cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Haplotype Counting by Next-Generation Sequencing for Ultrasensitive Human DNA Detection

Human identity testing is critical to the fields of forensics, paternity, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Most bone marrow (BM) engraftment testing currently uses microsatellites or short tandem repeats that are resolved by capillary electrophoresis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are theoretically a better choice among polymorphic DNA; however, ultrasensitive detection of SNPs using next-generation sequencing is currently not possible because of its inherently high error rate. We circumvent this problem by analyzing blocks of closely spaced SNPs, or haplotypes. As proof-of-principle, we chose the HLA-A locus because it is highly polymorphic and is already genotyped to select proper donors for BM transplant recipients. We aligned common HLA-A alleles and identified a region containing 18 closely spaced SNPs, flanked by nonpolymorphic DNA for primer placement. Analysis of cell line mixtures shows that the assay is accurate and precise, and has a lower limit of detection of approximately 0.01%. The BM from a series of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients who tested as all donor by short tandem repeat analysis demonstrated 0% to 1.5% patient DNA. Comprehensive analysis of the human genome using the 1000 Genomes database identified many additional loci that could be used for this purpose. This assay may prove useful to identify hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients destined to relapse, microchimerism associated with solid organ transplantation, forensic applications, and possibly patient identification.
Inherited variation in the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCB1 and survival after chemotherapy for stage III-IV lung cancer.

®Background: The ATP-binding cassette transporter gene ABCB1 and the glutathione S-transferase gene GSTP1 code for a multidrug resistance protein and for a detoxifying phase II metabolic enzyme, respectively, with substrate specificities that include chemotherapy drugs often used to treat lung cancer. Methods: We genotyped 11 ABCB1 and eight GSTP1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 698 white lung cancer patients (all current or former cigarette smokers) and used log-rank test statistics and proportional hazards regression to evaluate associations between SNP genotype and survival. Results: Using data from all 698 cases, one SNP in ABCB1 (rs2235013) was statistically significantly associated with overall sur vival (p = 0.038, log-rank test). Chemotherapy and stage jointly (p = 0.025) significantly modified the association between rs2235013 and survival, with statistically significant (p = 0.013, log-rank test) association observed in the subgroup of stage III to IV lung cancer patients who received chemotherapy as part of their first course of treatment (n = 160; 93.1% nonsmall cell). Patients who inherited the minor T allele at ABCB1 rs2235013 experienced better overall survival and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, per minor T allele, [95% confidence interval]: 0.66 [0.49–0.90] and 0.55 [0.31–0.95], respectively; adjusted for year of diagnosis, sex, age at diagnosis, cigarette pack years, and stage). In addition, in the advanced stage chemotherapy-treated subgroup, four ABCB1 SNPs (rs6949448, rs2235046, rs1128503, and rs10276036) in mutual high linkage disequilibrium with rs2235013 and an independent ABCB1 SNP (rs1045642) showed statistically significant association (p < 0.05) with survival. Conclusions: Inherited variation in ABCB1 may affect survival specifically in advanced stage lung cancer patients who receive chemotherapy. (J Thorac Oncol. 2014;9: 1264–1271) T
Barriers to Adult Hemodialysis Patients' Self-Management of Oral Medications

Hemodialysis patients use a variety of oral medications on a daily basis to control their kidney disease and comorbid illnesses. Under the new paradigm of kidney disease care for dialysis units outlined in the 2008 US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Conditions for Coverage, there has been a formal shift in the role of the hemodialysis patient from a passive participant in care planning to a fully collaborative member of the interdisciplinary team. In the chronic disease care field, the focus from patient compliance or patient adherence to patient self-management complements this paradigm shift in dialysis care. In this narrative review, we discuss key barriers to adult hemodialysis patient self-management of oral medications that include pill burden, demographic and socioeconomic variables, psychosocial factors, health literacy, patient satisfaction, and health beliefs. We further examine these barriers in the context of the 2008 Medicare Conditions for Coverage. To promote hemodialysis patients' self-management of oral medication regimens, additional research and behavioral interventions are needed to help hemodialysis patients overcome obstacles that impede their ability to effectively manage chronic illness and improve health outcomes.
Beyond a T-Shape

Varying the steric bulk of either the phosphine or the halide in Au(PR3)2X complexes allows intuitive tuning of the phosphorescence energy to multiple visible colors, including the coveted blue for LED applications. The excited-state structure involves distortion of the trigonal coordination sphere beyond a T-shape. The [Au(TPA)2]Cl complex exhibits orange phosphorescence due to exciplex formation with the counterion to form the same type of excited state, representing the first example of a luminescent two-coordinate Au(I) complex in absence of both Au···Au interactions and aromatic moieties.
Investigation of power & ground co-reference for high-speed signal in package design

With silicon process technology advanced to 20 nm node and beyond, die size is continuously shrinking. Package cost is very sensitive to the total cost of an entire chip/ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). To reduce package cost, either the package layer count needs to be reduced or the package size needs to be decreased. For a given chip/ASIC design, its high-speed IO (Input Output) pin numbers are fixed in order to meet a certain functional specification, and associated power pins are optimized to guarantee the IO performance. If some of the power pins can be used as references for high-speed IOs, a same die can sit on a small package or a same package can accommodate a die with more high-speed IO pins, which equivalently results the package cost reduction. This motivates the investigation on power and ground co-reference design for highs-speed IOs not only on the concern of cost reduction but also the design insights. In this paper, a production based package with pure ground as reference is studied. A power and ground co-reference design is formed by changing six ground pins from the production package to power pins in test package. The performance of high-speed IOs is compared between pure ground reference design and the power and ground co-reference design. Discussions and conclusions are followed by the comparison, and further study is proposed at the end of the paper.
Masculinity--femininity and need for social approval.

Summary The relationship between the need for social approval and sex role identification was investigated. The Mariowe-Crowne social desirability scale, the Ed wards social desirability scale and the masculinity scale of the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey were given 184 college students. The results indicate independence between sex role identification and need for social approval, irrespective of biological sex. Thus, this research aids in defining the properties of the construct. The relationships found provide evidence for Crowne and Marlowe's argument that the Edwards scale is, in part, a measure of willingness to admit to weakness and pathology while the Marlowe-Crowne scale is independent of such willingness.
Extracellular matrix proteins protect pancreatic cancer cells from death via mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial pathways.

Background & Aims: Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive malignancy. Normal cells die through apoptosis when detached from extracellular matrix (ECM), but the role of ECM in cancer cell survival is poorly understood. Here, we determined the effects of ECM proteins on death responses and underlying signaling pathways in human pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: We measured apoptosis and necrosis, caspase activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 pancreatic carcinoma cells both detached and attached to ECM proteins. Results: Detachment of pancreatic cancer cells from ECM did not induce classic apoptosis, as it does in normal cells, but induced necrosis and apoptosis associated with secondary necrosis. It caused a pronounced mitochondrial depolarization and release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. However, as different from normal cells, cytochrome c release did not result in downstream caspase activation. Executioner caspases were activated in detached pancreatic cancer cells independent of cytochrome c. Laminin and fibronectin, but not collagen I, markedly increased pancreatic cancer cell survival by inhibiting both mitochondrial dysfunction (leading to inhibition of necrosis) and caspase activity (leading to decreased apoptotic DNA fragmentation). Conclusions: ECM proteins greatly protect pancreatic cancer cells from death by mechanisms different from those operating in normal cells. The results suggest ECM proteins and their receptors as potential targets for treatment of pancreatic cancer.
An Isoperimetric Problem for Entire Functions

An isoperimetric problem arising in optimum antenna and circuit design is examined. It consists in maximizing a functional, subject to certain constraints, over the class of square integrable exponential functions of a given type. It is shown that the solutions of the corresponding Euler-Lagrange equation form a complete set of functions whose properties generalize those of the prolate spheroidal wave functions
The regulation of sympathetic nerve activity by angiotensin II involves reactive oxygen species and MAPK.

See related article, pages 772–780 The central regulation of sympathetic nerve activity has been extensively investigated in normal and disease states since the detailed description of the cardiovascular pressor area by Alexander in 1946.1 This so called “pressor area” we now know to be the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). The neurons of the RVLM constitute the primary motor neuron pool from which sympathetic projections to the spinal cord arise. Importantly, the RVLM also receives inputs from a variety of integrative areas in the hypothalamus and medulla. The net sympathetic outflow of various cardiovascular reflexogenic areas have a common pathway which exits the brain from the RVLM. In addition to the neural modulation of these reflexes from hard wired areas in the hypothalamus, medulla, and forebrain, it has become increasingly more recognized that autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine influences on these sympathetic neurons are important for the regulation of arterial pressure, myocardial function, salt and water balance, and general cardiovascular homeostasis in the normal resting state and during the extremes of cardiovascular function such as exercise, heart failure, hypertension, etc.2–5 Neuronal excitability in the RVLM is not only modulated by classical neurotransmitters such as glutamate and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) but appears also to be regulated by the ubiquitous octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II).6–8 In fact, Ang II, in addition to its myriad of cardiovascular and endocrine effects, has been known for many years to modulate sympathetic function …
Experimental Studies on the Facilitation of AV Conduction by Ectopic Beats in Dogs and Rabbits

Experiments were performed on the hearts of open-chest anesthetized dogs and on isolated rabbit hearts. Intracellular microelectrodes and bipolar surface electrodes were used for recording from and for stimulating the atria, AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches and ventricles. Atrial or ventricular premature beats which were usually blocked or delayed within the AV node were facilitated when ectopic activity caused preexcitation and early recovery of the site of block or delay. Ectopic atrial, ventricular, nodal, and bundle of His responses allowed previously blocked or delayed antegrade and retrograde beats to be conducted only when the ectopic activity arrived at an appropriate time at the site of block within the AV node. Therefore, apparent supernormal AV conduction may occur in the human heart by this mechanism, and some reported cases of supernormal conduction may be due to the preexcitation and early recovery of a refractory barrier by ectopic activity.
Attachment of periodontal ligament fibroblasts to the extracellular matrix in the squirrel monkey.

Fibroblasts of the transseptal fiber region of the periodontal ligament contain well developed bundles of microfilaments or stress fibers. The stress fibers are made up of numerous parallel and closely packed cytoplasmic filaments approximately 6 nm wide. These intra-cellular stress fibers appear to be connected to and colinear with extracellular non-striated microfibrils. The junction occurs at a juxta-membrane dense patch called the fibronexus (Singer 1979). Similar associations of cytoplasmic microfilament bundles and the attachment protein fibronectin have been shown by other investigators to be necessary for cell attachment to substrata and oriented cell migration in fibroblasts cultured in vitro.
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Orally Active Benzimidazoles and Benzoxazoles as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Inhibition of the VEGF signaling pathway has become a valuable approach in the treatment of cancers. Guided by X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling, a series of 2-aminobenzimidazoles and 2-aminobenzoxazoles were identified as potent inhibitors of VEGFR-2 (KDR) in both enzymatic and HUVEC cellular proliferation assays. In this report we describe the synthesis and structure−activity relationship of a series of 2-aminobenzimidazoles and benzoxazoles, culminating in the identification of benzoxazole 22 as a potent and selective VEGFR-2 inhibitor displaying a good pharmacokinetic profile. Compound 22 demonstrated efficacy in both the murine matrigel model for vascular permeability (79% inhibition observed at 100 mg/kg) and the rat corneal angiogenesis model (ED50 = 16.3 mg/kg).
A phenomenological model on the deformation mechanism of YBa2Cu3O7−x +Ag2O composite

in situ, under the compaction load (compressive), it might lead to effective interparticle welding. Fig. 2 illustratres how the original Ag20 particles are joined to form clusters. The continuity of these particles leads to a continuous network in the bulk giving rise to the desirable structural integrity and strength in the "green" state. Furthermore, metallization facilitates plastic flow under the action of the compaction load, and thus improves the integrity by promoting the mechanical bridging and keying action. That metallization indeed took place was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction data obtained from the compacted billets. Density measurement of compacts also points in this direction. The densities of the compacted billets were determined experimentally by the Archimedes method and then compared with the theoretical density of a void-free aggregate of Ag20 + 1-2-3 of identical compositions. The results (Table I) are apparently absurd, approaching the theoretical density too closely or even surpassing it! However, it is readily appreciated that the "theoretical density" cannot be dependable because it altogether ignores the metallization phenomenon. Note that compacts with large initial volume fraction of Ag 20 more closely approach the so-called "theoretical density". This observation, evidently, lends credence to the explanation presented. This is also illustrative of the fact that data on "percentage theoretical density" can often be mis
Geologic Aspects of Waste Solids and Marine Waste Deposits, New York Metropolitan Region

Waste solids from the New York metropolitan region are a major source of sediment to adjacent ocean areas. Between 1964 and 1968, the annual discharge of solids (excluding refuse and floatable debris) to the New York Bight averaged 4.6 million metric tons per yr: 76 percent from dredged wastes, 12 percent from construction and demolition rubble, 7.6 percent from solids in. waste chemicals, and 4.3 percent from sewage sludges. Anomalously high concentrations of carbon and certain elements, such as copper, silver, and lead, in wastes permit identification of waste deposits in New York Harbor and at waste-disposal sites on the continental shelf. Waste-containing deposits cover about 160 sq km of New York Harbor and more than 50 sq km of continental shelf in New York Bight. The continental shelf area used for waste disposal receives no other sediment in quantities sufficient to bury the waste deposits. Waste disposal operations are the largest sediment transport and depositional process now active in the mid-Atlantic region. Production of waste solids in the metropolitan region exceeds sediment yields per unit area of any other major drainage basin in the New England-Middle Atlantic area.
Baryon axial vector currents

The baryon axial vector currents are calculated at one-loop order in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory by employing both a cutoff and dimensional regularization. Data from the semileptonic baryon decays are used to perform a least-squares fit to the two axial vector couplings $D$ and $F$ of the effective Lagrangian. Predictions for the momentum dependent axial vector form factors are made and the two different regularization schemes are compared. We also include the spin-3/2 decuplet in the effective theory.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS OF FACIAL EXPRESSION RECOGNITION IN JAFFE DATABASE

Facial expression provides an important behavioral measure for studies of emotion, cognitive processes, and social interaction. Facial expression recognition has recently become a promising research area. Its applications include human-computer interfaces, human emotion analysis, and medical care and cure. In this paper, we investigate various feature representation and expression classification schemes to recognize seven different facial expressions, such as happy, neutral, angry, disgust, sad, fear and surprise, in the JAFFE database. Experimental results show that the method of combining 2D-LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis) and SVM (Support Vector Machine) outperforms others. The recognition rate of this method is 95.71% by using leave-one-out strategy and 94.13% by using cross-validation strategy. It takes only 0.0357 second to process one image of size 256 × 256.
Effects of Maryland's Law Banning “Saturday Night Special” Handguns on Homicides

Small, inexpensive, often poorly made handguns known as "Saturday night specials" are disproportionately involved in crime. Maryland banned the sale of Saturday night specials effective January 1, 1990. During the 2 years between the law's passage in 1988 and its effective date, legal handgun sales in Maryland were 34% higher than expected (p = 0.09). Interrupted time-series analysis of age-adjusted homicide rates for 1975-1998 with statistical controls for trends in two neighboring states, social and economic variables, and temporal patterns in Maryland's homicide rates was used to assess the effect of the law. Estimates of the Saturday night special ban effects depended on the assumption made about the timing of the law's effects. Models that assumed a delayed or gradual effect of the Saturday night special ban produced estimates indicating that firearm homicide rates were 6.8-11.5% lower than would have been expected without the Saturday night special ban (p < or =0.05). The model that assumed an immediate, constant change in response to the law showed no law effect, unless an outlier was excluded from the analysis. Excluding this outlier, the model estimated a 15% increase in firearm homicides associated with the Saturday night special ban. None of the models revealed significant law effects on nonfirearm homicides.
Anterior extraperitoneal approach to laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: a novel technique.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We describe a novel technique of laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection via an anterior extraperitoneal approach.Materials and Methods: With the patient in a modified flank position an 8 mm. incision is made along the lateral border of the ipsilateral rectus muscle at the umbilical level. Extraperitoneal space creation with finger dissection is initially made at this site and adequately enlarged with a balloon dilator, followed by gas insufflation and placement of 4 laparoscopic trocars. Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection based on a left modified template is then performed in a completely extraperitoneal manner.Results: Surgical time was 330 minutes, blood loss was 150 ml. and 58 lymph nodes were removed. Resumption of physical activity and oral intake was achieved on postoperative day 1. Hospital stay was 36 hours. Postoperative narcotic requirement was 28 mg. morphine sulfate equivalent. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Normal ante...
Reduction of Multiexponential Background in Fluorescence with Phase-Sensitive Detection

Fluorescence detection in a complex matrix often requires the reduction of background signals. Fluorescence lifetime-based methods have been an effective approach to suppressing the undesired background, especially when substantial spectral overlap precludes optical filtering. We introduce a methodology of suppressing a fluorescence background that contains multiple species for the quantification of a single fluorescent analyte. The method is based on the recognition that the multiexponential decay of the fluorescence background can be described by a single phase angle when the sample is excited by a sinusoidally modulated beam. The reduction of the total background is accomplished by setting the detector 90 degrees out of phase from the total background fluorescence. The background reduction is demonstrated with ternary samples containing pyrene (τ = 18.2 ns), anthracene (τ = 4.5 ns), and 1,4-bis(5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl)benzene (POPOP, τ = 1.35 ns). The component with the shortest lifetime (POPOP) is successfully analyzed after the background from longer-lived components (pyrene and anthracene) is reduced. The phase-sensitive detection enables simultaneous suppression of background fluorescence with lifetimes longer and shorter than the analyte, as demonstrated by the quantification of anthracene in a background composed of pyrene and POPOP. These samples present situations that cannot be treated by traditional methods of fluorescence background reduction. An effective fluorescence spectrum of the analyte is collected after the multiexponential background is eliminated. The method is especially useful when the total concentration of the background displays significant fluctuations. When the variations in the background fluorescence intensity are comparable or exceed the analyte fluorescence, the analyte cannot be quantified with steady state fluorescence measurements. The phase-sensitive method, however, effectively quantifies the analyte with excellent linearity in calibration.
Strategic Aspects of Difficult Global Challenges

This game-theoretic paper distills various strategic aspects of difficult-to-handle global challenges, such as climate change, disease eradication, financial crises, nuclear weapon proliferation, trade boycotts, species preservation, and transnational terrorism. The analysis focuses on issues that involve shoring up weakest links, coordinating actions among many countries, promoting partial cooperation, and addressing regional best-shot problems. In each of these cases, the paper displays the strategic concern and assesses the prognosis for overcoming the roadblock. For instance, for some partial cooperation concerns, noncooperators can completely annihilate the achieved gains of the cooperators. The role of uncertainty, countries' asymmetries, and component groups' composition are considered. Among its many findings, the paper shows that the prognosis for weakest-link public goods, where the smallest effort fixes the good's overall level, is not so optimistic when countries possess different financial capabilities. The need to shore up one or more poor countries often creates a situation where countries wait for others to act.
Deletion of the ecdysis-triggering hormone gene leads to lethal ecdysis deficiency

At the end of each developmental stage, insects perform a stereotypic behavioral sequence leading to ecdysis of the old cuticle. While ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH) is sufficient to trigger this sequence, it has remained unclear whether it is required. We show that deletion of eth, the gene encoding ETH in Drosophila, leads to lethal behavioral and physiological deficits. Null mutants (eth(-)) fail to inflate the new respiratory system on schedule, do not perform the ecdysis behavioral sequence, and exhibit the phenotype buttoned-up, which is characterized by incomplete ecdysis and 98% mortality at the transition from first to second larval instar. Precisely timed injection of synthetic DmETH1 restores all deficits and allows normal ecdysis to occur. These findings establish obligatory roles for eth and its gene products in initiation and regulation of the ecdysis sequence. The ETH signaling system provides an opportunity for genetic analysis of a chemically coded physiological and behavioral sequence.
Continuity and Change in Female Fattening Ritual in Southeastern Nigeria

The popular conception that predicted the demise of traditional rituals under the trampling of modernity has support from the scholarship on tradition and change. But it has also faced challenges from the persistence of institutions whose demise modernization scholarship predicted. Some scholars have taken issue with earlier research that predicted the disappearance of indigenous cultures with ongoing modernization, and many see the dynamics of change as integral to modernity rather than opposed to it. Seeing tradition as intertwined with modernity and emerging in new forms offers a framework for understanding the persistence of traditional practices that customary discourse may have expected to disappear with Western modernization. This paper is on the role of a coming of age ritual in defining femininity and assigning eligibility to marriageable females in Biase, southeastern Nigeria, despite challenges by new and competing influences from within and outside the society. Faced by diminishing attention to revered aesthetic content and logistical constraints enactment procedures, the persistence of the ritual of fattening the Biase girl adds to our understanding of the persistence of some traditional rites of passage and the resilience of traditional institutions in maintaining culturally esteemed rituals even as they embrace and celebrate modernity.
Characterization of the 3-D amorphized zone beneath a Vickers indentation in boron carbide using Raman spectroscopy

In boron carbide (B_(4)C), the loss of crystallinity (i.e. amorphization) during high-pressure loading is known to result in reduced hardness and inferior ballistic performance. In this investigation, a systematic procedure is developed to evaluate the size and shape of the amorphized zone as well as the spatial distribution of the amorphization intensity beneath a Vickers indentation. This is accomplished by successive metallographic polishing and material removal from the indented surface at submicron depth increments and then scanning of each surface using micro-Raman spectrometry to construct a three-dimensional map of the amorphized zone. The amorphized zone in B_(4)C extends to a depth of almost seven times the indentation depth. The self-similarity in stress fields at various depths is also confirmed from quantitative description of the Raman peaks for various loads. Damage evolution in the form of a Mescall zone and initiation of radial cracking from the amorphized zone were also observed. It is inferred that the amorphization process initiates as soon as the indenter tip makes contact with the B_(4)C surface and thereafter the indenter penetrates into the weakened amorphized material. The implications of this observation and the utility of the quantitative information on the size and shape of the measured amorphized zone for calibration of multiscale models on structural changes in B_(4)C are discussed.
Alpha-synuclein functions in the nucleus to protect against hydroxyurea-induced replication stress in yeast

Hydroxyurea (HU) inhibits ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), which catalyzes the rate-limiting synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides for DNA replication. HU is used to treat HIV, sickle-cell anemia and some cancers. We found that, compared with vector control cells, low levels of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) protect S. cerevisiae cells from the growth inhibition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation induced by HU. Analysis of this effect using different a-syn mutants revealed that the a-syn protein functions in the nucleus and not the cytoplasm to modulate S-phase checkpoint responses: a-syn up-regulates histone acetylation and RNR levels, maintains helicase minichromosome maintenance protein complexes (Mcm2–7) on chromatin and inhibits HU-induced ROS accumulation. Strikingly, when residues 2–10 or 96–140 are deleted, this protective function of a-syn in the nucleus is abolished. Understanding the mechanism by which a-syn protects against HU could expand our knowledge of the normal function of this neuronal protein.
Revealing the unmarked Finding masculinity in a global factory

Scholars frequently recount the ups and downs, the purportedly embarrassing – although always heroically turned to account – mishaps of research. However, acknowledging that one has rethought an analysis in the absence of new data makes explicit that social science is an interpretive project, and as such is rarely discussed in print. In this article I break that taboo, analyzing how I began to doubt my claim that a global shop floor was organized around an ungendered shop-floor subject. I then detail the more contextually sensitive reading of my fieldnotes that allowed me to grasp the fundamental masculinization of the shop floor in question. In the process, I theorize the aspects of gendered structure that enabled the error at the outset. Thus, the discussion reconstructs the life history of an argument – tracing the shifting development of analysis in a particular ethnographic case. In so doing, it follows epistemic problems back to their ontological roots, looking at how the tricky, obdurate situatedne...
Application of Passive Stretch and Its Implications for Muscle Fibers

To increase range of motion, physical therapists frequently use passive stretch as a means of gaining increased excursion around a joint. In addition to clinical studies showing effectiveness, thereby supporting evidence-based practice, the basic sciences can provide an explanation how a technique might work once a technique is known to be effective. The goal of this article is to review the potential cellular events that may occur when muscle fibers are stretched passively. A biomechanical example of passive stretch applied to the ankle is used to provide a means to discuss passive stretch at the cellular and molecular levels. The implications of passive stretch on muscle fibers and the related connective tissue are discussed with respect to tissue biomechanics. Emphasis is placed on structures that are potentially involved in the sensing and signal transduction of stretch, and the mechanisms that may result in myofibrillogenesis are explored.
Organizing a Successful Academic Finance Conference: Thoughts, Heuristics and Statistical Evidence

We analyze demographic and employing institution information to determine whether differential attendee characteristics affect the importance of conference attributes among constituencies. We test some commonly held priors, like location, cost and conviviality factors and show that these are not supremely critical issues to be considered. For a successful conference, organizers should focus on (a) research feedback (b) intellectual stimulation (c) research idea generation (d) networking and (e) quality of past presentations. These characteristics were robust across all demographics and did not materially vary by gender, participation age, and university type classification, except for item (e).
Positive Outcomes and Surgical Strategies for Bilateral Cochlear Implantation in a Child With X-Linked Deafness

Objectives:To recognize that bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) in X-linked deafness is safe, describe techniques to maximize successful electrode placement and minimize surgical risks, and recognize that normalization of hearing as well as language acquisition is achievable.Methods:A 6-month-old male patient presented with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss and was confirmed to have X-linked deafness secondary to POU3F4 gene mutation. Due to lack of benefit from amplification, he underwent bilateral CI in a staged fashion at 12 (right) and 15 months (left) of age. A transmastoid-facial recess approach was used bilaterally utilizing perimodiolar electrodes. High-flow gushers were controlled with muscle plugs. C-arm fluoroscopy was used during insertion of electrodes.Results:Follow-up data are available for 12 months. No complications were encountered, including no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage or facial stimulation. Postoperative audiograms in aided conditions showed hearing...
Electroweak versus high-scale fine tuning in the 19-parameter supergravity model

Recently, two measures of electroweak fine tuning (EWFT) have been introduced for (supersymmetry) SUSY models: ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{EW}}$ compares the $Z$ mass to each separate weak scale contribution to ${m}_{Z}$, while ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$ compares the $Z$ mass to high scale input parameters and their consequent renormalization group evolution ($1/\ensuremath{\Delta}$ is the percent of fine tuning). While the paradigm mSUGRA/CMSSM model has been shown to be highly fine tuned under both parameters (${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{EW}}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{2}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{3}$), the two-parameter nonuniversal Higgs model (NUHM2) in the context of radiatively driven natural SUSY (RNS) enjoys ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{EW}}$ as low as 10, while ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$ remains $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{3}$. We investigate fine tuning in the 19-free-parameter SUGRA model (SUGRA19). We find that with 19 free parameters, the lowest ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{EW}}$ points are comparable to what can be achieved in NUHM2 with just six free parameters. However, in SUGRA19, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$ can now also reach as low as 5--10. The conditions which lead to low ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$ include ${m}_{{H}_{u}}\ensuremath{\sim}{m}_{Z}$ at the high scale, with nonuniversal gaugino masses ${M}_{1,2}\ensuremath{\gg}{M}_{3}$ also at ${m}_{\mathrm{GUT}}$. The low ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$ models are severely constrained by the $b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s\ensuremath{\gamma}$ branching fraction. In both cases of low ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{EW}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{HS}}$, the superpotential $\ensuremath{\mu}$ parameter should be $\ensuremath{\sim}100--300\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. While SUSY models with low EWFT may or may not be discoverable at the LHC, the predicted light Higgsinos must show up at a linear ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ collider with $\sqrt{s}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}2|\ensuremath{\mu}|$.
Matching and grokking: approaches to personalized crowdsourcing

Personalization aims to tailor content to a person's individual tastes. As a result, the tasks that benefit from personalization are inherently subjective. Many of the most robust approaches to personalization rely on large sets of other people's preferences. However, existing preference data is not always available. In these cases, we propose leveraging online crowds to provide on-demand personalization. We introduce and evaluate two methods for personalized crowdsourcing: taste-matching for finding crowd workers who are similar to the requester, and taste-grokking, where crowd workers explicitly predict the requester's tastes. Both approaches show improvement over a nonpersonalized baseline, with taste-grokking performing well in simpler tasks and taste-matching performing well with larger crowds and tasks with latent decision-making variables.
Administration of GnRH at estrus influences pregnancy rates, serum concentrations of LH, FSH, estradiol-17 beta, pregnancy-specific protein B, and progesterone, proportion of luteal cell types, and in vitro production of progesterone in dairy cows.

Four experiments were conducted to examine effects of GnRH administered at estrus on various reproductive characteristics in repeat-breeding dairy cows (eligible for third service). In Exp. 1, cows (n = 8 per group) received (i.m.) either saline or 50, 100, or 250 micrograms of GnRH at 12 h after onset of estrus. There was a positive linear (P < .05) effect of dose on concentrations of LH, but not of FSH, in serum at 2 h after the injection. Concentrations of progesterone (P4) were higher (P = .10) through 16 d after estrus in nonpregnant cows that returned to estrus 18 to 24 d after GnRH treatment than in nonpregnant cows given saline. Likewise, among cows with elevated concentrations of P4 through 30 d after estrus (diagnosed pregnant by increased concentrations of pregnancy-specific protein B; PSPB), P4 was higher (P = .10) in those given GnRH than in those given saline. In Exp. 2, concentrations of LH, FSH, and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were similar among 12 cows during the periestrual period before they received (i.m.) 100 micrograms of GnRH or saline at estrus. Concentrations of P4 after estrus were increased 2 d earlier (P < .05) in GnRH- than in saline-treated cows. Among cows with elevated concentrations of P4 and PSPB through 40 d after AI, P4 was higher (P < .05) in those given GnRH than in those given saline. In Exp. 1 and 2, a greater proportion (43 vs 14%; P = .07) of cows given GnRH was pregnant 42 to 56 d after estrus than of those given saline, but calving rate was similar (27 vs 14%). In Exp. 3, average number of LH pulses per 8 h was similar between saline- and GnRH-treated cows on d 1, 3, and 8, but overall concentrations of LH were reduced (P < .05) in GnRH-treated cows. Concentrations and number of pulses of FSH were increased (P < .05) on d 8 after treatment with GnRH. Concentrations of P4 were increased earlier (P < .05) after estrus in GnRH-treated (69 +/- 12 h) than in saline-treated cows (126 +/- 12 h), with higher (P < .05) concentrations of P4 on d 4 to 8. In Exp. 4, eight cows received either 100 micrograms of GnRH or saline at 12 h after onset of estrus (d 0) in a cross-over design.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Non-tuberculous mycobacterial head and neck infections in children: Analysis of results and complications for various treatment modalities.

Abstract Objectives Analyze the results and complications of various surgical interventions in a large cohort of children with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) head and neck infections and suggest a heuristic treatment protocol for managing this condition while aiming to maximize cure and minimize complications. Methods Retrospective chart review of 104 consecutive patients diagnosed with head and neck NTM at a tertiary paediatric hospital between January 1994 and December 2013 inclusive. Results 104 patients ranged in age between 8 months to 15 years (mean age 27 months) were reviewed and 97 patients were included in the final analysis. 6 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up and one excluded due to systemic immunocompromised condition. Sub-sites of NTM infections were submandibular ( n = 48, 46%), cervical ( n = 40, 38%), parotid ( n = 18, 17%) and submental ( n = 4, 4%). Some patients had more than one lesion so counted twice. Higher cure rates were demonstrated for primary excision (81%, p p p Conclusions Excision of NTM provides better cure rates compared to incision although at the expense of long term post-surgical morbidity. Excision should probably be the first line of treatment when the risk for neural damage is low. Incision and drainage with or without antimycobacterial treatment may be the preferred option for at-risk sub-sites (submandibular or parotid) in order to reduce long term morbidity.
Ignition delay characteristics of alternative diesel fuels: implications on cetane number

Caracteristiques de retard a l'allumage des carburants de remplacement pour moteurs diesel. Consequence pour l'indice de cetane
Disability is Not Inability: Grassroots Participatory Development and Collective Action in the Iganga District of Uganda

Development planners continue to use mainstreaming as a way to include marginalized groups in the international development agenda. However, grassroots programs are gaining increasing attention as they are proving to be more effective than top-down measures. Furthermore, participatory programs allow individuals and communities to actively participate in their own development. This paper analyzes how one particular community of people with disabilities in Uganda are actively playing a role in their own development, both through participatory programs and collective efforts. This paper chronicles the implementation of participatory forms of development by people with disabilities (PWDs) in the Iganga district of Uganda. The paper could potentially lay the foundations for further research on the ability of local actors to create social change, or “development,” through their own actions. Participatory programs/models like these could be included in the international development agenda to allow people to become active in their own development. “Overlooking or ignoring the plight of disabled people is not an option that an acceptable theory of justice can have.” -Amartya Sen, 2004 “The per capita income for an average person in Iganga is $312 while that of a disabled person is $78.” “An old Chinese proverb says „Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime‟” -Local Village Leader of the Busoga Kingdom, John Wamulo Sr. 1 IDIWA Pamphlet 2 Interview on the day of June 7, 2011 at the Nakavale Village in Iganga, Uganda
Patient End-of-Life Experiences for Pediatric Trainees: Spanning the Educational Continuum

Background End-of-life care for a child is an emotionally charged experience for pediatric trainees. Objectives Describe the progression of medical trainee experiences with end-of-life care and determine personal/professional experiences that facilitated integration of experiences. Methods Medical students (MS4) and pediatric residents (PL-1-3) completed a 30-question survey about experiences with patient deaths and integration of these experiences. Results A total of 307 of 404 residents (76%) participated. Mean number of deaths ranged from 3.0 to 6.5 in the prior 12 months, and the most common location was neonatal intensive care unit or pediatric intensive care unit. In total, 18% to 27% experienced a death in their personal life. Between 26% and 41% of the residents made contact with a family after death, and 15% to 35% attended a funeral. Characteristics of good deaths included good communication and discussion of end-of-life issues. Conclusions Trainees experienced patient deaths along the educational continuum. These findings have implications for the optimal timing and method of end-of-life care education.
Clinical value of duodenojejunal manometry. Its usefulness in diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

The records of all patients who had dudenojejunal manometry (DJM) from 1989 to 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the main symptoms of the patients, the indication for the study, its result, and the impact on therapy and management. One hundred sixteen patients out of 154 were included in the study, of whom 96 were women and 20 were men, with a mean age of 41.2 years. Twenty-five had perfused tube studies, and 91 had prolonged ambulatory recordings. Forty-one patients were referred for evaluation of abdominal pain, 34 for chronic constipation, 24 for nausea and vomiting, 8 for pseudoobstruction, and the remaining 9 for other reasons. All patients had appropriate endoscopic, radiographic, or scintigraphic studies prior to manometry. Forty-seven (40.5%) had abnormal manometry: 20 of 41 (48.8%) for abdominal pain, 7 of 34 (20.6%) for chronic constipation, 10 of 24 (41.7%) for nausea and vomiting, 5 of 8 (62.5%) for pseudoobstruction, and 5 of 9 (55.6%) for the miscellaneous group. The various subgroups did not have specific patterns of motor abnormalities. In 22 patients (18.9%) manometry helped in the choice of therapy: in 15 patients by affecting surgical approach, particularly in the constipation group, and in 7 patients by affecting feeding options and prokinetic agents. Detection of motor abnormalities was helpful in patients with severe symptoms thought to have functional disease even when no specific therapy was rendered. Thus, DJM was abnormal in ⅖ patients referred for evaluation of suspected motility disorders. It directly affected therapy in approximately ⅕ patients, particularly in those with constipation. It is helpful in the management of patients even when specific therapy is not rendered, particularly in those with abdominal pain. The modest impact on specific therapy is related to limited availability of effective prokinetic drugs and the limited specificity and predictive value of tests results.
Abstract 3957: Role of miRNA-211 in melanocyte and melanoma cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression. Evidence is accumulating that miRNAs are involved in almost all aspects of tumor biology including tumor cell survival, proliferation and migration. Here, we report that miRNA-221, which maps to the sixth intron of TRPM1 gene (a suppressor of melanoma metastasis), is highly expressed in melanocytes and its expression is reduced in primary and metastatic melanoma cell lines. Expression of miRNA-211 correlates with expression of TRPM1, a transient receptor potential family member calcium channel protein that we showed to be involved in regulation of melanocyte calcium homeostasis and melanin pigmentation. TRPM1and miRNA-211 expression are significantly lower in rapidly proliferative melanocytes compared to the slow growing, differentiated melanocytes. Expression of RAB22A (member of the RAS family of small GTPases), a predicted RNA target of miRNA-211is inversely correlated with the expression of miRNA-211and TRPM1 in melanocytes. Inhibition of miRNA-211 expression by anti-miR211 inhibited the growth of rapidly growing melanocytes. Ectopic expression of miRNA-211in melanoma cells inhibit growth and reduced their migration. We propose that activation of endogenous miRNA-211 expression or targeted delivery of miR-211 in melanoma is a potential therapeutic option for treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3957. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3957
Altered Anandamide Degradation in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Anandamide (AEA) metabolism was investigated in 15 drug-free boys with ADHD (aged 6.5-13 years) and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, in a study at Universita Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
A REAL-TIME DETECTION METHOD FOR ANCHORPERSON SHOTS IN NEWS VIDEO BASED ON COM TECHNOLOGY

It is essential to detect anchorperson shots in the analysis and study of news video. This paper presents a real-time detection method for anchorperson shots in news video based on COM technology. The study shows that the method is simple, reliable, good in real time, and practicable.