cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term neuropsychologic and health outcomes of children with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease.

Background. There is little information about the long-term outcomes of children with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease, a group putatively at high risk for poor neurologic outcomes. Objective. The purpose of this study is to assess the long-term neuropsychologic and health outcomes of children with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease. Methods. We conducted a matched cross-sectional study of children with facial nerve palsy in Connecticut who met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national surveillance case definition for Lyme disease. We identified children with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease from population-based data for the state of Connecticut from 1984 to 1991 as well as from selected clinical practices from 1984 to 1998. For each case, 2 controls without Lyme disease, matched by age, were selected by sequential digit dialing technique. Both patients and controls (or their parents) were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Outcomes included self/parents’ reports both of symptoms and of abilities to perform normal daily activities since the diagnosis was made (or for an equivalent period of time for controls). In addition, the patients with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease were evaluated with a battery of neuropsychologic tests. Results. Of the 43 patients, 30% were female and 93% were white. Median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range: 2–18 years). Mean time to follow-up was 49 months (range: 7–161 months). Of the patients, 16% had been treated parenterally with ceftriaxone and 84% had been treated orally with either doxycycline or amoxicillin. Overall, 79% believed they were cured of Lyme disease, 9% believed they were not cured, and 12% did not know. The proportions of patients and of matched controls that reported increased problems with normal daily activities (eg, exercise, academic performance, word recall, sleeping) were similar. Patients with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease were more likely than matched controls to report symptoms of neck pain, changes in behavior, pains in joints or muscles, numbness or funny sensations in nerves, and problems with memory, but three quarters of them did not attribute these problems to Lyme disease. Twenty patients agreed to undergo neuropsychologic testing; all had average to above average scores on tests of IQ (eg, mean IQ was 110.2), memory, learning, attention, concentration, math, reading and spelling performance, executive functioning, abstract thinking, sequential processing, visuospatial scanning, and motor speed. There were no apparent differences in outcomes between children who received oral versus parenteral treatment. Conclusions. The neuropsychologic and health outcomes of children with facial nerve palsy attributable to Lyme disease 7 to 161 months earlier are comparable to those who did not have Lyme disease.
Manipulated as a Way of Life

Being manipulated is an integral part of the human condition. It is unavoidable and happening all around us; yet, it has not penetrated our naive view of the autonomy in our decisions. We resist government involvement even in domains where interventions can do a lot of good. Yet, a misplaced respect for peopleâs autonomy among well-intentioned players leaves us at the mercy of those less well-intentioned. Beyond regulating egregious and harmful manipulations, we need to be more willing to manipulate for the good. A skepticism about peopleâs deliberative, autonomous, dignified decision-making is actually the more respectful and considerate approach. It takes peopleâs limitations seriously, and proposes ways to help them do the best they can. Aided by standard checks and balances, we need to devise ways for manipulation to proceed in constructive ways.
Tense and tender ties: the politics of comparison in North American history and (post) colonial studies.

This essay takes as its subject two distinctive historiographies, one in postcolonial studies and the other in North American history, that both address how intimate domains-sex, sentiment, domestic arrangement, and child rearing-figure in the making of racial categories and in the management of imperial rule. It examines two prevailing trends: on the one hand, an analytic convergence in treatments of, and increasing attention to, intimacy in the making of empire; on the other, recognition of the distinctive conceptual commitments and political investments that shape the fields as separate disciplinary ventures and historiographic domains. I use the terms "postcolonial studies" and "colonial studies" interchangeably, although those who identify themselves with one do not always identify with the other. Some scholars use the term "postcolonial" to signal a cross-disciplinary political project, analytically akin to cultural studies, that rejects colonial categories and scholarship that takes them for granted. Others retain the term "colonial studies" to underscore more concern for the local and labor history of colonial societies while similarly acknowledging the continuing political, economic, and cultural landscape in which populations who have been colonized are subjugated and now live. The
Effectiveness of twenty-five-hydroxycholecalciferol in the prevention of tibial dyschondroplasia in Ross cockerels depends on dietary calcium level

Abstract Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25-(OH)D3] to minimize the development of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and improve phytate phosphorus retention in Ross cockerels during the starter period. In experiment 1, chicks were fed a TD-inducing (0.67% calcium) diet with or without exposure to ultraviolet light and no supplemental cholecalciferol. Dietary 25-(OH)D3 was added at 0, 10, or 70 microg/kg for both light treatments. In experiment 2, 25-(OH)D3 was added at 0, 10, 40, or 70 microg/kg to a TD-inducing diet containing 27.5 microg/kg added cholecalciferol. Experiment 3 was similar to experiment 2 except a diet marginal (0.85%) in calcium was fed, and cholecalciferol was added at 55 microg/kg. In experiments 4 and 5, 25-(OH)D3 was added at 0, 18, 36, 54, 72, or 90 microg/kg to a diet marginal in calcium. Dietary 25-(OH)D3 decreased the incidence of TD similarly at 40 and 70 microg/kg 25-(OH)D3 and improved phytate phosphorus retention when the TD-inducing diet was fed. The incidence of TD was decreased when 70 microg/kg 25-(OH)D3 was added to a diet marginal in calcium in experiment 3 only. Phytate phosphorus retention was generally not affected by dietary 25-(OH)D3 when a diet containing marginal calcium, adequate phosphorus, and high cholecalciferol was fed. The effectiveness of 25-(OH)D3 to reduce the incidence of TD in young broilers was higher when the dietary calcium level was below 0.85%. The incidence of TD in Ross cockerels was low (
SEX DIFFERENCES IN SELF-CONCEPTS OF ADOLESCENTS

The Tennessee Self-concept Scale was administered to 29 males and 33 females who were high school juniors. Significant differences were found on 3 of the 10 subscales; males scored significantly higher on personal self, social self, and self-criticism.
Race, risk, and the emergence of gender boundaries: Kids crossing boundaries in summer camps

My study explores how children established and crossed gender boundaries in four recreational settings with different racial compositions and patterns. Children generally marked boys' gender boundary crossing as more deviant than girls' crossing. However, the amount of gender salience structured into each setting and the salience of race in each setting affected campers' perceptions of the risks from gender boundary crossing and, thus, their strategies for crossing. My findings suggest that the perceived race of the actor may be less important than the race of the audience. Also crucial are the ways in which race category membership gives meaning to gender boundaries and to gender deviance in a particular situation.
A Traffic Light Signal Control System with Truck Priority1

Abstract: This paper proposed and evaluated a traffic light control system for signalized urban intersections that aims to benefit all traffic flows involved by giving priority to trucks. The problem is motivated from the observation that in some cases extending a green traffic signal to have a heavy truck cross an intersection instead of forcing it to stop and restart again may have benefits for all vehicles involved. The proposed traffic light control system uses a co-simulation optimization control approach to generate the traffic light sequence in a network of signalized intersections. The system has been evaluated using a road network simulator adjacent to the twin ports of Long Beach/Los Angeles. The evaluation results show consistent improvements in reducing the overall traffic delays, number of vehicle stops, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
Objectives and Organization of the Workshop

Human factors engineers are seeking the opportunity to have an early impact on the design of man-machine systems; to be involved from concept development onward. With this opportunity comes a responsibility. We must provide tools that allow the design team to predict human performance in the same manner that hardware and software performance is predicted. Mathematical models of human performance constitute one — perhaps the most intellectual — category of methods for addressing this requirement.
Effects of Membrane Tension on Snare-Mediated Single Fusion Pores

Fast and temporally controlled release is imperative for neurotransmitter release via evoked synaptic vesicle exocytosis. This process is driven by the interaction between vesicle v-SNAREs with target t-SNAREs on the plasma membrane. The initial, nanometer-sized connection between two fusing lipid bilayers is called the fusion pore. This structure only lasts for a short time before it either dilates completely (resulting in full fusion), or reseals again (kiss-and-run fusion). Fusion pore dynamics determine the amount and size of cargo released, as well as vesicle recycling. Thus they constitute a fundamental mechanism that controls the extent of postsynaptic neuronal activity. Due to its small size and transient nature, the fusion pore has been an elusive object to study. We have recently developed an assay using biochemically well-defined components to look at current flow through single SNARE-mediated fusion pores. The components of the assay include HeLa cells with “flipped” t-SNARE proteins expressed on the outside of the cell (t-cells), and nanodiscs with v-SNARE proteins embedded within them (v-discs). When we fill a patch pipette with v-discs and establish a cell-attached patch onto a t-cell, the v- and t-SNAREs interact, leading to the formation of a fusion pore connecting the cytosol to the pipette solution. Currents through these fusion pores report single fusion pore dynamics.Membrane tension has been shown to affect fusion pore dynamics in neuroendocrine cells. In our assay, we can quickly and accurately change the pressure in the patch pipette, thereby modulate membrane tension, using a high-speed pressure clamp. We will show how an increase in membrane tension causes extended pore lifetimes, as well as increased pore conductance and charge influx through the pore.
Consensus methods for reconstruction of sibling relationships from genetic data

Reconstruction Sibling Relationships is an important problem with applications in conservational biology. A number of methods have been proposed for this problem, and biologists today find it challenging to consolidate different reconstructions into one solution. Towards this end, consensus based methodology has been proposed recently to combine different results. In this paper we study the use of different consensus techniques, including strict consensus, voting consensus, majority consensus, to realize a single solution. We also discuss the relative merits of different consensus techniques and extend their use to data sets with genotyping errors. We explain the implications of Mirkin’s impossibility results in context of the siblings reconstruction problem.
A Review of Roe by Arena Stage, a co-production with Oregon Shakespeare

This performance review examines the Washington, D.C. premiere of Lisa Loomer's Roe, which is a coproduction by Arena Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Berkeley Repertory. The review explores the way in which the Loomer's play with its exploration of history, and this particular production's rendering of that exploration, has taken on new urgency in the shifting political climate caused by the election of Donald Trump.
Multiple Roles of Noncoding Rnas in Neurogenesis and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abstract Neurogenesis in the postnatal and adult mammalian brains is critical for neuroplasticity, cognition, social behavior, and learning and memory. We have discovered that miRNAs, such as miR-137, miR-195, miR-15a, miR-184 are at the center of epigenetic network that plays central roles in neurogenesis. We show that while miR-184 and miR-195 are key regulators for neural stem cell fate specification, miR-15a is critical for neuronal maturation. Remarkably, miR-137 is important for both of these processes, through regulating distinct downstream targets. We discovered that dysregulation of these miRNAs may underlie the pathological phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome and autism.
Confined Dynamics of a Ribosome-Bound Nascent Globin: Cone Angle Analysis of Fluorescence Depolarization Decays in the Presence of Two Local Motions

We still know very little about how proteins achieve their native three-dimensional structure in vitro and in the cell. Folding studies as proteins emerge from the mega Dalton-sized ribosome pose special challenges due to the large size and complicated nature of the ribosome-nascent chain complex. This work introduces a combination of three-component analysis of fluorescence depolarization decays (including the presence of two local motions) and in-cone analysis of diffusive local dynamics to investigate the spatial constraints experienced by a protein emerging from the ribosomal tunnel. We focus on E. coli ribosomes and an all-alpha-helical nascent globin in the presence and absence of the chaperones DnaK and trigger factor. The data provide insights on the dynamic nature and structural plasticity of ribosome-nascent chain complexes. We find that the sub-ns motions of the N-terminal fluorophore, reporting on the globin dynamics close to the N terminus, are highly constrained both inside and outside the ribosomal tunnel, resulting in high-order parameters (>0.85) and small cone semiangles (<30°). The shorter globin chains buried inside the tunnel are less spatially constrained than those of a reference sequence from a natively unfolded protein, suggesting either that the two nascent chain sequences have a different secondary structure and therefore sample different regions of the tunnel or that the tunnel undergoes local structural adjustments to accommodate the globin sequence. Longer globins emerging out of the ribosomal tunnel are also found to have highly spatially constrained slow (ns) motions. There are no observable spectroscopic changes in the absence of bound chaperones. The data presented here show that the ribosome plays an active role in cotranslational folding and it influences the dynamics and conformation, of nascent polypeptides and proteins.
Global properties of the root-locus map

In this paper we use a recently proven “general position lemma” for transfer functions to derive several important qualitative properties, some new, of the root-locus map for multivariable systems. Among the immediate applications which we derive is that it is not in general possible to develop a formula, involving rational operations and the extraction of r-th roots, for an output feedback gain (either complex or real, should a real solution exist) which places a given set of closed-loop poles. This is in sharp contrast to the state feedback situation [2] and is a partial affirmation of a conjecture made in [3]. The technique is to reduce the problem, via global reasoning, to a tractible problem in Galois theory, Having proved this result, the prerequisite global analysis is applied to give the positive result that the pole-placement equations can, however, be solved numerically by the homotopy continuation method. Since this global analysis of the root-locus map also plays a vital role in recent work on generic stabilizability ([3], [10]) and pole placement by output feedback ([6], [9]) and has never yet appeared in its full generality, we thought it would be useful to collect these basic topological and geometric results and derive them in a coherent fashion based on the “general position lemma.”
Mechanism of the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed isomerization of hydroperoxides.

The interactions of hydroperoxides with cytochrome P-450 have been studied extensively (O’Brien, 1982; Sligar et al., 1984). It is well known that these compounds can donate an oxygen to the ferric form of P-450. The resulting activated form of the enzyme can oxidize many substrates with results similar to those of NADPH/O2-supported P-450 oxidations. Mechanistic details of the O-O bond cleavage step and the nature of the oxidant remain unsettled issues. Homolytic cleavage would produce an alkoxy radical and an iron-coordinated hydroxyl radical similar to peroxidase Compound II (equation 1, where Fe represents the heme iron of P-450). Heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond would produce the alcohol and an iron-oxo species analogous to peroxidase Compound I (equation 2). Much of the early work in this area suggests that homolysis is the principal result when hydroperoxides interact with P-450. For example, Griffin (1980) successfully trapped a methyl radical from the microsomal decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide (COON). This species is produced when the cumyloxy radical undergoes β-scission. Blake and Coon (1981) invoked homolysis to explain the results of structure-activity relationships on the benzylic hydroxylation of substituted toluenes by rabbit liver P-450LM2 that were supported by analogs of COOH. According to the mechanism proposed, the cumyloxy radical is the oxidant that abstracts H• from the substrate. The resulting carbon-centered radical then interacts with (FeOH)3+ forming the benzylic alcohol and the native enzyme. More recent work with P-450 and peroxyphenylacetic acid demonstrated that peroxy compounds can undergo both homolytic and heterolytic scission of the O-O bond. McCarthy and White (1983) provided evidence that hydroxylations of cosubstrates in the P-450-peroxyacid system were a consequence of heterolysis, and that (FeO)3+ was the oxidant. Recently, it was reported that P-450 catalyzes both types of O-O bond cleavage, and that the actual mechanism is dependent on the structure of the peroxy compound (Lee and Bruice, 1985).
Animal Models in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has significantly advanced brain research, both in basic sciences as well as in translational and clinical studies. Animal models have been at the forefront of research into the mechanisms of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fMRI. The use of animal models in fMRI has been particularly advantageous in preclinical and translational studies of various models of brain disease, and fundamental in the exploration of basic neuroscience questions, such as the mechanisms of perception, behavior, and cognition. This chapter describes the practical aspects of the use of animal models in fMRI studies of the brain.
Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), especially in cases where there is limited or no extracardiac involvement, is challenging. Patients with CS are at increased risk of ventricular arrhythmi...
How do Wisconsin environmental educators perceive a potential, professional certification for individual environmental educators?

AbstractThe North American Association for Environmental Education encourages state environmental education associations to develop professional certifications for individual environmental educator...
Cytomegalovirus Screening in Pregnancy: A Cost-Effectiveness and Threshold Analysis.

Objective To determine threshold cytomegalovirus (CMV) infectious rates and treatment effectiveness to make universal prenatal CMV screening cost-effective. Study Design Decision analysis comparing cost-effectiveness of two strategies for the prevention and treatment of congenital CMV: universal prenatal serum screening and routine, risk-based screening. The base case assumptions were a probability of primary CMV of 1% in seronegative women, hyperimmune globulin (HIG) effectiveness of 0%, and behavioral intervention effectiveness of 85%. Screen-positive women received monthly HIG and screen-negative women received behavioral counseling to decrease CMV seroconversion. The primary outcome was the cost per maternal quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained with a willingness to pay of $100,000 per QALY. Results In the base case, universal screening is cost-effective, costing $84,773 per maternal QALY gained. In sensitivity analyses, universal screening is cost-effective only at a primary CMV incidence of more than 0.89% and behavioral intervention effectiveness of more than 75%. If HIG is 30% effective, primary CMV incidence can be 0.82% for universal screening to be cost-effective. Conclusion The cost-effectiveness of universal maternal screening for CMV is highly dependent on the incidence of primary CMV in pregnancy. If efficacious, HIG and behavioral counseling allow universal screening to be cost-effective at lower primary CMV rates.
Merchants in the city of art: work, identity, and change in a Florentine neighborhood

A historic market emerges as the protagonist of struggles over identity, heritage, and belonging in an urban Italian neighbourhood. Globalization, migration, and urban politics have transformed ide...
Treatment outcomes, 30-day readmission and healthcare resource utilization after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic malignancies.

BACKGROUND We sought to determine treatment outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head and uncinate process malignancy and its impact on mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study using the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Discharges were included if they had an ICD-9 CM procedure code for pancreatoduodenectomy and any code for malignancy of the pancreas head and uncinate process. Independent predictors of readmission were identified using multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 4,445 patients were included. The surgical complication rate was 17.3%, and in-hospital mortality rate was 3%. The 30-day readmission rate was 19.7% with an in-hospital mortality rate of 3.9%. The most common reason for readmission was postoperative infection. The mean length of stay during readmission was 6.50 days, while the mean total hospitalization costs and charges were $15,589 and $52,922, respectively. The number of hospital days associated with readmission was 5,548, with an in-hospital economic burden of $12.9 million (costs) and $43.7 million (charges). Hospital volume and discharge disposition were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS Pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic malignancies is still associated with significant morbidity, mortality and 30-day readmission. Reducing readmission can impact mortality, quality of life, and healthcare economic burden in this setting.
CONFORMATIONAL CHANGE OF SR-ATPase INDUCED BY PHOSPHORYLATION

Publisher Summary The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium pump utilizes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for the vectorial transport of calcium (Ca) ions against a concentration gradient. Conformational change in response to Ca were reported by various investigators. Furthermore, to produce a change in orientation and reduction in affinity of calcium binding sites, structural transition must follow the utilization of ATP. Ca2 + is released from SR ATPase upon phosphorylation in the presence of dimethylsulf oxide (Me2S0). Ikemot observed a release of bound calcium following ATPase phosphorylation with ATP, using an enzyme prepared by the solubilization of native vesicles with Triton X-100. On the other hand, Takakuwa and Kanazawa, and Dupont showed that the bound calcium is not released immediately upon phosphorylation but rather retained in an occluded form that is not accessible from the outer or the inner side of the membrane. Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that the occluded state would be prevalent in steady state at neutral pH and in the presence of 100 mM KCl and 5 mM MgCl2.
Asymptotically Uniform Tests After Consistent Model Selection in the Linear Regression Model

This article specializes the critical value (CV) methods that are based upon (refinements of) Bonferroni bounds, introduced by McCloskey to a problem of inference after consistent model selection i...
Stereocontrolled Assembly of Cis or Trans Angularly Substituted Hydrindenes by the Unactivated Intramolecular Diels−Alder Reaction

The unactivated intramolecular Diels−Alder reaction has become a powerful tool for the construction of polycyclic natural products. Nevertheless, the factors that govern diastereoselectivity in these cyclizations have not been fully understood. We here report that through the choice of the proper substituents, it is possible to make the unactivated intramolecular Diels−Alder reaction proceed to give either the cis angularly-substituted hydrindene 12b or the trans product 19a.
Natural history collections document biological responses to climate change

Natural history collections can complement and enhance our research programs in a variety of ways. DeLeo et al. (2019) used herbarium records to study the changes in physiology and phenology in Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) due to contemporary climate change. Here, we discuss their approach and results as well as highlight other ways in which herbarium and natural history museum records can be leveraged for future studies.The copyright holder of the image (the herbarium sheet of Arabidopsis thaliana) is the first author, Derek Denney. This article is a commentary on DeLeo et al, 26, 523-538.
Rising incidence of late-stage head and neck cancer in the United States

BACKGROUND The current study was conducted to determine whether the incidence of late-stage head and neck cancer (HNC) is decreasing and to estimate the risk of late-stage HNC diagnosis based on race and sex. METHODS Age-adjusted incidence rates for patients aged ≥18 years with stage IV HNC were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2015). Rates were stratified by race, sex, and age. Joinpoint regression estimated annual percent changes (APCs) in rates over time, and logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS There were 57,118 patients with stage IV HNC in the current study cohort, with an average age of 61.9 years. From 2004 to 2015, the age-adjusted incidence rates for stage IV HNC significantly increased by 26.1% (6.11 per 100,000 person-years in 2004 to 7.70 per 100,000 person-years in 2015). White and Asian/Pacific Islander/American Indian/Alaska Native patients had significant increases in incidence (APC for white patients, 3.03 [P < .01] and APC for other races, 1.95 [P < .01]), whereas rates among black patients remained stable but were highest across racial groups. Incidence was higher among males compared with females. When restricted only to patients with stage IVC (metastatic) HNC, there remained a significant increase in incidence, especially for oropharyngeal cancer, which showed a 22.9% increase (0.21 per 100,000 person-years in 2004 vs 0.25 per 100,000 person-years in 2015). Despite a decreasing overall incidence of stage IV HNC in black patients (aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.22-1.34) they, along with males (aOR, 3.95; 95% CI, 3.80-4.11), had significantly increased risks of being diagnosed with late-stage HNC. CONCLUSIONS There is an increasing incidence of late-stage HNC in the United States, with male patients and black individuals faring the worst.
Catalan culture: experimentation, creative imagination and the relationship with Spain. Essays in honour of David George: edited by Lloyd Hughes Davies, D. Gareth Walters, and John B. Hall, Cardiff, University of Wales Press, 2018, 240 pp., £85 (hardback), ISBN13 978-1786832016

The title of this collection of essays may initially seem vague. “Catalan culture”? Well, this includes more than a thousand years of cultural production. “Experimentation” and “creative imaginatio...
Deep learning in spatiotemporal filtering for super-resolution ultrasound imaging

Super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) imaging shows great promise as a clinical technique that can improve ultrasound (US) resolution by an order of magnitude. Current algorithms for SR-US suffer from high complexity and long computation times, precluding real-time imaging. Neural networks can be viewed as general function approximators and can process images at frame rates suitable for a real-time application. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of deep networks to learn algorithms for tissue signal suppression while improving performance of SR-US for visualization of microvascular networks. In this study, deep 3D convolutional neural networks (3DCNNs) were chosen to perform spatiotemporal filtering to suppress the tissue signal and perform microbubble (MB) segmentation in place of conventional signal processing methods, e.g. singular value decomposition (SVD), singular value filtering (SVF), or difference filtering (DIF). For each method, a 3DCNN was trained with the respective conventional signal processing algorithm as ground truth. Three 3DCNN architectures with 6 to 7 layers and an input size of 9 x 9 x 9 pixels were evaluated. In vivo data was collected from a cancer-bearing murine model and images were captured with a clinical US scanner equipped with a 15L8 linear array transducer. In vivo data were used to train the networks and testing was based on an in vivo dataset not used in training. The deep networks reached testing accuracies of 97.1% for the DIF implementation with promising performance improvements. The average processing frame rate for in vivo images was 50 Hz with graphical processing unit (GPU) acceleration. Deep learning shows potential for effective spatiotemporal filtering, improving performance of SRUS towards a real-time imaging modality.
A SQUID-Based Picovoltmeter for Quantum Resistors

We present a sensitive voltage amplifier suited for measurements of source impedances in the k $$\Omega$$ range at dilution refrigerator temperatures. The circuit is based on a commercial dc SQUID, an impedance matching transformer, and it works on the principle of negative feedback. At 10 mK, the amplifier contribution to the noise is only 17 $$\text{pV/}\sqrt{\text{ Hz }}$$ , which is negligible in comparison with the fluctuations of the thermal voltage of a 3.25 k $$\Omega$$ metallic source resistor. Various circuit parameters of the amplifier are discussed.
A Tale of Two Diverse Qualtrics Samples: Information for Online Survey Researchers.

Background: There is often a lack of transparency in research using online panels related to recruitment methods and sample derivation. The purpose of this study was to describe the recruitment and participation of respondents from two disparate surveys derived from the same online research panel using quota sampling. Methods: A commercial survey sampling and administration company, Qualtrics, was contracted to recruit participants and implement two Internet-based surveys. The first survey targeted adults aged 50 to 75 years and used sampling quotas to obtain diversity with respect to household income and race/ethnicity. The second focused on women aged 18 to 49 years and utilized quota sampling to achieve a geographically balanced sample. Results: A racially and economically diverse sample of older adults (n = 419) and a geographically diverse sample of younger women (n = 530) were acquired relatively quickly (within 12 and 4 days, respectively). With exception of the highest income level, quotas were implemented as requested. Recruitment of older adults took longer (vs. younger female adults). Although survey completion rates were reasonable in both studies, there were inconsistencies in the proportion of incomplete survey responses and quality fails. Conclusions: Cancer researchers, and researchers in general, should consider ways to leverage the use of online panels for future studies. To optimize novel and innovative strategies, researchers should proactively ask questions about panels and carefully consider the strengths and drawbacks of online survey features including quota sampling and forced response. Impact: Results provide practical insights for cancer researchers developing future online surveys and recruitment protocols. See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “Modernizing Population Science.”
Presentation and Outcomes of Elderly Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgeries: A National Perspective.

ObjectivesTo examine clinical profile and outcomes of elderly patients (65-90 years) undergoing head and neck surgeries in the United States.Study DesignA retrospective cross-sectional analysis.Set...
ACGME Operative Case Log Accuracy Varies Among Surgical Programs.

Objective This study evaluates the accuracy of reported the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) operative case logs from graduated residents compared to institutional operating room electronic records (ORER). We hope this will help guide review committees and institutions develop complete, accurate resident case logs. Design This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of general surgery (GS), neurosurgery (NS), and orthopedic surgery (OS) resident physicians. ACGME and ORER cases from 2009 to 2010 were analyzed and each case and current procedural terminology (CPT) code directly compared (ORER vs. ACGME). Setting Single academic tertiary-care medical center (University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY). Participants Eleven thousand nine hundred and twenty-three cases for 46 residents among the 3 residency programs were analyzed. Results There was an overall logging accuracy of 72% for ORER cases reflected in the ACGME case logs. OS residents had a higher rate of logging accuracy (OS 91%, GS 69%, NS 58%, chi-square p = 0.014) and mean annual number of cases compared to the other 2 programs (OS 452, GS 183, NS 237, ANOVA p = 0.001). NS residents had higher accuracy of CPT codes than post-graduate years 2 to 5 in other programs (p Conclusions This study shows only 72% of a residents’ operative experience is captured in the ACGME case log across 3 surgical programs. There is significant variability among surgical programs and among post-graduate year cohorts regarding case log and CPT code accuracy. There is a strong correlation with the total number of cases performed and increasing case log accuracy. Low case log accuracy may reflect individual resident behavior instead of program operative exposure. Further studies are needed to determine if ORER may serve as a more complete assessment of the operative experience of a resident and program.
Direct percutaneous transcarotid approach for embolization of dural sinus malformation in a premature neonate: A case report:

Dural sinus malformations (DSM) can manifest with high output cardiac failure in neonates. Interventional procedures reduce the effect of shunting on cardiac function. The umbilical artery access (...
Shutoff of host transcription triggers a toxin-antitoxin system to cleave phage RNA and abort infection.

Summary Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in bacteria, but their activation mechanisms and bona fide targets remain largely unknown. Here, we characterize a type III TA system, toxIN, that protects E. coli against multiple bacteriophages, including T4. Using RNA sequencing, we find that the endoribonuclease ToxN is activated following T4 infection and blocks phage development primarily by cleaving viral mRNAs and inhibiting their translation. ToxN activation arises from T4-induced shutoff of host transcription, specifically of toxIN, leading to loss of the intrinsically unstable toxI antitoxin. Transcriptional shutoff is necessary and sufficient for ToxN activation. Notably, toxIN does not strongly protect against another phage, T7, which incompletely blocks host transcription. Thus, our results reveal a critical trade-off in blocking host transcription: it helps phage commandeer host resources but can activate potent defense systems. More generally, our results now reveal the native targets of an RNase toxin and activation mechanism of a phage-defensive TA system.
Pointwise complexity of the derivative of a computable function

We explore the relationship between analytic behavior of a computable real valued function and the computability-theoretic complexity of the individual values of its derivative (the function’s slopes) almost-everywhere. Given a computable function f, the values of its derivative $$f'(x)$$ , where they are defined, are uniformly computable from $$x'$$ , the Turing jump of the input. It is known that when f is $${\mathcal {C}}^2$$ , the values of $$f'(x)$$ are actually computable from x. We construct a $${\mathcal {C}}^1$$ function f so that, almost everywhere, $$f'(x)\ge _T x'$$ . Although the values $$f'(x)$$ at each point x cannot uniformly compute the corresponding jumps $$x'$$ of the inputs x almost everywhere for any $${\mathcal {C}}^1$$ function f, we produce an example of a $${\mathcal {C}}^1$$ function f such that $$f(x)\ge _T \emptyset '$$ uniformly on subsets of arbitrarily large measure, effectively (using the notion of a Schnorr test). We also explore analogous questions for weaker smoothness conditions, such as for f differentiable everywhere, and f differentiable almost everywhere.
Energy conversion from aluminium and phosphate rich solution via ZnO activation of aluminium

Abstract Electrochemical power sources have motivated intense research efforts in the development of alternative ‘green’ power sources for ultra-low powered bioelectronic devices. Biofuel cells employ immobilized enzymes to convert the available chemical energy of organic fuels directly into electricity. However, biofuel cells are limited by short lifetime due to enzyme inactivation and frequent need to incorporate mediators to shuttle electrons to the final electron acceptor. In this context, other electrochemical power sources are necessary in energy conversion and storage device applications. Here we report on the fabrication and characterization of a membrane-free aluminium/phosphate cell based on the activation of aluminium (Al) using ZnO nanocrystal in an Al/phosphate cell as a ‘green’ alternative to the traditional enzymatic biofuel cells. The hybrid cell operates in neutral phosphate buffer solution and physiological saline buffer. The ZnO modifier in the phosphate rich electrolyte activated the pitting of Al resulting in the production of hydrogen, as the reducing agent for the reduction of H2PO4− ions to HPO32− ions at a formal potential of −0.250 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Specifically, the fabricated cell operating in phosphate buffer and physiological saline buffer exhibit an open-circuit voltage of 0.810 V and 0.751 V and delivered a maximum power density of 0.225 mW cm−2 and 1.77 mW cm−2, respectively. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of generating electricity by activating Al as anodic material in a hybrid cell supplied with phosphate rich electrolyte. Our approach simplifies the construction and operation of the electrochemical power source as a novel “green” alternative to the current anodic substrates used in enzymatic biofuel cells for low power bioelectronics applications.
COMPARISON OF ECCENTRIC AND CONCENTRIC EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS IN ADULTS WITH SUBACROMIAL IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME.

Background Researchers have demonstrated moderate evidence for the use of exercise in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). Recent evidence also supports eccentric exercise for patients with lower extremity and wrist tendinopathies. However, only a few investigators have examined the effects of eccentric exercise on patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Effect of Gene Position on the Timing of Enzyme Synthesis in Synchronous Cultures of Yeast

Tauro, Patric (The University of Wisconsin, Madison), and Harlyn O. Halvorson. Effect of gene position on the timing of enzyme synthesis in synchronous cultures of yeast. J. Bacteriol. 92:652–661.—In synchronously growing cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enzyme synthesis is periodic. The effect of various factors on the timing of α-glucosidase synthesis has been investigated. The period of the cell cycle during which α-glucosidase is synthesized is unaffected by the method employed to induce synchrony, as well as other environmental conditions. However, a definite relationship exists between the number of nonallelic structural genes present for α-glucosidase and the number of periods of synthesis during the cell cycle. It is concluded that the periodic synthesis of enzymes observed in synchronously growing cultures of yeast is probably the result of an ordered process of transcription of the various structural genes.
A Personal Commitment to Software Quality

The PSP offers a promising way to help software engineers improve their skills and abilities. University courses have been successful in training engineers in the PSP but industrial introduction is substantially more challenging. Engineers who take university courses will generally complete the course when they are motivated by a degree, tuition reimbursement, or a financial reward. Early industrial experience demonstrates that with the support and active participation of all levels of management, PSP introduction can be successful. The best case is when an immediate manager takes the PSP course with a software team and the work is treated as a project commitment.
7α,15β-Dichloro-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol, a novel inhibitor of sterol biosynthesis in animal cells☆

Abstract 7α,15β-Dichloro-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol has been prepared by controlled lithium aluminum hydride reduction of 3β-benzoyloxy-7α,15β-dichloro-5α-cholest-8(14)-ene. The latter compound was prepared by treatment of 3β-benzoyloxy-14α,15α-epoxy-5α-cholest-7-ene with gaseous HCl in chloroform at −40°. The structure of the dichloro compound was unequivocally established by X-ray crystallographic analysis of the 3β- p -bromobenzoate derivative. 7α,15β-Dichloro-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol was found to be a potent inhibitor of sterol synthesis in animal cells in culture. The dichlorosterol caused a 50% reduction of the level of HMG-CoA reductase in L cells in culture at a concentration of 6 × 10 −7 M and a 50% inhibition of the synthesis of digitonin-precipitable sterols from labeled acetate in the same cells at a concentration of 2 × 10 −6 M.
Response of air-filled ion chambers to high-intensity radiation pulses

Ion chambers are one of the most popular types of detectors used for beam loss-monitor systems. To provide a foundation for the development of future loss-monitor systems, and to fully characterize the ion chambers in use at LAMPF, we have studied the response of air-filled cylindrical ion chambers to high-intensity, short-duration radiation pulses. The most intense pulses were about 180 rad in 250 ns (the equivalent steady-state dose rate was about 700 Mrad/h). We filled our chambers with nitrogen gas at 760 Torr and air at 600 Torr. The ion chambers were driven into extreme nonlinear response. We hope these data will be used to design loss-monitor systems based on air-filled ion chambers, thus eliminating the need for gas-flow systems and/or airtight ion chambers. >
Asthma is a risk factor for acute chest syndrome and cerebral vascular accidents in children with sickle cell disease

Background Asthma and sickle cell disease are common conditions that both may result in pulmonary complications. We hypothesized that children with sickle cell disease with concomitant asthma have an increased incidence of vaso-occlusive crises that are complicated by episodes of acute chest syndrome.
Glucose Uptake and End Product Formation in an Intertidal Marine Sediment

Glucose uptake was monitored on a seasonal basis, using [6-3H]glucose and undisturbed cores collected from an intertidal mud flat. The fate of glucose carbon, including the formation of CO2 and biomass, was assayed by using undisturbed cores and [U-14C]glucose; the production of short-chain fatty acids was monitored with [U-14C]glucose and sediment slurries. Rate constants for glucose uptake varied temporally, with temperature accounting for much of the variability; turnover times ranged from about 2 to 10 min. Rate constants decreased with increasing sediment depth and in the following order for several common monosaccharides: glucose>galactose>mannose∼fucose. Time course analyses of 14CO2 production provided evidence of significant isotopic dilution; although pore water glucose turnover times were on the order of minutes, 14CO2 did not plateau until after approximately 6 h of incubation. At this time a maximum of about 40% of the added radioglucose had been respired. The extent of respiration varied as a function of sediment depth and season, with the highest values below the surface (4 to 7 cm) and in summer and fall. Incorporation of radiolabelled glucose into biomass also varied seasonally, but the greatest extent of incorporation (about 40%) was observed in the fall and for the 0- to 1-cm depth interval. The production of short-chain fatty acid end products was largely limited to acetate, which accounted for only a small percentage of the added radiolabel. Other organic acids, pyruvate in particular, were observed in pore water and were due to artifacts in the heat-kill procedure used to terminate incubations. An accurate assessment of the distribution and importance of short-chain fatty acids as end products required the use of an enzymatic technique coupled with high-pressure liquid chromatography to verify qualitative identities.
Recognition in Ultrasound Videos: Where Am I?

A novel approach to the problem of locating and recognizing anatomical structures of interest in ultrasound (US) video is proposed. While addressing this challenge may be beneficial to US examinations in general, it is particularly useful in situations where portable US probes are used by less experienced personnel. The proposed solution is based on the hypothesis that, rather than their appearance in a single image, anatomical structures are most distinctively characterized by the variation of their appearance as the transducer moves. By drawing on recent advances in the non-linear modeling of video appearance and motion, using an extension of dynamic textures, successful location and recognition is demonstrated on two phantoms. We further analyze computational demands and preliminarily explore insensitivity to anatomic variations.
Alkali-halide association and dissociation rates in an ambient gas

Abstract Calculations are carried out on the rate coefficients for the association of alkali and halogen atoms in an ambient gas. Because of curve crossing the rate coefficients can be quite high. Curve crossing will facilitate other association processes. Reciprocal lifetimes of alkali halides towards collisional dissociation into atoms and into ions are also evaluated.