cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilateral pheochromocytomas and congenital anomalies associated with a de novo germline mutation in the von hippel-lindau gene

Abstract A 12-year-old boy presented with severe hypertension, congenital microcephaly, severe hearing loss, developmental delay, cryptorchidism, and bilateral pheochromocytomas, without the phenotypic features of multiple endocrine neoplasia type II syndromes ( MEN -2). Sequence analysis of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified gnomic DNA identified a missense mutation at nucleotide 451 of the von Hippel-Lindau ( VHL ) gene (A451G) that changes a codon for serine (AGT) to one for glycine (GGT) at amino acid position 80 (S80G). The sequence DNA analysis of the parents did not show a mutation in the VHL gene that was previously identified in their affected son. The observed constellation of microcephaly, deafness, cryptorchidism, developmental delay, hypertension, and bilateral pheochromocytoma in association with a VHL mutation A451G in a patient with negative family history has not previously been described in the literature. Knowledge that VHL mutation plays a critical role in sporadic pheochromocytoma should aid in the future diagnosis and treatment of this tumor. Genetic testing in known pheochromocytoma families is indicated to identify genetically abnormal subjects that carry the MEN -2, VHL, and glomus tumor gene mutations. Am J Kidney Dis 41:E3. © by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Computational needs for the RIA accelerator systems.

This paper discusses the computational needs for the full design and simulation of the RIA accelerator systems. Beam dynamics simulations are essential to first define and optimize the architectural design for both the driver linac and the post-accelerator. They are also important to study different design options and various off-normal modes in order to decide on the most-performing and cost-effective design. Due to the high-intensity primary beams, the beam-stripper interaction is a source of both radioactivation and beam contamination and should be carefully investigated and simulated for proper beam collimation and shielding. The targets and fragment separators area needs also very special attention in order to reduce any radiological hazards by careful shielding design. For all these simulations parallel computing is an absolute necessity.
Continuous Late Quaternary proxy climate records from loess in Beringia

Abstract Loess deposits in eastern Beringia contain continuous proxy records of the effects of past climatic change on terrestrial landscapes at high latitudes. Variations of environmental magnetism and sedimentology of high-latitude loess deposits indicate that the timing and pattern of responses to local variations in wind intensity, storminess, and pedogenesis in eastern Beringia closely resemble the pattern of global climate change during the Late Quaternary deduced from studies of marine and ice core records. The age of paleoclimatic fluctuations, permafrost features, volcanic ash horizons, buried forest layers and paleosols, and other features of the eastern Beringian loess record can be determined using a variety of Quaternary dating methods. Tephrochronologic correlations between the loess record and the glacial history of eastern Beringia indicate the Delta Glaciation occurred during marine isotope stage 6. Several other middle and Late Quaternary glaciations across eastern Beringia can be tephrochronologically tied to the loess record, and appear to have been in phase with episodes of global cooling recorded in deep-sea records.
1Gsearch/sec Ternary Content Addressable Memory compiler with silicon-aware Early-Predict Late-Correct single-ended sensing

A Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) uses a two phase search operation where early prediction on its pre-search results prematurely activates the subsequent main-search operation, which is later interrupted only if the final pre-search results contradict the early prediction. This early main-search activation improves performance by 30%, while the low-probability of a late-correct has a negligible power impact. This Early Predict Late Correct (EPLC) sensing enables a high-performance TCAM compiler implemented in 32nm High-K Metal Gate SOI process to achieve 1Gsearch/sec throughput on a 2048×640bit TCAM instance while consuming only 0.76W. Embedded Deep-Trench (DT) capacitance for power supply noise mitigation adds 5% overhead for a total TCAM area of 1.56mm2.
A Possible X-Ray Detection of the Binary Millisecond Pulsar J1012+5307

A possible X-ray detection of the newly discovered binary millisecond radio pulsar PSR J1012+5307 was obtained from an archival ROSAT observation. The 80 +/- 24 photons detected correspond to a 0.1 - 2.4 keV luminosity of approx. = 2.5 x 10(exp 30) erg/s at the nominal dispersion-measure distance of 520 pc. This luminosity is a factor of 2 less than that of PSR J0437-4715, a near twin of PSR J1012+5307 in its spin parameters and energetics, and the only millisecond pulsar from which pulsed X-rays have definitely been detected. PSR J1012+5307 is also within 6 deg of the "HI hole" in Ursa Major, providing a new estimate of the electron column density through this region which confirms that the ionized column density is also low. The small neutral column density to PSR J1012+5307, N(sub H) less than 7.5 x 10(exp 19)/sq cm, will facilitate future soft X-ray study, which will help to discriminate between thermal and nonthermal origins of the X-ray emission in millisecond pulsars.
Unique combination of anatomy and physiology in cells of the rat paralaminar thalamic nuclei adjacent to the medial geniculate body.

The medial geniculate body (MGB) has three major subdivisions - ventral (MGV), dorsal (MGD) and medial (MGM). MGM is linked with paralaminar nuclei that are situated medial and ventral to MGV/MGD. Paralaminar nuclei have unique inputs and outputs when compared with MGV and MGD and have been linked to circuitry underlying some important functional roles. We recorded intracellularly from cells in the paralaminar nuclei in vitro. We found that they possess an unusual combination of anatomical and physiological features when compared to those reported for “standard” thalamic neurons seen in the MGV/MGD and elsewhere in the thalamus. Compared to MGV/MGD neurons, anatomically, 1) paralaminar cell dendrites can be long, branch sparingly and encompass a much larger area. 2) their dendrites may be smooth but can have well defined spines and 3) their axons can have collaterals that branch locally within the same or nearby paralaminar nuclei. When compared to MGV/MGD neurons physiologically 1) their spikes are larger in amplitude and can be shorter in duration and 2) can have dual afterhyperpolarizations with fast and slow components and 3) they can have a reduction or complete absence of the low threshold, voltage-sensitive calcium conductance that reduces or eliminates the voltage-dependent burst response. We also recorded from cells in the parafascicular nucleus, a nucleus of the posterior intralaminar nuclear group, because they have unusual anatomical features that are similar to some of our paralaminar cells. Like the labeled paralaminar cells, parafascicular cells had physiological features distinguishing them from typical thalamic neurons.
New MTCMOS Flip-Flops with Simple Control Circuitry and Low Leakage Data Retention Capability

The previous MTCMOS sequential circuit techniques with data preserving sleep modes require either a distributed sleep switch circuit structure with a significant area overhead or a complex peripheral control circuitry for preserving and restoring the data. Two new master-slave MTCMOS flip-flops with centralized sleep switches providing a low leakage and low overhead sleep mode with data retention capability are presented in this paper. A quasi-SRAM structure is combined with the slave latch of the proposed flip-flops. The already existing sleep signal of the MTCMOS circuitry is also used for controlling the data retention and restoration operations, thereby eliminating the need for any extra control signals with the new flip-flops. Furthermore, the leakage power consumption with the proposed techniques is reduced by up to 42.5% as compared to the previously published MTCMOS circuits.
Classification of the solitary waves in coupled nonlinear Schro¨dinger equations

In this paper, the solitary waves in coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations are classified into infinite families. For each of the first three families, the parameter region is specified and the parameter dependence of its solitary waves described and explained. We found that the parameter regions of these solution families are novel and irregular, and the parameter dependence of the solitary waves is sensitive. The stability of these families of solitary waves is also determined. We showed that only the family of symmetric and single-humped solitary waves is stable.
Tagging chromatin with retrotransposons: target specificity of the Saccharomyces Ty5 retrotransposon changes with the chromosomal localization of Sir3p and Sir4p.

Retrotransposon and retroviral insertions are not randomly distributed on chromosomes, suggesting that retroelements actively select integration sites. This is the case for the yeast Ty5 retrotransposons, which preferentially integrate into domains of silent chromatin at the HM loci and telomeres. Here we demonstrate that loss of Sir3p or Sir4p—components of silent chromatin—causes a greater than ninefold decrease in Ty5 targeting to the HM loci and largely randomizes chromosomal integration patterns. Strains with a deletion of SIR4 also display an ~10-fold increase in cDNA recombination, which is due both to the expression a- and a-mating-type information and the loss of Sir4p. It is known that in old yeast cells or in strains carrying the sir4-42 allele, the Sir complex relocalizes to the rDNA. About 26% of Ty5 insertions occur within the rDNA in sir4-42 strains compared with 3% in wild type. Ty5, therefore, is sensitive to changes in chromatin, indicating that retrotransposons may be useful for dissecting chromatin dynamics that occur during developmental programs such as aging.
Masers for systems applications

During the past 5 years, solid-state microwave maser amplifiers have advanced from the conception of the basic idea to their present status of having been successfully used for critical measurements in highly specialized applications such as radio and radar astronomy. Design of maser amplifiers for tracking and communicating with deep-space probes and for satellite communication systems is now in progress in several laboratories. All maser amplifiers operated until the present, however, have used open cryogenic systems. The operating time for these systems with one filling of cryogenic fluids varies from about 4 to 12 hours. The process of refilling the cryogenic dewars is a particularly awkward one in view of the fact that the masers are often used at the focal points of large steerable antennas. In addition to the cryogenic difficulties, the gain and bandwidth performance of early masers, while suitable for important scientific measurements, has not been adequate for more demanding systems applications. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss some of the problems in, and progress being made toward,the evolution of maser technology suitable for a variety of systems. As suggested above, the design of closed refrigeration systems and efficient dewars is one of the more important problems which must be faced in the evolution of a practical maser technology. Examples of other advances which must be made are the following: extension of the useful frequency range for maser operation into the millimeter-wave region; improvement of gain-bandwidth product, particularly for radiometer-type operation; achievement of electronic tuning capabilities; achievement of very high gain stability, for passive detection systems which use large integration times; accomplishment of very high phase stability for use in interferometer-type tracking systems in which the basic information is contained in the phase of the signal. In addition to these electrical performance requirements, maser amplifiers must work over a wide range of mechanical positions since they are often mounted on moveable antennas. The problem of protecting the maser amplifier from the saturating effects of local signals (such as the TR leak-through pulse in a radar) already has several preliminary solutions.
Commentary on an article by Hannu T. Aro, MD, PhD, et al.: "Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2: a randomized trial in open tibial fractures treated with reamed nail fixation".

Update This commentary was updated on April 15, 2011, because of a previous error. In the third paragraph, the sentence that had previously read “In the SPRINT, the two groups of open fractures were associated with statistically equivalent reoperation rates, but there was a trend toward better healing in the open fracture group treated with reamed intramedullary nailing.” now reads “In the SPRINT, the two groups of open fractures were associated with statistically equivalent reoperation rates, but there was a trend toward better healing in the open fracture group treated with unreamed intramedullary nailing.”
High Resolution Time and Frequency Resolved Spectroscopy for the Study of Photophysical Processes in Luminescent Materials

A method for obtaining time and frequency resolved spectra with high spectral and temporal resolution over a broad spectral range is presented. Step–scan Fourier transform spectroscopy permits spectral coverage from UV to mid IR with sub nanosecond resolution making it possible to track emission from multiple manifolds with full temporal resolution in a single experiment. Data for several rare-earth doped crystalline materials exhibiting multiple emission bands and including evidence of energy transfer is shown.
Strain variation in immune response and behavior following the death of cage cohorts.

Strain differences in both immune function and behavior were observed following exposure of mice to the death of cage-cohorts. AKR/J, BALB/cN, and C3H/HeJ mice were exposed to a dead cohort for two hours at 48 hour intervals for 30 days. During this two hour period, AKR/J mice displayed intense fighting and mounting behavior. In addition, these mice attacked, cannibalized, and buried carcasses. Neither C3H/HeJ nor BALB/cN mice exhibited the complete repertoire of behaviors directed at either carcasses or cage-cohorts observed in AKR/J mice. After 15 exposures to the death of cage-cohorts, allogeneic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response was suppressed in AKR/J mice, but was enhanced or unchanged in C3H/HeJ and BALB/cN mice, respectively. Other immune parameters including natural killer (NK) cell activity, and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated B cell proliferation were unchanged in AKR/J mice but increased in BALB/cN mice exposed to the death of cage-cohorts for thirty days. These results suggest: 1) that both...
A distributed newton method for dynamic Network Utility Maximization with delivery contracts

The standard Network Utility Maximization (NUM) problem has a static formulation, which fails to capture the temporal dynamics in modern networks. This work considers a dynamic version of the NUM problem by introducing additional constraints, referred to as delivery contracts. Each delivery contract specifies the amount of information that needs to be delivered over a certain time interval for a particular source and is motivated by applications such as video streaming or webpage loading. The existing distributed algorithms for the Network Utility Maximization problems are either only applicable for the static version of the problem or rely on dual decomposition and first-order (gradient or subgradient) methods, which are slow in convergence. In this work, we develop a distributed Newton-type algorithm for the dynamic problem, which is implemented in the primal space and involves computing the dual variables at each primal step. We propose a novel distributed iterative approach for calculating the dual variables with finite termination based on matrix splitting techniques. It can be shown that if the error level in the Newton direction (resulting from finite termination of dual iterations) is below a certain threshold, then the algorithm achieves local quadratic convergence rate to an error neighborhood of the optimal solution in the primal space. Simulation results demonstrate significant convergence rate improvement of our algorithm, relative to the existing first-order methods based on dual decomposition.
Political Thought of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation

In 1944 political observers in Canada and the United States were startled to learn that the first socialist government in North America had been elected to office in the wind-swept prairie province of Saskatchewan, Canada. The novelty lay not only in the fact that this was the first outright socialist government on the continent but that it had been elected by a farmer-labor-socialist party called the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation in a predominantly agricultural province during a period of high war prosperity. No more atypical circumstances for the advent of socialism could be found in the western world. But the C.C.F. is not a typical socialist party. Founded during the depression in 1933 as a merger of existing farmer, labor, and socialist provincial parties, the C.C.F. evolved its political thought and organizational principle empirically from the streams of Christian socialist thought, Fabianism, and labor-agrarian radicalism which flowed through Canadian political life in the first two decades of the twentieth century. The result has been a unique formulation of socialist thought and original theories of political organization to win adherents. Further, the C.C.F. has provided political scientists with a social laboratory in the province of Saskatchewan to test its political thought in the field of practical achievement. The re-election of a C.C.F. government in 1949 assured the continuation of the experiment for another four years. Judgment as to the final effectiveness of social planning will have to wait the completion of this second term when the newly inaugurated programs will have had time to mature. Meanwhile, the political thought that lies behind the legislative programs and the electoral success of the organization which inspires them bear examination not only because success deserves to be studied but because the social milieu in which they grew is similar in many important respects to that of the United States. It is not my purpose here, however, to prove that the American "Left" will fol-
Face recognition based on Wavelet and Fourier transform

Processing of the face image in the transform domain can remove the noise by the change of illumination and camera. So a method presented in this paper is based on wavelet and Fourier transform. Facial features are obtained by combining discrete wavelet transform with Fourier transform. And they are classified by the Nearest-Neighbor classifier with the similarity metric of Euclidean distance and correlation coefficient. Experiments are made in ORL and YALE face image databases. The experimental results show that the proposed method is simple, fast and effective for the face recognition.
Serial Sectioning in SEM: Challenges and Opportunities

*Dept. of Mat. Sci. and Eng., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106. **Dept. of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44120. ***Dept. of Molecular Bio. & Microbiology, CWRU School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106. ****Dept. of Restorative Sciences, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089. *****Dept. of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106. ******Cell and Tissue Imaging Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105.
Performance Analysis of Slotted ALOHA in a Weibull Fading Channel

This paper considers slotted ALOHA networks in Weibull fading channels. A simplified signal capture model is used to analyze both capture probability and throughput of the slotted ALOHA protocol.
Religion, Race, and Public Opinion about Police Officer Gratuities

Using data obtained from telephone surveys, this article examines the opinions of two groups toward the acceptance of gratuities by police officers. The experimental group was composed of 101 African Americans who were classified as religiously conservative. Because of the strong involvement of African American churches in civil rights activities, and the historic antipathy between many police agencies and some religiously based civil rights groups, it was expected that African American religious conservatives (AARC) would have strong negative sentiments toward the acceptance of gratuities by police officers. This expectation was confirmed in part and rejected in part. Policy implications are also discussed.
A new 40 MA Ranchero explosive pulsed power system

We are developing a new high explosive pulsed power (HEPP) system based on the 1.4 m long Ranchero generator which was developed in 1999 for driving solid density z-pinch loads. The new application requires approximately 40 MA to implode similar liners, but the liners cannot tolerate the 65µs, 3 MA current pulse associated with delivering the initial magnetic flux to the 200 nH generator. To circumvent this problem, we have designed a system with an internal start switch and four explosively formed fuse (EFF) opening switches. The integral start switch is installed between the output glide plane and the armature. It functions in the same manner as a standard input crowbar switch when armature motion begins, but initially isolates the load. The circuit is completed during the flux loading phase using post hole convolutes. Each convolute attaches the inner (coaxial output transmission line to the outside of the outer coax through a penetration of the outer coaxial line. The attachment is made with the conductor of an EFF at each location. The EFFs conduct 0.75 MA each, and are actuated just after the internal start switch connects to the load. EFFs operating at these parameters have been tested in the past. The post hole convolutes must withstand as much as 80 kV at peak dI/dt during the Ranchero load current pulse. We describe the design of this new HEPP system in detail, and give the experimental results available at conference time. In addition, we discuss the work we are doing to test the upper current limits of a single standard size Ranchero module. Calculations have suggested that the generator could function at up to ∼120 MA, the rule of thumb we follow (1 MA/cm) suggests 90 MA, and simple flux compression calculations, along with the ∼4 MA seed current available from our capacitor bank, suggests 118 MA is the currently available upper limit.
Passing the Boards: can USMLE and Orthopaedic in-Training Examination scores predict passage of the ABOS Part-I examination?

Passing the written and oral examinations is a requirement for certification for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS). Residents and residency program directors alike consider passing “The Boards” to be a priority. Part I of the ABOS examination consists of over 300 multiple-choice questions designed to test the candidate's knowledge in general orthopaedics, basic science, and the application of this knowledge. Part II is an oral examination administered to evaluate the candidate's competence in areas such as data gathering and interpretation, diagnosis, treatment, and technical skills. Passing the ABOS Part-I examination the first time is crucial to avoid delays in taking Part II and attaining board certification. In 2002, 553 (89%) of 623 first-time test-takers passed the ABOS Part-I examination. If one were to include repeat examinees, 637 (79%) of 805 passed1. The passing rate after one or more failures is dramatically lower than that for first-time examinees. In 2002, there were 182 repeat test-takers, of whom ninety-eight failed (a 54% failure rate), demonstrating the importance of passing the first time1. This suggests that inadequate training and preparation of an orthopaedic knowledge base for this examination during residency may be difficult to correct after an initial failure of the ABOS Part-I examination. The ABOS Part-I examination represents one standardized test in a long battery of examinations already taken by graduating residents, which include the Standardized Admission Test; Medical College Admission Test; United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps I, II, and III; and Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) administered during postgraduate-years (PGY)-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Since orthopaedic residency applications are extremely competitive (in 2000, there were 1116 candidates for 554 positions), it can be inferred that orthopaedic residents have generally performed well on these previous examinations2. Indeed, it may be the unofficial …
Anion Activation Site of Insulin-degrading Enzyme

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) (insulysin) is a zinc metallopeptidase that metabolizes several bioactive peptides, including insulin and the amyloid β peptide. IDE is an unusual metallopeptidase in that it is allosterically activated by both small peptides and anions, such as ATP. Here, we report that the ATP-binding site is located on a portion of the substrate binding chamber wall arising largely from domain 4 of the four-domain IDE. Two variants having residues in this site mutated, IDEK898A,K899A,S901A and IDER429S, both show greatly decreased activation by the polyphosphate anions ATP and PPPi. IDEK898A,K899A,S901A is also deficient in activation by small peptides, suggesting a possible mechanistic link between the two types of allosteric activation. Sodium chloride at high concentrations can also activate IDE. There are no observable differences in average conformation between the IDE-ATP complex and unliganded IDE, but regions of the active site and C-terminal domain do show increased crystallographic thermal factors in the complex, suggesting an effect on dynamics. Activation by ATP is shown to be independent of the ATP hydrolysis activity reported for the enzyme. We also report that IDEK898A,K899A,S901A has reduced intracellular function relative to unmodified IDE, consistent with a possible role for anion activation of IDE activity in vivo. Together, the data suggest a model in which the binding of anions activates by reducing the electrostatic attraction between the two halves of the enzyme, shifting the partitioning between open and closed conformations of IDE toward the open form.
Discussion: Rural Housing Needs and Barriers, The Case of Central Appalachia

Deaton and Hanrahan provided an excellent report on the situation of housing in Central Appalachia. Their arguments concerning the implications to be drawn from the situation are that Central Appalachia had a disproportionate share of substandard housing in 1960 and 1970, examination of some barriers to increase housing construction indicates that public policy has not been effective in reaching the very poor, and therefore, public housing policy should be altered.Three questions may be raised that need to be answered before implementing new public housing policy for Central Appalachia.
Experience-dependent asymmetric variation in primate prefrontal morphology

Theories of human development suggest that experiences embedded in social relationships alter prefrontal brain systems that mediate emotional self-regulation. This study tests for experience-dependent effects on prefrontal gray and white matter volumes determined in 39 young adult monkeys (Saimiri sciureus ) 4 years after conditions that modified early maternal availability. These conditions were previously shown to alter subsequent measures of emotional behavior, social propensities, and hypothalamic � / pituitary � /adrenal axis stress physiology. Here we identify significant differences in right but not left adult prefrontal volumes, with experience-dependent asymmetric variation most clearly expressed in ventral medial cortex measured in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Follow-up studies now need to determine whether maternal availability directly affects or interacts with subsequent experiences to alter prefrontal substrates of emotional processing and sensitivity to stress. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Molecular characterization of Myriogenospora atramentosa and its occurrence on some new hosts

Myriogenospora atramentosa produces partial to complete sterility of host grasses. Geographical and host species distributions were assessed and updated. It is reported only from the New World and appears to be limited to the highly evolved grass tribes Andropogoneae and Paniceae. Included in these tribes are the previously unreported host species Panicum scoparium, Paspalum urvillei, Erianthus brevibarbis, E. contortus, E. giganteus , and hybrids from crosses with Erianthus spp. Additionally, M. atramentosa is reported for the first time growing on Paspalum notatum (bahiagrass), and Panicum hemitomon in South Carolina, U.S.A. Sequence data (ITS regions 1 and 2 and 5·8S rDNA) from several isolates indicated that there is a significant level of DNA sequence differentiation between isolates of M. atramentosa , which suggests that there are at least two distinct sequence groups, or cryptic species, within the currently defined morphological species.
Comparability and accuracy of fluvial-sediment data - A view from the U.S. Geological Survey

The quality of historical fluvial-sediment data cannot be taken for granted, based on a review of upper Colorado River basin suspended-sediment discharges, and on an evaluation of the reliability of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) data. Additionally, the quality of future fluvial-sediment data are not assured. Sediment-surrogate technologies, including those that operate on acoustic, laser, bulk optic, digital optic, or pressure differential principles, are being used with increasing frequency to measure in-stream and (or) laboratory fluvial-sediment characteristics. Data from sediment-surrogate technologies may yield results that differ significantly from those obtained by traditional methods for the same sedimentary conditions. Development of national sediment dataquality criteria and rigorous comparisons of data derived from sediment-surrogate technologies to those obtained by traditional techniques will minimize the potential for future fluvial-sediment data-quality concerns.
On the use of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry in Semiconductor Device Materials and Process Development

This paper describes how secondary ion mass spectrometry can be used effectively in semiconductor device materials and process development. A short overview of the experimental technique is given followed by applications in the following areas: 1) Basic research 2) New Process Development 3) Trouble-shooting current processing 4) Analysis of competitor's devices.
Primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis: A cost- effectiveness analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Prophylaxis against the first variceal bleeding has been proposed to reduce morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. No previous information is available regarding the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to compare the cost- effectiveness of variceal bleeding prophylaxis with propranolol, sclerotherapy, and shunt surgery in cirrhotic patients stratified by bleeding risk. METHODS: A hypothetical cohort was stratified according to bleeding risk. The natural history of cirrhosis with esophageal varices was simulated using a Markov model. Transitional probabilities extracted from published studies and costs were obtained from our institution's billing department. Sensitivity analyses were performed for important variables. RESULTS: Propranolol results in cost savings ranging between $450 and $14,600 over a 5-year period. The extent of cost savings depended on the individual patient's bleeding risk. In addition, propranolol increased the quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.1-0.4 years. Sclerotherapy was significantly less cost-effective than propranolol and had no advantage on quality of life. Shunt surgery was effective therapy for prevention of bleeding but decreased life expectancy and quality of life in some risk groups and was not cost- effective. CONCLUSIONS: Propranolol is the only cost-effective form of prophylactic therapy for preventing initial variceal bleeding in cirrhosis regardless of bleeding risk. (Gastroenterology 1997 Feb;112(2):473-82)
SOMATIC EMBRYO INITIATION AND GERMINATION IN DIPLOID COTTON (GOSSYPIUM ARBOREUM L.)

Summary The diploid cotton species can constitute a valuable gene pool for the more agronomically desirable cultivated tetraploid cultivars and offer better opportunities to study gene structure and function through gene knockouts. In order to exploit these advantages, a regeneration system is required to achieve these transformation-based goals. Carbohydrate source and concentration were evaluated to improve somatic embryo (SE) production and desiccation treatments to improve the conversion efficiency of SEs to plants in a diploid Gossypium arboreum accession, A2-9 (PI-529712). Improved SE numbers and their subsequent conversion into plantlets was achieved with a Murashige and Skoog (MS)/sucrose-based medium M2 [0.04 M sucrose, 0.3mM a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)]. On this medium, 219 embryos per g initiated, and close to 11% of these embryos germinated into plantlets. Neither a 5-d desiccation treatment of embryogenic callus previously cultured in liquid medium nor filter paper insertion improved the numbers of SEs induced or their conversion to plantlets. A 3-d desiccation period resulted in improved plant regeneration. When immature G. arboreum SEs induced on M1 (0.2 M glucose, 2.6mM NAA, and 0.2mM kinetin) medium underwent a 3-d desiccation treatment, 49% of these immature SEs were converted to plantlets after a 4-wk period on M2 medium. These improved results will help to pave the way for future genetic transformation and associated gene structure and function studies utilizing G. arboreum. These results, in particular the 3-d desiccation treatment, can also be incorporated into regeneration protocols to improve the regeneration efficiency of other Gossypium species.
Introduction: Making the Case for Culturally Responsive School Mental Health

For over two decades, the school mental health (SMH) movement has shown progressive growth in the United States (U.S.) and other countries based on some straightforward and compelling realities. First, child and adolescent mental health is among the most neglected of all health care needs, with 20 % or more of children and youth presenting more concerning emotional and behavioral challenges, but less than one-third of these youth receiving any services (President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003). Moreover, for those youth who do receive services there are serious questions about the quality of services received, with true evidence-based practice (EBP) being relatively rare, quality improvement often focused on variables such as fee-for-service productivity, and nonevidence based, even harmful services being widespread (see Evans & Weist, 2004; Weist et al., 2007).
A Bridge to Recovery: How Assets Affect Sexual Assault Survivors’ Economic Well-Being

Sexual violence can trigger adverse economic events for survivors, including increased expenses and decreased earnings. Using interview data, this exploratory study examines how access to assets (liquid assets, familial financial assistance, and homeownership) affects survivors’ economic well-being during recovery. In keeping with asset theory, liquid assets and familial assistance can help offset post-assault expenses and facilitate access to services. Homeownership, meanwhile, appears to have mixed effects on survivors’ economic well-being. These findings suggest that the economic costs of sexual violence can burden survivors with fewer financial resources more heavily than those who own significant assets. As such, these findings shift the focus toward a dimension of inequality in recovery from sexual violence that is often overlooked in research and that may have implications for public policy and victim services.
Roles for Universities

Computer science has grown rapidly throughout its short lifetime. Universities have been major contributors to that growth, and they bear a major responsibility for dissemination of knowledge about computer science. Professional education in computer science is growing more rigorous, and we expect an increasing need for students to master a growing set of fundamental concepts. Mere programming skill will no longer suffice for most computing professionals. The field will require solid technical expertise comparable to that expected of engineers, and most development work will require genuine competence in both the application field and computer science. In addition, many people will need to use computers in sophisticated ways and understand the implications of the spreading computer technology. Universities must begin now to respond to these emerging needs.
Capturing and Analyzing Liquid Content

As scholars take greater interest in analyzing digital content, they are being presented with novel methodological challenges. Among these challenges are dealing with the volume and mutable nature of digital content, and especially online content. The present work discusses a computational approach for “freezing” and analyzing aspects of a large volume of “liquid” content using an accessible combination of free software running on consumer hardware. The strengths and limitations of this approach are illustrated through an examination of the method employed in an analysis of more than 125,000 snapshots of the homepages of 21 news organizations over two months.
Solder Strength Characterization Using Hot Bump Pull Testing

Hot and cold solder ball pull testing has emerged as an attractive alternative to the traditional ball shear method for characterizing the attachment strength of solder interconnection. This paper describes the effects of aging with relative humidity and temperature on solder strength using hot bump pull test method. The results show high dependence of solder interface strength due to aging.
The role of materials science in the evolution of microelectronics

This article discusses the role of materials science in the growth and processing of silicon that made modern microelectronics possible. The influence of defects on the electronic properties of silicon is explored, followed by the production of electronic-grade silicon and its conversion into macroscopically dislocation-free doped silicon crystals. The intricacies of dopant distributions in as-grown crystals are also discussed. Oxidation, ion implantation, and metallization are essential elements of device processing, and their salient features are emphasized. The electromigration behavior of interconnects and attempts to prevent it are also introduced.
Minimally invasive hip surgery.

Describe the most common techniques used for minimally invasive hip surgery. Certainly the most commonly described approaches in the literature are the posterior and direct anterior. The posterior approach is essentially the same as what surgeons have done traditionally but with a shorter incision and less dissection of the deep musculature. The 2-incision approach, which I prefer, has fallen out of favor because it is technically diffi cult; several proponents of the 2-incision approach have switched to using an anterior approach only and then placing the femur into hyperextension and external rotation. The basic issue with hip replacement is that you have 2 different axes—that of the acetabulum and that of the femur. To access these axes, you have 3 options: (1) make an incision long enough to incorporate both axes in 1 incision (a traditional approach); (2) make a short incision and move the axis into the incision, which is what we do with an anterior approach—the femur is drawn into the wound; or (3) make a dissection in line with the acetabulum and a second dissection in line with the femur (the 2-incision approach). Overall, the concept is of hip replacement as a soft tissue procedure with the parenthetical inclusion of implant placement.
AN EXTENSION OF THE RISK-SHIFT PHENOMENON TO ACHIEVEMENT AND AFFILIATION CONCERNS

Summary.-The experiment investigated whether achievement and affiliation concerns would induce the phenomenon encountered in the risk-shift and related group smdies. Using three decision-problems involving such concerns, Ss first responded to the three problems individually, then in randomly assigned groups, and then separately again. In comparison to Ss in a control condition, results indicate that the risk-shift phenomenon generalizes to achievement and affiliation shifts, both in the group decision and in Ss' post-group responses.
Description of local disturbance field of activating and removing resident oil

In the period of high water cut in the field,the main developing target is irreducible resident oil in the interface domain. Therefore,the key of EOR is activating and removing irreducible resident oil. In order to understand the principle and essence of oil recovery enhancing,a dynamic system in the process of development was treated as an open system,which should be investigated and analyzed in the process of exchange,conversion and transmission of material,energy and information between the system and environment. A double-layer non-homogeneous model was established which had the equidistant pressure and sampling hole to carry out water-drive experiments. Based on reservoir heterogeneity,using cyclic injection method,a compositional slug system was injected which included surface polymer solution with different concentrations,water and surfactant solution. Through testing the pressure in different points and composition,concentration and viscosity change of fluid sample in the process of injection along the way,local disturbance field was analyzed,structured and described. The theory of physical chemistry,thermodynamics,micro-dynamics were introduced in order to break through boundary of the hierarchy concept. The theory combined the micro-thermal motion of molecules with the behavior of molecular aggregates in mesoscopic scale and the physical and chemical phenomena for the first time so as to draw flow pattern maps of local disturbance field. Therefore,this will bring the EOR research to a new field and has a double significance of theoretical innovation and practical application.
Nanolasers: Current Status of the Trailblazer of Synergetics

The laser is a prototypical non-equilibrium and self-organizing system that led to the birth of synergetics, and thus considered the trailblazer of synergetics by Prof. Haken. The field of laser science and technology today is as active and exciting as it has ever been since the invention of lasers in 1960’s and the trailblazing days in late 1970s. One of the constant themes of research in semiconductor lasers has been size miniaturization, which has led to the invention of many ever smaller lasers. But miniaturization using pure dielectric cavities encountered significant barriers due to the constraint of wavelength or the diffraction limit. To reduce the size of semiconductor lasers further into the nanoscale or deep sub-wavelength scale, metallic and surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waveguides were proposed and demonstrated experimentally in the last few years. Since then, such nanolasers have attracted a great deal of attention. Rapid progress has been made in various aspects of nanoscale lasers. After some brief introduction and personal reminiscences, this paper will discuss recent progress in experimental and theoretical studies of semiconductor nanolasers. We will first discuss various mechanisms of wave confinement at nanoscale. Major progress will be reviewed including the first experimental demonstration of continuous wave operation of sub-wavelength cavity lasers at room temperature. Future prospects of the further size reduction and remaining challenges will be discussed.
Increasing the capability of CubeSat-based software-defined radio applications

CubeSats are highly accessible as Earth orbiting platforms due to their low costs of development and launch when compared to traditional small satellites. This accessibility, combined with a commensurately short development timeline, can be attributed to the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. However, COTS components typically have limited inherent resilience to the space environment. As such, CubeSat usage has largely been limited to experiments or applications where high availability is not required. Several technologies are enablers for increased CubeSat performance in the environment of space. Dependable Multiprocessor (DM) technology has demonstrated the capability for high system availability and reliability with COTS processors in a space environment. DM opens many possibilities for high performance, low cost processing in space, supporting technologies such as advanced software defined radios (SDR). SDR technology allows for on-orbit reconfigurability of data management, protocols, multiple access methods, waveforms, and data protection. This paper explores how these enabling technologies hold promise for increasing the availability and capability of CubeSats, allowing CubeSats to be used in advanced applications often associated with military and commercial operations.
Plant Virus Diversity and Evolution

Historically, the majority of plant virology focused on agricultural systems. Recent efforts have expanded our knowledge of the true diversity of plant viruses by studying those viruses that infect wild, undomesticated plants. Those efforts have provided answers to basic ecological questions regarding viruses in the wild, and insights into evolutionary questions, regarding the origins of viruses. While much work has been done, we have merely scratched the surface of the diversity that is estimated to exist. In this chapter we discuss the state of our knowledge of virus diversity, both in agricultural systems as well as in native wild systems, the border between these two systems and how viruses adapt and move across this border into an artificial, domesticated environment. We look at how this diversity has affected our outlook on viruses as a whole, shifting our past view of viruses as purely antagonistic entities of destruction to one where viruses are in a mutually beneficial relationship with their hosts. Additionally, we discuss the current work that plant virology has put forth regarding the evolutionary mechanisms, the life histories, and the deep evolution of viruses.
Upregulation of Microparticles, Tissue Factor, Adhesion Molecules, Nitric Oxide and Adiponectin in End Stage Renal Disease

Introduction: End stage renal disease (ESRD) represents the final stage of chronic kidney disease characterized by kidney failure (GFR 2 ). To understand the pathophysiology of hemostatic dysregulation in ESRD, we measured the circulating levels of microparticles (MP), tissue factor (TF), adhesion molecules, such as p-selectin (P-Sel), soluble ICAM (s-ICAM), nitric oxide (NO) and adiponectin (AD). Methods: Citrated blood plasma samples were collected from 119 ESRD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis to profile various thrombotic inflammatory biomarkers. 100 normal plasma samples were collected from healthy individuals and were used as controls. MP levels were measured using an annexin binding method (Hyphen Biomedical, Paris, France). NO were measured using a kit from RD the AD levels were increased in this group. These results also suggest that while ESRD represents a pro-inflammatory/hypercoagulable state, the repeated administration of heparin and other drugs may contribute to the regulation of the hemostatic process and inflammatory balance in these patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.