cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineering "Total Electric Ship"

The complexity of today's ship systems exceeds capabilities of existing tools for "total system engineering". As the power of systems increases, lower order effects have substantial amounts of energy and that cannot be ignored. Converters in the 10's of megawatt range can produce 100's of kilowatts of losses in the form of heat, electro-magnetic interference (EMI), and mechanical vibration. Today's designer must take into account these interactions, as well as predict many other effects such as: system cost, reliability, environmental effects, health effects, and so on. However, complex systems can be simplified by applying advanced technology. Using intelligent controllers and partitioning the system based on the physics of the materials, components, and methods of manufacture can produce building blocks, which allow systems to be designed, built, and operated in a rational predictable manner. This paper analyzes the challenges of Engineering "Total Electric Ship" and describes some new ideas such as a "relational" design process, enabled by physics-based modeling and simulation. Paper also describes the Marine Industries Subcommittee activities in this areas and the development of new interface standards based on collective industrial experience and consensus for marine power electronics and power systems connections to onshore power inside the ports during cargo unloading or power sources at times of natural disasters.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Utility of 2-Deoxy-2- ( 18 F)Fluoro-D-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography in Staging Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine prospectively the utility of adding preoperative [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) to routine CT, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and laparoscopic staging of localized gastric cancer. METHODS: Patients with locally advanced gastric/gastroesophageal cancer were screened for 2 institutional review board–approved Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols. Locally advanced disease was defined as T3 or T4, or lymph node–positive, based on EUS and high-resolution CT scan. All patients underwent both standard FDG-PET/CT and laparoscopy with cytological examination of washings. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT for the identification of metastatic disease not seen on CT was determined. An economic model using Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement charges was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were enrolled from 2003 to 2010. All patients were assessed as having locally advanced disease by CT/EUS. FDG uptake in the primary tumor was associated with male sex, proximal tumors, and nondiffuse Lauren's subtype. 31 (27%) patients had occult metastatic disease detected by PET/CT (n = 11, 10%) and/or laparoscopy (n = 21, 19%), with a single overlap. Economic modeling suggests that the addition of FDG-PET/CT to the standard staging evaluation of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer resulted in an estimated cost savings of ∼US $13,000 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET/CT identifies occult metastatic lesions in approximately 10% of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Because of reduced morbidity from fewer futile surgeries and lower patient care costs, PET/CT should be considered as a component of the standard staging algorithm for localized gastric cancer. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Variable impedance due to electromechanical coupling in electroactive polymer actuators

This paper presents a variable impedance suspension system based on electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators, leveraging their inherent compliance and damping, light weight, and low power requirements. We describe the manufacturing process used to create a small, lightweight EAP suspension and a novel control circuit used to vary its properties. Next, we model the electromechanical coupling by which impedance values are changed, and experimentally verify its behavior. Of particular interest is the transient response, for example, as encountered when a robot touches down after jumping or gliding. We conclude with a discussion of the changes in performance that are possible when applying a variable impedance EAP suspension to a small flying and perching robot.
Intraoperative ElectroCorticoGraphy (ECog): indications, techniques, and utility in epilepsy surgery

Aims. To describe the technique, indications, and utility of intraoperative ECoG monitoring during various surgeries for medically intractable epilepsy. Methods. Literature was reviewed to obtain published results on using intraoperative ECoG techniques for the surgical treatment of medically intractable epilepsy of various underlying aetiologies. Results. General intraoperative ECoG techniques were described, including effects of anaesthetic agents on intraoperative ECoG signals. Use of intraoperative ECoG in temporal lobe epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is generally considered not necessary, whereas intraoperative ECoG in temporal lobe epilepsy without mesial temporal sclerosis may provide useful information. Intraoperative ECoG in extra-temporal epilepsy with structural lesions may facilitate resection, whereas the use of intraoperative ECoG in extra-temporal epilepsy without a structural lesion is more controversial. Conclusions. Intraoperative ECoG is a useful technique to be employed in surgical treatment of medically intractable epilepsy. However, its effectiveness may vary depending on the underlying pathological causes of the seizures.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation and kinetics using Cunninghamella echinulata var. elegans

Bioremediation is a process technology that uses microorganisms to degrade specific organic chemicals. In recent years, bioremediation has proven to be successful for the remediation of soils contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Even though bioremediation has had a high success rate, the associated kinetics are still not fully understood. The kinetics become even more complicated when fungi are used for the remediation. The primary objective of this research was to determine the specific degradation rates for the bioremediation of PAH contaminated soils. Specifically, the kinetics associated with the fungi Cunninghamella echinulata var. elegans in conjunction with three supplemental nutrient solutions were investigated.
Distribution of cp32 prophages among Lyme disease-causing spirochetes and natural diversity of their lipoprotein-encoding erp loci.

ABSTRACT Lyme disease spirochetes possess complex genomes, consisting of a main chromosome and 20 or more smaller replicons. Among those small DNAs are the cp32 elements, a family of prophages that replicate as circular episomes. All complete cp32s contain an erp locus, which encodes surface-exposed proteins. Sequences were compared for all 193 erp alleles carried by 22 different strains of Lyme disease-causing spirochete to investigate their natural diversity and evolutionary histories. These included multiple isolates from a focus where Lyme disease is endemic in the northeastern United States and isolates from across North America and Europe. Bacteria were derived from diseased humans and from vector ticks and included members of 5 different Borrelia genospecies. All erp operon 5′-noncoding regions were found to be highly conserved, as were the initial 70 to 80 bp of all erp open reading frames, traits indicative of a common evolutionary origin. However, the majority of the protein-coding regions are highly diverse, due to numerous intra- and intergenic recombination events. Most erp alleles are chimeras derived from sequences of closely related and distantly related erp sequences and from unknown origins. Since known functions of Erp surface proteins involve interactions with various host tissue components, this diversity may reflect both their multiple functions and the abilities of Lyme disease-causing spirochetes to successfully infect a wide variety of vertebrate host species.
Commercially viable porphyrinoid dyes for solar cells

Multifunctional molecules bearing different dyes, such as donor–acceptor systems, synthesized by covalent chemistry have provided a wealth of information on the fundamental nature of electron and energy transfer in organic systems and there is a growing literature on the materials properties of dyes on surfaces. However, in the vast majority of cases the synthetic costs of producing these covalently bound systems prohibit them from deployment in commercially viable devices. Thus, to achieve both the needed multifunctionality and to bring the synthetic costs in line with potential commercialization, supramolecular approaches to the formation of photonic materials can be exploited. This perspective focuses on porphyrinoids as exemplary dyes, but the concepts and design principles extend to other chromophores.
A modified direct preconditioner for indefinite symmetric toeplitz systems

A modification is presented of the classical O(n[sup 2]) algorithm of Trench for the direct solution of Toeplitz systems of equations. The Trench algorithm can be guaranteed to be stable only for matrices that are (symmetric) positive definite; it is generally unstable otherwise. The modification permits extension of the algorithm to compute an approximate inverse in the indefinite symmetric case, for which the unmodified algorithm breaks down when principal submatrices are singular. As a preconditioner, this approximate inverse has an advantage that only matrix-vector multiplications are required for the solution of a linear system, without forward and backward solves. The approximate inverse so obtained can be sufficiently accurate, moreover, that, when it is used as a preconditioner for the applications investigated, subsequent iteration may not even be necessary. Numerical results are given for several test matrices. The perturbation to the original matrix that defines the modification is related to a perturbation in a quantity generated in the Trench algorithm; the associated stability of the Trench algorithm is discussed.
Succinct specifications of portable document access policies

When customers need to each be given portable access rights to subset of documents from large universe of n vailable documents, it is often the case that the space vailable for representing each customer's access rights is limited to much less than n, say it is no more than m bits. This is the case when, e.g., limited-capacity inexpensive cards are used to store the access rights to huge multimedia document databases. How does one represent subsets of huge set of n elements,when only m bits re v il ble and m is much smaller than n? We use an approach reminiscent of Bloom filters, by assigning to each document subset of the m bits: If that document is in customer's subset then we set the corresponding bits to 1 on the customer's card. This guarantees that each customer gets the documents he paid for, but it also gives him access to documents he did not pay for ("false positives"). We want to do so in a manner that minimizes the expected total false positives under various deterministic and probabilistic models: In the former model we assume k customers whose respective subsets are known priori, whereas in the latter we assume (more realistically) that each document has probability of being included in customer's subset. We cannot use randomly assigned bits for each document (in the way Bloom filters do), rather we need to consider the priori knowledge (deterministic orprobabilistic) we are given in each model in order to better ssign subset of the m vailable bits to each of the n documents. We analyze and give efficient schemes for this problem.
High-frequency-link cycloconverter-based DVR for voltage sag mitigation

Power quality studies have established that voltage sags are the most prevalent of all power system disturbances, affecting industrial and commercial customers. Their effects are most felt in process industry equipment, like adjustable speed drives and contactors, resulting in equipment down times, clean up and re-calibration, costing to the tune of millions of dollars. Many load-end solutions have been proposed which include constant voltage transformers (CVTs), UPS and line-frequency-transformer-based series voltage injection devices (example: DVR and SSVR). These approaches, however, have their respective limitations with regard to capabilities, size and/or cost. This paper investigates a new topology to mitigating voltage sags by employing a high-frequency-transformer-link in the series voltage injection approach, resulting in substantial savings in size and weight. Suitable switching logic and control strategies have been implemented. Design issues of the proposed approach for different load types are discussed. Simulation results for the single-phase implementation are presented. Experimental results from a single-phase proof-of concept prototype are shown.
A new fossil orchid bee in Colombian copal (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

A new fossil orchid bee, Euglossa (Euglossa) cotylisca Hinojosa-Do ´az and Engel, new species (Anthophila: Apidae: Apinae: Euglossini), is described and figured from a male preserved in Quaternary copal from Santander, Colombia. The bee is the third fossil orchid bee and the first fossil bee formally described from South America. Remarks are made on the distinguishing features of the species as well as its affinity to modern species. Given the young age of the fossil and the fact that this species is not known among the modern fauna, it must be presumed that this species has become relatively recently extinct.
Estimating camera response functions using probabilistic intensity similarity

We propose a method for estimating camera response functions using a probabilistic intensity similarity measure. The similarity measure represents the likelihood of two intensity observations corresponding to the same scene radiance in the presence of noise. We show that the response function and the intensity similarity measure are strongly related. Our method requires several input images of a static scene taken from the same viewing position with fixed camera parameters. Noise causes pixel values at the same pixel coordinate to vary in these images, even though they measure the same scene radiance. We use these fluctuations to estimate the response function by maximizing the intensity similarity function for all pixels. Unlike prior noise-based estimation methods, our method requires only a small number of images, so it works with digital cameras as well as video cameras. Moreover, our method does not rely on any special image processing or statistical prior models. Real-world experiments using different cameras demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique.
Field application of palladized iron for the dechlorination of trichloroethene

Abstract Palladized iron (Pd/Fe) has been tested under field conditions for the dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) in groundwater. Contaminated water was pumped from aquifers in Ohio (∼0.7– 1.5 mg/l TCE) and Missouri (2–9 mg/l TCE and 1,2-dichloroethene) and passed through columns of Pd/Fe. The experiments demonstrated that the dechlorination reaction occurs efficiently until the surface of the Pd/Fe becomes fouled. Regeneration of the surface with dilute (1M) hydrochloric acid is easily accomplished under laboratory conditions, but initially was unsuccessful in the field. Further experiments indicated, that reduced sulfur species, although not naturally present in the groundwater being treated, were permanently poisoning the palladium. Apparently, sulfur-reducing bacteria utilize the hydrogen produced by the Pd/Fe process and reduce the sulfate that is present. An anion exchange column was used to remove sulfate (∼20 mg/l) from groundwater at the Kansas City Plant in order to test this theory. Under these conditions, a column of Pd/Fe was repetitively regenerated for a 4-week period. A second column, not protected by sulfate removal, could not be regenerated. The results demonstrated that Pd/Fe could be used in a long-term field process if a material with more resistance to Fe and Pd losses is developed.
The effect of an inpatient transition intervention on attendance at the first appointment postdischarge from a psychiatric hospitalization.

Background: Only 42% of initial appointments following psychiatric hospitalization are kept nationally. Missed appointments increase the likelihood of rehospitalization and increase costs of outpatient care. Objective: This study explored the feasibility, outcomes, and cost of a transition intervention on attendance at the first postdischarge appointment. Design: A pilot study using a one-group prospective design interviewed 15 patients hospitalized with psychosis to address potential barriers to attendance at the first postdischarge appointment. Patients also identified an agenda for this appointment and received a reminder letter. Results: Twelve (92%) of 13 patients attended the postdischarge appointment compared with the previous rate of 44%. Two additional patients were unable to attend because they had been rehospitalized before the scheduled time of the first appointment. Discussion: Contact with a clinician who can bridge the gap between discharge and the first postdischarge appointment is feasibl...
Variable low-mass filtering using an electrodynamic ion funnel

An adjustable low-mass filter has been developed for an electrospray ionization (ESI) source to block ions associated with unwanted background species from entering the mass spectrometer. The low-mass filter is made by using an adjustable potential energy barrier from the conductance-limiting plate of an electrodynamic ion funnel, which prohibits species with higher ion mobilities from exiting the ESI source. We show that this arrangement provides a linear voltage adjustment for low-mass filtering from m/z 0 to 500. Mass filtering above m/z 500 is also performed; however, higher-mass species are attenuated. The mass filter was tested with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of a bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic digest and resulted in the ability to block low-mass, background species, which accounted for 40-70% of the total ion current immediately behind the ESI source during peak elution and detection.
Individual particle analysis of indoor, outdoor, and community samples from the 1998 Baltimore particulate matter study

Abstract The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) recently conducted the 1998 Baltimore Particulate Matter (PM) Epidemiology-Exposure Study of the Elderly. The primary goal of that study was to establish the relationship between outdoor PM concentrations and actual human PM exposures within a susceptible (elderly) sub-population. Personal, indoor, and outdoor sampling of particulate matter was conducted at a retirement center in the Towson area of northern Baltimore County. Concurrent sampling was conducted at a central community site. The main objective of this work was to use computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) with individual-particle X-ray analysis to measure the chemical and physical characteristics of geological and trace element particles collected at the various sampling locations in and around the retirement facility. The CCSEM results show that the relative abundances of some geological and trace element particle classes identified at the outdoor and community locations differ from each other and from the indoor location. Particle images acquired during the computer-controlled analyses played a key role in the identification of certain particle types. Review of these images was particularly useful in distinguishing spherical particles (usually indicative of combustion) from non-spherical particles of similar chemical composition. Pollens and spores were also identified through a manual review of the particle images.
Opportunities for competitive advantage in logistics through information technology

We examine the strategic issues facing logistics service providers (LSP) and the information technology (IT) options open to them. We conclude that "supply chain integration" and deploying EDI are, at best, short-term competitive advantages and will soon become competitive necessities. To identify opportunities for long-term competitive advantage, we then examine the emerging management issues in logistics and identify the characteristics of a "Truly-Productive Organization (TPO)". We argue that building a TPO is a potential source of advantage, because it is based on people skills which are difficult and expensive to duplicate. A key element in building a TPO is to influence the ways in which people work, by adopting patterns of thinking and acting which reinforce desired objectives. Information technology can support achieving a pattern-based organization. To show this, we identify and discuss a number of emerging technologies such as groupware and workflow management systems, and new types of PIM's, and show how they fit together into an integrated information architecture for supporting a pattern-based TPO. We argue that this is an architecture which can support achieving a people-based competitive advantage.
Survival distributions arising from two families and generated by transformations

Two families of distributions are introduced and studied within the framework of parametric survival analysis. The families are derived from a general linear form by specifying a function of the survival function with certain restrictions. Distributions within each family are generated by transformations of the survival time variable subject to certain restrictions. Two specific transformations were selected and, thus, four distributions are identified for further study. The distributions have one scale and two shape parameters and include as special cases the exponential, Weibull, log-logistic and Gompertz distributions. One of the new distributions, the modified Weibull, is studied in some detail. The distributions are developed with an emphasis on those features that data analysts find especially useful for survivorship studies, A wide variety of hazard shapes are available. The survival, density and hazard functions may be written in simple algebraic forms. Parameter estimation is demonstrated using t...
Outbreaks in Highly Vaccinated Populations: Implications for Studies of Vaccine Performance

Most of the factors associated with the failure of a vaccination to provide protective immunity are not distributed uniformly or randomly within populations. This paper explores the extent to which a nonrandom distribution of vaccination failures and the selection of exceptional situations for investigation may influence estimates of vaccine performance. The authors show that outbreak investigations will tend to underestimate vaccination efficacy, and that the extent of underestimation will be related directly to the size of the epidemic triggering an investigation, the vaccination coverage in the community, and the extent of clustering of vaccination failures in the population; it will be related inversely to the size of and contact intensity within the investigated community. These potential sources of bias are not the only problems that arise in estimating vaccine efficacy, but they should be taken into consideration when analyzing and interpreting outbreak situations. The fact that outbreak investigations carried out within the United States during the past decade have provided estimates of measles vaccination efficacy on the order of 95% is consistent with a somewhat higher overall "true" efficacy of current vaccines and procedures in the total population. It is important to understand better the frequency, distribution, and risk factors for vaccination failures in populations.
Functional Diarrhea (Non-specific Chronic Diarrhea, Toddler Diarrhea)

Functional diarrhea (FD) or non-specific chronic diarrhea (NSCD) is considered as the most frequent cause of chronic diarrhea without failure to thrive in toddlers. According to the Rome III classification, this clinical entity is defined as a daily painless, recurrent passage of three or more, large, unformed stools during a period of at least 4 weeks, with an absence of alarm signs such as failure to thrive if caloric intake is adequate, abdominal pain, or blood in the stool and emesis. The clinical history is the key point to identify patients with FD. Minimal blood and stool tests may help to differentiate between the causes of diarrhea such as infection, celiac disease, and inflammatory conditions. The pathophysiology of FD is not well understood. Starch, fructose, and sorbitol malabsorption have been implicated as important nutritional substances in the development of FD. In the same hand, parental factors are important in the perpetuation of functional diarrhea and induction of complications such as malnutrition. Functional diarrhea in childhood is a self-limiting disease and therefore no treatment is necessary. The recognition that dietary factors play a key role in the majority of these children has focused awareness upon the dietary intervention of this FGID.
Successful Pregnancy Using the NxStage Home Hemodialysis System

Pregnancy in the setting of the uremic milieu of renal disease has a lower success rate than in the normal population and is a rare event. While intensified renal replacement therapy (RRT) during pregnancy can lead to improved outcomes, most studies have focused on nocturnal hemodialysis as the main RRT in pregnancy. Although thousands of patients use the home NxStage System One short daily hemodialysis (SDHD) machine in the United States, pregnancy outcomes with this therapy are unknown. The NxStage System One uses low-volume dialysate and hence small and middle molecule clearance may differ compared to conventional therapies and affect pregnancy outcomes. We report a case of a successful conception and pregnancy using the home NxStage system. The NxStage system may provide an alternative to the more routinely used NHD or standard SDHD therapies for women of childbearing age.
Effectiveness of DDT for Cabbage Caterpillar Control in Indiana, 1945 to 1960

Resistance of the imported cabbage worm ( Pieris rapae (L.)) and the cabbage looper ( Trihoplusia ni (Hbn.)) to DDT was not apparent in experimental plots until 1958, although growers of commercial acreages of cabbage and related crops complained of lack of control as early as 1953. In 1944 and 1945 tests with DDT against these two caterpillars showed satisfactory results with as little as one-half pound actual toxicant per acre. Trials with DDT and other new insecticides were continued from 1944 through the 1960 season. DDT at a standard rate of 1 pound of actual toxicant per acre was adequate in most seasons up to 1958, although some other insecticides excelled in over-all ratings in some years. In 1958 DDT rated sixth among eight insecticides and so in 1960 the rate per acre was increased to 2 pounds. Again DDT was one of the better materials, although the kill of loopers in the first 24 hours was poor. Both endrin and toxaphene gave consistently good control when included in the tests. Dieldrin was effective in some years and results were mediocre in others. In general the phosphate insecticides have been inferior to the chlorinated hydrocarbon materials. They often gave a good quick kill, but in some instances plants were reinfested within a week. Two new n1aterials, Thiodan® (6,7,8,0, 10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-1,4,3-benzodioxathiepin-8-oxide) and Sevin® (a-naphthyl N -methylcarbamate), showed promise but have not been tested sufficiently for accurate evaluation. The biological pest control agent made up of live spores of the microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis Berl., gave a good initial kill of the caterpillars, but permitted a build-up of the population within a week.
251 MATERNAL PERCEPTION OF THEIR CHILD'S WEIGHT IS A BARRIER TO EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Background Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Previous research has shown that mothers of overweight children have difficulty identifying their children as overweight. Objective To determine and evaluate the associations of the actual and maternal perception of the child9s weight. Methods A prospective sample of mothers of children aged 2-17 years who presented at two inner-city, university affiliated pediatric clinics were surveyed on whether they thought their child9s weight was “just right,” “too light,” or “too heavy.” Mothers were asked to provide their own height and weight as well as that of the child9s father if known. Other demographic variables were also collected. The height and weight of each child were measured and the BMI calculated for all three family members. Categories for adult BMI were as follows: 95% = overweight. Results The mothers of 504 children were surveyed (79.8% African-American, 91.9% Medicaid, 52.8% male). For mothers, 157 (31%) were overweight and 215 (42.7%) were obese. For fathers, 174 (34.5%) were overweight, 161 (32%) were obese; data for 27 (5%) were not available. For children, 88 (17.5%) were at risk for being overweight, and 113 (22.4%) were overweight. If either mother (OR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.4-3.2, p Conclusions Obesity is a family problem, which may be complicated by inaccurate maternal perceptions. Young and male children are particularly susceptible to inaccurate perceptions. Families should be educated early on the risks and weight status of their children.
Investigation on the Expenses of 248 Adult Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia in Dongcheng District,Beijing

Objective This study aimed to investigate the expenses, the carriage situation of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae among adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Methods From January 2011 to March 2012,sputum specimens were collected from selected adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) in Dongcheng district of Beijing city for the determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. After CAP was cured, the patients were then investigated for the related expenses. Results The average expense for CAP treatment was 12147.97 yuan/patient. The detection rate was 33.19% for Streptococcus pneumoniae and 39.34% for Haemophilus influenzae. Conclusion CAP causes a high economic burden. It is necessary to develop adult vaccination system, so as to vaccinate the high risk population.
Role of Ca2+ and myosin light chain phosphorylation in regulation of smooth muscle

The time course of phosphorylation of the 20,000-dalton myosin light chain (LC 20) was determined during contraction and relaxation in K+- and histamine-stimulated medial strips of swine carotid arteries. Resting LC 20 phosphorylation levels of 0.15 mol P/mol LC 20 rapidly increased to peak values of 0.6-0.7 mol P/mol LC 20 after stimulation and then declined significantly, although stress continued to rise to a stable steady-state maximum. LC 20 dephosphorylation after agonist washout preceded the decline in isometric stress. Over the entire contraction-relaxation cycle, phosphorylation was correlated with shortening velocity and not with developed stress. The maximum shortening velocity with no external load (Vo) was directly proportional to LC 20 phosphorylation (r = 0.986). The data indicate that LC 20 phosphorylation is necessary for cross-bridge cycling leading to shortening or stress development but that stress can be maintained by additional mechanisms. We suggest that dephosphorylation of an attached cross bridge in the presence of Ca2+ arrests the cycle, forming an attached, noncycling cross bridge.
The effect of postpartum progestogen on cardiac function, NT-ProBNP, and inflammatory biomarkers in women with gestational hypertension

THE EFFECT OF POSTPARTUM PROGESTOGEN ON CARDIAC FUNCTION, NT-PROBNP, AND INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN WOMEN WITH GESTATIONAL HYPERTENSION. J. S. Yeh, M. Daubert, M. Kuchibhatla, F. Z. Stanczyk, T. M. Price. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cytopathology of Head and Neck Lesions

Cytopathology is the morphologic study of diseased cells. The diagnosis is based on the microscopic appearance of cells, sometimes with intercellular material, dispersed on glass slides. Cells from lesions in the head and neck (H&N) region are generally collected by fine needle aspiration (FNA). FNA is an outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia, is minimally discomforting to the patient, and has rapid turnaround time. In the hands of experienced individuals, FNA is highly sensitive and specific. Of all potential FNA sites, the H&N area is one of the most complex, since it includes a number of different structures (various types of lining epithelium, exocrine and endocrine glands, lymphoid organs, etc.) from which both benign and malignant tumors may arise. The most common diseases of the three frequently aspirated H&N sites (salivary glands, thyroid, and cervical lymph nodes) are the main focus of this chapter. Important cytological mimics of these mainly neoplastic lesions are also included. Microscopic photographs of representative cases illustrate the majority of the discussed diseases. In the photographs, cytological and histological features of the same lesions are presented side by side to facilitate an understanding of the cytological characteristics. Current trends to use FNA to test for molecular biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic value are also discussed.
A Friendly Return of the Author: John Keats (1795–1821)

Almost two centuries have passed since John Keats’s death, and yet he is very much with us today. This chapter examines the role of ideas of ‘friendship’ in the construction of Keats’s ongoing ‘afterlife’ beginning with the poet’s circle of friends, and explores how reading, writing and friendship color each other in the formation of a general Romantic culture of commemoration. It is argued that Keats’s poetry and poetics, as well as his friends’ and admirers’ posthumous care for his image, negotiate a set of tensions central to his afterlife all along: tensions between publicity and intimacy, mediation and immediacy, and between the body and the book. The chapter asks what ‘friendship’ as a category of analysis adds to discussions of literary celebrity and ‘afterlife’.
Association of baseline knee sagittal dynamic joint stiffness during gait and 2-year patellofemoral cartilage damage worsening in knee osteoarthritis

Objective Knee sagittal dynamic joint stiffness (DJS) describes the biomechanical interaction between change in external knee flexion moment and flexion angular excursion during gait. In theory, greater DJS may particularly stress the patellofemoral (PF) compartment and thereby contribute to PF osteoarthritis (OA) worsening. We hypothesized that greater baseline knee sagittal DJS is associated with PF cartilage damage worsening 2 years later. Methods Participants all had OA in at least one knee. Knee kinematics and kinetics during gait were recorded using motion capture systems and force plates. Knee sagittal DJS was computed as the slope of the linear regression line for knee flexion moments vs angles during the loading response phase. Knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained at baseline and 2 years later. We assessed the association between baseline DJS and baseline-to-2-year PF cartilage damage worsening using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results Our sample had 391 knees (204 persons): mean age 64.2 years (SD 10.0); body mass index (BMI) 28.4 kg/m2 (5.7); 76.5% women. Baseline knee sagittal DJS was associated with baseline-to-2-year cartilage damage worsening in the lateral (OR = 5.35, 95% CI: 2.37-12.05) and any PF (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.27-7.04) compartment. Individual components of baseline DJS (i.e., change in knee moment or angle) were not associated with subsequent PF disease worsening. Conclusion Capturing the concomitant effect of knee kinetics and kinematics during gait, knee sagittal DJS is a potentially modifiable risk factor for PF disease worsening.
Interspecific Differences in Metabolic Rate and Metabolic Temperature Sensitivity Create Distinct Thermal Ecological Niches in Lizards (Plestiodon)

Three congeneric lizards from the southeastern United States (Plestiodon fasciatus, P. inexpectatus, and P. laticeps) exhibit a unique nested distribution. All three skink species inhabit the US Southeast, but two extend northward to central Ohio (P. fasciatus and P. laticeps) and P. fasciatus extends well into Canada. Distinct interspecific differences in microhabitat selection and behavior are associated with the cooler temperatures of the more Northern ranges. We hypothesized that interspecific differences in metabolic temperature sensitivity locally segregates them across their total range. Resting oxygen consumption was measured at 20°, 25° and 30°C. Plestiodon fasciatus, from the coolest habitats, exhibited greatly elevated oxygen consumption compared to the other species at high ecologically-relevant temperatures (0.10, 0.17 and 0.83 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°, 25° and 30°C, respectively). Yet, P. inexpectatus, from the warmest habitats, exhibited sharply decreased oxygen consumption compared to the other species at lower ecologically-relevant temperatures (0.09, 0.27 and 0.42 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°, 25° and 30°C, respectively). Plestiodon laticeps, from both open and closed microhabitats and intermediate latitudinal range, exhibited oxygen consumptions significantly lower than the other two species (0.057, 0.104 and 0.172 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°, 25° and 30°C, respectively). Overall, Plestiodon showed metabolic temperature sensitivities (Q10s) in the range of 2–3 over the middle of each species’ normal temperature range. However, especially P. fasciatus and P. inexpectatus showed highly elevated Q10s (9 to 25) at the extreme ends of their temperature range. While morphologically similar, these skinks are metabolically distinct across the genus’ habitat, likely having contributed to their current distribution.
The Three Drivers: Connectivity, Data and Attention

DCT has unleashed three powerful drivers: connectivity itself; the collection and parsing of voluminous data and a newly recognized resource bottleneck; and attention. These drivers present opportunities as well as challenges, which enable the network economy to innovate and develop. Connectivity generates transparency as information transfer is more efficient; data enables the creation of patterns and stories about individuals; and the trading of attention (or eyeballs) as a commodity, the central feature of advertising, reveals attention as the new scarce resource. Together, these forces propel a reconfiguration – unbundling and repackaging – of markets and products. Manifestation of DCT across markets is subtle and economic growth is uneven, sticking at the challenges in some sectors, but the race to adapt is enticing and we move forward.
Somatostatin receptor expression on von Hippel-Lindau-associated hemangioblastomas offers novel therapeutic target.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-associated hemangioblastomas (VHL-HB) arise in the central nervous system (CNS), and are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in VHL disease. Currently, surgical resection is the most effective way to manage symptomatic VHL-HBs. Surgically unresectable VHL-HBs or those in frail patients are challenging problems. Therapies targeting oncologic and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways have failed to demonstrate tumor control. Our experience and previous reports on VHL-HB avidity to somatostatin analogues suggested somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression in VHL-HBs, offering an alternative therapeutic strategy. We explored this possibility by demonstrating consistent histologic expression of SSTR1, 2a, 4, and 5 in VHL-HBs. We found that somatostatin analogue octreotide induces apoptosis in VHL-HB stromal cells in a dose-dependent fashion by BAX – caspase-3 pathway unrelated to canonical VHL pathway. When administered to a patient with unresectable symptomatic suprasellar hemangioblastoma, octreotide resulted in tumor volume reduction, symptom stabilization, and tumor cytopenia on repeat 68Ga-DOTA-TATE positron emission tomography (PET) within 6 months, suggesting tumor infarction. We conclude that VHL-HBs harbor multiple SSTR subtypes that offer actionable chemo-therapeutic strategy for management of symptomatic, unresectable tumors by somatostatin analogue therapy.
Impacts of global climate change on Mediterranean agrigulture: Current methodologies and future directions

Current trends in Mediterranean agriculture reveal differences between the Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries as related to population growth, land and water use, and food supply and demand. The changes in temperature and precipitation predicted by general circulation models for the Mediterranean region will affect water availability and resource management, critically shaping the patterns of future crop production. Three companion papers analyze in detail future impacts of predicted climate change on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) production in Spain, Greece, and Egypt, and test farm- level adaptation strategies such as early planting and cultivar change with the aid of dynamic crop models. Strategies to improve the assessment of the potential effects of future climate change on agricultural production are discussed.
Characteristics of urban male homeless veterans and non-veterans in Omaha, Nebraska

ABSTRACTThe current study examined differences between urban homeless veterans and non-veterans on sociodemographics, housing, clinical characteristics, and psychosocial factors. We recruited a sample of 196 homeless men (101 veterans, 95 non-veterans) from the Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area. Structured interviews were conducted by research staff. The results showed that the two groups were similar in most respects, though there were several notable differences. Homeless veterans were found to be older and more educated than non-veterans, more likely to have married, and reported having fewer non-adult children. Multivariable models controlling for age further showed that veterans reported a higher number of medical problems and were more likely to report being diagnosed with major depression or PTSD than non-veterans. Comparison with previous studies suggests changes in certain characteristics of homeless veterans over the past few decades that may reflect the growing proportion of veterans from the a...
Jurors Can Be Selected: Noninformation, Misinformation, and Their Strategic Uses for Jury Selection

Publisher Summary The importance of trial outcomes, in combination with high uncertainty about how to diagnose individual juror biases and verdict leanings, has led attorneys to seek aid from sources ranging from professional lore, psychics, private investigators, and graphologists to modern scientific jury selection services. This chapter explicates the manner in which both scientific and nonscientific diagnostic criteria may be used to help the attorney actually seat the most desirable jury. The chapter reviews scientific jury research procedures, with emphasis on those designed to develop accurate diagnostic criteria for juror favorability. It considers how this information may be used, in combination with noninformation and misinformation, to produce the best outcome during voir dire. Scientific jury research is employed for three general purposes: to evaluate an existing jury venue or venire, to aid in selection of the trial jury, and to adjust trial strategy to fit the seated jury.
Orotidine 5'-Monophosphate Decarboxylase: Probing the Limits of the Possible for Enzyme Catalysis

ConspectusThe mystery associated with catalysis by what were once regarded as protein black boxes, diminished with the X-ray crystallographic determination of the three-dimensional structures of enzyme–substrate complexes. The report that several high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (OMPDC) failed to provide a consensus mechanism for enzyme-catalyzed decarboxylation of OMP to form uridine 5′-monophosphate, therefore, provoked a flurry of controversy. This controversy was fueled by the enormous 1023-fold rate acceleration for this enzyme, which had “jolted many biochemists’ assumptions about the catalytic potential of enzymes.” Our studies on the mechanism of action of OMPDC provide strong evidence that catalysis by this enzyme is not fundamentally different from less proficient catalysts, while highlighting important architectural elements that enable a peak level of performance. Many enzymes undergo substrate-induced protein conformational changes that trap...
Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma of bone with FUS–TFCP2 fusion: confirmation of a very recently described rhabdomyosarcoma subtype

Aims Rhabdomyosarcomas of bone are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 reported cases. A very rare subtype of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma harbouring a FUS-TFCP2 fusion and involving both soft tissue and bone locations has been reported very recently. We report only the fourth case of this unusual, clinically aggressive rhabdomyosarcoma. Material and results A previously well 72-year-old male presented with a destructive lesion of the mandible. Morphological and immunohistochemical study of a needle biopsy and the subsequent resection showed a spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma. RNA-seq, RT-PCR and FISH confirmed the presence of the FUS-TFCP2 fusion. Conclusions Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcomas carrying the FUS-TFCP2 fusion are very rare rhabdomyosarcoma variants with osseous predilection. The classification and differential diagnosis of this unusual molecular variant of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma are discussed.
Factors associated with decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy versus unilateral mastectomy

Abstract Background Factors associated with the decision to pursue unilateral mastectomy (UM) versus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in unilateral breast cancer (UBC) patients, and satisfaction with this decision, remain to be elucidated. Methods UBC patients who underwent mastectomy were surveyed regarding factors affecting their surgical decision and satisfaction with the same. Results Both UM (n = 46) and CPM (n = 55) patients were satisfied with their surgical decision (mean 4.72 and 4.85 out of 5 on Satisfaction With Decision scale, respectively, p = 0.078). Most CPM patients cited the desire to lower their risk of contralateral breast cancer (96.4%) and the desire for peace of mind (94.5%) as “very important” drivers of their decision; whereas most UM patients felt not wanting to remove a normal breast (67.4%) was a “very important” driver for their decision. Conclusions Both UM and CPM patients reported high satisfaction with their surgical decisions, despite differing reasons for their respective surgeries.