the growth and characterization of layered van der Waals crystals. The Tutorial is not written solely for aspiring crystal growers, however, because any researcher who collaborates with a crystal grower can benefit from having a greater understanding and appreciation of the processes of crystal growth and materials development.
Let us stand with Julia! International Students or Immigrant Workers in the United States

According to the USA Facts, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted 1,096,611 green cards, 707,265 naturalizations, 38,687 asylum claims, 8,742,068 visas, and 387,842 DACA cases in 2018 According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2020), more than 21,460 international students (also known as nonresident aliens) received doctoral degrees, 135,942 received master's degrees, 84,2550 bachelor's degrees, and 28,374 associate degrees According to IIE Open Doors data, New York University (19,605), University of Southern California (16,340), Northeastern University (16,075), University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (13,497), Arizona State University (13,324), University of California-Los Angeles (11,942), Purdue University (10,943), University of California-San Diego (10,943), and Boston University (10,598) are the top institutions hosting the highest number of international students According to NAFSA (2019), these international students contributed nearly $41 billion to the U S economy and supported 459,20 jobs during 2018-2019
Treatment of Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia With Use of Low Dose Oxcarbazepine: Experience at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Center. (2038)

Objective: Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) has classically been treated with carbamazepine and phenytoin in children and adults. Side effect profiles of these drugs limit their use, especially in those that require prolonged treatment. Scant literature exists regarding dosing regimens and efficacy of other antiepileptics for this disorder. We describe a series of nine patients with PKD treated effectively with low doses of oxcarbazepine. Background: Paroxysmal dyskinesias are a rare group of conditions that manifest as abnormal involuntary movements occurring episodically and last seconds to minutes. In PKD, attacks are induced by sudden movements and last seconds to minutes, often occurring 20 or more times daily. Treatment has been carbamazepine or phenytoin with doses in children comparable to those used for epilepsy. Design/Methods: A retrospective chart review included patients under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of PKD (based on ICD9/10 codes and/or clinical documentation) evaluated at Texas Children’s Neurology clinics from 2012–2019 and trialed on oxcarbazepine. Results: Twenty charts were queried; 10 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age of onset was 9.45 years. Movements described included dystonia (90%), chorea (50%), or a combination of both (40%). PRRT2 pathogenic variants were identified in 60% of patients. Medical history included benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE) (20%) and migraine (20%). Pertinent family history included PKD (40%), BFIE (10%), migraine (10%), essential tremor (30%), and cervical dystonia (10%). Oxcarbazepine was effective in obtaining complete remission in 9 patients and was the only medication utilized in 8. Average lowest effective dose was 617 mg daily (10.8 mg/kg/day) with no adverse effects. Conclusions: Carbamazepine and phenytoin have been known to be effective in management of PKD. In our cohort, oxcarbazepine was found to be effective and in doses much lower than those used in epilepsy without adverse effects. We propose a trial of oxcarbazepine for first line treatment of PKD. Disclosure: Dr. Hull has nothing to disclose. Dr. Abid has nothing to disclose. Dr. Parnes has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Kadmon Corporation, Teva Neuroscience, and Medlink.
Surveillance of tuberculosis and treatment outcomes following screening and therapy interventions among marriage-migrants and labor-migrants from high TB endemic countries in Taiwan.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) among migrants from high-risk countries and underling interventions were concerned for disease control. This study aimed to assess the TB trends among marriage-migrants with the 1-2-round vs. labor-migrants with the four-round TB screenings in the period of the first four post-entry years; pre-entry screenings by an initial chest X-ray (CXR) were conducted during 2012-2015, and a friendly treatment policy was introduced in 2014. Methods TB data of migrants during 2012-2015 were obtained from the National TB Registry Database and analyzed. The incidences, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes were assessed to explore the impact of underlying interventions. Results During post-entry 0-4 years, the TB incidence rates among marriage-migrants ranged 11-90 per 100,000 person-years, with 60.8% bacteria-positive and 28.2% smear-positive cases. Whereas among labor migrants, the incidence rates ranged 67-120 per 100,000 person-years, with 43.6% bacteria-positive and 13.7% smear-positive cases. All migrants originated from Southeast Asia following pre-entry health screening in 2012-2015. The TB cases among marriage-migrants were with a higher proportion of sputum-smear-positivity (SS+) (OR: 4.82, 95% CI [3.7-6.34]) and CXR cavitation (OR: 2.90, 95% CI [2.10-4.01]). Marriage-migrants with TB had treatment completion rate of >90%, which was above the WHO target. For labor-migrants with TB, when compared the period of post- vs. pre-implementation of the friendly therapy policy that eliminated compulsory repatriation, the overall treatment completion rate of those who stayed in Taiwan improved by 30.9% (95% CI [24.3-37.6]) vs. 6.7% (95% CI [3.8-9.7]), which exceeded a 4.88-fold (95% CI: 3.83-6.22) improvement. Additionally, the treatment initiation rate within 30 days of diagnosis for SS- TB and B- TB cases during post- vs. pre-implementation of the therapy policy was increased, that is, 77.1% vs. 70.9% (OR: 1.38, 95% CI [1.12-1.70]) and 78% vs. 77% (OR: 1.64, 95% CI [1.38-1.95]). Conclusion Multiple CXR screenings could identify more TB cases with sputum-smear-negativity (SS-) TB at the early-stage, introducing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening might save underlying efforts. For those labor-migrants with TB who stayed in the receiving country, the friendly TB therapy policy not only significantly improved the treatment completion but also the early treatment initiation.
Evaluating and re-evaluating intra- and inter-species social transmission of food preferences in domestic dogs

Abstract Social-transmission of food preference is a robust behavioral phenomenon in rodents and other species, but less work has evaluated this phenomenon in broader taxa and to what degree social-transmission can occur between species. Here we show that over the span of three experiments that consisted of a human-dog, a dog-dog, and a replication study of a dog-dog demonstrator-observer test, we did not observe successful social transmission of food preferences across all three experiments. For our first experiment, we investigated whether pet dogs acquire food preference from their owners using a two-bowl preference test. The results suggested that our dogs did not acquire a preference for the flavor consumed by their owners. This then led us to investigate whether this failure was the result of an inter-species failure, so we replicated the experiment using two familiar dogs as the demonstrator and observer. The results for Experiment Two also suggested that our participant dogs do not acquire food preference from a canine demonstrator. A third experiment attempted a direct replication of the Lupfer-Johnson and Ross (2007) that found dog-dog transmission of food preferences. Our results again indicated that our participant dogs did not acquire food preference from demonstrators. Over the span of three experiments, our results did not show clear canine food preferences for the food consumed by a demonstrator (human or dog).
Shared-Memory Parallel Hash-Based Stream Join in Continuous Data Streams

Stream join is known as one of the most important and computationally expensive stream operations in data stream management systems (DSMSs). Parallelization techniques that leverage modern multi-core processor have been proposed for stream join in literature. Equi-join is the most frequent type of join in query workloads, and symmetric hash join (SHJ) is the most effective algorithm to process that in data streams. In this paper, as the first research work, we propose a shared-memory parallel symmetric hash join algorithm on multi-core processors for equi-based stream join. Also, we introduce a novel parallel algorithm called chunk-based pairing hash join that significantly elevates throughput and scalability. We have performed extensive experimental evaluation that demonstrates high scalability and low latency for our proposed algorithms.
Terminology Used to Describe Human Variation in Forensic Anthropology

To understand the implications of the forensic anthropological practice of “ancestry” estimation, we explore terminology that has been employed in forensic anthropological research. The goal is to evaluate how such terms can often circulate within social contexts as a result, which may center forensic anthropologists as constituting “race” itself through analysis and categorization. This research evaluates terminology used in anthropological articles of the Journal of Forensic Sciences between 1972 and 2020 (n = 314). Terminology was placed into two categories: classifiers and descriptors. Classifiers were standardized into one of five options: “race,” “ancestry,” “population,” “ethnic,” or “other.” Descriptors included terms used to describe individuals within these classificatory systems. We also compared these terms to those in the NamUs database and the U.S. census. Our results found that the terms “ancestry” and “race” are often conflated and “ancestry” largely supplanted “race” in the 1990s without a similar change in research approach. The NamUs and census terminology are not the same as that used in forensic anthropological research; illustrating a disconnect in the terms used to identify the missing, unidentified, and in social contexts with those used in anthropological research. We provide histories of all of these terms and conclude with suggestions for how to use terminology in the future. It is important for forensic anthropologists to be cognizant of the terms they use in medicolegal contexts, publications, and in public and/or professional spaces. The continued use of misrepresentative and improper language further marginalizes groups and perpetuates oppression rooted in systemic racism.
Extraction of hydrophilic metabolites from Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes for metabolomic analysis.

Metabolomics is an increasingly common analytical approach for investigating metabolic networks of pathogenic organisms. This may be of particular use in the study of parasitic infections due to the intrinsic metabolic connection between the parasite and its host. In vitro cultures of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum present a valuable platform to elucidate the structure and dynamics of the parasite’s metabolic network and to determine the mechanisms of action of antimalarial drugs and drug resistance mutations. Accurately measuring metabolite levels requires a reproducible method for quantifying intracellular metabolites. Here we present a simple protocol for extracting hydrophilic metabolites from P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte cultures.
Theories of Truth as Assessment Criteria in Judgment and Decision Making

Hammond (1996) argued that much of the research in the field of judgment and decision making (JDM) can be categorized as focused on either coherence or correspondence (C&C) and that, in order to understand the findings of the field, one needs to understand the differences between these two criteria. Hammond's claim is that conclusions about the competence of judgments and decisions will depend upon the selection of coherence or correspondence as the criterion (Hammond, 2008). First, I provide an overview of the terms coherence and correspondence (C&C) as philosophical theories of truth and relate them to the field of JDM. Second, I provide an example of Hammond's claim by examining literature on base rate neglect. Third, I examine Hammond's claim as it applies to the broader field of JDM. Fourth, I critique Hammond's claim and suggest that refinements to the C&C distinction are needed. Specifically, the C&C distinction 1) is more accurately applied to criteria than to researchers, 2) should be refined to include two important types of coherence (inter and intrapersonal coherence) and 3) neglects the third philosophical theory of truth, pragmatism. Pragmatism, as a class of criteria in JDM, is defined as goal attainment. In order to provide the most complete assessment of human judgment possible, and understand different findings in the field of JDM, all three criteria should be considered.
Reoperations, redo surgery and other interventions constitute more than one-third of vascular surgery

Objectives: To describe the incidence of reoperations within 30 days, later redo procedures, and other interventions after vascular procedures. Design: Analysis of vascular procedures prospectively recorded in The Swedvasc Registry. Materials and Methods: From 1987 to 1991, 8089 primary interventions were done for acute ischaemia, elective and emergency aortic aneurysms, intermittent claudication, critical leg ischaemia and carotid artery stenosis. Subsequent arterial surgery was identified until the end of 1995. Results: Of an additional 4927 procedures, 24.1% were performed within 30 days of the first operation, 29.6% during the remaining first year, and 14.1%, 10.5% and 8.5% during the following 3 years, respectively. Thus, 15.5–41.5% of patients, depending on the indication, had further vascular surgery within a 4-year period. After operations for acute ischaemia or emergency aortic aneurysms, half of the reinterventions were performed within 30 days. In claudication, critical ischaemia, and after carotid endarterectomy, reinterventions peaked later during the first postoperative year. At 4 years the proportion without repeated surgery was 69%, patient survival 59% and event-free survival 39%. Conclusions: The considerable risk of reintervention after vascular procedures, and the limited life expectancy of patients, should be considered in treatment decisions for vascular disease.
The Intellectual Journey of Hua Loo-keng from China to the Institute for Advanced Study: His Correspondence with Hermann Weyl

This paper explores the intellectual journey of the self-taught Chinese mathematician Hua Loo-keng (1910-1985) from Southwest Associated University (Kunming, Yunnan, China) to the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. The paper seeks to show how during the Sino – Japanese war, a genuine cross-continental mentorship grew between the prolific German mathematician Hermann Weyl (1885-1955) and the gifted mathematician Hua Loo-keng. Their correspondence offers a profound understanding of a solidarity-building effort that can exist in the scientific community. Hermann Weyl had a profound influence on Hua Loo-keng and facilitated his coming to the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Hua Loo-keng who left school at the age of fifteen was able to produce considerable work in number theory, algebra, geometry, and complex analysis. Hermann Weyl had interests that covered wide subfields of mathematics and was also involved in the development of general theory of relativity alongside Albert Einstein.
A novel passive optical network with dynamic wavelength allocation

A novel, high performance passive optical network employs dynamic wavelength allocation to provide bandwidth sharing across multiple physical passive optical networks. Tunable lasers and coarse/fine filtering combine to create a flexible new optical access solution.
Phanerozoic surface history of the Slave craton

[1] New apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometry data and key geologic constraints from Slave craton kimberlites are used to develop a model for the Phanerozoic burial, unroofing, and hypsometric history of the northwestern Canadian shield. AHe dates range from 210 ± 13 to 382 ± 79 Ma, are older in the eastern Slave craton and decrease westward, and resolve the spatial extent, thickness, and history of now-denuded sedimentary units. Results indicate Paleozoic heating to temperatures ≥85–90°C, suggesting regional burial beneath ≥2.8 km of strata while the region was at sea level, followed by the westward migration of unroofing across the craton. This Paleozoic-Mesozoic history does not correlate with sea level change, instead requiring Paleozoic subsidence of the craton followed by surface uplift. The AHe data restrict Cretaceous burial to ≤1.6 km, followed by unroofing, Eocene terrestrial sediment deposition, and removal of Phanerozoic sedimentary cover across the region by present day. The craton underwent ≥300 m of post-100 Ma elevation gain, based on ~100 Ma marine sedimentary xenoliths entrained in ~75–45 Ma kimberlites at modern elevations of 550–600 m. The transition from Paleozoic-Mesozoic subsidence to surface uplift may signal a change from predominantly northern (Franklinian-Innuitian) to western (Canadian Cordillera) plate boundary controls on continental interior processes, with the latter driving the east-to-west wave of unroofing. Canadian Cordillera evolution also affected the Cretaceous-early Tertiary history. Dynamic topography due to changing mantle flow regimes and proximity to sediment sources influenced the Phanerozoic surface evolution of the northwestern Canadian shield.
Race/ethnicity and disease severity in IgA nephropathy

Relatively few U.S.-based studies in chronic kidney disease have focused on Asian/Pacific Islanders. Clinical reports suggest that Asian/Pacific Islanders are more likely to be affected by IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and that the severity of disease is increased in these populations. To explore whether these observations are borne out in a multi-ethnic, tertiary care renal pathology practice, we examined clinical and pathologic data on 298 patients with primary glomerular lesions (IgAN, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy and minimal change disease) at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center from November 1994 through May 2001. Pathologic assessment of native kidney biopsies with IgAN was conducted using Haas' classification system. Among individuals with IgAN (N = 149), 89 (60%) were male, 57 (38%) white, 53 (36%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 29 (19%) Hispanic, 4 (3%) African American and 6 (4%) were of other or unknown ethnicity. The mean age was 37 ± 14 years and median serum creatinine 1.7 mg/dL. Sixty-six patients (44%) exhibited nephrotic range proteinuria at the time of kidney biopsy. The distributions of age, gender, mean serum creatinine, and presence or absence of nephrotic proteinuria and/or hypertension at the time of kidney biopsy were not significantly different among white, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander groups. Of the 124 native kidney biopsies with IgAN, 10 (8%) cases were classified into Haas subclass I, 12 (10%) subclass II, 23 (18%) subclass III, 30 (25%) subclass IV, and 49 (40%) subclass V. The distribution of Haas subclass did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity. In comparison, among the random sample of patients with non-IgAN glomerular lesions (N = 149), 77 (52%) patients were male, 51 (34%) white, 42 (28%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 25 (17%) Hispanic, and 30 (20%) were African American. With the caveats of referral and biopsy biases, the race/ethnicity distribution of IgAN differs significantly from that of other major glomerulonephridities. However, among individuals undergoing native kidney biopsy, we see no evidence of a race/ethnicity association with severity of disease in IgAN by clinical and IgAN-specific histopathologic criteria. Further studies are needed to identify populations at higher risk for progressive disease in IgAN.
Augmented Production of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Toxin in Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Is Associated with Worse Outcome in a Murine Skin Infection Model

The role of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in Staphylococcus aureus infections is controversial. We used a mouse model of skin infection to compare the virulence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains with different levels of PVL production. Differences in PVL production were not associated with mutations in the genes lukS-PV and lukF-PV. However, MSSA and MRSA strains that produced high levels of PVL caused larger skin abscesses, higher bacterial burdens, and more tissue inflammation than did low-PVL-producing strains. Together, these data suggest that (1) the effect of PVL on the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infection may depend on the level of toxin produced and (2) many strains of MSSA that cause soft-tissue infections produce higher levels of PVL than do MRSA strains.
Intact ribonucleic acid from defective particles of bacteriophage R17

The growth of one group of amber mutants of R17 (class A) in non-permissive hosts results in a burst of bacteriophage-like particles, which are defective in that they are non-infectious. Here studies of particles produced by the growth of wild-type R17 and four class A mutants on AB301, a non-permissive Hfr Escherichia coli strain, and on RNase−10, an RNase I-deficient derivative of AB301, are described. Defective particles grown on AB301 contain degraded, non-infectious RNA and are on the average less dense than wild-type phage; particles grown on RNase−10 contain intact, infectious RNA and exhibit normal density in cesium chloride gradients, but are nonetheless non-infectious as phage. In addition, the RNA in purified defective particles grown on RNase−10 is partially susceptible to nuclease attack, whereas RNA in wild-type phage is not. The studies demonstrate that the presence of degraded RNA in defective particles of R17 results from the action of RNase I during the purification of the particles. The possible function of the A protein of R17 is considered in the light of the results obtained.
Performance of high intensity fed‐batch mammalian cell cultures in disposable bioreactor systems

The adoption of disposable bioreactor technology as an alternate to traditional nondisposable technology is gaining momentum in the biotechnology industry. Evaluation of current disposable bioreactors systems to sustain high intensity fed-batch mammalian cell culture processes needs to be explored. In this study, an assessment was performed comparing single-use bioreactors (SUBs) systems of 50-, 250-, and 1,000-L operating scales with traditional stainless steel (SS) and glass vessels using four distinct mammalian cell culture processes. This comparison focuses on expansion and production stage performance. The SUB performance was evaluated based on three main areas: operability, process scalability, and process performance. The process performance and operability aspects were assessed over time and product quality performance was compared at the day of harvest. Expansion stage results showed disposable bioreactors mirror traditional bioreactors in terms of cellular growth and metabolism. Set-up and disposal times were dramatically reduced using the SUB systems when compared with traditional systems. Production stage runs for both Chinese hamster ovary and NS0 cell lines in the SUB system were able to model SS bioreactors runs at 100-, 200-, 2,000-, and 15,000-L scales. A single 1,000-L SUB run applying a high intensity fed-batch process was able to generate 7.5 kg of antibody with comparable product quality. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
On Schur D-stable matrices

Abstract It is shown that vertex stability implies Schur D-stability for real 2 × 2 matrices and real n × n tridiagonal matrices. Additional results describing the class of n × n complex Schur D-stable matrices are given.
Parasternal Approach for Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery

Aortic valve replacement for the stenotic or regurgitant aortic valve has been one of the major advances of medical science in the 20th century. Patients who have severe pressure gradients between the left ventricle and the aorta, or who have severely dilated hearts due to massive aortic regurgitation, are treated by insertion of a reliable mechanical or bioprosthetic device to relieve these hemodynamic abnormalities. This technique has saved hundreds of thousands of lives since the first successful aortic valve replacements by Harken et al,' and Starr et a12 in 1960. Since 1960, valve devices, incisions, and surgical techniques have evolved to the extent that, by the early 1990s, the risk of aortic valve replacement in patients without coronary disease was under 3% in most large centers in the world that do aortic valve replacement .3 The complete median sternotomy became the standard incision for aortic valve replacement in the late 1960s. This incision is flexible and relatively painless because it is a midline incision. It allows maximal exposure of all parts of the cardiac structure, and most importantly, enables physicians to effectively remove air from intracardiac structures. As interest in minimizing surgical trauma has increased, minimally invasive incisions for cardiac surgery are receiving increasing attention. The evolution of minimally invasive surgery in all surgical specialties began with Fogarty's conversion of the vastly complicated aortoiliac embolectomy to a balloon catheter technique via the groin vessels in the early 1960s. In orthopaedics, endoscopy for joint operations replaced open operations about 15 years ago. Approximately 10 to 15 years ago in general surgery, laparoscopic colocystectomy became the treatment of choice, replacing the open colocystectomy. In the last 5 years, the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery has been enormously important in redefining general thoracic surgical procedures to a much less invasive type of surgery for many pulmonary lesions. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery began with the use of techniques for the so-called direct-access coronary bypass, off cardiopulmonary bypass, performed through small incisions, primarily using the left anterior descending coronary artery and applied directly to it." At the same time, Port-Access systems, popularized by Heartport, Inc, Redwood City, CA,5 were developed to afford a minimally invasive incision for a coronary artery bypass graft that had the advantages of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping by endoclamp, and cardioplegia for myocardial protection. Finally, the use of minimally invasive direct access incisions for cardiac valve surgery were developed in the early part of 1996, when investigators believed that small incisions, accessing only those chambers or vessels where the valve surgery would take place and aided by femoro-femoral bypass, would be an advantage for patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery without combined coronary These approaches have been extended widely, and include a Port-Access system9 for mitral but not aortic valve replacement.
A separating choice hyperplane algorithm for evaluating multi-attribute decisions

This paper presents an iterative algorithm for optimizing multiattribute decisions. It develops a separating choice hyperplane algorithm, which allows decision-makers to identify their most preferred point from a nonlinear convex set of feasible outcomes. In this interactive algorithm, the decision-maker reveals information about preferences by solving a series of elementary resource allocations. The resulting structure integrates a theoretically rigorous optimization procedure with intuitive assessment tasks. A practical application of the approach is presented.
Oxidation of aluminium nitride substrates

The growth of oxide films on two types of aluminium nitride substrates of different origin has been studied as a function of temperature. At a given set of oxidation reaction parameters, the oxide layers grown on substrates with a relatively large grain size and high concentrations of Y-Al-O-based liquid sintering aid phases (type I substrates) were observed to be thicker and more diffuse than those obtained on substrates with an average particle size of approximately 3 μm and low liquid sintering aid concentrations (type II substrates). The effects of the oxygen partial pressure variation on the oxide film growth have been investigated for the oxidation of type II AIN substrates. The kinetics of the growth of oxide films on such substrates were analysed and determined to fit best to a linear rate law. This type of rate law indicates that the rate-limiting step in the growth of oxide films on high-quality type II aluminium nitride substrates is an interface reaction-controlled process.
RHESSI OBSERVATIONS OF THE PROPORTIONAL ACCELERATION OF RELATIVISTIC >0.3 MeV ELECTRONS AND >30 MeV PROTONS IN SOLAR FLARES

We analyze all RHESSI measurements from 2002 to 2005 (29 flare events) of the 2.223 MeV neutron-capture γ-ray line and >0.3 MeV electron bremsstrahlung continuum emissions, produced by >30 MeV accelerated protons (depending on assumptions) and >0.3 MeV accelerated electrons, respectively. We find a close proportionality between the two emissions over >3 orders of magnitude in fluence, from the largest flares down to the limits of detectability. This implies that the processes in flares that accelerate electrons above 0.3 MeV and protons above 30 MeV are closely related, and that the relative acceleration of these two populations is roughly independent of flare size. We find an overall weak correlation between the 2.223 MeV fluence and the peak GOES 1-8 A soft X-ray (SXR) flux, but with a close proportionality for flares with 2.223 MeV fluence above a threshold of 50 ph cm–2 (equivalent to ~2 × 1031 protons >30 MeV). Below this threshold the flares usually have large (M-class or higher) but generally uncorrelated excess SXR emission. Thus, above this threshold it appears that flares reach a maximum efficiency for >30 MeV proton and relativistic (>0.3 MeV) electron acceleration, with proportionate amounts of energy going to flare SXR thermal emission and to >50 keV electrons. Finally, we find that the electron-to-proton ratios—Je (0.5 MeV)/Jp (10 MeV)—in these flares, obtained from the γ-ray observations, are about 2 orders of magnitude larger than the ratios in gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events, but are comparable with ratios in impulsive SEP events.