cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Solar Cell Efficiency Using Nano-scale Top and Bottom Grating

We study solar-cell designs using nano-grating on both top (transmission) and bottom (reflection) of the solar cell. First, we perform simulations based on rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) to evaluate the diffraction top gratins. In RCWA method, we calculate up to 20 harmonics, and sweep the launch angle of incident light from 0 to 90 degree. The incident light varies from100nm to 1200nm wavelength. Triangular grating can achieve higher light absorption compared to the rectangular grating. The best top grating is around 200nm grating period, 100nm grating height, and 50% filling factor, which responses to 37% improvement for triangular grating and 23% for rectangular grating compared to non-grating case. Then, we use Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) to simulate transmission/reflection double grating cases. We simulated triangular-triangular (top-bottom) grating cases and triangular-rectangular (top-bottom) grating case. We realize solar cell efficiency improvement about 42.4%. For the triangular-triangular (top-bottom) grating case, the 20% efficiency improvement is achieved. Finally, we present weighted-light simulation for the double grating for the first time and show the best grating can achieve 104% light improvement, which is quite different from traditional non-weighted calculation.
The status of the macroinvertebrate community in the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin: An examination of ecological health using techniques of multivariate analysis

A statistical procedure that integrates physical, chemical and biological data is used to operationally define and analyze ecological health. Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from May through September from eight locations along the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin were analyzed by canonical correspondence analyses. A sequential multivariate analysis procedure was developed that included: 1) determining which environmental variables explained the most variation in the taxonomic data, individually and collectively, 2) running canonical correspondence analyses on the taxonomic data along with environmental variables chosen from a stepwise forward selection procedure, 3) performing a cluster analysis of the taxonomic data in sampling times to determine artificial biological seasons, and 4) analyzing the seasonal data (three time intervals) separately, as in steps 1 and 2. Changes in community structure were significantly associated with changes in environmental factors (physical and chemical) t...
Patterns in soil fertility and root herbivory interact to influence fine-root dynamics.

Fine-scale soil nutrient enrichment typically stimulates root growth, but it may also increase root herbivory, resulting in trade-offs for plant species and potentially influencing carbon cycling patterns. We used root ingrowth cores to investigate the effects of microsite fertility and root herbivory on root biomass in an aggrading upland forest in the coastal plain of South Carolina, USA. Treatments were randomly assigned to cores from a factorial combination of fertilizer and insecticide. Soil, soil fauna, and roots were removed from the cores at the end of the experiment (8–9 mo), and roots were separated at harvest into three diameter classes. Each diameter class responded differently to fertilizer and insecticide treatments. The finest roots (,1.0 mm diameter), which comprised well over half of all root biomass, were the only ones to respond significantly to both treatments, increasing when fertilizer and when insecticide were added (each P , 0.0001), with maximum biomass found where the treatments were combined (interaction term significant, P , 0.001). These results suggest that root-feeding insects have a strong influence on root standing crop with stronger herbivore impacts on finer roots and within more fertile microsites. Thus, increased vulnerability to root herbivory is a potentially significant cost ofmore » root foraging in nutrient-rich patches.« less
Use of a Rye Cover Crop following Corn in Rotation with Soybean in the Upper Midwest

There is a need for improved soil and water conservation in the corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation common to the upper Midwest, and an appropriate cover crop may fulfill this need. A corn-soybeanrotation that included a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop was studied at two Minnesota locations in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate rye management method and timing for no-tiff soybean production. Fall-planted rye following corn harvest at Waseca and Rosemount was managed the next spring by: (i) mowing once, (ii) mowing twice, (iii) applying glyphosate herbicide once, (iv) applying herbicide twice, and (v) mowing once followed by applying herbicide, with four mow dates beginning 1 May separated by approximately 1 wk. Rye regrowth after mowing but before stem elongation in early to mid-May was similar to that of uncut rye but decreased dramatically when mowed at anthesis in early June. At Rosemount, low weed populations and the presence of the rye cover crop, when properly managed, had only a minimal affect on soybean yield, resulting in the one-pass mowing system being equally profitable as the no-rye two-pass herbicide system. At Waseca, where weed pressure was high, the rye cover crop treatments without subsequent herbicide application as well as the early one-pass herbicide applications did not provide adequate control, making these systems less profitable. Our research indicated soybean yields following a rye cover crop were often comparable to yields where no rye cover crop was grown, but economic returns were usually reduced.
Abstract ES04-1: Basic science 101 – Targeting cell signaling in breast cancer

Since normal cells require extracellular signals to proliferate, it seems likely that some transformed breast cancer cells can still respond to these signals. This premise is now well established; disruption of estrogen receptor function, important in normal mammary gland biology, by estrogen deprivation (ovarian suppression or aromatase inhibition) or selective estrogen receptor modulators demonstrated the clinical value of interrupting these key signaling pathways. Further advances have included the disruption of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) by monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinases. These successes have generated greater enthusiasm for identifying mechanism of action of cell signaling with the hope of identifying new therapeutic targets. The intracellular signaling pathways that transduce proliferative signals is becoming better understood. Activation of the phosphatidyl 3-kinase (PI3K) and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are required for normal and malignant cell growth. Multiple strategies and drugs have been developed to target these pathways and are in clinical trial. It is also evident that co-targeting of new or established pathways also have utility over targeting only one molecule. For example, the demonstration that estrogen receptor targeting and mTOR inhibition has clinical value has revealed the potential for the inhibition of multiple pathways. Similar advances have been made in targeting HER2 by both trastuzumab and pertuzumab. These clinical strategies have value as combination therapy may more fully suppress cell signaling than single agent therapy. Additional concepts and strategies will be discussed based on the established targets of estrogen receptor and HER2. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr ES04-1.
Involvement of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in the adaptation of two cool-season grasses to localized drought stress

In natural environments, drought often occurs in surface soil while water is available for plant uptake deeper in the soil profile. The objective of the study was to examine the involvement of antioxidant metabolism and lipid peroxidation in the responses of two cool-season grasses to surface soil drying. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were grown in split tubes, consisting of two sections (each 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm long). Grasses were subjected to three soil moisture regimes: (a) well-watered control: whole soil profile was watered; (b) surface drying: surface 20 cm of soil was dried by withholding irrigation and the lower 20 cm of soil was watered; (c) full drying: whole soil profile was dried. Surface drying had no effects on relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content (Chl) for both grasses and only slightly reduced shoot growth for tall fescue. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, while catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities remained unchanged during most periods of surface drying. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was unaffected by surface drying for tall fescue, but increased initially and then decreased to the control level for Kentucky bluegrass. Under full drying, RWC, Chl content, and shoot dry weight decreased, but MDA content increased in both grasses; SOD and POD activities initially increased transiently and then decreased; CAT remained unchanged for 25 days and then decreased. These results suggested that both Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue were capable of surviving surface soil drying. This capability could be related to increases in antioxidant activities, particularly SOD and CAT. However, full drying suppressed antioxidant activities and induced lipid peroxidation.
Prevalence of biofilm-forming bacteria in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BackgroundRecently, biofilms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We sought to determine the prevalence of biofilm-forming cultures obtained from p...
Solar irradiance forecasting by using wavelet based denoising

Predicting of global solar irradiance is very important in applications using solar energy resources. This research introduces a new methodology to estimate the solar irradiance. Denoising based on wavelet transformation as a preprocessing step is applied to the time series meteorological data. Artificial neural network and support vector machine are then used to make predictive model on Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) for the three cities located in California, Kentucky and New York, individually. Detailed experimental analysis is presented for the developed predictive models and comparisons with existing methodologies show that the proposed approach gives a significant improvement with increased generality.
Strategy for trapping intermediates in the folding of ribonuclease and for using 1H-nmr to determine their structures.

The major unfolded form of ribonuclease A is known to show well-populated structural intermediates transiently during folding at 0°–10°C. We describe here how the exchange reaction between D2O and peptide NH protons can be used to trap folding intermediates. The protons protected from exchange during folding can be characterized by 1H-nmr after folding is complete. The feasibility of using 1H-nmr to resolve a set of protected peptide protons is demonstrated by using a specially prepared sample of ribonuclease S in D2O in which only the peptide protons of residues 7–14 are in the 1H-form. All eight of these protected peptide protons are H-bonded. Resonance assignments made on isolated peptides containing these residues have been used to identify the protected protons. Other sets of protected protons trapped in the 1H-form can also be isolated by differential exchange, using either ribonuclease A or S. Earlier model compound studies have indicated that H-bonded folding intermediates should be unstable in water unless stabilized by additional interactions. Nevertheless, peptides derived from ribonuclease A that contain residues 3–13 do show partial helix formation in water at low temperatures. We discuss the possibility that specific interactions between side chains can stabilize short α-helixes by nucleating the helix, and that specific interactions may also define the helix boundaries at early stages in folding.
Discernible difference and change in object depth afforded by stereoscopic three-dimensional content

Purpose: Stereoscopic three-dimensional (S3D) viewing enhances depth perception of two-dimensional (2D) images. The present study measured viewer’s ability to discern depth differences and depth change afforded by image disparities presented on an S3D display. Methods: Sixty adults (age 24.8 +/- 3.4 years, 28% male) with binocular acuity better than 20/25 and stereoacuity better than 60 arcsec viewed test images presented on a 55” 3D TV (1920 x 1080 pixels) at 2.4m distance. In each trial, three of the four circles in the test image were with the same crossed baseline disparity of 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 pixels, and the other (target) circle with added crossed disparity (delta disparity) of 2, 4, and 6 pixels. A subsequent change in delta disparity of the target circle (+/-2 pixels) was presented. Participant's response time and accuracy for identifying the target circle and its direction of depth change, as well as their vergence eye position, was recorded. Results: Larger baseline disparity resulted in lower accuracy and longer response times in identifying the target circle. The change of delta disparity was more accurately discerned when the delta disparity was larger and the change resulted in increased crossed disparity. Direction of vergence change and the final vergence error reflected an averaging of screen and image depths. Conclusion: S3D-induced depth difference and motion in depth is more easily discerned with smaller crossed disparity for background objects ( 3.6 arcmin or 4 pixels).
Free volume of liquids and polymers from internal pressure studies

The free volume, vf, of liquids is defined in many ways. Comparison of solid and liquid behavior indicates that the definition for free volume in terms of the internal pressure of the liquid (∂E/∂V)T, is physically reasonable. Application of the definition of free volume, vf = RT/(∂E/∂V)T, to polymethylenes, coupled with surface energy values, leads to an evaluation of both polymer segmental volume, Ṽs, and free volume per segment, (vf)s, as a function of temperature. These equilibrium thermodynamic measurements of Ṽs and (vf)s lead to an energy of activation for viscous flow in good agreement with viscosity studies. Information of this type could be of great use in considering many current problems in polymer flow such as the effect of pressure on viscosity.
Four Decades of Andean Timberline Migration and Implications for Biodiversity Loss with Climate Change

Rapid 21st-century climate change may lead to large population decreases and extinction in tropical montane cloud forest species in the Andes. While prior research has focused on species migrations per se, ecotones may respond to different environmental factors than species. Even if species can migrate in response to climate change, if ecotones do not they can function as hard barriers to species migrations, making ecotone migrations central to understanding species persistence under scenarios of climate change. We examined a 42-year span of aerial photographs and high resolution satellite imagery to calculate migration rates of timberline–the grassland-forest ecotone–inside and outside of protected areas in the high Peruvian Andes. We found that timberline in protected areas was more likely to migrate upward in elevation than in areas with frequent cattle grazing and fire. However, rates in both protected (0.24 m yr−1) and unprotected (0.05 m yr−1) areas are only 0.5–2.3% of the rates needed to stay in equilibrium with projected climate by 2100. These ecotone migration rates are 12.5 to 110 times slower than the observed species migration rates within the same forest, suggesting a barrier to migration for mid- and high-elevation species. We anticipate that the ecotone will be a hard barrier to migration under future climate change, leading to drastic population and biodiversity losses in the region unless intensive management steps are taken.
A track-laying shuttle car

DURING THE PAST quarter century the introduction of mechanical mining has revolutionized the coal industry. As the revolution progressed, a bottleneck developed in the operation behind the loading machine. Transportation schemes in use 20 years ago could not move the coal away from the loader fast enough. In 1935 the idea was conceived of using rubber-tired tractor-trailer units to maintain a steady flow of coal from the loader to the secondary track system. These units proved efficient for gathering the coal, but occupied too much space. About 1939 a single-unit self-propelled shuttle car, basically the type being used today, was developed.
Assessing deleterious ecosystem-level effects of environmental pollutants as a means of avoiding evolutionary consequences.

Recent interest has been expressed in the possible need to develop ways to detect and quantify pollutants that affect evolution. Although environmental pollutants clearly can affect evolutionary pr...
Global Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Continuous-Time Nonlinear Polynomial Systems

Abstract This paper presents a novel adaptive sub-optimal control method for continuous-time nonlinear polynomial systems from a perspective of adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). This is achieved by relaxing the problem of solving an Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation into an optimization problem, which is solved via a new policy iteration method. The proposed methodology distinguishes from previously known nonlinear ADP methods in that the neural network approximation is avoided and that the resultant control policy is globally stabilizing, instead of semiglobally or locally stabilizing. Furthermore, in the absence of the a prior knowledge of the system dynamics, an online learning method is devised to implement the proposed policy iteration technique by generalizing the current ADP theory. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a jet engine surge control problem.
The Contribution of Children's Snacks to Total Dietary Intakes

The role of snacking in children's diets was assessed using diaries of food intake for seven days. The sample consisted of 657 U.S. children ages 5 to 12 years, coming from middle- and upper-middle-income families. Of 12 groups of foods assessed, beverages other than milk were consumed most frequently, followed by fruits and vegetables and milk. The snacks contrib uted positively to the children's diets by providing greater than 20 percent of National Research Council -Recommended Dietary Allowances (NRC -RDA) for 8 of the 15 nutrients assessed for which there is an established NRC -RDA. The nutrients for which snacks made this significant contribution were protein, riboflavin, vitamins B12, C, and A, calcium, phos phorus, and magnesium. However, average nutrient intake without consumption of food between meals met 100 percent NRC -RDA for all nutrients except for calories, magnesium, and zinc. As the number of snacks consumed per day increased, the amount of all nutrients, except vitamins B12 and A, increased in consumption. This increased snacking made needed contribution to the children's caloric, magnesium, and zinc intakes. However, on days when no snacks were consumed, a decreased intake of fat, sugars, and sodium was evidenced. On days when children did not consume snacks they did consume a greater quantity of calories during main meals; however, these meals were not necessarily more nutritious than those meals which were accompanied by snacks.
Comparison of ethidium bromide and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole as quantitative fluorescent stains for DNA in agarose gels

Abstract Two methods of quantitative, fluorescent detection of DNA bands in agarose gels separated by electrophoresis were evaluated for sensitivity and linearity of response. Comparisons of ethidium bromide staining with a method using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) developed in this work showed that DAPI is several times more sensitive than ethidium bromide in conditions of comparable background flourescence. Optimum flourescent staining and detection conditions for DNA bands in agarose gels using DAPI are desctribed, and advantages of this method over other fluorescent detection methods are discussed.
OPTIMAL SYNTHESIS OF ADJUSTABLE LINKAGES FOR PRECISE CONTINUOUS PATH GENERATION USING THE OPTIMAL LINK LENGTH ADJUSTMENT

Conventional nonadjustable four-bar linkages can only generate the desired continuous paths approximately. With one link length adjustment, the whole desired continuous path can be generated precisely. In this paper, the length of the driven side link or coupler is adjusted to generate the desired continuous paths precisely. The linkage feasibility conditions and path generation flexibilities of the adjustable four-bar linkages are analyzed. The optimal synthesis model of adjustable four-bar linkages is established based on the required optimal link length adjustment when the desired continuous path is precisely generated. The global optimal solution is searched by a real-valued genetic algorithm in which the involved constraints are handled using the function penalty method. The effectiveness of the optimal synthesis approach proposed in the paper is verified by the demonstrated examples.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Alterations in the nuclear proteome of HIV-1 infected T-cells

Abstract Virus infection of a cell involves the appropriation of host factors and the innate defensive response of the cell. The identification of proteins critical for virus replication may lead to the development of novel, cell-based inhibitors. In this study we mapped the changes in T-cell nuclei during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) at 20 hpi. Using a stringent data threshold, a total of 13 and 38 unique proteins were identified in infected and uninfected cells, respectively, across all biological replicates. An additional 15 proteins were found to be differentially regulated between infected and control nuclei. STRING analysis identified four clusters of protein–protein interactions in the data set related to nuclear architecture, RNA regulation, cell division, and cell homeostasis. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the differential expression of several proteins in both C8166-45 and Jurkat E6-1 T-cells. These data provide a map of the response in host cell nuclei upon HIV-1 infection.
The extracellular acid phosphatase of the mosquito-parasitizing fungus Lagenidium giganteum.

Abstract The mosquito-parasitizing fungus Lagenidium giganteum secreted a soluble acid phosphatase and β- d -glucosidase into the growth medium. The acid phosphatase was isolated and purified to single component, and some of its physicochemical properties were determined. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of 5.6 in phthalate buffer with p-nitrophenyl phosphate and was temperature-inactivated at 55°C. Enzyme activity seems to be limited to phenyl-phosphate substrates. A molecular weight of 42,800 was found and the amino acid content was also determined. A Km for p-nitrophenyl phosphate of 1.6 × 10−7 m was found. The possible involvement of the enzyme in the infective process was discussed.
Further tests on Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus F. as a candidate for the biological control of Carduus thistles

Abstract Tests were conducted on Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a candidate for introduction from Europe into North America, for the biological control of Carduus thistles which are major weeds in pastures, rangeland and interstate highway embankments. Host specificity tests conducted simultaneously in Blacksburg, Virginia and in Albany, California were to determine whether Cirsium species native to the USA, and considered to be endangered species, are acceptable as hosts to the weevil, and if there is any preference for the Cirsium over the Carduus thistle species. In Virginia, three Cirsium species were compared with Carduus thoermeri Weinmann (musk thistle) and, in California, four Cirsium species were compared with Carduus macrocephalus L. Adult weevils fed on all test species, to a greater extent on musk thistle than on the Cirsium spp. except for Cirsium discolor (Muhl.) Spreng. which was preferred to musk thistle. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Cirsium discolor and musk thistle supported oogenesis of Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus , but the greatest number of eggs was in musk thistle. Ovipositional preference was also shown for musk thistle over the Cirsium spp. in comparison tests using leaf bouquets, although no distinct preference for oviposition on rosettes was found. Besides musk thistle, both Cirsium occidentale (Nutt.) Jepson and Cirsium brevistylum Cronq. supported development from first instar to the adult stage. These results indicate that several of the Cirsium species tested are acceptable as hosts of Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus under caged conditions. However, musk thistle was preferred for feeding, oogenesis and oviposition.
Treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

PurposeTo review the available treatment modalities for Acanthamoeba keratitis and to assess the most effective regimens.MethodsThe efficacy of therapeutic modalities and chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis was reviewed. Potential synergistic or additive drug inte
Family-based exposure and response prevention therapy for preschool-aged children with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Aims: To examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of family-based exposure/ response prevention therapy (E/RP) versus treatment as usual (TAU) in a cohort of very young children with early onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Thirty-one children ages 3e8 years (M ¼ 5.8 years) with a primary diagnosis of OCD were randomized to E/RP or TAU. The E/RP condition received 12 sessions of family-based E/RP twice weekly over 6 weeks. Families were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month follow up. The Children’s Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and Clinical Global Impression served as primary outcome measures. Results: A large group effect emerged in favor of the E/RP group (d ¼ 1.69). Sixty-five percent of the E/RP group was considered treatment responders as compared to 7% in the TAU group. Symptom remission was achieved in 35.2% of the E/RP group and 0% of the TAU group. There was no attrition and satisfaction was high; gains were maintained at 3 months. Conclusions: Even amongst children as young as 3 years, developmentally tailored E/RP is efficacious and well-tolerated in reducing OCD symptoms. Key adaptations for younger children include extensive parent involvement, targeting family accommodation, and frequent meetings while delivering a full course of E/RP. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01447966 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01447966?term¼ocdþ andþstþpetersburg&rank¼1
Motion of a Particle in a Temperature Gradient; Thermal Repulsion as a Radiometer Phenomenon

The dependence of the velocity of thermal repulsion of tricresyl phosphate droplets suspended in air on temperature gradient, pressure, and particle radius, $a$, was measured and compared with the velocities calculated from radiometer theory. Thermal repulsion is shown to be a radiometer effect. The velocity of thermal repulsion is directly proportional to the temperature gradient. The velocity of thermal repulsion at constant pressure increases with decreasing particle radius to a maximum when the mean free path, $L$, is about 1.5 times the radius, and then decreases. The velocity of thermal repulsion is approximately proportional to $\frac{1}{P}$ when $\frac{L}{a}l0.5$. The dependence of the force of thermal repulsion on temperature gradient, pressure, and particle radius are in agreement with the requirements of radiometer theory at high pressures. The resistance of air to the motion of tricresyl phosphate droplets is accurately given by Millikan's equation. The coefficient of slip on these droplets is 8.25\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ cm at 76-cm pressure and 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The measured velocities of thermal repulsion have been compared with the theoretical values calculated from the resistance of the medium and the radiometer forces as given by Albert Einstein and by Paul S. Epstein. The numerical agreement is satisfactory in view of the approximations in the theoretical derivations and the uncertainty in the heat conductivity of the tricresyl phosphate. Thermal repulsion can be used to determine the radius of particles too small to be measured by sedimentation velocity.
Level of aspiration theory and economic behavior

Traditional economic theory is built on an idealization of man. This economic man has tremendous computational power. He has a detailed knowledge of his needs and desires. He has a thorough understanding of his environment and its causal relationships. He carefully plans every action and is never subject to impulse. This idealization has advantages. Strong assumptions usually lead to strong conclusions. However, it is difficult to bridge the gap between the rational economic man and the groping, unstable man whom the behavioral scientist knows. This paper describes a first step toward a model of economic man which is more realistic from the viewpoint of the behavioral scientist.
The clinical course of diabetics who require emergent foot surgery because of infection or ischemia.

Abstract For the past 15 years at our institution, all acute diabetic foot problems have been treated on the vascular surgery service. The treatment approach has emphasized aggressive local foot surgery and frequent use of revascularization to avoid amputation. A total of 212 urgent or emergent foot operations were performed on 138 limbs in 114 diabetic patients for indications of infection, gangrene, or infected neurotrophic ulcers. The average number of operations per limb was 1.5 (range one to six) and per patient was 1.9 (range one to nine). Ischemia was sufficiently severe to require concurrent lower extremity revascularization in 48 limbs in 43 patients. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 11 years (mean 3 years). Ultimately 36 major lower extremity amputations were required in 33 patients at time intervals ranging from zero to 86 months (mean 7 months) after the initial operation on the affected limb. These data indicate that an aggressive program of surgical treatment of diabetic foot problems combined with liberal use of lower extremity revascularization resulted in long-term salvage of 73% of threatened limbs in these high-risk patients. These results form the basis for our recommendation that major lower extremity amputations be considered only as a last resort in diabetic patients with limbs threatened by foot infection or localized gangrene. (J VASC SURG 1987;6:454-9.)
A community spring for neuroscience data sharing.

I consider 2014 up to now a good year for neuroscience data sharing. This positive feeling is rooted in my personal experience with three interesting events that took place in the short span of five months during the first half of this year. While all three events occurred on US soil and were organized by American institutions, I believe they reflect an international trend. The world-wide reach of the implications for the field should be of interest to the readers of our journal and to all neuroinformatics stakeholders at large.
Ankyrin for methylated lysines

The ankyrin repeats of the G9a and GLP histone methyltransferases have now been shown to be binding modules for mono- and dimethyllysine histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9), revealing a new function for an ankyrin repeat domain and showing that a polypeptide chain can both create and recognize the same histone mark.
Association between plasma homocysteine and extracranial carotid arterial disease in older persons.

Abstract The Framingham Heart Study demonstrated that elevated plasma homocysteine levels and low plasma folate and vitamin B 6 levels were associated with an increased risk of ECAD in their older population. Our data demonstrated that high plasma homocysteine levels and low plasma folate and vitamin B 12 levels were associated with a higher prevalence of 40% to 100% ECAD in our older men and women. Elevated plasma homocysteine levels were observed in 45% of our older men with 40% to 100% ECAD versus 20% of our older men with 0% to 39% ECAD, and in 40% of our older women with 40% to 100% ECAD versus 18% of our older women with 0% to 39% ECAD.
Chylothorax in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Study objective: Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, serious disorder characterized by proliferation of abnormal smooth-muscle cells and affects almost exclusively women of childbearing age. Optimal management of chylothorax, a well-recognized complication of LAM, in these patients has not been defined. This study was performed to characterize the clinical course and identify appropriate management options for chylothorax occurring in patients with LAM. Design: Identification and retrospective review of available medical records on patients with LAM and chylothorax. Setting: Tertiary-referral medical center. Patients: All patients with LAM seen at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, from January 1, 1976, to December 31, 2000. Intervention: None. Measurement and results: Eight of 79 patients (10.1%) with LAM had chylothorax. All were women aged 33 to 51 years, and four patients had underlying tuberous sclerosis complex. These eight women represented 3.5% of the 229 patients with chylothorax seen over this 25-year period at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Six patients had unilateral pleural effusion and two patients had bilateral effusions at initial presentation. The size of the chylothorax varied and was not necessarily progressive. Management of chylothorax ranged from thoracentesis only to thoracotomy with thoracic duct ligation and parietal pleurectomy. When needed, pleurodesis by instillation of sclerosing agents or parietal pleurectomy appeared to be effective in controlling chylothorax. Conclusions: Chylothorax occurring in patients with LAM has a variable clinical course. Although pleurodesis with or without thoracic duct ligation appears to be effective in controlling intractable chylothorax, less invasive treatments such as thoracentesis or observation may suffice in some cases. Management of chylothorax in patients with LAM should be individualized depending on the size and clinical effects of the chylous pleural effusion, as well as comorbid factors and local expertise.
Accelerated Development of Quarantine Treatments for Insects on Poor Hosts

The probit 9 standard for quarantine treatment efficacy (99.9968% mortality) was originally recommended for tropical fruits heavily infested with fruit flies and it centers on high mortality to achieve quarantine security. This standard may be too stringent for quarantine pests in commodities that are rarely infested or are poor hosts. The alternative treatment efficacy approach measures risk as the probability of a mating pair, gravid female, or parthenogenic individual surviving in a shipment. This will be a function of many factors including infestation rate and shipment volume. Applying the risk-based alternative treatment efficacy approach to pests on rarely infested or poor hosts will lower the number of required test insects needed for developing quarantine treatments; hence data for a quarantine treatment could be generated by testing 10,000 or fewer insects with no survivors, compared with 90,000–100,000 insects to demonstrate the traditional probit 9 efficacy. Several commodity/quarantine pest systems where this approach could be applied are discussed. This approach would save time and resources, and help farmers export their crop on a more-timely basis.
Estimates of Gene Flow in Drosophila Pseudoobscura Determined from Nucleotide Sequence Analysis of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase Region

The genetic structure of Drosophila pseudoobscura populations was inferred from a nucleotide sequence analysis of a 3.4-kb segment of the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) region. A total of 99 isochromosomal strains collected from 13 populations in North and South America were used to determine if any population departed from a neutral model and to estimate levels of gene flow between populations. This study also included the nucleotide sequences from two sibling species, D. persimilis and D. miranda. We estimated the neutral mutation parameter, 4N mu, in synonymous and noncoding sites for 17 subregions of Adh in each of nine populations with sample sizes greater than three. The nucleotide diversity data in the nine populations was tested for departures from an equilibrium neutral model with two statistical tests. The Tajima and the Hudson, Kreitman, Aguade tests showed that each population fails to reject a neutral model. Tests for genetic differentiation between populations fail to show any population substructure among the North American populations of D. pseudoobscura. The nucleotide diversity data is consistent with direct and indirect measures of gene flow that show extensive dispersal between populations of D. pseudoobscura.
Evidence-based Medicine for Polypropylene Mesh Use Compared With Native Tissue Vaginal Prolapse Repair

A review of the current medical literature for the use of polypropylene (PP) mesh for vaginally performed prolapse repair, including only those studies reporting prospective, randomized, controlled trials compared with native tissue repairs was undertaken. Five full manuscript publications and 4 studies still in abstract form were all consistent with PP mesh producing better anatomical results for cystocele repair, but when functional results in terms of the patient's quality of life are considered, no significant difference is found between PP mesh and native tissue repairs. PP mesh use results in better anatomical results in the short term but at a cost of repeated surgeries because of erosions and other complications. Patients do not recognize any added benefit from the use of these prostheses in their daily lives.
Rapid and Facile Microwave‐Assisted Surface Chemistry for Functionalized Microarray Slides

We describe a rapid and facile method for surface functionalization and ligand patterning of glass slides based on microwave-assisted synthesis and a microarraying robot. Our optimized reaction enables surface modification 42-times faster than conventional techniques and includes a carboxylated self-assembled monolayer, polyethylene glycol linkers of varying length, and stable amide bonds to small molecule, peptide, or protein ligands to be screened for binding to living cells. We also describe customized slide racks that permit functionalization of 100 slides at a time to produce a cost-efficient, highly reproducible batch process. Ligand spots can be positioned on the glass slides precisely using a microarraying robot, and spot size adjusted for any desired application. Using this system, we demonstrate live cell binding to a variety of ligands and optimize PEG linker length. Taken together, the technology we describe should enable high-throughput screening of disease-specific ligands that bind to living cells.
A simple and scalable algorithm for alignment in broadcast networks

We consider the problem of coordinating a group of mobile nodes communicating through a wireless medium. The objective of the network is the alignment of all the nodes towards a common direction through local interactions, without the need for global knowledge such as the network topology or the maximum degree of the network, or even local parameters, such as the number of neighbors. The key feature of our algorithm is that each node state update is done through voting, where the probability of each vote is biased by the state of the node neighbors. We propose two possible physical implementations for our algorithm. The first is based on the explicit exchange of packetized messages, while the second is a cross-layer approach. Our analysis unveils key convergence properties of this simple class of alignment algorithms, via analytical and simulated results.
Kant — A decision theorist?

This paper is concerned with the role of scientific method in decision making. Essentially, it is the examination of what Immanuel Kant called the prudential imperative and what we would today call a strategic plan. The purpose of the imperative or the plan is to maximize a set of social values. It is argued that the empiricist and rationalist paradigms of scientific method do not successfully apply to the scientific study of decisionmaking. Instead it is essential that the scientist make strong judgments about the whole system before he can legitimately use any available information. This point suggests that judgments themselves are strategies of the scientist. Several alternative strategies of scientific method in decision making are discussed.
Caecincola longiscens n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) from the White Crappie, Pomoxis annularis, in Mississippi, U.S.A.

A new cryptogonimid trematode is described from the white crappie, Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818, collected from Lake Chotard, an oxbow lake directly connected to the Mississippi River in Issaquena County, and from a small ephemeral oxbow periodically connected with the Pascagoula River in Jackson County, both in Mississippi, U.S.A. Caecincola longiscens n. sp. is characterized by having an elongated body with a length to width ratio of 5.5-7.5:1, tandem testes, an elongated tubular seminal vesicle, and vitelline follicles confined to the hindbody.
Statistical timing analysis under spatial correlations

Process variations are of increasing concern in today's technologies, and they can significantly affect circuit performance. An efficient statistical timing analysis algorithm that predicts the probability distribution of the circuit delay considering both inter-die and intra-die variations, while accounting for the effects of spatial correlations of intra-die parameter variations, is presented. The procedure uses a first-order Taylor series expansion to approximate the gate and interconnect delays. Next, principal component analysis (PCA) techniques are employed to transform the set of correlated parameters into an uncorrelated set. The statistical timing computation is then easily performed with a program evaluation and review technique (PERT)-like circuit graph traversal. The run time of this algorithm is linear in the number of gates and interconnects, as well as the number of varying parameters and grid partitions that are used to model spatial correlations. The accuracy of the method is verified with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. On average, for the 100 nm technology, the errors of mean and standard deviation (SD) values computed by the proposed method are 1.06% and -4.34%, respectively, and the errors of predicting the 99% and 1% confidence point are -2.46% and -0.99%, respectively. A testcase with about 17 800 gates was solved in about 500 s, with high accuracy as compared to an MC simulation that required more than 15 h.
Identification and Characterization of the Human ORC6 Homolog

A new protein was cloned and identified as the sixth member of the human origin recognition complex (ORC). The newly identified 30-kDa protein hsORC6 is 28% identical and 49% similar to ORC6p from Drosophila melanogaster, which is consistent with the identities and similarities found among the other ORC members reported in the two species. The human ORC6 gene is located on chromosome 16q12. ORC6 protein level did not change through the cell cycle. Like ORC1, ORC6 did not co-immunoprecipitate with other ORC subunits but was localized in the nucleus along with the other ORC subunits. Several cellular proteins co-immunoprecipitated with ORC6, including a 65-kDa protein that was hyperphosphorylated in G1 and dephosphorylated in mitosis. Therefore, unlike the tight stoichiometric association of six yeast ORC subunits in one holo-complex, only a small fraction of human ORC1 and ORC6 is likely to be associated with a subcomplex of ORC2, 3, 4, and 5, suggesting differences in the architecture and regulation of human ORC.
Experimental characterization of an energy efficient chiller-less data center test facility with warm water cooled servers

Typical data centers utilize approximately 50% of the total IT energy in cooling of the server racks. We present a chillerless data center where server-level cooling is achieved through a combination of warm water cooling hardware and re-circulated air; eventual heat rejection to ambient air is achieved using a closed secondary liquid loop to ambient-air heat exchanger (dry-cooler). Several experiments were carried out to characterize the individual pieces of equipment and data center thermal performance and energy consumption. A 22+ hour experimental run was also carried out with results indicating an average cooling energy use of 3.5% of the total IT energy use, with average ambient air temperatures of 23.8°C and average IT power use of 13.14 kW.
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF NEWLY-DISCOVERED POPULATIONS OF TORRENT SALAMANDERS (RHYACOTRITON CASCADAE AND R. VARIEGATUS) IN THE CENTRAL CASCADES (USA)

Newly discovered populations of Rhyacotritonidae were investigated for taxonomic identity, hybridization, and sympatry. Species in the genus Rhyacotriton have been historically difficult to identify using morphological characters. Mitochondrial (mtDNA) 16S ribosomal RNA sequences (491 bp) and allozymes (6 loci) were used to identify the distribution of populations occurring intermediate between the previously described ranges of R. variegatus and R. cascadae in the central Cascade Mountain region of Oregon. Allozyme and mitochondrial sequence data both indicated the presence of two distinct evolutionary lineages, with each lineage corresponding to the allopatric distribution of R. cascadae and R. variegatus. Results suggest the Willamette River acts as a phylogeographic barrier limiting the distribution of both species, although we cannot exclude the possibility that reproductive isolation also exists that reinforces species' distributions. This study extends the previously described geographical ranges o...
Outbreaks of Infections Associated With Drug Diversion by US Health Care Personnel

Objective: To summarize available information about outbreaks of infections stemming from drug diversion in US health care settings and describe recommended protocols and public health actions. Patients and Methods: We reviewed records at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to outbreaks of infections from drug diversion by health care personnel in US health care settings from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2013. Searches of the medical literature published during the same period were also conducted using PubMed. Information compiled included health care setting(s), infection type(s), specialty of the implicated health care professional, implicated medication(s), mechanism(s) of diversion, number of infected patients, number of patients with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and resolution of the investigation. Results: We identified 6 outbreaks over a 10-year period beginning in 2004; all occurred in hospital settings. Implicated health care professionals included 3 technicians and 3 nurses, one of whom was a nurse anesthetist. The mechanism by which infections were spread was tampering with injectable controlled substances. Two outbreaks involved tampering with opioids administered via patientcontrolled analgesia pumps and resulted in gram-negative bacteremia in 34 patients. The remaining 4 outbreaks involved tampering with syringes or vials containing fentanyl; hepatitis C virus infection was transmitted to 84 patients. In each of these outbreaks, the implicated health care professional was infected with hepatitis C virus and served as the source; nearly 30,000 patients were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens and targeted for notification advising testing. Conclusion: These outbreaks revealed gaps in prevention, detection, and response to drug diversion in US health care facilities. Drug diversion is best prevented by health care facilities having strong narcotics security measures and active monitoring systems. Appropriate response includes assessment of harm to patients, consultation with public health officials when tampering with injectable medication is suspected, and prompt reporting to enforcement agencies.