cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P4-11-21: A Retrospective Analysis of Women at Increased Lifetime Risk for Breast Cancer: Referral Patterns to Subspecialty Providers, Recommendations and Outcomes.

Background: Inheritance of an abnormal BRCA 1/2 gene, a family history of breast cancer (BrCa), or a personal history of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical hyperplasia, or chest wall radiation can significantly increase an individual9s lifetime risk for developing BrCa. In 2007, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released updated guidelines for screening in women with a lifetime risk of BrCa ≥20-25%. These guidelines added MRI screening to annual mammography. The objective of our analysis is to characterize patients referred after the release of the 2007 ACS guidelines to subspecialty providers specifically for evaluation of BrCa risk and analyze subsequent screening and risk reduction recommendations in the cohort of patients (pts) with a predicted increased lifetime risk for BrCa. Methods: Pts seen at a single center (University of Wisconsin [UW]) between 1/2007-3/2011 by medical, surgical and/or gynecology-oncology for an increased lifetime risk of BrCa were identified by billing codes or evaluation in the UW Breast Cancer Prevention, Assessment and Tailored Health Screening (PATHS) Clinic. Pts with a personal history of BrCa prior to 1/2007 are excluded. Patients with a known genetic predisposition to BrCa, family history of breast cancer, or a personal history of LCIS, atypical hyperplasia or chest wall radiation are included in this analysis. All charts will be evaluated for documentation of the individual9s lifetime risk of BrCa and method used for risk-assessment, recommended and performed screening tests, concordance with ACS screening guidelines, patient adherence to initial and subsequent screening recommendations, and uptake of risk reduction strategies. Call-back rates for additional or follow-up imaging and/or biopsy following BrCa screening and characteristics of all new BrCa diagnoses will be collected. Results: 240 eligible pts were seen during the study period. 15% of pts referred had a known genetic predisposition to BrCa. Most pts (75%) were referred for a family history of BrCa. The majority of these pts had a predicted lifetime risk of BrCa in excess of 20%, with less than 10% of patients being referred having a lifetime risk Conclusion: Pts with a predicted increased lifetime risk for BrCa are often evaluated by oncology subspecialty providers. The primary factor related to referral is family history of BrCa. The majority of patients referred to a subspecialty provider have a calculated lifetime risk for BrCa in excess of 20%. This study evaluates provider assessment of BrCa risk and subsequent recommendations for screening and discussion of risk reduction strategies. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-11-21.
Characterization of Group III-Nitride Based Surface Acoustic Wave Devices for High Temperature Applications

In this study, aluminum nitride (AlN) and gallium nitride (GaN) thin films have been grown via metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on silicon and sapphire substrates. Samples were annealed at temperatures ranging from 450 to 1000 °C in atmosphere. AlN and GaN thin film quality has been characterized before and after annealing using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with titanium/platinum interdigital transducers (IDTs) designed to operate at the characteristic frequency and fifth harmonic have been realized using traditional optical photolithographic processes. SAW devices on GaN were thermally cycled from 450 to 850 °C. The S21 scattering parameter of SAW devices was measured before and after thermal cycling by a vector network analyzer (VNA). An approach for the suppression of electromagnetic feedthrough (EF) to improve device performance is discussed. Feasibility of 5th harmonic excitation for GHz operation without sub-micron fabrication is also investigated. SAW devices have also been fabricated on the more traditional SAW substrate, lithium niobate (LiNbO3), and device response was compared with those on AlN and GaN at room temperature.
Injection Drug Use and Unprotected Sex among Institutionalized Drug Users in China

The current study was designed to examine injection drug use practices (injecting drugs and needle sharing) and unprotected sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners, failure to use a condom) among drug users in China. Data were obtained from 833 institutionalized drug users in southwest China. More than two-thirds of the sample reported frequent intravenous or intramuscular drug-injection. Among injection drug users (IDUs), 78% shared needles. Compared to non-IDUs, IDUs who also shared needles had significantly higher rates of having multiple sexual partners (73% versus 54%, p<.001) and of never having used a condom (71% versus 56%, p<.01). The data in this study suggest that IDUs comprise a high-risk population for HIV infection in China and underscore the urgency for preventing injection drug use and unprotected sexual practices among drug users in China.
Coexistence in Close Relatives: Beyond Competition and Reproductive Isolation in Sister Taxa

Understanding coexistence of closely related species lies at the nexus of disentangling how historical and ecological factors govern patterns of biodiversity. The criteria determining local coexistence in close relatives have typically been, for ecologists, whether these species meet conditions of stable coexistence when competing for resources; in contrast, evolutionists often consider coexistence of close relatives from the perspective of complete reproductive isolation. Clearly, both of these conditions must be met, but for coexistence in ecologically and phenotypically similar close relatives to occur, species must overcome a diverse suite of challenges beyond just these. The goal of this review is to present a more holistic, eco-evolutionary view of the factors governing successful coexistence of close relatives, expanding our consideration to recent clade mates, not just sister taxa, and drawing on new technologies and approaches to explore more deeply this classic conundrum. We review the major con...
Analysis on results of epidemic situation of influenza virus infection in Dongguan

Objective:To understand the epidemic situation of influenza virus infection in Dongguan city.Methods:To collect the swabs of doubtful cases from out-patient department for virus isolation,to inoculate the specimens into MDCK cells and incubate it at 33.5℃ in CO2 incubator.The positive specimens by hemagglutination test were identified by hemagglutination inhibition test.Results:In 2004,42 strains were isolated from 412 specimens,the total positive isolation rate was 10.19%,including 24 strains type H3N2,18 strains type B.in 2005,19 strains were isolated from 521 specimens,the total positive isolation rate was 3.65%,including 10 strains type H3N2,5 strains type H1N1,4 strains type B.in 2006,105 strains were isolated from 945 specimens,the total positive isolation rate was 11.11%,including 37 strains type H1N1,68 strains type B.in 2007,17 strains were isolated from 914 specimens,the total positive isolation rate was 1.86%,including 15 strains type H3N2,2 strains type B.in 2008,22 strains were isolated from 1157 specimens,the total positive isolation rate was 2.07%,including 1 strains type H3N2,11 strains type H1N1,12 strains type B.there were significant differences among the there years in the influenza virus isolation rate.Conclusion:The virus isolation rate of 2006 is the highest.in 2004 and 2007 there are only type H3N2 and B,in 2005 and 2008 there are type H1N1、H3N2 and B,in 2008 there is only 1 strains type H3N2.in 2006 there are only type H1N1 and B.The prevailing strains of influenza virus were both type H3N2 in 2004,2005 and 2007,in 2006 and 2008 were type B.
Application of computation and measure system based on automatic technology for ocean petroleum well

The wireless real time computation and measure system based on TC35 module of GSM network for ocean petroleum well is introduced in the paper.A new means of field computation and measure for petroleum is provided by disserting the structure of hardware and software.
Spread Spectrum EMC: Measurements and Analysis

Measurements have been made of a spread spectrum transmitter as an interference source to conventional receivers. The measurements provide data to permit some validation of models for EMC analysis. This paper discusses one set of results.
Magnetic and Gravity Gradiometry Framework for Mesoproterozoic Iron Oxide-Apatite and Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold Deposits, Southeast Missouri

High-resolution airborne magnetic and gravity gradiometry data provide the geophysical framework for evaluating the exploration potential of hidden iron oxide deposits in Mesoproterozoic basement rocks of southeast Missouri. The data are used to calculate mineral prospectivity for iron oxide-apatite (IOA) ± rare earth element (REE) and iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits. Results delineate the geophysical footprints of all known iron oxide deposits and reveal several previously unrecognized prospective areas. The airborne data are also inverted to three-dimensional density and magnetic susceptibility models over four concealed deposits at Pea Ridge (IOA ± REE), Boss (IOCG), Kratz Spring (IOA), and Bourbon (IOCG). The Pea Ridge susceptibility model shows a magnetic source that is vertically extensive and traceable to a depth of greater than 2 km. A smaller density source, located within the shallow Precambrian basement, is partly coincident with the magnetic source at Pea Ridge. In contrast, the Boss models show a large (625-m-wide), vertically extensive, and coincident dense and magnetic stock with shallower adjacent lobes that extend more than 2,600 m across the shallow Precambrian paleosurface. The Kratz Spring deposit appears to be a smaller volume of iron oxides and is characterized by lower density and less magnetic rock compared to the other iron deposits. A prospective area identified south of the Kratz Spring deposit shows the largest volume of coincident dense and nonmagnetic rock in the subsurface, and is interpreted as prospective for a hematite-dominant lithology that extends from the top of the Precambrian to depths exceeding 2 km. The Bourbon deposit displays a large bowl-shaped volume of coincident high density and high-magnetic susceptibility rock, and a geometry that suggests the iron mineralization is vertically restricted to the upper parts of the Precambrian basement. In order to underpin the evaluation of the prospectivity and three-dimensional models, an extensive statistical summary of density and apparent magnetic susceptibility measurements is presented that includes data on several hundred samples taken from the deposits, altered wall rocks, and unaltered country rocks.
Advanced Computational Tools for Optimization and Uncertainty Quantification of Carbon Capture Processes

Advanced multi-scale modeling and simulation has the potential to dramatically reduce development time, resulting in considerable cost savings. The Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI) is a partnership among national laboratories, industry and universities that is developing, demonstrating, and deploying a suite of multi-scale modeling and simulation tools. One significant computational tool is FOQUS, a Framework for Optimization and Quantification of Uncertainty and Sensitivity, which enables basic data submodels, including thermodynamics and kinetics, to be used within detailed process models to rapidly synthesize and optimize a process and determine the level of uncertainty associated with the resulting process. The overall approach of CCSI is described with a more detailed discussion of FOQUS and its application to carbon capture systems.
IL-27p28 Production by XCR1+ Dendritic Cells and Monocytes Effectively Predicts Adjuvant-Elicited CD8+ T Cell Responses.

It is well accepted that the innate response is a necessary prerequisite to the formation of the adaptive response. This is true for T cell responses against infections or adjuvanted subunit vaccination. However, specific innate parameters with predictive value for the magnitude of an adjuvant-elicited T cell response have yet to be identified. We previously reported how T cell responses induced by subunit vaccination were dependent on the cytokine IL-27. These findings were unexpected, given that T cell responses to an infection typically increase in the absence of IL-27. Using a novel IL-27p28–eGFP reporter mouse, we now show that the degree to which an adjuvant induces IL-27p28 production from dendritic cells and monocytes directly predicts the magnitude of the T cell response elicited. To our knowledge, these data are the first to identify a concrete innate correlate of vaccine-elicited cellular immunity, and they have significant practical and mechanistic implications for subunit vaccine biology.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Porosity in Composites

The determination of levels of porosity is important in the engineering uses of graphite fiber/polymer matrix composites, since the interlaminar shear strength can be greatly reduced by excessive porosity [1]. Research in making nondestructive evaluations using ultrasonics as the probing energy has taken many directions. Hsu [2] has successfully modeled the frequency dependent attenuation to predict porosity levels in composites. Kline [3] has extended the work of Hashsin and Rosen [4] to determine the porosity and fiber volume fraction of composites by solving for the elastic coefficients of the composite structure. The propagation of leaky Lamb waves [5] has also been used to model porosity levels.
Mechanisms of pentachlorophenol induced charge transport in lipid membranes

An abstract of the dissertation of William Charles Brown for the Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences and Resources: Physics presented May 22, 1996 Title: Mechanisms of Pentachlorophenol Induced Charge Transport in Lipid Membranes Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is one of the prominent environmental pollutant that has penetrated into food chain and is present in humans. Health concerns have been raised since daily intake of PCP by the US population is estimated to be 16-19 p.g. PCP facilitates dissipation of electrochemical potential gradients of hydrogen ions across energy transducing membranes, which are the energy sources for the conversion of adenosine diphosphate into adenosine triphosphate. Closely linked to these dissipative effects is the development of electrical conductivity in lipid membranes, induced by the presence of PCP. Three modes of PCP induced membrane electrical conductivity were theoretically analyzed and experimentally verifiable formulations of each models were developed. Experimental studies using the charge pulse method involved characterization of the time dependent transmembrane voltage over a wide pH range, from 1.8 to 9.5, for 30 p.M concentrations of PCP. Lipid membranes were prepared from dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine. It was shown that three PCP molecular species were determining the transmembrane transfer of hydrogen ions: electrically neutral PCP molecules (HA), negatively charged pentachlorophenolate ions (A") and negatively charged heterodimers (AHA). It was found that at pH> 9 the membrane electrical conductivity was determined by the transmembrane movement of A ions, whenever pH > 5.5. The maximum surface density of AHA" heterodimers was 0.09 pmol/cm• The rate constant of formation of AHA' by recombination, HA + A" .... AHA' was estimated to be kf =2.6xl0 9 cm mol'l S·I and the dissociation rate constant for AHA Further, it was possible to determine the rate constants of transmembrane translocation for A' and AHA" ions to be ka=6.6xlO·5 S·l and kw=1200 S,I, respectively.
Transport Layer Protocols in Ad Hoc Networks

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is by far the most dominant transport protocol in the Internet and is the protocol of choice for most network applications. The focus of this chapter is to present approaches for ad-hoc networks that provide the same end-to-end semantics as TCP. In this regard, we first investigate the different problems experienced by TCP in ad-hoc networks, and provide insights into how the different design components of TCP relate to the characteristics of such networks. We then identify three major classes of approaches to improve the transport layer performance in ad-hoc networks. We present a protocol instance for each of the three approaches in detail and highlight the specific problems it addresses. We also discuss the trade-offs stemming from the adoption of each of the protocols considered.
Kabbalah Map of Motolinía’s Angelopolis

Folio 86v of the Voynich Codex, a large foldout sheet equivalent to six ordinary pages, contains an interconnected series of 11 circles (rosettes) and two images of the sun. When the sun is oriented in an east to west direction the pattern is identical to the Tree of Life of the kabbalah, an ancient Jewish mystical discipline codified in Spain in the thirteenth century and later incorporated into and harmonized with Christian theosophy. The image may also be considered a map representing a cluster of cities (Huejotzingo, Tlaxcala, Tecamachalco-Tepeaca, and Vera Cruz-Cempoala) surrounding the city of Puebla de los Angeles (the New Jerusalem) established by the Franciscan friars, including Toribio de Benavente, who assumed the Nahuatl name Motolinia (“poor one”). Three volcanoes of central Mexico (Popocatepetl, La Malinche, and Pico de Orizaba) are incorporated in circles for three of the cities. The label in the circle that represents Huejotzingo has been translated as “capital of the willows,” and the label associated with Vera Cruz has been translated as “water seller,” which is close to the nickname of that city. The diagram is evidence that the artist was aware of kabbalah mysticism and Puebla de los Angeles.
The Future in the Past of Native and Indigenous Studies.

It’s nice to be back in California, and I want to thank everyone who has put together the program today.1 Thanks for inviting me, and thanks for doing the work that you do here at UCLA. It’s nice to be back in Westwood; as a Pepperdine undergraduate I spent a lot of time here. Going back to some of the issues that we talked about in regard to the beginnings of the field, I want to suggest that we look more precisely at what we mean when we talk about those beginnings. I’m not a big fan of Native people emerging vaguely from the mists of time, but I am always tracing a history of Native studies that goes back further than programs and campuses. This is not, as I say, in the mists of time but rather specific figures and specific kinds of practices within indigenous traditions. In much of my work I have focused on the written tradition that Native people have engaged in over the last couple hundred years in North America. Where do those figures like Sampson Occam and William Apess and others belong in our discussion of the beginnings of the field? We can look at their intellectual examples and what they managed to do absent programs, absent campuses, and in that context how they were able to confront the intellectual problems that they faced as writers. This isn’t to discount the other types of intellectual practices that go on within Native traditions. For me, though, writers are particularly compelling as
Densely Connected Stacked U-network for Filament Segmentation in Microscopy Images

Segmenting filamentous structures in confocal microscopy images is important for analyzing and quantifying related biological processes. However, thin structures, especially in noisy imagery, are difficult to accurately segment. In this paper, we introduce a novel deep network architecture for filament segmentation in confocal microscopy images that improves upon the state-of-the-art U-net and SOAX methods. We also propose a strategy for data annotation, and create datasets for microtubule and actin filaments. Our experiments show that our proposed network outperforms state-of-the-art approaches and that our segmentation results are not only better in terms of accuracy, but also more suitable for biological analysis and understanding by reducing the number of falsely disconnected filaments in segmentation.
Plasma metabolites and lipids associate with kidney function and kidney volume in hypertensive ADPKD patients early in the disease course

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease and is characterized by gradual cyst growth and expansion, increase in kidney volume with an ultimate decline in kidney function leading to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Given the decades long period of stable kidney function while cyst growth occurs, it is important to identify those patients who will progress to ESRD. Recent data from our and other laboratories have demonstrated that metabolic reprogramming may play a key role in cystic epithelial proliferation resulting in cyst growth in ADPKD. Height corrected total kidney volume (ht-TKV) accurately reflects cyst burden and predicts future loss of kidney function. We hypothesize that specific plasma metabolites will correlate with eGFR and ht-TKV early in ADPKD, both predictors of disease progression, potentially indicative of early physiologic derangements of renal disease severity. To investigate the predictive role of plasma metabolites on eGFR and/or ht-TKV, we used a non-targeted GC-TOF/MS-based metabolomics approach on hypertensive ADPKD patients in the early course of their disease. Patient data was obtained from the HALT-A randomized clinical trial at baseline including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and measured ht-TKV. To identify individual metabolites whose intensities are significantly correlated with eGFR and ht-TKV, association analyses were performed using linear regression with each metabolite signal level as the primary predictor variable and baseline eGFR and ht-TKV as the continuous outcomes of interest, while adjusting for covariates. Significance was determined by Storey’s false discovery rate (FDR) q-values to correct for multiple testing. Twelve metabolites significantly correlated with eGFR and two triglycerides significantly correlated with baseline ht-TKV at FDR q-value < 0.05. Specific significant metabolites, including pseudo-uridine, indole-3-lactate, uric acid, isothreonic acid, and creatinine, have been previously shown to accumulate in plasma and/or urine in both diabetic and cystic renal diseases with advanced renal insufficiency. This study identifies metabolic derangements in early ADPKD which may be prognostic for ADPKD disease progression. HALT Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease (HALT PKD) Study A; Clinical www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00283686; first posted January 30, 2006, last update posted March 19, 2015.
Atrial arrhythmias after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Atrial arrhythmias (AAs) are common after cardiac surgeries including pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). This study was done to identify patients at highest risk of developing post-PTE AA and their length of stay (LOS). METHODS We reviewed 521 consecutive patients referred to University of California San Diego (UCSD) for PTE and examined their demographics as well as their baseline pulmonary hemodynamics to determine risk factors for AA. RESULTS Overall, 24.2% of patients developed an AA after PTE. Patients who developed AA had a significantly longer Intensive Care Unit (ICU) LOS (median: 5 vs 3 days, P < 0.001) and postoperative LOS (median: 14 vs 9 days; P < 0.001). Patients who developed AA were more frequently male (63.2% male, P = 0.003), older (mean age 60.8 vs 50.7 years, P < 0.001), had a prior history of atrial fibrillation (80.2% of those who developed AA) and were more likely to have undergone concomitant Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (12.7% vs 6.6%, P = 0.028). Compared to those who did not develop AA, the cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer among those who developed AA (261.6 vs 253.8 minutes, P = 0.027). In a multivariate logistic regression model, the preoperative variables that predicted AA were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.058 per year, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.038-1.078), male sex (OR, 1.68, 95% CI: 1.06-2.64), prior AA (OR, 2.52, 95% CI: 1.23-5.15) and baseline right atrial pressure (OR, 1.039 per mm Hg, 95% CI: 1.000-1.079). While mortality rates were similar, patients who developed AA had more bleeding complications and more postoperative delirium. CONCLUSIONS AA is common after PTE surgery. The strongest risk factors for AA after PTE included the previous history of AA, age and male sex. Development of AA was associated with longer lengths of stay and more postoperative complications.
Uniformity of plantar pressure distributions: a novel metric for analysis

Plantar pressure measurements, which present as bi-modal data, are used to examine how feet interact with different surfaces. Methods currently employed by researchers for comparing plantar pressur...
The Catholic Church Sex Scandal and the Dying Death Penalty: Issues at the Intersection of Religion, Crime, and Punishment

Recent developments in law enforcement and the judiciary reveal the ongoing interconnections between religion, crime, and punishment. In recent months, federal investigators have taken an interest in the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania and have launched an investigation into whether evidence exists of federal criminal law violations. This first-of-its-kind inquiry into the Church poses new challenges for church leaders, particularly because it may place some of its clergy in jeopardy of prosecution. Beyond, the investigation may stoke genuine fear that federal inquiries may spread to other states. In the area of punishment, Washington recently became the twentieth state to abolish the death penalty. As the death penalty continues its decline among states, religious faith and morality have played some role in this development. Exactly how much is uncertain, but there is even greater potential for religious ideas and narrative to influence death penalty reform. This chapter examines these startling developments, which underscore the ongoing tensions between law and religion. It concludes that the time is ripe for death penalty foes to try to harness the power of religion as a means of garnering sympathy and support for their cause. To date, there has been little attempt by advocates to rely on religion as a means of illustrating their message, and there has been little attempt to attract religious allies to their cause. There is obvious overlap between death penalty abolitionism and Christian moral principles. Moving forward, the question is whether abolitionists can access this largely untapped resource to help hasten the decline.
Globalisation and the Academy

This chapter examines the African university within the New World Order, in terms of its relevance, role, status, and contributions toward national and global knowledge and development. It contends that globalisation may reduce the African university to nothing more than an educational institution that offers African students international cultural and diversity experience, but incapable of achieving any global recognition as a serious academic site within the New World Order – unless it begins to re-orient its focus more on developing its local indigenous knowledge and technological resources, than the continuous importation of and concentration on external knowledge from the developed world.
Is Your Shirt Size Related to Your Shoe Size

The great painter and scientist of the fifteenth century, Leonardo, studied the human body and pro vided detailed accounts of the relationships among various body parts. Leonardo’s work on how the size of one part is related to that of another was for the purpose of instructing painters on how to paint the human body, but some of these relationships are of practical interest as well. (Who might be interested in the relationship between arm length and circumference of the neck, for example?) In this activity we will investigate the accuracy of some of Leonardo’s pronouncements by modeling relationships between the sizes of various body parts.
Abstract P540: Predictors of Resilience Among CVD Patients

Objective: A cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis is a stressful event that challenges patients physically and psychologically. Tertiary prevention of CVD focuses on management of traditional ris...
Do Postoperative Antibiotics Improve Skin Reactivity Following Percutaneous Auditory Osseointegrated Implant Placement

OBJECTIVE To determine if the routine use of postoperative antibiotics following percutaneous auditory osseointegrated implant placement reduces skin reactivity. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective matched case-controlled series. SETTINGS Tertiary academic medical center. SUBJECT AND METHODS A total of 44 patients who underwent percutaneous auditory osseointegrated implant placement were divided into those who received 5 days of postoperative antibiotics (AB) and those who received no antibiotics (NAB). All surgery was performed using the same surgical technique (Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery). Variables recorded included patient demographics, Holgers skin reaction score, complications, and need for further intervention. RESULTS A total of 23 patients received prophylactic postoperative antibiotics (AB) while 21 patients did not (NAB). At the first postoperative visit (AB 12.7 d versus NAB 12.3 d, p = 0.9) there were no differences in average Holgers score (AB 0.3 ± 0.7 versus NAB 0.2 ± 0.5, p = 0.27). The odds ratio for skin reactivity at the first visit was 0.11 (95% CI 0.01-2.32). There were also no statistical differences in Holgers score (AB 0.05 ± 0.2 versus NAB 0.1 ± 0.3, p = 0.25) at most recent followup visit (AB mean 97.5 d versus NAB 102.8 d, p = 0.84). The odds ratio for skin reactivity at the most recent visit was 0.16 (95% CI 0.01-3.64). CONCLUSIONS The use of postoperative antibiotics does not appear to confer significant difference in skin reactivity in patients receiving percutaneous osseointegrated auditory implants. Such findings support the theory that skin reactivity, when it does occur, may not be an infectious-mediated process.
Tactile Vision: A Personal View:

The author, who is congenitally blind, describes two training programs with a Tactile Vision Substitution System (TVSS), including a mobile version of the device. After mastering the working of the...
It's all in the milk: chondroitin sulfate as potential preventative therapy for necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating condition affecting up to 5% of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions. Risk factors include preterm delivery, low birth weight, and antibiotic use. The pathogenesis is characterized by a combination of intestinal ischemia, necrosis of the bowel, reperfusion injury, and sepsis typically resulting in surgical resection of afflicted bowel. Targeted medical therapy remains elusive. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) holds the potential to prevent the onset of NEC through its anti-inflammatory properties and protective effect on the gut microbiome. The purpose of this review is to outline the many properties of CS to highlight its potential use in high-risk infants and attenuate the severity of NEC. The purpose of this review is to (1) discuss the interaction of CS with the infant microbiome, (2) review the anti-inflammatory properties of CS, and (3) postulate on the potential role of CS in preventing NEC. IMPACT: NEC is a costly medical burden in the United States.Breast milk is the best preventative measure for NEC, but not all infants in the NICU have access to breast milk.Novel therapies and diagnostic tools are needed for NEC.CS may be a potential therapy for NEC due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties.CS could be added to the formula in an attempt to mitigate breast milk disparities.Fig. 1HUMAN BREAST MILK HAS MANY PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES.: Multiple protective compounds are found in breast milk.93,94Fig. 2POTENTIAL MECHANISMS OF CS IN THE NEONATAL POPULATION.: Chondroitin sulfate works to decrease pro-inflammatory mediators while working to modulate the intestinal microbiome.
Determination of sulfite and antimicrobial residue in imported shrimp to the USA

Abstract Incorrect usage of grow out and post-harvest products in shrimp aquaculture can lead to problems such as residue from veterinary drugs and melanosis prevention. These residues can be a serious concern for human health during handling and consumption of the shrimp. In an effort to determine if banned antimicrobial drugs were present in commercial shrimp, imported shrimp from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Ecuador were purchased from retail stores in Baton Rouge, LA, USA and screened for the presence of veterinary drug residues (oxytetracycline, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolone and malachite green) using ELISA test kits. Additional screening with the Alert sulfite detection kit was used to determine if sulfite residue was over the legal limit of 100 ppm. Screening analysis revealed that samples were positive for nitrofurantoin (70 %), malachite green (5 %), oxytetracycline (7 %), and fluoroquinolone (17 %). No samples contained chloramphenicol residue. Using LC-MSMS validation, one sample tested positive for 60 ppm of oxytetracycline and 4 ppb of ciprofloxacin. Most samples tested positive for sulfite residue (43 %), but were within the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) limit (10−100 ppm). However, sulfites were not listed on any of labels of the 51 packages of imported shrimp. These drug residues and sulfites can have negative effects on human health. Results of this study confirm that veterinary drug residue is present in imported shrimp sold in the USA and all labeling rules are not followed.
Tri-Level Scheduling Model Considering Residential Demand Flexibility of Aggregated HVACs and EVs Under Distribution LMP

Residential loads, especially heating, ventilation and air conditioners (HVACs) and electric vehicles (EVs), have great potentials to provide demand flexibility which is an attribute of grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB). Under this new paradigm, EV and HVAC aggregator models are first developed in this paper to represent the fleet of GEBs, in which the aggregated parameters are obtained based on a new approach of data generation and least squares parameter estimation (DG-LSPE), which can deal with heterogeneous HVACs. Then, a tri-level bidding and dispatching framework is established based on competitive distribution operation with distribution locational marginal price (DLMP). The first two levels form a bilevel model to optimize the aggregators’ payment and to represent the interdependency between load aggregators and the distribution system operator (DSO) using DLMP, and the third level is to dispatch the optimal load aggregation to all residents by the proposed priority list-based demand dispatching algorithm. Finally, case studies on a modified IEEE 33-Bus system illustrate three main technical reasons of payment reduction due to demand flexibility: load shifts, DLMP step changes, and power losses. They can be used as general guidelines for better decision-making for future planning and operation of demand response programs.
Multimodal Registration and Fusion of In Situ and Ex Situ Metal Additive Manufacturing Data

While metal additive manufacturing (AM) offers significant benefits, such as design flexibility and lead time improvements, over traditional manufacturing approaches, the complexity of metal AM processing presents a challenge for understanding and exploiting process–structure relationships. Local variations in laser scan path and geometry can result in a wide array of different process states, which in turn influence local fluctuations in structure. To better understand this highly local process–structure relationship, we develop a suite of tools for registering and fusing multimodal representations of the metal AM process, including design intent, in situ monitoring, and post-build characterization. The result is an open, plug-and-play workflow for correlative analysis of metals AM data streams. We apply this workflow to candidate components of additive Ti-6Al-4V and showcase examples of correlative analyses made possible by data fusion.
Land Value Taxation: A Spatially Explicit Economic Experiment with Endogenous Institutions

An economic experiment with endogenous institutions informs the political economy of land value taxation relative to uniform property taxation in terms of efficiency and sprawl reduction. Heterogeneous type distributions were used so that land value taxation was earnings-rational, relative to uniform property taxation, for 40, 60, and 80 percent of the participants. The model’s induced values predict land value taxation leads to less sprawl, more earnings, and more tax revenue than uniform property taxation. Experimental data do not consistently match this prediction, where both tax institutions led to more sprawl and lower earnings than predicted. Results show participants voted for the tax institution that does not maximize their individual earnings in 16.7 percent of rounds. These earnings-irrational choices occurred when the type distributions were 40 and 60 percent in favor of land value taxation. The experiment results nonetheless show the absolute advantage of land value taxation for producing less sprawl, more tax revenue, and more earnings. Moreover, the behavioral evidence suggests that relative advantage of land value taxation in reducing sprawl is greater than predicted by the model. This suggests further inquiry about whether land value taxation promotion activities may best be targeted towards cities using uniform property taxation where economies are vibrant, land uses are already relatively intensive, and greater-than-average population density already exists.
Efficient Low-Speed Flight in a Wind Field

A new software tool was needed for flight planning of a high altitude, low speed unmanned aerial vehicle which would be flying in winds close to the actual airspeed of the vehicle. An energy modeled NLP (non-linear programming) formulation was used to obtain results for a variety of missions and wind profiles. The energy constraint derived included terms due to the wind field and the performance index was a weighted combination of the amount of fuel used and the final time. With no emphasis on time and with no winds the vehicle was found to fly at maximum lift to drag velocity, V(sub md). When flying in tail winds the velocity was less than V(sub md), while flying in head winds the velocity was higher than V(sub md). A family of solutions was found with varying times of flight and varying fuel amounts consumed which will aid the operator in choosing a flight plan depending on a desired landing time. At certain parts of the flight, the turning terms in the energy constraint equation were found to be significant. An analysis of a simpler vertical plane cruise optimal control problem was used to explain some of the characteristics of the vertical plane NLP results.
God Interrupts History: Theology in a Time of Upheaval

(2010). God Interrupts History: Theology in a Time of Upheaval. Ars Disputandi: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 167-172.
Correlation between high temperature dependence of smooth muscle myosin light chain phosphatase activity and muscle relaxation rate.

Q10 values of the protein phosphatases that can dephosphorylate the regulatory light chain of smooth muscle myosin were determined. Six phosphatases were examined, i.e. skeletal muscle protein phosphatase 1c; protein phosphatase 2Ac; smooth muscle phosphatases (SMP) I, II, and IV; and myosin-associated protein phosphatase (MAP phosphatase). Among them, SMP-IV and MAP phosphatase, which can dephosphorylate intact smooth muscle myosin, showed extremely high Q10 values (5.3 and 5.2, respectively). On the other hand, the Q10 values of other tested phosphatases were within the range of the normal enzyme reaction (Q10 = 2.0). The rate of dephosphorylation of the myosin light chain in alpha-toxin-skinned strips was measured at different temperatures. The results provided a Q10 of 5.1, which was quite similar to those values obtained for SMP-IV and MAP phosphatase. These results suggest that the physiological myosin light chain phosphatases are SMP-IV and/or MAP phosphatase, i.e. type 1 protein phosphatases. The temperature dependence of maximum force, the steady-state extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation, and the relaxation rate of alpha-toxin-permeabilized rabbit portal vein smooth muscle strips were measured. Both maximum force and the extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation were significantly higher at lower temperature (15 degrees C) than at higher temperature (25 degrees C) under all pCa conditions tested, i.e. > 8, 6.3, and 5. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rate was much steeper (decreased 4 times by lowering the temperature from 25 to 15 degrees C) than that of the initial rate of increase in force development (decreased 1.4 times by lowering the temperature from 25 to 15 degrees C). These results are consistent with the Q10 values of myosin light chain phosphatases (Q10 = 5) and myosin light chain kinase (Q10 = 1.7) and further show that the smooth muscle type 1 phosphatases are responsible for the dephosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin in situ.
Tokamak power reactor ignition and time dependent fractional power operation

A flexible time-dependent, zero-dimensional plasma burn code with radial profiles was developed and employed to study the fractional power operation and the thermal burn control options for an International Tokamak Reactor (INTOR) sized tokamak reactor. The code includes alpha thermalization and a time-dependent transport loss that can be represented by any one of several currently popular scaling laws for energy confinement time. Feedback control of the auxiliary power and ion fuel sources are shown to provide thermal stability for operating points near the low-density, high-temperature portion of the ignition curve. It is concluded that the problem of thermal control and fractional power operation of a tokamak reactor with ignited plasma is far from trivial.
The air afterglow revisited

To begin with a little soul-searching: The fact that science and technology are advancing at an ever accelerating rate, while both the number of investigators working in a given field and their level of support are at best levelling off, has put us in a new bind. Blessed with marvellous gadgets of all types, photomultipliers capable of detecting a few light quanta, tunable lasers of great power, narrow spectral width, and ultrashort repetitive flash duration, with ultrahigh vacuum techniques and ultrafast time resolution, with a bulging arsenal of analytical methods for measuring neutral or charged species in specific quantum states, etc., etc., our ability to study physical and chemical processes ever more minutely appears to be without limit. This widens immensely the discrepancy between what is doable technologically and what can actually be undertaken, particularly when we remember how expensive most of our new ‘toys’ are. The bind is, then, the increasing selectivity which we must exercise in our choice of systems and problems to work on, since neither the ‘Everest’ justification (‘because it is there’) nor the ‘Part XXIV in a series of continuing studies’ justification is quite good enough.
The structure of lamertianic acid. A new diterpenic acid

Abstract A new diterpene acid, lambertianic acid, has been isolated from the oleoresin of the sugar pine tree, Pinus lambertiana Dougl. The acid has been shown to have structure III making it the optical antipode of dianiellic acid. Spectra features of these two furanoditerpene acids are discussed.
Pulpoperiapical disease: diagnosis and healing. A clinical endodontic study.

Abstract Clinical research can provide insights into the dynamics of the processes involved. Careful record keeping of 4,695 endodontically treated teeth (3,782 patients) yielded information on periapical healing of various treatment approaches and pretreatment clinical conditions. The study also revealed a remarkable difference in patient response to recall appeal, based on the clinical condition at the onset of treatment and the specific treatment approach used.
A syntactic theory of transparent parameterization

We present a calculus for Lamping's programming system of transparent and orthogonal parameterization. The calculus is shown to be consistent, to have a standardization procedure, and to correspond with an operational semantics obtained from the denotational semantics by viewing the semantic equations as state transition rules. Lamping's system is remarkable because it is small, having only four constructions, yet it can easily express a wide variety of parameterization mechanisms including lexical variables, dynamic variables, procedure calls, first-class environments, modules, and method lookup and inheritance mechanisms of object-oriented systems. Due to its orthogonal and transparent parameterization mechanisms, every object, including data and code, in Lamping's programming system can be parameterized, and a parameterized object can be manipulated as if it were a ground object. This blurs the distinction between data and code, allowing one to think of data as code and vice versa.
Adaptive blind signal separation using a risk-sensitive criterion

An adaptive blind signal separation algorithm is proposed using a risk-sensitive criterion framework. The proposed criterion varies the consideration weight of the adaptation quantity depending on errors in the estimates: the adaptation is accelerated when the estimation error is large, and unnecessary acceleration of the adaptation does not occur close to convergence. Hence, this method converges faster than conventional least squares methods. The effectiveness of the new algorithm is demonstrated by simulation.
Effectuation: Elements of Entrepreneurial Expertise

Contents: Foreword by Lester Lave Preface Introduction Part I: The Empirical Journey - Entrepreneurial Expertise 1. What I Set Out to Study and Why 2. What I Found and How 3. Interpreting What I Found Part II: The Theoretical Journey - Effectuation 4. Understanding Effectuation: Problem Space and Solution Principles 5. Understanding Effectuation: Dynamics of the Effectual Process 6. Relating Effectuation to Performance Part III: Waypoint 7. Entrepreneurship as a Science of the Artificial 8. Competitive Advantages and Entrepreneurial Opportunities 9. Philosophy and Methodology of Effectual Economics 10. Markets in Human Hope Part IV: The Way Ahead 11. Teaching Effectuation 12. Research Works-in-Progress 13. New Research Ventures References Index