cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is endometriosis more common and more severe than it was 30 years ago

ABSTRACT Objective Current estimates of endometriosis prevalence and incidence are highly variable, leading to uncertainty regarding true endometriosis frequency or validity of quantified changes over time. We present a comprehensive review of the prevalence, incidence, and stage of endometriosis worldwide as reported over the past 30 years. Data Sources We conducted a systematic search of observational studies using the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases to identify research papers published in English between January 1989 and June 2019. Search terminologies were limited to titles containing endometriosis and prevalence or incidence, or epidemiology, or frequency, or occurrence, or statistics. Methods of Study Selection Two independent reviewers screened abstracts for study eligibility, and data from included studies were abstracted. Tabulation, Integration, and Results Overall, 69 studies describing the prevalence and/or incidence of endometriosis met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 26 studies involved general population samples, 17 of which were from regional/national hospitals or insurance claims systems. The other 43 studies were conducted in single clinic or hospital settings. Prevalence estimates for endometriosis widely varied from 0.2% to 71.4% depending on the population sampled. The prevalence reported in general population studies ranged from 0.7% to 8.6%, whereas that reported in single clinic- or hospital-based studies ranged from 0.2% to 71.4%. When defined by indications for diagnosis, endometriosis prevalence ranged from 15.4% to 71.4% among women with chronic pelvic pain, 9.0% to 68.0% among women presenting with infertility, and 3.7% to 43.3% among women undergoing tubal sterilization. A meta-regression was conducted with year as the predictor of prevalence. No trend across time was observed among “general population in country/region” studies (β = 0.04, p = .12) or among “single hospital or clinic” studies (β = ˗0.02, p = .34); however, a decrease over time was observed among general population studies abstracted from health systems or insurance systems (β = −0.10, p = .005). Conclusion As with all human studies, population sampling and study design matter. Heterogeneity of inclusion and diagnostic criteria and selection bias overwhelmingly account for variability in endometriosis prevalence estimated across the literature. Thus, it is difficult to conclude if the lack of observed change in frequency and distribution of endometriosis over the past 30 years is valid.
Using Virtual Reality as a Tool for Field-Based Learning in the Earth Sciences

Field experiences play a critical role in Earth Science education but are typically difficult to offer to all students taking introductory Earth Science courses. Virtual reality (VR) may be a pathway to overcome the barriers of a traditional field experience by simulating interactions with the natural environment and providing opportunities for students to develop their observation and problem-solving skills. Presence, interactivity, and accessibility of a virtual field experience are suggested factors impacting achievement of the geoscience learning benefits of affect, cognition, professional development, and inquiry. Careful consideration of the affordances of different VR modalities, from photospheres to immersive worlds, can enable diverse opportunities for virtual field experiences, meeting the learning needs for a wide range of settings and students.
Teaching being human in global comparison

The current essay draws upon the author’s involvement and teaching experiences within a global network of international youth-student exchanges. The central question that is brought to the fore is: How does an educator teach the idea of being human among different nations situated in the same classroom? It therefore is polarized on the question of theological anthropology, and how these notions are received within cross-cultural exposure. The essay begins with the concept of culture itself, and particularly the way in which it is transmitted contemporaneously through resurfacing and enactment. The essay then moves onto the content of pedagogy, which is summarized under the themes of (1) conversation, (2) questioning, and (3) opening up traditions to new perspectives. The purpose of (1) is to emphasize and bring to the surface those crucial traditions relative to the class subject matter, while (2) seeks to teach students to not accept anything as given; to challenge students to defend the fundamentals and presuppositions of their arguments; to remind both questioner/challenger and responder/defender to always make clear the local cultural context of the challenge and the defense. And finally, (3) facilitates a moment of encounter whereby a student who is foreign is invited into another student’s reality, and to see something new in an ancient memory that is different to their own. The essay closes with a suggestion that certain cultural or artistic artifacts, namely language and music, might provide a salient point for class-room discussion, especially in the way these cultural productions are received both locally and globally.
Determinants of full and partial household evacuation decision making in Hurricane Matthew

Abstract This paper adds partial household evacuation to the traditional binary evacuate/stay decision. Based on data from a survey of Jacksonville, FL residents after Hurricane Matthew, multinomial (MNL) and random parameter MNL models were developed to determine the influential factors and whether some variables’ effects are more nuanced than prior literature suggests. The random parameter model was preferred to the fixed parameters model. Variables significant in this model included injury concern, certainty about hurricane impact location, age, marital status, family cohesion, and living in mobile or detached homes. Greater injury concern results in lower likelihood of none of the household evacuating and greater likelihood of partial evacuation, but lower likelihood of full household evacuation. Similarly, greater certainty about hurricane impact increased the probability of partial household evacuation but decreased the probability of full evacuation. Respondent age had heterogenous effects; for 85.54% of respondents, additional years of age increased the likelihood of the household staying. Married households had a higher likelihood of staying or evacuating together. Similarly, greater family cohesion was associated with the household remaining together. Living in mobile homes decreased the likelihood that all of the household stays or evacuates and increased the probability of partial household evacuation. Living in a single-family detached home was associated with lower likelihood of all of the household staying or evacuating and a greater likelihood of a partial household evacuation. These findings can inform strategies that influence full or partial household evacuations, material requirements based on these decisions, and ways to reduce family risk.
Lack of Association Between Radiographic Tumor Burden and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Lung Cancer.

Background Historically, tumor burden has been considered an impediment to efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents, including vaccines, stem cell transplant, cytokine therapy, and intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin. This effect has been attributed to hypoxic zones in the tumor core contributing to poor T-cell infiltration, formation of immunosuppressive stromal cells, and development of therapy-resistant cell populations. However, the association between tumor burden and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is unknown. We sought to determine the association between radiographic tumor burden parameters and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced lung cancer. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Demographic, disease, and treatment data were collected. Serial tumor dimensions were recorded according to RECIST version 1.1. Associations between radiographic tumor burden (baseline sum of longest diameters, longest single diameter) and clinical outcomes (radiographic response, progression-free survival, and overall survival) were determined using log-rank tests, Cox proportional-hazard regression, and logistic regression. Results Among 105 patients, the median baseline sum of longest diameters (BSLD) was 6.4 cm; median longest single diameter was 3.6 cm. BSLD was not associated with best radiographic, progression-free survival, or overall survival. In univariate and multivariate analyses, no significant associations were observed for the other radiographic parameters and outcomes when considered as categorical or continuous variables. Conclusion Although tumor burden has been considered a mediator of efficacy of earlier immunotherapies, in advanced lung cancer it does not appear to affect outcomes from immune checkpoint inhibitors. Implications for practice Historically, tumor burden has been considered an impediment to the efficacy of various immunotherapies, including vaccines, cytokines, allogeneic stem cell transplant, and intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin. However, in the present study, no association was found between tumor burden and efficacy (response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival) of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced lung cancer. These findings suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide benefit across a range of disease burden, including bulky tumors considered resistant to other categories of immunotherapy.
Effects of text variables on eye movements in reading.

Eye movement patterns in four atypical text formats were examined. Regressive eye movements were a sensitive indicator of reading disruption due to the textual manipulations of type (all capitals vs unusual) and margin (justification vs nonjustification). The capitals nonjustified format was easiest to read while the unusual justified format was most difficult. Reading speed was a less sensitive measure than regressions.
An optimal machine learning model for breast lesion classification based on random projection algorithm for feature optimization

The purpose of this study is to develop a machine learning model with the optimal features computed from mammograms to classify suspicious regions as benign and malignant. To this aim, we investigate the benefits of implementing a machine learning approach embedded with a random projection algorithm to generate an optimal feature vector and improve classification performance. A retrospective dataset involving 1,487 cases is used. Among them, 644 cases depict malignant lesions, while the rest 843 cases are benign. The locations of all suspicious regions have been annotated by radiologists before. A computer-aided detection scheme is applied to pre-process the images and compute an initial set of 181 features. Then, three support vector machine (SVM) models are built using the initial feature set and embedded with two feature regeneration methods, namely, principal component analysis and random projection algorithm, to reduce dimensionality of feature space and generate smaller optimal feature vectors. All SVM models are trained and tested using the leave-one-case-out cross-validation method to classify between malignant and benign cases. The data analysis results show that three SVM models yield the areas under ROC curves of AUC = 0.72±0.02, 0.79±0.01 and 0.84±0.018, respectively. Thus, this study demonstrates that applying a random projection algorithm enables to generate optimal feature vectors and significantly improve machine learning model (i.e., SVM) performance (p<0.02) to classify mammographic lesions. The similar approach can also been applied to help more effectively train and improve performance of machine learning models applying to other types of medical image applications.
Estimating the genetic diversity of Pacific salmon and trout using multigene eDNA metabarcoding

Genetic diversity underpins species conservation and management goals, and ultimately determines a species' ability to adapt. Using freshwater environmental DNA (eDNA) samples, we examined mitochondrial genetic diversity using multigene metabarcode sequence data from four Oncorhynchus species across 16 sites in Oregon and northern California. Our multigene metabarcode panel included targets commonly used in population genetic NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2), phylogenetic cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and eDNA (12S ribosomal DNA) screening. The ND2 locus showed the greatest within-species haplotype diversity for all species, followed by COI and then 12S rDNA for all species except Oncorhynchus kisutch. Sequences recovered for O. clarkii clarkii were either identical to, or one mutation different from, previously characterized haplotypes (95.3% and 4.5% of reads, respectively). The greatest diversity in O. c. clarkii was among coastal watersheds, and subsets of this diversity were shared with fish in inland watersheds. However, coastal streams and the Umpqua River watershed appear to harbour unique haplotypes. Sequences from O. mykiss revealed a disjunction between the Willamette watershed and southern watersheds suggesting divergent histories. We also identified similarities between populations in the northern Deschutes and southern Klamath watersheds, consistent with previously hypothesized connections between the two via inland basins. Oncorhynchus kisutch was only identified in coastal streams and the Klamath River watershed, with most diversity concentrated in the coastal Coquille watershed. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha was only observed at one site, but contained multiple haplotypes at each locus. The characterization of genetic diversity at multiple loci expands the knowledge gained from eDNA sampling and provides crucial information for conservation actions and genetic management.
Intracellular Vesicle Entrapment of Nanobubble Ultrasound Contrast Agents Targeted to PSMA Promotes Prolonged Enhancement and Stability In Vivo and In Vitro

Previous work has shown that active targeting of nanobubble (NB) ultrasound contrast agents to the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) significantly prolongs ultrasound signal enhancement in PSMA-expressing prostate cancer. However, the specific mechanism behind this effect is not well understood. Furthermore, prior studies were carried out using clinical ultrasound scanners in a single imaging plane. Because tumor heterogeneity can have a drastic effect on bubble kinetics and resulting contrast enhancement, a single region of interest in one imaging plane over time may not fully represent the contrast dynamics of the entire tumor. Accordingly, in the current work, we used high-frequency dynamic parametric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) imaging to gain a detailed understanding of NB kinetics in prostate tumors in mice. Specifically, we examined the differences in enhancement between the tumor periphery and tumor core in the same imaging plane. We also quantified intact nanobubble retention in the entire tumor volume. To better understand the mechanism behind prolonged tumor enhancement, intracellular retention and the acoustic activity of PSMA-NB were evaluated in cell culture. DCE-US US data suggest that both tumor wash-in and retention of PSMA-NB are delayed due to biomarker interaction and binding. The longer retention of PSMA-NB signal in tumor core supported target-driven bubble extravasation. In vitro studies demonstrated a higher level of internalization and prolonged-acoustic activity of internalized PSMA-NB. GC/MS analysis confirmed gas persistence in the cells after PSMA-NB internalization. The active-targeting of NB results in cellular internalization via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and the location with intracellular vesicles (late-stage endosomes/lysosomes) significantly prolongs gas retention within the cells. These features can enable background-free diagnostic imaging of the target cells/tissues, as well as highly focused ultrasound-modulated therapeutic interventions.
Policies Designed to Achieve a Data-Driven Learning Healthcare System: A Decade of Progress and Future Directions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act have been instrumental in accelerating a fundamental shift in health IT implementation and use across the US. In addition, the ACA promoted the development of new approaches to organizing and aligning incentives, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payments, and patient-centered medical homes, all of which were designed to improve healthcare value by controlling costs while improving quality. Such initiatives hold promise for shifting risk for healthcare outcomes to providers, thereby incentivizing more coordinated, efficient care that primarily promotes patient and population health, and simultaneously stimulates the use of efficient evidence-based best medical practices, while avoiding unnecessary expenditures. However, fully achieving this vision requires more work to modernize the healthcare sector in numerous ways, including through investments in digital capabilities. In this chapter, we explore ways to build upon the technological foundations encouraged and enabled by HITECH and the ACA to improve health and healthcare for individuals and populations.
Human coronavirus OC43 simulating COVID-19 pneumonia

Human coronavirus OC43 is a common cause of respiratory illness, especially in immunocompromised persons, including children and elderly adults. We report a 42-yearold immunocompetent woman with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and positive results on OC43 coronavirus testing. This case indicates the need to consider other viral pathogens during this COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: OC43 Coronavirus, COVID-19, pneumonia
Pre-radiation lymphocyte harvesting and post-radiation reinfusion in patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas

Radiation (RT), temozolomide (TMZ), and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed high grade gliomas (HGG) produces severe treatment-related lymphopenia (TRL) that is associated with early cancer-related deaths. This TRL may result from inadvertent radiation to circulating lymphocytes. This study reinfused lymphocytes, harvested before chemo-radiation, and assessed safety, feasibility, and trends in lymphocyte counts. Patients with newly diagnosed HGG and total lymphocyte counts (TLC) ≥ 1000 cells/mm3 underwent apheresis. Cryopreserved autologous lymphocytes were reinfused once radiation was completed. Safety, feasibility, and trends in TLC, T cell subsets and cytokines were studied. Serial TLC were also compared with an unreinfused matched control group. Ten patients were harvested (median values: age 56 years, dexamethasone 3 mg/day, TLC/CD4 1980/772 cells/mm3). After 6 weeks of RT/TMZ, TLC fell 69 % (p < 0.0001) with similar reductions in CD4, CD8 and NK cells but not Tregs. Eight patients received lymphocyte reinfusions (median = 7.0 × 107 lymphocytes/kg) without adverse events. A post-reinfusion TLC rise of ≥300 cells/mm3 was noted in 3/8 patients at 4 weeks and 7/8 at 14 weeks which was similar to 23 matched controls. The reduced CD4/CD8 ratio was not restored by lymphocyte reinfusion. Severe lymphopenia was not accompanied by elevated serum interleukin-7 (IL-7) levels. This study confirms that severe TRL is common in HGG and is not associated with high plasma IL-7 levels. Although lymphocyte harvesting/reinfusion is feasible and safe, serial lymphocyte counts are similar to unreinfused matched controls. Studies administering higher lymphocyte doses and/or IL-7 should be considered to restore severe treatment-related lymphopenia in HGG.
Premortal clinical biochemical changes.

Publisher Summary The premortal biochemical changes constitute an important medical aspect. This chapter provides review of the available laboratory data on analyses of blood samples from agonal patients and describes the chemical blood changes occurring during the premortal stage. It is important to distinguish between the occurrence of death of the whole body and of individual organs, tissues, and cells. Clinical death is usually characterized by cessation of respiration and cardiac function, even though rhythmic occurrence of ventricular complexes continues to appear in the electrocardiogram. Clinical death in human subjects is often reversible for several minutes. The cerebral cortex is more susceptible to anoxemia than the brain stem. Because notable changes in the cortical cells can occur even before the state of clinical death, therefore it is important to treat the premortal phase as fast and specifically as possible. With regard to the clinical symptoms associated with the terminal condition, it is observed that although the underlying disease can influence the symptoms to certain extent, but the clinical signs exhibited by adult patients who die slowly generally exhibit great similarity.
HDS of FCC gasoline: Mesoporous modified support catalyst and its effects on the hydrogenolysis reaction selectivity

Abstract A synthesis methodology strategy for the systematic control of surface properties has been developed for HDS catalyst using alkaline metals and rare earth metals. The strategy is useful for change the acid-base balance on catalysts surface. The mesoporous modified catalysts have been used to HDS of a selected heavy cut of FCC gasoline to study the activity and selectivity reactions, in order to adapt the conditions that allows to reduce the sulfur content with minimum octane loss.
Establishing the foundations for engineering education in K-5

We have developed a volunteer program designed to enhance physical science education within elementary schools in the metropolitan Atlanta area (US). Elementary Science for Elementary Students (ES/sup 2/) brings demonstrations into the classroom that reach fundamental concepts in electricity, machines, structures, and sound. Each demonstration has the same basic format, beginning with a brief interactive lecture and visually based demonstration that emphasizes at most two fundamental concepts and ending with a hands on activity that allows students to experiment with these concepts. This format is a particularly effective teaching method, because it combines the three major learning techniques (visual, auditory, tactile) into a single presentation. In this way, each child is able to learn the concepts in their most natural mode of learning, reinforced by the two remaining modes. It is not only the students, but also the teachers that gain a better understanding of science through our demonstrations, improving their confidence in the material which enables them to teach more effectively in the future. In the first phase of ES/sup 2/, volunteers go into the classrooms and do physical science demonstrations themselves. Once we have gained familiarity and trust in the schools, however we seek to maximize our educational impact in elementary school curricula by providing demonstration materials to the individual schools and training teachers to do these demonstrations independently.
Pleural controversy: Optimal chest tube size for drainage

In recent years, a higher and higher percentage of patients with pleural effusions or pneumothorax are being treated with small-bore (10-14 F) chest tubes rather than large-bore (>20 F). However, there are very few randomized controlled studies comparing the efficacy and complication rates with the small- and large-bore catheters. Moreover, the randomized trials that are available have flaws in their design. The advantages of the small-bore catheters are that they are easier to insert and there is less pain with their insertion while they are in place. The placement of the small-bore catheters is probably more optimal when placement is done with ultrasound guidance. Small-bore chest tubes are recommended when pleurodesis is performed. The success of the small-bore indwelling tunnelled catheters that are left in place for weeks documents that the small-bore tubes do not commonly become obstructed with fibrin. Patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions are probably best managed with small-bore catheters even when the pleural fluid is purulent. Patients with haemothorax are best managed with large-bore catheters because of blood clots and the high volume of pleural fluid. Most patients with pneumothorax can be managed with aspiration or small-bore chest tubes. If these fail, a large-bore chest tube may be necessary. Patients on mechanical ventilation with barotrauma induced pneumothoraces are best managed with large-bore chest tubes.
Cellular Deconstruction: Finding Meaning in Individual Cell Variation

The advent of single cell transcriptome analysis has permitted the discovery of cell-to-cell variation in transcriptome expression of even presumptively identical cells. We hypothesize that this variability reflects a many-to-one relation between transcriptome states and the phenotype of a cell. In this relation, the molecular ratios of the subsets of RNA are determined by the stoichiometric constraints of the cell systems, which underdetermine the transcriptome state. Furthermore, the variability is, in part, induced by the tissue context and is important for system-level function. This theory is analogous to theories of literary deconstruction, where multiple 'signifiers' work in opposition to one another to create meaning. By analogy, transcriptome phenotypes should be defined as subsets of RNAs comprising selected RNA systems where the system-associated RNAs are balanced with each other to produce the associated cellular function. This idea provides a framework for understanding cellular heterogeneity in phenotypic responses to variant conditions, such as disease challenge.
De novo clustering methods outperform reference-based methods for assigning 16S rRNA gene sequences to operational taxonomic units

Background. 16S rRNA gene sequences are routinely assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that are then used to analyze complex microbial communities. A number of methods have been employed to carry out the assignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences to OTUs leading to confusion over which method is optimal. A recent study suggested that a clustering method should be selected based on its ability to generate stable OTU assignments that do not change as additional sequences are added to the dataset. In contrast, we contend that the quality of the OTU assignments, the ability of the method to properly represent the distances between the sequences, is more important. Methods. Our analysis implemented six de novo clustering algorithms including the single linkage, complete linkage, average linkage, abundance-based greedy clustering, distance-based greedy clustering, and Swarm and the open and closed-reference methods. Using two previously published datasets we used the Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient (MCC) to assess the stability and quality of OTU assignments. Results. The stability of OTU assignments did not reflect the quality of the assignments. Depending on the dataset being analyzed, the average linkage and the distance and abundance-based greedy clustering methods generated OTUs that were more likely to represent the actual distances between sequences than the open and closed-reference methods. We also demonstrated that for the greedy algorithms VSEARCH produced assignments that were comparable to those produced by USEARCH making VSEARCH a viable free and open source alternative to USEARCH. Further interrogation of the reference-based methods indicated that when USEARCH or VSEARCH were used to identify the closest reference, the OTU assignments were sensitive to the order of the reference sequences because the reference sequences can be identical over the region being considered. More troubling was the observation that while both USEARCH and VSEARCH have a high level of sensitivity to detect reference sequences, the specificity of those matches was poor relative to the true best match. Discussion. Our analysis calls into question the quality and stability of OTU assignments generated by the open and closed-reference methods as implemented in current version of QIIME. This study demonstrates that de novo methods are the optimal method of assigning sequences into OTUs and that the quality of these assignments needs to be assessed for multiple methods to identify the optimal clustering method for a particular dataset.
Effects of Heat on the Infecting, Antibody-Absorbing, and Interfering Powers of Vaccinia Virus

Galasso, G. J. (University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill), and D. G. Sharp. Effects of heat on the infecting, antibody-absorbing, and interfering powers of vaccinia virus. J. Bacteriol. 89:611-616. 1965.-At 56 C the infectivity of vaccinia virus particles is destroyed rapidly, but even when it is reduced by a factor of 10(6) the particles are capable of producing strong interference in L cells. The rate constant K for thermal inactivation of plaque-forming power is greater than that for interfering power by the factor e(3.8) or about 45 times. At 37 C both properties of the virus decline more slowly and at equal rates. The temperature coefficient of K is discontinuous in the region of 40 C, indicating quite different activation energies for the reactions above and below this critical point. The degradation of interfering power exhibits a similar discontinuity, although less in magnitude, but none has been found in the antibody-reactive power of the virus, which is much more heat resistant.
"We are in the Front Lines in the Battle for Democracy": Carolyn Moore and Black Activism in World War II Philadelphia

n the fall of 1943, several thousand Philadelphians, most of them black, marched on City Hall. Some of the protestors carried American flags, while others bore placards that read "Jim Crow fights on Hitlers side!" "In Democracy, Freedom to Work Belongs to All," and "We Drive Tanks Why Not Trolleys?" They were angry that the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) used racist employment practices to deny driving jobs to African Americans. After all, the nation was in the midst of a war for democracy and in the view of many Philadelphians it was time for the United States to live up to its ideals. Throughout the march, protestors stopped to listen to speakers who persistently made the
Clinical Efficacy of Three Assays for Cardiac Troponin I for Risk Stratification in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 11B Substudy

Background: Significant analytic variability exists between the multiple assays for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) approved for clinical use. Until adequate cTnI standardization is possible, an evidence-based approach evaluating each assay at specific thresholds appears warranted. Methods: We examined the efficacy of three cTnI assays for predicting death, myocardial infarction (MI), or the composite of death, MI, or urgent revascularization at 43 days among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes enrolled in the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 11B study. Results: Six hundred eighty-one patients with serum samples obtained at baseline and/or 12–24 h had cTnI determined using all three assays. Baseline cTnI was ≥0.1 μg/L for 368, 395, and 418 patients with the Bayer Immuno 1TM, ACS:180®, and Dimension® RxL assays, respectively. Correlation coefficients for the RxL with the ACS:180 and Bayer Immuno 1 results were 0.89 ( P = 0.0001) and 0.87 ( P = 0.0001), with a coefficient of 0.92 ( P = 0.0001) for the ACS:180 and Bayer Immuno 1 assays. Patients with cTnI ≥0.1 μg/L were at increased risk for death or MI by 43 days (relative risk, 2.2–3.0; P <0.0006), regardless of the assay used. This prognostic capacity persisted among those with creatine kinase MB isoenzyme concentrations within the reference interval. Moreover, cTnI was the strongest multivariate predictor of death, MI, or urgent revascularization with adjusted odds ratios of 2.1–2.9 ( P <0.0006). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the prognostic efficacy of three independently developed cTnI assays at a threshold of 0.1 μg/L for the prediction of adverse clinical outcomes among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes.
Autonomous smart sensor network for full-scale structural health monitoring

The demands of aging infrastructure require effective methods for structural monitoring and maintenance. Wireless smart sensor networks offer the ability to enhance structural health monitoring (SHM) practices through the utilization of onboard computation to achieve distributed data management. Such an approach is scalable to the large number of sensor nodes required for high-fidelity modal analysis and damage detection. While smart sensor technology is not new, the number of full-scale SHM applications has been limited. This slow progress is due, in part, to the complex network management issues that arise when moving from a laboratory setting to a full-scale monitoring implementation. This paper presents flexible network management software that enables continuous and autonomous operation of wireless smart sensor networks for full-scale SHM applications. The software components combine sleep/wake cycling for enhanced power management with threshold detection for triggering network wide tasks, such as synchronized sensing or decentralized modal analysis, during periods of critical structural response.
Effect of Molybdenum Deficiency on Nitrate Reductase in Cell-free Extracts of Neurospora and Aspergillus

ALTHOUGH numerous investigators have shown that molybdenum is important for the utilization of nitrate nitrogen by fungi and higher plants1,2, the role of the micronutrient element in the enzyme systems involved has not been determined. We have recently been able to show that the concentrations of nitrate reductase in cell-free extracts of molybdenum-deficient Neurospora and Aspergillus are markedly decreased to the extent of one-fifth to one-thirtieth of that of normal tissue. However, the nitrite activity, designated as nitrite reductase3, of these extracts was significantly increased in Neurospora (5297a) and Aspergillus compared to that of the controls.
CONTACT HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT DURING DOUBLE-SIDED COOKING OF HAMBURGER PATTIES

Contact heat transfer coeficient values during double-sided contact cooking of hamburgerpatties were calculated from grill plate temperatures, patty surface temperatures, and heat flux values. The patties were cooked for 130 s using different top and bottom grill plate temperatures (1 77C, I91 C, or 204C) and gap thicknesses between plates (10.0 mm, 10.5 mm, or 11.0 mm). Heat transfer coeficient values obtained were in the range of 250 to 650 W/m2C, depending on the cooking conditions. After reaching a maximum value, the coeflcient decreased and reached an asymptotic value at the end of the cooking cycle. The maximum heat transfer coeficient values depended on top or bottom grill plates and gap thicknesses between plates. Average heat transfer coencient values during 80 to 130 s of cooking depended on top or bottom grill plates and set grill temperatures.
The ionization source near Io from Galileo wake data

From measurements of plasma fluxes obtained along the Galileo trajectory through the wake of Io we estimate the source of ions within 5 RIo of the satellite to be 0.5 to 1.7 × 1028 s−1 (18 to 58% of the canonical 3 × 1028 s−1 torus supply rate). This source of ionization close to Io can supply 0.3 to 0.8 × 1012 watts to the torus plasma (15 to 28% of the canonical 3 × 1012 watts of EUV emissions from the torus). Modeling the energy flux at the spacecraft with local ionization matches the observations reasonably well, which we interpret as evidence against extensive additional charge exchange reactions occurring near Io.
Domain Size Distribution in Phase Separated Cholesterol/Phospholipid Langmuir Monolayers: Line Tension and Transition Kinetics

Multicomponent phase separated phospholipid monolayer systems of a canonical cholesterol and DMPC (∼30/70 mole percent) have been used to study several aspects of cholesterol/phospholipid interaction and phase behavior. Despite the successful characterization and theoretical approaches applied to these systems there are still important details of monolayer morphology that are not fully understood. Here, we address the role of transition kinetics on domain size distributions. For our experiments, three different barrier speeds were chosen (4, 40, 400 cm squared per minute) as the monolayer passed through the miscibility phase transition (8.4 mN/m transition pressure). Average domain size was observed to decrease as the barrier speed increased (transition rate). The detailed size distribution measurements also provide the opportunity to measure changes in phase fraction and size distribution with monolayer surface pressures (2, 4, and 6, mN/m). Careful study of factors influencing the size distribution of phase separated domains is particularly relevant to the recently proposed line tension measurement technique (Lee et al., vol. 108 pp. 9425, PNAS 2011). We have implemented this method for the monolayer system studied here. A comparison to previously implemented line tension measurements based on a Fourier analysis of boundary fluctuations approaches will be presented. Finally, a brief comparison on the role of dyes and dye quality will be presented. Comparison among one year old Texas Red and new Texas Red, showed an impact in the sizes of domains.
Isolated Teenagers, Cooperative Learning, and the Training of Social Skills

The effects of individual and group contingencies on the achievement and social integration of isolated, learning-disabled students were studied. Five socially isolated and withdrawn eighth-grade students in foreign-language and math classes were subjects. The choice of working alone or in a group with no academic contingency (i.e., bonus points) was compared with working in cooperative learning groups with a group-academic contingency (i.e., bonus points), a group-academic contingency with social-skills training, and a group-academic contingency in combination with a social-skills contingency (i.e., bonus points). The results indicated that the combination of group-academic and social-skills contingencies produced in the socially isolated and withdrawn students the highest rates of appropriate social interaction with peers, acceptance and liking by peers, positive attitudes toward the subject area, and achievement.
The U.S. Pear Market

Pears are the second most important deciduous fruit produced by U.S. farmers. They are particularly important in the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington, which have increased their share of total U.S. production in the last quarter century from 89.3% in 1949-51 to 94.5% in 1975-77. About half of all pears are shipped fresh to distant markets, while the remainder are canned or dried so that pear production is of concern to fruit packing, freight and distribution firms throughout the United States, and to processing firms in scattered localities throughout the Pacific Coast states.
Lymphangioma. An otolaryngologic perspective.

Abstract Lymphangiomas are relatively rare congenital hamartomas of the lymphatic system usually diagnosed in infancy and early childhood, Although the precise pathogenesis has not been clearly defined, abnormal development leads to formation of fluid-filled sinuses lined by vascular endothelium. In the head and neck, lymphangioma may encroach on vital structures and infiltrate surrounding tissues making complete surgical removal difficult. A number of children (n = 137) with lymphangioma have been treated at Texas Children's Hospital from 1972–1985. In 45 (33%), the tumors were diagnosed at birth and in an additional 51 (37%), by two years of age. Commonly affected areas included the head and neck (45%), trunk (26%), and axilla (17%). Mediastinal involvement occurred in 4%. Surgical removal was the preferred treatment method and with complete removal the recurrence rate was 6%; known incomplete removal increased this rate to 35%. Although lymphangiomas are slow growing, early removal was preferable: recurrences increased as the time interval between tumor identification and surgical intervention lengthened. Size fluctuation with a history of infection, another unfavorable prognostic factor, also increased recurrence rate.
Year in review 2009: Critical Care - cardiac arrest, trauma and disasters

During 2009, Critical Care published nine papers on various aspects of resuscitation, prehospital medicine, trauma care and disaster response. One article demonstrated that children as young as 9 years of age can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) effectively, although, depending on their size, some may have difficulty performing it. Another paper showed that while there was a trend toward mild therapeutic hypothermia reducing S-100 levels, there was no statistically significant change. Another predictor study also showed a strong link between acute kidney injury and neurologic outcome while another article described a program in which kidneys were harvested from cardiac arrest patients and showed an 89% graft survival rate. One experimental investigation indicated that when a pump-less interventional lung assist device is present, leaving the device open (unclamped) while performing CPR has no harmful effects on mean arterial pressures and it may have positive effects on blood oxygenation and CO2 clearance. One other study, conducted in the prehospital environment, found that end-tidal CO2 could be useful in diagnosing pulmonary embolism. Three articles addressed disaster medicine, the first of which described a triage system for use during pandemic influenza that demonstrated high reliability in delineating patients with a good chance of survival from those likely to die. The other two studies, both drawn from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake experience, showed success in treating crush injured patients in an on-site tent ICU and, in the second case, how the epidemiology of earthquake injuries and related factors predicted mortality.
On neural signals that mediate brightness.

Abstract The brightness of any single light depends on other lights in view. These experiments examine how adapting light affects the brightness of a small incremental patch. The original purpose was to determine the quantitative effect of adaptation on the eye's brightness signal for the increment. However, this was found to be a fruitless enterprise because the results showed there exists no single signal from the eye that encodes brightness of the increment. This means that binocular brightness cannot be explained by any model that combines a signal from the left eye and a signal from the right eye. Instead, at least two independent neural signals from each eye are transmitted to a central locus where multi-attribute information about the complete left-eye stimulus configuration is combined with multi-attribute information about the right-eye stimulus configuration.
An RNA Element in Human Interleukin 6 Confers Escape from Degradation by the Gammaherpesvirus SOX Protein

Several viruses express factors to silence host gene expression via widespread mRNA degradation. This phenotype is the result of the coordinated activity of the viral endonuclease SOX and the cellular RNA degradation enzyme Xrn1 during lytic Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. While most cellular transcripts are highly downregulated, a subset of host mRNA escapes turnover via unknown mechanisms. One of the most prominent escapees is the interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA, which accumulates robustly during KSHV lytic infection and is not subjected to SOX-induced degradation. Here we reveal that the IL-6 mRNA contains a dominant, cis-acting ∼100-nucleotide element within its 3' untranslated region (UTR) that renders it directly refractory to cleavage by SOX. This element specifically interacts with a cellular protein complex both in SOX-transfected cells and in KSHV-infected B cells. Using a directed RNA pulldown approach, we identified two components of this complex to be the AU-rich element (ARE) binding proteins AUF1 and HuR. Depletion of these proteins significantly reduced the protective capacity of the IL-6 RNA element in SOX-expressing cells. These findings suggest that SOX activity may be directly counteracted by select RNA regulatory complexes and reveal a novel mechanism contributing to the robust expression of IL-6 during KSHV replication.
Intralist similarity, internal structure, and free recall

This study was designed to investigate free-recall learning of trigrams as a function of intralist similarity and form of structure. Similarity refers to the extent to which stimuli on the list share the same letters; form of structure refers to the contingencies between the letters which occur in the subset of trigrams. With similarity and form used to generate items, three different lists emerged: high similarity, good form (G); high similarity, poor form (P); and low similarity, indeterminate form (L). The results indicate that high-similarity items are learned more readily than low-similarity items (L) only if the high-similarity items also have good form (G); when high-similarity items have poor form (P), the L stimuli are more readily acquired. Theoretically, Underwood's stage-analysis position is supported when performance on G trigrams is compared to that on L items. Garner's prediction, that G items will be learned more readily than P items, is also supported.
SureCall: Towards glitch-free real-time audio/video conferencing

Global enterprises are increasingly adopting unified communication solutions over traditional telephone systems. Such solutions provide integrated audio/video conferencing and messaging services, and enable flexible working environments by allowing mobile and dispersed users to communicate and collaborate easily and efficiently. The ultimate goal of unified communications is to ensure a smooth and best possible user experience across all scenarios. To address this challenge and understand the impact of various network scenarios on unified audio/video conferencing, we have developed a distributed experimental platform – SureCall – and deployed it on over 80 machines across a global enterprise and many residential networks. SureCall has collected worth of more than 6 months of packet-level audio/video conferencing traces. Through in-depth analysis of these traces, we have quantitatively compared how key performance metrics, such as packet loss and jitter, as well as the correlation between them, are affected by the enterprise and residential networks, by WiFi connections and VPN links, etc. In addition, we show how SureCall can serve as an ideal platform to design, experiment and validate new schemes and algorithms. We have developed a new audio quality classifier using the SureCall platform, which is being experimented with the recent release of Office Communicator solution for large-scale validation.