cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Requirement of 3′-Terminal Guanosine in (-)-Stranded RNA for in vitro Replication of Cucumber Mosaic Virus Satellite RNA by Viral RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase

Abstract The 3′ terminus of the (-) RNA strand in the replicative forms of several (+)-stranded RNA viruses possesses an unpaired guanosine with unknown function. This unpaired guanosine is also found at the 3′ terminus of the (-) strand in the double-stranded form of two cucumoviral satellite RNAs. Using a cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase capable of replicating the satellite RNA in vitro , the 3′-terminal guanosine of the satellite (-) strand was shown to be an absolute requirement for satellite (+) strand synthesis. If genomic RNA synthesis of CMV and other members of the alphavirus-like superfamily that produce (-) strands terminating in an unpaired 3′ guanosine follows a similar strategy, the work reported here would represent the first experimental support for the notion of 3′-terminal guanosine functioning as an essential recognition signal for viral replicases, enabling (+) strand RNA synthesis to be initiated internally from a (-) strand template.
Bitableau bases for Garsia--Haiman modules of hollow type

Garsia-Haiman modules C[X"n,Y"n]/I"@c are quotient rings in the variables X"n={x"1,x"2,...,x"n} and Y"n={y"1,y"2,...,y"n} that generalize the quotient ring C[X"n]/I, where I is the ideal generated by the elementary symmetric polynomials e"j(X"n) for 1=
Plasma prolactin levels in fetal sheep.

Entwicklung und Spezifitat eines radioimmunologischen Verfahrens fur Schaf-Prolaktin. Zirkulierende Prolaktinmengen wurden in Fetussen bestimmt und vom 110. bis zum 122. Tage bedeutende Prolaktinmengen festgestellt.
Establishment and growth of oak (Quercus alba, Quercus prinus) seedlings in burned and fire-excluded upland forests on the Cumberland Plateau.

Abstract Recurrent problems with regeneration of oaks (Quercus spp.) have been documented across a wide range of ecosystems. In oak-dominated forests of the central and Appalachian hardwood regions of the United States, a lack of competitive oak regeneration has been tied, in part, to fire suppression in these landscapes, and managers throughout the region are using prescribed fire to address this concern. To examine fire effects on oak regeneration, researchers have generally relied on inventories or population studies of existing seedlings. These studies are valuable but do not permit examination of the role of fire in enhancing the establishment and growth of new oak seedlings stemming from oak mast events. In this study, white (Quercus alba) and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) acorn mast crops serendipitously occurred in year three (fall 2005) of a landscape-scale prescribed fire experiment. We examined establishment, survival, height and diameter of new seedlings on sites on the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky. Treatments were fire exclusion, a single prescribed fire (1x-burn; 2003), and repeated prescribed fire (3x-burn; 2003, 2004, and after acorn drop in 2006), all conducted in late spring. Initial densities of newly established chestnut and white oak seedlings were statistically similar across treatments (P = 0.42), despite fires on the 3x-burn site having occurred after acorns were on the ground. Oak seedling density was significantly predicted by oak basal area on all sites (R2 = 0.12–0.46), except for chestnut oak on fire-excluded sites (R2 = 0.04). Litter depth was less on 3x-burn sites compared to 1x-burn and fire-excluded sites, whereas canopy openness was greater on both burn treatments compared to fire-excluded sites. Seedling mortality was generally higher on fire-excluded sites compared to burn sites, especially for white oak. Oak seedling mortality in the first two growing seasons was significantly predicted by initial litter depth and open sky, with greater litter depth and lower percent open sky leading to higher mortality. In the third growing season none of the measured variables predicted chestnut oak seedling survival; for white oak, percent open sky remained a significant predictor of mortality. Initially, seedlings on the fire-excluded sites had similar height but smaller diameter; after three growing seasons there were few differences in seedling height or diameter among treatments. Our findings suggest a potential role for prescribed fire in establishing forest floor and light conditions that may enhance the success of new oak germinants, although different responses among species may suggest the need to target management for individual oak species.
A Note on Inelastic Response Spectra for Systems with Bilinear Spring Force and Kinematic Strain‐Hardening

Abstract Parametric studies on inelastic response spectra for systems with bilinear spring resistance and kinematic strain‐hardening, low‐to‐moderate viscous damping, and standing on firm soil, indicate that aseismic design of such systems based on the associated elasto‐plastic spectra is not always conservative, in particular, for systems in the intermediate frequency range. By contrast, present understanding of the effect of viscous damping on inelastic spectra is thoroughly verified. In addition, mathematical expressions for a tripartite model of design spectra for inelastic systems are presented and tested for a ground motion record representative of a major destructive earthquake. These formulas provide generally conservative estimates of parameters of response for undamped systems, as compared with both numerically generated spectra and spectral upper bounds previously reported in the literature; however, for damped systems, the inelastic design spectra provide safe envelopes for most of the frequen...
A mean value theorem for generalized Riemann derivatives

Functional differences that lead to generalized Riemann derivatives were studied by Ash and Jones in (1987). They gave a partial answer as to when these differences satisfy an analog of the Mean Value Theorem. Here we give a complete classification.
Image denoising via fundamental anisotropic diffusion and wavelet shrinkage: a comparative study

Noise removal faces a challenge: Keeping the image details. Resolving the dilemma of two purposes (smoothing and keeping image features in tact) working inadvertently of each other was an almost impossible task until anisotropic dif-fusion (AD) was formally introduced by Perona and Malik (PM). AD favors intra-region smoothing over inter-region in piecewise smooth images. Many authors regularized the original PM algorithm to overcome its drawbacks. We compared the performance of denoising using such 'fundamental' AD algorithms and one of the most powerful multiresolution tools available today, namely, wavelet shrinkage. The AD algorithms here are called 'fundamental' in the sense that the regularized versions center around the original PM algorithm with minor changes to the logic. The algorithms are tested with different noise types and levels. On top of the visual inspection, two mathematical metrics are used for performance comparison: Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and universal image quality index (UIQI). We conclude that some of the regu-larized versions of PM algorithm (AD) perform comparably with wavelet shrinkage denoising. This saves a lot of compu-tational power. With this conclusion, we applied the better-performing fundamental AD algorithms to a new imaging modality: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
Comparison of multiple immunization schedules for Haemophilus influenzae type b-conjugate and tetanus toxoid vaccines following bone marrow transplantation.

Comparison of multiple immunization schedules for Haemophilus influenzae type b-conjugate and tetanus toxoid vaccines following bone marrow transplantation
Assessment and phenomenology of nonclinical panic attacks in adolescent girls

Recent reviews of studies concerning panic attacks in adolescents have emphasized research limitations, noting problems of validity, reliability, and lack of normative data. To address some of these limitations we evaluated two methods of panic ascertainment (questionnaire versus interview), reliability of interview-determined panic, and clinical correlates of panic symptoms in a large sample (N = 1013) of early adolescent girls. The 5.4% of the sample who, when interviewed, reported ever experiencing a panic attack scored significantly higher on measures of depression, anxiety sensitivity, and alcohol use, but were not more avoidant than others. Using the interview as the standard, the questionnaire had a specificity of 81% and a sensitivity of 72%. Adolescents do experience panic attacks-whether identified by questionnaire or interview-although for many the attacks may not be salient. Longitudinal studies are required to determine those qualities of nonclinical panic (severity, context, interpretation/attribution), which render some episodes as clinically meaningful.
The Time-dependent Chemistry of Cometary Debris in the Solar Corona

Recent improvements in solar observations have greatly progressed the study of sungrazing comets. They can now be imaged along the entirety of their perihelion passage through the solar atmosphere, revealing details of their composition and structure not measurable through previous observations in the less volatile region of the orbit further from the solar surface. Such comets are also unique probes of the solar atmosphere. The debris deposited by sungrazers is rapidly ionized and subsequently influenced by the ambient magnetic field. Measuring the spectral signature of the deposited material highlights the topology of the magnetic field and can reveal plasma parameters such as the electron temperature and density. Recovering these variables from the observable data requires a model of the interaction of the cometary species with the atmosphere through which they pass. The present paper offers such a model by considering the time-dependent chemistry of sublimated cometary species as they interact with the solar radiation field and coronal plasma. We expand on a previous simplified model by considering the fully time-dependent solutions of the emitting species' densities. To compare with observations, we consider a spherically symmetric expansion of the sublimated material into the corona and convert the time-dependent ion densities to radial profiles. Using emissivities from the CHIANTI database and plasma parameters derived from a magnetohydrodynamic simulation leads to a spatially dependent emission spectrum that can be directly compared with observations. We find our simulated spectra to be consistent with observation.
Complex dielectric function of amorphous diamond films deposited by pulsed-excimer-laser ablation of graphite.

Amorphous diamond films have been synthesized by pulsed excimer- (ArF)-laser ablation of graphite at room temperature. Detailed studies of the energy-dependent complex dielectric function in the energy range up to 40 eV have been carried out by Kramers-Kronig dispersion analysis of transmission electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Distinct from those of graphitic amorphous carbon and diamondlike carbon, the optical constants of amorphous diamond films are closely related to those of crystalline diamond, but with a smooth structure, a decrease in strength, and band shift towards lower energies. The variation of the dielectric function from crystalline diamond to amorphous diamond is analogous to that of crystalline and amorphous semiconductors such as Si and Ge. The extracted optical energy band gap reaches 2.6 eV, the highest value among the reported results for amorphous carbon films. The study of the dielectric function and its relation to the band structure of amorphous diamond films has also confirmed their diamond character. All of this information provides further evidence of the existence of amorphous diamond.
CopyCAD: remixing physical objects with copy and paste from the real world

This paper introduces a novel technique for integrating geometry from physical objects into computer aided design (CAD) software. We allow users to copy arbitrary real world object geometry into 2D CAD designs at scale through the use of a camera/projector system. This paper also introduces a system, CopyCAD, that uses this technique, and augments a Computer Controlled (CNC) milling machine. CopyCAD gathers input from physical objects, sketches and interactions directly on a milling machine, allowing novice users to copy parts of real world objects, modify them and then create a new physical part.
Programmable Electrowetting with Channels and Droplets

In this work, we demonstrate continuous and discrete functions in a digital microfluidic platform in a programmed manner. Digital microfluidics is gaining popularity in biological and biomedical applications due to its ability to manipulate discrete droplet volumes (nL–pL), which significantly reduces the need for a costly and precious biological and physiological sample volume and, thus, diagnostic time. Despite the importance of discrete droplet volume handling, the ability of continuous microfluidics to process larger sample volumes at a higher throughput cannot be easily reproduced by merely using droplets. To bridge this gap, in this work, parallel channels are formed and programmed to split into multiple droplets, while droplets are programmed to be split from one channel, transferred and merged into another channel. This programmable handling of channels and droplets combines the continuous and digital paradigms of microfluidics, showing the potential for a wider range of microfluidic functions to enable applications ranging from clinical diagnostics in resource-limited environments, to rapid system prototyping, to high throughput pharmaceutical applications.
Early after-depolarizations and torsade de pointes: Implications for the control of cardiac arrhythmias by prolonging repolarization

Common clinical features in drug-induced torsade de pointes include hypokalemia and cycle-length prolongation just prior to initiation of the arrhythmia. In canine Purkinje fibres, drugs known to be associated with torsade de pointes, such as quinidine, sotalol or N-acetylprocainamide, consistently produce early after-depolarizations (EADs) and triggered activity at slow drive rates; for quinidine, these abnormalities are exaggerated by low extracellular potassium. Triggered activity can be abolished in vitro in two ways. First, action-potential shortening with abolition of EADs can be accomplished by increasing stimulation rates, beta-stimulation and action-potential shortening antiarrhythmics such as lidocaine. Second, triggered activity can be suppressed, with less prominent effects on EADs, by magnesium, alpha- and/or beta-adrenergic blockade and calcium-channel blockers. The parallels between these in vitro findings and clinical torsade de pointes suggest that EADs and triggered activity play a role in the genesis of the clinical arrhythmia. Further research directed at determining the mechanisms underlying the cellular abnormalities and their propagation to the whole heart should yield information that will increase the safety of antiarrhythmic therapy.
Let’s Burn Them All Reflections on the Learning-Inhibitory Nature of Introduction to Management and Introduction to Organizational Behavior Textbooks

This essay provides evidence from the neurosciences that standard Introduction to Management and Introduction to Organizational Behavior textbooks may inhibit, rather than facilitate, learning of the basic concepts and the rudimentary knowledge-basis that underlie the complex skills business students should learn in subsequent coursework and that they must hone in practice as future managers. Specific introductory textbook limitations that are addressed include the following: (a) the nearly total absence of neuroscience findings that have important relevance and application to management and organizational behavior; (b) the ineffective manner in which theories are presented; (c) the use of idiosyncratic, academically derived, or simply spot-invented language; (d) the nonengaging manner in which information (generally speaking) is presented; and (e) the question of whether such textbooks are being read, much less studied. Based on my recent, joyous experience in not using such textbooks, I propose, for rea...
The Tumor Radiobiology of SRS and SBRT: Are More Than the 5 Rs Involved?

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), also known as stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR), are rapidly becoming accepted practice for the radiation therapy of certain tumors. Typically, SRS and SBRT involve the delivery of 1 or a few large-dose fractions of 8 to 30 Gy per fraction: a major paradigm shift from radiation therapy practice over the past 90 years, when, with relatively large amounts of normal tissues receiving high doses, the goal was to maximize tumor response for an acceptable level of normal tissue injury. The development of SRS and SBRT have come about because of technologic advances in image guidance and treatment delivery techniques that enable the delivery of large doses to tumors with reduced margins and high gradients outside the target, thereby minimizing doses to surrounding normal tissues. Because the results obtained with SRS and SBRT have been impressive, they have raised the question whether classic radiobiological modeling, and the linear-quadratic (LQ) model, are appropriate for large doses per fraction. In addition to objections to the LQ model, the possibility of additional biological effects resulting from endothelial cell damage, enhanced tumor immunity, or both have been raised to account for the success of SRS and SBRT. In this review, we conclude that the available preclinical and clinical data do not support a need to change the LQ model or to invoke phenomena over and above the classic 5 Rs of radiobiology and radiation therapy, with the likely exception that for some tumors high doses of irradiation may produce enhanced antitumor immunity. Thus, we suggest that for most tumors, the standard radiobiology concepts of the 5 Rs are sufficient to explain the clinical data, and the excellent results obtained from clinical studies are the result of the much larger biologically effective doses that are delivered with SRS and SBRT.
Ferdinando Gonzaga's Patronage of the Pictorial Arts: The Villa Favorita

Ferdinando Gonzaga, sixth Duke of Mantua (1587–1626), was the last Gonzaga to add extensively to the great ducal collection before its sale to Charles I of England in 1627. His insatiable collecting of works of art, along with his famed extravagance,1 took such unremitting toll of the long overburdened ducal treasury that just a year after his death, the agent of the English king, Daniel Nys, succeeded in effecting what has been called “the greatest national sale until the tragedy of Charles I.”2 Ferdinando's collecting differed in an important respect from that of his father Duke Vincenzo (1587–1612) : it became focused, to the point of obsession, upon the embellishment of a villa that he had built on the outskirts of Mantua, the Villa Favorita. Although the Favorita is today reduced to a fragmentary shell,3 it remains an imposing ruin, and a number of the paintings that originally adorned it survive. To undertake a reconstruction of Ferdinando's patronage of the pictorial arts may serve to present a mor...
Religious Faith, Homosexuality, and Psychological Well-Being: A Theoretical and Empirical Review

Individuals who identify as same-sex attracted have a long history of discrimination within many Western societies. Although most of these individuals are raised in families who practice religious faith, gay men and lesbians have traditionally been excluded from many Judeo-Christian religious communities based on teachings that homosexuality is immoral. Research among the general population has shown positive associations between religious practice and psychological well-being, but researchers have only recently begun to focus on these associations among gay men and lesbians. This paper gives a brief overview of empirical literature examining the relationship between religious practices and psychological well-being among the general population, followed by an account of the evolving relationship between religious traditions and homosexuality and a review of qualitative studies depicting conflicts between religious and sexual orientation identities. Next, a review of recent empirical literature on the rela...
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with chronic renal failure: A reappraisal.

AbstractBackground and Aims: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is known to increase the morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac operations. Successful outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in some patients with CRF has been reported, but remains controversial. Methods: Forty-four patients with CRF who underwent CABG were examined. Two groups were analyzed. Group I consisted of 13 patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Group II consisted of 31 patients with a creatinine ± 1.6 gm/dL for a minimum of 6 months, but were not on dialysis. There were 36 male and 8 female patients, with a mean age of 71 years. Results: The hospital mortality was 10 patients (23%) with 4 (31%) hospital deaths in Group I, and 6 (19%) in Group II. There was major morbidity in 35 (80%) patients. In Group II there were 8 (26%) patients who required permanent postoperative dialysis. A control group of 547 patients 70 years of age who underwent CABG had 30 hospital mortalities (5%) and 75 morbidities (13%). The average length of stay was 27 days. Fifteen patients died at a mean of 34 months after being discharged from the hospital. Nineteen of the original 44 patients remain alive at a mean of 32 months. The total mortality at 6 years and 4 months was 57%. Conclusions: Older and sicker patients with CRF who undergo CABG are at an exceptionally high risk for mortality and morbidity. For CRF patients not on dialysis with a creatinine 2.5 gm/dL, there is a strong likelihood of permanent postoperative dialysis. Long-term follow-up shows survival to be well below their non-CRF counterparts.
Psychopharmacologic first-line strategies in the treatment of major depression and psychosis: a survey of advanced practice nurses.

BACKGROUND: Developments in psychopharmacology have led to a broad range of medication choices for prescribing clinicians. Although there have been advances in drug development, less is known about...
Finding a niche in the global software marketplace: the case of the Peruvian firm LOLIMSA, Technologias para Salud

In 2005, a successful Peruvian-based software company was seeking to grow by exporting its software products. The case illustrates the entrepreneurial challenges in selling software products from a developing nation that is not on the forefront of the technology world. LOLIMSA has successfully grown its market into several Latin countries outside of Peru. The firm is considering trying to enter the lucrative American market for the second time, but knows that the investment in market entry is substantial.
Ethnic matching of caseworker and patient in methadone maintenance

The relation of ethnic matching of caseworker and patient to treatment outcomes was evaluated in a cohort of 610 opioid users admitted to methadone maintenance. At admission, the subjects were assigned to caseworkers in rotation. Thirty-seven percent of the Anglo subjects, 11% of the African-American subjects, and 60% of the Hispanic subjects were matched with caseworkers of their own ethnic group. In all ethnic groups, the matched and nonmatched subgroups did not differ significantly on 11 pretreatment characteristics. The subgroups also did not differ significantly on 3 treatment variables, with the exception of methadone dose in the Anglo group. The Anglo-matched subgroup had a slightly higher mean dose (61 mg) than did the not matched subgroup (52 mg). In all ethnic groups, the matched and nonmatched subgroups did not differ significantly on 12 outcome variables. No relation was found between ethnic matching and treatment outcomes.
Earing predictions for strongly textured aluminum sheets

Abstract Metallic alloy sheets develop crystallographic texture and plastic anisotropy during rolling. Deep drawing of a cylindrical cup from a rolled sheet is one of the typical forming operations where the effect of this anisotropy is most evident. Generally, in the finite element analyses of this process, the evolution of anisotropy during forming is neglected. In this paper, results of an experimental program carried out to quantify the anisotropy of aluminum alloy AA5042-H2 are reported. In addition to tensile tests along seven directions in the plane of the sheet, cup-drawing tests were conducted. It was observed that the material displays eight ears. The effects of the evolution in anisotropy and the directionality in hardening on the predictions of the earing profile for this material are investigated using a new methodology that incorporates multiple hardening curves corresponding to uniaxial tension along several orientations with respect to the rolling direction, and to biaxial tension. Yielding is described using the anisotropic yield function Yld2000-2D [1] and a form of CPB06ex2 yield function [2] , which is tailored for metals with no tension–compression asymmetry. It is shown that even if distortional hardening is neglected, the latter yield function predicts a cup with eight ears as was observed experimentally. Consideration of distortional only leads to improved accuracy in prediction of the non-uniformity of the cup height profile.
Rapid carbon activation via microwave irradiation of nongraphitic carbon doped with metallic potassium and tetrahydrofuran (THF)

Abstract We report here a rapid process to synthesize microporous carbon from nongraphitic carbon source through microwave-assisted exfoliation in a non-inert environment. A ternary compound of potassium-nongraphitic carbon-tetrahydrofuran (THF) was prepared and then heating by microwave irradiation for 2 min widens the interstices between adjacent graphene layers in ternary compound, inducing microporous texture with a large amount of ultramicropores. Exploiting microwave heating allows for efficient and rapid synthesis of activated carbon compared with commonly used chemical activation process. After microwave irradiation on nongraphitic carbon, the constituent stacked graphene layers were broken and the specific surface area of 563 m2 g−1 was developed. The feasibility of an electrode material for supercapacitor was estimated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. The specific areal capacitance reveals as high as 16.4 μF cm−2 in 1 M NaNO3 aqueous solution, which is significantly larger than values found in traditional activated carbons made for use in electrochemical double layer capacitors. Without restrictive processing conditions of chemical activation, microporous structure carbon can be efficiently and rapidly synthesized via microwave irradiation for possible electrochemical capacitor electrode.
Alternative strategies for construct elicitation: experimenting with experience

Abstract In order to provide an overview and evaluation of the ways in which constructs might be elicited, a number of procedures are reviewed including: the original triad procedure, dyadic and monadic procedures, ordinal elicitation procedures, and self-characterization procedures. In addition, two recently developed procedures are presented: 1) a focusing elicitation procedure using a modification of Gendlin's focusing technique which allows it to be applied to the triadic elicitation procedure, 2) a storytelling elicitation procedure that uses an original board game to aid a small group of participants in examining their personal and interpersonal constructions. In conclusion, some of the ways that these elicitation procedures have been compared and evaluated are reviewed.
An update on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)

Reviews, commentary, and recent research on the MCMI are examined. There has been controversy over the impact on research of delayed availability of hand scoring materials, the discrepancies between Millon's diagnostic conceptualizations and DSM-III, and MCMI construction idiosyncrasies. MCMI use for clinical diagnosis continues to be suspect, but clinicians now have an augmented awareness of DSM limitations as a result of this version of the Millon instrument.
Trilinear analysis applied to multichannel evoked potentials

A method for applying the topographic components (TC) model to discrimination and classification of multichannel evoked potentials (MEPs) is proposed, and a study designed to demonstrate and test this method is presented. The TC model is used to compare the MEPs of 'normal' and 'abnormal' test subjects to those of a normal reference group, as might be done clinically to screen patients for pathology. The spatial/temporal components identified for the reference group are demonstrated to fit the MEPs of the normal test subjects (not part of the group to which the model was originally fit), but not those of the abnormal test subjects. It is concluded that the TC model can indeed be a useful tool in MEP classification, e.g. in clinical diagnosis, and that further study is warranted along these lines. >
Estimation of geometrically undistorted B0 inhomogeneity maps

Geometric accuracy of MRI is one of the main concerns for its use as a sole image modality in precision radiation therapy (RT) planning. In a state-of-the-art scanner, system level geometric distortions are within acceptable levels for precision RT. However, subject-induced B0 inhomogeneity may vary substantially, especially in air-tissue interfaces. Recent studies have shown distortion levels of more than 2 mm near the sinus and ear canal are possible due to subject-induced field inhomogeneity. These distortions can be corrected with the use of accurate B0 inhomogeneity field maps. Most existing methods estimate these field maps from dual gradient-echo (GRE) images acquired at two different echo-times under the assumption that the GRE images are practically undistorted. However distortion that may exist in the GRE images can result in estimated field maps that are distorted in both geometry and intensity, leading to inaccurate correction of clinical images. This work proposes a method for estimating undistorted field maps from GRE acquisitions using an iterative joint estimation technique. The proposed method yields geometrically corrected GRE images and undistorted field maps that can also be used for the correction of images acquired by other sequences. The proposed method is validated through simulation, phantom experiments and applied to patient data. Our simulation results show that our method reduces the root-mean-squared error of the estimated field map from the ground truth by ten-fold compared to the distorted field map. Both the geometric distortion and the intensity corruption (artifact) in the images caused by the B0 field inhomogeneity are corrected almost completely. Our phantom experiment showed improvement in the geometric correction of approximately 1 mm at an air-water interface using the undistorted field map compared to using a distorted field map. The proposed method for undistorted field map estimation can lead to improved geometric distortion correction at air-tissue interfaces, especially in low readout-bandwidth acquisitions, thus making them suitable for clinical use in precision RT without increasing the treatment planning margin.
A Methodology for Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Tools in Public-Sector Institutions: Application to Public Education

This study introduces a methodology for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of alternative management tools in public institutions with an application to public education. The shift towards performance budgeting and outcome measures for public-sector institutions in recent decades creates a need to formally link inputs consumed and outcomes achieved. Given the inherent problems of cost accounting systems in public-sector institutions, we propose a statistical approach to identifying the most cost-effective management tools. Our basic approach proposes the estimation of both an outcome function and a cost function and relating the two coefficients from the regressions to determine the most cost-effective choice of management tools. As an empirical demonstration of the method, we apply both ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares to estimate such outcome and cost functions for public schools in New Jersey. Overall, the empirical results suggest that the methodology proposed has the potential to contribute to the improved management of public institutions.
Levoatriocardinal Vein With Partial Anomalous Venous Return and a Bidirectional Shunt

A 52-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented to our institution with nonhealing ulcers on her left lower extremity and toes. She had no cardiac symptoms, with a normal ECG and chest radiograph (Figures 1 and 2). As part of her evaluation she underwent a transesophageal echocardiogram to look for endocarditis, which demonstrated a right-to-left shunt with Valsalva that appeared to originate from the vicinity of the lateral aspect of the left atrium (Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement). There was also a vascular structure seen adjacent to the aorta that typically would represent a remnant of the cardinal vein, such as a persistent left superior vena cava. There were no findings of endocarditis. Figure 1. ECG with normal sinus rhythm. Figure 2. Chest radiograph demonstrates normal heart size and pulmonary vascularity. A magnetic resonance angiogram was performed to further evaluate the origin of the right-to-left shunt and demonstrated a levoatriocardinal vein that drained the left upper lobe …
Temporal queries in XML document archives and web warehouses

By storing the successive versions of a document in an incremental fashion, XML repositories and data warehouses achieve: (i) the efficient preservation of critical information; and (ii) the ability of supporting historical queries on the evolution of documents and their contents. In this paper, we present efficient techniques for managing multi-version document histories and supporting powerful temporal queries on such documents. Our approach consists in: (i) concisely representing the successive versions of a document as an XML document that implements a temporally grouped data model; and (ii) using XML query languages, such as XQuery, to express complex queries on the content of a particular version, and on the temporal evolution of the document elements and their contents. We show that the data definition & manipulation framework of XML & XQuery can support temporal models and historical queries significantly better than the traditional framework of Relational Tables & SQL. To demonstrate this point, we investigate how to express complex queries on the history of relational tables published as XML data.
The Importance of Early, Targeted Intervention: The Effect of Family, Maternal, and Child Characteristics on the Use of Physical Discipline

Secondary analysis of Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Study longitudinal data explored family, parent, and child factors that contribute to the use of physical discipline with infants and toddlers. The sample included mothers (N = 1,580) who self reported the use of spanking at 14, 24, and 36 months. Eighteen percent of the mothers (n = 287) indicated that their children experienced consistent physical discipline. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Participation in parenting classes resulted in a 30% reduction in the use of physical discipline. For every year older the mother was at the birth of the child, there was a 7% decrease in physical discipline. Increased knowledge of child development reduced spanking by 35%. Implications for social work practice with families of young children are discussed.
Ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene wear: An in vitro comparison of acetabular metal types and polished surfaces

Abstract The generation of debris from the wear of ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a well-recognized factor in the development of osteolysis and the long-term failure of total joint arthroplasties. Wear between the articulation of the femoral head and the polyethylene has been recognized for many years, but more recently, both retrieval and in vitro studies have demonstrated that convex surface wear or backside wear also occurs and may be of significance. Currently, modular acetabular components are being designed with polished surfaces, fewer screw holes, various polyethylene locking mechanisms, and stiffer metal alloys in an attempt to reduce backside wear. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed in UHMWPE wear based on the metal alloy used and the surface finish in modular acetabular components. Sixteen components in 4 groups were subjected to 10 million gait cycles using an in vitro joint simulator. All components used 28-mm cobalt chrome femoral heads on cobalt chrome tapered stems. The 4 groups differed only in the type of metal backing and type of interior finished surface: polished cobalt chrome, unpolished cobalt chrome, polished titanium, and unpolished titanium. UHMWPE changes were examined in terms of articular (concave) surface wear, backside (convex) surface wear, and frictional torque. The overall linear and volumetric wear rates were 1.05 mm/10 million cycles and 325 mm 3 /10 million cycles. No significant differences in linear and volumetric wear rates were detected between the cobalt chrome and titanium acetabular components. Surface finish did not influence wear rates. In terms of backside wear, all specimens in the 4 groups demonstrated total loss of all sputtered gold with the exception of those areas extruded through the screw holes. Extrusion through the screw holes was on the order of 0.0004 inch for all groups, and no significant difference was seen among the groups for this parameter. The measurements of articular frictional torque demonstrated a significant difference among the polished and unpolished cobalt chrome components (17.3 N · m vs 11.5 N · m; P = .0039, 2-way analysis of variance, Student's Newman Keuls method). Some designs in modular acetabular components have favored stiffer alloys, such as cobalt chrome, with polished concave surfaces to decrease wear on both the concave and the convex surfaces. In this study, there was no significant difference in wear rates noted between cobalt chrome and titanium acetabular components, and polishing of the components had no appreciable affect in reducing backside wear.
Biological Augmentation in Repair and Reconstruction of the Rotator Cuff

Rotator cuff tears are among the most common causes of pain and disability in the upper extremity. Despite significant advances in repair techniques and instrumentation, retear rates after surgery remain high. Numerous avenues of structural and biological augmentation have been explored to increase healing potential and achieve successful outcomes particularly in patients with massive cuff tears and those undergoing revision surgery. The purpose of this article is to present and discuss various techniques currently published that are designed to augment this process through variable methodologies. A common methodology is the use of graft tissue to “load share” with the repair or facilitate placement of pluripotential stem cell or growth factors at the site of needed healing or both. Although this field remains in development, this article attempts to explain the concepts currently employed and summarize the current Food and Drug Administration–approved options.
Transformation of personal computers and mobile phones into genetic diagnostic systems.

Molecular diagnostics based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offer rapid and sensitive means for detecting infectious disease, but prohibitive costs have impeded their use in resource-limited settings where such diseases are endemic. In this work, we report an innovative method for transforming a desktop computer and a mobile camera phone—devices that have become readily accessible in developing countries—into a highly sensitive DNA detection system. This transformation was achieved by converting a desktop computer into a de facto thermal cycler with software that controls the temperature of the central processing unit (CPU), allowing for highly efficient PCR. Next, we reconfigured the mobile phone into a fluorescence imager by adding a low-cost filter, which enabled us to quantitatively measure the resulting PCR amplicons. Our system is highly sensitive, achieving quantitative detection of as little as 9.6 attograms of target DNA, and we show that its performance is comparable to advanced laborator...
Expression of Hox , Cdx , and Six3 / 6 genes in the hoplonemertean Pantinonemertes californiensis offers insight into the evolution of maximally indirect development in the phylum Nemertea

Maximally indirect development via a pilidium larva is unique to the pilidiophoran clade of phylum Nemertea. All other nemerteans have more or less direct development. The origin of pilidial development with disjunct invaginated juvenile rudiments and catastrophic metamorphosis remains poorly understood. While basal members of the phylum, the Palaeonemertea, do not appear to have ever had a pilidium, certain similarity exists in the development of the Pilidiophora and the sister clade, the Hoplonemertea. It is unclear whether this similarity represents the homology and whether pilidial development evolved before or after pilidiophorans diverged from hoplonemerteans. To gain insight into these questions, we examined the expression of Hox, Cdx, and Six3/6 genes in the development of the hoplonemertean Pantinonemertes californiensis and expression of Six3/6 in the pilidium of Micrura alaskensis. To further characterize the function of larval structures showing expression of these genes, we examined the serotonergic nervous system and cell proliferation in P. californiensis. We show that Hox and Cdx genes, which pattern the pilidial imaginal discs giving rise to the juvenile trunk, are expressed in paired posterior epidermal invaginations in P. californiensis larvae. We also show that Six3/6 patterns both the pilidial cephalic discs, which give rise to the juvenile head, and a pair of anterior epidermal invaginations in hoplonemertean development. We show that anterior invaginations in larval P. californiensis are associated with a pair of serotonergic neurons, and thus may have a role in the development of the juvenile nervous system. This is similar to the role of cephalic discs in pilidiophoran development. Finally, we show that four zones of high cell proliferation correspond to the paired invaginations in P. californiensis, suggesting that these invaginations may play a similar role in the development of the hoplonemertean juvenile to the role of imaginal discs in the pilidium, which also exhibit high rates of cell proliferation. Expression of Hox, Cdx, and Six3/6 genes supports the homology between the imaginal discs of the pilidium and the paired larval invaginations in hoplonemerteans. This suggests that invaginated juvenile rudiments (possible precursors to pilidial imaginal discs) may have been present in the most recent common ancestor of the Pilidiophora and Hoplonemertea.
Isolation and Genetic Characterization of New Reassortant H3N1 Swine Influenza Virus from Pigs in the Midwestern United States

Since the introduction of H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) into U.S. swine in 1998, H1N2 and H1N1 reassortant viruses have emerged from reassortment between classical H1N1 and H3N2 viruses. In 2004, a new reassortant H3N1 virus (A/Swine/Minnesota/00395/2004) was identified from coughing pigs. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a hemagglutinin segment similar to those of contemporary cluster III H3N2 SIVs and a neuraminidase sequence of contemporary H1N1 origin. The internal genes were of swine, human, and avian influenza virus origin, similar to those of contemporary U.S. cluster III H3N2 SIVs. The recovery of H3N1 is further evidence of reassortment among SIVs and justifies continuous surveillance.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN ETHYLENE GLYCOL (ANTIFREEZE) POISONING IN A PREGNANT QUEEN AND 4 FETAL KITTENS

A one year old female Siamese-Persian mixed breed cat in late third trimester of pregnancy was presented for anorexia and lethargy. Abdominal radiographs were normal. Abdominal ultrasound revealed markedly increased cortical and moderately increased medullary echogenicity of the maternal kidneys. Cortical echogenicity of all fetal kidneys were similarly increased in echogenicity. Premortem clinicopathologic and postmortem histopathologic findings were indicative of ethylene glycol nephrosis presumably secondary to antifreeze ingestion.
RayTracer: traceability for software engineering

This paper presents a tool called RayTracer which provides traceability services to the process of developing software. Advanced software engineering requires traceability services which satisfy the demands of software data, tools, and teams. Raytheon developed RayTracer to meet these needs and has applied it to 16 projects over the last five years. The paper first describes the benefits and needs of traceability when applied to software engineering, and then explains the concepts and components of RayTracer which satisfy these needs. Finally, we conclude with our experiences in using RayTracer which have resulted in some important enhancements. >
Management of Lateral Epicondylitis: Current Concepts

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a common cause of elbow pain in the general population. Traditionally, lateral epicondylitis has been attributed to degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis origin, although the underlying collateral ligamentous complex and joint capsule also have been implicated. Nonsurgical treatment, the mainstay of management, involves a myriad of options, including rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, cortisone, blood and botulinum toxin injections, supportive forearm bracing, and local modalities. For patients with recalcitrant disease, the traditional open debridement technique has been modified by multiple surgeons, with others relying on arthroscopic or even percutaneous procedures. Without a standard protocol (nonsurgical or surgical), surgeons need to keep abreast of established and evolving treatment options to effectively treat patients with lateral epicondylitis.
Reasoning about taxonomies in first-order logic ☆

Abstract Experts often disagree about the organization of biological taxa. The shifting definitions of taxonomic names complicate otherwise simple queries concerning these taxa. For example, a query such as “how many occurrences of specimens in genus G are recorded in database D” will return different answers depending on whose definition of genus G is used. In our proposed framework, taxonomic classifications of multiple experts are captured using first-order logic (FOL). Specifically, taxonomies, and relationships between them, are viewed as sets of first-order formulas, constraining the possible interpretations of names and concepts in the taxonomies. The formalization of taxonomies and the relationships between them via our FOL language L tax allows us to clarify (a) what it means for a taxonomy to be consistent, (b) to be inconsistent, (c) whether a new relationship between two taxa (e.g., a congruence A ≡ B) is implied, thus “filling logic gaps”, and (d) whether two taxonomies from different authorities, together with a taxonomy mapping (articulation) from a third authority, are mutually consistent. We illustrate our logic-based formalization and the resulting opportunities for automated reasoning support for biological taxonomies using examples involving the classification of a genus of plants. We elaborate on (a–d) above and give some example derivations in logic. We also show that while reasoning in L tax is decidable, it might still be computationally hard (e.g., NP-complete) and thus infeasible over large taxonomies and articulations. By employing results from the spatial algebra RCC-5, we identify an important class of efficient taxonomy articulations, i.e., whose satisfiability can be checked in polynomial time.