cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Clinical Study Comparing Helicoll with Scarlet Red and OpSite in the Treatment of Split Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Split thickness skin graft (STSG) is a key method in the reconstructive ladder for covering skin defects used widely by surgeons from all specialties. The donor site is often a source of delayed healing, associated with considerable pain and discomfort even more than the recipient wound. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to compare Helicoll® (EnColl Corp., Fremont, CA, USA), a type I pure collagen dressing, to OpSite® (Smith & Nephew, USA) dressing and to Scarlet Red® (Kendall HealthCare, USA) dressing in the treatment of standardized STSG donor sites. Thirty patients, over a 3-month period, underwent various reconstructive procedures, necessitating the use of STSGs. Following a simple randomized clinical protocol, the analysis of data included donor site pain, healing time of the donor site, initial absorption of the applied dressing and rate of infection with the three different dressings to form the basis of this paper. Patients in the Helicoll group reported significantly less pain, less infection rate and required no dressing change when compared with the OpSite (Johnson & Johnson, Langhorne, PA, USA) or the Scarlet Red groups. Healing time of the donor site in the Helicoll group was shorter than that in the Scarlet Red group; however, it was comparable to the OpSite group. This study indicates that Helicoll, as a donor site dressing, is successful in providing pain-free mobility with a measurable healing rate.
Sequent calculi and abstract machines

We propose a sequent calculus derived from the λhμμ˜-calculus of Curien and Herbelin that is expressive enough to directly represent the fine details of program evaluation using typical abstract machines. Not only does the calculus easily encode the usual components of abstract machines such as environments and stacks, but it can also simulate the transition steps of the abstract machine with just a constant overhead. Technically this is achieved by ensuring that reduction in the calculus always happens at a bounded depth from the root of the term. We illustrate these properties by providing shallow encodings of the Krivine (call-by-name) and the CEK (call-by-value) abstract machines in the calculus.
Complementary areas for conserving avian diversity on Hispaniola

Hispaniola has been identified as a global priority for avian conservation. However, little quantitative information has been available to help guide optimal strategies for conservation action on the island. Here, the first broad-scale look has been assembled of the distribution of species of conservation concern among protected areas in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and their occurrences have been analysed to determine where conservation activities might be focused to serve avian conservation interests. An iterative, heuristic complementarity approach was used, such that the most highly ranked reserve is that which protects the greatest number of species of conservation concern and subsequently ranked reserves are those that add the most species of conservation concern that are not included in the first reserve. Parks are prioritised by the presence/absence of species of concern and prioritised a second time with individual species first being weighted by species-specific extinction risks and then by uniqueness in terms of endemism at the island or regional level. Parks of highest importance are the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park and Jaragua National Park, but the importance of other protected areas to avian conservation is also documented and discussed.
Empathy ability is impaired in alcohol-dependent patients

Empathy is a complex form of psychological inference in which observation, memory, knowledge and reasoning are combined to yield insights into the thoughts and feelings of others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of empathy in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients in comparison to a control sample. One hundred and fifty alcohol-dependent subjects were consecutively recruited. All of the subjects successfully detoxified have been evaluated with the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and then compared with 107 control subjects. The level of empathy was significantly lower in the group of alcohol-dependent subjects than in the control sample (p <.001). Differences with respect to gender and psychiatric comorbidity have also been observed. A low level of empathy could be a psychological trait typically observed in pre-morbid alcoholic personalities. Further, the lack of empathy could lead latent abusers to find in the alcohol misuse something enabling them to compensate for their intrinsic weakness.
An analysis of foot stiffness in barefoot and traditionally shod runners

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise that people engage in to stay active and healthy. However, due to a high incidence of injury there exists a great need to increase the safety of...
Time Spent on the Internet and Adolescent Blood Pressure

Internet use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents. Growing evidence suggests heavy Internet use negatively impacts health, yet the relationship between time spent on the Internet and adolescent blood pressure (BP) is unknown. We examined the association between Internet use and elevated BP in a racially diverse cross-sectional sample of 331 healthy adolescents (ages 14-17 years). Heavy Internet use was defined as ≥ 2 hr/day, moderate use as <2 hr/day and ≥ 5 days/week, and light use as < 2 hr/day and ≤ 4 days/week. Elevated BP was defined as systolic or diastolic BP ≥ 90 th percentile. Heavy Internet users had statistically significantly higher odds of elevated BP compared to light Internet users. School nurses can play an important role in preventing high BP through assessment of BP and other health behaviors including Internet use, and health teaching to individuals, student groups, faculty, and parents to increase awareness of the relationship between Internet use and health.
Thoughts on Social Relationships and Language in Hominid Evolution

This paper argues that the evolution of language must have been dependent on the development of social relationships. A broad range of ideas pertaining to the evolution of human language is first critically reviewed. Our state of knowledge with regard to neural, psychological, anatomical and sociocultural aspects of language evolution is outlined. It is argued that a number of major transformations between 100,000 and 35,000 years ago are best understood as reflecting the emergence of language-as-we-know-it. The selective advantages of this development are discussed. It is then suggested that this must have been a long, tortuous process, relying importantly upon the development of an appropriate set of social relations. Finally, consideration is given to the likely nature of social organization and relations prior to a modern level of language competence.
Cigarette Smoking Impairs Pancreatic Duct Cell Bicarbonate Secretion

Objective To compare pancreatic duct cell function in smokers (current and past) and never smokers by measurement of secretin-stimulated peak bicarbonate concentration ([HCO 3 - ]) in endoscopic collected pancreatic fluid (PF). Methods This retrospective study was cross-sectional in design, recording demographic information (age, gender, etc.), smoking status (former, current, never), alcohol intake, clinical data (imaging, endoscopy), and laboratory results (peak PF [HCO 3 - ]) from subjects evaluated for pancreatic disease at a tertiary pancreas center. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis (SAS Version 9.2, Cary, NC, USA) was performed to assess the relationship between cigarette smoking and secretin-stimulated pancreatic fluid bicarbonate concentration. Results A total of 131 subjects underwent pancreatic fluid collection (endoscopic pancreatic function test, ePFT) for bicarbonate analysis: 25.2% (33 out of 131) past smokers, 31.3% (41 out of 131) current smokers, and 43.5% (57 out of 131) were never smokers. Measures of Association: The mean peak PF [HCO 3 - ] in never smokers (81.3±18.5 mEq/L) was statistically higher (indicating better duct cell function) when compared to past smokers (66.8±24.7 mEq/L, P=0.005) and current smokers (70.0±20.2 mEq/L, P=0.005). However, the mean peak [HCO 3 - ] in past smokers was not statistically different from that in current smokers (P=0.575), and therefore, the two smoking groups were combined to form a single “smokers cohort”. When compared to the never smokers, the smokers cohort was older (P=0.037) and had a greater proportion of subjects with definite chronic pancreatitis imaging (P=0.010), alcohol consumption ≥20 g/day (P=0.012), and abnormal peak PF [HCO3-] (P<0.001). Risk-Based Estimates: Cigarette smoking (risk ratio, RR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.5; P<0.001), diagnosis of definite chronic pancreatitis imaging (RR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.2; P<0.001) and alcohol consumption ≥20 g/day (RR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.4; P=0.033) were all associated with low mean peak PF [HCO 3 - ] (indicating duct cell secretory dysfunction). Multivariate Analysis: Smoking (odds ratio, OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.6-9.1; P=0.003) and definite chronic pancreatitis imaging (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 2.2-14.8; P<0.001) were determined to be independent predictors of low peak PF [HCO 3 - ], controlling for age, gender, and alcohol intake. Furthermore there was no interaction between smoking status and alcohol intake in predicting duct cell dysfunction (P=0.571). Conclusion Measurement of pancreatic fluid bicarbonate in smokers reveals that cigarette smoking (past and current) is an independent risk factor for pancreatic duct cell secretory dysfunction (low PF [HCO 3 - ]). Furthermore, the risk of duct cell dysfunction in subjects who smoked was approximately twice the risk (RR: 2.2) in never smokers. Further in depth, translational research approaches to pancreatic fluid analysis may help unravel mechanisms of cigarette smoking induced pancreatic duct cell injury. Image: Comparison of mean peak pancreatic fluid [HCO3-] and 95% CI among all studied cohorts.
Clinical Impact of NXY-059 Demonstrated in the SAINT I Trial Derivation of Number Needed to Treat for Benefit Over Entire Range of Functional Disability

Background and Purpose— The SAINT I trial demonstrated that the neuroprotective agent NXY-059 improves the distribution of acute stroke patient outcomes on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of global disability. Standard dichotomized number-needed-to-treat (NNT) analyses for the magnitude of treatment benefit range widely, from 22.7 to infinity, and each capture only a portion of the observed beneficial shift in outcomes. Derivation of an NNT value reflecting the treatment’s benefit over the entire range of the mRS is required to describe the clinical import of the trial results. Methods— The minimum and maximum possible NNTs for benefit over the range of mRS global disability outcomes were calculated by completing a joint distribution outcome table for a model population of 1000 patients, shifting responders by the greatest and smallest possible increments, respectively. The biologically most plausible NNT within this range was derived by having 10 neurologist and emergency-physician acute stroke-care experts independently specify the joint distribution of outcomes in model samples of 1000 patients assigned to placebo and active therapy. Results— The minimum possible NNT for benefit incorporating all mRS state transitions is 7.9 and the maximum is 16.7. The biologically most plausible NNT for 1 additional patient to have a better outcome by 1 or more grades on the mRS outcomes is 9.8 (95% CI, 8.7 to 10.9). Conclusions— Considering improvements in global disability over the entire outcome range, the SAINT I trial results indicate that for every 100 patients treated, ≈10 will benefit and none be harmed as a result of treatment.
An object-oriented graphical approach for teaching electric machinery analysis

This paper presents a teaching method used at the Naval Postgraduate School for electric machinery analysis. An objected-oriented, graphical tool for real-time simulation of electric machines is described. An undergraduate exercise is detailed to show how the use of the new analysis techniques significantly enhances the learning process. Rapid modeling of electric machines and subsequent simulation results encourage the student to explore machine behavior under a variety of transient and steady state operating conditions, thus significantly broadening the students knowledge of electric machinery. >
New insights into oxidative folding

The oxidoreductase ERO1 (endoplasmic reticulum [ER] oxidoreductin 1) is thought to be crucial for disulfide bond formation in the ER. In this issue, Zito et al. (2010. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200911086) examine the division of labor between the two mammalian isoforms of ERO1 (ERO1-α and -β) in oxidative folding. Their analysis reveals a selective role for ERO1-β in insulin production and a surprisingly minor contribution for either ERO1 isoform on immunoglobulin folding and secretion.
Mechanical and thermal properties of waterborne epoxy composites containing cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are reinforcing fillers of emerging interest for polymers due to their high modulus and potential for sustainable production. In this study, CNC-based composites with a water- borne epoxy resin matrix were prepared and characterized to determine morphology, water content, and thermal and mechanical properties. While some CNC aggregation was observed, the glass transition temperature (Tg) and modulus for the composites increased with increasing CNC content. Relative to neat epoxy, at 15 wt.% CNC the storage modulus increased by 100%, the Tg increased from 66.5 � Ct o 75.5� C, and tensile strength increased from 40 MPa to 60 MPa, suggesting good adhesion between epoxy and CNC surfaces exposed to the matrix. Additionally, no additional water content resulting from CNC addition were observed. These results provide evidence that CNCs can improve thermomechanical performance of waterborne epoxy polymers and that they are promising as reinforcing fillers in struc- tural materials and coatings.
Fully automatic registration of multiple 3D data sets

This paper presents a method for automatically registering multiple rigid three dimensional (3D) data sets, a process we call multi-view surface matching. Previous approaches required manual registration or relied on specialized hardware to record the sensor position. In contrast, our method does not require any pose measuring hardware or manual intervention. We do not assume any knowledge of initial poses or which data sets overlap. Our multi-view surface matching algorithm begins by converting the input data into surface meshes, which are pair-wise registered using a surface matching engine. The resulting matches are tested for surface consistency, but some incorrect matches may be indistinguishable from correct ones at this local level. A global optimization process searches a graph constructed from the pair-wise matches for a connected sub-graph containing only correct matches, employing a global consistency measure to eliminate incorrect, but locally consistent, matches. From this sub-graph, the rigid-body transforms that register all the views can be computed directly. We apply our algorithm to the problem of 3D digital reconstruction of real-world objects and show results for a collection of automatically digitized objects.
Transposon Tagging of the Sulfur Gene of Tobacco Using Engineered Maize Ac / Ds Elements

The Sulfur gene of tobacco is nuclearly encoded. A Su allele at this locus acts as a dominant semilethal mutation and causes reduced accumulation of chlorophyll, resulting in a yellow color in the plant. An engineered transposon tagging system, based upon the maize element Ac/Ds, was used to mutate the gene. High frequency of transposon excision from the Su locus produced variegated sectors. Plants regenerated from the variegated sector exhibited a similar variegated phenotype. Genetic analyses showed that the variegation was always associated with the transposase construct and the transposon was linked to the Su locus. Sequences surrounding the transposon were isolated, and five revertant sectors possessed typical direct repeats following Ds excisions. These genetic and molecular data are consistent with the tagging of the Su allele by the transposon.
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation thermodynamic efficiencies reflect physiological organ roles

Mitochondria cannot maximize energy production, efficiency, and the cellular ATP phosphorylation potential all at the same time. The theoretical and observed determinations of coupling of oxidative...
Human Rights Violations in the Inner City: implications for moral educators

Abstract The pervasive violence that is occurring in US urban communities involves not only violent acts against individuals, but also systemic violence perpetrated against the ethnic‐minority poor. It represents a breakdown in interpersonal relationships and the social order within these communities, and as such, it is a moral issue. Systemic violence refers to the inequities in the distribution of resources in urban communities, along with the immoral social policies and programmes that constitute the maintenance of this poverty. In this paper it is argued that systemic violence is a unique form of human rights violations. These violations affect the moral climate surrounding violence, which interferes with urban adolescents’ efforts to resolve moral questions. Applying a human rights perspective to violence contextualises the problem in such a way that youth can be helped to explore the aetiology of violence and the inherent moral questions from both micro‐ and macro‐systemic levels. Moral educators sh...
Fragmentation of Fluorinated Model Compounds Exposed to Oxygen Radicals: Spin Trapping ESR Experiments and Implications for the Behaviour of Proton Exchange Membranes Used in Fuel Cells

Low-molecular weight model compounds (MCs) for Nafion membranes used in fuel cells were exposed at 300 K to ·OH radicals produced by UV irradiation of aqueous H2O2 solutions. The MCs contained fluorinated and partially fluorinated groups terminated by sulphonic or carboxylic acid groups. The fragmentation process in the MCs was studied by spin trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) methods, using 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) as the spin traps. The objective of these experiments was to assess the effect of the type of ionic groups (sulphonic or carboxylic) and of fluorine substitution on the spin adducts detected. DMPO experiments led to the detection of spin adducts of ·OH and of carbon-centred radicals (CCRs), and allowed the determination of the ·OH attack site on the ionic and/or on the protiated or fluorinated groups. CCR adducts were also detected when using PBN as a spin trap; a key point in the interpretation of the PBN results was, however, the realisation that MNP is formed during PBN exposure to UV irradiation and oxygen or other oxidants such as H2O2. Experiments with MNP as the spin trap were the most informative in terms of structural details for adducts obtained from each MC. The results allowed the identification of CCRs present as adducts, based on large hyperfine splittings (hfs) from, and the number of, interacting 19F nuclei; in addition, oxygen-centred radicals (OCRs) as MNP adducts were also identified, with much lower hfs from 19F nuclei. Taken together, the results deduced by spin trapping suggest that both sulphonic acid and acetic acid groups can be attacked by ·OH radicals and confirm two possible degradation mechanisms in Nafion membranes: initiated at the backbone and at the side chain.
Longitudinal Variation in Adolescent Physical Activity Patterns and the Emergence of Tobacco Use

Objective The objective of this investigation was to examine how variation in adolescent physical activity is related to smoking and alternative tobacco use. Methods Adolescents (N ¼ 1,384) completed a self-report survey every 6 months from ages 14- to 18-years old in a prospective study of health behaviors. The 8 waves of data were analyzed using General Growth Mixture Modeling (GGMM) Results GGMM identified five physical activity trajectories including stable higher (SHPA), decreased (DPA), stable regular (SRPA), curvilinear (CPA), and stable low (SLPA). Across 4 years, the likelihood of smoking was greater among adolescents in the DPA, SLPA and SRPA trajectories compared to adolescents belonging to the SHPA trajectory. Alternative tobacco use was greatest among adolescents in the DPA and SRPA trajectories. Conclusions Adolescents with decreasing physical activity and even adolescents averaging an hour of physical activity a day (SRPA) are important groups to target for tobacco use prevention and intervention efforts.
Virtual organizational learning in open source software development projects

We studied virtual organizational learning in open source software (OSS) development projects. Specifically, our research focused on learning effects of OSS projects and the factors that affect the learning process. The number and percentage of resolved bugs and bug resolution time of 118 SourceForge.net OSS projects were used to measure the learning effects. Projects were characterized by project type, number and experience of developers, number of bugs, and bug resolution time. Our results provided evidence of virtual organizational learning in OSS development projects and support for several factors as determinants of performance. Team size was a significant predictor, with mid-sized project teams functioning best. Teams of three to seven developers exhibited the highest efficiency over time and teams of eight to 15 produced the lowest mean time for bug resolution. Increasing the percentage of bugs assigned to specific developers or boosting developer participation in other OSS projects also improved performance. Furthermore, project type introduced variability in project team performance.
Cellular-level near-wall unsteadiness of high-hematocrit erythrocyte flow using confocal μpIV

In hemodynamics, the inherent intermittency of two-phase cellular-level flow has received little attention. Unsteadiness is reported and quantified for the first time in the literature using a combination of fluorescent dye labeling, time-resolved scanning confocal microscopy, and micro-particle image velocimetry (μPIV). The near-wall red blood cell (RBC) motion of physiologic high-hematocrit blood in a rectangular microchannel was investigated under pressure-driven flow. Intermittent flow was associated with (1) the stretching of RBCs as they passed through RBC clusters with twisting motions; (2) external flow through local obstacles; and (3) transitionary rouleaux formations. Velocity profiles are presented for these cases. Unsteady flow clustered in local regions. Extra-cellular fluid flow generated by individual RBCs was examined using submicron fluorescent microspheres. The capabilities of confocal μPIV post-processing were verified using synthetic raw PIV data for validation. Cellular interactions and oscillating velocity profiles are presented, and 3D data are made available for computational model validation.
System matrix modelling of externally tracked motion.

Background and aim In high-resolution emission tomography imaging, even small patient movements can considerably degrade image quality. The aim of this work was to develop a general approach to motion-corrected reconstruction of motion-contaminated data in the case of rigid motion (particularly brain imaging) which would be applicable to any PET scanner in the field, without specialized data-acquisition requirements.
Musculocutaneous Neuropathy Following Insertion of Cosmetic Silicone Biceps Implants: A Case Report

This is a case report of a 40-year-old man who underwent bilateral cosmetic biceps implantation, developed pain, and had the implants removed. He then developed weakness and numbness in the left arm and was subsequently found to have musculocutaneous neuropathy by electromyography and ultrasound. After failing to respond to conservative care and having ongoing weakness, the patient underwent a neurolysis and debridement of the musculocutaneous nerve. Subsequently, he regained full function and use of the left upper limb. This case report brings attention to musculocutaneous neuropathy as a potential complication of cosmetic bicipital implantation surgery.
Validation of Noninvasive Measures of Left Ventricular Mechanics in Children: A Simultaneous Echocardiographic and Conductance Catheterization Study.

Background The accuracy of echocardiography in evaluating left ventricular contractility has not been validated in children. The objective of this study was to compare echocardiographic measures of contractility with those derived from pressure-volume loop (PVL) analysis in children. Methods Patients with relatively normal loading conditions undergoing routine left heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled. PVLs were obtained via conductance catheters. The gold-standard measure of contractility, end-systolic elastance (Ees), was obtained via balloon occlusion of one or both vena cavae. Echocardiograms were performed immediately after PVL analysis under the same anesthetic conditions. Single-beat estimations of echocardiographic Ees were calculated using four different methods. These estimates were calculated using a combination of noninvasive blood pressure readings, ventricular volumes derived from three-dimensional echocardiography, and Doppler time intervals. Results Of 24 patients, 18 patients were heart transplant recipients, and six patients had small patent ductus arteriosus or small coronary fistulae. The mean age was 9.1 ± 5.6 years. The average invasive Ees was 3.04 ± 1.65 mm Hg/mL. Invasive Ees correlated best with echocardiographic Ees by the method of Tanoue ( r = 0.85, P Conclusions Echocardiographic estimates of Ees correlate well with gold-standard measures obtained via conductance catheters in children with relatively normal loading conditions. The use of these noninvasive measures in accurately assessing left ventricular contractility appears promising and merits further study in children.
Current approaches for optimizing the benefit of biologic therapy in ulcerative colitis

As biologic-based medication options for ulcerative colitis expand, our understanding of their optimal use in clinical practice is advancing as well. The appropriate use of combination therapy with immunomodulators can reduce the immunogenicity of biologic agents and raise serum drug levels of the biologic. A treat-to-target strategy with objective assessments of disease activity clearly defines the goals of biologic drug treatment. Mucosal healing is an evolving treatment goal and is associated with long-term remission and reduced incidence of colectomy. Furthermore, regular reassessments and therapeutic drug monitoring can allow clinicians to make evidence-based changes in therapy. Biologic drug de-escalation or re-initiation are less well developed topics, but are emerging areas of study. We review the evidence underlying these advances and a modern approach to the use of biologic therapy in ulcerative colitis.
Educational attainment and nutrient consumption patterns: the Minnesota Heart Survey.

Abstract To explore whether dietary patterns differ according to educational attainment, we examined the associations of nutrient intake with educational level in a sample of 825 male and 893 female Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) residents aged 25 to 74 years who were surveyed between 1980 and 1982. Of particular interest was the pattern of macronutrient consumption, since the proportion of fat and type of fat in the diet is thought to be related to the development of chronic disease. Estimates of nutrient intake were based on 24-hour dietary recalls, while information on education was obtained through interview. Educational attainment was positively associated with nutrient consumption patterns that may decrease risk of chronic disease for both men and women. For women, the proportion of dietary fat was less (p=.03) and carbohydrate greater (p=.004) with increasing education. For men, the Keys dietary score decreased as education increased (p=.05) (high scores indicate greater blood cholesterol-raising effect of the diet). Inverse associations of average total serum cholesterol level with education in both men (p=.02) and women (p=.06) support these dietary associations. These results suggest that educational attainment is related positively to eating patterns that may carry a decreased risk of cardiovascular and other chronic disease. Whether or not this association is causal, it would appear to point to a need for more effective nutrition education strategies for those with less education. J Am Diet Assoc 88:1230, 1988.
Introduction to Real-Time State Assessment

Real-Time State Assessment RTSA is the act of continuously monitoring an individual in order to estimate the human's current state. Examples of real time state assessment include estimating workload, fatigue, stress, and attention from physiological measures such as Electroencephalogram EEG or eye-tracking inputs. When estimated in real-time, the state of the human can aid dynamic task allocation systems in determining when to intervene and what course of action should be taken to mitigate potential problems or to improve system performance. In this paper we provide an introduction to the field of RTSA study, including an overview of modeling techniques and assessment methods. RTSA's challenges are discussed, and recent work in the area is reviewed.
Designing a Resilient Deployment and Reconfiguration Infrastructure for Remotely Managed Cyber-Physical Systems

Multi-module Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), such as satellite clusters, swarms of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and fleets of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) provide a CPS cluster-as-a-service for CPS applications. The distributed and remote nature of these systems often necessitates the use of Deployment and Configuration (D&C) services to manage the lifecycle of these applications. Fluctuating resources, volatile cluster membership and changing environmental conditions necessitate resilience. Thus, the D&C infrastructure does not only have to undertake basic management actions, such as activation of new applications and deactivation of existing applications, but also has to autonomously reconfigure existing applications to mitigate failures including D&C infrastructure failures. This paper describes the design and architectural considerations to realize such a D&C infrastructure for component-based distributed systems. Experimental results demonstrating the autonomous resilience capabilities are presented.
A high-frequency DC-DC converter based power amplifier for direct RF carrier generation

This paper describes the design and implementation of a high frequency DC-DC converter to directly generate an RF carrier for inductively coupled links in the 6.78 MHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. The proposed converter topology can also be utilized to dynamically adjust the power supply to improve system efficiency in RF power amplifiers. The DC-DC converter design is based on a delay-locked loop (DLL) synchronization scheme for high-frequency hysteretic controlled multiphase converters. The DLL control loop employs the switching frequency from a hysteretic comparator to automatically synchronize the remaining phases. We demonstrate a 25-70 MHz 4-phase converter with fast hysteretic control and output conversion range of 17%-80% while achieving a peak efficiency of 83% and peak-to-peak ripple within 10% in standard 0.5 mum 5V CMOS process.
Survey of the natural enemies of Dysmicoccus mealybugs on pineapple in Hawaii

Surveys for mealybugs, associated natural enemies and ants were conducted in abandoned pineapple fields on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Maui from July 1992 to November 1993. Whole plant samples were taken, and mealybugs and ants found were identified. Mealybug-infested plant parts were isolated and held until natural enemies emerged from parasitized host material. At sample sites where only Dysmicoccus brevipes was present, its densities ranged from a mean of 23 to 157 mealybugs per plant, while in areas with mixed populations of this mealybug and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley, densities ranged from a mean of 23 to 118 mealybugs per plant. Ants were present at all sample sites and on all dates. Pheidole megacephala (F.) was the most common ant species found. Anagyrus ananatis Gahan was the most common parasitoid reared. However, it attacked only D. brevipes, the dominant mealybug in the pineapple fields surveyed. Percent parasitization of D. brevipes by A. ananatis in the presence of ants ranged from 0.3 to 9.9%. Percent parasitization of D. brevipes and D. neobrevipes per plant by Euryrhopalus propinquus Kerrich ranged from 0.05 to 2.2%. Mean densities of the predators Lobodiplosis pseudococci (Felt), Nephus bilucernarius Mulsant and Sticholotis ruficeps Weise ranged from 0.05 to 5.75, 0.1 to 1.8, and 0.05 to 0.2 individuals per plant, respectively.
Black Adolescent Males: Intersections Among Their Gender Role Identity and Racial Identity and Associations With Self-Concept (Global and School)

Intersectional approaches for understanding identity have gained momentum in the social sciences. Black adolescent males are often perceived as threatening, underachieving, and hypermasculine, which is reinforced through media outlets and psychological research that portray them as a monolith rather than a heterogeneous group with multiple intersecting identities. This cross-sectional study of 70 Black adolescent males between 14 and 18 years old simultaneously explores their race and gender identities and associations with self-concept (global and school). Results demonstrated that participants reported a combination of feminine and masculine gender roles, rather than hypermasculine. A canonical correlation analysis found that Black racial identity attitudes (RIAS-L) and gender roles simultaneously contributed to significant relationships with total and school self-concept. Study limitations and future directions for research and practice are discussed.
Teaching NeuroImages: Myeloperoxidase–anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–positive hypertrophic pachymeningitis

A 49-year-old woman with chronic epistaxis presented with painless left monocular vision loss. Notable findings on examination of the left eye included visual acuity of 20/200 and relative afferent pupillary defect. MRI of the brain revealed enhancement of the left optic nerve sheath and diffuse dural thickening (figure). Laboratory workup yielded only lymphocytic pleocytosis (12 white blood cells) and positive serologies for perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies. Dural biopsy showed multifocal dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with vasculitis and reactive fibroplasia. A diagnosis of MPO-ANCA-positive hypertrophic pachymeningitis was made. This phenotypic variant of granulomatosis with polyangiitis is typically restricted to the CNS and upper airway; treatment involves immunosuppression.1 The patient improved clinically and radiographically with prednisone and rituximab.
Beyond Who and What: Data Driven Approaches for User Characterization

Social media and technology have drastically transformed the social and information networks around us. They have impacted how we communicate with others, search for information, and even how we express our personal opinions. Further, in this era of big data, not only are the online services collecting vast variety of user data, but we, as users, are also readily divulging significant amounts of information. Together, massive datasets obtained from diverse sources such as organizations and user generated content give us the opportunity to explore and understand complex behavior of both individuals and communities. This proposal aims at designing generalizable and scalable data-driven frameworks to gain a deeper understanding of the users, explain their actions and preferences, and infer personal traits. The proposed models will enable us to move beyond asking the conventional questions of who and what, and reveal answers about how and why. Given the varying digital persona of users motivated by their personal preferences and social attributes, we characterize users in two distinct domains: online health and peace studies. The models are designed to solve various real-world challenges to maximize their broader impact.
Parenteral Nutrition for Management of Malignant Bowel Obstruction

This review article focuses on the practice of providing parenteral nutrition in cases of malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) where the enteral route of feeding is unavailable. Parenteral nutrition is an option in patients with MBO in whom enteral nutrition cannot be provided. However, its use is associated with complications that should lead to careful patient selection in determining who will benefit from its use. MBO often represents the end stage of the disease process, and not all patient presentations will benefit from parental nutrition (PN). Recent research does indicate that certain subsets of patients (e.g., chemotherapy naive patients, patients with good functional status) will experience longer, better quality of life with administration of PN. Those patients with expected survival on the order of weeks to months, as well as those able to undergo surgical therapies to relieve the obstruction, benefit most from administration of PN, in addition to their cancer-specific treatment.
Hollow Micropillar Array Method for High-Capacity Drug Screening on Filter-Grown Epithelial Cells

New high-throughput assay formats and innovative screening technologies are needed for miniaturized screens using small quantities of near-native, patient-derived cells. Here, we developed a hollow micropillar array method to screen compounds using epithelial cells cultured on a porous support, with the goal of screening thousands of compounds using a single 24 mm diameter transwell filter containing cultured cells. Test compounds (∼1 nL) in an alginate hydrogel were printed by microinjection in hollow cylindrical micropillars (height = 150 μm, inner diameter = 100 μm) spaced 300 μm apart in a square array configuration. Compounds were delivered by positioning the array near the surface of a cell layer, with 5–10 μm of distance between the micropillars and cell surface. Micropillar array geometry, and the viscosity of the hydrogel and overlying solutions, were optimized computationally and experimentally to produce sustained exposure of cells to test compounds with minimal cross-talk from compounds in nei...
An evaluation of race, ethnicity, age, and sex-based representation in phase I to II renal cell carcinoma clinical trials in the United States.

Abstract Introduction Enrollment of a representative study population permits generalizable and reliable results for clinical trials. We sought to evaluate whether patients enrolled in trials for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are representative of the overall population of advanced RCC patients in the United States. Materials and methods The clinicaltrials.gov results database was queried for interventional clinical trials directed at clinically advanced (stage III/IV) RCC that enrolled patients from the US only. We identified 375 patients from 18 phase I to II trials that met eligibility criteria. The American College of Surgeons′ National Cancer Database (NCDB) which includes data on approximately 70% of all US cancer diagnoses was queried and we identified 75,308 patients with advanced (stage III/IV) RCC. Demographic characteristics were summarized and compared between the 2 populations. Results Compared to the US population of advanced RCC (NCDB), significant under-representation in clinical trials was observed for patients aged 65+ (26.3% vs. 50.4%; P 0.05 for all). Female patients made up 30.3% of trial enrollees and 33.3% of the US advanced RCC population (P = 0.221). Conclusion Significant under-representation was observed for elderly and Hispanic patients with a trend toward under-representation for black and female patients in phase I to II RCC clinical trials. Greater efforts to include underrepresented populations are necessary to improve the effectiveness and generalizability of clinical trials in kidney cancer.
Amyloid β peptide interactions with the classical pathway of complement

Complement is a term used to collectively refer to a group of over thirty serum proteins that is classified as part of the innate immune system. One hundred years after its original description as a factor “complementing” the ability of antibodies to lyse bacteria, complement is recognized for its crucial role as a multi-component effector system that is normally involved in host defense. However, as more studies are done on patients presenting with complement regulatory protein deficiencies [1], more is understood about complement’s potential role as a source for damage of “self” tissue in circumstances involving inappropriate activation.
Myocardial Infarction and Stroke-is the Risk Increased by Desmopressin?

Following early reports in the mid-1970’s by Mannucci and colleagues1 and Cash, et al2 which described the effectiveness of desmopressin (1-desamino-8-D-Arginine vasopressin, DDAVP) in increasing Factor (F) VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in normal individuals as well as in those with von Willebrand disease (vWD) and mild or moderate hemophilia A,3-5 this synthetic agent has gained widespread use. Not only is DDAVP considered to be the treatment of choice for persons with vWD type I and for those with mild and moderate hemophilia A, it has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating bleeding in a wide variety of other clinical entities including many platelet function defects (both congenital and acquired),6-13 unexplained prolonged bleeding time,14 hepatic cirrhosis,15 the carrier state for hemophilia A,16,17 some persons with vWD type IIA,13 and in persons with no underlying hemostatic defect who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass surgery18,19 or other surgical procedures known to be associated with considerable blood loss.13,20
Staffing Levels: Methods for Assessing Requirements

Technological innovations and the increasing role of automation in advanced systems raise questions about the role of the human operator and the number of humans required to run these systems. This chapter discusses a variety of approaches to evaluating staffing requirements and describes in detail two HAMMLAB studies performed to evaluate staffing requirements in advanced versus conventional nuclear power plant control rooms.
Recurrent obstruction after subclavian flap repair of coarctation of the aorta in infants. Can it be predicted or prevented

Recoarctation is a problem in some patients after subclavian flap aortoplasty. To investigate the reason for recoarctation, we reviewed the records of 26 infants who underwent subclavian flap repair for symptomatic coarctation of the aorta at less than 3 months of age between June, 1979, and December, 1983. Age at repair ranged from 2 to 65 days (median 16 days) and weight from 2.1 to 4.9 kg (median 3.4 kg). In 14 patients the coarctation was associated with significant intracardiac defects (complex in six). There were two intraoperative deaths and one early death (surgical mortality 12%). The survivors were followed from 6 weeks to 66 months (median 12 months). Five survivors (22%), all operated on at less than 14 days of age, developed severe recoarctation 6 weeks to 6 months (median 5 months) after repair. The obstruction appeared to be due to lumen obliteration by shelf-life posterior wall tissue. Morphometric analysis of preoperative angiograms showed no correlation between recoarctation and (1) distance between the left subclavian artery and the site of coarctation, (2) length of the isthmus, (3) diameter of the isthmus, (4) combined cross-sectional area of the left subclavian artery and isthmus, or (5) the ratio of the combined cross-sectional area of the left subclavian artery and isthmus to the cross-sectional area of the descending thoracic aorta. Recoarctation did not correlate with weight at operation, but it correlated significantly with age at aortoplasty (p = 0.02). The results suggest that intrinsic abnormalities of the periductal aortic wall are responsible for recoarctation after subclavian flap aortoplasty. Particular attention to this abnormal tissue at repair may prevent early recurrence in young infants.
Integrating Networks, Phylogenomics, and Population Genomics for the Study of Polyploidy

Duplication events are regarded as sources of evolutionary novelty, but our understanding of general trends for the long-term trajectory of additional genomic material is still lacking. Organisms w...
One-Bit Radar Processing and Estimation with Time-Varying Sampling Thresholds

Target parameter estimation from noisy and quantized received signals is of paramount importance in radar applications. In this paper, we propose a novel method to estimate the unknown target parameters via one-bit sampling, where the samples are produced by comparing the received signal with a time-varying threshold. The proposed approach utilizes a weighted least-squares criterion to establish a connection to previous results in radar target estimation and signal processing. Several numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Removal of Non-economic Damage Caps Is Not Associated with Reductions in Early Imaging for Low Back Pain.

Supporters of medical liability reform contend that caps on non-economic damages will decrease defensive medicine. We examined whether removal of caps on non-economic damages affect one type of defensive medical practice, early imaging for new-onset low back pain. Using administrative claims data, we retrospectively studied adult patients evaluated for new-onset low back pain from 2007 to 2012. We included patients from two states that had caps on non-economic damages struck down in 2010 (n = 462,604) and patients from adjacent states (n = 781,963). Using a difference-in-differences approach, we evaluated the impact of non-economic damage caps on early imaging while adjusting for physician specialty, patient characteristics, and year- and state-level fixed effects. There was no association between non-economic damage caps and early imaging for low back pain among all providers. Removal of a non-economic damage cap was also not associated with a significant change in early imaging within the two cap-removal states. Subgroup analysis by physician specialty demonstrated significantly increased use of early imaging for low back pain by orthopedic or neurological surgeons in the first 12 months following cap removal in one state (but this difference did not persist beyond 12 months). In the other cap-removal state, early imaging increased among orthopedic and neurological surgeons more than 12 months after cap removal. We found no association between caps on non-economic damages and early imaging for low back pain among all physicians. However, our subgroup analysis suggests that physician specialties may respond to non-economic damage cap policies differently.
Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is associated with improved postoperative outcomes compared to open surgery for a variety of operations, which has led to its expansion to the field of liver surgery. Laparoscopic liver surgery has been increasingly used over the last two decades, and its safety and benefits in appropriately selected patients are being recognized. Robotic-assisted liver surgery maintains the benefits of faster recovery associated with minimally invasive surgery and provides superior visualization and ergonomics, however, at higher cost. At the same time, minimally invasive liver surgery poses unique challenges and entails a steep learning curve. The application of new technologies provides further capabilities in an exciting changing landscape. This chapter provides an overview of the evolution of minimally invasive liver surgery over the last two decades, its benefits over open liver surgery, the challenges encountered, and its future directions.