cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mohs micrographic surgery for lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma using Mel-5 immunostaining: an update from the University of Minnesota.

Background Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is gaining acceptance as a treatment for lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM), especially with the use of melanocyte-staining immunohistochemical (IHC) stains. In 2006, we reported our 4-year experience with Mel-5 immunostaining, with only one recurrence noted in 200 patients after a mean follow-up of 38.4 months.1 Objectives We present an update regarding our 13-year experience with the use of Mel-5. Methods and Materials Patients with primary or recurrent LM or LMM (n = 260) underwent MMS with Mel-5; 174 were followed up to evaluate for recurrence, with a mean follow-up of 34 months. The 200 patients described in the initial case series from 1999 to 2003 were also followed. Results Of the 460 patients treated from January 1999 to December 2011, five recurrences were noted in four patients; one in the initial case series and four in this new, updated series, including one re-recurrence from the initial series. One melanoma-related death occurred in a patient intermittently lost to follow-up. Conclusion MMS with Mel-5 immunostaining continues to yield excellent results in the treatment of LM and LMM.
Analytic Confusion Matrix Bounds for Fault Detection and Isolation Using a Sum-of-Squared-Residuals Approach

Given a system which can fail in 1 of n different ways, a fault detection and isolation (FDI) algorithm uses sensor data to determine which fault is the most likely to have occurred. The effectiveness of an FDI algorithm can be quantified by a confusion matrix, also called a diagnosis probability matrix, which indicates the probability that each fault is isolated given that each fault has occurred. Confusion matrices are often generated with simulation data, particularly for complex systems. In this paper, we perform FDI using sum-of-squared residuals (SSRs). We assume that the sensor residuals are s-independent and Gaussian, which gives the SSRs chi-squared distributions. We then generate analytic lower, and upper bounds on the confusion matrix elements. This approach allows for the generation of optimal sensor sets without numerical simulations. The confusion matrix bounds are verified with simulated aircraft engine data.
Secreted Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Activity in the Dimorphic Fungal Pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum

Dipeptidyl peptidase type IV (DppIV) enzymes are broadly distributed phylogenetically and display diverse functions, including intercellular signaling, immunomodulation, protein maturation and processing, metabolism, and nutrient acquisition. We identified a secreted proteolytic activity in Histoplasma capsulatum effective toward DppIV-specific substrates. In order to determine the gene(s) that encodes this activity, we identified two putative DPPIV homologs (HcDPPIVA and HcDPPIVB) in H. capsulatum based on a homology search with Aspergillus fumigatus DppIV. Comparative sequence analysis revealed that HcDppIVA is similar to secreted DppIV enzymes, while HcDppIVB clusters with intracellular DapB-like enzymes. Unexpectedly, silencing of HcDPPIVA by RNA interference (RNAi) had no effect on secreted DppIV activity and an HcDPPIVA-null deletion mutant also showed no abrogation of secreted DppIV activity. In contrast, RNAi silencing of HcDPPIVB significantly reduced the level of secreted DppIV activity. RNAi silencing of HcDPPIVB in the HcDPPIVA-null mutant had no additional effect on secreted DppIV activity, indicating that HcDPPIVA does not contribute to secreted activity. RNAi silencing of HcDPPIVB did not affect the ability to kill a murine macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7, indicating that this gene is not required for infection of macrophages.
Edge-Directed Error Diffusion Halftoning

In this letter, we propose two simple extensions of the existing error diffusion (ED) halftoning technique: one stops the diffusion at edge pixels, and the other tunes the support of the diffusion kernel to match the local edge orientation. Experimental results are used to show that the proposed edge-directed ED schemes achieve noticeably better performance over existing ED with edge enhancement for a certain class of gray-scale images
Hydrometeorological controls on water level in a vegetated Chesapeake Bay tidal freshwater delta

Abstract Wind vectors, watershed discharge, and subestuarine water levels were monitored in a vegetated delta at the head of the Bush River, an upper Chesapeake Bay tributary in Maryland, during an El Nino/La Nina cycle 1995–1996 to investigate hydrometeorological processes that affect the tidal freshwater ecosystem located there. Time series of these processes were analyzed in both the time and frequency domains using such methods as flood frequency analysis, harmonic analysis, averaged and evolutionary power spectral analysis, and coherency spectral analysis. Wind speed variations with periods of 3–4 and 7 days were found to have both high spectral power and high statistical significance. The frequencies of these variations fluctuated over weeks to months and the amplitudes modulated seasonally, but the variations persisted interannually. Significantly greater subtidal wind speed variations in the prinicipal wind direction occurred during the cold and stormy La Nina winter of 1996 relative to the warm and dry El Nino winter of 1995. Data from five hurricanes occurring in the region during the study provided high-resolution snapshots of the mechanisms revealed by the time series analyses. Water level quickly responded to south–north directed wind speed fluctuations during the aperiodic hurricanes, illustrating the strong coupling between wind and water levels in this system. The magnitude of the response was large enough to determine the extent and duration of flooding over tens of hectares in important intertidal marsh habitats. Subtidal water level variations were greater during the La Nina period. During El Nino conditions, the east–west wind component played a larger role than during the La Nina period. Variations in local watershed discharge as well as Susquehanna River outflow had no measurable impact on water levels in the upper reaches of the Bush River tributary during the study.
Susceptibility of three strains of blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus (Valenciennes), to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

This study compared the susceptibility of three blue catfish strains (DB however, 42.3% of USDA 102 strain survived the infection when exposed to 1000 theronts per fish. The results indicate that there are differences among strains of blue catfish for susceptibility to Ich, and these differences will be useful in the development of improved catfish germplasm for commercial aquaculture.
Convergence with IFRS in an expanding Europe: progress and obstacles identified by large accounting firms’ survey

Abstract The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) acquired greater legitimacy and stature when the European Union (EU) decided to require all listed companies to prepare consolidated accounts based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) beginning in 2005. This study examines the progress and perceived impediments to convergence in 17 European countries directly affected by the EU's decision. These include: (1) the 10 new EU member countries, (2) EU candidate countries, (3) European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and (4) Switzerland. We utilize data collected by the six largest international accounting firms during their 2002 convergence survey. Additionally, we analyze subsequent events and studies. While all surveyed countries will either require or effectively allow listed companies to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS by 2005, few are expected to require IFRS for non-listed companies. This suggests the development of a “two-standard” system. The two most significant impediments to convergence identified by the survey appear to be the complicated nature of particular IFRS (including financial instruments) and the tax-orientation of many national accounting systems. Other barriers to convergence include underdeveloped national capital markets, insufficient guidance on first-time application of IFRS, and limited experience with certain types of transactions (e.g. pensions).
Using Recombinant Coxsackievirus B3 To Evaluate the Induction and Protective Efficacy of CD8+ T Cells during Picornavirus Infection

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a common human pathogen that has been associated with serious diseases including myocarditis and pancreatitis. To better understand the effect of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in controlling CVB3 infection, we have inserted well-characterized CTL epitopes into the CVB3 genome. Constructs were made by placing the epitope of interest upstream of the open reading frame encoding the CVB3 polyprotein, separated by a poly-glycine linker and an artificial 3C pro /3CD pro cleavage site. This strategy results in the foreign protein being translated at the amino- terminus of the viral polyprotein, from which it is cleaved prior to viral assembly. In this study, we cloned major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CTL epitopes from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) into recombinant CVB3 (rCVB3). In vitro, rCVB3 growth kinetics showed a 1- to 2-h lag period before exponential growth was initiated, and peak titers were ∼1 log unit lower than for wild-type virus. rCVB3 replicated to high titers in vivo and caused severe pancreatitis but minimal myocarditis. Despite the high virus titers, rCVB3 infection of naive mice failed to induce a strong CD8 + T-cell response to the encoded epitope; this has implications for the proposed role of “cross-priming” during virus infection and for the utility of recombinant picornaviruses as vaccine vectors. In contrast, rCVB3 infection of LCMV-immune mice resulted in direct ex vivo cytotoxic activity against target cells coated with the epitope peptide, demonstrating that the rCVB3-encoded LCMV-specific epitope was expressed and presented in vivo. The preexisting CD8 + memory T cells could limit rCVB replication; compared to naive mice, infection of LCMV-immune mice with rCVB3 resulted in ∼50-fold-lower virus titers in the heart and ∼6-fold-lower virus titers in the pancreas. Although the inserted CTL epitope was retained by rCVB3 through several passages in tissue culture, it was lost in an organ-specific manner in vivo; a substantial proportion of viruses from the pancreas retained the insert, compared to only 0 to 1.8% of myocardial viruses. Together, these results show that expression of heterologous viral proteins by recombinant CVB3 provides a useful model for determining the mechanisms underlying the immune response to this viral pathogen.
Traumatic brain injury, alcohol and quantitative neuroimaging: preliminary findings

Magnetic resonance (MR) quantitative neuroimaging analysis was undertaken with a large group of normal (n = 197) and traumatically brain injured (TBI, n = 99) adults. Of the TBI subjects 18 patients were identified with a history of substance-related abuse (TBI/Abuse group). Both the TBI/Abuse group and the remaining sample of TBI patients ( n = 81, TBI/Non-abuse group) without a history of substance-related abuse differed significantly from the control group on most quantitative MRimaging analyses. The TBI/Abuse group displayed the greatest degree of atrophic change. However, the TBI/ Abuse group had a significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, ostensibly suggesting that those with substance-related abuse suffered more severe brain injury than non-abuse TBI patients. When a subset (n = 18) of the TBI/Non-abuse group was matched by GCS, gender and age to the TBI/Abuse group, both groups differed significantly from the control group on most morphometric measures, but did not differ from one anothe...
Using open source software to engage students in computer science education

This panel will discuss issues and methods for incorporating free and open source software (FOSS) in computer science education. The panelists are investigating approaches to student participation in FOSS that produce results that are contributed to the FOSS community and actually used by others.
Molecular systematics, taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Cavia (Rodentia: Caviidae)

Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on cytochrome b sequence data of the most geographically and taxonomically broad sampling of Cavia taxa to date. Primary objectives included providing the first extensive molecular phylogenetic framework for the genus, testing the taxonomic and systematic hypotheses of previous authors and providing insight into the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the genus. Support was found for the morphologically defined species C. aperea, C. tschudii, C. magna and C. fulgida and the taxonomic placement of taxa previously subject to conflicting taxonomic opinions (e.g. C. nana, C. anolaimae and C. guianae) was further resolved. Additionally, we elevate the Ecuadorian C. a. patzelti to species status, restrict the distributional limits and suggest taxonomic affiliations of some C. tschudii subspecies, and provide strong evidence for the geographic origin of guinea pig domestication. Finally, we provide an estimated evolutionary timeline for the genus Cavia, which appears to extend well into the late Miocene.
Developing and applying a soil erosion model in a data-poor context to an island in the rural Philippines

Soil erosion in many parts of the developing world poses a threat to rural livelihoods, to the sustainbility of the agricultural sector, and to the environment. Most erosion prediction models are mechanistic and unsuited to quantify the severity of soil erosion in a data-limited developing world context. The model developed in this paper for Negros Island, in the central Philippines, is based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, but contains important innovations such as the movement of eroded soil over the landscape, simulating deposition on lower slopes and in waterways. It also includes a term describing farmer strategies to reduce soil erosion, which are typically ignored in erosion prediction models. A two-sample t-test found that model-predicted sediment loading values were not significantly different from field-measured sediment loading values when corrected for watershed size (P = 0.857). The model predicts an annual loss of 2.7 million cubic meters of sediment to waterways such that by 2050 more than 416,000 ha of agricultural land will be rendered unproductive due to erosion. Farmer behavior conserves soil, but on the steepest slopes soil conservation practices are not adequate to prevent erosion. Of two proposed strategies to control soil erosion in the rural Philippines, the model suggests that a complete switch to tree crops would conserve more soil than universal terrace adoption. However, even under these conservation scenarios, erosion threatens the areal extent of upland agriculture on Negros, and hence the sustainability of the island’s food supply.
Synthesis of a high specific activity 125I-labeled analog of PK 11195, potential agent for SPECT imaging of the peripheral benzodiazepine binding site

Abstract The peripheral benzodiazepine binding site ligand PK 11195 has been 125 I-labeled by direct displacement of aromatic chlorine under solid-state conditions in 50–76% radiochemical yield and >94% radiochemical purity. Purification by high pressure liquid chromatography increased the specific activity of the product from an initial 15–17 Ci/mmol to a final activity of 260–910 Ci/mmol. To determine the affinity of this [ 125 I]PK 11195 analog for human glioma cells, saturation experiments were performed on monolayers of U 251 human glioblastoma cells. Scatchard analysis of saturation data demonstrated that the [ 125 I]PK 11195 analog binds to a single class of sites with a K D of 8.0 ± 1.7 nM and maximal binding of 3.8 ± 0.1 pmol/mg protein. These values are similar to those obtained when [ 3 H]PK 11195 was assayed in U 251 cells ( K D = 14 ± 3.4, B max = 4.1 ± 1.3) suggesting that iodination does not appreciably alter the binding of PK 11195 to human glioma cells. In vivo autoradiographic studies of brain in C 6 glioma bearing rats demonstrate selective binding of the radioligand to the tumor. These results suggest that this [ 125 I]PK 11195 analog may be a useful radiotracer for the study of peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites.
Meson exchange calculation of the p ¯ p →Λ¯Λ reaction

The process p\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}\ensuremath{\Lambda} is studied using a one-boson t-channel strangeness exchange mechanism incorporating pseudoscalar, vector, and tensor mesons. Particular attention is paid to the spin degrees of freedom in the calculation. Initial and final state interactions, including the spin-orbit interaction and absorption, are taken into account using simple phenomenological models. The calculations are performed using density matrix ideas in the helicity basis, and the most important contributing amplitudes are identified. A reasonable fit to existing data can be obtained by allowing a smooth variation of the final state parameters with laboratory momentum. The effect of each of the exchanged mesons, and of the initial- and final-state baryon-baryon interactions on the cross sections and spin observables, is discussed. It is found that the tensor meson exchange plays an essential role even near threshold, which indicates the need for a detailed understanding of the short-range spin dynamics, perhaps as provided by future quark model studies.
Distributed power allocation for rate maximization in cognitive radio networks with horizontal spectrum sharing

Cognitive radio (CR) is an emerging concept that aims at enabling more efficient utilization of the frequency spectrum in future generations of wireless networks through the reuse of licensed frequency bands. Specifically, in CR networks, unlicensed transmitters are allowed to access licensed frequencies as secondary users (SU) if the primary users (PU) holding the spectrum license are not active. When multiple SUs with no central control or coordination are trying to access a band of licensed frequencies that is not actively used by PUs, the available spectrum is shared in a horizontal manner, where all SUs compete for spectrum access. In such a scenario, greedy approaches lead in general to increased interference in the system, which negatively affects the transmission rates for all users. To alleviate this problem, in this paper we propose a new approach for distributed allocation of SU transmit powers is based on avoiding interference while seeking to maximize SU transmission rates. The proposed approach is illustrated with numerical results obtained from simulation, which show that the resulting power allocation for SUs implies a more efficient use of the available spectrum than alternative approaches available in the literature.
The underrepresentation of African Americans in online cancer support groups

Portions of this manuscript were presented at the Identifying and Disseminating Best Practices for Health eCommunities Meeting in Chapel Hill, NC, June 19–20, 2006 and at Mednet 2006, Toronto, ON, Canada, October 14–19, 2006. The Internet is increasingly important for many cancer survivors because it provides access to the latest information on cancer treatments and also allows them to receive support by participating in online cancer support groups. Unfortunately, little is known about why African-American cancer survivors are underrepresented in online cancer support groups. This article reviews the relevant literature and discusses three possible explanations for why African Americans are underrepresented in online cancer support groups: the digital divide/digital inequality, preferences for face-to-face support or culture-specific online support, and trust concerns. We conclude that a health inequity exists with regard to the utilization of information that can be obtained from online cancer support groups. However, with regard to the potential benefits of the psychosocial and emotional support aspect of online cancer support groups, a health inequity may not exist, as African Americans have other preferred avenues for obtaining needed support, and there is no evidence that this is detrimental to their health.
OCS Activity Trends and Correlations, 2000–2013

Exploration, production, development, and decommissioning activity trends and correlations in the shallow water and deepwater of US Gulf of Mexico OCS are evaluated over the period 2000–2013. Drilling is the only way to test prospects for the presence of hydrocarbons and, if commercial accumulations exist, will create the need for additional infrastructure to deliver, process, and transport the product to the market. Production requires wells, structures, and pipelines to transfer fluids from reservoir sands to processing facilities and onward to the shore, and the requirements depend upon the size and areal extent of the reservoir and the presence of existing infrastructure and its available capacity. After reservoirs are depleted and infrastructure is no longer useful, wells are abandoned and structures and pipelines are decommissioned.
Take Five: Fifth-Year Art Teachers’ Maturing Understanding of Curriculum

This study of five art teachers in their fifth year of teaching utilized narrative inquiry as the methodology. After selecting five teachers from our previous study (Bain, Newton, Kuster, & Milbrandt, 2010), our central research question was: Now that the art teachers are in their fifth year of teaching, in what ways have their understanding, construction, and implementation of curriculum matured? Data were collected over one academic year through in-depth interviews and observations. Themes that emerged were the following: meaningful curriculum was perceived as making connections and instilling pride; planning with the ability to envision and adapt; confidence in the ability to write their own curriculum; and personal influences on curriculum. The teachers’ definition of meaningful curriculum changed little from their viewpoints as novice teachers; however, their ability to articulate and implement their beliefs crystallized. The teachers constructed their curricula by incorporating their gained knowledg...
Committee Assignments in the House of Representatives

Any attempt to understand the legislative process, or to reckon how well it fulfills its purported functions, calls for a careful consideration of the relationships among congressmen. The beginning weeks of the first session of every congress are dominated by the internal politics of one phase of those relationships, the assignment of members to committees. Since congressmen devote most of their energies—constituents' errands apart—to the committees on which they serve, the political stakes in securing a suitable assignment are high. Competition for the more coveted posts is intense in both houses; compromises and adjustments are necessary. Members contest with each other over particularly desirable assignments; less frequently, one member challenges the entire body, as when Senator Wayne Morse fought for his committee assignments in 1953. The processes and patterns of committee assignments have been only generally discussed by political scientists and journalists. Perhaps the reason for this is too ready an acceptance of the supposition that these assignments are made primarily on the basis of seniority. Continuous service, it is true, insures a member of his place on a committee once he is assigned, but seniority may have very little to do with transfers to other committees, and it has virtually nothing to do with the assignment of freshman members. On what basis, then, are assignments made? Surely, not on the basis of simple random selection. A recent student sees the committee assignment process as analogous to working out a “giant jig saw puzzle” in which the committees-on-committees observe certain limitations.
Dental Hygiene Students’ Perceptions of Older Adults

Geriatric education is an important component of the dental hygiene curriculum because, in it, students acquire skills and attitudes to help provide quality care to older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if off-site exposure to nursing home residents with supervised oversight had the potential to improve dental hygiene students’ attitudes toward older adults. Senior dental hygiene students at one school completed a pre-nursing home experience questionnaire. A series of geriatric lectures and discussions, which included discussions about students’ anxieties of working with institutionalized older adults, were held prior to the nursing home experience. The students then participated in two supervised four-hour nursing home experiences, were debriefed after the experiences, and completed a second questionnaire. Of thirty-nine potential participants in the study, thirty-two took part in the pre-nursing home experience questionnaire (82.1 percent). They had a mean split Fabroni score of 34.2 (95 percent confidence interval: 32.2, 36.3). The thirty participants in the post-experience questionnaire (76.9 percent of total) had a mean split score of 32.7 (95 percent confidence interval: 30.1, 35.3). This study failed to reject the null hypothesis of no mean difference between the pre- and post-nursing home experience; however, the post-experience mean score was lower than the pre-nursing home experience mean score, indicating a more positive attitude toward older adults after the experience.
The class of instrument based on VISA lib in automatic test of RF board

It is a very important work to control the RF (Radio Frequency) instrument in the automatic test system of RF board. However, it brings much of inconvenience to software designer because its complexity. A method for controlling the instrument based on Virtual C++ is introduced, and the method of program the class of RF instrument using VISA (Virtual Instrument System Architecture) lib is specified. The usage of the class in the automatic test program of RF board is also introduced.
Epidemiology characteristics of hand foot mouth disease in Hainan Province,2011-2012

Objective To analyze epidemiological characteristics of hand foot mouth disease(HFMD)in Hainan province,and to provide the scientific basis for its prevention and control.Method The data of HFMD were collected from Chinese Disease Surveillance System and etiology detection results of HFMD were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological methods.Results A total of 50 716HFMD cases,including 976severe cases and 33fatal cases,were reported in Hainan in 2011.The reported incidence was 584.86/105 in 2011.A total of 47 715HFMD cases,including 512severe cases and 8fatal cases,were reported in Hainan in 2012.The reported incidence was 543.83/105 in 2012.There were two peaks of the incidence,from April to July(March to May)and from September to November.Most of cases were children aged5.There was the highest incidence rate in the age group of 1~2years(13 766.25/105).The gender ratio was 1.79∶1.Most of cases lived sporadically.The proportion of EV71strains in severe cases and fatal cases was higher than mild cases.The ratio of severe HFMD cases was increased with the proportion of EV71strains(r=0.601,P=0.000).Conclusion Hainan province is the high prevalence area.Carrying on etiology surveillance,strengthening the prevention and control measure on the main groups and the key site are the main strategies for management of the disease.
Investigation on drinking water quality after disaster in Rushan City in 2011

[Objective]To understand the drinking water quality after disaster in Rushan City. [Methods]A total of 192 water samples were randomly selected and examined according to GB/T 5750-2006 and GB 5749-2006.[Results] Of 192 water samples,85(44.3%) were qualified for all items.The qualified rate at the prior period of flood(July 27-August 6,2011) was 2.1%,the major excessive items were biological indicators,sensory indicators,free residual chlorine,nitrate nitrogen.The qualified rate at the later period of flood(September 6-11,2011) was 86.5%,the major excessive item was biological indicators.[Conclusion]The floods have a great impact on the drinking water quality.Only the strengthening of water disinfection after disaster and effective detection can ensure the health and safety of drinking water.
Systemic hypertension following myocardial revascularization: A method of treatment using epidural anesthesia

Seven of 12 patients (58%) undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery became hypertensive in the immediate postoperative period. The hypertensive patients had significant elevations in peripheral vascular resistance (22.0 +/- 2.0 S.E. resistance units) compared to measurements in normotensive patients (15.6 +/- 1.3 S.E. resistance units) (p less than 0.05), whereas the heart rates and cardiac indices were similar. Administration of thoracic epidural anesthesia to postoperatively hypertensive patients lowered systemic arterial pressure by decreasing peripheral vascular resistance (p less than 0.005) but not affecting the pulse rate and cardiac index. The ratio diastolic pressure-time index/systemic pressure-time index (DPTI/SPTI), an indirect measurement of subendocardial oxygenation, increased from preanesthetic values of 0.80 +/- 0.08 S.E. to 1.09 +/- 0.09 S.E. (p less than 0.025) after the systemic arterial pressure was lowered in postoperatively hypertensive patients. Hypertensive episodes following myocardial revascularization procedures appear related to increased alpha-adrenergic activity, which products elevation in peripheral vascular resistance. Decreasing peripheral vascular resistance by chemical sympathectomy with thoracic epidural anesthesia lowers the systemic arterial pressure and improves the DPTI/SPTI ratio.
Surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants: trends and practice variation

Objective We sought to analyse the variation in the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus over three recent time points and characterise ductal ligation practices in preterm infants in the United States, adjusting for demographic and morbidity factors. Methods Using the Kids’ Inpatient Database from 2003, 2006, and 2009, we identified infants born at ⩽32 weeks of gestation with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus and ligation code. We examined patient and hospital characteristics and identified patient and hospital variables associated with ligation. Results Of 182,610 preterm births, 30,714 discharges included a patent ductus arteriosus diagnosis. The rate of patent ductus arteriosus diagnosis increased from 14% in 2003 to 21% in 2009 (p<0.001). A total of 4181 ligations were performed, with an overall ligation rate of 14%. Ligation rate in infants born at ⩽28 weeks of gestation was 20% overall, increasing from 18% in 2003 to 21% in 2009 (p<0.001). The ligation rate varied by state (4–28%), and ligation was associated with earlier gestational age, associated diagnoses, hospital type, teaching hospital status, and region (p<0.001). Conclusion The rates of patent ductus arteriosus diagnosis and ligation have increased in the recent years. Variation exists in the practice of patent ductus arteriosus ligation and is influenced by patient and non-patient factors.
Stochastic Lotka-Volterra System

Generalized Lotka-Volterra LV model is considered, with the equation for preys reproduction containing quadratic term that accounts for interspecies competition and term with white-noise random variations of the preys reproduction factor which simulate the environmental variations. An exact solution is obtained for the corresponding Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation for joint stationary probability density (p.d.f.) of the population sizes. Both population sizes are shown to be independent gamma-distributed stationary random processes. Increasing level of the environmental variations and/or approaching bifurcation point, which corresponds to extinction of predators, may lead to an intermittent behavior, whereby one or both population sizes experience very rare and violent short pulses or outbreaks while remaining on a very low level most of the time. This intermittency is described analytically in terms of the derived p.d.f. as well as by applying theory of excursions of random functions and by predicting p.d.f. of peaks and troughs in the predators population size.
Cooperative DNA binding by a splice variant of the transcription factor ETS1 that lacks autoinhibition

ETS1 is the archetypal member of the metazoan ETS transcription factor family. All the members of this family bind to the conserved GGA(A/T) core ETS binding sequence (EBS). Several ETS family members exhibit autoinhibition, wherein one domain of ETS blocks its own DNA-binding activity until certain conditions are met. Relief of autoinhibition in these proteins is coupled to homo- or hetero-dimer formation. Relief of autoinhibition in full-length ETS1 is catalyzed by non-specific interaction with DNA, which facilitates the formation of protein dimers. The ETS1 splice variant, ETS1-p42, lacks an exon that encodes a crucial part of the autoinhibitory module. Thus, ETS1-p42 does not autoinhibit. We showed that the absence of autoinhibition allows ETS1Δ335, an N-terminal deletion that recapitulates the DNA- binding of ETS1-p42, to form homodimers in the absence of DNA. However, ETS1-p42 is thought to bind its DNA sites only as monomers. Here, we explore this paradox and show that ETS1Δ335 binds cooperatively to DNA containing two EBSs. We also show that residues in ETS1DNA recognition helix mediate this DNA-binding cooperativity. Furthermore we also find that a single EBS can bind two ETS1Δ335 subunits. Finally, we show that DNA acts catalytically to separate unbound ETS1Δ335 dimers into monomers. Together, these results suggest a model of ETS1-p42 DNA-binding, where ETS1-p42 can bind to a single EBS with 2:1 stoichiometry.
A multi-view approach on modular PCA for illumination and pose invariant face recognition

A modified approach on modular PCA for face recognition is presented in this paper. The proposed changes aim to improve the recognition rates for modular PCA for face images with large variation in light and facial expression. The eyes form one of the most invariant regions on the face. A sub-image from this region is considered. Weight vectors from this region are appended to the existing weight vector for modular PCA. The accuracies for the modified method, the original method and PCA method are evaluated under conditions of varying pose, illumination and expressions using standard face databases.
The effect of neighborhood-based community organizing: results from the Seattle Minority Youth Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a community mobilization and youth development strategy to prevent drug abuse, violence, and risky sexual activity. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Primary surveys of youth, parents, and key neighborhood leaders were carried out at baseline (1994) and at the end of the intervention period (1997). The study took place in four intervention and six control neighborhoods in Seattle. STUDY DESIGN: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial with neighborhood as the unit of randomization. The intervention consisted of a paid community organizer in each neighborhood who recruited a group of residents to serve as a community action board. Key variables included perceptions of neighborhood mobilization by youth, parents, and key neighborhood leaders. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Youth surveys were self-administered during school hours. Parent and neighborhood leader surveys were conducted over the phone by trained interviewers. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Survey results showed that mobilization increased to the same degree in both intervention and control neighborhoods with no evidence of an overall intervention effect. There did appear to be a relative increase in mobilization in the neighborhood with the highest level of intervention activity. CONCLUSION: This randomized study failed to demonstrate a measurable effect for a community mobilization intervention. It is uncertain whether the negative finding was because of a lack of strength of the interventions or problems detecting intervention effects using individual-level closed-end surveys. Language: en
Very Small Embryonic Like Stem Cells (VSELs) and Their Hematopoietic Specification

Evidence has accumulated that adult tissues, including bone marrow, contain developmentally early stem cells that remain in a dormant state as well as stem cells that are more proliferative, supplying tissue-specific progenitor cells, which, therefore, display an active role in the turnover of adult tissues. To support this idea, we have identified in adult tissues a population of dormant pluripotent very small embryonic/epiblast like stem cells (VSELs) that, as we hypothesize, are deposited at the begining of gastrulation in developing tissues and play an important role as backup population of tissue committed stem cells. We envision that during steady state conditions VSELs may be involved in tissue rejuvenation and in processes of regeneration/repair after organ injuries. These small cells, similarly to epiblast-derived migrating primordial germ cells, change the epigenetic signature of some of the parentally imprinted genes and remain quiescent in adult tissues, not growing into teratoma. In this chapter, we will present FACS based strategies on how to correctly detect, enumerate and sort these cells in murine bone marrow. We will also provide a protocol for hematopoietic specification of VSELs in a co-culture system using adherent OP-9 supportive cell line.
Postanesthesia care recovery and management

Anesthesia for ambulatory surgical patients is conducted in a variety of clinical settings. The specifics of each facility’s environment will determine the characteristics of the setting for postoperative care. Ambulatory patients may be fully integrated with inpatients in the main operating room of a full-service hospital, handled in segregated operating rooms within a hospital, or cared for in a separate hospital-affiliated or freestanding building. These arrangements affect patient selection, the type of surgery offered, and management of the recovery process. The following discussion will focus on generic aspects of postanesthesia care for the ambulatory patient which must be adapted for individual institutional circumstances.
Main-Group-Semiconductor Cluster Molecules as Synthetic Intermediates to Nanostructures

Main-group-semiconductor clusters are attractive atomically precise precursors for materials design. In particular, magic-sized clusters, those with elevated thermodynamic stability relative to other clusters of similar size, have been implicated as important intermediates in the synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures. A survey of the literature on the intermediacy of clusters in nanomaterial synthesis reveals two predominant mechanistic trends: monomer-driven growth and cluster assembly. In this Forum Article, we compare and contrast the systems in which these mechanisms are operative and attempt to extract the emerging design principles governing these transformations. Additionally, we highlight the gaps in our understanding of this emerging area of science and provide a roadmap for future reaction development.
Bulk InAsSb with 0.1 eV bandgap on GaAs

We report on the growth of near-minimum bandgap (0.1 eV) bulk InAs0.54Sb0.46 on GaAs with pronounced photoluminescence. Combining strain-mediating techniques effectively manages the ∼10% lattice mismatch. An interfacial misfit (IMF) dislocation array allows a GaAs substrate and a GaSb buffer layer to act as a direct substitute for a conventional GaSb substrate. We further increase the lattice constant with a linearly graded metamorphic buffer layer of AlGaInSb, upon which we grow an AlInSb virtual substrate with the targeted lattice constant of the active InAsSb region. We observe that the graded buffer not only manages the mismatch between GaSb and InAsSb but also reduces the density of residual threading dislocations from the GaSb/GaAs IMF by a factor of ∼10×. Material characterization demonstrates the viability of using the coupled approach of metamorphic, graded buffers and IMF arrays to manage the large lattice mismatch between the substrate and the mixed group V ternary InAsSb.
Clostridium difficile infection in intestinal transplant recipients.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common complication among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with an estimated incidence of 7–31% for lung recipients, 8–15% for heart, 3-19% for liver, 9% for intestinal, 4-16% for kidney and 2-8% for pancreas-kidney recipients (1) and it is associated with increased mortality (2). There is limited data on CDI in intestinal transplant (ITx) recipients. This is a retrospective study that was conducted at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a 1558-licensed bed tertiary care teaching hospital. Our study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University of Miami. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Sizing and Dynamic Performance Prediction Tools for 20 K Hydrogen Sorption Cryocoolers

Two continuous operation 18 K/20 K sorption coolers are being developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a NASA contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) Planck mission that is currently planned for a 2007 launch. The individual sorption coolers will each be capable of providing a total of about 200 mW of cooling at 18 K and 1.4 Wat 20 K given passive radiative pre-cooling at 50 K. The hydrogen sorption coolers will directly cool the Low Frequency Instrument HEMT amplifiers to approximately 20 K and will also serve to intercept parasitics and pre-cool a RAL 4.5 K closed-cycle helium J-T cooler to 18 K for the separate High Frequency Instrument. To design the Planck sorption coolers a general sizing model and a detailed performance prediction model have been developed.
Structure and Function of an Actin-Based Filter in the Proximal Axon

The essential organization of microtubules within neurons has been described; however, less is known about how neuronal actin is arranged and the functional implications of its arrangement. Here, we describe, in live cells, an actin-based structure in the proximal axon that selectively prevents some proteins from entering the axon while allowing the passage of others. Concentrated patches of actin in proximal axons are present shortly after axonal specification in rat and zebrafish neurons imaged live, and they mark positions where anterogradely traveling vesicles carrying dendritic proteins halt and reverse. Patches colocalize with the ARP2/3 complex, and when ARP2/3-mediated nucleation is blocked, a dendritic protein mislocalizes to the axon. Patches are highly dynamic, with few persisting longer than 30 min. In neurons in culture and in vivo, actin appears to form a contiguous, semipermeable barrier, despite its apparently sparse distribution, preventing axonal localization of constitutively active myosin Va but not myosin VI.
Laser ion source for heavy ion inertial fusion

The proposed heavy ion inertial fusion (HIF) scenarios require ampere class low charge state ion beams of heavy species. The laser ion source (LIS) is recognized as one of the promising candidates of ion beam providers, since it can deliver high brightness heavy ion beams to accelerators. The design of LIS for the HIF depends on the accelerator structure and accelerator complex following the source. In this article, we discuss the specifications and design of an appropriate LIS assuming two major types of the accelerators: radio frequency (RF) high quality factor cavity type and non-resonant induction core type. We believe that a properly designed LIS would satisfy the requirements of both types, while some issues need to be verified experimentally.
Critical Skills for Special Educator Effectiveness: Which Ones Matter Most, and to Whom?.

Special education teachers are expected to fulfill diverse teaching and nonteaching tasks in comparison to their general education peers. However, their performance is evaluated with measures that ...
Guided Placement of Nasojejunal Feeding Tubes Using Erythromycin and Fluoroscopy in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Recent evidence suggests that enteral nutrition offers significant advantages over parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients. However, gastric emptying is impaired in many critically ill patients [1]. Thus, feeding through a nasogastric tube may endanger many critically ill patients, in that it can lead to large gastric residues and aspiration. Feeding through a nasoduodenal or nasojejunal tube is an alternative, but postpyloric placement of a feeding tube may be difficult, particularly in critically ill patients. Blind placement of a feeding tube into the duodenum or jejunum in ICU patients is frequently not successful.
Hand-held Dynamometer Positioning Impacts Discomfort During Quadriceps Strength Testing: A Validity and Reliability Study.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND A belt-stabilized hand-held dynamometer (HHD) offers the ability to quantify quadriceps muscle strength in a clinical environment, but a limitation is participant discomfort at the interface between the HHD and the tibia. The purpose of this study was to quantify the level of discomfort associated with a modified belt-stabilized HHD configuration compared to a standard belt-stabilized configuration and an isokinetic dynamometer. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a modified configuration used to measure quadriceps strength compared to the "gold-standard" isokinetic dynamometer. METHODS Twenty healthy participants (5 males, 15 females; age=24.7±2.2 years, height=171.1±8.8 cm, mass=72.0±18.7 kg) performed maximal knee extension isometric contractions during each of three testing conditions: isokinetic dynamometer, standard configuration with HHD placement on the tibia, and an alternative configuration with the HHD interfaced with the leg of a table. Discomfort was quantified using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Differences in discomfort and torque (N•m) associated with the testing positions were determined using Friedman test or repeated measures analysis of variance. Validity was quantified using Pearson correlations and within-session intrarater reliability was determined using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) and associated confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS The isokinetic dynamometer configuration resulted in the least discomfort (p< .01) and the modified configuration was more comfortable than the standard configuration (p= .003). There was a significant correlation between measures from the isokinetic dynamometer and the standard configuration (r=.87) and modified configuration (r=.93). Within-session intrarater reliability was good for both the standard configuration (ICC2,1=0.93) and modified configuration (ICC2,1=0.93) conditions. CONCLUSIONS The use of the modified belt-stabilized HHD configuration, where the HHD was interfaced with the leg of a table, offers a more comfortable alternative compared to the standard belt-stabilized configuration to obtain isometric quadriceps strength measures in a clinical environment. This configuration is also a valid and reliable alternative to the "gold standard" isokinetic dynamometer when testing isometric quadriceps strength at 90° of knee flexion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic, Level 3.