cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution in the English Department: The Biocultural Paradigms of Literary Darwinism and Adaptive Rhetoric

This article introduces emerging programs of study in the field of English (defined broadly) that operate under an evolutionary paradigm. Emerging from the “crisis of the humanities” that became known to a wider public audience in the late 20th-century, literary Darwinism is examined as an alternative or addition to mainstream post-structuralist theory, to which some attribute blame for the decline of literature's prestige. There are strong and weak forms of literary Darwinism in practice, ranging in approach from a complete paradigm shift to merely adding one more lens through which to read literature, film, and poetry in terms of both biology and culture. Rhetoric and composition scholarship is beginning to show interest in biocultural explanations for persuasive behavior as well. The nascent field of adaptive rhetoric combines the comparative study of human and nonhuman animal rhetorics with insight from evolutionary cognitive psychology, in order to gain further insight into the products of our evolved minds, such as rhetorical acts.
Depth-dependence of turbulence in stellar atmospheres

Recent observations concerning the depth dependence of motions in stellar atmospheres are reviewed. With regard to turbulence in stellar photospheres, attention is given to evidence from the sun and Arcturus for an increase in the total micro- plus macro-velocities with height, starting at mid-photospheric levels. Concerning stellar chromospheric velocity fields, it is noted that Mg II data point to changes in the hydrodynamic structure of the upper atmosphere. Ca II and Mg II asymmetry observations and other studies are used to describe the upper atmospheric structure of cool evolved stars, particularly coronae and circumstellar envelopes, revealing a depth dependent effect of velocity fields among a wide range of such stars.
Differential distribution of three members of a gene family encoding low voltage-activated (T-type) calcium channels.

Low voltage-activated (T-type) calcium currents are observed in many central and peripheral neurons and display distinct physiological and functional properties. Using in situ hybridization, we have localized central and peripheral nervous system expression of three transcripts (α1G, α1H, and α1I) of the T-type calcium channel family (CaVT). Each mRNA demonstrated a unique distribution, and expression of the three genes was largely complementary. We found high levels of expression of these transcripts in regions associated with prominent T-type currents, including inferior olivary and thalamic relay neurons (which expressed α1G), sensory ganglia, pituitary, and dentate gyrus granule neurons (α1H), and thalamic reticular neurons (α1I and α1H). Other regions of high expression included the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the claustrum (α1G), the olfactory tubercles (α1H and α1I), and the subthalamic nucleus (α1I and α1G). Some neurons expressed high levels of all three genes, including hippocampal pyramidal neurons and olfactory granule cells. Many brain regions showed a predominance of labeling for α1G, including the amygdala, cerebral cortex, rostral hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. Exceptions included the basal ganglia, which showed more prominent labeling for α1H and α1I, and the olfactory bulb, the hippocampus, and the caudal hypothalamus, which showed more even levels of all three transcripts. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that differential gene expression underlies pharmacological and physiological heterogeneity observed in neuronal T-type calcium currents, and they provide a molecular basis for the study of T-type channels in particular neurons.
DNA helicases, motors that move along nucleic acids: Lessons from the SF1 helicase superfamily

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the mechanistic aspects of superfamily 1 (SFl) DNA helicases. Helicases are allosteric enzymes, many of which are known to function as oligomeric assemblies. Such oligomerization is exemplified by the class of hexameric DNA helicases, including the Escherichia coli DnaB helicase, the phage T7 gene 4 helicase, and the SV40 large T antigen. The initial characterizations of a DNA helicase generally include studies of the features of DNA substrates that are required for efficient unwinding by the helicase. With few exceptions, DNA helicases show a preference for unwinding duplex DNA possessing an single-stranded (ss)-DNA flanking region or tail in vitro . In fact, the unwinding reaction generally displays a defined polarity of unwinding with respect to the backbone polarity of the ss-DNA tail that flanks the duplex DNA. Two operational classes of helicases are helicases that initiate unwinding more efficiently on DNA substrates with a 3'-ss-DNA tail and are referred to as “3' to 5' helicases,” whereas those that prefer DNA substrates possessing a 5'-ss-DNA tail are referred to as “5' to 3' helicases.”
Topography correlated atmospheric delay correction in radar interferometry using wavelet transforms

[1] Atmospheric delay is one of the major sources of error in repeat pass interferometry. We propose a new approach for correcting the topography-correlated components of this artifact. To this aim we use multiresolution wavelet analysis to identify the components of the unwrapped interferogram that correlate with topography. By using a forward wavelet transform we break down the digital elevation model and the unwrapped interferogram into their building blocks based on their frequency properties. We apply a cross-correlation analysis to identify correlated coefficients that represent the effect of the atmospheric delay. Thus, the correction to the unwrapped interferogram is obtained by down-weighting the correlated coefficients during inverse wavelet transform. We test this approach on real and synthetic data sets that are generated over the San Francisco Bay Area. We find that even in the presence of tectonic signals, this method is able to reduce the correlated component of the atmospheric delay by up to 75% and improves the signal in areas of high relief. The remaining part is most likely due to 3D heterogeneities of the atmosphere and can be reduced by integrating temporal information or using complementary observations or models of atmospheric delay.
An Approach to the Discovery of Accurate and Expressive Fix-Time Prediction Models

Predicting the fix time (i.e. the time needed to eventually solve a case) is a key task in an issue tracking system, which attracted the attention of data-mining researchers in recent years. Traditional approaches only try to forecast the overall fix time of a case when it is reported, without updating this preliminary estimate as long as the case evolves. Clearly, the actions performed on a case can help refine the prediction of its (remaining) fix time, by using Process Mining techniques, but typical issue tracking systems lack task-oriented descriptions of the resolution process, and store fine-grain records, just registering case attributes’ updates. Moreover, no general approach has been proposed in the literature that fully supports the definition of high-quality derived data, which were yet proven capable to improve prediction accuracy considerably. A new fix-time prediction framework is presented here, along with an associated system, both based on the combination of two kinds of capabilities: (i) a series of modular and flexible data-transformation mechanisms, for producing an enhanced process-oriented log view, and (ii) several induction techniques, for extracting a prediction model from such a view. Preliminary results, performed on the logs of two real issue tracking scenarios, confirm the validity and practical usefulness of our proposal.
Characterization of a second human pulmonary surfactant-associated protein SP-A gene.

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipid-protein complex involved in maintaining alveolar stability SP-A is the major surfactant-associated protein of 26 to 38 kD. A human SP-A gene (SP-A I) and two distinct SP-A cDNAs, MPSAP 1A and MPSAP 6A, have been reported previously We have isolated and characterized a second human SP-A gene (SP-A II), which appears to code for the mRNA corresponding to the previously described MPSAP-1A cDNA. Both genes consist of five exons, a consensus recognition sequence for initiation, TATAAA, and a polyadenylation signal sequence. Significant divergence in the two genes is observed throughout. The divergence is highest in the upstream region, intron I, exon III, and noncoding portion of exon V. The coding regions of all other exons and the introns show much lower divergence. Transcripts from both genes were found in adult human lung, using gene-specific oligonucleotide probes in Northern blot analysis.
t Hooft loop in SU(2) lattice gauge theories

We examine the behavior of the 't Hooft loop (magnetic disorder parameter) for weak coupling ($\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$) in the standard SU(2) lattice gauge theory. We find that it exhibits length-law falloff due to the presence of dynamical ${Z}_{2}$ monopoles. These dynamical monopoles are a consequence of the nonconservation of ${Z}_{2}$ flux, and the possibility of flux spreading in the non-Abelian theory. The implications for quark confinement are discussed.
Commentary for special issue of journal of memory and language: Generalizability theory analysis for psycholinguistic applications

We propose that the continuing controversies over the use of quasi-F-ratios in psycholinguistic research might be circumvented, if not resolved, by the judicious application of Generalizability Theory (GT) analyses. We argue that GT is a logical extension of the basic rationale behind repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the variance components model upon which GT is ultimately based and upon which the entire logic of the F-ratio (quasi or otherwise) rests. GT is especially useful in psycholinguistics research because it affords one the opportunity to assess generalizability across multiple dimensions within the same model, such as individual subjects as well as varying conditions of prime and target words. We will provide an illustrative example of GT based on Forster’s (2007) replication of Davis and Lupker’s (2006) study in which they tested the effects of frequency discrepancies in target and prime words across individual subjects under varying combinations of frequency and prime.
The immune response to infectious diseases of the central nervous system: a tenuous balance

The outcome of CNS infection is dependent on both the organism and host. Acute infections are usually cleared with minimal residua. However, chronic infections of the CNS, such as HIV, PML, HSV, polio, Lyme neuroborreliosis, and neurosyphilis, are becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of severe neurological morbidity, and are poorly understood. We will need to learn more about the CNS as an immune compartment to increase our knowledge of these infections.
Suboptimal maternal and paternal mental health are associated with child bullying perpetration

This study examines associations between maternal and paternal mental health and child bullying perpetration among school-age children, and whether having one or both parents with suboptimal mental health is associated with bullying. The 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally-representative, random-digit-dial survey, was analyzed, using a parent-reported bullying measure. Suboptimal mental health was defined as fair/poor (vs. good/very good/excellent) parental self-reported mental and emotional health. Of the 61,613 parents surveyed, more than half were parents of boys and were white, 20 % were Latino, 15 % African American, and 7 % other race/ethnicity. Suboptimal maternal (OR 1.4; 95 % CI 1.1–1.8) and paternal (OR 1.5; 95 % CI 1.1–2.2) mental health are associated with bullying. Compared with children with no parents with suboptimal mental health, children with only one or both parents with suboptimal mental health have higher bullying odds. Addressing the mental health of both parents may prove beneficial in preventing bullying.
Extracellular Polysaccharide Produced by a Virulent Strain (U-7) of Pseudomonas solanacearum

An extracellular polysaccharide was isolated from the culture medium of a virulent strain (U-7) of Pseudomonas solanacearum. The polysaccharide caused tomato cuttings to wilt. It seemed to be composed mainly of N-acetylgalactosamine together with small amounts of rhamnose, glucose, and protein. This is, to our knowledge, the first example of homo-N-acetylgalactosaminoglycan in nature.
Fine Structure and Life Cycle of Lankesteria clarki sp. n. (Sporozoa: Eugregarinida) Parasitic in the Mosquito Aedes sierrensis (Ludlow)

SYNOPSIS Lankesteria clarki sp. n. from the treehole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis (Ludlow) in California, is described. This species can be separated from the closely related ones, L. culicis (Ross) and L. barretti Vavra, by the totally intracellular nature of the trophozoite, the shape of the gamont, the position of the gamont nucleus and the structure and position of the residual body in the spore. Morphologic and ultrastructural investigations of gametogenesis and sporogony were conducted and the host relationship discussed. Lankesteria clarki was found in mosquitoes collected from all treeholes examined near Novato in Marin County, California and an examination of over 6,000 larvae of A. sierrensis showed an infection rate of 27.5%. The parasite is capable of destroying the midgut epithelial cells during its trophic stage and Malpighian tubule cells during gametogenesis and sporogony.
Traumatic fracture in a healthy man: benign or pathologic?

Objective: To describe the challenge of determining the correct diagnosis in a healthy adult male patient with a recent femoral fracture and a history of multiple bone fractures. Methods: We presen...
Machine assignment in a nonlinear multi-product flowline

A group of machines for processing a set of jobs in a manufacturing system is often located in a serial line. An efficient strategy for locating these machines such that the total travel distance or the cost of transporting the jobs is minimized is desired. In this research, the assumption of a linear line with equally spaced machine location is relaxed. This research addressed problems of locating unique machines. It is found that the machine distances possess unique properties in this type of a problem. Utilizing these properties, heuristic strategies are proposed to obtain efficient solution where optimal methods are expected to be computationally prohibitive. A lower bound for the optimum solution is also proposed. Results are encouraging.
Equipment dedication and automation: Some empirical findings

Abstract Automation has long been viewed as a vehicle by which one could capture improvements in productive efficiency. In many situations, however, this efficiency was attainable only through increasing focus and dedication of the productive process to the support of a relatively narrow set of products. During the last decade, attention has turned to two other approaches. One was the employment of non-automated but yet dedicated equipment to select product groups. The other was the employment of highly sophisticated, automated equipment in an essentially non-dedicated environment. The former we refer to as reflective of a Japanese approach, the latter a FMS. Our study focuses on the degree to which these approaches are reflected in the US manufacturing industry and their relationship to economic performance measures. The findings suggest that movement from a traditional high dedication, high automation position toward either a Japanese or a FMS posture should be carefully evaluated since US firms have tended to compete more effectively when employing the more traditional approach.
Mapping the urea channel through the rabbit Na+‐glucose cotransporter SGLT1

The Na+-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 is a transmembrane protein with complex function. Its major responsibility is to accumulate sugar against its concentration gradient into intestinal or renal epithelial cells by exploiting the energy from the Na+ electrochemical potential gradient across the cell membrane (for reviews see Wright & Loo, 2000; Wright, 2001). In addition, SGLT1 includes Na+ uniport, water and urea channel activity (Loo et al. 1996, 1999; Leung et al. 2000) and water and urea influx coupled to its cotransport cycle (Loo et al. 1996; Meinild et al. 1998a; Zeuthen et al. 2001). Urea and water transport through SGLT1 was also expanded to other transporters, such as the rat Na+-iodide cotransporter rNIS and the human Na+-Cl−-GABA transporter hGAT1 (Leung et al. 2000). Since all transported water, it is possible that the water and urea activities may be interrelated. Since no structural information is available about the intramolecular localization of the urea channel activities of SGLT1, this study presents an attempt to localize the urea transport function in a particular domain of the transporter. A previously well characterized, functional truncated form of SGLT1, the C5 protein, which contains the sugar permeation pathway of SGLT1 (Panayotova-Heiermann et al. 1997, Panayotova-Heiermann 1999) was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and its transport characteristics for different substrates were compared and contrasted with those of expressed SGLT1 and native oocytes.
5'-Deoxyribose Phosphate Lyase Activity of Human DNA Polymerase ɩ in Vitro

DNA polymerase iota (pol ι) is one of several recently discovered DNA polymerases in mammalian cells whose function is unknown. We report here that human pol ι has an intrinsic 5′-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) lyase activity. In reactions reconstituted with uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG), apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease and DNA ligase I, pol ι can use its dRP lyase and polymerase activities to repair G•U and A•U pairs in DNA. These data and three distinct catalytic properties of pol ι implicate it in specialized forms of base excision repair (BER).
On a self-tuning controller with retained and changeable memory

To enhance the robustness of self-tuning control, a classifier based on correlation is suggested as the underlying decision mechanism of a coarse estimator. Using the proposed state-class and parameter-class matrices as memory elements, both a priori and online measured (or estimated) information are retained and can be updated according to changing experimental conditions. This general framework of the coarse estimator is integrated with a previously developed fine estimator structure to provide reliable parameter estimates for a LQ-controller based on receding-horizon cost functions. The modified self-tuning controller has been found by simulation to give much improved results.
Gold-Silicon Interfaces: High Resolution Electron Microscopy Reactions. Precipitation and Subsurface Gettering

Deposition of Au on exsitu cleaned (100) Si wafers resulted in the formation of a discontinuous polvcrvstalline Au layer containing lattice defects. On parts of the interface Au and Si were separated by a thin oxide layer, but elsewhere were in direct contact, with no evidence of metastable phase formation. Post deposition heating to 1000 °C. well above the 370 °C eutectic temperature of the system, caused formation of a reaction zone at the interface, and disappearance of the thin oxide layer. No amorphous phases formed during cooling. Quenching produced small Au precipitates in Si-rich regions. If the wafer contained dislocations. Au precipitation was observed on subboundaries directly connected to the Au/Si interface, but not on dislocations remote from the interface.
Application of Large Eddy Simulation to Flow Past a Circular Cylinder

A steady approach flow around a circular cylinder is investigated by using a large eddy simulation (LES) with the Smagorinsky subgrid-scale model. A second-order accurate in time fractional-step method and a combined finite-difference/spectral approximation are employed to solve the filtered three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. To demonstrate the viability and accuracy of the method, we present results at Reynolds numbers of 100, 3 × 103 , 2 × 104 , and 4.42 × 104 . At Re = 100, the physical flow is two-dimensional and the calculation is done without use of the LES method. For the higher values of Re, the flow in the wake is three-dimensional and turbulent and the LES method is necessary to describe the flow accurately. Calculated values of lift and drag coefficients and Strouhal number are in good agreement with the experimentally determined values at all of the Reynolds numbers for which calculation was done.
Measurement characteristics of diet-related psychosocial questionnaires among African-American parents and their 8- to 10-year-old daughters: results from the Girls' health Enrichment Multi-site Studies

Objective. This paper presents the reliability and validity of several diet-related psychosocial questionnaires. Methods. At baseline and 12 weeks follow-up, parents/caregivers of one hundred fifty 8- to 10-year-old African-American completed questionnaires on food preparation habits for their daughter, perceived home barriers to healthy eating, and fruit, juice, vegetable (FJV), low-fat and high-fat food availability. Girls completed a sweetened beverage preferences questionnaire and two 24-h dietary recalls to assess intake. Principal components analyses were conducted for two newly designed measures. Internal consistency was calculated and construct validity was assessed between the psychosocial scales and obesity-related dietary variables. Results. Low-fat and high-fat food preparation for daughters, and perceived home barriers to eating low-fat food and FJV subscales were derived from the new questionnaires. Internal consistency reliabilities were moderate (0.58) to substantial (0.80) across all new and existing scales. Test–retest reliabilities were moderate (0.44) to substantial (0.79). Girls' intake of fat as a percentage of energy was positively related to parental high-fat food preparation for daughters (P < 0.01) and negatively related to parental low-fat food preparation practices for daughters (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Measures of family influences on FJV, fat, and sweetened beverage consumption were internally consistent with moderate to substantial stability. Scales for low-fat and high-fat food preparation practices for daughters achieved construct validity with fat consumption in the hypothesized direction. Family food preparation habits appear to be important targets for future interventions.
Determinants of immunodominance for CD4 T cells.

The term immunodominance was originally defined as a restricted T cell response to a short peptide sequence derived from a given protein [ 1 ]. The question of what determines immunodominance has been a longstanding battle for the past two decades. Hundreds of papers have been written on different aspects of epitope selection during antigen processing documenting the complexity of the process. Antigen processing machinery involves several accessory molecules and chaperons coevolved with proteins of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules that each plays its part in epitope selection. These molecules are targeted to specialized vesicular compartments that also accommodate antigen processing enzymes called cathepsins. Within the antigen processing compartments, highly regulated pH gradient and reducing conditions and enzymes necessary for denaturation of the antigens are available and function to optimize processing of antigen and selection of the fittest for transport to the cell membrane and presentation to T cells. Despite the complexity, a cell free reductionist antigen processing system was recently reported that included only few purified proteins, but was shown to process and select physiologically relevant epitopes from full length protein antigens [ 2•• ]. Due to its minimalist nature the system has been quite helpful in dissecting the factors that contribute to epitope selection during antigen processing. In this review, we would summarize and highlight models that may explain how the dominant epitope may be selected for presentation to CD4+ helper T cells.
Different mechanisms contribute to simultaneous inhibition of urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activators by glucocorticoids in human ovarian carcinoma cells.

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that OVCA 433 human ovarian carcinoma cells are glucocorticoid responsive by several criteria and contain high affinity, saturable, steroidspecific glucocorticoid receptors. These cells secrete both mammalian plasminogen activators (PAs), urokinase (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA). Treatment of OVCA 433 cells with 1 × 10−7 m dexamethasone (Dex) for 4 days led to 77% and 83% reductions in the extracellular activities of uPA and tPA, respectively, released into serum-free conditioned medium during a 1-h period. Dex treatment led to a 71% decrease in the rate of extracellular uPA antigen accumulation, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as a 73% reduction in steady state uPA mRNA levels. In contrast, Dex treatment led to only a 42% decrease in the rate of extracellular tPA antigen accumulation and a 48% decrease in tPA mRNA levels; such decreases were insufficient to account for the 83% reduction in tPA activity. Thus, while Dex-ind...
Cohesion and communication between families and day care: A proposed model

A framework is proposed for determining the importance of cohesion and communication between families and day care. It is suggested that high cohesion and communication are desirable for parents of infants or families of children with special needs, while decreasing cohesion with continued high communication may be appropriate as children get older.
Silver bullet or fool's gold: supporting usability in open source software development

Summary form only given. At first glance it can look like open source software development violates many, if not all, of the precepts of decades of careful research and teaching in software engineering. One could take a classic SE textbook and compare the activities elaborated and advocated in the various chapters with what is actually done in plain sight in the public logs of an OSS project in say SourceForge. For a professor of software engineering this might make for rather depressing reading. Are the principles of SE being rendered obsolete? Has OSS really discovered Brooks' silver bullet? Or is it just a flash in the pan or fool's gold? In this paper, the author mainly looks at one aspect of open source development, the 'problem' of creating usable interfaces, particularly for non-technical end-users. Any approach involves the challenge of how to coordinate distributed collaborative interface analysis and design, given that in conventional software development this is usually done in small teams and almost always face to face. Indeed all the methods in any HCI text just assume same-time same-place work and don't map to distributed work, let alone the looser mechanisms of OSS development. Instead what is needed is a form of participatory usability involving the coordination of end users and developers in a constantly evolving redesign process.
Side Effects of Commonly Prescribed Analgesic Medications

Analgesics, including opioids, steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, acetaminophen, antiepileptics, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, are medications commonly used to treat many forms of pain. However, all of these agents may have significant adverse side effects. Adverse effects may occasionally be inseparable from desired effects. Side effects are often dose dependent and time dependent. It is critical that the prescribing practitioner and the dispensing pharmacist provide a thorough, understandable review of the potential side effects to all patients before these drugs are administered. Proper monitoring and follow-up during therapy are crucial.
An improved ultramicro Kjeldahl technique.

Abstract A modified ultramicro Kjeldahl technique has been described which is applicable to the determination of total nitrogen in the range from 0.1 μg and up with an accuracy of 0.005 μg.
The IGR Dimilin and its formulations against mosquitoes.

Wettable powder (25), flowable concentrate (2) and granular (0.5) formulations of the insect growth regulator Dimilin® [1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl) urea] were evaluated under field conditions against various species of mosquitoes. In irrigated alfalfa hay fields, all 3 formulations applied at 0.0025 and 0.005 lb AI/acre, produced almost complete control of a synchronous floodwater mosquito Psorophora confinnis (Lynch-Arribalzaga). The granules were slightly less effective than the wp formulation and there was no marked difference between the wp and Fc formulations. The effective dosage of this IGR, therefore, is in the range of 0.0025–0.005 lb AI/acre against this species. The 3 formulations at 0.025 lb/acre were studied in freshwater ponds against Culex tarsalis Coquillett and Anopheles franciscanus McCracken, 2 asynchronous species of mosquitoes. Marked reduction in larval density was noted during the post-treatment period of 5–21 days. A. franciscanus experienced earlier and prolonged decline than C. tarsalis . Pupal populations almost disappeared from all treated ponds during the 5–16 days post-treatment period. Low numbers of pupae prevailed in treated ponds as compared to checks during the 27-day period after treatment. At this rate of application, all 3 formulations produced almost complete inhibition of emergence for more than 27 days.
Realizing homomorphic systems for convolution by time domain cepstral transformations

A description is given of the time domain cepstral transformations (TDCT) method, which uses a time domain approach to calculate the cepstral signal representation. It offers explicit formulas to map a general mixed phase time sequence from original time into the cepstral domain and vice versa. The TDCT method avoids or minimizes the restrictions of the Fourier transform method. Explicit and unique time domain cepstral transformations are derived. No specific preconditioning window is required to obtain accurate complex cepstra. The results obtained demonstrate that homomorphic deconvolution by the TDCT method is a promising general approach. >
Surgical removal of a large mobile left ventricular thrombus via left atriotomy

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a life-threatening complication of severe LV dysfunction. Ventriculotomy has been a commonly performed procedure for LV thrombus; however, it often further decrease LV function after surgery. We present an alternative approach to thrombectomy in order to minimize the postoperative LV dysfunction. A 37-year-old female with a postpartum cardiomyopathy found to have poor LV function and a large left ventricular apical thrombus (3 cm × 3 cm) attached to the apex by a narrow stalk. Given her severe LV dysfunction, the LV thrombus was approached via left atriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. The LV thrombus was easily extracted with gentle traction via the mitral valve. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged home without any embolization event or inotropic support. LV thrombectomy via left atriotomy through the mitral valve could be an alternative option for the patients with poor LV function with a mobile LV thrombus.
An analysis of the concept of pain

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the phenomenon of pain. The strategic process of developing a conceptual analysis is a cognitive exercise of critical thinking applied to a very common, but complex and poorly understood, experience. Within the classic framework developed by Walker & Avant (1995), pain is analysed and critical attributes are distilled. A model case, a related case and a contrary case are constructed in the course of creating conceptual clarity. Empirical referents that exemplify the concept of pain are identified. The concept analysis provides a forum for dialectics, offering one defensible interpretation of a complex human occurrence. Nursing implications are discussed in the conclusion.
Descriptive epidemiology of physical activity rates in multiple sclerosis.

Background Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) engage in substantially less overall physical activity than healthy controls, but there is little information on public health rates of physical activity necessary for health benefits. Purpose This study examined the rates of insufficient, moderate, and sufficient physical activity in persons with MS compared with healthy controls. Method Secondary analysis of data from participants with MS (n = 1521) and healthy controls (n = 162) who completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) as part of a questionnaire battery in 14 previous investigations. Results There were statistically significant differences in overall GLTEQ scores (F1,1666 = 96.8, P < 0.001, d = 0.83) and rates of physical activity (χ2 (2, N = 1683) = 94.2, P < 0.001) between MS and control groups. The rates of insufficient, moderate, and sufficient physical activity in the MS group were 58.0%, 15.2%, and 26.8%, respectively. Those with MS were 2.5 times more likely to report insufficient physical activity and 2.3 times less likely to report sufficient physical activity than controls. Conclusion The majority of persons with MS were insufficiently physically active, and this segment represents the largest opportunity for successful behavior change and accumulation of associated health benefits.
Positive pitch control for multi-unit articulated vehicles

Abstract The paper describes the application of positive pitch control to multi-unit vehicles with a view to improving mobility performance. The pitch control unit consists of hydraulic cylinders mounted in a vertical plane in the steering joint. The pitch cylinders can be controlled from the operator's cab. Field test data given which indicate that the introduction of the pitch control device substantially improves the performance of multi-unit vehicles.
Effect of Ochratoxin A on Salmonella-Challenged Broiler Chicks

Abstract Poultry products represent a significant reservoir of Salmonella typhimurium. Ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin and natural contaminant of poultry feedstuffs, produces detrimental effects on the immune and other systems of the broiler chick. Because poultry products are possible sources of S. typhimurium contamination that can potentially infect humans, there is a need to know whether ochratoxin A can alter the growth of Salmonella in poultry. We investigated the pathological alterations of young male broiler chicks by S. typhimurium in the presence (3.0 mg/kg) or absence of ochratoxin A in the diet. Ochratoxin A alone in the diet decreased the body weight and increased the relative organ weights of the liver, kidney, gizzard, spleen, pancreas, and proventriculus. It did not affect the heart and bursa of Fabricius. The mycotoxin altered the serum concentrations of proteins, enzymes, calcium and phosphate salts, normal tissue constituents, and catabolic metabolites in a pattern that would suggest damage to skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, pancreas, and bone. Birds fed diets containing ochratoxin A had microcytic and hypochromic erythrocytes and a decrease in phytohemagglutin- and concanavalin A-stimulated blastogenesis. Salmonella typhimurium alone had no affect on the variables measured except for a decrease in body weight. With the exception of an increase in mortality (13.2%, a significant synergistic interaction) and decrease in body weight, Salmonella in combination with ochratoxin A did not alter the values of the remaining variables measured from those measured in the ochratoxin A diet alone. Cecal colony count of S. typhimurium was not affected by treatment with ochratoxin A.
Learning Blackboard-Based Scheduling Algorithms for Computer Vision

THE GOAL OF IMAGE UNDERSTANDING BY COMPUTER IS TO IDENTIFY OBJECTS IN VIS- UAL IMAGES AND (IF NECESSARY) TO DETERMINE THEIR LOCATION AND ORIENTATION. OBJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY COMPARING DATA EXTRACTED FROM IMAGES TO AN A PRIORI DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECT OR OBJECT CLASS IN MEMORY. IT IS A GENER- ALLY ACCEPTED PREMISE THAT, IN MANY DOMAINS, THE TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE USE OF KNOWLEDGE CAN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE COMPLEXITY OF MATCHING IMAGE DATA TO OBJECT DESCRIPTIONS. BECAUSE OF THE VARIETY AND SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE RELEVANT TO DIFFERENT OBJECT CLASSES, CONTEXTS AND VIEWING CONDITIONS, BLACKBOARD ARCHITECTURES ARE WELL SUITED TO THE TASK OF SELECTING AND APPLYING THE RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE TO EACH SITUATION AS IT IS ENCOUNTERED. THIS PAPER REVIES TEN YEARS OF WORK ON THE UMASS VISIONS SYSTEM AND ITS BLACKBOARD-BASED HIGH-LEVEL COMPONINT, THE SCHEMA SYSTEM. SCHEMA COULD IN- TERPRET COMPLEX NATURAL SCENCES WHEN GIVEN CAREFULY CRAFTED KNOWLEDGE BASES DESCRIBING THE DOMAIN, BUT ITS APPLICATION IN PRACTICE WAS LIMITED BY THE PROBLEM OF MODEL (KNOWLEDGE BASE)ACQUISITION. EXPERIENCE WITH THE SCHEMA SYSTEM CONVINCED US THAT LEARNING TECHNIQUES MUST BE EMBEDDED IN VISION SYSTEMS OF THE FUTURE TO REDUCE OR ELLIMINATE THE KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING ASPECTS OF SYSTME CONSTRUCITON. THE SCHEMA LEARNING SYSTEM (SLS) IS A SUPER VISED LEARNING SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE-DIRECTED OBJECT RECOGNITION (CONTROL) STRATEGIES FROM TRAINING IMAGES.
Template images for nonhuman primate neuroimaging: 1. Baboon.

Coregistration of functional brain images across many subjects offers several experimental advantages and is widely used for studies in humans. Voxel-based coregistration methods require a high-quality 3-D template image, preferably one that corresponds to a published atlas. Template images are available for human, but we could not find an appropriate template for neuroimaging studies in baboon. Here we describe the formation of a T1-weighted structural MR template image and a PET blood flow template, derived from 9 and 7 baboons, respectively. Custom software aligns individual MR images to the MRI template; human supervision is needed only to initially estimate any gross rotational misalignment. In these aligned individual images, internal subcortical fiducial points correspond closely to a photomicrographic baboon atlas with an average error of 1.53 mm. Cortical test points showed a mean error of 1.99 mm compared to the mean location for each point. Alignment of individual PET blood flow images directly to the PET template was compared to a two-step alignment process via each subject's MR image. The two transformations were identical within 0.41 mm, 0.54 degrees, and 1.0% (translation, rotation, and linear stretch; mean). These quantities provide a check on the validity of the alignment software as well as of the template images. The baboon structural MR and blood flow PET templates are available on the Internet (purl.org/net/kbmd/b2k) and can be used as targets for any image registration software.
Expression of epidermal growth factor mRNA in the developing mouse mandibular process

Abstract Reverse transcription and cDNA amplification (polymerase chain reaction) of total RNA preparations were used to characterize the expression of EGF mRNA in the mandibular arch of day 9–17 mouse embryos. EGF mRNA was present in mandibles at day 9 and 10 but not at days 11–17. Separate RNA preparations from epithelium and mesenchyme at day 10 revealed EGF mRNA in both components.
SU-E-J-100: Automatic CT-To-CT Contour Segmentation Using Deformable Image Registration Software for Head and Neck (H&N) Cancer Adaptive Radiotherapy

Purpose: The significant amount of time required for target delineation continues to be one of the major challenges associated with adaptive radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of efficient deformable image registration algorithms (available in the VelocityAI and Varian SmartAdapt commercial systems) for automatic segmentation of physician contours from planning CT to mid‐treatment CT images for H&N adaptive radiotherapy. Methods: Ten head and neck cancer patients were considered for this study, each with a planning CT (CT1) and a second CT (CT2) taken approximately 3 weeks into treatment. Treatment volumes and organs were manually delineated by a physician on both sets of CT scans. B‐spline‐based VelocityAI and Demons‐based SmartAdapt DIR algorithms were used to automatically deform CT1 and the relevant contour sets onto corresponding CT2 images. For each DIR, the volume of interest was set to encompass the whole contour set. The agreement of the automatically propagated contours with manually drawn contours of CT2 was visually evaluated by a physician, and the volume overlap was quantified using DICE coefficients. Results: The overall mean (1SD) DICE indices were 0.72(0.11) for VelocityAI and 0.68(0.17) for SmartAdapt. Both software attained a high degree of correlation for well differentiated and relatively large organs, with DICE indices often exceeding 0.8. Organs with small volumes and/or those with poorly defined boundaries showed less correlation (DICE: 0.5), likely due to volume averaging effects. Target volume contours generally aligned well (DICE: 0.7–0.8 for PTVs and 0.8–0.9 for GTVs). Conclusion: Use of automatic DIR‐based contour segmentation in H&N adaptive RT is likely to mitigate the need for manual delineation and thereby improve efficiency. More work is needed to evaluate the accuracy of these tools for routine clinical use, particularly for organs with small volumes, or those with poorly defined boundaries. This work is supported in part by Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA
High-efficiency microscale power using a fuel processor and fuel cell

The development of a microscale power device, composed of a fuel processor and a fuel cell, is discussed. The microscale fuel reformer strips hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel such as methanol. The hydrogen rich stream can be fed to a fuel cell to generate electrical power. The numerous unit operations required for this device are discussed and a design incorporating these operations on the micro scale is developed and tested. The fuel reformer, utilizing methanol as the fuel, was able to provide 100 mWe of hydrogen at an efficiency of up to 4.5%. As the equivalent power of the reformer was decreased the reformer efficiency also decreased. The device was able to operate without any additional external heating. Also, a start-up procedure, which does not require electrical heating, is discussed.
Submucosal fibroids and the relation to heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the contribution of submucosal fibroids (SMs) to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and anemia among women with HMB. Study Design Our retrospective study included premenopausal women who presented to a tertiary care center for HMB between January 2007 and October 2011. All women in this cohort underwent flexible office hysteroscopy (n = 1665) and 259 (15.6%) had SMs. We also reviewed the clinical ultrasounds (n = 914) from these women to determine whether SMs (n = 148) or any fibroids (n = 434) were present in the uterus. Clinical evaluation of bleeding included hemoglobin and pictorial blood loss assessment charts. Results In our cohort, hysteroscopically diagnosed SMs were associated with significantly lower hemoglobin (adjusted difference −0.35 g/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.56 g/dL to −0.13g/dL) and higher risk of anemia (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.04−2.03). Women with ultrasound-diagnosed SMs had lower hemoglobin and anemia, but results were not significant once adjusted for confounders (hemoglobin: adjusted difference −0.21 g/dL; 95% CI, −0.47g/dL to 0.06 g/dL; and anemia: OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.82−1.97). Ultrasound-diagnosed fibroids anywhere in the uterus were not associated with hemoglobin ( P = .7) or anemia ( P = .8). Self-reported pictorial blood loss assessment charts scores did not differ between women with and without fibroids diagnosed by either hysteroscopy or ultrasound ( P = .4 and P = .9, respectively). Conclusion SMs were related to lower hemoglobin and higher risk of anemia but not self-reported bleeding scores. Diagnostic modality was important: hysteroscopically diagnosed SMs had lower hemoglobin and more anemia than ultrasound-diagnosed SMs. This may explain the inconsistent results in the literature.
Running coupling with minimal length

In models with large additional dimensions, the GUT scale can be lowered to values accessible by future colliders. Because of modification of the loop corrections from particles propagating into the extra dimensions, the logarithmic running of the couplings of the Standard Model is turned into a power law. These loop corrections are divergent and the standard way to achieve finiteness is the introduction of a cutoff. The question remains, whether the results are reliable as they depend on an unphysical parameter. In this paper, we show that this running of the coupling can be calculated within a model including the existence of a minimal length scale. The minimal length acts as a natural regulator and allows us to confirm cutoff computations.
Procedures for Improving Security of Local Area Networks

Security of data and information has always been a concern for business organizations. With recent trends towards down‐sizing and the implementation of Local Area Networks, the necessity for the development of carefully formulated policies and procedures for data security has taken on a new emphasis. Auditors are responsible for the verification of security measures, as well as recommending corrective actions or proper measures when risks and exposures are found. The authors provide an overview of the important security considerations, identify threats common to the data and information managed by the organization, and recommend procedures to effectively secure the Local Area Network.
Methods to impute missing genotypes for population data

For large-scale genotyping studies, it is common for most subjects to have some missing genetic markers, even if the missing rate per marker is low. This compromises association analyses, with varying numbers of subjects contributing to analyses when performing single-marker or multi-marker analyses. In this paper, we consider eight methods to infer missing genotypes, including two haplotype reconstruction methods (local expectation maximization-EM, and fastPHASE), two k-nearest neighbor methods (original k-nearest neighbor, KNN, and a weighted k-nearest neighbor, wtKNN), three linear regression methods (backward variable selection, LM.back, least angle regression, LM.lars, and singular value decomposition, LM.svd), and a regression tree, Rtree. We evaluate the accuracy of them using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from the HapMap project, under a variety of conditions and parameters. We find that fastPHASE has the lowest error rates across different analysis panels and marker densities. LM.lars gives slightly less accurate estimate of missing genotypes than fastPHASE, but has better performance than the other methods.
The American Presidency at War: An Examination of Three Possibilities for Presidential Rationales

Few decisions that a president makes are as consequential as the decision to wage war. Accordingly, scholars have devoted substantial attention to how presidents have publicly justified this decision. However, these studies have generally been too quick to assume that presidents' rationales for war have been essentially uniform over time. This study puts that assumption to the test by using a unique computer-assisted content analysis procedure to systematically analyze rationales for war in the census of modern presidents' spoken wartime communications. The results show that presidents have in fact varied considerably in the extent to which they use common rationales, and that this variation is determined more by the specific wartime circumstances a president faces than by that president's individual characteristics.