cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac sarcoidosis presenting as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia with ventricular aneurysms: a case report

A 70-year old Caucasian man with recurrent ventricular tachycardia and progressive biventricular failure attributed to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia was evaluated for heart transplantation. Cardiac ventriculography revealed an abnormal left ventricle with five saccular aneurysms. Heart transplantation was performed. Pathology of the explanted heart showed multifocal sarcoid granulomas. Replacement fibrosis was widespread in both ventricles and associated with saccular aneurysms. No genetic basis was identified. Thus, the evidence suggested progressive cardiac sarcoidosis caused this patient's unusual condition.
Venezuela: The Decline of a Democracy

The political crisis in Venezuela has been aggravating for the past 5 years; the economic imbalance has increased the chances of social disintegration while government focuses on holding to power. The institutional deterioration provides forms of control consistent with the authoritarian model in detriment of the values and principles of a democracy that was once a model for stability in Latin America.
Association between continuous peripheral i.v. infusion of 3% sodium chloride injection and phlebitis in adults.

Purpose One institution’s experience with use of peripheral i.v. (PIV) catheters for prolonged infusions of 3% sodium chloride injection at rates up to 100 mL/hr is described. Methods A prospective, observational, 13-month quality assurance project was conducted at an academic medical center to evaluate frequencies of patient and catheter phlebitis among adult inpatients who received both an infusion of 3% sodium chloride injection for a period of ≥4 hours through a dedicated PIV catheter and infusions of routine-care solutions (RCSs) through separate PIV catheters during the same hospital stay. Results Sixty patients received PIV infusions through a total of 291 catheters during the study period. The majority of patients (78%) received infusions of 3% sodium chloride injection for intracranial hypertension, with 30% receiving such infusions in the intensive care unit. Phlebitis occurred in 28 patients (47%) during infusions of 3% sodium chloride and 26 patients (43%) during RCS infusions ( p = 0.19). Catheter phlebitis occurred in 73 catheters (25%), with no significant difference in the frequencies of catheter phlebitis with infusion of 3% sodium chloride versus RCSs (30% [32 of 106 catheters]) versus 22% [41 of 185 catheters]), p = 0.16). Conclusion Patient and catheter phlebitis rates were not significantly different with infusions of 3% sodium chloride injection versus RCSs, suggesting that an osmolarity cutoff value of 900 mOsm/L for peripheral infusions of hypertonic saline solutions may not be warranted.
On finite-population Bayesian inferences for $2^K$ factorial designs with binary outcomes

Inspired by the pioneering work of Rubin (1978), we employ the potential outcomes framework to develop a finite-population Bayesian causal inference framework for randomized controlled $2^K$ factorial designs with binary outcomes, which are common in medical research. As demonstrated by simulated and empirical examples, the proposed framework corrects the well-known variance over-estimation issue of the classic "Neymanian" inference framework, under various settings.
Implications for Public Health Systems and Clinical Practitioners: Strengths of Congregations, Religious Health Assets and Leading Causes of Life

Historically and in current times, religious, public health and health system partnerships have been essential in improving health at community scale, ranging from ending infectious disease epidemics to improving the health of the vulnerable dealing with chronic conditions. This chapter sketches that historical background, situating recent efforts against the backdrop of more than a century of public health practice and describes the roles of public health professionals and of empirical evidence in fostering community partnerships between religious organizations and health systems. We also offer seven key principles for religion/health partnerships distilled from the last three decades of practice and theory crafted and conducted by Gary Gunderson, Teresa Cutts and others, built upon the specific frameworks of strengths of congregations, religious health assets and Leading Causes of Life and, in some cases, backed by empirical evidence. These points are illustrated by two case studies of religion/health partnerships in Memphis and North Carolina that exemplify some of those principles. We summarize and draw conclusions, with a particular emphasis on offering useful information for public health practitioners.
Human rights, modernization theory, and China

There continues to be no shortage of books on the topic of human rights in China. What many of these books share is a plot line that affirms what their intended audience already believes to be true...
Molecular mechanisms of erbB2-mediated breast cancer chemoresistance.

The erbB2 (also known as HER2 or neu) gene encodes a 185-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein, which belongs to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family. ErbB2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. The mammalian EGFR family comprises four receptors (EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4), which are derived from a series of gene duplications early in vertebrate evolution and are 40%–45% identical.1 ErbB2 is the only EGFR family member for which no ligand has been found. This may be explained by the unique structure of the ErbB2 extracellular domain, which is not favorable for ligand binding.2,3 Since ErbB2 extracellular domain is always in the open conformation, ErbB2 is the preferred binding partner of all ErbB receptors even as a monomer.2, 3, 4 The binding of ErbB2 to other ErbB receptors results in increased signaling potency of the dimerized receptors through several means, including increased ligand affinity, increased coupling efficiency to signaling molecules, and decreased rate of receptor internalization.5, 6, 7, 8
Effects of Deficiencies of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 on Central Nervous System Function and Development

From studies in lower animals, it is believed that deficiency of folic acid during the intrauterine period may lead to an infant’s being born mentally retarded.(1) The use of antimetabolites to folic acid is known to produce abortion in woman and also to produce a fetus with central nervous system and other deformities.(2,3) Work by Arakawa’s group(4) in Japan suggests that congenital enzyme defects in folate metabolism result in infants born with mental retardation, dilation of the cerebral ventricles, and intracerebral calcification. There is as yet no clear evidence that folate deficiency in adults produces histologically demonstrable damage to the central nervous system. However, folate deficiency in adults is associated with irritability and forgetfulness.(5) Furthermore, it has been suggested, most recently by Reynolds,(6) that anticonvulsants act in part by interfering with folate metabolism and that the supplying of folic acid increases fit frequency in patients whose convulsions would otherwise have been better controlled by anticonvulsant medication. This chapter will review what is known about the mechanisms whereby deficiency of folic acid may produce these alleged effects.
Esther Allen and Susan Bernofsky (eds): In Translation: Translators on Their Work and What It Means

I teach a multilingual translation workshop at my university. Students translate from any language into English and in any given semester there are usually at least six languages represented in a class of twelve students. In the past I have made a great effort to gather engaging essays on translation by literary translators for the students and still was neither completely content with the hodgepodge of material I gave them or the electronic format in which I delivered it. In exchanges with colleagues, I learned that more than a few leaders of translation workshops or practice-based translation courses find themselves in a similar situation. It is for this reason and countless others that the translation community enthusiastically welcomes In Translation: Translators on Their Work and What It Means edited by Esther Allen and Susan Bernofsky. The book’s two parts, ‘‘The Translator in the World’’ and ‘‘The Translator at Work,’’ provide a unified collection of 18 essays by some of today’s most fascinating translators plus an introduction by the editors. Every single contribution irresistibly invites readers to consider broader issues that explore what it means to be a literary translator in the twenty-first century, or ‘‘the age of translation’’ (xix). Although particular cases regarding Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish are especially interesting to those with knowledge of these languages, in no way do these chapters ignore a larger audience. The specific challenges, solutions, and persistent tensions of certain language pairs never exclude the global conversation that highlights translation as its own language throughout the volume’s pages. Thus, the chapters can be read and taught together effortlessly. In Translation, is a celebration of the absolute necessity of translation since, as Allen and Bernofsky state, ‘‘translation not only brings us the work of those who write in other languages; it simultaneously reveals the limits of our own language
Insulin-like effects of a physiologic concentration of carnitine on cardiac metabolism.

Pharmacologic (millimolar) levels of carnitine have been reported to increase myocardial glucose oxidation, but whether physiologically relevant concentrations of carnitine affect cardiac metabolism is not known. We employed the isolated, perfused rat heart to compare the effects of physiologic levels of carnitine (50 μM) and insulin (75 mU/l [0.5 nM]) on the following metabolic processes: (1) glycolysis (release of 3H2O from 5-3H-glucose); (2) oxidation of glucose and pyruvate (production of 14CO2 from U-14C-glucose, 1-14C-glucose, 3,4-14C-glucose, 1-14C-pyruvate, and 2-14C-pyruvate); and (3) oxidation of palmitate (release of 3H2O from 9,10-3H-palmitate). We found that addition of carnitine (50 μM) to a perfusate containing both glucose (10 mM) and palmitate (0.5 mM) stimulated glycolytic flux by 20%, nearly doubled the rate of glucose oxidation, and inhibited palmitate oxidation by 20%. These actions of carnitine were uniformly similar to those of insulin. When carnitine and insulin were administered together, their effects on the oxidation of glucose and palmitate, but not on glycolysis, were additive. When pyruvate (1 mM) was substituted for glucose, neither carnitine nor insulin influenced the rate of oxidation of pyruvate or palmitate. In combination, however, carnitine and insulin sharply suppressed pyruvate oxidation (75%) and doubled the rate of palmitate oxidation. None of the responses to carnitine or insulin was affected by varying the isotopic labeling of glucose or pyruvate. The results show that carnitine, at normal blood levels, exerts insulin-like effects on myocardial fuel utilization. They also suggest that plasma carnitine in vivo may interact with insulin both additively and permissively on the metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids
Serving Two Masters: Ethics, Epistemology, and Taking People at their Word

Word-taking has both an epistemic and an ethical dimension. I argue that we have no good way of understanding how both ethical and epistemic considerations can be brought to bear when someone makes...
Spectral Properties and Abundances of Suprathermal Heavy Ions in Compression Regions near 1 au

We have analyzed spectral properties and abundances of ~0.02–3.0 MeV nucleon−1 suprathermal (ST) H–Fe ions in 41 stream interaction regions (SIRs) near 1 au observed by Wind and ACE spacecraft from 1995 January through 2008 December. We find that, (i) the event-averaged spectral index is γ ~ 2.44, with a standard deviation (σ) of 0.67, (ii) γ's are poorly correlated with the magnetic compression ratios, and 17% of the events group around γ ~ 1.5, (iii) γ's for both O and Fe at ~0.02–0.09 MeV nucleon−1 and 0.09–0.3 MeV nucleon−1 are correlated, but do not exhibit any systematic steepening or flattening as a function of energy, (iv) the ST heavy ion abundance ratios remain constant with increasing energy, implying that the spectral rollovers, defined by the e-folding energy E 0, are independent of the ion's mass per charge (M/Q), and (v) SIR ST abundances are similar to the corresponding solar wind values, and do not exhibit any systematic behavior when plotted versus the ion's M/Q or first ionization potential. The above results pose challenges for (1) particle acceleration models that invoke either a corotating interaction region or SIR shocks between ~3 and 5 au, (2) particle transport models that predict M/Q-dependent spectral rollovers due to interplanetary turbulence effects, and (3) the notion that SIR ST ions originate directly from the bulk solar wind. Instead, we suggest that the SIR ST ions are accelerated out of a pool of material that includes particles accelerated in solar energetic particle events and processed or heated solar wind ions.
Trampling and Cover Effects on Soil Compaction and Seedling Establishment in Reseeded Pasturelands Over Time

Abstract A field study in Randall County, Texas, was conducted to determine how soil bulk density and plant cover change over time in response to deferment following a high-density, high-intensity, short-term grazing/trampling event. Green Sprangletop (Leptocloa dubia Kunth.) and Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) were broadcasted at 4.5 kg ha−1 pure live seed (PLS) on former cropland that had a partial stand of WW-Spar Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum L.). A high-density, high-intensity trampling event was achieved with twenty-four 408-kg Bos taurus heifers occupying four 0.10-ha plots (97 920 kg live weight ha−1) for 10 h, with four adjacent 0.10-ha control plots left untrampled. Canopy and basal cover were determined by plant functional group using the Daubenmire method after rainfall events of > 0.254 cm, and a 5.08 × 7.62 cm core was collected to determine soil bulk density. Strips of supplemental plant material were applied in March to test the effects of 100% soil cover on seedling recruitment. Trampled treatments had 30% less vegetative cover (P
Afghan History Through Afghan Eyes

Afghan History Through Afghan Eyes is an important corrective to histories of Afghanistan written by western researchers: its history previously has been defined and described by scholars from Brit...
Economic Impact of COVID-19 on a High-Volume Academic Neurosurgical Practice.

Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that rapidly spread around the globe. The dramatic increase in the number of cases and deaths have placed tremendous strain on health care systems worldwide. As health care workers and society adjust to focus treatment and prevention of COVID-19, other facets of the health care enterprise are affected, particularly surgical volume and revenue. The purpose of this study was to describe the financial impact of COVID-19 on an academic neurosurgery department. Methods A retrospective review of weekly average daily work relative value units (wRVUs) were compared before and after COVID-19 in the fiscal year 2020. A comparative time period of the same months in the year prior was also included for review. We also review strategies for triaging neurosurgical disease as needing emergent, urgent, or routine operative treatment. Results Daily average wRVU after COVID-19 dropped significantly with losses in all weeks examined. Of the 7 weeks in the current post-COVID period, the weekly daily average wRVU was 173 (range, 128–363). The mean decline was 51.4% compared with the pre-COVID era. Both inpatient and outpatient revenue was affected. Conclusions COVID-19 had a profound detrimental effect on surgical productivity and revenue generation.
An Architect of the Hindbrain: DDX3X Regulates Normal and Malignant Development.

Hallmark mutations in WNT and SHH medulloblastoma are usually distinct, but DDX3X is often mutated in both subgroups. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Patmore et al. identify Ddx3x as essential for hindbrain patterning, cell fate determination, and as a tumor suppressor gene that restricts cell lineage progression in tumorigenesis.
Implementation of a 4-dimensional computed tomography protocol for parathyroid adenoma localization.

Abstract Purpose To present the results of our implementation of a four-dimensional computed tomography- (4DCT) based parathyroid localization protocol for primary hyperparathyroidism at a safety net hospital. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism at Elmhurst Hospital Center from June 2016 – September 2019. Patients treated prior to the implementation of 4DCT during October 2018 served as historical controls for comparison. Imaging-related costs and hospital charges were obtained from the Radiology Department for each patient. Results Forty-two patients underwent parathyroid surgery during the study period. Twenty patients had undergone 4DCT while 22 had nuclear medicine studies with or without ultrasonography. The sensitivity and specificity of 4DCT was 90.4% and 100% respectively, compared to 63% and 93.7% for nuclear imaging studies and 41% and 95% for ultrasound. The mean number of glands explored was significantly less in the 4DCT group, 1.8 ± 1.19 versus 2.77 ± 1.26 (p = 0.01). There was no increase in infrastructure or personnel costs associated with 4DCT implementation. Conclusions 4DCT represents an increasingly common imaging modality for pre-operative parathyroid localization. Here we demonstrate that 4DCT is associated with a reduction in the number of glands explored and enables minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. 4DCT is a cost-effective and clinically sound localization study for parathyroid localization in an urban safety-net hospital.
Misery Loves Company: Team Dissonance and the Influence of Supervisor-Focused Interpersonal Justice Climate on Team Cohesiveness

The organizational justice literature has examined the effects of supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate, or a team’s shared perception of the dignity and respect it receives from its supervisor, on a number of important outcomes directed at organizational authorities. Considerably less is known about the potential influence of these shared perceptions on coworker-directed outcomes. In 2 experiments, we predict that a low (unfair) supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate generates greater team cohesiveness than a high (fair) supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate. We further examine the process through which this effect occurs. Drawing from cognitive dissonance theory, we predict that low (vs. high) supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate generates greater team dissonance, or shared psychological discomfort, for team members and that this dissonance serves as an underlying mechanism through which supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate influences a team’s cohesiveness. Our results demonstrate support for these predictions in that low supervisor-focused interpersonal justice climate led to higher levels of both team dissonance and team cohesiveness than did high supervisor focused interpersonal justice climate, and team dissonance mediated this relationship. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.
A 100 nm Thick, 32 kHz X-Cut Lithium Niobate Piezoelectric Nanoscale Ultrasound Transducer for Airborne Ultrasound Communication

In this letter we present the first demonstration of an ultra-thin (100 nm) lithium niobate (LN) flexural resonator for airborne ultrasound transduction. Due to the aggressively scaled thickness of the monocrystalline X-cut LN layer, the trasnsducers exhibit a low resonance frequency of 32 kHz while occupying an area of only $120\,\,\mu \text{m}\,\,\times 120\,\,\mu \text{m}$ . An innovative electrode design converts the applied electric field to out-of-plane deflections excited by the e21 piezoelectric coefficient. The displacement per unit of voltage at different in-plane rotation angles scales consistently with the theoretical e21 coefficients of X-cut LN. Overall, the transducer is capable of sensitivity per unit area that is significantly larger than the state-of-the-art. [2020-0340]
Friction Stir Welding of Similar Aluminum Alloys Thick Plates: An Understanding of the Material Flow, Microstructure Evolution, and Mechanical Properties

A systematic study of friction stir welding in three precipitation hardened wrought Al alloys (2024-T351, 6061-T651, and 7075-T735) has been conducted. The material flow, microstructure evolution, defects and precipitates formation mechanisms, and mechanical properties for different tool rotation and traverse speeds have been systematically investigated for 15 mm-thick butt-welds of similar alloys plates. The nugget zones in all welds were determined to be formed by two material flows – shoulder-driven and pin-driven. The shoulder-driven flow at the top of the weld corresponds to bulk material transfer (i.e., bulk material flow), while the pin-driven flow occurs through a combination of layer-by-layer material transfer (i.e., layered extrusion flow, due to the pin’s extrusion effect) and bulk material flow. The relative volumes of the layered and bulk material flows are dependent on the material and processing parameters. Weld defects are formed when significant differences in flow stress between shoulder-driven and pin-driven flows exist, due to the inhomogeneous heat distribution across the large weld thickness. For materials with higher thermal conductivity, lower flow stresses and temperature gradients, as well as reduced heat inputs result in reduced defect formation. Different techniques, including TEM and DSC characterization, have been used to study the precipitation behavior in friction stir welds. Heterogeneity between the top and bottom regions of the nugget zone was observed. Increasing traverse speed improves the tensile strength and ductility of most studied alloys, and discussions on optimizing the resulting weld quality and mechanical properties using an integrated material flow-microstructure evolution understanding will be presented.
How is the Concentration of National Board Certified Teachers Related to Student Achievement and Teacher Retention

BackgroundPrior research shows that teachers’ working conditions are important for teacher and student outcomes, such as teacher retention and student achievement. Because National Board Certified ...
The spliceosome shows its metal

A conserved region of U6 small nuclear RNA has been implicated in binding an essential metal ion. Is this a glimpse of the spliceosome's catalytic core?
Purification and Properties of a Yeast Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase

Abstract A nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) has been purified from extracts of the hybrid yeast, Saccharomyces fragilis x Saccharomyces dobzhanskii, to an extent where it appears homogeneous by ultracentrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Multiple protein components seen on polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoresis also exhibit enzyme activity. Ultracentrifugation, Sephadex gel filtration, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis all gave a molecular weight of approximately 65,000 for the enzyme, the electrophoresis results indicating also that the enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain. Substrates for the enzyme include several sugar nucleotides (including GDP-mannose and UDP-glucose), pyridine nucleotide coenzymes, and the synthetic substrate, thymidine 5'-p-nitrophenylphosphate. Substrate competition experiments and similar inhibition of hydrolysis of different substrates by metal ion binding agents indicate that a single catalytic site is involved in the hydrolysis of the numerous substrates. No nucleotidase, endonuclease, or exonuclease activities were detectable with the purified enzyme, thus distinguishing it from other yeast and mammalian nucleotide pyrophosphatases which also exhibit nucleotidase and/or exonuclease (phosphodiesterase) activity. The enzyme as isolated does not require addition of any cations for maximal activity, but is strongly inhibited in the presence of metal-binding agents. This inhibition can be reversed by addition of zinc salts or other metal ions, suggesting that protein-bound metal ion is necessary to catalytic activity.
Predictive accuracy of first post-treatment PET/CT in HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine whether the result of first posttreatment positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) is predictive of outcome in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), and whether PET/CT accuracy is affected by human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were available for 61 patients with OPSCC, treated in 2004 to 2012 at a single tertiary academic referral center, with at least one baseline and one posttreatment PET/CT. Clinical follow-up was obtained every 3 months thereafter. The median follow-up time was 36 months (range 3–100 months). Results Of 61 patients, 48 (79%) had negative first posttreatment PET/CT results; and overall, 18 of the 61 patients (30%) recurred. All accuracy measures for PET/CT were higher in HPV-positive patients, including a 93% negative predictive value (NPV). Patients with positive PET/CT results had poorer survival on Kaplan-Meier analyses. On multivariate analysis of factors predictive of recurrence, two parameters were significant: HPV status (P = 0.0046) and PET/CT result (P <0.0001). Conclusions A negative first posttreatment PET/CT result is associated with better prognosis and rare recurrence, especially in patients with HPV-positive status. Less frequent radiologic surveillance is warranted in patients with HPV-positive OPSCC and a negative first posttreatment PET/CT scan. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:1843–1847, 2014
Reduction of suture associated inflammation after 28 days using novel biocompatible pseudoprotein poly(ester amide) biomaterials.

Sutures elicit an inflammatory response, which may impede the healing process and result in wound complications. We recently reported a novel family of biocompatible, biodegradable polymers, amino acid-based poly(ester amide)s (AA-PEA), which we have shown to significantly attenuate the foreign body inflammatory response in vitro. Two types of AA-PEA (Phe-PEA and Arg-Phe-PEA) were used to coat silk or plain-gut sutures, which were implanted in the gluteus muscle of C57BL/6 mice, while the uncoated control sutures were implanted in the contralateral side. After 3, 7, 14, and 28 days the mean area of inflammation surrounding the sutures was compared. Phe-PEA coating of silk sutures significantly decreased inflammation compared with noncoated controls (67.8 ± 17.4% after 3d [p = 0.0014], 51.6 ± 7.2% after 7d [p < 0.001], and 37.3 ± 8.3% after 28d [p = 0.0001]) when assessed via analysis of photomicrographs using digital image software. Phe-PEA coated plain-gut sutures were similarly assessed and demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean area of inflammation across all time points (54.1 ± 8.3% after 3 d, 41.4 ± 3.9% after 7 d, 71.5 ± 8.1% after 14 d, 78.4 ± 8.5%, and after 28 d [all p < 0.0001]). Arg-Phe-PEA coated silk demonstrated significantly less inflammation compared to noncoated controls (61.3 ± 9.4% after 3 d, 44.7 ± 4.7% after 7 d, 19.6 ± 8%, and 38.3 ± 6.8% after 28 d [all p < 0.0001]), as did coated plain-gut (37.4 ± 8.3% after 3 d [p = 0.0004], 55.0 ± 7.8% after 7 d [p < 0.0001], 46.0 ± 4.6% after 14 d [p < 0.0001], and 59.0 ± 7.9% after 28 d [p < 0.0001]). Both Phe-PEA and Arg-Phe-PEA coatings significantly decrease the inflammatory response to sutures in vivo for up to 28 days. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 457–463, 2015.
First Views of the Depths

The Silent Landscape The Scientific Voyage of HMS Challenger . By Richard Corfield . Joseph Henry Press (National Academies Press), Washington, DC, 2003. 299 pp. $24.95, C$34.95. ISBN 0-309-08904-2. Drawing on the official records and the journals of the ship's scientists, officers, and crew, Corfield recounts the story of the Challenger 's three-and-a-half-year, 69,000-nautical mile journey. He also discusses the expedition's scientific findings in the context of subsequent research in oceanography, marine geology, and ecology.
Re-Forging the ‘Age of Iron’ Part II: The Tenth Century in a New Age?

The tenth century, once dismissed as an unpleasant ‘Age of Iron’, now receives increased attention as an important age of transition. Historians are attempting to understand how it fits into the broader narrative of Western Civilization. Although some scholars have identified it as the last act of the post-Roman world, others see it as a new age. Perhaps the High Middle Ages with its agricultural and demographic revolution, its new villages and parishes, its revived cities, its reformed churches and schools, and its medieval monarchs began in the tenth century? Or were those changes not novelties of the tenth century but rather manifestations of a ‘take off’ that had already begun back in the Carolingian Empire, and which, despite the problems posed by late Carolingian wars and invasions, was able to continue, spread, and blossom into the growth and prosperity of the High Middle Ages? New scholarly interest in the tenth century has made it much less of a ‘dark age’, but scholars still are not quite certain how to conceptualize its historical significance.
Inelastic Energy Curves: A Tool for Evaluating the Impact Response of Composite Plates:

The elegance and paramount value of composites manifests in the ability to tailor a structure for a given task such as maximizing energy absorption in a cost and weight efficient manner. A combination of factors, including recent developments in commercially available fabric architectures and resin transfer molding techniques, have led to a resurgence of interest in several classes of low-cost fiber reinforced composites for resistance to low velocity impact. Inelastic Energy Curves (IEC) are introduced as a tool to facilitate interpretation of data generated by instrumented drop weight impact towers. A general form of IEC is presented which describes distinct regions of failure. Results are presented for four representative E-glass fabric architectures in resin transfer molded composites with impact energies varying over the range to complete puncture. Since IEC's map the progressive degradation of energy transfer capability between the local impact zone and the global structure they may have applicability in interrogating generic failure processes which are prevalent in other layered composite systems. It is generally understood that matrtix properties govern the damage initiation threshold and that fiber properties control penetration resistance ; IEC provide a means of identifying and quantifying what happens in between these two extremes.
The effects of odonate species abundance and diversity on parasitism by water mites (Arrenurus spp.): testing the dilution effect

Water mites (Arrenurus spp.) parasitize adult dragonflies. We collected dragonflies weekly at 11 waterbodies in Greenville Co. and Pickens Co., SC, USA, to: (1) compare parasitism prevalence across species, sites, and sampling periods; (2) test the hypothesis that prevalence correlates with host abundance; (3) test the hypothesis that prevalence is inversely related to host diversity (the “dilution effect”); and (4) test the hypothesis that prevalence and intensity vary with ecological conditions. Parasitism prevalence varied among well-sampled (N > 30) hosts; Perithemis tenera, Plathemis lydia, and Celithemis ornata had no mites, whereas prevalence exceeded 20% for Argia fumipennis, Celithemis elisa, and C. fasciata. Differences among species, however, varied across sites and through time, suggesting patchy or species-specific relationships not captured by our diffuse analysis at the generic level. Prevalence was positively correlated with species abundance and host site occupancy, as expected for genera...
Effects of Noise during Sleep

The standard method of assessing the effect of noises in the nuisance region (below about 85 dB) is by means of the subjective judgement of juries. The subjectivity of such results is emphasized by the fact that they vary depending on what country carries out the experiment and also on whether the members of the jury are indoors or outside (1).
IOSIG+: On the Role of I/O Tracing and Analysis for Hadoop Systems

Hadoop, as one of the most widely accepted MapReduce frameworks, is naturally data-intensive. Its several dependent projects, such as Mahout and Hive, inherent this characteristic. Meanwhile I/O optimization becomes a daunting work, since applications' source code is not always available. I/O traces for Hadoop and its dependents are increasingly important, because it can faithfully reveal intrinsic I/O behaviors without knowing the source code. This method can not only help to diagnose system bottlenecks but also further optimize performance. To achieve this goal, we propose a transparent tracing and analysis tool suite, namely IOSIG+, which can be plugged into Hadoop system. We make several contributions: 1) we describe our approach of tracing, 2) we release the tracer, which can trace I/O operations without modifying targets' source code, 3) this work adopts several techniques to mitigate the introduced execution overhead at runtime, 4) we create an analyzer, which helps to discover new approaches to address I/O problems according to access patterns. The experimental results and analysis confirm its effectiveness and the observed overhead can be as low as 1.97%.
MO-C-17A-07: Building Atlas for Automatic Prostate IMRT Planning: Anatomical Feature Parameterization and Classification

Purpose: To establish and evaluate a prostate IMRT plan atlas to provide accurate dose guidance for dose-guided automatic planning (DAP) technique. Methods: 25 prostate cancer patients treated with IMRT were studied. The anatomy of prostate cancer cases was parameterized and quantified into two measures: the percent distance-to-prostate (PDP) and the concaveness angle. Patients were represented by points at a 2D space spanned by the two anatomical measures. The k-medoids algorithm was used to elect k cases from 25 points to compose the atlas. To determine the optimal size k, the average silhouette width for each k-medoids scheme was calculated and the k corresponding to higher average silhouette width was chosen as the atlas size.The other cases were used as query cases to evaluate the atlas efficacy. The DAP technique, which links atlas and query case using deformable image registration, was used to generate the automatic IMRT plan. Dosimetric comparison between DAP plans and clinical plans were performed. Results: Atlases of sizes ranging from 2 to 9 are established. The average silhouette width for each atlas of the size from 2 to 9 is 0.651, 0.558, 0.455, 0.563, 0.620, 0.580, 0.636, and 0.695, respectively. The size of 6 is preliminary chosen as the optimal size for robustness test. Dosimetric similarities are observed between two plans (p>0.05): homogeneity indices are 6.7±1.2% and 7.3±1.6%; rectum-gEUDs are 40.6±1.8 Gy and 40.6±2.1 Gy, for DAP plans and clinical plans, respectively. Improved conformity index and bladder-gEUD are observed in the DAP plan (p=0.036, 0.009 respectively). Conclusion: An atlas with 6 expert prostate IMRT plans was identified as the optimal size. DAP plans generated with the dose guidance from the atlas show comparable plan quality with clinical plans. The atlas can cover various anatomical configurations and provide satisfying dose guidance when implemented with the DAP technique.
Field distribution and DNA transport in solid tumors during electric field‐mediated gene delivery

Gene therapy has a great potential in cancer treatment. However, the efficacy of cancer gene therapy is currently limited by the lack of a safe and efficient means to deliver therapeutic genes into the nucleus of tumor cells. One method under investigation for improving local gene delivery is based on the use of pulsed electric field. Despite repeated demonstration of its effectiveness in vivo, the underlying mechanisms behind electric field-mediated gene delivery remain largely unknown. Without a thorough understanding of these mechanisms, it will be difficult to further advance the gene delivery. In this review, the electric field-mediated gene delivery in solid tumors will be examined by following individual transport processes that must occur in vivo for a successful gene transfer. The topics of examination include: (i) major barriers for gene delivery in the body, (ii) distribution of electric fields at both cell and tissue levels during the application of external fields, and (iii) electric field-induced transport of genes across each of the barriers. Through this approach, the review summarizes what is known about the mechanisms behind electric field-mediated gene delivery and what require further investigations in future studies. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:691–711, 2008
Booming Bohemia? Evidence from the US High-Technology Industry

This paper assesses the effect of Richard Florida's creative class on economic growth and development at two levels of spatial aggregation. First, I examine the dynamics of economic growth across US metropolitan regions and investigate how they relate to regional specialization and the concentration of talent in the high-tech industry. In addition to evidence of significant high-tech clusters, I identify important complementarities with regard to the interaction between the three Ts of regional development (talent, technology and tolerance) and regional growth dynamics. Using firm-level data, the regional analysis is then complemented by exploring the location of new high-technology plant openings and their relationship with university research and development (R&D) and the creative class. Specifically, I test the hypothesis that both university R&D and the presence of “creativity” generate spillovers which are captured locally in the form of new high-tech establishments, after controlling for important l...
The Use of Narrative Appeals in Promoting Restaurant Experiences

Because consumers encounter numerous advertising messages from many sources and through various media, hospitality advertisers are increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of their messages. ...
Selective application of sartorius muscle flaps and aggressive staged surgical debridement can influence long-term outcomes of complex prosthetic graft infections

Background The complexity of variables associated with vascular surgical site infections (VSSI) often contribute adversely to reinfection, limb salvage, and mortality rates. This report details our experience with the selective use of a sartorius muscle flaps (SMF) as part of an overall treatment strategy focused on staged surgical debridement (SSD) to control prosthetic graft bed infection prior to a graft preservation or revision plan. Methods From our vascular registry, we identified 422 VSSI of which 89 (21%) had SMF for 24 aorto-bifemoral (ABF), 19 extra-anatomic bypasses (EAB), 34 infrainguinal bypasses, and 12 combined inflow/outflow reconstructions. All 86 patients had Szilagyi grade III prosthetic (Dacron-36, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]-50) graft infections. The treatment algorithm included: SSD, culture-directed parenteral antibiotics, graft preservation (n = 3), or reconstruction (graft excision/EAB, n = 4; rifampin-bonded PTFE, n = 22; autologous conduit, n = 57) based on microbiology and consideration for SMF for extensive soft tissue defects (n = 43) or nonsterilized graft beds (n = 40). Analysis of microbiology, recurrent infection, vascular reconstruction, limb salvage, and mortality was completed over a mean follow-up of 52 months (range: 12 to 132 months). Results Thirty-day mortality was 2% with two aortic graft infections dying from sepsis. Survival by life table analysis at 1, 3, and 5 years was 94%, 92%, and 90%, respectively. Wound isolates were most commonly gram positive organisms (n = 58, 65%), with gram negative isolates and mixed infections accounting for 19% and 10%, respectively. A single recurrent groin infection was documented at 30 days. Freedom from recurrent infection (n = 6) at 1 and 5 years was 98% and 92% by life tables. Methicillen-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was involved for 50% of reinfections. No amputations were attributable to uncontrolled VSSI and graft patency was 100% in surveillance monitored patients. Conclusion These results suggest that selective utilization of SMF as part of SSD treatment plan in an attempt to achieve graft bed sterilization can effectively control the complex infectious process allowing for potentially improved outcomes for in situ or preservation graft salvage techniques. Lifelong graft surveillance is recommended.
Some effects of parasitism by Babesia caballi on the tropical horse tick, Dermacentor (= Anocentor) nitens

Abstract Studies of the tropical horse tick, Dermacentor (= Anocentor) nitens, infected with Babesia caballi showed that this protozoan parasite, a causal agent of equine piroplasmosis, is also a pathogen of its vector. In all tests, some infected ticks died 7–10 days after repletion and did not lay eggs. Also infected engorged females weighed less than uninfected engorged females and produced fewer eggs than uninfected females. Mortality occurred regularly in infected eggs though only rarely in uninfected eggs. Thus, the longevity of engorged females and the reproductive potential of D. nitens is reduced by infections of B. caballi.
44 THYMIC HUMORAL FACTOR (THF) THERAPY IN A PATIENT WITH DI GEORGE SYNDROME

A total of 55 doses of THF (1.5 mg/kg/day) was given to a 5.5 month old male with Di George Syndrome.Skin tests (for PHA and Candida) were negative,E rosettes were low (24%),blastogenic transformation response to PHA and allogeneic lymphocytes were low prior to therapy. He had a low level of circulating thymic factor (5.0 pmoles/107 cells) and a marginal stimulation of target cells. E rosettes showed a 59 percent increase after incubation (in vitro) with THF. No side effects of THF was observed. Despite a clinical well being and weight gain,episodes of gastroenteritis and otitis continued. After THF treatment (at age of 10 months) percentage of E rosettes (56%) and in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA were increased; skin test for PHA became positive. But no improvement in in vitro response to candida and allogeneic lymphocytes was observed.
In Vivo Electrophysiologic Studies in Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS)‐Deficient Mice

Electrophysiologic Studies in eNOS-Deficient Mice.Introduction: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediates attenuation of the L-type calcium channel and modulates myocyte contractility. Arrhythmogenic afterdepolarizations are seen in vitro in ouabain-treated isolated myocytes from eNOSdeficient mice. The aim of these studies was to characterize the baseline electrophysiologic (EP) phenotype of eNOS-deficient mice and their potential susceptibility to cardiac conduction abnormalities and inducible arrhythmias. Methods and Results: Surface ECG and in vivo intracardiac EP studies were performed in 27 mice lacking the eNOS gene and 21 wild-type littermate control mice. Baseline studies were performed in 10 eNOS-deficient mice and 10 wild-type controls. Subsequently, 17 eNOS-deficient mice and 11 wild-type controls were pretreated with digoxin, and ECG and EP testing were repeated. Data analysis revealed no significant differences in ECG intervals or cardiac conduction parameters, except sinus cycle length was higher in eNOS-deficient mice than wild-type mice (P < 0.01). After digoxin pretreatment, 7 of 17 eNOS-deficient mice had inducible ventricular tachycardia and 2 others had frequent ventricular premature beats, compared with only 3 of 11 wild-type mice with inducible ventricular tachycardia. In addition, 2 digoxin-treated eNOS-deficient mice and 1 wild-type mouse had inducible nonsustained atrial fibrillation. Conclusion: Mice with a homozygous targeted disruption of the eNOS gene have slower heart rates but no other distinguishable EP characteristics under basal sedated conditions. Partial inhibition of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump with digoxin administration increases ventricular ectopic activity in eNOS–/– mice, a phenotype analogous to afterdepolarizations seen in vitro in this eNOS-deficient mouse model.
Prevalence and complete genome characterization of turkey picobirnaviruses

The "light turkey syndrome" (LTS), in which birds weigh less than their standard breed character at the marketing time, is believed to be a consequence of viral enteritis at an early age (3-5 weeks) from which the birds never fully recover. In a previously published study, we collected fecal pools from 2, 3, 5 and 8 week old turkey poults (80 pools from LTS farms and 40 from non-LTS farms) and examined them for the presence of astro-, rota-, reo-, and coronaviruses. To determine the presence of additional enteric viruses, we analyzed a fecal pool by Illumina sequencing and found picobirnavirus (PBV). Segments 1 and 2 of this virus shared 45.8%aa and 60.9-64.5%aa identity with genogroup I of human PBV, respectively. Primers based on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and capsid genes were designed for detection and molecular characterization of PBVs in the 120 fecal pools described above. From LTS farms, 39 of 80 (48.8%) pools were PBV positive while 23 of 40 (57.5%) were positive from non-LTS farms. The phylogenetic analysis of 15 randomly selected strains divided them into four subgroups within genogroup I (subgroups 1A-D). Nine strains were in subgroup IA showing 69.9-76.4%nt identity with human PBV GI strainVS111 from the Netherlands. Strains in subgroup IB (n=2) had 91.4-91.7%nt identity with chicken PBV GI strain AVE 42v1 from Brazil. Two strains in subgroup IC had 72.3-74.2%nt identity with chicken PBV strain AVE 71v3 from Brazil. In subgroup ID, two strains showed 72.4-81.8%nt identity with chicken PBV GI strain AVE 57v2 from Brazil. Subgroup IC and ID were the most divergent. Five of the 15 strains were typed using capsid gene primers. They showed 32.6-33.4%nt and 39.5-41.3%aa identity with VS10 human PBV strain. These results indicate co-circulation of divergent strains of PBVs among Minnesota turkeys.
3D mapping of ventricular and corpus callosum abnormalities in HIV/AIDS

Abstract Objective: 40 million people worldwide are now infected with HIV/AIDS, an illness that often leads to rapidly progressing dementia and death. Even so, little is known about how AIDS affects the brain. Using computational anatomy techniques, we mapped how AIDS impacts the corpus callosum (CC) and ventricular system, two systems that show prominent changes on MRI. We (1) identified regions with greatest differences between AIDS patients and healthy controls and (2) correlated specific 3D patterns of structural differences with measures of immune system deterioration and cognitive decline. Methods: 51 3D brain MRI scans from 30 non-demented AIDS patients (age: 43.4 years ± 7.6 SD) and 21 HIV-seronegative controls (age: 39.5 years ± 12.2) were aligned to ICBM standard space. 3D surface mesh reconstructions of the lateral ventricles and CC were spatially averaged and compared across diagnostic groups. Structural alterations were correlated with viral load, T cell counts, and cognitive impairment. Results: Statistical maps revealed the 3D profile of ventricular expansion and callosal thinning in AIDS. Specific 3D ventricular changes were linked with immune system decline (CD4+ T cell counts; P