cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Instabilities in quantum point contact structures

Abstract We discuss the appearance of strong nonlinearities including S-type negative differential conductance in theI–Vcharacteristics of quantum point contact (QPC) structures. Time-dependent measurements demonstrate that the highly nonlinear d.c.I–Vfeatures are associated with a temporal average of random telegraph switching (RTS) between different current levels. The RTS is only observed when the voltage across the device is such that the chemical potential on one side of the QPC is aligned with the bottom of a one-dimensional subband in the QPC. As the chemical potential is moved further into the subband, the switching behavior disappears until the next subband minimum is reached.
IDEPI: rapid prediction of HIV-1 antibody epitopes and other phenotypic features from sequence data using a flexible machine learning platform.

Since its identification in 1983, HIV-1 has been the focus of a research effort unprecedented in scope and difficulty, whose ultimate goals — a cure and a vaccine – remain elusive. One of the fundamental challenges in accomplishing these goals is the tremendous genetic variability of the virus, with some genes differing at as many as 40% of nucleotide positions among circulating strains. Because of this, the genetic bases of many viral phenotypes, most notably the susceptibility to neutralization by a particular antibody, are difficult to identify computationally. Drawing upon open-source general-purpose machine learning algorithms and libraries, we have developed a software package IDEPI (IDentify EPItopes) for learning genotype-to-phenotype predictive models from sequences with known phenotypes. IDEPI can apply learned models to classify sequences of unknown phenotypes, and also identify specific sequence features which contribute to a particular phenotype. We demonstrate that IDEPI achieves performance similar to or better than that of previously published approaches on four well-studied problems: finding the epitopes of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNab), determining coreceptor tropism of the virus, identifying compartment-specific genetic signatures of the virus, and deducing drug-resistance associated mutations. The cross-platform Python source code (released under the GPL 3.0 license), documentation, issue tracking, and a pre-configured virtual machine for IDEPI can be found at https://github.com/veg/idepi.
Relation of initial infarct size to extent of left ventricular remodeling in the year after acute myocardial infarction

Objectives. This study attempted to determine the relation between infarct size after acute myocardial infarction and subsequent left ventricular remodeling using precise clinical measurements. Background. Animal studies have demonstrated that the degree of left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction is linearly related to infarct size. Clinical studies have not clearly replicated these results because of imprecise measurements and failure to adjust for patency of the infarct-related artery. Methods. Infarct size was measured from technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi perfusion images in 14 patients (12 with an anterior, 2 with an inferior infarction) by a threshold method previously described and expressed as percent of the left ventricle (32 ± 17% left ventricle [mean ±SD], range 6% to 58%). Absolute end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction were determined by electron beam computed tomographic images performed at discharge and at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after myocardial infarction. All patients had documented infarct related artery patency after reperfusion therapy. Results. At hospital discharge, there was no correlation between infarct size and end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes or ejection fraction. There was significant left ventricular dilation in the study group over the next year. As remodeling progressed, there was closer correlation between infarct size and ejection fraction and end-systolic volume measures (infarct size vs. end-systolic volume, from r = 0.43 at discharge to r = 0.80 at 1 year; infarct size vs. ejection fraction, from r = −0.39 at discharge to r = −0.84 at 1 year). There was a strong inverse correlation between infarct size at discharge and subsequent changes over the next year in end-systolic volume (r = 0.63, p = 0.02) and ejection fraction (r = −0.66, p = 0.01). Conclusions. Infarct size as measured by Tc-99m sestamibi at hospital discharge after an index infarction is predictive of subsequent change in left ventricular volume and function in the year after myocardial infarction. Patients with a large infarct demonstrated the greatest degree of dilation in the setting of patency of the infarct-related artery.
Predictable reduction in left ventricular stroke work and oxygen utilization with an implantable centrifugal pump

Abstract Previous investigations with roller pumps and pneumatic pulsatile assist devices have demonstrated that nearly complete capture of normal left ventricular end-diastolic volume was necessary for appreciable reductions in oxygen consumption and stroke work. We tested the hypothesis that a centrifugal pump would decrease left ventricular stroke work and oxygen consumption as a function of pump flow. Ten sheep (35 to 50 kg) were instrumented and placed on left atrium-to-descending aorta bypass with a small, lightweight (112 g), implantable centrifugal pump. The relations between pump flow as a percent of cardiac output (% bypass), left ventricular stroke work, and oxygen consumption were studied. Left ventricular stroke work was calculated from the pressure-volume loops obtained with micromanometer and conductance catheters and was indexed per 100 g of left ventricular wet weight. Oxygen consumption was calculated from left main coronary artery blood flow and the arterial-coronary sinus oxygen content difference, normalized to 100 g of left ventricular wet weight and a heart rate of 100 beats/min. Measurements were made in stepwise increments of pump flow from zero to the maximum obtainable and then reversed in similar decrements. Analyses were made for 27 complete runs. Our data demonstrate that reductions in left ventricular stroke work and oxygen consumption were achieved from zero to maximal bypass. There was an approximate 66% and 50% reduction in left ventricular stroke work and oxygen consumption, respectively, at 60% bypass. Thus, in contrast to other types of assist devices, our centrifugal pump in a left atrium-to-aorta circuit provides predictable and significant reductions in left ventricular stroke work and oxygen consumption at moderate levels of bypass. These data establish the physiogic bases for use of this device as temporary assist in patients with postcardiotomy low flow states.
Powered screwdriver design and use: Tool, task, and operator effects

The study investigated three primary factors related to the ergonomic aspects of pneumatic screwdriver design and use. These factors were: (1) tool grip diameter, (2) tool weight, and (3) shut-off (reactive) torque. The study consisted of a simulated industrial assembly task, that was representative of many of today's industrial operations. The results of the study indicate that, for vertical hanging tools, the weight of the tool has very little effect on the operator and that higher shut-off torques require significantly more gripping force by the operator. Contrary to the popular industrial assumption, the larger grip diameters reduce the amount of gripping effort required at higher torques. However, at low torque levels, the grip diameter has much less effect. The implications for occupational safety, product quality and productivity are discussed. The results of the study are important to both manufacturers and users of powered screwdrivers.
Rational and nonrational elements in reactions to disconfirmation of performance expectancies

Abstract Although psychologists have long been concerned to distinguish rational from nonrational elements in thought processes, surprisingly little attention has been paid to this issue in the study of selective exposure and reactions to expectancy disconfirmation. The present study explored directly how much information subjects sought and how they revised their expectancies when receiving clues that an outcome, either expected or unexpected, positive or negative, had occurred. Revisions were compared to the rational revisions prescribed by a Bayesian model of probabilistic inference. The subjects were 105 students who volunteered to learn their actual course grades in an experiment. Subjects receiving discrepant outcomes were actually more rational in revising their opinions according to a Bayesian model, and in addition tended to seek more information. Following exposure, however, subjects receiving discrepant outcomes were more tense and uncertain about their outcome. It is suggested that in general discrepant information arouses conflicting adaptive tendencies: its informational value and subjects' curiosity move them to explore and make use of it, while at the same dissonance and suspicion move them to reject it.
Improvements in left ventricular diastolic function after cardiac resynchronization therapy are coupled to response in systolic performance.

Objectives To determine the short-term effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on measurements of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients with severe heart failure. Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves systolic performance; however, the effects on diastolic function by load-dependent pulsed-wave Doppler transmitral indices has been variable. Methods Fifty patients with severe heart failure were evaluated by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography immediately prior to and 4 ± 1 month after CRT. Measurements included LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF), pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD)-derived transmitral filling indices (E- and A-wave velocities, E/A ratio, deceleration time [DT], diastolic filling time [DFT], and isovolumic relaxation time). Tissue Doppler imaging was used for measurements of systolic and diastolic (Em) velocities at four mitral annular sites; mitral E-wave/Em ratio was calculated to estimate LV filling pressure. Color M-mode flow propagation velocities were also obtained. Results After CRT, LV volumes decreased significantly (p 5% in 28 of 50 patients (56%) and were accompanied by reduction in PWD mitral E-wave velocity and E/A ratio (both p Conclusions In heart failure patients receiving CRT, improvement in LV diastolic function is coupled to the improvement in LV systolic function.
Phytoconstituents from Vitex agnus-castus fruits

A new labdane-diterpene, viteagnusin I (1), together with 23 known phytoconstituents were isolated from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L, and their structures characterized by spectroscopic methods (NMR and MS). The known compounds include ten flavonoids, five terpenoids, three neolignans, and four phenolic compounds, as well as one glyceride. Biological evaluation identified apigenin, 3-methylkaempferol, luteolin, and casticin as weak ligands of delta and mu opioid receptors, exhibiting dose-dependent receptor binding.
Stability of Current Gain in SiC BJTs

In this work, large area SiC BJTs with good long-term stability in 1000 hrs DC stress tests are demonstrated. It is also illustrated how wafer scanning techniques can be used to reject BJT dies with basal plane dislocations, thereby eliminating the risk for bipolar degradation.
Reducing readmissions after robotic surgical management of endometrial cancer: a potential for improved quality care.

Abstract Objective To describe readmission patterns after robotic surgery for endometrial cancer and identify risk factors for readmission within 90days of discharge. Methods Patients with endometrial cancer who underwent robotic surgical management at an academic institution from 2006 to 2010 were identified. Patient characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Student's t -test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare patients readmitted within 90days to those who were not. Results Three hundred ninety-five patients were included. Thirty (7.6%) were readmitted within 90days of surgical discharge. Length of stay greater than one day (40.0% vs. 23.0%, p=0.04) and postoperative complication (63.3% vs. 13.4%, p Conclusions Robotic surgery for endometrial cancer was associated with a 7.6% readmission rate. The most common reasons for readmission, fever and evaluation for urinary tract injury, were frequently not associated with severe illness. This supports additional education to consider raising the threshold for readmission by using more widespread outpatient evaluation for the potential complications of robotic endometrial cancer surgery.
Post-Vancouver: implications for nursing practice and nursing research.

The evolving understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV infection, the new antiretroviral therapies, and the complex issues of medication compliance demonstrate that HIV care is a constantly moving target. The XIth International AIDS meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, presented for us the theme, "One World, One Hope," and delegates left Vancouver with a new-found commitment to the prevention of HIV and the care of those living with and affected by HIV disease. The splendid news of the new therapies was at times overwhelming, particularly when one considers the cost and therapeutic regimens required. However, there was good news and we in the nursing community have a strong obligation to understand this good news. We also have an obligation to understand the limitations of these therapies. And, we have an obligation to develop solidarity regarding access to these therapies. To assist in the reconceptualization of HIV disease post-Vancouver, an outcomes model is presented as a strategy for thinking about nursing care interventions and people living with HIV and their significant others/families. The outcomes model for health services research (Holzemer, 1994a, 1994b) simply expands a systems perspective from Donabedian's work of inputs, processes, and outcomes by adding a vertical dimension that includes client, provider, and setting (see Table 1). The systems framework of inputs-pro
Enhancing cholesteric liquid crystal laser performance using a cholesteric reflector

A high performance dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) laser is demonstrated by incorporating a passive CLC reflector to the active cell. The polarization-conserved CLC reflector effectively increases the distributed feedback cavity length which, in turn, results in a significant enhancement in lasing efficiency and a dramatic reduction in beam divergence. The lasing characteristics are still dominated by the circularly polarized light with the same sense as the cholesteric helix.
Workforce Diversity: Ethnicity and Gender Diversity and Disparity in the New York City Police Department

This study examines minority and female integration in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) from 2005 to 2011. The Lieberson index of diversity and disparity indices are applied to police force employment data from the NYPD to assess the degree to which White officers outnumber minorities and females. The findings show that the level of diversity within the police ranks declines precipitously and consistently after the rank of sergeant, and the disparity ratios reveal that the number of White officers exceeds the number of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other minority group officers for all ranks with the exception of the rank of police officer. The findings also show that the number of female officers in general lags far behind those of males as well as of specific police ranks. The data show that among females entering the NYPD, more Hispanic females have been hired relative to White, Black, and Asian females. Despite progress in hiring minorities and females into the NYPD, the advances that minoriti...
Benzannulated tris(2-mercapto-1-imidazolyl)hydroborato ligands: tetradentate κ4-S3H binding and access to monomeric monovalent thallium in an [S3] coordination environment.

The benzannulated tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride sodium complex, [TmButBenz]Na, has been synthesized via the reaction of NaBH4 with 1-tert-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione, while [TmMeBenz]K has been synthesized via the reaction of KBH4 with 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione. The molecular structures of the solvated adducts, {[TmButBenz]Na(THF)}2(μ-THF)2 and [TmMeBenz]K(OCMe2)3, have been determined by X-ray diffraction, which demonstrates that the [TmR] ligands in these complexes adopt different coordination modes to that in {[TmMeBenz]Na}2(μ-THF)3. Specifically, while the [TmMeBenz] ligand of the sodium complex {[TmMeBenz]Na}2(μ-THF)3 adopts a κ3-S3 coordination mode, the potassium complex [TmMeBenz]K(OCMe2)3 adopts a most uncommon inverted κ4-S3H coordination mode in which the potassium binds to all three sulfur donors and the hydrogen of the B–H group in a linear K⋯H–B manner. Furthermore, the [TmButBenz] ligand of {[TmButBenz]Na(THF)}2(μ-THF)2 adopts a κ3-S2H coordination mode, thereby demonstrating the flexibility of this ligand system. The monovalent thallium compounds, [TmMeBenz]Tl and [TmButBenz]Tl, have been obtained via the corresponding reactions of [TmMeBenz]Na and [TmButBenz]Na with TlOAc. X-ray diffraction demonstrates that the three sulfur donors of the [TmRBenz] ligands of both [TmMeBenz]Tl and [TmButBenz]Tl chelate to thallium. This coordination mode is in marked contrast to that in other [TmR]Tl compounds, which exist as dinuclear molecules wherein two of the sulfur donors coordinate to different thallium centers. As such, this observation provides further evidence that benzannulation promotes κ3-S3 coordination in this system.
Differences in reproductive strategies of morphs of the genus Echinaster (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Two morphs of the asteroid genus Echinaster, E. Type 1 and E. Type 2, have reciprocal annual cycles of reproduction and nutrient storage. The pyloric caeca (storage organs) reach maximal size over winter then decrease with increasing gametogenic activity in the spring. E. Type 1 broadcasts buoyant eggs in late May to early June. E. Type 2 deposits benthic eggs in late April. Lecithotrophic larval development is similar in both morphs except that larvae of E. Type 1 undergo a brief planktonic phase. E. Type 1 reaches sexual maturity at a larger size, expends a lower reproductive effort but has a greater absolute reproductive output than E. Type 2. E. Type 2 produces fewer, larger eggs and has a greater parental investment per egg. In both morphs, females have much higher gonadal lipid levels than males and expend a higher reproductive effort in terms organic matter and energy. Reproductive effort, reproductive output, nutrient storage in the pyloric caeca and body size varied between populations and between years in each morph. Egg size and parental investment per egg were constant. Within-morph variability is attributed to differences in nutritional state. Differences in reproductive strategy support the hypothesis that the morphs are separate species.
Lessons in Contracting for Evaluations

Abstract A 1995 evaluation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ personnel evaluation system and a 1991 evaluation of the National Assessment Governing Board procedure for setting cut scores on the mathematics section of the National Assessment of Educational Progress provided valuable lessons in how to minimize the risks of misunderstanding what an evaluation will involve, subversion of the evaluation, controversy, and animosity. Both evaluations were nationally significant, had to be conducted quickly, were politically volatile, were keyed to professional standards, and had substantial impacts. However, the latter evaluation went sour, whereas the former received an official commendation. Evaluators should do all they can to demonstrate to clients that sound evaluations are not to be feared, but should be valued and used. An investigation of what went right and wrong in these evaluations identified contracting as a key variable. This article advises evaluators and clients to regularly negotiate clear, sound contracts before proceeding with an evaluation, and presents a checklist to assist in the contracting process.
Osmotically inactive water in relation to tolerance to freezing in Eleodes blanchardi beetles

1. 1.Eleodes blanchardi beetles tolerant to freezing at −6 to −7°C contain about 25% unfreezable body water. 2. 2. The percentage of unfreezable water in beetles made sensitive to freezing by incubation at +20°C did not differ significantly from that of freeze tolerant beetles, indicating that the difference in freeze tolerance is not due to different levels of osmotically inactive water. 3. 3. The unfreezable water is probably due to osmotically highly active macromolecules.
Defective sonic hedgehog signaling in esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Abstract Background. The pathogenesis of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) remains unknown. We have found previously that an initial esophageal atresia, followed by an abnormal (absent) branching pattern of the middle branch of a trifurcation of the lung/tracheal bud, leads to the neonatal finding of TEF. Mice null mutant for hedgehog signaling can experience the development of EA/TEF, but the mechanism for this development is also unknown. Given that EA/TEF in humans appears not to be due to genetic defects, a hedgehog mutation cause seems very unlikely. However, defective hedgehog signaling that is caused by environmental effects in the human embryo likely could be implicated. We studied a teratogen-induced model of EA/TEF to determine the mechanism by which defective hedgehog signaling may lead to EA/TEF. Methods. We injected Adriamycin into pregnant rats to induce EA/TEF in rat embryos. We first quantified sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway molecule expression using real-time, semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for Shh, Shh receptors (patched and smoothened), and downstream intracellular targets of those receptors (Gli family members). On the basis of these findings, we then developed an in vitro culture system for the day-12 embryonic TEF and manipulated Shh signaling using either exogenous Shh or Shh inhibitors. Results. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, a unique difference between the fistula tract and control tissues was that Gli-2 (downstream signaling molecule of Shh) messenger RNA levels were much lower in the fistula tract than in the adjacent esophagus (P =.002). Surprisingly, in the culture experiments, the fistula tract was induced to branch by exogenous Shh. Such branching of the fistula was unexpected and further supports the presumed respiratory origin of the fistula tract because the normal lung, but not normal esophagus, branched in response to Shh. The Shh inhibitor had no effect, which indicated that defective signaling, rather than hyperfunctioning Shh, is critical to the nonbranching phenotype of the fistula tract in TEF. Conclusion. The recapitulation of respiratory developmental morphogenesis by the fistula tract of TEF in the presence of exogenous Shh, together with the quantitative reduction in normal, endogenous levels of Gli-2, strongly suggests that 1 mechanism for the formation of the fistula tract is the lack of proper Shh signaling because of Gli-2 deficiency, with subsequent straight, nonbranching caudal growth of the fistula tract. This deficiency can be rescued by excess exogenous Shh, thus reestablishing respiratory morphogenesis. (Surgery 2003;134:345-50.)
Geology of the head of Lydonia Canyon, U.S. Atlantic outer continental shelf

Abstract The geology of the part of Lydonia Canyon shoreward of the continental shelf edge on the southern side of Georges Bank was mapped using high-resolution seismic-reflection and side-scan sonar techniques and surface sediment grab samples. The head of the canyon incises Pleistocene deltaic deposits and Miocene shallow marine strata. Medium sand containing some coarse sand and gravel covers the shelf except for a belt of very fine sand containing no gravel on either side of the canyon in water depths of 125–140 m. Gravel and boulders, presumably ice-rafted debris, cover the rim of the canyon. The canyon floor and canyon wall gullies are covered by coarse silt of Holocene age which is as much as 25 m thick, and Miocene and Pleistocene strata are exposed on the spurs between gullies. The Holocene sediment is restricted to the canyon shoreward of the shelf edge and has been winnowed from the shelf. Furrows cut in the shelf sands and ripples on the shelf and in the canyon suggest that sediment continues to be moved in this area. Sediment distribution, however, is inconsistent with that expected from the inferred westward sediment transport on the shelf. Either the fine-grained deposits on the shelf to either side of the canyon head are relict or there is a significant component of offshore transport around the canyon head. In the head of Oceanographer Canyon, only 40 km west of Lydonia Canyon, present conditions are strikingly different. The floor of Oceanographer Canyon is covered by sand waves, and their presence indicates active reworking of the bottom sediments by strong currents. The close proximity of the two canyons suggests that the relative importance of processes acting in canyons can be variable over short distances.
How many do you see? The use of nonspoken representations in first-grade mathematics lessons

Not all relevant instructional information comes in the form of spoken words. In the present study, the authors examine multiple modalities of nonspoken forms of representatio n—specifically gestures, pictures, objects, and writing—used by 3 teachers in 3 years of lst-grade math lessons. Teachers frequently used visually based modalities of representatio n and tended to produce combinations of representational forms rather than isolated representations. There were individual differences in their preference for representation types. Teachers used representations to accompany important spoken terms and to respond to student confusion. With nonspoken representations, teachers conveyed information critical to the explanation of mathematical concepts. Students must attend to the visual as well as vocal means of expressing information to gain access to all of the information presented in mathematics
A type system for regular expressions

Regular expressions are used to match and extract text. It is easy for developers to make syntactic mistakes when writing regular expressions, because regular expressions are often complex and different across programming languages. Such errors result in exceptions at run time, and there is currently no static support for preventing them.This paper describes practical experience designing and using a type system for regular expressions. This type system validates regular expression syntax and capturing group usage at compile time instead of at run time---ensuring the absence of PatternSyntaxExceptions from invalid syntax and IndexOutOfBoundsExceptions from accessing invalid capturing groups.Our implementation is publicly available and supports the full Java language. In an evaluation on five open-source Java applications (480kLOC), the type system was easy to use, required less than one annotation per two thousand lines, and found 56 previously-unknown bugs.
The Modern Girl around the World: A Research Agenda and Preliminary Findings

Our research collaboration examines how the Modern Girl emerged as a global phenomenon in the first half of the twentieth century. By wearing provocative fashions and pursuing romantic love, Modern Girls everywhere appeared to disregard the roles of dutiful daughter, wife and mother. We develop the Modern Girl as a heuristic category that allows new insights into forces of globalisation and manifestations of gendered modernity. Through a case study of cosmetics advertising in China, India, South Africa, Germany and the United States, we show that the Modern Girl in each locale was shaped through multidirectional citations of elements from elsewhere, through transnational processes of racialisation and through distinct articulations of nationalism.
Ammonia combustion properties and performance in gas-turbine burners

Experimental studies were conducted to determine the minimum ignition energy, quenching distance, flame-stability limits, and gas-turbine-burner performance of ammonia-air mixtures. The minimum ignition energy of ammonia was 8 millijoules compared to less than 0.5 millijoules for propane. At stoichiometric conditions, the quenching distance for ammonia-air was 0.275 in. The corresponding reported value for propane-air is 0.08 in. In the flame stability experiments, ammonia would burn at only one-half the air-flow velocity possible with hydrocarbon fuels and the range of equivalence ratios for stable flame was much narrower than for hydrocarbon fuels. These characteristics were essentially substantiated in gas-turbine-burner testing. It was concluded that neat ammonia cannot be used as a substitute fuel for hydrocarbons in conventional gas-turbine burners unless the ignition-system energy is increased, the combustion linear diameter is increased by a factor of approximately 2, and the ammonia injected in the gaseous state. Two approaches were investigated for improving the combustion properties of ammonia. These were to use additives or to partially pre-dissociate the ammonia. Additives were tested in the flame-stability apparatus in concentrations of 5% by volume of the total fuel. At this concentration, none of the additives improved the flame-stability properties to the extent required. The minimum ignition energy, quenching distance, and flame-stability properties of 28% dissociated ammonia were approximately equal to these same properties of methane. Partially dissociated ammonia was also tested in the gas-turbine burner. It was concluded that 28% dissociated ammonia could be used as a substitute fuel in gas-turbine-combustion systems optimally sized for hydrocarbon fuels.
Assessment of body composition change in a community-based weight management program.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the use of the leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) system in assessing change in body composition over 32 weeks in overweight and obese women participating in a community weight management program.Design: Intervention, with subjects prescribed an energy-restriction diet and exercise program for 32 weeks and body composition measured pre-study and after 12 and 32 weeks.Subjects and Setting: Overweight and obese premenopausal women (n=201) with no overt disease were recruited at six sites into community-based weight loss programs. One hundred and twenty-four women completed all aspects of the study.Intervention: Energy intake was set at 0.8 × resting metabolic rate (RMR) for weeks 1 through 12, 1.0 × RMR for weeks 13 through 20 and 1.2 × RMR for weeks 21 through 32. Energy intake was based on a food exchange table, with the number of food exchanges adjusted to encourage a percent distribution of 55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein. Sub...
Modelling an Aerosol Dispersion Test for Detecting Early Airway Changes

Abstract Spirometry and aerosol dispersion test measurements on human subjects who were smokers or had a history of reactive airways were compared before and after administration of a bronchodilator. The changes detected with aerosol dispersion were consistent with calibre changes in the small airways. A gamma distribution model was developed to account for aerosol dispersion differences seen among groups of previously tested non-smoking, healthy subjects, and asymptomatic smokers, as well as an asthmatic subject who performed the bronchodilation test. The dispersion model simulates a single mixing chamber (with incomplete mixing) in parallel with a variable by-pass fraction, and provides a basis for describing mixing due to inhomogeneity of ventilation as well as incomplete mixing.
VOCL-FT: introducing techniques for efficient soft error coprocessor recovery

Popular accelerator programming models rely on offloading computation operations and their corresponding data transfers to the coprocessors, leveraging synchronization points where needed. In this paper we identify and explore how such a programming model enables optimization opportunities not utilized in traditional checkpoint/restart systems, and we analyze them as the building blocks for an efficient fault-tolerant system for accelerators. Although we leverage our techniques to protect from detected but uncorrected ECC errors in the device memory in OpenCL-accelerated applications, coprocessor reliability solutions based on different error detectors and similar API semantics can directly adopt the techniques we propose. Adding error detection and protection involves a tradeoff between runtime overhead and recovery time. Although optimal configurations depend on the particular application, the length of the run, the error rate, and the temporary storage speed, our test cases reveal a good balance with significantly reduced runtime overheads.
Neuroendocrine repression of ribonuclease in the prawn, Palaemonetes vulgaris.

Abstract Crustacean eyestalk extract repressed the activity of hepatopancreas ribonuclease in the prawn, Palaemonetes vulgaris .
Long-term morbidity, mortality, and economics of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To estimate the morbidity, mortality, and lifetime costs of care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We developed a Markov model based on the Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Aging Medical Information System Post-Marketing Surveillance Program cohort, involving 4,258 consecutively enrolled RA patients who were followed up for 17,085 patient-years. Markov states of health were based on drug treatment and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores. Costs were based on resource utilization, and utilities were based on visual analog scale–based general health scores. Results The cohort had a mean age of 57 years, 76.4% were women, and the mean duration of disease was 11.8 years. Compared with a life expectancy of 22.0 years for the general population, this cohort had a life expectancy of 18.6 years and 11.3 quality-adjusted life years. Lifetime direct medical care costs were estimated to be $93,296. Higher costs were associated with higher disability scores. Conclusion A Markov model can be used to estimate lifelong morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with RA, providing a context in which to consider the potential value of new therapies for the disease.
Engkoo: Mining the Web for Language Learning

This paper presents Engkoo, a system for exploring and learning language. It is built primarily by mining translation knowledge from billions of web pages - using the Internet to catch language in motion. Currently Engkoo is built for Chinese users who are learning English; however the technology itself is language independent and can be extended in the future. At a system level, Engkoo is an application platform that supports a multitude of NLP technologies such as cross language retrieval, alignment, sentence classification, and statistical machine translation. The data set that supports this system is primarily built from mining a massive set of bilingual terms and sentences from across the web. Specifically, web pages that contain both Chinese and English are discovered and analyzed for parallelism, extracted and formulated into clear term definitions and sample sentences. This approach allows us to build perhaps the world's largest lexicon linking both Chinese and English together - at the same time covering the most up-to-date terms as captured by the net.
Perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices undergoing noncardiac procedures: a survey of current practices.

Objectives To describe perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) in noncardiac procedures. Design Survey of (1) respondent demographic characteristics, (2) anesthetic practices for LVAD patients having endoscopies, and (3) low-risk surgeries requiring general anesthesia. Setting Internet-based. Participants Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists membership. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Inpatient endoscopic procedures were done mainly in the endoscopy suite (71.7%) by a solo practitioner or 1:1 staffing ratio 59% of the time. LVAD-specific support personnel were present in more than 80% of all procedures. Both endoscopy and surgical patients used post-anesthesia recovery units and intensive care units for recovery; however, compared with endoscopy patients, surgical patients recovered in the ICU more frequently (45.5% v 29.1%, p Conclusions This survey found heterogeneity in hospital resource utilization for noncardiac LVAD procedures. There was a decrease in the use of invasive monitors with increased institutional LVAD volume in both endoscopy and surgical procedures.
Symptoms adversely impact survival among patients with cancer and unsuspected pulmonary embolism.

TO THE EDITOR: In their retrospective cohort study, den Exter et al found no significant differences in recurrent pulmonary emboli (PE), bleeding, or death when comparing patients with cancer who had incidental PE identified on routine staging computed tomography scans and patients with cancer who were diagnosed with PE on the basis of the presence of symptoms. The authors are the first, to our knowledge, to use as a comparator symptomatic patients with dedicated scans demonstrating PE to assess the clinical significance of incidental PE. However, we previously demonstrated that 75% of patients with incidental PE, which we referred to as unsuspected PE (UPE), were actually symptomatic. Variability in the treating oncologists’ index of suspicion for PE may significantly influence whether patients with cancer are referred for radiologic studies to rule out PE, even in the presence of symptoms. Thus, patients who were included in the incidental PE group in the study by den Exter et al may have, at a different institution or with a different physician, been referred for a dedicated study to rule out PE. In a follow-up study that included 70 patients with UPE and 137 ageand stage-matched patients with similar cancers but without PE, we found that UPE adversely affected survival. Notably, patients with symptomatic UPE had significantly shorter survival than patients with asymptomatic clots (unpublished analysis, Fig 1). In fact, respiratory symptoms and fatigue have been independently associated with shorter survival in patients with cancer. Symptoms should thus be considered a critical variable in any survival analysis of patients with cancer and suspected or unsuspected PE. As research and treatment recommendations arise from these and related data, we caution against the use of the words incidental and asymptomatic as interchangeable terms. We recommend that symptoms be clearly reported when possible and that the term unsuspected rather than asymptomatic or incidental be used because of the assumptions and potential bias that are associated with the latter terms.
Geodetic investigation into the deformation of the Salton Trough

[1] The Salton Trough represents a complex transition between the spreading center in Baja California and the strike-slip San Andreas fault system and is one of the most active zones of deformation and seismicity in California. We present a high-resolution interseismic velocity field for the Salton Trough derived from 74 continuous GPS sites and 109 benchmarks surveyed in three GPS campaigns during 2008–2009 and previous surveys between 2000 and 2005. We also investigate small-scale deformation by removing the regional velocity field predicted by an elastic block model for Southern California from the observed velocities. We find a total extension rate of 11 mm/yr from the Mesquite Basin to the southern edge of the San Andreas Fault, coupled with 15 mm/yr of left-lateral shear, the majority of which is concentrated in the southern Salton Sea and Obsidian Buttes and is equivalent to 17 mm/yr oriented in the direction of the San Andreas Fault. Differential shear strain is exclusively localized in the Brawley Seismic Zone, and dilatation rate indicates widespread extension throughout the zone. In addition, we infer clockwise rotation of 10°/Ma, consistent with northwestward propagation of the Brawley Seismic Zone over geologic time.
Mechanisms of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-mediated atherosclerosis: Role of the uPA receptor and S100A8/A9 proteins

Data from clinical studies, cell culture, and animal models implicate the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor (uPAR)/plasminogen system in the development of atherosclerosis and aneurysms. However, the mechanisms through which uPA/uPAR/plasminogen stimulate these diseases are not yet defined. We used genetically modified, atherosclerosis-prone mice, including mice with macrophage-specific uPA overexpression and mice genetically deficient in uPAR to elucidate mechanisms of uPA/uPAR/plasminogen-accelerated atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation. We found that macrophage-specific uPA overexpression accelerates atherosclerosis and causes aortic root dilation in fat-fed Ldlr−/− mice (as we previously reported in Apoe−/− mice). Macrophage-expressed uPA accelerates atherosclerosis by stimulation of lesion progression rather than initiation and causes disproportionate lipid accumulation in early lesions. uPA-accelerated atherosclerosis and aortic dilation are largely, if not completely, independent of uPAR. In the absence of uPA overexpression, however, uPAR contributes modestly to both atherosclerosis and aortic dilation. Microarray studies identified S100A8 and S100A9 mRNA as the most highly up-regulated transcripts in uPA-overexpressing macrophages; up-regulation of S100A9 protein in uPA-overexpressing macrophages was confirmed by Western blotting. S100A8/A9, which are atherogenic in mice and are expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques, are also up-regulated in the aortae of mice with uPA-overexpressing macrophages, and macrophage S100A9 mRNA is up-regulated by exposure of wild-type macrophages to medium from uPA-overexpressing macrophages. Macrophage microarray data suggest significant effects of uPA overexpression on cell migration and cell-matrix interactions. Our results confirm in a second animal model that macrophage-expressed uPA stimulates atherosclerosis and aortic dilation. They also reveal uPAR independence of these actions and implicate specific pathways in uPA/Plg-accelerated atherosclerosis and aneurysmal disease.
Moving pictures of the human microbiome.

Background Understanding the normal temporal variation in the human microbiome is critical to developing treatments for putative microbiome-related afflictions such as obesity, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease and malnutrition. Sequencing and computational technologies, however, have been a limiting factor in performing dense time series analysis of the human microbiome. Here, we present the largest human microbiota time series analysis to date, covering two individuals at four body sites over 396 timepoints.
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: Treatment of Juvenile and Adult Forms.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) are distinct entities that require different management. Although both conditions result from stress fractures of the subchondral bone, JOCD has a much better prog- nosis; treated conservatively, 50% of cases will heal, probably providing a normal knee during adult life. In contrast, OCD often is followed by the early onset of degenerative arthritis. The treatment of JOCD and OCD, whether nonoperative or operative, should be based on the principles of fracture treatment. Unfortu- nately, surgical correction of either of these conditions is unlikely to succeed unless the joint surface is perfectly restored. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1995;3:237-247
Thermal and mechanical analysis and design of the IBM Power 775 water cooled supercomputing central electronics complex

Back in 2008 IBM reintroduced water cooling technology into its high performance computing platform, the Power 575 Supercomputing node/system. Water cooled cold plates were used to cool the processor modules which represented about half of the total system (rack) heat load. An air-to-liquid heat exchanger was also mounted in the rear door of the rack to remove a significant fraction of the other half of the rack heat load; the heat load to air. Water cooling enabled a compute node with 34% greater performance (Flops), resulted in a processor temperature 20–30 °C lower than that typically provided with air cooling, and reduced the power consumed in the data center to transfer the IT heat to the outside ambient by as much as 45%.
Early Pregnancy Among Adolescent Females with Serious Emotional Disturbances: Risk Factors and Outcomes

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for early pregnancy and outcomes of early parenthood among girls with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Longitudinal data were collected du...
Habitat use and Spatial Structure of a Barking Frog (Eleutherodactylus augusti) Population in Southeastern Arizona

Barking Frogs (Eleutherodactylus augusti) are the northernmost ranging member of the large tropical family Leptodactylidae. We investigated the ecology of this saxicolous species at the northern edge of its range in a canyon in southern Arizona. We captured 54 frogs on discontinuous rock outcrops; eight of nine females and 39 of 45 males were on limestone outcrops. The remaining frogs were closer to limestone outcrops by more than 200 m than would be expected if they were distributed randomly with respect to limestone formations. Seven of 10 frogs radio-tracked had core home ranges (50% fixed kernel) from 94 to 100% on limestone; the other three frogs did not have any part of their home range on limestone outcrops. During five years of mark-recapture efforts, no frogs were found on a different outcrop from the one where they were originally captured; no radio-tracked frogs moved between outcrops during the breeding season. We estimated that four to 20 Barking Frogs occupied each outcrop; these groups probably are connected primarily by juvenile dispersal. As an organism living at the edge of its range, Barking Frogs in Arizona may rely heavily on extensive underground areas such as those found in limestone to protect them from a physiologically challenging environment. To manage for the persistence of Barking Frogs in southern Arizona, we must identify and protect habitat patches and movement pathways among them.
The Effects of Higher Admission Standards on NCAA Student-Athletes: An Analysis of Proposition 16.

This study examines the effect of an increase in minimum admissions standards on college enrollment and graduation rates of student-athletes. In 1996, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enacted Proposition 16, which increased admission standards for freshmen student-athletes at Division I schools, in an effort to improve graduation rates. Results indicate that Proposition 16 increased graduation rates significantly for Black student-athletes, and had no significant impact on graduation rates for White student-athletes. Results also indicate that graduation rates declined for Black student-athletes at Division II schools, which may have been driven by students transferring to Division I. As a result of the higher admission standards, Division I schools changed recruiting patterns and relied less on freshmen student-athletes, particularly Black student-athletes, to fill scholarships. Even though fewer Black freshmen student-athletes enrolled in Division I schools, the overall number of Blac...