cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Less is More: Oligomer extraction and hydrothermal annealing increase PDMS bonding forces for new microfluidics assembly and for biological studies

Key determinants in the emergence of complex cellular morphologies and functions are cues in the microenvironment. Primary among these is the presence of neighboring cells as networks form. Therefore, for high-resolution analysis, it is crucial to develop microenvironments that permit exquisite control of network formation. This is especially true in cell science, tissue engineering, and clinical biology. We introduce a new approach for assembling polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic environments that enhances cell network formation and analyses. We report that the combined processes of PDMS solvent extraction (EPDMS) and hydrothermal annealing create unique conditions that produce high-strength bonds between E-PDMS and glass, properties not associated with conventional PDMS. Extraction followed by hydrothermal annealing removes unbound oligomers, promotes polymer cross-linking, facilitates covalent bond formation with glass, and retains the highest biocompatibility. Our extraction protocol accelerates oligomer removal from 5 to 2 days. Resulting microfluidic platforms are uniquely suited for cell network studies owing to high bond strengths, effectively corralling cellular extensions and eliminating harmful oligomers. We demonstrate simple, simultaneous actuation of multiple microfluidic domains for invoking ATP and glutamate induced Ca2+ signaling in glial cell networks. These low cost, simple EPMDS modifications and flow manipulations further enable microfluidic technologies for cell signaling and network studies as well as novel applications.
Evaluation of a “Field Cage” for Electric Field Control in GaN-Based HEMTs That Extends the Scalability of Breakdown Into the kV Regime

A distributed impedance “field cage” structure is proposed and evaluated for electric field control in GaN-based, lateral high electron mobility transistors operating as kilovolt-range power devices. In this structure, a resistive voltage divider is used to control the electric field throughout the active region. The structure complements earlier proposals utilizing floating field plates that did not employ resistively connected elements. Transient results, not previously reported for field plate schemes using either floating or resistively connected field plates, are presented for ramps of $dV_{\mathrm {ds}}/dt = 100$ V/ns. For both dc and transient results, the voltage between the gate and drain is laterally distributed, ensuring that the electric field profile between the gate and drain remains below the critical breakdown field as the source-to-drain voltage is increased. Our scheme indicates promise for achieving the breakdown voltage scalability to a few kilovolts.
Finding unexpected patterns in data

Many pattern discovery methods in the KDD literature have the drawbacks of (1) discovering too many obvious or irrelevant patterns and (2) not using prior knowledge systematically. In this chapter we present an approach that addresses these drawbacks. In particular we present an approach to characterizing the unexpectedness of patterns based on prior background knowledge in the form of beliefs. Based on this characterization of unexpectedness we present an algorithm, ZoomUR, for discovering unexpected patterns in data.
Relationships between markers of neurologic and endothelial injury during critical illness and long-term cognitive impairment and disability.

Neurologic and endothelial injury biomarkers are associated with prolonged delirium during critical illness and may reflect injury pathways that lead to poor long-term outcomes. We hypothesized that blood–brain barrier (BBB), neuronal, and endothelial injury biomarkers measured during critical illness are associated with cognitive impairment and disability after discharge. We enrolled adults with respiratory failure and/or shock and measured plasma concentrations of BBB (S100B), neuronal (UCHL1, BDNF), and endothelial (E-selectin, PAI-1) injury markers within 72 h of ICU admission. At 3 and 12 months post-discharge, we assessed participants’ global cognition, executive function, and activities of daily living (ADL). We used multivariable regression to determine whether biomarkers were associated with outcomes after adjusting for relevant demographic and acute illness covariates. Our study included 419 survivors of critical illness with median age 59 years and APACHE II score 25. Higher S100B was associated with worse global cognition at 3 and 12 months (P = 0.008; P = 0.01). UCHL1 was nonlinearly associated with global cognition at 3 months (P = 0.02). Higher E-selectin was associated with worse global cognition (P = 0.006 at 3 months; P = 0.06 at 12 months). BDNF and PAI-1 were not associated with global cognition. No biomarkers were associated with executive function. Higher S100B (P = 0.05) and E-selectin (P = 0.02) were associated with increased disability in ADLs at 3 months. S100B, a marker of BBB and/or astrocyte injury, and E-selectin, an adhesion molecule and marker of endothelial injury, are associated with long-term cognitive impairment after critical illness, findings that may reflect mechanisms of critical illness brain injury.
Effects of Government Dialogic Competency: The MERS Outbreak and Implications for Public Health Crises and Political Legitimacy:

During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, South Korean citizens blamed the government for the lack of dialogue between the government and its publics, low credibility of risk inf...
Titanium implant wear from a zirconia custom abutment: A clinical report

This clinical report describes damage to a 1-piece zirconia abutment where both biological and mechanical complications developed, resulting in premature loss of the implant. Scanning electron microscopy showed significant damage to the internal connection of the implant. When using 1-piece zirconia abutments with a titanium internal connection, periodic recall and identification of wear is necessary, especially in patients with repeated screw loosening.
Fully Dynamic c-Edge Connectivity in Subpolynomial Time.

We present a deterministic fully dynamic algorithm for $c$-edge connectivity problem with $n^{o(1)}$ worst case update and query time for any positive integer $c = (\log n)^{o(1)}$ for a graph with $n$ vertices. Previously, only polylogarithmic, $O(\sqrt{n})$, and $O(n^{2/3})$ worst case update time algorithms were known for fully dynamic $1$, $2$ and $3$-edge connectivity problems respectively. Our techniques include a multi-level $c$-edge connectivity sparsifier, an online-batch update algorithm for the sparsifier, and a general approach to turn an online-batch dynamic algorithm with small amortized update time into a fully dynamic algorithm with worst case update time.
Transition to strong coupling regime for quantum emitters coupled to a plasmonic resonator

We present a model for exciton-plasmon coupling based on energy exchange mechanism between quantum emitters (QE) and localized surface plasmons in metal-dielectric structures. Plasmonic correlations between QEs give rise to a collective state exchanging its energy cooperatively with a resonant plasmon mode. By defining carefully the plasmon mode volume for a QE ensemble, we obtain a relation between the QE-plasmon coupling and the cooperative energy transfer rate that is expressed in terms of local fields. For a single QE near a sharp metal tip, we find analytically the enhancement factor for the QE-plasmon coupling relative to the QE coupling to a cavity mode. For QEs distributed in an extended region enclosing a plasmonic structure, we find that the ensemble QE-plasmon coupling saturates to a universal value independent on system size and shape, consistent with the experiment.
Equilibrium and travelling-wave solutions of plane Couette flow

We present 10 new equilibrium solutions to plane Couette flow in small periodic cells at low Reynolds number Re and two new travelling-wave solutions. The solutions are continued under changes of Re and spanwise period. We provide a partial classification of the isotropy groups of plane Couette flow and show which kinds of solutions are allowed by each isotropy group. We find two complementary visualizations particularly revealing. Suitably chosen sections of their three-dimensional physical space velocity fields are helpful in developing physical intuition about coherent structures observed in low-Re turbulence. Projections of these solutions and their unstable manifolds from their ∞-dimensional state space on to suitably chosen two- or three-dimensional subspaces reveal their interrelations and the role they play in organizing turbulence in wall-bounded shear flows.
Preoperative opioid use correlates with worse patient-reported outcomes two years after elective shoulder surgery

Abstract Introduction Prescription opioid consumption in the United States is a well-known public health problem, however, the deleterious effect of opioids may not be fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative opioid use and patient-reported outcomes two years after shoulder surgery. We hypothesized preoperative opioid use would be predictive of worse two-year patient reported outcome scores. Methods Patients undergoing shoulder surgery at an urban institution from June 2015 to July 2017 were prospectively enrolled into our orthopaedic registry. Preoperative opioid use and its association to patient outcome scores was retrospectively analyzed through bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was used to control for confounding variables and to determine independent predictors of two-year outcome scores. Results Preoperative opioid use was associated with significantly worse scores on all two-year patient reported outcomes, and less improvement in PROMIS Physical Function and Numeric Pain Score (NPS) Body Pain two years postoperatively. Multivariate analysis showed preoperative opioid use to be an independent predictor of worse two-year scores in PROMIS Physical Function, PROMIS Pain Interference, PROMIS Social Satisfaction, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Form and NPS Operative Site. Preoperative opioid use was not an independent predictor of change in any outcome measure. Conclusion Preoperative opioid use was associated with worse scores on all two-year patient reported outcomes, and after controlling for confounders, preoperative opioid use was predictive of worse scores in several two-year outcome measures. To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies investigating the impact of preoperative opioid use on postoperative outcomes after shoulder surgery.
National Legal Paradigms for Public Health Emergency Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant weaknesses of the U.S. federalist system in controlling major infectious disease threats. At the root of American failures to adequately respond is a battle over public health primacy in emergency preparedness and response. Which level of government—federal or state—should actually “call the shots” to quell national emergencies? Constitutional principles of cooperative federalism suggest both levels of government are responsible. Yet, real-time applications of these principles, coupled with dubious national leadership, contributed to horrific public health outcomes across America. No one seeks a “repeat performance” of U.S. COVID-19 response efforts to forthcoming major health threats. Avoiding it entails substantial changes. Expansive interpretations and executions of core federal emergency powers illuminate new paradigms for Twenty-first century public health crisis planning, preparedness, and response where states remain key players, but the feds are primary play-callers.
Returns from Investing in Equity Mutual Funds 1971-1991

Several recent studies suggest that equity mutual fund managers achieve superior returns and that considerable persistence in performance exists. This study utilizes a unique data set including returns from all equity mutual funds existing each year. These data enable us more precisely to examine performance and the extent of survivorship bias. In the aggregate, funds have under performed benchmark portfolios both after management expenses and even gross of expenses. Survivorship bias appears to be more important than other studies have estimated. Moreover, while considerable performance persistence existed during the 1970s, there was no consistency in fund returns during the 1980s.
Online Users’ Identity Theft and Coping Strategies, Attribution and Sense of Urgency: A Non-Linear Quadratic Effect Assessment

Defined as someone using other’s personally identifiable information to make profit or commit crimes, identity theft has become a critical problem for the whole society. The development of Internet technology has made this problem worse. Results of empirical assessment including non-linear quadratic effect prove that when users have the perception of more control over the identity theft threat, they are likely to find solutions, feel it is their responsibility and has more intentions for identity theft prevention actions to prevent identity theft. Interestingly, our theory and empirical results suggest that quadratic effect exist among critical constructs in our theoretical model and that the underlying complexity require further investigation and that linear models may not be necessarily sufficient. We further contribute by developing theory and empirical validation of non-linear quadratic effect among key constructs related to Identity theft in the context of IT security literature.
Employee Turnover Prediction: A Deep Survival Analysis Approach

Employee turnover refers to an individual’s termination of employment from the current organization. It is one of the most persistent challenges for firms, especially those ones in Information Technology (IT) industry that confront high turnover rates. Successfully predicting which employees may terminate their employment benefits multiple stakeholders such as firms and online recruiters. Prior studies have focused on either the turnover prediction within a single firm or the aggregated employee movement among firms. How to predict the individual employees’ turnovers among multiple firms has gained little attention in the literature, and thus remains a great research challenge. By collecting and utilizing a unique of career dataset, in this study we propose a novel deep survival analysis approach to predict the turnovers of individual employees across different firms. With extensive experimental evaluations with a real-world dataset, we demonstrate the superior performance of our method over several benchmark methods, and further estimate the cost saving for recruiters by using our turnover prediction solution to showcase its practical business value.
Stress management interventions for adults with heart failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective Stress management interventions (SMIs) targeting psychological stress and other psychosocial factors associated with heart failure (HF) morbidity and mortality are increasingly recommended for adults with HF. SMI content and delivery varies widely and meta-analyses are needed to synthesize current findings to identify gaps in the literature. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the efficacy of SMIs for improving anxiety, depressive symptoms, exercise capacity, and disease-specific quality of life in adults with HF. Method Comprehensive searches of 10 electronic bibliographic databases identified peer-reviewed, published, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SMIs for adults with HF. Results Twenty-three RCTs were included (N = 2,294; Mage = 63.09 ± 7.27 years; 40% women, 56% White). Pooled effects indicated greater improvements in anxiety (d+ = .49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [.09-.89], k = 10), depressive symptoms (d+ = .39, 95% CI [.03, .75], k = 13), disease-specific quality of life (d+ = .82, 95% CI [.40, 1.24], k = 16), and exercise capacity (d+ = .57, 95% CI [.20, .95], k = 14) among SMI recipients relative to controls at the first postintervention assessment. The benefits were not maintained at follow-up. Participant characteristics (e.g., proportion women, HF severity), but not intervention type, moderated the findings. Conclusions SMIs for adults with HF demonstrated short-term improvements in anxiety, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and exercise capacity. Future research sampling patients who are psychologically distressed with more thorough assessment of stress and longer follow-ups can elucidate the benefits of SMIs among adults with HF. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Young Children’s Behavioral and Emotional Reactions to Plexiglas and Video Visits with Jailed Parents

Approximately 11.7 million individuals were admitted to jails in the US in 2013, similar to the previous year, and national estimates indicate that 36 % of these individuals are parents of children under 15 years of age. Many children with parents who are incarcerated in jail or prison experience multiple risk factors and they are more likely to develop a host of health and behavioral health difficulties in childhood and adulthood compared to their peers. Maintenance of relationships with incarcerated parents is often seen as important for children’s well-being during the parental incarceration period, yet concerns have been raised about visitation in corrections facilities, especially visits involving security procedures or non-contact visits. The present study is the first to report observational data about young children’s visits to jails that used Plexiglas barriers or video monitors for visitation. Results of observations of 20 children indicated that children engaged verbally and visually with their incarcerated parents. They stayed in close proximity to the caregivers who brought them and engaged in an increasing amount of contact maintenance as the visit progressed. Children spent a surprising amount of time watching the visits occurring adjacent to them because of the lack of privacy during visits.
A discrete-time Bluetooth receiver in a 0.13/spl mu/m digital CMOS process

A discrete-time receiver architecture for a wireless application is presented. Analog signal processing concepts are used to directly sample the RF input at Nyquist rate. Maximum receiver sensitivity is -83dBm and the chip consumes a total of 41mA from a 1.575V internally regulated supply. The receiver is implemented in a 0.13/spl mu/m digital CMOS process.
Carcinoma of the Vagina

Primary vaginal cancer is a rare entity representing about 2% of all female genital neoplasias and only 0.1–0.2% of all cancers (Jemal et al. 59(4):225–249, 2009). Most carcinomas found in the vagina represent direct extension or metastasis from other primary gynecologic (cervix or vulva) and non-gynecologic sites, most commonly breast and gastrointestinal tract. There are a number of controversies in terms of epidemiology, staging, and diagnostic evaluation as well as in the management of vaginal cancer. Because of its rarity, there is a lack of prospective, randomized studies in patients with vaginal cancer, and therefore it is difficult to establish strong, evidence based-recommendations. Decisions regarding therapeutic options are for the most part, based on retrospective data and individual assessment using general principles derived from clinical experience in the cancer management in other sites. Most of the available data refer to the treatment of primary invasive SCC of the vagina, since this represents the most common histology.
A Field Trip Through Diversity

Demons in Eden The Paradox of Plant . By: Jonathan Silvertown . University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2005. 187 pp. $25, £16. ISBN 0-226-75771-4. The author offers lay readers a short, seemingly up-to-date account of plant diversity patterns and the evolutionary and ecological processes responsible for them.
Are you hungry? Are you thirsty?--fasting times in elective outpatient pediatric patients.

Summary Objective: This study assessed the duration of pre-operative fasting in children and its impact on the subjective feeling of hunger and thirst prior to elective outpatient anesthesia. Background: Pediatric fasting guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during general anesthesia, and a fasting regimen of 6–8 h for solids, 4 h for breast milk, and 2 h for clear fluids is commonly used. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fasting times are often excessive. Methods: A total of 1350 consecutive healthy children aged <16 (median 7.7, range 2–16) presenting for elective dental treatment under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective study. On hospital arrival, all children were asked when they last ate or drank and to rate their degree of hunger and thirst. Results: The median (range) fasting times were 12:05 (00:45–21:50) hours and 07:57 (00:05–20:50) hours for solids and fluids, respectively. The majority of children were very hungry or starving (756/1350 = 56%), but less than third of all children were very thirsty (361/1350 = 27%). Duration of solid food fast and severity of hunger correlated for patients fasted from before midnight (r = 0.92) but not for food after midnight. No correlation was found for fluid intake and perception of thirst. Conclusion: This study shows that children presenting for elective outpatient surgery are suffering from a considerable amount of pre-operative discomfort because of excessive fasting. Strategies to guarantee minimal fasting at hospital admission are urgently needed.
Environmental shotgun sequencing

Shotgun sequencing of microbial communities is a promising means for delving into community function and interactions, population structure and dynamics, and bypassing the cultivation bottleneck in microbiology. However, this approach is mostly blind to low-abundance species as it effectively samples only the dominant populations in a community. It also faces a number of technical challenges such as the assembly and separation of individual genomes from a mixture of genomic fragments compounded by sampling unevenness and data scalability. Despite these limitations, environmental shotgun sequencing should rapidly advance the fields of microbial ecology and evolution.
The Notch Regulator MAML1 Interacts with p53 and Functions as a Coactivator

Members of the evolutionarily conserved Mastermind (MAM) protein family, including the three related mammalian Mastermind-like (MAML) proteins MAML1–3, function as crucial coactivators of Notch-mediated transcriptional activation. Given the recent evidence of cross-talk between the p53 and Notch signal transduction pathways, we have investigated whether MAML1 may also be a transcriptional coactivator of p53. Indeed, we show here that MAML1 is able to interact with p53. We show that MAML1-p53 interaction involves the N-terminal region of MAML1 and the DNA-binding domain of p53, and we use a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to show that MAML1 is part of the activator complex that binds to native p53-response elements within the promoter of the p53 target genes. Overexpression of wild-type MAML1 as well as a mutant, defective in Notch signaling, enhanced the p53-dependent gene induction in mammalian cells, whereas MAML1 knockdown reduced the p53-dependent gene expression. MAML1 increases the half-life of p53 protein and enhances its phosphorylation/acetylation upon DNA damage of cells. Finally, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the single Caenorhabditis elegans MAML homolog, Lag-3, led to substantial abrogation of p53-mediated germ-cell apoptotic response to DNA damage and markedly reduced the expression of Ced-13 and Egl-1, downstream pro-apoptotic targets of the C. elegans p53 homolog Cep-1. Thus, we present evidence for a novel coactivator function of MAML1 for p53, independent of its function as a coactivator of Notch signaling pathway.
Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor is present on human hepatocytes and has a direct role in decreasing hepatic steatosis in vitro by modulating elements of the insulin signaling pathway

Background Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a naturally occurring peptide secreted by the L-cells of the small intestine. GLP-1 functions as an incretin and stimulates glucose-mediated insulin production by pancreatic β-cells. In this study, we demonstrate that Exendin-4/GLP-1 has a cognate receptor on human hepatocytes; and that Exendin-4 has a direct effect on the reduction of hepatic steatosis in the absence of insulin.
Breath of life

The ups and downs of an invisible gas we take for granted have forced some of the greatest moments in animal evolution, argues biologist Peter Ward
Well, water, rock: holy wells, mass rocks and reconciling identity in the republic of ireland

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the significance of holy wells and mass stones in Southwest Ireland, as expressions of competing narratives of meaning, identity, faith and history. Drawing on ethnographic interviews and participant observation, this essay argues that these places and the ritual activities that regularly occur there reflect and reconstruct contemporary Irish identities. In an era of rapid cultural change, these places comprise a tangible and experiential connection to Irish heritage and tradition. As reflected in interviews, conversations and published documents, these places are viewed as simultaneously embodying indigenous pre-Christian spiritualities as well as being locations of a distinctively Catholic faith. At the same time, they are important as secluded locations where Irish Catholic parishioners held mass during the colonial era of English oppression and as locations of popular religion, in contradistinction to orthodox Roman Catholicism. As such, holy wells and mass rocks demonstrat...
The reaction of ozone with perfluorinated polyolefins.

Abstract In this work it has been found that Teflons are not inert to gaseous ozone, but they react with it to generate carbonyl difluoride (CF2O) among other products. Rate studies were carried out with three different Teflon samples. The reaction rate is proportional to [O3], and, for a given [O3], the reaction rate increases with Teflon surface area. It appears probable that the mechanism involves a Teflon surface reaction between O3 and a terminal olefinic bond in the polymer. Possible steps in the reaction mechanism are discussed. Scientists employing ozone containing mixtures in contact with Teflon stopcocks, Teflon bags, tubing, FEP-coated reactor walls, etc., should be cognizant of the possible complications of CF2O formation which may result from this unexpected reaction.
Structural and mechanistic analysis through electronic spectra: aqueous hyponitrite radical (N2O2-) and nitrosyl hyponitrite anion (N3O3-).

Aqueous hyponitrite radical (N2O2–) and nitrosyl hyponitrite anion (N3O3–) are important intermediates in the reductive chemistry of NO. The structures and absorption spectra of various hydrated isomers of these compounds were investigated in this work using high-level quantum mechanical calculations combined with the explicit classical description of the aqueous environment. For N2O2–, comparison of the calculated spectra and energetics with the experimental data reveals that (1) upon the one-electron oxidation of trans-hyponitrite (ON═NO2–), the trans configuration of the resulting ON═NO– radical is preserved; (2) although cis- and trans-ON═NO– are energetically nearly equivalent, the barrier for the trans–cis isomerization is prohibitively high because of the partial double character of the NN bond; (3) the calculations confirm that the UV spectrum of ONNO– was misinterpreted in the earlier pulse radiolysis work, and its more recent revision has been justified. For the N3O3– ion, the symmetric isomer i...
Immunochemical Determinants Unique to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: Importance of Sialic Acid for Antisera Generated to the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin β-Subunit COOH-Terminal Peptide

Antisera generated against the structure of the unique hCGβ COOH-terminal region have generally been highly specific for hCG but of low sensitivity and titer when compared with antisera raised against the entire hCG β-subunit. The latter are usually of high affinity but not completely specific for hCG. In this study we characterized several antisera generated against an asialo tryptic peptide from the hCGβ COOH-terminal region in order to search for factors that enhance the sensitivity of these reactions. We found that antisera generated to the asialo hCGβ COOH-terminal tryptic peptide (residues 123–145) frequently reacted with asialo hCG better than with native hCG. Thus, it appeared that the use of an asialo immunogen frequently elicited antibodies to determinants available in the asialo peptide which were masked by sialic acid in native hCG. It is inferred that the use of peptides with their natural complement of sialic acid intact rather than of asialo or synthetic peptides may result in antisera of h...
Gamma-Ray Instrument for Polarimetry, Spectroscopy and Imaging (GIPSI)

We present an instrument concept called GIPSI that uses germanium strip detectors in an imaging system to provide narrow line sensitivity less than 8.0 multiplied by 10-6 gamma cm-2s-1 at 100 keV in a 2 week exposure (3 sigma), and which has a point spread function (spatial resolution of approximately 20 arc minutes rms. The germanium strip detectors also make an excellent polarimeter by capitalizing on the angular dependence of the Compton scattering cross section. Gamma-ray polarimetry in the energy band around 60 - 300 keV is an interesting area of high energy astrophysics where observations have not been possible with the technologies employed in current and past space missions. We have tested a prototype detector with polarized beams and have measured a modulation factor of approximately 0.8 at 100 keV. A sensitive instrument can be realized on a modest space mission or a long duration balloon flight. Linear polarization can be detected in sources such as the Crab Pulsar, Cen A, Cyg X-1, and solar flares down to less than 5% of the source flux. The proposed instrument would have a collecting area of 400 cm2.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Clinical Aspects of Chronic Myeloproliferative Diseases

The nonleukemic chronic myeloproliferative disorders, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, and myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis, are clonal disorders with similar but distinct clinical and laboratory findings. This review will discuss the diagnostic criteria for each disease, the variable clinical picture, and the therapeutic modalities, actual and theoretical.
Structuring continuous video recordings of everyday life using time-constrained clustering

As personal wearable devices become more powerful and ubiquitous, soon everyone will be capable to continuously record video of everyday life. The archive of continuous recordings need to be segmented into manageable units so that they can be efficiently browsed and indexed by any video retrieval systems. Many researchers approach the problem in two-pass methods: segmenting the continuous recordings into chunks, followed by clustering chunks. In this paper we propose a novel one-pass algorithm to accomplish both tasks at the same time by imposing time constraints on the K-Means clustering algorithm. We evaluate the proposed algorithm on 62.5 hours of continuous recordings, and the experiment results show that time-constrained clustering algorithm substantially outperforms the unconstrained version.
Lamotrigine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Purpose. A case of lamotrigine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is reported. Summary. A 29-year-old woman with a medical history of schizoaffective disorder arrived at the emergency department with a severe generalized skin reaction. Three to four days prior she had noticed bumps on her lips that had spread to her oral mucosa. She had also developed a diffuse, erythematous, pruritic full-body rash involving the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet and began to feel feverish. Her medications at admission included aripiprazole 30 mg p.o. daily, escitalopram 10 mg p.o. daily, and lamotrigine 75 mg p.o. daily. Lamotrigine was the only new medication, initiated four weeks before this admission. The dermatology service confirmed the diagnosis of SJS using punch biopsy. Lamotrigine was suspected to be the culprit and was discontinued immediately. The patient was given oral prednisone 40 mg and intravenous fluids. Hydroxyzine was given for pruritis, and petroleum jelly and viscous lidocaine were applied to her lips. On hospital day 2, her symptoms and dermatological manifestations improved, but she continued to complain about irritation and slight pain of the mouth. She then received a mouthwash consisting of diphenhydramine, viscous lidocaine, and sodium bicarbonate. On hospital day 3, the patient had improved substantially and was discharged home. Reports of these dermatological reactions in patients receiving lamotrigine for the treatment of bipolar disorder are limited. Dosing, prompt recognition, and patient education are crucial for preventing morbidity and mortality associated with the development of serious cutaneous reactions. Conclusion. SJS was associated with lamotrigine use, despite appropriate dosing and dosage adjustment.
Review: Graduated compression stockings reduce deep venous thrombosis in hospitalized patients

Source Citation Sachdeva A, Dalton M, Amaragiri SV, Lees T. Elastic compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(7):CD001484. 20614425
High Lift Circulation Controlled Helicopter Blade

Circulation control techniques have a long history of applications to fixed wing aircraft. General aviation has used circulation control to delay flow separation and increase the maximum lift coefficient achievable with a given airfoil. These techniques have been gradually expanded to other applications, such as ground vehicles, to reduce drag. Circulation control technology can, potentially, be applied also to each blade of the main rotor in a helicopter, in order to increase the lift capacity of the rotor. Applications of circulation control technologies to fixed wing aircraft have demonstrated the potential of a three-fold increase in the lift coefficient, as compared to a conventional airfoil. This finding would suggest that a rotorcraft equipped with circulation control of the main rotor blades could, conceivably, lift up a payload that is approximately three times heavier than the maximum lift capacity of the same helicopter without circulation control. Alternatively, circulation control could reduce the required rotor diameter by up to 48%, if the maximum lift capacity remains unaltered. A High Lift, Circulation Controlled Helicopter Blade will be undergoing initial testing in the subsonic wind tunnel facility at West Virginia University. Two-dimensional elliptic airfoil models with air blowing slots for circulation control will be used as specimens in these tests in order to determine the aerodynamic changes, especially in lift and drag forces, achievable with various blowing slot configurations. Based on the results of the wind tunnel testing, an improved, detailed design will be developed for the entire main rotor of a helicopter with circulation control.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
1P resonances in the electron-hydrogen system☆

Abstract The energies and widths of the four lowest resonances in the 1 P state of the electron-hydrogen system under the n = 3 threshold have been calculated using a pseudostate expansion.
Exponential survivals with censoring and explanatory variables

Consideration is given to the analysis of survival times, censored and uncensored, arising from a hazard function that varies exponentially with covariates and is otherwise constant. Significance tests and statements of probabilistic inference are derived for covariate parameters and for the hazard function at average values of the covariate. The results are extended to include a Weibull component in the hazard. Clinical trials on advanced lung cancer patients serve to illustrate the suggested procedures.
Advances in Radiosurgery for Arteriovenous Malformations of the Brain

Arteriovenous malformations of the brain are a considerable source of morbidity and mortality for patients who harbor them. Although our understanding of this disease has improved, it remains in evolution. Advances in our ability to treat these malformations and the modes by which we address them have also improved substantially. However, the variety of patient clinical and disease scenarios often leads us into challenging and complex management algorithms as we balance the risks of treatment against the natural history of the disease. The goal of this article is to provide a focused review of the natural history of cerebral arteriovenous malformations, to examine the role of stereotactic radiosurgery, to discuss the role of endovascular therapy as it relates to stereotactic radiosurgery, and to look toward future advances.
The status of type I polyketide synthase ketoreductases

Complex polyketides are a large group of structurally diverse and pharmaceutically important natural products known for their multiple chiral centers harboring hydroxyl and alkyl substituents. Numerous studies to decipher how stereochemistry is controlled during their biosyntheses have determined that ketoreductases usually set most of their chiral centers. While the reliable engineering of ketoreductases within modular polyketide synthases to set new stereocenters in complex polyketides has yet to be realized, this review summarizes the contributions of biochemical studies, engineering efforts, and structural biology to understanding these stereocenter-molding enzymes.
A Critical Role for Immune System Response in Mediating Anti-influenza Drug Synergies Assessed by Mechanistic Modeling

Influenza virus infections represent a serious public health problem worldwide, due to the rapid emergence of drug resistance. One strategy to improve treatment efficacy is to combine drugs that act synergistically. Potentially useful drug combinations are typically identified through empirical testing using in vitro and animal models, but the complexity of the clinical situation warrants the use of more careful analysis and sophisticated approaches. To explore new approaches, we constructed a mechanistic model representing the interaction of antiviral drugs with the viral replication pathway and human immune responses. Simulation of combination therapy using oseltamivir and amantadine predicted significant therapeutic synergy only when immune response was included, in agreement with previous in vitro and in vivo studies using amantadine-resistant strains. Our model can be used to predict the optimal doses for combination therapy, and also raises questions about current drug evaluation methods that do not account for immune system interactions.
Outsourcing and Digitized Work Spaces: Some Implications of the Intersections of Globalization, Development, and Work Practices

Drawing on an ongoing project examining the literacies prevalent at an outsourcing site, this article explores the changing nature of workplace practices enabled by new information and communication technologies. It also examines the complex geopolitical dynamics of these practices, the discourses of development, and globalization. The author identifies the tensions and contradictions that the demands for “new” work and new work practices create for communities as they seek access to the benefits of globalization. The key arguments of the article are that • Cyber work and its practices in these new locations have social, cultural, and political implications • Workplace studies must move beyond studies of how technologies are shaping work in industrialized economies if we are going to understand work in the 21st century • Research and advocacy offers communities possibilities for creating work spaces that are helpful to sustainable development but which also mitigate some of the consequences of globalization
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor dependent transcriptional regulation of two calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II isoforms in rodent cerebral cortex.

Abstract Alpha Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII-α) expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner, but it is not known whether other CaMKII isoforms (β, δ, and γ) are similarly regulated. We examined the activity-dependent regulation of these CaMKII isoforms in vivo, using a model of generalized seizures caused by i.p. injection of kainic acid. Following seizure induction, CaMKII-α expression was downregulated and CaMKII-δ expression upregulated while CaMKII-β and CaMKII-γ expression was unaffected. A transient downregulation in CaMKII-α and a transient increase in CaMKII-δ occurred throughout neocortex in the same temporal order. Although CaMKII-α mRNA was decreased by seizure activity, the less abundant, alternatively spliced, CaMKII-α33 mRNA was unaffected. Organotypic cortical slice cultures treated with bicuculline and 4-aminopyridine to induce seizure activity also showed a downregulation of CaMKII-α mRNA and an upregulation of CaMKII-δ mRNA. Prior exposure to tetrodotoxin prevented the changes in CaMKII-α and CaMKII-δ mRNA regulation and this was mimicked by d - l -2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, but not by 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitro-quinoxaline, suggesting that CaMKII-α and CaMKII-δ mRNA expression is regulated in an N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor-dependent manner. Regulation was also transcription dependent. Blocking transcription with actinomycin- d prevented activity-dependent changes in CaMKII-α and CaMKII-δ mRNA, but produced opposite effects on basal transcription, resulting in more stabilized CaMKII-α mRNA and less stabilized CaMKII-δ mRNA. These results reveal unique patterns of seizure-induced alterations in CaMKII mRNAs. Activity-dependent changes in subunit composition could, therefore, differentially influence the functional attributes of the CaMKII holoenzyme.
Low bone mass and fractures on foot radiographs: missed opportunities to evaluate for osteoporosis: a pilot study.

Background: Osteoporosis is often unrecognized, even in the presence of radiologic evidence of vertebral or nonvertebral fragility fractures. Methods: Ninety patients aged 50 years and older with radiographs of the foot taken at Howard University Hospital between 2003 and 2005 were randomly selected. In phase 1, standard radiograph reports were reviewed for evidence of osteopenia, fractures, or both. In phase 2, risk factors for osteoporosis and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were obtained. Results: In phase 1, radiologists reported all of the fractures for all 90 participants; however, osteopenia was reported in only 54.7% of these. In phase 2, for 50% of the participants with radiographic evidence of osteopenia, fractures, or both, there was no evidence that the clinicians evaluated risk factors for low bone mass or requested a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. Of participants who had radiographic evidence of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or both, 83.3% met the criteria for dual energy x-ray ab...
Four Dimensions of Design Similarity

To benefit from the value of a brand, a product family must have a coherent product family look. It is however not clear, what in the design contributes toward the coherence or similarity between the products. In this work, a product family identity is broken down into its basic design elements. The contribution of each of these basic design elements toward similarity is investigated. We present a framework of design elements in four dimensions. Examples of these design elements include color, texture, shape, and form. The contribution of these design elements toward the perceived product similarity is investigated. A two phased factorial analysis was performed. The first phase involved simplified shapes consisting of five design elements in the first two dimensions. In the second phase, a similar survey was repeated using images of real products. A survey of product pairs was given to a total of 52 participants. The results show that using the same shape, texture, color, and pattern has a significant effect on making a product pair seem similar to one another. The results will help a designer to design product families that have a coherent product family look but yet look clearly different from the competing brands.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Nasopharyngeal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. * They represent extranodal, marginal zone, B-cell lymphomas of the low-grade variety. Two thirds of the cases occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Other sites include the lungs, breast, bladder, conjunctiva, kidneys, liver, skin, salivary glands, thyroid, thymus, and larynx. Reports on Waldeyer’s ring lymphomas reveal that less than 4% are the MALT type. 2,3 MALT lymphomas are more common in patients with autoimmune disorders or chronic inflammatory disease. They are less frequent in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The use of the reinstatement model to study relapse to palatable food seeking during dieting.

Abstract Excessive consumption of unhealthy foods is a major public health problem. While many people attempt to control their food intake through dieting, many relapse to unhealthy eating habits within a few months. We have begun to study this clinical condition in rats by adapting the reinstatement model, which has been used extensively to study relapse to drug seeking. In our adaptation of the relapse model, reinstatement of palatable food seeking by exposure to food-pellet priming, food-associated cues, or stress is assessed in food-restricted (to mimic dieting) rats after operant food-pellet self-administration training and subsequent extinction of the food-reinforced responding. In this review, we first outline the clinical problem and discuss a recent study in which we assessed the predictive validity of the reinstatement model for studying relapse to food seeking during dieting by using the anorexigenic drug fenfluramine. Next, we summarize results from our initial studies on the role of several stress- and feeding-related peptides (corticotropin-releasing factor, hypocretin, melanin-concentrating hormone, peptide YY3-36) in reinstatement of palatable food seeking. We then present results from our studies on the role of dopamine and medial prefrontal cortex in stress-induced reinstatement of food seeking. We conclude by discussing potential clinical implications. We offer two main conclusions: (1) the food reinstatement model is a simple, reliable, and valid model to study mechanisms of relapse to palatable food seeking during dieting, and to identify medications to prevent this relapse; (2) mechanisms of relapse to food seeking are often dissociable from mechanisms of ongoing food intake. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue’.