cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public health implications of complex emergencies and natural disasters

During the last decade, conflict or natural disasters have displaced unprecedented numbers of persons. This leads to conditions prone to outbreaks that imperil the health of displaced persons and threaten global health security. Past literature has minimally examined the association of communicable disease outbreaks with complex emergencies (CEs) and natural disasters (NDs). To examine this association, we identified CEs and NDs using publicly available datasets from the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters and United Nations Flash and Consolidated Appeals archive for 2005–2014. We identified outbreaks from World Health Organization archives. We compared findings to identify overlap of outbreaks, including their types (whether or not of a vaccine-preventable disease), and emergency event types (CE, ND, or Both) by country and year using descriptive statistics and measure of association. There were 167 CEs, 912 NDs, 118 events linked to ‘Both’ types of emergencies, and 384 outbreaks. Of CEs, 43% were associated with an outbreak; 24% NDs were associated with an outbreak; and 36% of ‘Both’ types of emergencies were associated with an outbreak. Africa was disproportionately affected, where 67% of total CEs, 67% of ‘Both’ events (CE and ND), and 46% of all outbreaks occurred for the study period. The odds ratio of a vaccine-preventable outbreak occurring in a CE versus an ND was 4.14 (95% confidence limits 1.9, 9.4). CEs had greater odds of being associated with outbreaks compared with NDs. Moreover, CEs had high odds of a vaccine-preventable disease causing that outbreak. Focusing on better vaccine coverage could reduce CE-associated morbidity and mortality by preventing outbreaks from spreading.
Wide-area analytics with multiple resources

Running data-parallel jobs across geo-distributed sites has emerged as a promising direction due to the growing need for geo-distributed cluster deployment. A key difference between geo-distributed and intra-cluster jobs is the heterogeneous (and often constrained) nature of compute and network resources across the sites. We propose Tetrium, a system for multi-resource allocation in geo-distributed clusters, that jointly considers both compute and network resources for task placement and job scheduling. Tetrium significantly reduces job response time, while incorporating several other performance goals with simple control knobs. Our EC2 deployment and trace-driven simulations suggest that Tetrium improves the average job response time by up to 78% compared to existing data-locality-based solutions, and up to 55% compared to Iridium, the recently proposed geo-distributed analytics system.
Computation and application of tissue-specific gene set weights.

Motivation Gene set testing, or pathway analysis, has become a critical tool for the analysis of high-dimensional genomic data. Although the function and activity of many genes and higher-level processes is tissue-specific, gene set testing is typically performed in a tissue agnostic fashion, which impacts statistical power and the interpretation and replication of results. Results To address this challenge, we have developed a bioinformatics approach to compute tissue-specific weights for individual gene sets using information on tissue-specific gene activity from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). We used this approach to create a public repository of tissue-specific gene set weights for 37 different human tissue types from the HPA and all collections in the Molecular Signatures Database. To demonstrate the validity and utility of these weights, we explored three different applications: the functional characterization of human tissues, multi-tissue analysis for systemic diseases and tissue-specific gene set testing. Availability and implementation All data used in the reported analyses is publicly available. An R implementation of the method and tissue-specific weights for MSigDB gene set collections can be downloaded at http://www.dartmouth.edu/∼hrfrost/TissueSpecificGeneSets.
Spinal Metastases: Fractionated Radiation Therapy Perspective

Approximately 40% of all cancer patients will develop metastatic spinal disease [1]. Some patients may be satisfactorily treated with conventional radiotherapy for palliation of pain and neurologic symptoms arising from spinal metastases. For other patients, a conventional dose of 30 to 45 Gy may be inadequate to achieve durable control. Furthermore, reirradiation of the spine with conventional means is rarely an option. The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) has described a new field of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in conjunction with the American College of Radiology (ACR). SBRT is a “newly emerging radiotherapy treatment method to deliver a high dose of radiation to the target, utilizing either a single dose or small number of fractions with a high degree of precision within the body. The ability to deliver a single or a few fractions of high dose ionizing radiation with high targeting accuracy and rapid dose falloff gradients encompassing tumors within a patient provides the basis for the development of SBRT [2].” This perspective explores the respective merits of single-dose and hypofractionated SBRT to the spine.
Budget Variance, Slack Resources, and Municipal Expenditures

I develop and test a new explanation for the variation in slack resource levels. That explanation is based on the "ratcheting" dynamic, or the claim that government budgets expand because past overspending is impounded in future budgeted expenditures. I test the salience of the ratcheting explanation with data from several hundred Minnesota cities from 1994-2007. The findings generally support the ratcheting explanation. I then argue that slack resources afford local governments the opportunity to slow the ratcheting process. That is, having slack available frees a city from having to build that slack into future budgeted expenditures, and from having to manage the budget execution process in ways that result in overspending. To test this I estimated the ratcheting effect for groups of cities defined by their slack resource levels. The results provide some, although not decisive support for this explanation. Consistent with this story, I find that the ratcheting effect is present for cities with low levels of total general fund balance and not present for those with high levels. However, findings for other types of slack suggest the opposite - that high slack levels actually increase the rate at which past overspending is impounded in future budgeted expenditures.
Invited Talk: Weaving Formal Methods into the Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum (Extended Abstract)

We can integrate formal methods into an existing undergraduate curriculum by focusing on teaching their common conceptual elements and by using state of the art formal methods tools. Common elements include state machines, invariants, abstraction mappings, composition, induction, specification, and verification. Tools include model checkers and specification checkers. By introducing and regularly revisiting the concepts throughout the entire curriculum and by using the tools for homework assignments and class projects, we may be able to attain the ideal goal of having computer scientists use formal methods without their even realizing it.
Inorganic-organic hybrid coatings based on bodied soybean oil

Inorganic-organic hybrid coatings were prepared using bodied soybean oil with sol-gel precursors. Three precursors, titanium tetra-i-propoxide (TIP), titanium (di-i-propoxide) bis (acetylacetonate) (TIA) and zirconium tetra-n-propoxide (ZrP) were evaluated at three different concentrations (wt %). Coating properties of hardness, crosshatch adhesion, reverse impact resistance and flexibility were obtained as a function of sol-gel precursor. In addition glass transition temperature and elastic modulus were determined. The addition of different types of these precursor at 5, 10, and 15 wt % concentrations imparted hardness without adversely affecting flexibility. The optimum hardness and flexibility coating properties were obtained at a 10 wt % precursor concentration. The reverse impact resistance decreased at a 15 wt % precursor concentration. The system containing TIP (10 wt %) exhibited the best coating properties in comparison with TIA and ZrP systems.
Computer-assisted instruction in orthopedic biomechanics.

SUMMARY A computer-aided instructional (CAI) course in biomechanics was developed at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. This was used by our residents in preparation for the 1984 OITE. The course was developed on a 256K IBM personal computer with a color graphics board and color monitor. The course requires about 6 hours of user time to complete. The program was written in the Basic computer language and consists of a master and teaching program. The master program keeps track of the name of the user and his or her progress. The teaching program contains the chapters of bio-mechanical concepts with a quiz after each chapter. The chapters present the basic concepts of biomechanics with interactive color graphics. The quizzes contain about 20 board-type questions. Six residents voluntarily used the CAI and nine residents chose not to use the CAI. There was no difference in the two groups' outside reading of biomechanical texts or other methods of study. There was no statistical difference between the two groups 1983 OITE biomechanics score. There was also no statistical change in the nonusers' score from 1983 to 1984. The users, however, showed a statistically significant improvement (p We conclude that with the wide use of properly developed CAI is an effective and efficient method to provide education for orthopedists.
BACTERIAL COURTS OF PREPACKAGED, FROZEN AND UNFROZEN PORK AND VEAL CUTLETS – BREADED AND UNBREADED1

Summary Eleven different brands (93 packages) of frozen and unfrozen (breaded and unbreaded) pork and veal cutlets were purchased during 12 months from 4 large volume stores. Initial bacterial counts ranged from 15,000 to 25 million per g. Samples taken from 62 packages of frozen pork and veal cutlets and stored at 2 to 3 C for 3 to 4 days showed bacterial populations varying from 400,000 to more than 6 billion per g. The average of the median counts of all brands was 64 million. In samples from the 62 packages stored 7 days at 2 to 3 C, the average of the median counts from all brands was 1.8 billion per g, or a 28-fold increase in the bacterial count during 3 to 4 extra days of storage. Obvious spoilage was much greater in the 7 day samples. Obvious spoilage (odor, sliminess) was greater in 31 stored samples of unfrozen pork cutlets compared with previously frozen pork and veal stored similarly, i.e., at 2 to 5 C.
Perioperative management of immunosuppression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose of reviewPatients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of infection after surgery. Recent literature has provided more data and updated guidelines to guide the management of immunosuppression in the perioperative period.Recent findingsStudies over the past few years have confirmed
Lance Gharavi: Performance Inspired Science + Technology

We caught up with Lance Gharavi after we heard of and investigated Beneath: A journey within, a live performance motivated by the intent to get a wider audience interested in the lithosphere and mantle beneath our feet. Beneath is an archetype of art-science-tech projects and Lance came to coordinating that show from a long history of art-science projects. We asked him about insights and lessons learned.
3D Simulation Technique To Predict Failure of Photo Marks Interaction

This paper presents a 3D simulation technique to predict the interaction failure of scribe photo marks. Device scaling for increased speed and density, coupled with advanced memory architectures is increasing the fabrication complexity. These process changes are accompanied by additional masking levels with multiple layers to align. Each new masking level requires photo marks such as registration, alignment and metrol-ogy for their processing. The process is first optimized for the die layout leaving the construction of photo marks vulnerable due to their unique patterning requirements. This may cause some unintended process interactions creating registration or alignment failures. So, a validation technique guided by modeling mask and process interaction is proposed to avoid unintended structural results. The method proposed is implemented and verified using a 3D simulator on alignment and registration marks. The results obtained from the proposed method clearly show that any new unintended process interaction can be identified at the pre-silicon stage and rectified before reticle manufacture improving the learning time and cost.
An Open-Source, Automated Home-Cage Sipper Device for Monitoring Liquid Ingestive Behavior in Rodents

Measuring ingestive behavior of liquids in rodents is commonly used in studies of reward, metabolism, and circadian biology. Common approaches for measuring liquid intake in real time include computer-tethered lickometers or video-based systems. Additionally, liquids can be measured or weighed to determine the amount consumed without real-time sensing. Here, we built a photobeam-based sipper device that has the following advantages over traditional methods: (1) it is battery powered and fits in vivarium caging to allow home-cage measurements; (2) it quantifies the intake of two different liquids simultaneously for preference studies; (3) it is low cost and easily constructed, enabling high-throughput experiments; and (4) it is open source so that others can modify it to fit their experimental needs. We validated the performance of this device in three experiments. First, we calibrated our device using time-lapse video-based measurements of liquid intake and correlated sipper interactions with liquid intake. Second, we used the sipper device to measure preference for water versus chocolate milk, demonstrating its utility for two-bottle choice tasks. Third, we integrated the device with fiber photometry, establishing its utility for measuring neural activity in studies of ingestive behavior. This device requires no special equipment or caging, and is small, battery powered, and wireless, allowing it to be placed directly in rodent home cages. The total cost of fabrication is less than $100, and all design files and code are open source. Together, these factors greatly increase scalability and utility for a variety of behavioral neuroscience applications.
Lasting coastal hazards from past greenhouse gas emissions.

The emission of greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere is a by-product of modern marvels such as the production of vast amounts of energy, heating and cooling inhospitable environments to be amenable to human existence, and traveling great distances faster than our saddle-sore ancestors ever dreamed possible. However, these luxuries come at a price: climate changes in the form of severe droughts, extreme precipitation and temperatures, increased frequency of flooding in coastal cities, global warming, and sea-level rise (1, 2). Rising seas pose a severe risk to coastal areas across the globe, with billions of US dollars in assets at risk and about 10% of the world’s population living within 10 m of sea level (3⇓–5). The price of our emissions is not felt immediately throughout the entire climate system, however, because processes such as ice sheet melt and the expansion of warming ocean water act over the course of centuries. Thus, even if all greenhouse gas emissions immediately ceased, our past emissions have already “locked in” some amount of continued global warming and sea-level rise. In PNAS, Nauels et al. (6) examine how greenhouse gas emissions since 1750, and anticipated future emissions, contribute to global sea-level rise. They find that emissions from 1750 to 1991 have committed us to about 60 cm of additional sea-level rise by the year 2300, relative to the mean from 1986 to 2005, with another 24 cm stemming from greenhouse gases emitted between 1991 and 2016. So, through our emissions thus far in modern human history, we have committed to a total sea-level rise of about 84 cm over the next couple of centuries. This is the price we pay for the luxury of about 200 y of relatively unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. To be clear, past emissions have already been … [↵][1]1Email: aewsma{at}rit.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Performance and Comparitive Evaluation of Novel and Conventional DC-DC converters with DC Motor

A buck-boost converter is a type of DC-to-DC converter that has the magnitude of output voltage either greater than or less than the magnitude of the input voltage. The output voltage is of opposite polarity compared to the input i.e., it gives an inverted output. One possible drawback of this converter is that the switch does not have a terminal at ground which will complicate the driving circuitry. Input current and charging current of the output capacitor is discontinuous resulting in larger filter size. The inverted output introduces complexity in the sensing and feedback circuit. The efficiency is poor for high gain that is very small and has large duty cycle.
The Association between Female Students' Computer Science Education and STEM Major Selection: Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling.

AbstractConcerning the underrepresentation of female students in computer science (CS) classes at the K-12 level and math-intensive STEM fields, this study investigated the relationship between fem...
Did Bin Laden's Death Really Make America Safer?

The day after Osama bin Laden was killed, thousands of Americans publicly celebrated his death and many scholars and pundits declared America a safer place. I was not one of them.
Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films

The structural and magnetic properties of two series of [Gd(2, 4 nm)/Fe(t)]n multilayer films with varying Fe thickness were investigated and compared to those of amorphous ferrimagnetic GdFe alloys of the same corresponding composition. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed the high interface quality of both multilayer series. Furthermore, the microstructure was analyzed, revealing polycrystallinity in both Gd and Fe layers with strong (1010)-oriented textured growth of Gd particularly for the multilayer series with 2 nm Gd. Magnetic measurements confirm an out-of-plane magnetic easy axis in the alloy samples and an in-plane magnetic easy axis in all multilayer samples. Twisted spin states in samples with a low remanent magnetization were identified. Magnetic compensation points of both multilayer series are compared to those of the alloy samples. It was found that the dependence of the magnetic compensation point on effective Gd concentration in the series with 2 nm Gd closely resembles the strong dependence observed in the alloy counterparts. In contrast, a weaker dependence is revealed for the multilayer series with 4 nm Gd, which makes this system more robust against variations in composition required for applications.
Expression and Sympathy in Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, and Kenneth Burke

As corrective to rhetorical theorists who disparage “expression,” the following article analyzes Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, and Kenneth Burke on “expression” and its communicative counterpart “symp...
1 – Laminar axisymmetric flows

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates how mathematical models of complex flows, using relatively simple tools can be developed. Axial symmetry is clearly a limitation that poses a restriction on the study of a specific class of flows. To explain the simplifications that lead to restrictions to axisymmetric flows, significant complicating issues in a large fraction of the problems are discussed in the chapter. The mathematical statements of conservation of mass; the continuity equation for axisymmetric flow and conservation of momentum; and the Navier–Stokes equations for axisymmetric flow of a Newtonian fluid under isothermal conditions can be explained with the help of mathematical derivations. While one boundary condition states that there is no shear stress at (tangential to) the interface, the other dynamic condition states that the stress within the liquid normal to the interface needs to be balanced by a stress acting normal to the surface arising from surface tension, and this is be described by the Young–Laplace equation. In the von Karman and Pohlhausen technique, a polynomial form for the velocity function is taken as uz and then integrated with the z-momentum equation across the radial direction.
Constriction of body image in children with congenital heart disease.

The body self-image was determined by means of the drawing of the human figure in a group of children with congenital heart disease, in normal controls and in children who were emotionally disturbed or intellectually retarded The data and analyses indicate that children with congenital heart disease tend to depict them selves graphically smaller than do normal children. It may therefore be inferred that children with congenital heart disease, in general, have a constricted view of their bodies.
Gamma Knife surgery for skull base meningiomas

Object Skull base meningiomas are challenging tumors owing in part to their close proximity to important neurovascular structures. Complete microsurgical resection can be associated with significant morbidity, and recurrence rates are not inconsequential. In this study, the authors evaluate the outcomes of skull base meningiomas treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) both as an adjunct to microsurgery and as a primary treatment modality. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of a prospectively compiled database detailing the outcomes in 255 patients with skull base meningiomas treated at the University of Virginia from 1989 to 2006. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 24 months. The group comprised 54 male and 201 female patients, with a median age of 55 years (range 19–85 years). One hundred nine patients were treated with upfront radiosurgery, and 146 patients were treated with GKS following resection. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically at routine intervals followi...
Societal contexts of ocean pollution science

Abstract The roles and uses of pollution science in marine environmental protection and regulation vary widely among maritime countries. Culture affects the application of science to policy in the USA, the PRC, the Mediterranean region, and the USSR. Public and scientific judgments about what is important reflect disparate perceptions of: the ocean's place in economy and society; institutional factors that define science-society relations; policy processes; and historical traditions.
The number of exacerbations in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) can be predicted by computed tomography (CT) bronchiectasis (BE) score and quality of life scores

Background: CF is characterized by progressive BE and small airways disease. BE is related to the number of exacerbations and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), assessed by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). Objective: 1) Investigate predictive value of BE score and CFQ-R respiratory domain score (CFQ-R resp) for exacerbations. 2) Determine added predictive value of CFQ-R resp on top of BE score to predict number of exacerbations in the year following. Methods: Cohort study (July 2007 to Jan 2010) in clinical stable children and adolescents with CF, whom had routine chest CT and CFQ-R as part of their (bi-)annual examination. CT scans were anonymized and randomly scored using CFCT BE score, expressing BE as% of maximum score. CFQ-R was completed by children aged 6-13 years and their parents or by adolescents aged ≥ 14 years. Score-range 0-100, higher scores indicate better HRQoL. To compute predictive value of BE-score and CFQ-R resp the negative binomial regression was used and for added predictive value McFadden9s R 2 . Results: CF patients (n=72); CFQ-Rs: child CFQ-Rs (n=40); parental CFQ-Rs (n=37); adolescent CFQ-Rs (n=32). Median CFQ-R resp score 83 (range 11-100) points. BE score positive predictive (p s =0.11), CFQ-R resp negative predictive (p s =-0.04) for number of exacerbations. Added predictive value of CFQ-R resp on top of BE score to predict number of exacerbations equalled 6%. Conclusion: BE and HRQoL have potentialities to predict the number of exacerbations in CF. A point increase on the CFQ-R resp results in a 6% reduction of the number of exacerbations.
Severe factor VII deficiency caused by mutations abolishing the cleavage site for activation and altering binding to tissue factor

Factor VII (F.VII) is a vitamin-K-dependent serine protease required in the early stages of blood coagulation. We describe here a patient with severe F.VII deficiency, with a normal plasma F.VII antigen level (452 ng/mL) and F.VII activity less than 1%, who is homozygous for two defects: a G-->A transition at nucleotide 6055 in exon 4, which results in an Arg-->Gln change at amino acid 79 (R79Q); and a G-->A transition at nucleotide 8961 in exon 6, which results in an Arg-->Gln substitution at amino acid 152 (R152Q). The R79Q mutation occurs in the first epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, which has previously been implicated in binding to tissue factor. The R152Q mutation occurs at a site (Arg 152-Ile 153) that is normally cleaved to generate activated F.VII (F.VIIa). Analysis of purified F.VII from patient plasma shows that the material cannot be activated by F.Xa and cofactors. In addition, in an in vitro binding assay using relipidated recombinant tissue factor, patient plasma showed markedly reduced binding to tissue factor at all concentrations tested. In an effort to separate the contributions of the two mutations, three recombinant variants, wild-type, R79Q, and R152Q, were prepared and analyzed. The R152Q variant had markedly reduced activity in a clotting assay, whereas R79Q showed a milder, concentration-dependent reduction. The R152Q variant exhibited nearly normal binding in the tissue factor binding assay, whereas the R79Q variant had markedly reduced binding. The time course of activation of the R79Q variant was slowed compared with wild-type. Our results suggest that the first EGF-like domain is required for binding to tissue factor and that the F.VII zymogen lacks activity and requires activation for expression of biologic activity.
Electrical properties of Bi4Ti3O12 textured by screen printing

The focus of this work is to explore the electrical properties of bismuth titanate, Bi4Ti3O12, textured through the process of screen printing. Textured BTO samples were produced using the templated grain growth technique and the electrical properties were measured both within and normal to the texture plane. The relative permittivity and polarization were determined as a function of electric field, temperature, and frequency. The electrical properties improved dramatically (Pr = 25 μC/cm², er(ω) = 1800 at 1 MHz) compared to a randomly oriented sample (Pr = 10 μC/cm², er(ω) = 850 at 1 MHz) when measured within the texture plane. A corresponding reduction of electrical properties normal to the texture plane was observed (Pr = 2 μC/cm², er(ω) = 300 at 1 MHz). The electrical properties of bismuth titanate textured by screen printing compare favorably to other texture-inducing techniques such as tape casting and hot forging.
New Activators and Inhibitors in the Hair Cycle Clock: Targeting Stem Cells’ State of Competence

The timing mechanism of the hair cycle remains poorly understood. However, it has become increasingly clear that the telogen-to-anagen transition is controlled jointly by at least the bone morphogenic protein (BMP), WNT, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathways. New research shows that Fgf18 signaling in hair follicle stem cells synergizes BMP-mediated refractivity, whereas Tgf-β2 signaling counterbalances it. Loss of Fgf18 signaling markedly accelerates anagen initiation, whereas loss of Tgf-β2 signaling significantly delays it, supporting key roles for these pathways in hair cycle timekeeping.
Multimedia article. The arthroscopic management of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears: a systematic review of the literature.

Purpose There is currently limited information available in the orthopaedic surgery literature regarding the appropriate management of symptomatic partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods A systematic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of all published literature pertaining to the arthroscopic management of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Inclusion criteria were all studies that reported clinical outcomes after arthroscopic treatment of both articular-sided and bursal-sided lesions using a validated outcome scoring system and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Data abstracted from the selected studies included tear type and location (articular v bursal sided), treatment approach, postoperative rehabilitation protocol, outcome scores, patient satisfaction, and postoperative imaging results. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for the final analysis. Seven of the studies treated partial-thickness rotator cuff tears with debridement with or without an associated subacromial decompression, 3 performed a takedown and repair, 5 used a transtendon repair technique, and 1 used a transosseous repair method. Among the 16 studies reviewed, excellent postoperative outcomes were reported in 28.7% to 93% of patients treated. In all 12 studies with available preoperative baseline data, treatment resulted in significant improvement in shoulder symptoms and function. For high-grade lesions, the data support arthroscopic takedown and repair, transtendon repairs, and transosseous repairs, with all 3 techniques providing a high percentage of excellent results. Debridement of partial-thickness tears of less than 50% of the tendon's thickness with or without a concomitant acromioplasty also results in good to excellent surgical outcomes; however, a 6.5% to 34.6% incidence of progression to full-thickness tears is present. Conclusions This systematic review of 16 clinical studies showed that significant variation is present in the results obtained after the arthroscopic management of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. What can be supported by the available data is that tears that involve less than 50% of the tendon can be treated with good results by debridement of the tendon with or without a formal acromioplasty, although subsequent tear progression may occur. When the tear is greater than 50%, surgical intervention focusing on repair has been successful. There is no evidence to suggest a differential in outcome for tear completion and repair versus transtendon repair of these lesions because both methods have been shown to result in favorable outcomes. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.
Regular and chaotic chemical spatiotemporal patterns.

The first experimental observation of a bifurcation sequence of patterns in a reaction-diffusion system is reported. The experiment on a one-dimensional system, maintained away from equilibrium, reveals steady, periodic, quasiperiodic, frequency-locked, period-doubled, and chaotic spatiotemporal states. Results from a model reaction-diffusion system agree qualitatively with the experiment and provide insight into the physical mechanism that drives the observed behavior.
X-Ray Crystallographic Studies of Antibody–Peptide Complexes

Abstract The three-dimensional structures of six Fab-peptide complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The peptide antigens range in size from 8 to 19 residues and include a cyclic peptide with unusual amino acid side chains. The structures were all determined by molecular replacement techniques using known Fab structures as models and have been refined to medium or high resolution. These structures not only have improved our general understanding of antibody-antigen recognition but have aided in the determination of the sequence and structural characteristics of peptide epitopes. The peptide structures provide a framework to aid in the design of peptide vaccines or small peptide-like drugs to inhibit viral function.
Effects of a juvenile hormone mimic on the pink bollworm.

Topical applications of the juvenile hormone mimic (4-6 ethyl phenyl-6,7-epoxy geranyl ether) on larvae of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) caused retention of larval characters in the resultant pupae at lower dosages and additional prepupal and larval stages at higher dosages. Non-diapause (ND) and diapause (D) larvae responded similarly, but higher dosages were required for similar effects on D larvae. Adult emergence was inhibited in both ND and D larvae, but again higher dosages were required in D larvae. Laboratory-induced diapause (LID) larvae were slightly less sensitive than field-induced diapause (FID) larvae to morphogenetic effects and inhibition of adult emergence. Topical applications of the juvegen also induced the termination of diapause in both LID and FID larvae. A biossay based on a graded scoring of the retention of larval chamcters was consistent, practical, and easy to perform, and can be used to screen juvenile hormone mimics for morphogenetic activity on pink bollworm larvae.
Peep: an architectural description driven peephole optimizer

Peep is an architectural description driven peephole optimizer, that is being adapted for use in the Portable Standard Lisp compiler. Tables of optimizable instructions are generated prior to the creation of the compiler from the architectural description of the target machine. Peep then performs global flow analysis on the target machine code and optimizes instructions as defined in the table. This global flow analysis allows optimization across basic blocks of instructions, and the use of tables created at compiler-generation time minimizes the overhead of discovering optimizable instructions.
Multicast performance modeling and evaluation for high-speed unidirectional torus networks ☆

Abstract This paper evaluates the performance of various unicast-based and path-based multicast protocols for high-speed torus networks. The results of an experimental case study on a Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) torus network are presented. Small-message latency models of these software-based multicast algorithms as well as analytical projections for larger unidirectional torus systems are also introduced. The strengths and weaknesses of selected multicast protocols are experimentally and analytically illustrated in terms of various metrics, such as startup and completion latency, CPU utilization, and link concentration and concurrency for SCI networks under various networking and multicasting scenarios.
Using deep RNA sequencing for the structural annotation of the laccaria bicolor mycorrhizal transcriptome.

Background: Accurate structural annotation is important for prediction of function and required for in vitro approaches to characterize or validate the gene expression products. Despite significant efforts in the field, determination of the gene structure from genomic data alone is a challenging and inaccurate process. The ease of acquisition of transcriptomic sequence provides a direct route to identify expressed sequences and determine the correct gene structure. Methodology: We developed methods to utilize RNA-seq data to correct errors in the structural annotation and extend the boundaries of current gene models using assembly approaches. The methods were validated with a transcriptomic data set derived from the fungus Laccaria bicolor, which develops a mycorrhizal symbiotic association with the roots of many tree species. Our analysis focused on the subset of 1501 gene models that are differentially expressed in the free living vs. mycorrhizal transcriptome and are expected to be important elements related to carbon metabolism, membrane permeability and transport, and intracellular signaling. Of the set of 1501 gene models, 1439 (96%) successfully generated modified gene models in which all error flags were successfully resolved and the sequences aligned to the genomic sequence. The remaining 4% (62 gene models) either had deviations from transcriptomic data that could not be spanned or generated sequence that did not align to genomic sequence. The outcome of this process is a set of high confidence gene models that can be reliably used for experimental characterization of protein function. Conclusions: 69% of expressed mycorrhizal JGI ‘‘best’’ gene models deviated from the transcript sequence derived by this method. The transcriptomic sequence enabled correction of a majority of the structural inconsistencies and resulted in a set of validated models for 96% of the mycorrhizal genes. The method described here can be applied to improve gene structural annotation in other species, provided that there is a sequenced genome and a set of gene models.
Vitamin E supplementation suppresses prostaglandin E21 synthesis and enhances the immune response of aged mice

The potential for vitamin E to modulate prostaglandin metabolism and alter immune response in aged mice was studied. Semi-purified diets containing 30 ppm or 500 ppm dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (VitE) were fed for 6 weeks to young (3 months) and old (24 months) C57BL/6J mice. Delayed hypersensitivity skin test to DNFB and the proliferative response of splenocytes to T- and B-cell mitogens were assessed. Ex-vivo synthesis of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in spleen homogenates and serum vitamin E was measured by HPLC. Vitamin E supplementation of aged mice enhanced percent ear swelling to DNFB as well as the mitogenic response of splenocytes to Con A and LPS (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, spleen homogenates from old mice fed 30 ppm VitE had a significantly higher PGE2 level than young mice fed 30 ppm VitE and old mice fed 500 ppm VitE (3.20 +/- 0.07 micrograms/g vs. 2.60 +/- 0.08 and 2.3 +/- 0.10, respectively). Thus, the vitamin E enhanced immune response of aged mice appears to be mediated by decreased prostaglandin synthesis.
IDI2, a Second Isopentenyl Diphosphate Isomerase in Mammals

Abstract We recently described the identification of a novel isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase, IDI2 in humans and mice. Our current data indicate that, in humans, IDI2 is expressed only in skeletal muscle. Expression constructs of human IDI2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can complement isomerase function in an idi1-deficient yeast strain. Furthermore, IDI2 has the ability to catalyze the isomerization of [14C]IPP to [14C]DMAPP. Enzyme kinetic analysis of partially purified IDI2 demonstrate the novel isozyme has a maximal relative specific activity of 1.2 × 10-1 ± 0.3 μmol min-1 mg-1 at pH 8.0 with a KIPPm value of 22.8 μm IPP. Both isozymes, IDI1 and IDI2 are localized to the peroxisome by a PTS1-dependent pathway. Finally, our data suggest that IDI2 is regulated independently from IDI1, by a mechanism that may involve PPARα.
Specific cognitive deficits in young children with cystinosis: evidence for an early effect of the cystinosin gene on neural function.

Objectives Infantile nephropathic cystinosis is associated with a specific cognitive deficit in visual spatial processing in older children and adults. The cause of this deficit is unknown. This study was designed to determine whether the cognitive deficit is present in young children with cystinosis, suggesting an early effect of the genetic disorder on brain development. Study design Young children (n = 25; age, 3-8 years) with cystinosis and 25 matched control subjects underwent cognitive testing, including tests of intelligence, visual perceptual, visual spatial, and visual motor functions. Results Children with cystinosis performed significantly more poorly on tests of visual spatial and visual motor function than did control subjects. Visual perceptual abilities were equivalent in the 2 groups. Conclusion The same pattern of visual spatial deficit is present in young children with cystinosis as has previously been demonstrated in older children and adults, which suggests that there may be an influence of the cystinosis gene on brain development, rather than an adverse effect of prolonged cystine accumulation in the brain during childhood.
Modeling the DC gain of 4H–SiC bipolar transistors as a function of surface recombination velocity

Abstract Two dimensional device modeling is used to investigate the differential DC current gain in 4H–SiC bipolar junction transistors using surface recombination velocity as one of the physical variables affecting the current gain. The simulated differential gain is compared with the measured experimental DC gain of transistors with two different emitter lengths. The comparison and the analysis made support the trend in modeling the DC gain as a function of surface recombination velocity and show that higher gain can be obtained for transistors with lower surface recombination velocity.
Temperature dependency of the vagal chronotropic response in the young puppy: An `environmental–autonomic interaction'

We investigated the effects of mild hypothermia (34.3 +/- 0.2 degrees C [mean +/- SD]), hyperthermia (40.8 +/- 0.2 degrees C) and hypoxia (PaO2 = 43 +/- 4 mmHg) on the response to heart rate to continuous right vagus nerve stimulation (the 'vagal chronotropic response') in young puppies, aged 5-22 days. Puppies were anesthetized with alpha-chloralose, vagotomized and pre-treated with propranolol (1 mg/kg i.v.) and phentolamine (1 mg/kg, 1-2 mg/kg/h i.v.). Hypoxia (n = 9) did not significantly alter the resting sinus cycle length and did not alter the response of sinus cycle to a 30 s train of 8 Hz right vagal stimulation. Mild hypothermia (n = 8) increased the resting sinus cycle length by 16 +/- 4% and greatly augmented the vagal chronotropic response (from 76 +/- 27% change in the sinus cycle length (normothermia) to 155 +/- 38% (hypothermia)). Both the sinus cycle length and the vagal chronotropic response turned towards pre-hypothermia values with rewarming. Mild hypothermia also increased the negative chronotropic response to 20 micrograms/kg/min i.v. of methacholine (12 +/- 2% change in the sinus cycle length (normothermia) versus 24 +/- 14% (hypothermia)), suggesting that a postsynaptic mechanism is involved in the hypothermia-induced augmentation of the cardiac vagal chronotropic response. In contrast to hypothermia, mild hyperthermia (n = 8) decreased the resting sinus cycle length slightly (-5 +/- 5% change) and significantly attenuated the cardiac vagal chronotropic response (from 88 +/- 28% change in sinus cycle length (normothermia) to 50 +/- 26% (hyperthermia)). These changes were also reversible with the re-establishment of normothermia. This demonstrates that clinically relevant, environmentally-induced changes in body temperature can directly and reversibly modify parasympathetic efferent responses.
Convective Inhibition as a Predictor of Convection during AVE-SESAME II

Abstract The AVE-SESAME 11 data set of 19 April 1979 is examined to determine the thermodynamic conditions prior to the onset of deep convection in western Kansas. The observations indicate that the convective region was characterized locally by substantial potential convective energy and low convective inhibition above the boundary layer. One-dimensional modeling shows that the convection occurred where the convective inhibition was a minimum, but not where the potential convective energy was a maximum. The model results suggest that the convective inhibition above the boundary layer was almost zero when the first echoes were observed.
Interactions between a commercial preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis and β-exotoxin in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Abstract A commercial preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel) and its β-exotoxin were assayed alone and in combination against neonate (3- to 6-hr-old) fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , larvae using a microdroplet technique. Positive dosage-mortality response curves were determined for each agent. Combination bioassays were then conducted using dosages based on these curves. Presence or absence of interactions was determined by comparing mortality levels from the combination assays with expected mortality levels using single degree of freedom χ 2 tests. Synergism occurred in 14 of 18 combinations of B. thuringiensis and β-exotoxin tested. Four combinations, all of which contained low individual dosages, exhibited additivity of effects. Maximum deviation of observed from expected mortality occurred at the combination of LC 30 for B. thuringiensis plus LC 30 for β-exotoxin (observed = 100%, expected = 51%). The data suggested that both agents were contributing to the synergism in this system, but that B. thuringiensis was a slightly stronger synergist than β-exotoxin.
Necrotizing fasciitis of the shoulder following routine rotator cuff repair. A case report.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, life-threatening, and rapidly spreading soft-tissue infection that results in necrosis of the muscle, fascia, and surrounding tissue1. We report a case of necrotizing fasciitis occurring in the shoulder of a fifty-three-year-old woman following an uneventful open rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty. Previous reports of necrotizing fasciitis involving the shoulder are limited, with the infection occurring only after apparent muscle strain or shoulder injection2,3. The case of our patient is of particular importance because it appears to be the first reported case following routine rotator cuff surgery. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she consented. A previously healthy, fifty-three-year-old woman whose only known comorbidity was a one-pack-per-day smoking history presented with a six-month history of progressive right shoulder pain and weakness despite nonsurgical treatments including physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. Radiographs made at another institution revealed narrowing of the acromiohumeral distance and associated bone-spur formation. A rotator cuff tear was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. She underwent an uncomplicated routine open rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty, which lasted approximately two hours. The combined procedures were performed on an outpatient basis in a hospital setting, and the patient received a single dose of clindamycin preoperatively for prophylactic antibiotic coverage because she was allergic to penicillin. Important findings during the operation included a full-thickness rotator cuff tear involving a small portion of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus tendons. According to the operative notes, the tear was approximately 1.5 cm from the insertion of the greater tuberosity; however, tendon-to-tendon repair was considered difficult. The tear was closed with figure-of-eight, number-0 Ethibond sutures (Ethicon, Johnson and Johnson, Somerville, New Jersey). On the fifth postoperative day, the patient had fever as well as pain and redness at …