cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cervical Discitis and Epidural Abscess After Tonsillectomy

UNLABELLED Approximately 6 weeks after an uncomplicated tonsillectomy for chronic tonsillitis, a 37-year-old woman presented to our emergency department with complaints of odynophagia and cervical pain persistent since surgery. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging revealed cervical spinal osteomyelitis with epidural abscess at C2 to 3. The patient underwent treatment with intravenous antibiotics, operative debridement, and cervical spinal stabilization. She recovered with no neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS Significant infectious complications of tonsillectomy are uncommon, and cervical spinal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess are exceptionally rare occurrences. In the presence of prolonged pain and dysphagia, imaging can be considered to evaluate for such sequelae.
A decision and utility theory construct for dynamic spectrum access systems

Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) networks seek to opportunistically utilize unused RF capacity rather than relying on static spectrum assignments. The networks change their spectrum access characteristics such as fre- quency, power, and modulation to adapt and allow for access to spectrum while not causing harmful interference to other spectrum users. An essential element of DSA system operation is decision-making under uncertainty due to incomplete or inaccurate situational awareness. This paper describes ongoing eorts in applying decision and utility theory constructs to DSA systems. The construct combines elements of communications theory, formal value and utility axioms of probability and decision theory, and constraint satisfaction. It provides a mechanism that allows DSA systems to quantitatively evaluate options for attaining the desired capacity subject to constraints in radio performance, uncertainty in spectrum dynamics, operating cost, and avoidance of harmful interference to other spectrum users. The resulting construct provides insight into DSA operational trades for evaluating, ranking, and selecting alternative solutions. A decision-theoretic construct is developed and analyzed to illustrate the methodology and resulting trades among alternative utility function classes.
Magnetic Hyperfine Interactions and Electric Quadrupolar Coupling in Alloys of Iron with the Alpha-Manganese Structure

The M\"ossbauer technique has been used to investigate the magnetic hyperfine field and electric quadrupolar coupling at Fe nuclei in $\ensuremath{\chi}$-phase ternary alloys and in antiferromagnetic MnFe alloys having the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Mn structure. Alloys with 5, 10, 20, and 30 at.% Fe in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Mn and the $\ensuremath{\chi}$-phase alloys $\ensuremath{\chi}({\mathrm{V}}_{30}{\mathrm{Si}}_{20}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{50})$, $\ensuremath{\chi}({\mathrm{Ti}}_{17}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{24}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{59})$, and $\ensuremath{\chi}({\mathrm{Mo}}_{17}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{21}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{62})$ were examined at 4, 77, and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The data are consistent with the assumption that of the four available sets of sites, Fe occupies only sites III and IV. The Fe atoms appear to have no aligned $3d$ moment. For FeMn alloys the fact that the spectra at a given temperature are nearly independent of composition indicates that (1) the ratio between the Fe populations of the two sites is the same for each composition, and (2) the isomer shift, the magnetic field, and the electric-field gradient at an Fe site are not sensitive to whether neighboring atoms are Fe or Mn. A different Debye temperature is associated with Fe at each site.
Impact of clouds on atmospheric heating based on the R04 CloudSat fluxes and heating rates data set

[1] Among the largest uncertainties in quantifying the radiative impacts of clouds are those that arise from the inherent difficulty in precisely specifying the vertical distribution of cloud optical properties using passive satellite measurements. Motivated by the need to address this problem, CloudSat was launched in April 2006 carrying into orbit the first millimeter wavelength cloud radar to be flown in space. Retrieved profiles of liquid and ice cloud microphysical properties from this Cloud Profiling Radar form the basis of the CloudSat's fluxes and heating rates algorithm, 2B-FLXHR, a standard product that provides high vertical resolution profiles of radiative fluxes and atmospheric heating rates on the global scale. This paper describes the physical basis of the 2B-FLXHR algorithm and documents the first year of 2B-FLXHR data in the context of assessing the radiative impact of clouds on global and regional scales. The analysis confirms that cloud contributions to atmospheric radiative heating are small on the global scale because of a cancelation of the much larger regional heating from high clouds in the tropics and cooling from low clouds at higher latitudes. Preliminary efforts to assess the accuracy of the 2B-FLXHR product using coincident CERES data demonstrate that outgoing longwave fluxes are better represented than those in the shortwave but both exhibit good agreement with CERES on scales longer than 5 days and larger than 5°. Colocated CALIPSO observations of clouds that are undetected by CloudSat further indicate that while thin cirrus can introduce modest uncertainty in the products, low clouds that are obscured by ground clutter represent a far more important source of error in the current 2B-FLXHR product that must be addressed in subsequent versions of the algorithm.
Effects of topology on network evolution

The ubiquity of scale-free topology in nature raises the question of whether this particular network design confers an evolutionary advantage1. A series of studies has identified key principles controlling the growth and the dynamics of scale-free networks2,3,4. Here, we use neuron-based networks of boolean components as a framework for modelling a large class of dynamical behaviours in both natural and artificial systems5,6,7. Applying a training algorithm, we characterize how networks with distinct topologies evolve towards a pre-established target function through a process of random mutations and selection8,9,10. We find that homogeneous random networks and scale-free networks exhibit drastically different evolutionary paths. Whereas homogeneous random networks accumulate neutral mutations and evolve by sparse punctuated steps11,12, scale-free networks evolve rapidly and continuously. Remarkably, this latter property is robust to variations of the degree exponent. In contrast, homogeneous random networks require a specific tuning of their connectivity to optimize their ability to evolve. These results highlight an organizing principle that governs the evolution of complex networks and that can improve the design of engineered systems.
Can cancer be reversed by engineering the tumor microenvironment

To advance cancer research in a transformative way, we must redefine the problem. Although epithelial cancers, such as breast cancer, may be caused by random somatic gene mutations, the reality is that this is only one of many ways to induce tumor formation. Cancers also can be produced in experimental systems in vitro and in vivo, for example, by inducing sustained alterations of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure. Moreover, certain epithelial cancers can be induced to 'reboot' and regenerate normal tissue morphology when combined with embryonic mesenchyme or exogenous ECM scaffolds that are produced through epithelial-stromal interactions. At the same time, work in the field of Mechanical Biology has revealed that many cell behaviors critical for cancer formation (e.g., growth, differentiation, motility, apoptosis) can be controlled by physical interactions between cells and their ECM adhesions that alter the mechanical force balance in the ECM, cell and cytoskeleton. Epithelial tumor progression also can be induced in vitro by changing ECM mechanics or altering cytoskeletal tension generation through manipulation of the Rho GTPase signaling pathway. Mechanical interactions between capillary cells and ECM that are mediated by Rho signaling similarly mediate control of capillary cell growth and angiogenesis, which are equally critical for cancer progression and metastasis. These findings question basic assumptions in the cancer field, and raise the intriguing possibility that cancer may be a reversible disease that results from progressive deregulation of tissue architecture, which leads to physical changes in cells and altered mechanical signaling. This perspective raises the possibility of developing a tissue engineering approach to cancer therapy in which biologically inspired materials that mimic the embryonic microenvironment are used to induce cancers to revert into normal tissues.
Targeted Metabolomics Finds Its Mark in Diabetes Research

Numerous biochemical pathways are deranged in diabetes, especially those involving metabolic fuels. Metabolomics, which seeks to simultaneously measure many small molecules, shows promise as a source of mechanistic insight into the molecular pathology of diabetes (1), but no systematic approach has yet come into wide use. Methods vary greatly from laboratory to laboratory. For most of the last decade, metabolomic studies in diabetes have been dominated by nontargeted methods in which nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) or mass spectrometry (MS) are used to gather large and complex datasets from which investigators extract information on metabolites that characterize a biological condition of interest (2–8). Our own approach has centered on targeted MS methods, in which labeled internal standards are used in conjunction with narrowly focused instrumental methods to yield quantitative data on panels of chemically similar metabolites (1,9–20). Some critics do not consider such targeted studies to be “metabolomics” at all. Targeted metabolomic studies are on the rise in diabetes research (13–15,18), and an increasing number of laboratories combine both approaches or fashion hybrids of the two (16,17,19). This month’s issue of Diabetes includes an account of one of the largest targeted metabolomic studies of human diabetes reported to date. Floegel et al. (13) propose a model of the 7-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) based on circulating metabolites measured …
Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in the Clinical Laboratory by LightCycler PCR

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes several clinical manifestations in both normal and immunocompromised hosts; this agent is the most frequently detected virus in diagnostic laboratories. Recovery of the virus in cell culture is considered the "gold standard" for detection of this virus from sources other than cerebrospinal fluid. LightCycler is a newly developed, commercially available system designed to rapidly perform PCR, with real-time detection of PCR products by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. We compared the detection of HSV for 200 specimens (number of genital specimens, 160; number of dermal specimens, 38; number of ocular specimens, 2) by shell vial cell cultures (MRC-5) and by LightCycler PCR. Of a total of 88 (44%) HSV strains detected, 69 (78%) were detected by both shell vial cell cultures and LightCycler PCR (DNA polymerase target). A total of 19 (22%) specimens were detected exclusively by LightCycler PCR. No specimens were positive by the shell vial assay only. All 19 discrepant samples had HSV DNA detected by an independent PCR directed to the thymidine kinase gene of the virus. The melting curve analysis feature of the LightCycler instrument identified identical genotype results for HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 from 84 of 88 (96%) positive samples. Specimens can be extracted, target HSV DNA can be amplified, and HSV PCR products can be identified by genotype within 2 h after receipt of specimen into the laboratory. The increased level of accurate identification (all 88 positive samples) compared with that of shell vial cell culture (69 of 88 samples identified as positive) and the agreement of LightCycler PCR results with all shell vial positive results indicate the potential for routine implementation of this technology for laboratory diagnosis of HSV infections.
Pathway Analysis of Seven Common Diseases Assessed by Genome-Wide Association

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified DNA sequence variations that exhibit unequivocal statistical associations with many common chronic diseases. However, the vast majority of these studies identified variations that explain only a very small fraction of disease burden in the population at large, suggesting that other factors, such as multiple rare or low-penetrance variations and interacting environmental factors, are major contributors to disease susceptibility. Identifying multiple low-penetrance variations (or "polygenes") contributing to disease susceptibility will be difficult. We present a pathway analysis approach to characterizing the likely polygenic basis of seven common diseases using the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) GWAS results. We identify numerous pathways implicated in disease predisposition that would have not been revealed using standard single-locus GWAS statistical analysis criteria. Many of these pathways have long been assumed to contain polymorphic genes that lead to disease predisposition. Additionally, we analyze the genetic relationships between the seven diseases, and based upon similarities with respect to the associated genes and pathways affected in each, propose a new way of categorizing the diseases.
Relative rock physics

A quantitative framework for relative rock physics includes a definition of relative elastic property that is rooted in inverse theory and that can be used practically to compute the properties. The framework also includes a set of rules that quantify how operations on absolute properties affect their relative counterparts. From these rules, a comprehensive table of relative elastic properties can be generated, all of which are expressed in terms of relative P-velocity, S-velocity, and density. Finally, the framework includes empirical and model-based rock-physics rules that can be applied directly to the relative properties without reverting to their absolute counterparts. That provides a practical route to such interpretation techniques as direct-to-seismic fluid substitution. The framework offers a quantitative alternative to workflows centered on absolute seismic inversion. In some cases, relative rock-physics workflows are preferable to absolute flows because they avoid statistical complications associated with the nonstationarity of the mean of absolute elastic properties.
Regulation of the hepatic growth hormone receptor and serum growth hormone-binding protein during pregnancy in the mouse: effects of litter size

The regulation of hepatic GH receptor (GHR) and serum GH-binding protein (GHBP) during pregnancy in the mouse was investigated by manipulating the number of conceptuses carried by the dam. Animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses had significantly lower amounts of hepatic GHR (GH-binding activity) than mice carrying 10-13 conceptuses on days 9 and 13 of pregnancy. There was no significant difference in hepatic GHR on day 17 of pregnancy between animals carrying 1-4 and 10-13 conceptuses. Animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses had significantly lower concentrations of GHBP in serum than animals carrying 10-13 conceptuses on days 9, 13, and 17 of pregnancy. The relative amounts of liver GHR- and GHBP-encoding messages in animals with low and high conceptus numbers were investigated by Northern analysis. There were higher levels of both messages in animals carrying 10-13 conceptuses than in mice carrying 1-4 conceptuses. On day 13 of pregnancy, animals carrying 10-13 conceptuses had significantly higher levels of GHBP-encoding message than animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses. Total hepatic mass was not significantly different between animals with low and high conceptus numbers. No significant difference was found in GHBP concentration between blood from the uterine vein and the trunk in 17-day pregnant animals. Mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I), mPL-II, GH, and corticosterone concentrations were measured by RIA and related to hepatic GHR activity and serum GHBP concentration. Hepatic GHR activity and serum GHBP concentration were significantly correlated with each other on days 9, 13, and 17 of pregnancy. Hepatic GHR activity was significantly correlated with mPL-I and mPL-II on day 9 of pregnancy. GHBP concentration was significantly correlated with mPL-I and mPL-II on day 9 of pregnancy and with mPL-II and GH on day 13 of pregnancy. Data are consistent with the hypothesis that mPL-I, mPL-II, and GH may affect hepatic expression of the GHR/GHBP gene during pregnancy in the mouse.
WAAS performance in the 2001 Alaska Flight Trials of the high speed Loran data channel

The wide area augmentation system (WAAS) enables the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide the performance and integrity necessary for en route flight and many landing procedures. Currently, WAAS employs two geostationary satellites to provide coverage to the United States. However, operational WAAS will require a redundant broadcast of WAAS throughout the US. Additional geostationary satellites will be used to provide some redundancy. Loran can serve as a cost-effective additional broadcast channel for WAAS. While additional geostationary satellites are still necessary, Loran can further augment broadcast of the WAAS message particularly in terrain, urban canyons or high latitudes. Using Loran has some appealing features. First, Loran can be modified to attain the capacity to support the WAAS message. Second, it could also provide a reversionary positioning capability in case the GPS/WAAS signal is lost due to radio frequency interference (RFI). Loran can be particularly helpful in Alaska, where terrain combined with high latitudes could block the signal from the geostationary satellite that appears low in the Alaskan sky. This paper describes the flight and ground tests of the reception of WAAS from Loran and the geostationary satellite.
Role of progerin-induced telomere dysfunction in HGPS premature cellular senescence

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is a premature-aging syndrome caused by a dominant mutation in the gene encoding lamin A, which leads to an aberrantly spliced and processed protein termed progerin. Previous studies have shown that progerin induces early senescence associated with increased DNA-damage signaling and that telomerase extends HGPS cellular lifespan. We demonstrate that telomerase extends HGPS cellular lifespan by decreasing progerin-induced DNA-damage signaling and activation of p53 and Rb pathways that otherwise mediate the onset of premature senescence. We show further that progerin-induced DNA-damage signaling is localized to telomeres and is associated with telomere aggregates and chromosomal aberrations. Telomerase amelioration of DNA-damage signaling is relatively rapid, requires both its catalytic and DNA-binding functions, and correlates in time with the acquisition by HGPS cells of the ability to proliferate. All of these findings establish that HGPS premature cellular senescence results from progerin-induced telomere dysfunction.
Analyzing Enhanced Terahertz-Pulse Power and Frequency Using a Field-Carrier Transport Approach

A finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) based simulation to analyze photocurrent generation and wave propagation inside photoconductive semiconductor switch antenna is described. The simulation incorporates the transient field redistribution, carrier generation characteristics, and field acceleration that contribute to the nonlinear behavior of terahertz-pulse generation following laser induced activation of the photoconductive switch. The study using this simulation approach shows that the antenna with a flare-angle electrode arrangement can effectively enhance the frequency range and the peak power of the generated terahertz (THz) pulses as compared to a typical dipole antenna.
A Device for Detecting and Counting Bites of Food Taken by a Person during Eating

We introduce methods for detecting in real-time information concerning bites taken during a meal. Our methods use an orientation sensor placed on the wrist of a user, and analyze the rolling motion of the wrist in order to detect a pattern related to biting behavior. We have built a prototype bite detector device based upon our methods. The device can count the total number of bites the user has taken, and provide the bites-taken rate (bites per minute) of the user. Experiments have been conducted to determine its accuracy. Ten subjects ate a meal of their choice, using utensils (or fingers) of their choice. Video was recorded of subjects eating, and synchronized with our device, in order to evaluate its performance. The sensitivity of the device was found to be 91%. Our methods could find use in a number of applications, including helping a user with obesity, eating disorders or eating rate problems.
Failure to recognize serrated polyposis syndrome in a cohort with large sessile colorectal polyps

Background Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is a rare condition of multiple serrated colorectal polyps and cancers. Colorectal cancer risk is increased in SPS. Objective We determined the prevalence of SPS in a cohort of patients with large (≥2 cm) sessile colorectal polyps and the rate at which the diagnosis was made by the clinicians. Design Review of patient care database. The 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used to identify cases of SPS. Setting Tertiary academic center. Patients 529 consecutive patients referred for endoscopic resection of a sessile colorectal polyp ≥2 cm. Main Outcome Measurements Prevalence of SPS in the cohort and frequency with which the referring physician and the endoscopist recognized SPS. Results Of the 529 patients, 20 (4%) met the WHO criteria for SPS. Only 1 of these cases was suspected by a referring physician. Twelve cases (60%) were either diagnosed or suspected by the endoscopist at our center. Compared with all other patients without SPS, those with SPS were more likely to have an index lesion (the lesion that led to referral) that was serrated (60% vs 3.8%), to have a cecal or ascending colon index lesion (70% vs 45%), and to be current smokers (42% vs 15%). Including the first colonoscopy to remove the index lesion and 26 follow-up colonoscopies, the endoscopist at our center removed 183 serrated polyps from the 20 patients with SPS; of those polyps, 68 were >1 cm. Three patients were referred for surgical resection of involved colon. Eighteen of the 20 patients with SPS met the WHO criterion of 5 serrated polyps proximal to the sigmoid, of which 2 are >1 cm. Failure to recognize SPS by the referring physician was at least partly related to unrecognized serrated lesions. Failure to recognize SPS by the endoscopist at our institution was the result of not systematically applying WHO criteria to the polyp findings. Limitations Retrospective study. Conclusions SPS was common in a cohort of patients with large sessile colorectal polyps, and it was frequently unrecognized. These data suggest the need for better detection of serrated lesions, better awareness of SPS, and more consistent application of SPS criteria to the polyp findings of individual patients.
Academic Performance and Social Behavior

This study investigated the relationship between the academic performance and social behavior of a sample of college students. In support of the primary hypothesis, for males, academic performance was negatively correlated with both the quality and quantity of their social interactions. For females, academic performance and social interaction were not correlated. This was true when both same and opposite sex social interactions were examined.
Adaptive Error Resilient Video Coding Based on Redundant Slices of H.264/AVC

In this paper, an error resilience video coding scheme is proposed based on the redundant slice feature in H.264/AVC. With the proposed scheme, the source redundancy in a coded bitstream can be adjusted flexibly according to changing channel conditions such as available bandwidth and data loss rate, without the need of complicated re-encoding or transcoding. To achieve good resilience performance, an algorithm is further developed to select a proper set of redundant slices and provide unequal error protection gain. Experimental results demonstrate its improved adaptive capability and similar performance compared to other error resilience coding scheme.
Cyanometalate cages with exchangeable terminal ligands

The coordination chemistry of the unusual metallo-ligand CsC[CpCo(CN)3]4[Cp*Ru]3 (CsCCo 4 Ru 3 ) is described with attention to the behavior of the ligand itself, its binding to Lewis-acidic metal cations, and its ability to stabilize catalytically relevant Ru-PPh 3 fragments. A series of tests demonstrate that the "rim" [Cpco(CN) 3 ] - groups in CsCCo 4 Ru 3 are exchangeable. Upon treatment with [(MeC 5 H 4 )Co(CN) 3 ] - (Co') CsCCo 4 Ru 3 undergoes vertex exchange to give Cs⊂Co 4-x Co' x Ru 3 . Similarly the cage is degraded by CO. Most convincing, CsCCo 4 Ru 3 reacts with PhNH 3 OTf to precipitate the polymer PhNH 3 CpCo(CN) 3 and form the molecular box [Cs⊂Co 4 Ru 4 ] + . Treatment of Cs⊂Co 4 Ru 3 with [M(NCMe) x ]PF 6 (M = Cu, Ag) gave the Lewis acidic cages (CsC[CpCo(CN) 3 ] 4 [Cp*Ru]3M(NCMe)}PF 6 , which reacted with tertiary phosphane ligands to give adducts [Cs⊂Co 4 -Ru 3 M(PPh 3 ))PF 6 . Lewis acidic octahedral vertices were installed using Fe, Ni, and Ru reagents. The boxes [Cs⊂Co 4 -Ru 3 M(NCMe) 3 ] 2+ (M = Ni, Fe) formed readily from the reaction Cs⊂Co 4 Ru 3 with [Ni(NCMe) 6 ](BF 4 ) 2 and [Fe(NCMe) 6 )-(PF 6 ) 2 . Displacement of the MeCN ligands gives [Cs⊂Co 4 -Ru3Ni(9-ane-S3)](BF4)2. A series of boxes were prepared by the reaction of Cs⊂Co 4 Ru 3 and RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 , RuHCl(PPh 3 ) 3 , and [(C 6 H 6 )Ru(NCMe)3](PF6)2. The derivative of the hydride, [CsCCo4Ru3Ru(NCMe)(PPh 3 ) 2 ](PF 6 )2, was characterized crystallographically.
Towards runtime behavior adaptation for embodied characters

Typically, autonomous believable agents are implemented using static, hand-authored reactive behaviors or scripts. This hand-authoring allows designers to craft expressive behavior for characters, but can lead to excessive authorial burden, as well as result in characters that are brittle to changing world dynamics. In this paper, we present an approach for the runtime adaptation of reactive behaviors for autonomous believable characters. Extending transformational planning, our system allows autonomous characters to monitor and reason about their behavior execution and to use this reasoning to dynamically rewrite their behaviors. In our evaluation, we transplant two characters in a sample tag game from the original world they were written for into a different one, resulting in behavior that violates the author intended personality. The reasoning layer successfully adapts the character's behaviors so as to bring its long-term behavior back into agreement with its personality.
Distal biceps tendon rupture

The authors report a rupture of the distal tendon of biceps brachii in a 42-year-old athlete. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the injury. Early surgical repair was performed by reinsertion of the tendon on the radial tuberosity according to modified Boyd-Anderson technique. Indomethacin was administered prophylactically. No complications were noted. At the latest follow-up, the patient had full elbow range of motion and participated successfully in athletic activities and job.
Development of Two Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphomas in a Patient with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Approximately 15% of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) develop malignant lymphomas. Both Epstein-Barr (EBV)-specific cellular and humoral immune defects were detected in a 13-year-old male patient who succumbed one year later to a lymphoproliferative disease involving lungs, hilar and mesenteric lymph nodes. A large cell lymphoma was found in the hilar lymph nodes. The lungs and mesenteric lymph nodes were infiltrated by a polymorphic population of lymphoid cells. Autopsy-derived specimens from spleen, liver, heart, lung, mediastinal and abdominal lymph nodes were examined. DNA isolated from tissues was tested for clonal rearrangement of joining region (JH) and constant mu (Cµ) region of immunoglobulin heavy chain and constant kappa (CK) region of immunoglobulin light chain by Southern blot hybridization. Two dominant clones with JH rearranged in different positions were found.
THE TREATMENT OF PILON FRACTURES

Distal tibial fractures represent a significant treatment challenge to most orthopedic surgeons. Pilon fractures represent 1% to 10% of all lower extremity fractures. These fractures can result from low-energy injuries that do not cause significant damage to the soft tissue envelope of the lower leg. Alternatively the advent of high-speed automotive travel has been accompanied by high-energy distal tibial injuries, which can result in severe soft tissue devitalization. Higher energy injuries also can induce significant joint surface cartilage damage, leading to posttraumatic arthritis despite optimal articular surface reduction and fixation. 7 Initial operative management techniques focused on obtaining anatomic radiographic appearances by reestablishing normal bone anatomy. With the increasing prevalence of high-energy injuries and the accompanying soft tissue damage, the orthopedic community has discovered that reestablishing bone anatomy while ignoring the soft tissues might not lead to optimal postoperative results. Standard open reduction and internal fixation techniques that used large fragment screws with large spoon plates resulted in significant wound complications in high-energy pilon fractures. More recent treatment protocols have focused on maintaining a healthy soft tissue envelope while reducing the articular surface by indirect means using minimally invasive techniques. Surgeons have combined internal and external fixation to minimize the need for the extensive soft tissue dissection necessitated by large fragment screws and plates. Hybrid external fixators have been used for pilon fractures to allow early ankle range of motion, while reestablishing normal bone anatomy and minimizing the need for extensive internal fixation. Treatment has evolved to a staged protocol that ases external fixation as portable traction for several weeks before performing definitive internal fixation. Many options currently exist for the definitive treatment of pilon fractures for orthopedic surgeons. This article reviews the evolution of treatment as well as the current state-of-the-art of pilon fracture management.
Expression of Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within Human Monocytes: Virulence Correlates with Intracellular Growth and Induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha but Not with Evasion of Lymphocyte-Dependent Monocyte Effector Functions

We assessed the applicability of an in vitro model of low-level infection of human monocytes to the characterization of the virulence of strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis family. Peripheral blood monocytes were infected at a 1:1 ratio with the virulent M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv, the avirulent M. tuberculosis strain H37Ra, and the attenuated M. bovis strain BCG. Both the percentages of cells infected by the three strains and the initial numbers of intracellular organisms were equivalent, as were levels of monocyte viability up to 7 days following infection. Intracellular growth reflected virulence, as H37Rv replicated in logarithmic fashion throughout the assay, BCG growth reached a plateau at 4 days, and H37Ra did not grow at all. The same patterns of growth were observed following infection of human alveolar macrophages with H37Rv and H37Ra. Monocyte production of tumor necrosis factor alpha was significantly higher following infection with virulent H37Rv than with either BCG or H37Ra. In contrast, there was no clear correlation of interleukin 10 production with virulence. Nonadherent cells of purified-protein-derivative-positive donors mediated equivalent degrees of reduction of the intracellular growth of H37Rv, BCG, and H37Ra. Low-level infection of human monocytes with H37Rv, BCG, and H37Ra thus provides an in vitro model for assessment of the virulence of these M. tuberculosis family strains. Furthermore, it is suggested that the virulence of these strains is expressed primarily by their differing abilities to adapt to the intracellular environment of the mononuclear phagocyte.
Continuous sensing of gesture for control of audio-visual media

This note describes how continuous sensing of gesture enabling expressive control of real-time audio/visual media is achieved using Berkeley motes. We have contributed a relatively stable, inexpensive, extensible, and replicable wireless sensing platform for continuous motion tracking and placed the sensors into clothing to provide unobtrusive, natural affordances to the gesturing user. This paper includes an analysis of system requirements and a discussion of the software/hardware architecture.
Channel networks carved by subglacial water: Observations and reconstruction in the eastern Puget Lowland of Washington

Channels of inferred subglacial fluvial origin ("channelways") are conspicuous across the recently deglaciated eastern Puget Lowland of Washington State. Exploiting the unusually well defined geometry of the former Puget-lobe ice sheet, we have reconstructed the subglacial hydraulic head in this region to better understand the location and orientation of these channels. We used established principles of channelized water flow under static ice because a three-dimensional linear-viscous ice model shows that sliding-induced pressure variations can be ignored at all but the smallest scales of individual landforms. Two types of predicted subglacial flow paths emerge. One drained continuously from the interior toward the ice-sheet margin; the other diverted water into a series of valleys in the flanking Cascade Range, forming ice-marginal lakes that discharged episodically and probably catastrophically. These reconstructed flow paths correlate very well with the independently mapped distribution of channelways, and also of ice-marginal lakes, throughout this area. Our study suggests that the formation and preservation of these landforms require both the concentration of subglacial water, notably near ablation-zone ice margins, and favorable preglacial bed-rock topography. Where these elements occur together, landforms of subglacial fluvial origin should be recognizable across the now-exposed beds of other former ice sheets as well.
Carbon Nanotube Micro-Opto-Mechanical Grippers

We report the integration of single wall carbon nanotube ensembles into micro-mechanical systems to realize a new carbon nanotube micro-optomechanical system (CNT-MOMS). CNT-MOM grippers were fabricated with CMOS compatible techniques involving nanotube film formation, wafer bonding, photo-lithography, plasma etching and dry release. MOM-grippers displacement of ∼24μm was obtained from a gripper of 430μm in length under infra-red laser stimulus and continuous operation of more than 100,000 cycles was acquired. The optical power consumption of the gripper operation was estimated to be as small as ∼240μW. This study is a good example of how nano-materials could be integrated into CMOS compatible techniques for applications in high performance MEMS and nanoscale actuation technologies.
Electromagnetic fields due to dipole antennas over stratified anisotropic media.

Solutions to the problem of radiation of dipole antennas in the presence of a stratified anisotropic media are facilitated by decomposing a general wave field into transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes. Employing the propagation matrices, wave amplitudes in any region are related to those in any other regions. The reflection coefficients, which embed all the information about the geometrical configuration and the physical constituents of the medium, are obtained in closed form. In view of the general formulation, various special cases are discussed.
Marital Aggression and Children's Responses to Everyday Interparental Conflict

This study examined parents' past marital aggression as a (1) predictor of everyday marital conflict expressions, and (2) moderator of children's responses to marital conflict. In a laboratory setting, children watched their parents discuss an everyday topic of disagreement and then reported their own emotional and behavioral reactions, and rated their parents' conflict resolution. Controlling for current marital aggression, couples with higher levels of past marital aggression used less constructive and more destructive conflict tactics, and displayed less positive and more negative emotions. Children's responses to marital conflict were moderated by parents' past marital aggression: Children whose parents had been more maritally aggressive in the past were more sensitive to parents' use of constructive conflict tactics and positive emotions. Thus, controlling for current marital aggression, past interparental aggression had implications for both parents' everyday interparental conflict and children's re...
The cellular mismatch repair system is able to repair mismatches within MLV retroviral double-stranded DNA at a low frequency

Eukaryotic cells possess several distinct mismatch repair pathways. A mismatch can be introduced in retroviral double-stranded DNA by a pre-existing mutation within the primer binding site (PBS) of the viral RNA genome. In order to evaluate mismatch repair of retroviral double-stranded DNA, Moloney leukemia virus (MLV)-based vectors with a mutation in their PBS were used to infect mismatch repair-competent as well as mismatch repair-deficient cell lines. If the target cells were capable of repairing the mismatch before an infected cell divided, the mismatch within the PBS could be repaired to the wild-type or mutant PBS. If the target cells were unable to repair the mismatch, half the cells in the colony should contain the mutant PBS while the other half should contain the wild-type PBS. To evaluate these predictions, individual colonies were isolated and analyzed by PCR. Almost all mismatch-deficient cell colonies analyzed (cell lines HCT 116 and PMS2–/–) contained both the wild-type and mutated PBS, therefore, mismatches within retroviral double-strand DNA could not be repaired by the mismatch-deficient cells. In contrast, mismatches in ~25% of the mismatch repair-competent cell clones analyzed (cell lines HeLa and PMS2+/+) were repaired, while 75% were not. Therefore, the cellular mismatch repair system is able to repair mismatches within viral double-stranded DNA, but at a low frequency.
ROAD DUST AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON ALASKAN TAIGA AND TUNDRA

The physical and chemical characteristics and ecological consequences of road dust in arctic regions are reviewed with emphasis on recent information gathered along the Dalton Highway and the Prudhoe Bay Spine Road in northern Alaska. The primary observed ecological effects of dust are (1) early snowmelt in roadside areas due to lower albedos, resulting in a snow-free band of vegetation within 30 to 100 m of the road in early spring, which is used by waterfowl
“We hold a neatly folded hope”: Filipino Veterans of World War II on Citizenship and Political Obligation

(1995). “We hold a neatly folded hope”: Filipino Veterans of World War II on Citizenship and Political Obligation. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 155-174.
Behavioral abnormalities in mice lacking mesenchyme-specific Pten

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) is a negative regulator of cell proliferation and growth. Using a Cre-recombinase approach with Lox sequences flanking the fibroblast-specific protein 1 (Fsp1 aka S100A4; a mesenchymal marker), we probed sites of expression using a β-galactosidase Rosa26(LoxP) reporter allele; the transgene driving deletion of Pten (exons 4-5) was found throughout the brain parenchyma and pituitary, suggesting that deletion of Pten in Fsp1-positive cells may influence behavior. Because CNS-specific deletion of Pten influences social and anxiety-like behaviors and S100A4 is expressed in astrocytes, we predicted that loss of Pten in Fsp1-expressing cells would result in deficits in social interaction and increased anxiety. We further predicted that environmental enrichment would compensate for genetic deficits in these behaviors. We conducted a battery of behavioral assays on Fsp1-Cre;Pten(LoxP/LoxP) male and female homozygous knockouts (Pten(-/-)) and compared their behavior to Pten(LoxP/LoxP) (Pten(+/+)) conspecifics. Despite extensive physical differences (including reduced hippocampal size) and deficits in sensorimotor function, Pten(-/-) mice behaved remarkably similar to control mice on nearly all behavioral tasks. These results suggest that the social and anxiety-like phenotypes observed in CNS-specific Pten(-/-) mice may depend on neuronal Pten, as lack of Pten in Fsp1-expressing cells of the CNS had little effect on these behaviors.
The quest for energy aware computing

How do natural systems endure and how is nature inherently renewable? Can we learn from the supreme engineer - nature - how to design systems that are either energy aware by themselves or aid in achieving true sustainability in man-made systems? Electronic system design has benefited from decades of reliable and predictable functionality, but this trend is likely to slow down in future technology nodes. To support a path toward energy aware computing, a holistic approach toward addressing energy awareness, reliability, and variability at all the levels in the system is required. Furthermore, while design tools and methodologies for individual systems is relatively mature, achieving true energy efficiency for many real-life applications is still emerging. This talk will discuss our work on achieving superior performance and power efficiency for silicon systems in the presence of challenges induced by manufacturing process uncertainties and will unravel applications of classic tool sets to the design and analysis of large scale real-life applications.
Microcomputer Peripherals

Microcomputer system performance has been enhanced by the introduction of microcomputer peripherals. Microcomputer peripherals are integrated circuits capable of performing specialized input/output and computational functions in microcomputer systems. These peripheral devices increase overall system efficiency by allowing the central processing unit (CPU) to function in a task management and decision-making capacity with the peripherals assuming responsibility for many of the functional details. In addition to providing performance improvements, microcomputer peripherals permit the implementation of a structured approach to system design. This paper presents a general microcomputer-based digital system design philosophy, provides a rationale for microcomputer peripherals, and considers the operation and application of commercially available microcomputer peripherals.
An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle sensing system for structural health monitoring of bridges

As civil infrastructure (i.e. bridges, railways, and tunnels) continues to age; the frequency and need to perform inspection more quickly on a broader scale increases. Traditional inspection and monitoring techniques (e.g., visual inspection, mechanical sounding, rebound hammer, cover meter, electrical potential measurements, ultrasound, and ground penetrating radar) may produce inconsistent results, require lane closure, are labor intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, new structural health monitoring systems must be developed that are automated, highly accurate, minimally invasive, and cost effective. Three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation (DIC) systems have the merits of extracting full-field strain, deformation, and geometry profiles. These profiles can then be stitched together to generate a complete integrity map of the area of interest. Concurrently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as valuable resources for positioning sensing equipment where it is either difficult to measure or poses a risk to human safety. UAVs have the capability to expedite the optical-based measurement process, offer increased accessibility, and reduce interference with local traffic. Within this work, an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle in conjunction with 3D DIC was developed for monitoring bridges. The capabilities of the proposed system are demonstrated in both laboratory measurements and data collected from bridges currently in service. Potential measurement influences from platform instability, rotor vibration and positioning inaccuracy are also studied in a controlled environment. The results of these experiments show that the combination of autonomous flight with 3D DIC and other non-contact measurement systems provides a valuable and effective civil inspection platform.
Warfarin in Anticoagulative Treatment of Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a familiar arrhythmia in clinic. Anticoagulation is more important. Warfarin is the better choice in the anticoagulative treatment of atrial fibrillation. This article reviews the use of warfarin in the anticoagulative treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Development of 2-kW interleaved DC-capacitor-less single-phase inverter system

This paper presents the development and experimental performance of a 2-kW interleaved DC-capacitorless single-phase inverter. By utilizing an AC capacitor to absorb the ripple power pulsating at twice the line frequency, the proposed interleaved DC-capacitor-less single-phase inverter significantly reduced the total capacitor size. The adoption of SiC MOSFET with 216-kHz switching frequency and the interleaved structure further reduce the filtering components size. A comparison of existing topologies for inverter application and the design considerations of interleaved PWM scheme and integrated coupled inductors are described in details. Experimental results are provided to verify the performance and feasibility of the proposed inverter system.
Differential permeabilities of rat renal brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles.

Potassium chloride permeability and relative ionic conductances of rat renal cortical brush-border (BBMV) and basolateral (BLMV) membrane vesicles were examined using the fluorescent probe 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide [diS-C3-(5)]. Vesicles were simultaneously isolated and separated by free-flow electrophoresis. These studies demonstrated that neither BBMV nor BLMV equilibrated in 100 mM KCl despite prolonged incubation. In both, an inwardly directed KCl gradient was sustained for 3 h. The low intravesicular KCl concentration of BLMV was confirmed utilizing the response of electrogenic Na+-dependent [3H]glutamine transport to variations in the membrane potential. Chloride conductance was significantly less than potassium conductance in BBMV and BLMV. Consequently, an inside-positive potential was maintained across both membranes. BLMV were significantly more fluid, less permeable, had a lower relative chloride conductance, and maintained a greater inside-positive potential than BBMV. The KCl per...
“We just pretended as if everything was good”: Communication about alcohol in families of nonalcoholic and alcoholic parents

ABSTRACTFamily communication is a strong predictor of the attitudes and behaviors children and adolescents have toward alcohol. This study explored perspectives of family communication about the topic of alcohol in focus groups consisting of adult children of alcoholics and adult children of nonalcoholics. The study utilized Koerner and Fitzpatrick’s (2002) family communication patterns theory and Gottman’s (2001) emotion regulation theory to guide research and focus group questions. A group of trained coders conducted an analysis of transcripts from four focus groups—two were comprised of self-proclaimed adult children of alcoholics and two consisted solely of adult children of nonalcoholic parents. Based on responses from both groups, five themes emerged: Experiences of Open Communication, Family Decision Making, Communication about Alcohol, Ability to Express Emotion, and Feelings Toward the Alcoholic. Results suggest that adult children of alcoholics have a very different experience when it comes to f...