cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategy combining chiral chromatography with β-cyclodextrin and stereospecific enzyme reaction detection with hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases for resolving steroid epimers

Steroids are chiral molecules with multiple stereogenic centers. Studies of their intermediary metabolism often require analytical techniques to separate the isomers and determine their stereochemistry. Methods for resolving steroid stereoisomers by HPLC using β-cyclodextrin in the mobile phase are reported. Even with the improved selectivity of cyclodextrin chromatography, not all isomers within a steroid series can be resolved. Additional specificity is achieved by reaction detection using postcolumn reactors containing hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases stereospecific for the configuration of the hydroxy functions of steroids. The enzymes catalyze the oxidation of hydroxysteroids and reduction of the coenzyme NAD to NADH. NADH, which is highly fluorescent, is detected at the nanogram levels. Isomers not separated by chromatography were effectively resolved by reaction detection with stereospecific enzymes. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thighplasty in the Weight Loss Patient

Thighplasty after massive weight loss is daunting. The deformity is complex and difficult to treat. The therapeutic index is narrow. A range of only centimeters of medial thigh skin resection width can mean the difference between residual skin laxity and unsightly descended scars. Wound closure is awkward. The scar from vertical extension excisions is exposed. Delayed healing is common. Prolonged edema and thrombophlebitis loom. Disappointed with prevalent lower body and thigh recontouring procedures, I evolved a comprehensive approach, which includes the “L thighplasty.” The “L” relates to the shape of the excision and resulting scar with the long limb along the medial thigh and the short limb between the thigh and labia majora and mons pubis. The planning, technique and selected results are presented.
Older Adults with CKD and Acute Kidney Failure: Do We Know Enough for Critical Shared Decision Making?

Most medical providers argue that they practice patient-centered care: incorporating evidence-based best practices in the context of patient preferences, capacity, and healthcare goals. However, to accomplish true patient-centered care, we must transition from disease-oriented care to patient-
Value of quantitative measurement of signal-averaged electrocardiographic variables in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: correlation with echocardiographic right ventricular cavity dimensions.

Abstract Objectives. We sought to investigate the relation between signal-averaged electrocardiographic (ECG) variables and the extent of right ventricular disease, as estimated by right ventricular enlargement during detailed echocardiography, in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Background. In patients with ventricular tachycardia of right ventricular origin, a normal signal-averaged ECG is indicative of “idiopathic” ventricular tachycardia, whereas an abnormal signal-averaged ECG is a specific marker for right ventricular disease, especially dysplasia. Signal-averaged ECGs in these patients are mildly to grossly abnormal. Methods. Ten patients with the clinical diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia were included. All patients had documented, sustained ventricular tachycardia, no coronary artery disease and a normal QRS duration of ≤110 ms on routine 12-lead electrocardiography. Signal-averaged ECGs were recorded using time-domain analysis. Right ventricular cavity dimensions recorded during two-dimensional echocardiography were measured at the level of the inflow tract, midcavity and outflow tract. Signal-averaged ECG variables and echocardiographic measurements were correlated using linear regression analysis. Results. Nine of 10 patients had abnormal signal-averaged ECGs. There was a consistent correlation between all signal-averaged ECG variables and the right ventricular cavity dimensions at the level of the midcavity. The correlation was most significant with the duration of the filtered QRS complex (p Conclusions. The majority of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia have abnormal signal-averaged ECGs. In the absence of bundle branch block, the extent of abnormality of signal-averaged ECG variables is in proportion to right ventricular cavity enlargement, and thus is indicative of the severity of right ventricular dysfunction.
Predictors of recurrence and survival for head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology and determine the clinicopathologic predictors of recurrence and survival in patients with head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC).Study DesignCase series...
CD5 and other superantigens as ‘ticklers’ of the B-cell receptor

Abstract The exact roles of endogenous and exogenous ligands as stimuli for B-cell survival through ‘tickling' the B-cell receptor are unclear. This article considers the contribution of unconventional interactions with the variable heavy chain by CD5 and other superantigens.
Investigation of cytolysin variants by peptide mapping: enhanced protein characterization using complementary ionization and mass spectrometric techniques

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) have been used in conjunction with time-of-flight (TOF) and quadrupole ion trap (IT) mass spectrometry, respectively, to analyze various cytolysin proteins isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus and digested by the protease trypsin. By employing different ionization methods, the subsequent changes in ionization selectivity for the peptides in the digested protein samples resulted in ion abundance variation reflected in the mass spectra. Upon investigation of this variation generated by the two ionization processes, it has been shown in this study that enhanced protein coverage (e.g., >95% for cytolysin III) can be achieved. Additionally, capillary and microbore reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled with ESI mass spectrometry (MS) as well as flow injection analysis by nanoflow ESI-MS afforded the necessary limit of detection (LOD) for detailed structural information of the cytolysin proteins by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) methods. It can be concluded that cytolysins II and III correspond to sticholysins I and II, that "cytolysin I" is a mixture of modified forms of cytolysins II and III, and that "cytolysin IV" is an incompletely processed precursor of cytolysin III.
Hair dye use, genetic variation in N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) and 2 (NAT2), and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Background: Several previous studies have found non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk to be associated with hair dye use, particularly use of permanent, dark colors and use before 1980, when hair dye formulations changed.Methods: We examined NHL risk in relation to reported hair dye use among 1321 cases and 1057 controls from a US population-based multi-center study. DNA was extracted from blood or buccal cells to identify genetic variation in N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) and 2 (NAT2), which encode enzymes that metabolize aromatic amine compounds found in hair dyes.Results: Among women, 509 cases and 413 controls reported hair dye use [odds ratio (OR) = 1.2; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.9, 1.6]. Risk estimates were higher for use before 1980 than for use in 1980 or later, particularly for use of permanent, intense tone (black, dark brown, dark blonde) products (<1980—OR = 1.6; 95% CI 0.9, 2.7; ≥1980—OR = 0.6; 95% CI 0.4, 1.1). Risk estimates were increased for women who used permanent, intense tone products before 1980 if they had the rapid/intermediate NAT2 phenotype (OR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.3, 8.6) or the NAT1 * 10 allele (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 0.9, 7.6), but not if they were slow NAT2 acetylators (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.6, 3.6) or had no copies of the NAT1 * 10 allele (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.7, 3.3). NHL risk was not increased among women who began hair dye use after 1980 or among men.Conclusion: Our results support previous research demonstrating elevated NHL risk among women who used dark color or intense tone permanent hair dyes before 1980. We present the first evidence suggesting that this risk may differ by genetic variation in NAT1 and NAT2.
SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL IMAGING DATA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Microscopic imaging is one of the most common techniques for investigating biological systems. In recent years there has been a tremendous growth in the volume of biological imaging data owing to rapid advances in optical instrumentation, high-speed cameras and fluorescent probes. Powerful semantic analysis tools are required to exploit the full potential of the information content of these data. Semantic analysis of multi-modality imaging data, however, poses unique challenges. In this paper we outline the state-of-the-art in this area along with the challenges facing this domain. Information extraction from biological imaging data requires modeling at multiple levels of detail. While some applications require only quantitative analysis at the level of cells and subcellular objects, others require modeling of spatial and temporal changes associated with dynamic biological processes. Modeling of biological data at different levels of detail allows not only quantitative analysis but also the extraction of high-level semantics. Development of powerful image interpretation and semantic analysis tools has the potential to significantly help in understanding biological processes, which in turn will result in improvements in drug development and healthcare.
Direct Observation of the Transition from Calcite to Aragonite Growth as Induced by Abalone Shell Proteins

The mixture of EDTA-soluble proteins found in abalone nacre are known to cause the nucleation and growth of aragonite on calcite seed crystals in supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate. Past atomic force microscope studies of the interaction of these proteins with calcite crystals did not observe this transition because no information about the crystal polymorph on the surface was obtained. Here we have used the atomic force microscope to directly observe changes in the atomic lattice on a calcite seed crystal after the introduction of abalone shell proteins. The observed changes are consistent with a transition to (001) aragonite growth on a (1014) calcite surface.
Protective HLA Class I Alleles That Restrict Acute-Phase CD8+ T-Cell Responses Are Associated with Viral Escape Mutations Located in Highly Conserved Regions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

The control of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) associated with particular HLA class I alleles suggests that some CD8 + T-cell responses may be more effective than others at containing HIV-1. Unfortunately, substantial diversities in the breadth, magnitude, and function of these responses have impaired our ability to identify responses most critical to this control. It has been proposed that CD8 responses targeting conserved regions of the virus may be particularly effective, since the development of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) escape mutations in these regions may significantly impair viral replication. To address this hypothesis at the population level, we derived near-full-length viral genomes from 98 chronically infected individuals and identified a total of 76 HLA class I-associated mutations across the genome, reflective of CD8 responses capable of selecting for sequence evolution. The majority of HLA-associated mutations were found in p24 Gag, Pol, and Nef. Reversion of HLA-associated mutations in the absence of the selecting HLA allele was also commonly observed, suggesting an impact of most CTL escape mutations on viral replication. Although no correlations were observed between the number or location of HLA-associated mutations and protective HLA alleles, limiting the analysis to mutations selected by acute-phase immunodominant responses revealed a strong positive correlation between mutations at conserved residues and protective HLA alleles. These data suggest that control of HIV-1 may be associated with acute-phase CD8 responses capable of selecting for viral escape mutations in highly conserved regions of the virus, supporting the inclusion of these regions in the design of an effective vaccine.
Reproducibility in Science: Improving the Standard for Basic and Preclinical Research

Medical and scientific advances are predicated on new knowledge that is robust and reliable and that serves as a solid foundation on which further advances can be built. In biomedical research, we are in the midst of a revolution with the generation of new data and scientific publications at a previously unprecedented rate. However, unfortunately, there is compelling evidence that the majority of these discoveries will not stand the test of time. To a large extent, this reproducibility crisis in basic and preclinical research may be as a result of failure to adhere to good scientific practice and the desperation to publish or perish. This is a multifaceted, multistakeholder problem. No single party is solely responsible, and no single solution will suffice. Here we review the reproducibility problems in basic and preclinical biomedical research, highlight some of the complexities, and discuss potential solutions that may help improve research quality and reproducibility.
The Virtues of "Value Clarity" in Constitutional Decisionmaking

Traditional evaluations of the Supreme Court's constitutional opinions focus on whether it has satisfied norms of legal craftsmanship and observed its properly limited role as dictated by the precarious legitimacy of judicial review in our democracy. An important criterion too often overlooked or underemphasized is the clarity wit which the Court expresses and justifies its preferences for one value over another. By clearly articulating the value preference inherent in its decisions, the Court can perform an important democratic function: enhancing the ability of a focused electorate to understand, debate, and resolve the important issues of the day. Value clarity thus may help to reconcile the practice of judicial review with democratic values.
In the Shadow of Globalization: Changing Firm-Level Employment Practices and Shifting Employment Risks in the United States

Globalization generates to increased competition between firms in the product market, which in induces firms to seek flexibility in their labor relations - flexibility to hire and fire on short notice, to increase or shrink the overall size of their workforce, to adjust pay to short-term performance results, to redeploy workers within the firm and to outside production partners, and to retain workers with particular skills on an as-needed basis. These practices are in tension with the labor law regimes throughout the Western world. In the United States, employers' drive for flexibility has fueled aggressive de-unionization efforts, and has induced employers to increase their use of temporary workers and independent contractors and to restructure pension and benefit plans. A crucial question for employment regulation thus becomes how to protect workers - how to mitigate their vulnerabilities and ameliorate the shifting risks that today's workplace practices impose. The author argues that other countries are experiencing the same tension between flexibility and worker protection, and suggests that we learn from other countries' efforts to devise mechanisms to preserve worker security at the same time relaxing traditional labor protective regimes.
Pension Programs Around the World: New Comparative Global Policy Data

AbstractIncome protection during old age is a universally recognized human right. Are nations fulfilling their responsibility for income support for older adults? Using a new global dataset on social protection conceptualized and built by two of the authors, this paper examines whether countries have legislated for national pension systems, and the characteristics and adequacy of those systems.
Concerns of parents and teachers of children with autism in elementary school

Many consensus guidelines encourage parents and teachers to openly communicate about their concerns regarding their children. These guidelines attest to the importance of achieving consensus about what issues are most critical and how to address them. The purpose of this study was to examine whether parents and teachers (1) agree about their concerns for their children with autism and (2) when given the opportunity, whether they discussed these concerns. Participants were 39 parent-teacher dyads of children with autism in kindergarten-through-fifth grade autism support classrooms. Each parent and teacher was interviewed separately about their concerns and then observed together in a discussion about the child. Parents and teachers generally agreed about their primary and secondary concerns. When given an opportunity to communicate their concerns, 49% of the parent-teacher dyads discussed problems that neither reported as their primary concern, and 31% discussed problems that neither reported as their primary or secondary concern. These findings suggest that interventions should target parent-teacher communication, rather than agreement, to facilitate home-school collaboration.
The incorporation of microfluidics into circulating tumor cell isolation for clinical applications

The second leading cause of death in the United States, cancer is at its most dangerous as it spreads to secondary locations. Cancer cells in the blood stream, or circulating tumor cells (CTCs), present an opportunity to study metastasis provided they may be extracted successfully from blood. Engineers have accelerated the development of technologies that achieve this goal based on exploiting differences between tumor cells and surrounding blood cells such as varying expression patterns of membrane proteins or physical characteristics. Collaboration with biologists and clinicians has allowed additional analysis and will lead to the use of these rare cells to their full potential in the fight against cancer.
Dementia in MS complicated by coexistent Alzheimer disease: Diagnosis premortem and postmortem

Distinguishing dementia due to multiple sclerosis (MS) from that of an accompanying neurodegenerative dementia coexisting with MS has been difficult. The recent introduction of Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers of amyloid-β and neuronal degeneration has improved diagnosis of AD premortem. We describe 3 patients with MS with coexisting AD, 1 diagnosed at autopsy before AD biomarkers were available and 2 diagnosed premortem by decreased CSF amyloid-β1-42/tau index, MRI, and 18F-flourodeoxyglucose-PET patterns. AD biomarkers may be of diagnostic value in selected patients with severe dementia and MS.
Contact Angle Measurement and Its Application To Sol-Gel Processing

Capillary stresses during drying that result from the contact angle of a liquid solvent to a gel, surface tension, and pore size have an immense effect on the dried gel. The extent to which the gel shrinks is a balance between the capillary stress and the solid matrix strength. The dynamic contact angles and surface tensions of various solvents commonly employed in sol-gel processing on silica gels of various surface chemistries have been evaluated. A thin, dense coating of silica gel was formed by dip coating a standard glass slide in an acid catalyzed silica sol and drying. Some of the sample surfaces were organically modified. Dynamic contact angles were determined using a modified Wilhelmy plate technique. Solvent surface tensions were determined using the De Nouy ring technique. The bulk modulus of wet gels were determined with a three point bend experiment. We have found that contrary to previous investigators, who attributed different bulk densities obtained after drying from various alcohols to contact angles variations, gel shrinkage during drying is actually due to slightly different surface tensions and degrees of depolymerization of the gel network.
Are Inductive Generalizations Quantifiable

T seems to be taken for granted by philosophers and logicians that in ordinary life, commerce, and science inductive generalizations are expressed in quantified propositions of the form: All S is P, or that if they are not, then it makes no difference or indeed even clarifies their sense to so express them.1 It is my intention in the present paper to attack the general view. Specifically, I intend to show, (1) that in the ordinary business of life and science inductive generalizations possess a grammar which precludes their being quantified, and (2) that it is not indifferent whether inductive generalizations retain their actual forms and grammar or are given the quantified forms and grammar proposed by logicians, but, on the contrary, the most unpalatable consequences result from accepting the logicians' propositions, consequences that otherwise do not exist. Finally, (3) I shall discuss briefly the well-known thesis of Popper's that inductive generalizations must be rejected from any consistent and workable account of the methods of science.2 I shall argue that Popper's position is untenable, although agreeing with him that universal inductive generalizations are a logical impossibility.
Results of in vitro fertilization attempts in patients with one or two ovaries

The purpose of this communication is to evaluate the results of in vitro fertilization attempts in women with infertility due to a tubal factor, with one or two ovaries. Four hundred fifteen patients (788cycles) with two ovaries and 86 patients (162cycles) with one ovary were stimulated with gonadotropins starting on day 3 of the cycle for multiple follicular development. Although the mean number of preovulatory oocytes per laparoscopy and per transfer was significantly higher (2.33 versus 1.67 and 2.28 versus 1.99, respectively) in patients with two ovaries than in those with one ovary, the pregnancy rates per transfer were almost identical in the two groups (24.4% with two ovaries, 23.9% with one ovary). Results are presented according to different stimulation protocols and different age groups. It is concluded that although fewer fertilizable oocytes may be recruited from patients with one ovary, the potential for achieving a pregnancy is no different from that of patients with two ovaries.
Fast axonal transport in isolated axoplasm from the squid giant axon.

Abstract The giant axon of the squid provides a unique cell biological model for analyzing the biochemistry and cell biology of the axon. These axons may exceed 500 μm in diameter and can be readily dissected. Once the surrounding small axons and connective tissue are removed, the axoplasm can be extruded as an intact cylinder of isolated cytoplasm. This isolated axoplasm is morphologically indistinguishable from the intact axon, but without permeability barriers. Fast axonal transport will continue for more than 4 h after extrusion and can be visualized in real time. By perfusing defined concentrations of proteins and/or reagents into the axoplasm, this preparation represents a powerful model for study of intracellular trafficking and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
Anatomic considerations in carcinoma of the prostate.

SUMMARY With new techniques for imaging the prostate—transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography scanning—careful correlation with pathologic specimens is crucial to establishing the accuracy of interpretation of the image. Serial sections of whole-mount specimens of the prostate removal at radical prostatectomy or autopsy are the gold standard by which any other method of pathologic correlation should be measured. More limited techniques of pathologic correlations, such as biopsy specimens, resulted in some confusion in the literature, particularly in reference to transrectal ultrasound. New techniques of immunohistochemistry, image analysis, flow cytometry, and molecular biology will undoubtedly augment our understanding of the origin, pathogenesis, and prognosis of prostate cancer.
An observational study of precepting encounters in a family practice residency program.

Background and objectives Family practice residents spend substantial time in their family health centers. Little is known about the area of focus of discussions between preceptors and residents. In this study, we describe the percentages of time that preceptors spent in various focus areas in one family practice residency program. Methods We conducted a direct observational study of four purposefully selected half-day sessions, one at each of four continuity sites, which included 80 precepted encounters and 451 minutes. Percentages of precepting time were calculated by overall, by common or uncommon diagnoses, by postgraduate level, and by clinical or academic faculty. Results Preceptors discussed diagnosis or management 90% of the time; use of consultants and tests 6%; pathophysiology, pharmacology, other basic science 2%; and psychosocial factors 2%. There were no significant differences between percentage of time spent in each of the focus areas when comparing clinical to academic faculty or postgraduate year (PGY)-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3. Precepting about common problems had a higher percentage of time devoted to psychosocial issues than did precepting about uncommon problems (3.8% versus .4%). Conclusions Preceptors focused on diagnosis and management in this family practice residency program. Further study is needed to determine if this unbalanced focus is a problem or is present in other programs.
Keeping it simple.

Baxter Healthcare's CEO shares his philosophy and experiences of effective board and executive leadership. Fundamental to success are honest communication and respect between the board and CEO, as well as adherence to ethical values.
The impact of relationship-oriented behaviors on firm financial performance in the restaurant industry

This study investigated how relationship-oriented behaviors of suppliers and customers affected financial performance of firms through three relationship performance outcome variables: (1) supplier relationship performance, (2) product and service quality performance, and (3) customer relationship performance. A mailed survey was used to collect data nationwide from 1,000 randomly selected restaurant owners and presidents in the United States. Results showed that relationship-oriented behaviors (i.e., supplier and customer relationship-oriented behaviors) positively and significantly affected relationship performance outcomes and in turn financial performance. Results supported the usefulness of the framework that synthesizes concepts of both business-to-business and business-tocustomer relationship marketing/management. Findings suggest that building relationships with suppliers and customers plays an important role in providing value to restaurant firms and stakeholders such as suppliers and customers, leading to high financial performance of the firms. Furthermore, customer-related issues such as customer needs, customer complaints, and employees' interpersonal skills received the highest mean scores, implying that customer care should be the top priority in employee training.
Diuretic Evaluation of Chlorazinal

The average weight loss after 48 hours in 14 ambulatory cardiac patients receiving chlorazinal was 1.6 lb., comparing favorably with the response to other oral diuretics. Determinations of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and urinalyses in 29 patients receiving the drug indicated that it tends to increase blood urea and to increase cellular content and casts in the urine in certain patients; an exception was a patient with acute glomerulonephritis in whom the blood urea decreased.
Amyloid precursor protein modulates macrophage phenotype and diet-dependent weight gain

It is well known that mutations in the gene coding for amyloid precursor protein are responsible for autosomal dominant forms of Alzheimer’s disease. Proteolytic processing of the protein leads to a number of metabolites including the amyloid beta peptide. Although brain amyloid precursor protein expression and amyloid beta production are associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, it is clear that amyloid precursor protein is expressed in numerous cell types and tissues. Here we demonstrate that amyloid precursor protein is involved in regulating the phenotype of both adipocytes and peripheral macrophages and is required for high fat diet-dependent weight gain in mice. These data suggest that functions of this protein include modulation of the peripheral immune system and lipid metabolism. This biology may have relevance not only to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease but also diet-associated obesity.
Attachment and Negative Relational Maintenance: Dyadic Comparisons Using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

This study used attachment theory to examine romantic partners’ use of negative behaviors to maintain their relationships. Romantic couples (N = 227 dyads) completed self-reports of their attachment styles and use of negative relational maintenance behaviors. Actor-partner interdependence models provided dyadic results: (a) having a secure attachment produced inverse actor effects for all negative maintenance behaviors except avoidance, and inverse partner effects for allowing control and infidelity; (b) having a preoccupied or a fearful attachment produced positive actor effects for all negative maintenance behaviors and positive partner effects for allowing control; and (c) having a dismissive attachment produced positive actor effects for jealousy induction, avoidance, infidelity, and destructive conflict, and positive partner effects for jealousy induction, spying, and allowing control.
Aid, Trade and Development: 50 Years of Globalization

Developing countries have made tremendous progress in reducing poverty over the last 50 years. More open societies and more open economies have contributed to this progress as has international cooperation in support of development. This volume traces the evolution of thinking and practice of developed and developing country policies on trade and foreign aid which have shaped the external environment within which development has taken place this past half-century. The concluding section provides some answers to the challenges presented by anti-globalization forces in the developed world that question the principles on which international cooperation has been based and threaten to undermine future progress.
Online Partial Throughput Maximization for Multidimensional Coflow

Coflow has recently been introduced to capture communication patterns that are widely observed in the cloud and massively parallel computing. Coflow consists of a number of flows that each represents data communication from one machine to another. A coflow is completed when all of its flows are completed. Due to its elegant abstraction of the complicated communication processes found in various parallel computing platforms, it has received significant attention. In this paper, we consider coflow for the objective of maximizing partial throughput. This objective seeks to measure the progress made for partially completed coflows before their deadline. Partially processed coflows still could be useful when their flows send out useful data that can be used for the next round computation. In our measure, a coflow is processed by a certain fraction when all of its flows are processed by the same fraction or more. We consider a natural class of greedy algorithms, which we call myopic concurrent. The algorithms seek to maximize the marginal increase of the partial throughput objective at each time. We analyze the performance of our algorithm against the optimal scheduler. In fact, our result is more general as a flow could be extended to demand various heterogeneous resources. Our experiment demonstrates our algorithm's superior performance.
FOXF1 Inhibits Pulmonary Fibrosis by Preventing CDH2-CDH11 Cadherin Switch in Myofibroblasts

Summary Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by aberrant accumulation of collagen-secreting myofibroblasts. Development of effective therapies is limited due to incomplete understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating myofibroblast expansion. FOXF1 transcription factor is expressed in resident lung fibroblasts, but its role in lung fibrosis remains unknown due to the lack of genetic mouse models. Through comprehensive analysis of human IPF genomics data, lung biopsies, and transgenic mice with fibroblast-specific inactivation of FOXF1, we show that FOXF1 inhibits pulmonary fibrosis. FOXF1 deletion increases myofibroblast invasion and collagen secretion and promotes a switch from N-cadherin (CDH2) to Cadherin-11 (CDH11), which is a critical step in the acquisition of the pro-fibrotic phenotype. FOXF1 directly binds to Cdh2 and Cdh11 promoters and differentially regulates transcription of these genes. Re-expression of CDH2 or inhibition of CDH11 in FOXF1-deficient cells reduces myofibroblast invasion in vitro. FOXF1 inhibits pulmonary fibrosis by regulating a switch from CDH2 to CDH11 in lung myofibroblasts.
Magneto-optical switches

Abstract: This chapter introduces the reader to magneto-optical switching for optical communication and in particular for fiber optics applications. The chapter first reviews the main concepts and families of magneto-optical switches. It then further details current work on magneto-optical switching, including newly developed formulations for characterizing magneto-optical effects that will hopefully provide a useful and practicable device-level foundation for the reader.
Travelling Salesman Games and Routing Games

Four universities, one in Ohio, one in Pennsylvania, one in Quebec, and one in Rhode Island are considering to invite a speaker from Paris, France, to give lectures at each of the universities. They are studying how to make the costs of travel as low as possible. It is clear to all of them that it does not make sense for each one of them to pay a two way ticket from Paris and back. Once the speaker is in North America they should let him visit each university and then travel back. They want to find an order for him to visit the universities that minimizes the total travel costs. The costs for a one way ticket between Paris and the universities in either direction are: for Ohio, $350, for Pennsylvania, $300, for Quebec, $200, and for Rhode Island, $250. The costs for a one way ticket between the universities in either directions are: Ohio-Pennsylvania, $100, Ohio-Quebec, $150, Ohio-Rhode Island, $150, Pennsylvania-Quebec, $150, Pennsylvania-Rhode Island, $100, and Quebec-Rhode Island, $100. These costs are summarized in table 5.1. After some analysis the universities realize that they will minimize the travel costs if the let the speaker travel form Paris to Pennsylvania, to Ohio, to Rhode Island, to Quebec, and then back to Paris. With this tour the total travel costs are $850. Now they still need a way to divide these costs among them. Simply assigning the cost pertaining to each leg of the tour to the university at which that leg ends will not work, because the speaker will have to return to Paris and the universities will have to cover those costs too.
Failure and failure characterization of QFP package interconnect structure under random vibration condition

Abstract Electronics installed in modern complex systems, like automotive and aircraft systems, are mainly subjected to mechanical vibrations in applications. The interconnection structure, as the mechanical fixing and electrical interconnection between the electrical device and the printed circuit board, is a key part in electronics. Presently, there are few researching articles on reliability of QFP interconnect structure under random vibration. In this paper, eight specimens of QFP100 with the self-testing real-time circuit have been tested to failure by subjecting to a narrow-band random vibration at its first natural frequency. The charging time of external capacitor in the self-test circuit has been extracted as the monitoring signal. Failure modes of interconnect structure have been analyzed in statistics. Then, the relationship between the monitoring signal and interconnect failure has been investigated. Finally, failure data, conforms to a two-parameter Weibull distribution, has been used to establish the life distribution of interconnect structure. Results show that there are four failure modes and three failure places in interconnect structure under random vibration, which is consistent with simulation results by FEM, and the charging time can characterize the failure and failure process of interconnect structure well.
Multistage Optimal PMU Placement Considering Substation Infrastructure

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) significantly benefit the operation and control of power systems. They offer precise phasor measurements with a high refresh rate. These measurements are utilized for wide-area measurement system to improve situational awareness and enhance the control infrastructure. In spite of these advantages, the industry has been reluctant to adopt PMU technology, largely due to the high cost of PMUs and the communication infrastructure. However, judicious selection of PMU locations through optimal placement of PMUs (OPP) enables the minimization of installation cost. There have been several approaches to solve the OPP problem most of which assume that the minimum number of PMUs achieves the minimum cost or consider the cost of PMUs without considering the communication infrastructure. This paper presents an OPP approach that considers both the communication infrastructure and the installation cost of PMUs. The proposed approach uses multistage installation where each stage is dependent on the cost set by the utility instead of the number of PMUs. Higher priority buses can be chosen under the proposed approach. An opposition-based elitist binary genetic algorithm is used to solve the OPP problem. The proposed approach is tested on the IEEE reliability test system, and on the IEEE 14-bus, 30-bus, and 118-bus test systems.
Updated temperature dependent Sellmeier equations for ZnGeP2 crystals (Conference Presentation)

ZnGeP2 is one of the most useful nonlinear optical crystals for generation of high power and high energy infrared radiation in the 2 to 8 m spectral range because of its high nonlinear coefficient along with high thermal conductivity. Growth technology has advanced over the years and samples with improved optical quality arising from fewer defects, impurities and free carrier concentration are now available. But there have not been many direct measurements of the refractive indices of ZnGeP2, especially recently. One of the first papers describing nonlinear optical frequency conversion in ZnGeP2 also provided the values of temperature dependent refractive indices [1]. The temperature dependent birefringence in ZnGeP2 was measured by Fischer et al [2] and the room temperature indices were measured by Zelmon [3] with samples available in the 1990s and early 2000s. Temperature dependent Sellmeier coefficients were obtained by Ghosh [4] based on the data from 1971 – but there have been no new temperature dependent measurements since the work by Fischer in 1997 on the birefringence. We have measured the ordinary and extraordinary indices of ZnGeP2 for the wavelength range of 0.9 to 12 m, over a temperature range of 90 K to 475 using high resolution FTIR spectra of a recently grown sample (ZGP 391Q) of thickness 150 m with the c-axis lying on the sample face. The spectra were taken with light polarized along and perpendicular to the c-axis. The temperature dependent Sellmeier coefficients are obtained, expressed in the form given by Kato [5]. The values of the coefficients at 296 K vary a little from those in [5]. The index values obtained from the current Sellmeier equations were used to determine the dependence of the signal and idler wavelengths as a function of the crystal cut angle (theta) for various values of pump wavelengths, for birefringent phase matching of Types I and II. The results obtained show good match with experimental values. REFERENCES 1. G. D. Boyd, E. Buehler, and F. G. Storz, “Linear and nonlinear optical properties of ZnGeP2 and CdSe,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 18, 301–304, 1971. 2. D. W. Fischer, M. C. Ohmer, P. G. Schunemann, and T. M. Pollak, “Direct measurement of ZnGeP2 birefringence from 0.66 to 12.2 m using polarized light interference,” J. Appl. Phys. 77, 5942–5945, 1995, D. W. Fischer and M. C. Ohmer, “Temperature dependence of ZnGeP2 birefringence using polarized light interference,” J. Appl. Phys. 81, 425–431, 1997. 3. D. E. Zelmon, E.A. Hanning and P.G. Schunemann, “Refractive-index measurements and Sellmeier coefficients for zinc germanium phosphide from 2 to 9 m with implications for phase matching in optical frequency-conversion devices”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, 1307-1310, 18(9), 2001. 4. G. Ghosh, “Sellmeier coefficients for the birefringence and refractive indices of ZnGeP2 nonlinear crystal at different temperatures”, Appl. Opt., 37(7), 1205-1212, 1998. 5. K. Kato, ‘‘Second harmonic and sum frequency generation in ZnGeP2,’’ Appl. Opt. 36, 2506–2530, 1997.
Enlightening Terpene Synthesis

Terpenes have captured the attention of chemists for well over a century. In this issue of Chem, Lei and co-workers explore a far less understood aspect of terpene biosynthesis, namely photochemistry, and find that it can accomplish formal structural interconversions evocative of nature’s carbocation chemistry.
The Application of a Gamma-Ray Cascade Model to the Calculation of Neutron Energy-Dependent Capture Gamma-Ray Production Cross Sections

A simplified cascade model for the calculation of neutron-capture gamma-ray spectra is compared with experiment. In the context of the model, the simplifying assumptions involve extrapolations of m...
Understanding alopecia areata characteristics in children under the age of 4 years

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Epidemiologic studies of children with alopecia areata (AA) are sparse, and there are no studies that focus on the youngest children with AA. Evaluation of the clinical presentations of AA in children <4 years of age was performed in order to identify the prognostic factors for disease progression. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of 125 pediatric patients seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with an initial presentation of AA under the age of 4. Disease severity was measured using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score at initial presentation, 3-6 months later, 1 year later, and then at 2 years. RESULTS Initial presentation was most common between ages 2 and 4 years. Most children had mild disease severity and continued mild disease over the next 2 years. Children with more than 50% of hair loss at presentation were much more likely to have worsening SALT scores over time and remain more severe. Approximately 41% had concomitant atopic dermatitis, 28% had a family member with AA, and 27% had a first-degree family member with one or more autoimmune diseases. CONCLUSIONS In a diverse patient population, most children with AA even when presenting under age 4 have mild disease (<50% hair loss on scalp). Those who present with more severe disease are more likely to worsen or remain severe over time. These findings can aid family counseling and education.
Essentials on Troubleshooting During Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Despite the best attempts to perform perfect laparoscopic surgery, there are a myriad of factors that can interfere with the intended procedure. These can include issues with port placement, equipment, patient physiology, exposure, and inadvertent injury. In this chapter, we explore a number of potential complications that will arise when performing laparoscopic surgery as well as strategies to troubleshoot these issues.
A key indicator of nicotine dependence is associated with greater depression symptoms, after accounting for smoking behavior

Introduction Depression is a global burden that is exacerbated by smoking. The association between depression and chronic smoking is well-known; however, existing findings contain possible confounding between nicotine dependence (ND), a latent construct measuring addiction, and objective smoking behavior. The current study examines the possible unique role of ND in explaining depression, independently of smoking behavior. Methods A nationally-representative sample of current adult daily smokers was drawn by pooling three independent, cross-sectional, biennial waves (spanning 2011–16) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The association between ND (operationally defined as time to first cigarette (TTFC) after waking) and the amount of depression symptoms was examined after adjusting for both current and lifetime smoking behaviors (cigarettes per day and years of smoking duration) and sociodemographic factors (gender, age, race, education and income to poverty ratio). Results Earlier TTFC was associated with more depression symptoms, such that those smoking within 5 minutes of waking had an approximately 1.6-fold higher depression score (PRR = 1.576, 95% CI = 1.324–1.687) relative to those who smoke more than 1 hour after waking. This relationship remained significant after adjusting for current and lifetime smoking behavior as well as sociodemographic factors (PRR = 1.370, 95% CI = 1.113, 1.687). Conclusions The latent construct of ND, as assessed by TTFC, may be associated with an additional risk for depression symptoms, beyond that conveyed by smoking behavior alone. This finding can be used for more refined risk prediction for depression among smokers.
Safety and tolerability of edivoxetine as adjunctive treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants for patients with major depressive disorder.

Contributions: JMM, MBF, BAP, TMO, MB, and CG made substantial contributions to the conception of the work and interpretation of the data and reviewed it for critically important intellectual content. JS, MAD, QZ, and PL made substantial contributions to the conception of the work, acquisition of the data, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and reviewed it for critically important intellectual content. JA drafted the work, revised it for critically important intellectual content, and made contributions to interpretation of the data. All authors approved the final version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Potential conflicts of interest: The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ (ICMJE) Potential Conflicts of Interests forms for the authors are available for download at: http://www.drugsincontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/dic.212279-COI.pdf. All authors are employees and stockholders in Eli Lilly and Company. Funding declaration: This study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Trial registration numbers: NCT00840034, NCT01185340, NCT01187407, NCT01173601 Peer review comments to author: 23 February 2015; Drugs in Context is published by Just Medical Media Ltd. Registered office: Undermount, Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9LT, UK Just Medical Media Limited is registered in England Number 6891187. VAT GB 945 1713 22 For all manuscript and submissions enquiries, contact Julia Savory, Head of Digital Publishing and Submissions Management moc.aidemlacidemtsuj@ailuj For all permissions, rights, and reprints, contact Stephen I’Anson, Commercial Director moc.aidemlacidemtsuj@evets